Prioritize And Plan The Trip
If you want to make the Disney World park hours memorable and exciting, having a proper plan is essential. You can first make a list of the attractions that you and other family members are interested in. Finally, check out the website and see what changes are made in Disneyland after the pandemic. Once you have sorted out that, you can book your passes and then make a plan to prioritize the rides. In that way, you can make the most of your trip and even have an organized outing.
Make Full Use Of The Extra Magic Hours
If you are an early riser, there is good news for you. Extra Magic Hours and Magic Morning are fantastic only if you reach one hour before the gate opening. That means you can get an hour to explore before the rush of the crowd.
If you are lucky enough, you might find some of the rides distributing FASTPASS during the Magic Morning hours. However, availability is not guaranteed.
Disney Cruise Line Updates
If you booked your Disney Cruise with Small World Vacations, please contact your agent for assistance. Small World Vacations emergency phone line is 201-497-5529.; Or, contact our main office at
Please rest assured that the agents at Small World Vacations are doing their very best to help their guests during the current global health crisis.
For up-to-date info, visit Small World VacationsKNOW BEFORE YOU GO page
For the most up-to-date Disney Cruise restrictions, please visit here.
For additional information about the Disney Cruise Line embarkation and sailing date policy change, please visit this page
Please read the following important information before you sail on a Disney Cruise.
For up-to-date info, visit Small World VacationsKNOW BEFORE YOU GO page
As a reminder,;all;Disney Cruise Line;Guests and Castaway Club Membersincluding Platinum Membersare required to select a port arrival time before making their way to the cruise terminal. In order to promote physical distancing, Guests will not be permitted at the terminal or in parking areas before their scheduled arrival time. Guests who arrive early will be asked to return at their scheduled arrival time. When completing online check-in, the earliest time Guests will be able to select to arrive at the terminal is 1 p.m.
Continue to check the suggested websites below as well as other websites for updates and current procedures, policy and news.
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Additional Tips & Tricks
MouseSavers.com reader Christina M suggests, DO have younger children participate in the Friendship show. Not only are they onstage with Mickey and Minnie, but they also get a cruise T shirt for free.
Skip the talks, except for the nature talks on the Alaska cruises, which can be excellent. The shopping talk is just a rah-rah for certain shops that are paying a marketing fee, and you might get a few coupons for free souvenirs. Both the shopping and disembarkation talks are replayed on the television repeatedly. Dont waste your vacation time attending these lectures in person.
Read additional tips specific to the Disney Dream .
Arriving At Port Canaveral For Your Disney Cruise By Car
Over the years, we have had many different experiences arriving at Port Canaveral by car. With the launch of the in 2011, there came port arrival times. Yes, your drive to the port begins well before you sail date when you complete your online check-in. Part of the online check-in process includes selecting a port arrival time that are in 30 minute increment arrival windows beginning at 10:30 AM ;11:00 AM.
It is recommended that you arrive at the terminal during your selected time. If you arrive before your scheduled time, you may be asked to wait. Think of it like a FastPass in the parks, except that you can still arrive after your arrival window.
Depending on where you are driving from, it may be beneficial to pick up a SunPass Mini Sticker Transponder to avoid the hassle of stopping at the many toll booths. We take a similar route as one would from Walt Disney World, and our round trip tolls are around $7.00. If you are not sure how to get to Port Canaveral, use this address to map your route.
Once you are parked, it is time to head into the terminal. You will need to pass through another check point where each member of your party over the age of 18 must present a valid form of identification. From there, you will enter the terminal building and go through a standard security check and your carry-ons will be x-rayed.
Next, you will ascend to the second floor where you will again be greeted by cast members wearing the iconic Mickey Hands.
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Find Some Space To Breathe
If youre traveling with a spouse or partner, you may need some time to just decompress. I cant emphasize enough the huge crush of people you deal with on embarkation day. Think about it this way, nobody can get in their staterooms so;everybody is out.
What we did to combat this is we took turns watching the kids while one of us visited the adult only areas. Its a lot quieter and you can get some time to just relax without the kids. My wife took 15 minutes off and it really helped her stress levels on the day.
Arriving At The Disney Cruise Port
Always make sure that you arrive in good time at your Disney Cruise port. A cruise does not wait for you if you are late you could be watching it sail into the distance!
If you are sailing out of Port Canaveral you will go through the security and x-ray machines on the first floor. You will already have given your checked luggage to the porters.
If you have a Disney Cruise Transfer your luggage will already have been checked in for you. The next time you see your checked luggage will be when it is delivered to your stateroom, which is usually in the early afternoon.
Always make sure that you have important documents and items such as your passport and any medications with you in your carry on luggage. Obviously, you will need your passport and other ID items for the check-in desk.
Once you have cleared security in Port Canaveral you will go up to the second level. You will immediately see the check-in desks.
You will be given a health form to complete to confirm that you do not have any contagious illness. You will be directed to a check-in desk line. There is a separate line for Concierge Guests and Platinum Castaway Club Members.
You will be given a boarding number. Concierge and Platinum Castaway Club members have priority. If you have an early check-in time you will have a lower number and be able to board more quickly.
It does happen that guests are left behind as they have not brought the correct ID with them. Dont let that be you! ;
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Boarding Process For A Disney Cruise Out Of Port Canaveral
by Professor Heather Adamczak | Sep 18, 2021 | Beyond the Parks, Disney Cruise Line, Homepage Featured, News |
Last week I was lucky enough to have sailed on the first sailing of the Disney Fantasy in over 18 months! In this post, I will break down the boarding process and give you a step-by-step look at just what is involved at Port Canaveral to cruise with Disney Cruise Line.
The new guidlines set forth by Disney Cruise Line require everyone 12 and older to have a vaccine to sail. Anyone under 12 must have a negative PCR test at least 3 days before sailing. In addition, all guests reguardless of your vaccination status are required to take a covid test on arrival day at Port Canveral before they can gain entry to the ship.
Disney Cruise Line Embarkation Day Tips And Tricks
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and buy, TravelingMom may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you.
The first day of any cruise can be pretty stressful. Embarkation day on Disney Cruise Line is no different my wife and I had some nervy moments on our first day on the Disney Dream. Still, just like with Royal Caribbean, there are some Disney Cruise Line embarkation day tips that can really help start your vacation on the right foot. So learn from our successes and mistakes to make the first day of your Disney cruise as magical as it can be!
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Staterooms And Whats In Them
The TV in your stateroom offers limited live TV programming, but a pretty extensive selection of Disney-owned movie and TV content. There is the Disney Channel, ABC and ESPN, all owned by Disney, plus one 24-hour news channel . On the Dream, Fantasy and Magic, you can watch a huge variety of Disney movies and a few other family-friendly titles on demand . The Wonder doesnt have the on-demand service, but does have multiple channels that show loops of Disney movies and shorts, both classic and modern. For example, theres a Pixar channel, and a classic channel, etc. You can get a list of whats on each of the loop channels from Guest Services, but theres no schedule available of when each film begins.
Disney provides older brick style;Wave Phones in every stateroom that you can carry with you on the ship to stay in touch with the other members of your party. You get two phones per regular stateroom, but only one charger . If you arent careful to rotate the phones;through the charging station, the batteries may become depleted and begin beeping insistently at an inopportune time. The staff at the Oceaneers Club can contact you via Wave Phone or via the Navigator app, but the Wave Phones will buzz instantly when a text comes in, whereas the Navigator App can have a lag of as much as 30 minutes from the time a text is sent to the time you get a notification, so if you want to get their messages instantly youll need to carry at least one of the Wave phones.
Find A Place To Eat Lunch
Youll have three options to eat lunch on embarkation day. You can eat at Cabanas, the buffet on the top deck or at one of the counter options on the top deck. However, a lot of first time cruisers dont know that one of the main restaurants is open for lunch on embarkation day. Since seating is limited at whichever main restaurant is open, it can feel a little bit less crazy than fighting your way through Cabanas. Wed recommend going to check it out. At a certain point it seems like DCL crew members are told to encourage people to go to Cabanas just say youll take it under advisement. .
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Be Prepared To Go Through Security
Think of boarding a DCL ship like going to the airport. Youll have to go through security. If youre on a Disney transfer, your big luggage will already be taken care of and you probably wont see it again. If youre arriving at the port on your own, porters will take your large items onto the ship for you .
Still, you will be boarding the ship with a day bag and that will need to go through an X-ray machine. Youll also go through a metal detector. Expect lines so you dont get surprised by the wait. .
Checking In At The Terminal
Once you arrive at the terminal, you will first go through the security line. ;Your travel documents will be checked, your carry-on luggage will be scanned/searched , and you will walk through a metal detector. ;After that, you will proceed to the line at the check-in counters. ;There are separate lines for first time cruisers and returning cruisers and there are always cast members around to direct you. ;If you are sailing concierge, there is a separate area for you all the way at the back of the terminal on the right.
After you get through the security line you will check in at the counter. ;They will take your photo, check your documents, issue your room keys, and have you fill out a health questionnaire. ;If you are a returning cruiser you should receive a lanyard. ;If you are a first time cruiser and would like a lanyard, you need to bring one with you or buy one onboard. ;At the end of the check in process, you will receive a card with a boarding number written on it. ;Once boarding begins, they will continually announce boarding group numbers in chronological order. ;When they call your group number, you may board the ship at that point or at any time after.
Once you get checked in, you can either visit the supervisors desk to inquire about a room upgrade or find a place to sit and wait for your boarding group to be called. ;While you are waiting, there will be characters making appearances.
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Disney Cruise Advice & Important Things To Know
Embarkation means getting on the ship for the first time during your cruise; disembarkation or debarkation means getting off the ship at the end of your cruise.
Port is the left side of the ship as you face forward; starboard is the right side as you face forward. Forward is obvious; aft is the rear of the ship.
A mandatory muster drill is held in the afternoon of embarkation day, usually around 4:00 pm. Everyone must attend in order to learn the location of your lifeboat station and other safety information. The drill takes 20 minutes or less and you do not have to bring your life jacket with you.
Make sure you turn off the cellular service on your phone while youre at sea, so you dont end up paying through the nose for cellular at sea service. There is a Disney Cruise Navigator app that you can use on most iPhones and Android phones without needing to pay for internet access. The Navigator app includes activity schedules and menus, and has a kind of text message feature that didnt always work super well for us, but other people seem to like it.
Cay is pronounced key by locals so unless you want to sound like a novice, remember this for Castaway Cay .
Disney Wonder To Resume Sailing From California Oct 1 2021
Disney Cruise Line is planning to resume sailings for the Disney Wonder on Oct. 1, 2021. These include California sailings, as well as the Panama Canal Sailing on Nov. 5, 2021. Galveston, Texas sailings will be announced at a later date.
Please note that on California sailings, Guests ages 12 years and older must be fully vaccinated.;Guests 11 years of age and younger are not required to be vaccinated, but must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken between 3 days and 24 hours prior to sailing. Additionally, ALL Guests regardless of age and vaccination status must take a Disney Cruise Line-paid PCR COVID-19 test administered by Inspire Diagnostics at the terminal before boarding. For back-to-back sailings, ALL Guests regardless of age and vaccination status must take a PCR COVID-19 test administered by Inspire Diagnostics at the terminal after debarking the ship from their first cruise and before re-boarding for their second cruise.
Fully vaccinated Guests who wish to disembark the ship while in a port of call can do so without the need to purchase a Disney Cruise Line Port Adventure. Guests who are vaccinated and wish to disembark the ship with unvaccinated children will need to purchase a Disney Cruise Line Port Adventure.
As part of the relaunch of the Disney Wonder, two California sailings are being cancelled:
- 2-night sailing on Sept. 24
- 5-night sailing on Sept. 26
7-night itinerary modifications:
FROM Disney August 26, 2021
Dear Guest,
Sincerely,
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Lots Of Extras Sell Out Before You Get On The Ship
Believe it or not, a lot of popular activities and add-ons will sell out if you do not plan on reserving them in advance.
Things like meet and greets, specialty dining, and port adventures.
Be sure to pre-book these fun activities before your cruise so your family does not miss out.;
Currently you can pre-book these character events:
- Princess Gatherings
- Disney Junior character breakfast
- Disney VIP character breakfast
- Royal Court Tea;
If it is your first cruise, you can book these up to 75 days before your ship sails and returning cruisers get to book earlier.
In addition Remy and Palo specialty dining tend to sell out often, so be sure to book this before your cruise as well.
Shopping Should Be The Last Thing To Do
If you arent much of an online person, you can shop at Disney too. But it is wise to wait and enjoy rides during the first half of the day. Then, you can start your shopping when the park is closed. Some shops remain open for about an hour even after Disneyland closes down. So, if at all you make up your mind to shop, keep it for the last.
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Dcl Transfers From The Orlando Airport
The DCL buses run continuously from the airport to Port Canaveral only the morning of embarkation. ;As soon as a bus is full, it will leave. ;If you arrive at MCO the morning of the cruise, or have stayed the night before at the MCO Hyatt , then you will go to the DCL transfer desk at MCO once it opens, show your documentation, and they will show you to a bus. ;If you have any luggage with you, the cast members will take it from you and it will be sent to the ship. ;Make sure your cruise luggage tags that you received in the mail are attached! ;Any carry-ons will be placed underneath the bus and you will get them back after you step off the bus at the port. ;If you have flown in that morning, hopefully you took advantage of the Disney luggage service and your bags are being taken from the airport to the cruise port for you. ;If so, you can skip baggage claim and proceed straight to level 1, side B after leaving the plane. ;It may help to follow the signs to Ground Transportation. ;Once you arrive at Port Canaveral, you will simply get off the bus and head to the security line.
Note:;I am fan of staying at the Hyatt MCO the night before the cruise and using their luggage service to transport our luggage straight from our hotel room to the ship. ;I have a post dedicated to that process here. ;You must use DCL transfers to do this.