Ahoy, Ben! I am pleased to welcome you back to planDisney and have the chance to offer my enthusiasm and advice for
Disney Cruise Line vacations, especially on board the
Disney Fantasy.
One of my favorite features of a Disney Cruise is rotational dining. With this, you can experience each main dining room's distinct menu and theming. I also love that you have the same dining team every night. They get to know you and offer suggestions based on your preferences. It is also fun when you see them at Cabanas or other places on the ship and are greeted with a smile and enthusiastic "hello!" There are two dining times: the first seating is usually around 5:45 pm, and the second is around 8 pm. When my boys were younger, we always chose the early time, but now we enjoy later. When your cruise is booked, you can see your dining assignment online under "
My Reservations." Once onboard, you can see your table number on the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.
Speaking of the Navigator app, it will be your best pal on board for information on dining (including menus and hours), shows, character greetings, movies and more. When you board the Fantasy, connect to "DCL Wifi" (Disney Cruise Line's wifi system) to unlock all the onboard app features. You can "heart" activities ahead of time and get reminders when things you want to enjoy are about to start. It is helpful on a vacation that is prone to making you lose track of time.
Disney has Broadway-style shows that will have you dancing in your seat with songs and stories you love and new ones that you will only find on board. Like the two dining times, there are two showtimes each night to ensure you do not miss a thing. And you do not want to miss the shows, especially on your first cruise!
Disney is also the only cruise line offering first-run movies, so you will not miss summer blockbusters at sea. You won't know the specific movies offered until you board, but there is a good chance you can catch up with the mischievous Project 626 with the new "
Lilo & Stitch" and enjoy a cosmic misadventure with "
Elio."
There is so much already included in your Disney Cruise (like my son's favorite tip for first-time cruisers: enjoy all the
Eye Scream Treats you can)! There are a few extras I recommend. You might have already heard about Palo, the adult-exclusive dining experience. We did not dine here on my first two cruises, a mistake not to be repeated. There is also a virtual sports simulator on
Goofy's Sports Deck, which you can reserve in advance. Make sure to mark your calendar for the day you can
book advance reservations, like Palo, Senses Spa & Salon and beverage tastings.
And one more tip for a first cruise on the Fantasy: the
Midship Detective Agency is a magical game that will amaze you and help you learn your way around the ship.
Ben, I hope this helps. There is so much to share; we welcome you back to
planDisney for advice on planning Port Adventures, packing for your first day, and any other questions.
Bon Voyage!
Jana