Hi Valerie,
It is great to see you aboard planDisney again! We are all excited to assist you with your upcoming
Disney Cruise Line vacation. I know that many details go into planning for a large group, so I did some extra checking with our friends at Disney Cruise Line about your question.
You are right that
Beverage Tastings are popular experiences aboard Disney Cruise Line. Taking advantage of
Castaway Club member booking windows is one of the best ways to secure your spot at one of these events. Since
Castaway Club member benefits are linked to stateroom reservations, any first-time Guest in your party who is booked in a room with a Castaway Club member may take advantage of the earlier booking window. If the first-time Guests are booked in another stateroom, they will need to follow that booking window, which is 75 days before sail date. These events are so popular, that they often reach capacity before that booking window opens.
With that in mind, I inquired with the Disney Cruise Line Function Requests team about booking a private tasting event for your party. In the past, booking private events such as these was possible depending on the sail date, ship and itinerary. Unfortunately, at this time, they are unable to accommodate requests for private functions.
So, let’s think through some ideas! I’m not sure which tasting you were hoping for, but I’ve found that some are less popular than others, and some have a larger capacity. Usually, the events offered in the evenings such as the Bourbon Tasting or the Cognac Tasting are smaller and more intimate while the Tequila & Margarita Tasting and the Martini Tasting often allow more Guests to participate.
I recommend that everyone reserve their selection as soon as your booking window allows. If some of your group is unable to secure a reservation, be sure to keep checking to see if any spaces have opened. Finally, when you board the ship, check your
Disney Cruise Line Navigator App for the location where the Dining Team will be available for changes to existing or new dining reservations. Hopefully, they will be able to add those members of your party to a waiting list.
Valerie, I hope this is helpful to you. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that your group will enjoy a Beverage Tasting together, but I know you will have an amazing cruise together no matter what! Let us know if you have other questions.
Cheers to making magical memories,
Shannon