Anchors Aweigh, Marianna! Welcome back to planDisney! The Disney Fantasy is such a beautiful ship, you are in for the most amazing adventure at sea.
I am so glad you are asking about
DisneyBand+. I got to use mine on my last cruise and found many awesome reasons to be a fan of this new feature on board the ships. Before this cruise, I liked my lanyard with the Key to the World card. Putting it on my neck signaled to my brain: We're in Cruise Control mode now. It's time to take your foot off the gas and "Let it go!" Now I know the DisneyBand+ has that power and more.
DisneyBand+ has many functional features that are the same as using your Key to the World card. It can open your stateroom door, log you on and off the ship at the port (although you may still need your cruise card to show customs officials coming back to the ship from a port), and be used to charge purchases on board to your stateroom. It is really convenient, like using MagicBand+ in Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts.
The reasons I recommend DisneyBand+ are functional and fashionable. It is waterproof. I always end up with everyone's lanyards on a deck chair by me while they are in the pools. And we have to store them to ride the AquaDuck. With DisneyBand+, everyone has theirs on their wrist, and they are good to go. For my fashion statement, with so many photo opportunities with
Character Greetings and evenings on the ship, I am always taking the lanyard off for photos, finding a place to set them all (because you know everything gets handed to mom), and then back on afterward. The DisneyBand+ is on in the morning and off in the evening. One less thing to manage.
If your children are going to
Disney's Oceaneer Club and
Oceaneer Lab, their
DisneyBand+ works in the youth clubs, so you would not need to get a Disney Oceaneer Band. This also means you would not need to return an Oceaneer Band on the last night to get your deposit back.
About a month before your cruise, you will be able to do Online Check-In. You can do this on the
Disney Cruise Line website, under "Already Booked," or on the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator App. When you check-in, you will be asked to provide a form of payment for charges to your stateroom account. This includes
Port Adventures, spa treatments, specialty beverages, and purchases in shops like
Mickey's Mainsail. For each child in the stateroom, you will select an adult who will be responsible for charges for them. You will also be given the option to allow them charging privileges. If you grant them charging privileges, they can use their Key to the World Card or DisneyBand+ and be able to do things like enjoy treats from
Sweet on You, without you having to be with them for purchase. You can also restrict them from being able to make purchases so you know what all the expenses are.
Please come back to planDisney with any other questions! We are here for you.
Bon Voyage!
Jana