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12 Tricks, Tips and Secrets To Taking A Disney Cruise

[fa icon="calendar"] Tue, Apr 22, 2014 @ 11:44 AM / by Sally Black

Sally Black

 

12 tips, tricks and secrets for taking a Disney Cruise

So many families dream of taking a Disney Cruise. Obviously everyone wants to make sure they get the most "magic" for their money.  Here are a few tips, tricks and tips to help you confidently book your cruise and magically turn you into a Disney insider...

1.Use A Travel Professional -  Sure you could spend hours searching the web, reading the countless books about Disney Cruises and making yourself crazy...but this is suppose to be a vacation.  Why not simply work with experts that already know all this stuff and are willing to help you for FREE!  Our Disney Cruise Experts at Vacationkids keep track of all the latest Disney deals and offers to help you find the best discounts and shipboard credits. If Disney comes out with a sale after you book your cruise, we'll even adjust your reservation so that you can still get the sale price.  We even offer vacation layaway payment plans too.        

2.Plan Ahead!!! - If you're looking to travel during Holiday or Spring Break weeks, you'll need to book your cabins as soon as space is made available. Disney Cruise rates and availability is usually published about 1.5 years in advance so we do mean early. The same holds true for families looking for adjoining cabins, these too sell out FAST!

3.Secret Cabins - Disney does have a few (like a handful) "secret" cabins where families can get an outside cabin for the price of an inside cabin and more. They are the lore of internet legend. Disney fans and repeat cruisers have known about these cabins for years so they are not really so very secret any more. They are usually the first to be scarfed up as soon as space goes on sale. We agents do know about these options and always try to snag them whenever possible for our clients.

4.Off Season Deals -You may be able to snag a last minute deal if you are flexible and if your family is willing to travel when everyone else's child is in school.  September, October, early december, January and early May are the best times to find these deals. Great for families with little ones or homeschoolers so do take advantage if possible.

5.Download the App - Download the Disney Navigator App before leaving home. It's a great tool to help plan your daily activities and not miss a minute of magic. It's available for free in the Apple App Store℠ for iOS devices and Google Play™ for Android devices. Once onboard, connect to the ship's WiFi network. (complimentary for app use only).  This way you can stay connecting with up to the minute details of everything on board like character meetings, daily activities, spa appointments, dining and more.

6.Save With An Inside Cabin- Disney has added some extra magic to their inside cabins making them bright and less claustrophobic by adding their "Magic Portholes".   Guests can enjoy real-time views of the outside of the ship that reflects the actual stateroom's location—port or starboard. High-definition cameras placed on the exterior of the ship feed live video to an LCD flat-screen monitor disguised as a porthole. Be on the lookout for your favorite Disney Characters who make cameo appearances in the portholes. You never know who might pop by! And when it's time for bed (or a nap), just turn off the Magical Porthole with a quick flip of the switch.  

7.Register Online for the Kids Club - This way you can simply pick up their wrist bands at embarkation and save time waiting in the registration line.  You can opt to have your Bon Voyage photo taken with Mickey. If you're wearing sunblock and your bathing suit under your clothes, head straight to the water slides for a few runs before the lines start.

8. Two Cabins are easier than One - Many of the ocean view and verandah staterooms on board a Disney cruise ship will sleep families of five.  Suites can sleep up to 7 passengers. That said, it is often far cheaper to book two adjoining staterooms in your preferred category than to pay for a stateroom that will allow for additional occupancy.  By booking two adjoining staterooms, you also get an additional bathroom as a bonus.

9. BYOB Each passenger over the age of 21 may bring onboard one unopened bottle of wine or Champagne or six bottles or cans of beer per person. The alcohol must be hand-carried in a day bag and/or carry-on luggage. Carry-on luggage dimensions cannot exceed 22 inches wide, 14 inches high and 9 inches deep. Alcohol bought in port may also be used on board. Restaurants will charge a $20 corking fee for wine consumed with dinner. Of course, soda is free on Disney Cruise line to be used as mixers. In addition, Specialty daily cocktails are offered at a price under $5 which includes taxes and gratuities.

10.Special Activity Announcements - There are special events that take place all the time on Disney Cruise ships.  Activities like specialty food tastings, wine tastings, tea parties and more. Guests need to sign up and register for these events in advance. Some of these fun events are free and other have a small price tag. The problem is, by the time these events are listed in the daily activites of your Navigator newsletter, they are already full.  This is because guests in the know will head straight to guest services as soon as they board and ASK about these special events...so now you know!

11.Sharing one bathroom? - If you're trying to get everyone ready at the same time using one bathroom, it's good to know the Spa and Fitness Center showers in the locker room areas are open to use if need be.

12. Decorate your Door - Disney fans LOVE to decorate their doors whether for holidays, special commemorations or just for fun.  All of the cabin doors on the Disney cruise ships are magnetic. It's easy and fun to create custom Magnetic door decor.  Just please know, use ONLY magnetic decorations. There are fines for using adhesive decorations of up to $100.

We Need Help Planning A Disney Cruise

Topics: Disney Vacations

Sally Black

Written by Sally Black

Sally is the Founder of Vacationkids.com Travel Agency and author of the book "Fearless Family Vacations". She is also the Director of Travel Agent Initiatives and Training at The Family Travel Association.