Ahoy there Asia and welcome to planDisney. Let's set sail together and see if the information I found in this message in a bottle will help your family be near each other while sailing with Mickey, Minnie, and their crew.
You have two ways of booking a Disney Cruise Line adventure and choosing your stateroom locations:
- On your own
- With assistance from a Disney Cruise Line Cruise Vacation Agent or third-party travel agent
The beauty of cruising is that you get to look at the Deck Plans and choose your staterooms. Here is how it works with Disney Cruise Line. When you book on your own through the Disney Cruise Line website, you will choose an itinerary and date then select the number of staterooms you will need to confirm the travel party. Afterward, you will choose the stateroom type and category. Next, select the location on the ship (Forward, Midship, Aft) and the Deck. Now is when you will choose the exact stateroom number. You will see a key on the right side with one of the icons as two half-arrows pointing in opposite directions. This designates which rooms are connecting rooms. When you see two rooms with the arrows between them you know those rooms share a connecting door. If they are available then you can book them or book rooms nearby.
When you book through Disney Cruise Line Cruise Vacation Agent or third-party travel agent, you will give them the same details and they will search for the rooms for you and advise you along the way. Having a deck plan nearby will help you visualize the location of each stateroom.
Please note that connecting rooms are subject to availability and any fare-restricted reservations.
My recommendation is that you do an internet search for "Disney Cruise Line Deck Plans" and print the image out. You will be able to see every level of the ship to know where the restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and all the stateroom types and categories are located. Prices will vary by location, type, and category of each room.
When booking several staterooms it typically takes us between 30-60 minutes to make sure we have the best location and price for our journey so do not feel rushed. Take your time and try to get everyone as close together as possible. Staterooms, in general, are narrow and very close together unlike standard hotel rooms which can be far apart down a hallway.
The best part is that no matter where everyone is on the ship, you will capture the magic in every bite of food, trivia game, character encounter, and the view from the deck of these enchanted Disney ships. Asia, please feel free to write me back directly with any follow-up questions or for other Disney vacation planning tips.
Enjoy making many Magical Memories on the High Seas.
~Jason