Tips for first time Disney cruisers
Are you taking your first Disney cruise? This post will help navigate what you need to do before you show up at the pier and some don’t miss things once onboard.
If you booked through Trips with Angie, feel free to email us any questions you have. We can walk you through all of this.
As you begin to prepare for your upcoming cruise, check out our Disney Cruise Line Favorites!
Pre-Cruise
1. Create an account on Disney Cruise Lines website
The first thing you’ll want to do is set up an account on disneycruise.disney.go.com. You’ll need your booking number. This is found on your booking confirmation from Disney Cruise Lines. If you have visited another Disney property previously, have Disney+, or ESPN you may already have an account. If you don’t already have an account, click Register in the upper right corner. Be sure to remember your username and password. You’ll need it later for the App.
2. Cruise Details
After logging in scroll down towards the bottom of the page. Here you view your stateroom information, change your seating time for dinner, add the Vacation Protection Plan, add pre and/or post cruise transportation, pre-pay gratuities, and set your special requests. Special requests include letting Disney know of your table location preference at dinner, if you need a booster or high chair, dietary preferences, let the cruise line know of any special events you will be celebrating during the cruise and other amenities you need for small children.
Regarding gratuities, currently the recommended amount as of September 2023 is $14.50 USD per night, per stateroom guest, including infants and children. For guests staying in Concierge staterooms and suites the recommended amount is $15.50 USD, this amount includes the stateroom assistant host who services Concierge accommodations plus the other Crew Members below.
Your gratuities are distributed to the following Crew Members:
Dining room server
Dining room assistant server
Dining room head server
Stateroom host
Gratuities can be pre-paid through Angie or added to your onboard account and charged with your other onboard expenses at the end of your cruise.
3. Download Disney Cruiseline Navigator App
Before you leave home you can use the App to make a payment, complete online check-in, view or modify your seating for dinner, add or modify the Vacation Protection Plan Offered by Disney Cruise Line, add or modify ground transportation, view air transportation, view activities and Port Adventures, book activities including Port Adventures, spa, nursery and more.
4. Register any medical requests – wheelchairs, stools, distilled water, etc. or stateroom requests
If you will be bringing onboard any medical equipment including wheelchairs, electric scooters, or walkers, have a service animal, are traveling with oxygen, request services for hearing or visual disabilities, or have food allergies the cruise line asks that you complete and submit the Request Special Services Form at least 60 days prior to your sail date.
If you wish to order from Disney Cruise Line any special items for your cabin like beer, wine, bottled water, cake, a fruit tray, room decorations, etc. Those orders are placeable and cancellable up to 3 days in advance of sailing, except for cakes which are placeable and cancellable up to 7 days in advance.
Disney does permit guests 21 and older to bring onboard two unopened bottles of wine or champagne (no larger than 750 ml) or 6 beers (no larger than 12 oz each) at the beginning of the voyage and at each port of call. These must be packed in carry-on luggage. You may also carry on bottled water that is factory sealed.
3. Book shore excursions and onboard experiences
First-time cruisers on Disney Cruise Lines can book Port Adventures (Shore Excursions) and onboard experiences 75 days before the sailing date on the Disney Cruise Line website or the App. This video details the process.
One change since it was filmed: completing on-line check-in is not currently required prior to booking excursions and onboard experiences.
We partner with Project Expedition and Tours by Locals for independent excursions.
To book through the cruise line sign into My Reservations, click on My Plans, choose the day of your itinerary you would like to schedule, click Add Activities and select either Port Adventures, Onboard Fun, Dining, Nursery and Spa/ Fitness
6. Check in online
Check-in availability before sail date is subject to cruise line status.
Pearl/ Concierge: 40 Days
Platinum: 38 Days
Gold: 35 Days
Silver: 33 Days
First Time Cruisers: 30 Days
Before you begin the check-in process make sure you have the following:
A clear photo of each passenger’s passport which needs to remain valid for six months after debarkation date.
A clear photo of each passenger, different from the passport photo with a plain background.
Flight Information
Pre and Post Cruise Hotel Information
A credit card to keep on file for onboard purchases
Emergency contact information
You can complete your check in online or via the App. Check in opens about thirty days before your cruise.
Online - Log into the Disney Cruise Line website, select Already Booked and then scroll down to Online Check-in and click the Complete Online Check-in button.
Via the App -Click on Online Check-in. That will lead you through the Check in Process.
8. Luggage tags
Your luggage tags will arrive in the mail 1-3 weeks before your cruise. If your luggage tags do not arrive before your cruise the porters have extra ones at the port.
When you arrive at the port, you’ll be able check a bag similar to how it’s done on an airplane. The porters will be available to take your large bags from you and deliver them to the ship.
If you are wondering what to pack, Angie has a few of cruise must haves in this post.
What you need at the port
Luggage tags for checked bags
Port Arrival Form
Passport / Immigration documents
Carry-on travel bag with essentials
Now you are ready to board your Disney Cruise!