Before you sail away with Disney Cruise Line, you may want to book activities like spa services, shore excursions, and adult dining. The process can be overwhelming but we have a full guide to the experience.
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Disney Cruise Line Pre-Booking Overview
Certain Disney Cruise Line offerings must be booked beforehand (or at least, should be booked beforehand). These include dining at adults-only venues like Palo and Remy, spa services, port excursions, mixology and tasting sessions, select character experiences, and photo packages. Guests can pre-book on the Disney Cruise Line website or app.
When Can I Book Activities?
You can book activities after you have paid for your stateroom in full and when your booking window opens. This process begins with paying your deposit (20% of the total payment), which must be paid within three days of booking. When the final payment is due depends on the cruise length:
- Cruise of 5 nights or less: final payment is due 90 days in advance of your embarkation day
- Cruises of 6 nights or longer: final payment is due 120 days in advance
When you log into the Disney Cruise Line website or app (with the same log-in as all your MyDisney accounts), you can view the date your final payment is due. Once you have paid in full, it says the stateroom is paid.
The same page displays online check-in details. Online check-in opens five weeks before embarkation but you don’t need to complete this to book activities.
If you haven’t paid in full and try to book activities, you won’t be able to make selections and a note will say, “Pay in full to book.” But you can start viewing activities when your booking window opens even if you haven’t paid in full.
Speaking of booking windows — this is separate from the payment window and is determined by your Castaway Club level. Castaway Club is what all guests become part of after sailing with Disney Cruise Line once. Your Castaway Club level is determined by how many sailings you’ve taken. You must sail with Disney Cruise Line once every 5 years to maintain your status.
Here are the windows for pre-booking activities:
- First-time guests: 75 days prior to sail date
- Silver Castaway Club Member: 90 days prior to sail date
- Gold Castaway Club Member: 105 days prior to sail date
- Platinum Castaway Club Member: 120 days prior to sail date
- Pearl Castaway Club Member: 123 days prior to sail date
- Concierge Guests: 130 days prior to sail date*
Concierge Guests can book onboard activities up to 130 days prior to sail date by contacting the Shoreside Concierge Associate team. Online booking for Concierge Guests is available 123 days prior to sail date.
Most activities and offerings are available to book when these windows open. Special character experiences like the Royal Gathering open at a later date.
You can add or remove activities up to 3 days prior to sailing.
Where Can I Book?
Once you have paid in full and your booking window is open, you can start selecting activities on the Disney Cruise Line website or app. For help, email Disney Cruise Line or call (800) 951-3532 (check their phone directory for international numbers).
Disney Cruise Line Website
To pre-book activities on the Disney Cruise Line website, log in and click on the “Already Booked” tab to find your cruise.
You’ll see a page listing any cruises you have booked. It will automatically be on the “Cruise Details” tab displaying payment and online check-in details.
This box on the right advertises “Cruise Activities.” Clicking “Book Now” will take you to the “My Plans” page. You can navigate to the same place by clicking the “My Plans” tab next to “Cruise Details.”
The “My Plans” page shows your cruise’s itinerary, including dates and ports. Activities are organized by date. To look at what activities are available on a day, click “Add Activities” next to the date.
This will show a menu with the following options:
- Onboard Fun
- Port Adventures
- Dining
- Nursery
- Spa & Fitness
If you have no children eligible for the “it’s a small world” Nursery, that option will be grayed out.
From this list, select the type of activity you want to view.
Disney Cruise Line App
If you’re using the Disney Cruise Line app to pre-book, then open the app, log in, and select “At Home.” You’ll then see your reservations. Select the cruise you want to book for.
From there, you can scroll down to view squares for different types of activities.
Clicking one of those squares will prompt you to select a date. Any days without the available activity will be grayed out. In the screenshot above, Days 1, 5, and 6 are unavailable because we clicked “Port Adventures.”
You can also pre-book activities by clicking the “My Plans” tab and then the “Add Activities” button next to a date. It will give you the options:
- Spa & Fitness
- Onboard Fun
- Adult Dining
Port Adventures will show up if it’s a port day. Nursery will show up if you have an eligible child.
After finding your plans in the app or on the website, the booking process is mostly the same.
Unfortunately, there is no search function in pre-booking, so you have to scroll through all the available activities and try selecting different days to find what you want when you want. You can click “Change Day” at the top of the page online or in the app without having to navigate backward.
“Port Adventures” does offer a filter feature that makes activities easier to find. The filters are:
- Experience Type
- Activity Level
- Accessibility
- Price Range
Each activity lists its name, age range if applicable, location if available, how long it will take, and pricing.
If an activity is sold out, it will say so and you won’t be able to select it.
When you find something you want to do, hit “Select.” You can then select eligible guests in your stateroom to do the activity and click “Check Availability.”
It will show you open time slots for the amount of people in your group and you can select what’s most convenient for you. There may only be one time slot available. You can hit cancel if you change your mind. Hitting “Save” will book the activity.
What Activities Can I Pre-Book?
Photo Packages (Onboard Fun)
The only photo option available to pre-book is the unlimited package, which gives you unlimited digital downloads of all photos taken on your sailing up to 45 days after debarkation.
While most pre-booked activities are at set prices regardless of when you book, the photo package is discounted if you purchase before your sailing. It’s an “activity” you can select under “Day 1” of “My Plans” although it will be available for the whole cruise. Unlike other activities, you only need to select one person in your stateroom to book the package.
Shutters Portrait Studio (Onboard Fun)
Guests can book a complimentary private 30-minute photography session at Shutters Portrait Studio. These sessions are not included as part of photo packages and photos must be purchased separately.
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique (Onboard Fun)
The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique experience at sea is similar to on land. It’s a salon for young guests to receive princess-inspired transformations. The packages are:
- Deluxe Carriage Package: Hairstyling, shimmering makeup and face gem, princess sash, cinch sack, nail polish, and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique T-shirt
- Castle Package: Hairstyling, shimmering makeup and face gem, princess necklace, sash, cinch sack, nail polish, Disney Princess gown of your choice, and coordinating accessories
- Royal Knight Costume Package: Knight costume, knight backpack, hairstyling with gel, mighty sword and shield, and confetti
- Captain Mickey Costume Package: Hairstyling with gel and confetti, captain cinch sack, autograph book and pen, Captain Mickey costume and hat
On Pirate Party Nights, the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique becomes Pirates League. To find this when pre-booking, select “Onboard Fun” on each date until you see Pirates League (this also gives you a heads up about which night of your sailing is pirate night if any adults want to plan outfits). Pirates League offers these packages:
- Pirate Costume (Youth): Choice of pirate costume, makeup application, cinch bag, accessories
- Swashbuckle: Pirate vest and waist belt, makeup application, cinch bag, accessories
- Pirate Makeup and Accessories: Makeup application, cinch bag, accessories
Character Experiences (Onboard Fun)
Special character experiences available to pre-book include the Royal Gathering, Royal Court Royal Tea, and Olaf’s Royal Picnic. These usually happen only once during a sailing.
The Royal Gathering is essentially a pre-booked meet and greet with Disney royalty. While Disney Cruise Line doesn’t announce which characters will be at the Royal Gathering, it’s mostly classic Disney Princesses. These characters meet on the ship at other times but booking the Royal Gathering guarantees you a spot. Complimentary tickets can be booked 30 days prior to sailing.
Royal Court Royal Tea (Disney Magic, Wonder, Fantasy, Dream) and Olaf’s Royal Picnic (Disney Wish) are available for kids ages 3 to 12 (and their adult guardians). These are parties featuring character appearances, snacks, and gifts. Reservations are required and limited.
Tastings/Mixology Sessions (Onboard Fun)
Tastings and mixology sessions are reserved for guests aged 21+. Most of these seminars are $45 or $50 but some are more expensive depending on the experience. During the (usually) 60-minute sessions, guests learn directly from the sommeliers and bartenders of Disney Cruise Line. Sessions that may be available are:
- Prima notte at Palo: Italian wines and small bites
- Kick-Start Your Day Beverage Tasting: 30-minute session on embarkation day
- Champagne Tasting
- Tequila & Margarita Tasting
- Whiskey Tasting
- Bourbon Tasting
- Mojito & Caipirinha Tasting
- Martini Tasting
- Rum Tasting
- Beer Tasting
- Chocolate & Liquor Tasting
- Cognac Tasting
- Stem to Stern Wine Tasting
- Amari Tasting
- Mixology Class
These take place during the day at one of the ship’s bars.
Nursery
The “it’s a small world” nursery is for kids ages 6 months to 3 years old on most sailings. They are for kids from 1 to 3 years old on Transatlantic, Hawaii, and Panama Canal itineraries. While pre-booking is not required for Disney Cruise Line’s other child and teen clubs, the nursery provides full childcare services and reservations are required. They can be made or changed once on the ship but they are extremely limited and on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The minimum reservation time is one hour. An hour is $9 for the first child and $8 for each additional child in the same family (as of 2023).
Nursery reservations must be canceled up to 4 hours in advance to avoid cancellation charges. Guests who cancel fewer than 4 hours before their reservation time will forfeit 50% of the cost of care. Guests who fail to arrive for a reservation without canceling will be charged the full cost of the time reserved.
Spa & Salon
There are dozens of spa services available on Disney Cruise Line ships. The Senses Spa & Salon is on all the ships. The Disney Wish also has the Untangled Salon and Hook’s Barbery.
Offerings include:
- Swedish Massage
- Swedish Massage for Couples
- Aroma Spa Seaweed Massage
- Aroma Stone Therapy
- Deep Tissue Muscle Massage
- Cabana Swedish Massage at Castaway Serenity Bay
- Couples Cabana Swedish Massage at Castaway Serenity Bay
- Thai Herbal Poultice Massage
- Bamboo Massage
- Pro-Collagen Age Defy Facial
- High Performance Skin Energizer for Men
- Dynamic Resurfacing Precision Peel
- Grown Alchemist Skin Renew Facial
- BIOTEC Skin Resurfacer Facial
- BIOTEC Firm-a-Lift Facial
- BIOTEC Super Charger for Men
- BIOTEC Line Eraser Facial
- Couture Touch
- Ionithermie Cellulite Reduction
- Acupuncture – The Point of Well-Being
Spa services and treatments range from 50 minutes to 100 minutes long.
Spa Villa services are available in treatment rooms with open-air verandahs on the Magic, Wonder, Dream, and Fantasy. Villa amenities include personal whirlpools, showers, loungers, tea ceremonies, and foot cleansing ceremonies. Various treatments are available for couples. The Disney Wish offers similar amenities and services at Spa Suites.
Salon and barber services available include:
- Teeth Whitening (30 minutes)
- Kérastase® Elixir Ultimate 24-Carat (20 minutes)
- Blow Dry
- Shampoo, Cut and Style
- Up Do
- Fire and Ice Manicure (45 minutes)
- Fire and Ice Pedicure (60 minutes)
At the Rejuvenation Spa, guests can “Discover an array of cosmetic body and facial treatments intended to safely and effectively improve the appearance of your skin.” For treatments at the Rejuvenation Spa, guests must meet with an onboard Spa Physician for a complimentary 30-minute consultation prior to booking.
The Senses Spa & Salon is for guests 18 years of age and older. Guests 13 to 17 can have services but a parent or guardian must make the booking and accompany the minor for the duration of the treatment. Disney cannot provide massage services to pregnant guests in their first trimester. Guests with cancer must obtain clearance from an oncologist to partake in massages.
Reservations must be made online or on the ship after 1 p.m. on the first day. If appointments become full, guests can request to be put on a waiting list. 24-hour notice is required for cancellations. Guests who do not cancel within 24 hours will incur a 50% fee.
Fitness Center
There is a fitness center on every ship with various equipment open for guests to use most of the day. There are some sessions and classes that need to be pre-booked.
One-on-one sessions include:
- Metabolism Test with Body Composition Analysis
- Personal Training
- Nutritional Consultation
Fitness classes include:
- Body Sculpt Boot Camp
- Complimentary Fitness Classes
- Pure Form Pilates
- Pure Form Yoga
For sailings originating in the U.S., guests between the ages of 14 and 17 must be accompanied by an adult or guardian to enter the Fitness Center. For sailings originating in the U.K., use of the Fitness Center is restricted to adults 18 years of age and older. Proper attire and athletic shoes must be worn at all times.
Adult Dining
There are adult-exclusive dining venues on every ship, with more on the newer, bigger ships. If dining at an adults-exclusive venue for dinner, guests will skip their main rotational dining restaurant. These restaurants do cost extra, are reserved for guests 18 and older, and have a dress code.
The Palo and Palo Steakhouse dress code was relaxed in early 2024.
Adult-exclusive restaurants aboard Disney Cruise Line ships are elegant dining experiences. Guests are requested to dress in a manner consistent with the restaurant’s sophistication. Formal or semi-formal attire is recommended. Also permitted is dress-casual attire with a polished look, such as dress pants, jeans in good condition, collared shirts, dressy tops and lifestyle shoes. For brunch at Palo and Palo Steakhouse, dress shorts are acceptable. Clothing such as T-shirts, swimwear and sports attire are not permitted.
Disney Cruise Line adult-exclusive restaurants dress code (as of June 2024)
Here’s a list of the adults-exclusive dining venues:
- Palo (Magic, Wonder, Dream, Fantasy): Northern Italian cuisine
- Palo Steakhouse (Wish): Blend of Italian and modern steakhouse fare
- Remy (Dream, Fantasy): French cuisine
- Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement (Wish): French cuisine
Each venue offers dinner, private dining, and other experiences like brunch, lunch, and dessert experiences.
Reservations for these restaurants are limited. Guests can make up to two dinner reservations at Palo and Palo Steakhouse, as long as one is on the first night of their cruise.
Gratuity is included in the charges at these venues. They require a minimum of 24 hours’ notice to cancel a reservation. If they don’t cancel, guests will incur 100% of the per person cost.
Port Adventures
Port adventures will vary depending on where you’re going but usually include things like snorkeling, boat rentals, and tours. Check out the full list of port adventures for Disney Cruise Line’s new Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Visit the Port Adventures page of the Disney Cruise Line website for more information.
Finding Booked Activities
After you’ve booked an activity, you may want to double-check your schedule and change things. To find an activity you’ve already booked, just navigate to “My Plans” on the website or app.
You will see anything you have pre-booked listed on the day of the activity. The details provided include the time, duration, location, and guests.
Once you are on the ship, you will be able to access the itinerary of all activities in the Disney Cruise Line app. Your pre-booked activities will remain under “My Plans,” alongside any other offerings you save. Make sure to double-check the details of your pre-booked activity once you’re on the ship as locations may change.
Can I Cancel or Re-Schedule Activities?
Disney Cruise Line does not provide a way to reschedule an activity or change the guests attached to the booking. In order to re-schedule something, you must cancel the original activity and book a new one. We recommend booking the new activity before canceling the other to ensure there are times available.
To cancel for any reason, find the activity in your plans. Click “Cancel Activity.” You will then be asked if you’re sure and can click “Yes, Cancel” to follow through or “Keep” to save the activity. As previously noted, you can book or cancel activities until up to 3 days before your sailing.
You don’t pay in advance for most activities so you don’t have to worry about losing money. Canceling an activity before your sailing results in no cancelation charges.
Can I Book, Cancel, or Re-Schedule Activities on Board?
If you change your mind about what you have booked or forget to book an activity, you can still book once on the ship. You can do this through the Disney Cruise Line app or ask at guest services.
For some activities, it’s better to ask at their designated location. For example, if you want to change a spa experience, visit Senses Spa. Guest services can help you, but may have to call the spa anyway.
On most of the ships, guest services is located off the atrium on deck 3. On the Disney Wish (and soon the Treasure), guest services is on deck 4 above the Grand Hall.
Re-scheduling an activity on board can be easier because the Cast Members can immediately tell you if another time is available. Then you don’t have to scroll through your app and select different dates searching for what you want. However, there are usually fewer times available once on board because everyone has already booked.
Sometimes, extra activities are added or other guests cancel, opening up more spots for something previously sold out.
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