If you’re getting ready to set sail with Disney Cruise Line, you need to know these things first!

There are a lot of changes coming to the Disney Cruise Line. New ships are being added to the fleet (what feels like monthly)! That’s why I’m sharing the six things I wish you knew before heading on board the Disney Cruise Line!

Know the Navigator App

When it comes to going on a Disney Cruise, there are SO many things you might not know, whether this is your first trip or your 100th. That’s why I’m sharing the things I think you absolutely need to know before hopping on board, starting off with the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App!

There’s A Lot You Won’t Know in Advance

If you’re a planner like me, this might drive you crazy. When you’re going to a Disney Park, you’re able to plan ahead your dining reservations, Lightning Lanes, see show times, etc — but on a Disney Cruise, there is very little information you’ll be able to know in advance.

On every Disney Cruise, you’ll experience rotational dining. It means each night you’ll have dinner at a different restaurant on board. On longer cruises, you might dine at a restaurant twice, but the menu will be different. There are two different dinner times when it comes to rotational dining — the early seating and the late seating. You won’t know what your schedule is before hopping on board, which can impact the plans you make. 

In addition to rotational dining, there are adult-only dining options on board that you can book for an additional fee. We love this for an upgrade on our cruises, but it does often mean missing out on some of the rotational dining options during dinner. In the past, we’ve missed out on rotational dining options we were looking forward to because we mistakenly booked our adult-only dining options on those nights, because we didn’t have the rotational dining schedule. If the schedule really impacts you, you can always talk with guest relations once you’re on board to switch times. 

You also won’t know what time the shows are, what characters will be available for meeting, or when you can meet them. It is a very different feeling from preparing for a Disney World trip, but think of this as a positive thing! A Disney Cruise gives you a chance to relax on the planning.

There are Adult-Only Areas

As mentioned above, there are adult-only dining options that you can book in advance. These are an additional cost to guests, but they can be a great way to celebrate something special. These are also hard to get a reservation for, but we’ll cover that in a minute.

There is an adult-only pool area for adults who are looking to get away from the noise. You can also visit the spa on board the ship for some relaxation. Some lounges also turn into adult-only spaces after a certain time.

The Entire Check-In Process

Another thing to know before you even hop on board is that the check-in process can either make your life easier or harder! The check-in process begins 30 days before your cruise, and once you’ve paid for your trip in full. During this process, you’ll provide citizenship documents, register your kids for the youth clubs, and select your port of arrival time. During the process, you’ll have to fill out 6 different pages of information. (Don’t worry, it’s really not that long!)

1. Guest Information
2. Onboard Account
3. Traveling with Children
4. Travel Plans
5. Port Arrival Time
6. Cruise Contract

Being thorough during this process can make your life so much easier. Grabbing the earliest port time is also a great way to kick your vacation off as early as possible! It can make life lovely and easy before you hop on board. Our team has also had experiences where the check-in process made life a bit more difficult. 

During part of your check-in process, you will need to submit a photo for Disney to approve that will be used by Cast Members throughout your trip (specifically when getting on and off the ship). This is where things can get tedious because Disney has rejected our submitted photos on a few occasions. 

There are a few stipulations for your photo, and Disney is strict about approval, so I highly recommend doing your check-in process as early as possible so you don’t have to stress about approval close to your cruise or even when you’re trying to hop on board.

It’s Impossible to do EVERYTHING

Another thing you need to know is that the boats are not designed for you to be able to do everything! There are tons of characters, entertainment, activities, and more when you’re on board a Disney cruise. We’ve been on our fair share of them, and it truly takes a team to do everything on the ships during one vacation.

For example, lots of characters will have meet and greet times that overlap, so it’s not always possible to say hi to them all. That might sound crazy, but Disney does this on purpose! It’s a great way to help crowd flow and to ensure that one section of the ship doesn’t get too crowded at once.

This is also why there are two dining shows and two main entertainment options per night. The boats couldn’t hold every single person on board in the restaurants or Walt Disney Theater at once, so it makes sense to have multiple options at once. If you feel like it’s impossible to do it all, it’s because it might be, depending on how long your cruise is. 

Disney Cruises Aren’t JUST For Kids

Finally, I want you to know that Disney Cruise Lines trips aren’t just for kids, but there are a lot of them on board! There are several adult-only spots like Palo, Enchante, Cove Pool, Cove Cafe, and more.

I’m a major fan of these spots, but if you think you’re going to entirely avoid kids during your cruise, that’s unrealistic. While many people love vacationing with their families and friends, some peeps are looking for adult-only vacations, and I completely understand that.

Kids are so much fun and bring so much joy to many people, but I won’t pretend they’re always relaxed or quiet (which is sometimes needed). Although Disney does provide adult-only spaces, during many of the dining options, entertainment offerings, and more, you’re going to run into kiddos! If you’re looking for a totally kid-free environment, the Disney Cruise Line isn’t going to be for you.

So whether it’s your first Disney Cruise or you’re a Pro, we hope these tips help you have smoother seas on your next cruise. For more Disney reviews, news, and information, be sure to follow us at DisneyFoodBlog.

Why You Need To Book Your Cruise EARLIER Than Planned

What is something you wish you knew about a Disney Cruise before you went? Tell us in the comments below!