Top 10 Tips for Planning Your Disney Cruise Line Vacation

This is the first of many in a series I'm posting that will include at least 100 Tips and Tricks for Planning and Enjoying your Disney Cruise Line Vacations. Subscribe so you don't miss a single tip or trick (and some hidden secrets).

Other titles coming up include: 

1. Top Must-Do's for your Arrival at Disney's terminal at Port Canaveral
2. Top Tips and Tricks for Enjoying your Disney Cruise Line Cruise
3. Top Tips and Tricks for Castaway Cay
4. Top Tips and Tricks for Pirate Night
5. Top Tips and Tricks for Disembarkation Day
6. Top Tips for Packing for your Disney Cruise (including a detailed packing list)
7. Best FREE Disney Cruise Line Souvenirs

1. Use a Travel Agent! They take the work out of planning your cruise, send you reminders, and keep up with current promotions, which they would apply to your cruise (if it is applicable). Not to mention, their services are FREE!

2. Buy photo package from www.mycruisephotos.com. If you pre-pay you will save money! We normally get the “All Photos Package”. It comes with little USB’s in a cute case, plus we get all the hard prints! Photos could cost $20 each if you purchase them individually. We normally leave with around 300 photos (depending on the length of cruise). If you see you are missing photos, check with the photo lab. Sometimes the Aquaduck pictures don’t get printed unless you ask. Also, your pictures could be mixed up in someone else’s folder.
   
   
3. We buy gift cards at discounted prices and apply them to our payments or put them on account to use on the ship. We buy our gift cards at BJ’s Wholesale Club and save 7%, but in order to save that, we have to buy the $50 cards for $46.99. I know there are other ways to save on gift cards; this is just the one we use.
   
4. Buy Vacation Protection! We found out the hard way that we need vacation protection on every cruise! The small amount you pay is worth it in case there is an emergency. We are still paying medical bills from 3 years ago because we didn’t have travel insurance and my husband ended up hospitalized in St. Thomas after racking up a hefty bill in the ship’s hospital.
   
5. Join your Fish Extender (FE) Group and Cruise Page on Facebook. This is a great way to meet fellow cruisers prior to your sail date. My favorite thing to do on those pages is to provide tips like these to new cruisers and see where everyone is traveling from. You never know, there could be someone you know traveling on your sailing! Just search the name of the ship and the date of embarkation. For example, one of my groups is Disney Dream December 29, 2017. Names of the groups might not be formatted exactly the same but for the most part, they are pretty close! Most FE/Cruise Groups on Facebook plan a structured get-together for your sailing. This is a scavenger hunt that was scheduled so the kids could get to know each other. We met just before the Muster Drill.
   
   
6. What is Fish Extender? Outside each stateroom there is a marine animal of some sort. This is essentially your “mailbox” for your cruise. Sometimes you will receive special certificates, letters of importance, and other communications from administration on the ship. Also, people like to hang special FE Organizers from them and participate in the Fish Extender exchange. It’s like a Secret Santa. You sign up with your cruise group on Facebook. Then you are assigned a FE group (you will get information on number of staterooms you will give to and ages of people in the stateroom). Each night of the cruise each person in your stateroom will receive a gift and you will give yours. I’ve never participated in it, but from what I heard, it’s extremely fun and exciting to come back to your room and have gifts waiting for you.
   
7. Schedule a Character Call! You do this from your reservation page when you do your online check-in.
   
   
8. Schedule your Port Arrival Time (PAT) when you do your online check-in. The sooner you do your online check-in the earlier you can get your PAT. The earliest PAT is 10:30 with the last person being able to board the ship at 3:00. Please don’t show up early to the terminal! You will not be able to get on any sooner than your PAT and this keeps the terminal from overcrowding.
9. Download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App! You can get a neat countdown to your sailing date. Once you are in the terminal, you can switch your phone to airplane mode and begin using the app. The app is great for keeping up with all the ships activities, character meet and greets, and you can now even view your dinner menu.
   
   
   
   
10. Have you seen posts about printing magnets and decorating your stateroom door? Find a Disney graphics group on Facebook to get them for free, order custom-made ones on Etsy, or design your own (get ideas from Pinterest). Here are some designs we used on our doors.
    

Don't forget to subscribe to my blog for the rest of the tips in this series!

Merrytime Cruise on Disney Dream

Merrytime Cruise on Disney Dream: December 2015 B2B

Christmas Tree in the atrium. 

 The following pictures were from the atrium on Christmas Day. The chefs on DCL made amazing goodies for everyone for Christmas morning. They even served cool hot cocoa and hot cocoa, gave away cookies for free that you would pay an arm and a leg for in the parks, and had special music playing and snow falling in the atrium.

 
 

 

The characters were all decked out in the Christmas best!

Santa Goofy on Christmas Day. The real Santa was still delivering gifts across the world.

Mrs. Claus reading Christmas stories on Christmas Day

Minnie Mouse in her Christmas best on Christmas Day.

We sailed past Fantasy on Christmas Day near Castaway Cay at sunset.

Instead of the chocolate Mickey's, we got a cute gingerbread man on our sundae.

Gift in Stateroom on Christmas Eve

Gift in our Stateroom on Christmas Eve

We made gingerbread houses on Christmas Eve

Deck the Deck Tropical Holiday Party with favorite Disney Characters

One of the photo studios is in front of the Christmas Tree

Santa on Christmas Eve (borders on photos in photo package are changed to holiday theme)

Mickey on Christmas Eve

Mickey on Formal Night (Christmas Night)

Christmas Tree at Castaway Cay

Castaway Cay is Decked Out

Characters Wear Christmas Attire

Decorations at the Terminal

Click Here for a Quick Merrytime Cruise Video

Character Meet and Greet Surprise after Mrs. Claus' Read Aloud

Charles Dickens' Christmas Carolers...they were Amazing!

Back-to-Back Merrytime Cruise December 24-December 31, 2015

Would you ever think about spending the holidays on the high seas? This is one question I had to ponder over and over. I just didn't know if my daughter would be OK not being home the day the big man in the red suit showed up in the middle of the night. I had to tell her we had booked a cruise over Christmas. We would be leaving on December 24 and returning on the 31st. What she didn't know was that we had a back-to-back planned. (You can hear in the video, I almost spoiled that surprise when I broke the news to her, so I covered it up by restating we had another cruise booked for Spring Break). We decided to only tell her about the first leg of the cruise and would tell her we were going to be staying at the beach in Melbourne, FL for New Year's Eve. 

I walked into her room and told her I needed to talk to her. She immediately asked me if we were cancelling our trip to FL and asked if we would be staying home for Christmas. Well, I broke the news to her and as you can see in the video, I was very hesitant. I initially told her we were going to be moving to FL. She was not very happy about that, but knew I was playing. so here I was thinking I was going to get this great response full of excitement...you know, the kind you see on YouTube where the reactions are priceless. I told her we were going to see the Mouse. To my surprise, she said, "Yea, so." (So not what I expected). This was the not-so-priceless part of the reveal. Then she asked if we would be staying in the castle. I told her no and we would be floating with Mickey. A small smile broke, but then she was worried Santa would not visit and if she could bring her American Girl dolls with her. I wanted this to be exciting for her. I didn't want to ruin her Christmas. 

Well, as you can see here, we had an amazing trip! We revealed to her we would be staying on for another cruise after that one ended. She didn't believe us because she thought she had to start school again. She was so excited we were staying on the Dream because, you see, she makes friends with anyone she meets. She had become close with some photographers and officers on the ship. The bracelet she shows is a friendship bracelet Rhaul made for her (he is a photographer). [If you have questions about the disembarkation and embarkation process on a back-to-back, let me know. I'll be happy to share our experience!]
What is special about a Very Merrytime Cruise on Disney? Well, everything, really! The characters are decked out in their holiday best and worst (ugly sweaters). The Charles Dickens Carolers were amazing. There was snow in the atrium. Santa came on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day Mrs. Claus read stories to the children in front of the Christmas tree. In the atrium there was hot (and cool) cocoa, cookies, cakes, and all kinds of treats. We were given a special Christmas gift from Disney Cruise Line in our staterooms on Christmas Eve (a DCL miniature santa hat, goodies, and a collectors poster) and on Christmas Day we got another special gift in the atrium (a DCL calendar). We made gingerbread houses. Christmas Day was even more special when Disney Dream sailed past Disney Fantasy near Castaway Cay at sunset. There was also special character appearances and a Christmas Day deck party, Deck the Deck Tropical Holiday Party, for the kids and families. 

Will we sail over Christmas again? Yes, but not until Emily becomes her own Santa. Until then, we will sail on other holidays. We haven't experienced Halloween on the High Seas yet. Maybe next year! This year, we will be on our first New Year's Eve cruise on Disney Dream! I can't wait to share my experiences with you!

I hope you enjoy the videos. They make me laugh. Emily (my daughter) is a character of her own! Feel free to ask me specific questions you have about Merrytime Cruises. I will do my best to answer them based on my experiences. Feel free to browse this Merrytime Cruise Album with over 1,000 photos for your viewing pleasure. 

Read more: http://mickeychats.com/thread/61/merrytime-cruise#ixzz4wgBcBRH0


Here are some highlights from our Very Merrytime Cruise: 

Surprise Character Appearances

Charles Dickens Christmas Carolers

The video below is the, "Surprise! We are staying on for another Disney Cruise!" 

Shows and Entertainment

Enjoy our thoughts, pictures, and videos of entertainment on the Disney Ships. This includes entertainment areas on the ship, live shows, and a list of some of what we do when we are on the ship. Everyone's entertainment needs are different. We are more of the family who wants everything Disney, so we don't go to many of the adult clubs, but enjoy many of the family events.

Entertainment for Kids/Youth

Disney Cruise Line has the longest complimentary hours of childwatch at sea for ages 3+, according to their website. Parents can stay in touch with their kids by using the wave phones located in each stateroom or by using the navigator's app. Kids are checked in using the magic bands, similar to those in the parks. You can choose to keep the magic band or return it at the end of your voyage for a refund of the $12 deposit you put down when you register your child for the clubs. Your child must be potty-trained to use the Oceaneer's Club and Oceaneer's Lab. There is an hourly fee for children less than 3 to use the nursery.

Andy's Room (all 4 Ships)

  

Retired Monster's Academy on Fantasy

 

 Other Areas

Interactive Dance Floor

Dining Area

 

Wash Stations

Pixie Hollow: Fantasy, Dream, Magic
 

• MARVEL'S Avenger Academy: Magic
• Mickey Mouse Club: Magic
• Star Wars Command Post: Fantasy
• Star Wars Millennium Falcon: Dream
• Disney Infinity: Dream
• Marvel Superhero Academy: Wonder, Fantasy
• Frozen Adventures: Wonder
• Club Disney Junior: Wonder

Oceaneers Lab: Ages 3-12 (ages 8-12 can check themselves in and out on their own)

Wonder, Magic
Dream, Fantasy: Includes themed play spaces: Media Room, Animator's Studio, Wheelhouse, Craft Studio, Sound Studio

Craft Studio

Wheelhouse

Wheelhouse

Craft Studio from Wheelhouse

Animator's Studio

Edge: Ages 11-14: All 4 ships

Vibe: Ages 14-17: All 4 ships

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

• All 4 ships
• Fantasy BBB turns into Pirates League on Pirate Night
• Reservations required (first come, first serve)
• Cancellation fee of $10 per person if canceled within 24 hours of reservation

Live Shows (take place in the Walt Disney Theater)

 

• Fantasy
• A Fantasy Come True
• An Unforgettable Journey
• Disney Wishes
• Disney's Aladdin- A Musical Spectacular
• Believe
• Dream
• Beauty and the Beast (begins November 6, 2017)
• Believe
• The Golden Mickeys...A Timeless Tribute
• Magic
• All Aboard: Let the Magic Begin
• Disney Dreams...An Enchanted Classic
• Remember the Magic...A Final Farewell (7-nights and longer)
• Tangled, the Musical
• Twice Charmed- An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story
• Wonder
• Disney Dreams...An Enchanted Classic
• Frozen, A Musical Spectacular
• The Golden Mickey's

Deck Parties

• Sail Away Celebration/Sailing Away (all 4 ships)
• Pirates IN the Caribbean (Magic/Wonder)
• Mickey's Pirates IN the Caribbean (Dream/Fantasy)
• Club Pirate (Dream/Fantasy)
• Freezing the Night Away with Anna, Elsa, and Friends (Magic/Wonder- select Europe and Alaska sailings only)
• Pixar Pals Party (Wonder-Alaska sailings only)

Movies

Take place in the Buena Vista Theater or the Walt Disney Theater. Include some 3-D movies. Live entertainment before movies in the Walt Disney Theater during premiers. All movies are free. Snacks can be brought in from Cabanas or bought at the snacks counter next to the theater.

Entertainment for Adults Only

Night Clubs

My Thoughts and Experiences

You will find the Pirate Night, Sail Away, Castaway Cay, Character Meet and Greets, and See Ya Real Soon Party blogs in separate sections on the main page.

Shows: I haven't seen a show I didn't like, including the non-Disney entertainment. We have seen all of the Disney shows on the Wonder, Dream, and Fantasy. Our favorite is The Golden Mickey's. The caliber of entertainment, effects, and music is incredible! The audience is full involved with the shows and every show fills up! My suggestion is to get there early to get the seats you want. We personally love the seats on the second level overlooking the balconies. The only downfall is you don't have much of a chance of getting chosen as a volunteer when they ask for audience involvement. We enjoy the magicians, comedians, and Buckets and Boards (seen them twice!). The violinist on Disney Dream is fantastic. I've never seen anyone play the fiddle the way she does! Her name is Evgenia. She plays in the atrium at night during dining hours.

Violinist on Disney Dream: AMAZING!!!

Dancing Photographer on Disney Dream While Daughter Dances in Atrium

Daughter Dances With Disney Photographer in Atrium on Pirate Night

Amazing Violin Music on Christmas Morning on Disney Dream