disney cruise check in process

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Disney Cruise Line Check-in Process Online: Everything to Know

We recently went through the Disney Cruise Line Check-in process and wish we knew everything we're sharing below ahead of time. It would have avoided confusion and cut down on the time it took to complete it all. Alas, we're smarter and wiser now!

Luckily, we're sharing our valuable knowledge with you , including screenshots of the check-in process (which we did on a mobile phone) and what to expect.

Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post, which means we may earn a small commission if you click the link and proceed with a purchase  at no cost to you . We truly only recommend cruises, experiences, products, and services we personally use. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Creating a Smoother Check-in Process for You

In order to create the smoothest check-in process possible, we are also sharing what you need to have ready ahead of time . Additionally, we'll tell you the info we wish we knew in advance that will help you for your own Disney Cruise Line (DCL) check-in.

Get excited because you'll know what time you can arrive at the port to start boarding your Disney cruise after you complete the check-in process! Woohoo! (We'll also explain why that Port Arrival time is important.)

Towards the end of the post, we'll share what you can do after you check-in in the days leading up to your cruise.

⭐️ Preparing for your Disney Cruise Line Check-in

Check-in opens to passengers a minimum of 30 days before embarkation. It must be completed by one day before your sail date. Only guests in good standing who have paid the balance of their cruise booking can proceed with checking in.

Castaway Club Perk: Earlier Check in

If you are a member of Castaway Club, which you are automatically enrolled in for free, after your first Disney cruise, you can check in according to the following:

• Silver: 33 days before the cruise
• Gold: 35 days before the cruise
• Platinum: 38 days before the cruise
• Pearl: 40 days before the cruise

Disney Cruise Line Concierge Guests Check In

It does not matter when concierge guests check in as long as they do so before the cut off date for online check in. This is because they get Group One boarding anyway.

➜ Download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App

First, you want to ensure you have the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app downloaded on your phone for your online check-in. You will want the app for your cruise anyway since it allows you to text with fellow passengers while on board, free of charge or free of an internet plan.

You will find links to download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app here via the Apple App Store or Google Play for Android users.

If you have never downloaded the app, you'll also need the following to log in :

• Disney Cruise reservation number
• Your Disney Cruise account login info (username and password)

You can do other things in the DCL app, including:

• Manage your reservation.
• Explore & book activities.
• View additional cruise options, like adding air or ground transportation and adding dining or special requests.
• Onboard chat (the free text messaging we mentioned above), which allows you to chat with fellow passengers or a crew member – the most fun part of this is the cool Disney emojis in the chat feature.
• Access your cruise calendar and things like menus for each restaurant during your cruise.
• View your cruise statement balance.
• See DCL's latest cruise specials and offerings for your next vacation.
• Explore the ship with the app's deck-to-deck plan, bow to stern .
• View the ports of call and daily itinerary, like what time you dock and what time you need to be back onboard before the cruise departs for the next destination.

⬇︎ Download our free check-in printable!

Download our free Disney Cruise Line Check-in Cheat Sheet

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➜ What You Need to have on Hand, Ready to Upload for Check-In

• Photo of every traveler's passport .
• A clear photo of each passenger , solo.
• A credit card that you'll use for purchases while you're on the cruise.
• Flight information (if you're flying to the port) .
• Hotel information for before/after your Disney cruise (if applicable).

☆ It's important to have all of the info above handy when you arrive at your Port of Embarkation too. Do not put them in any luggage you'll pass off to the crew curbside.

Keep these things in your carry-on bag that you're going to have on you at all times.

➜ Checking in Large Groups of Travelers

If you're checking in a lot of travelers for your cruise – for example, eight, ten, or more – one person can check everyone in.

Link all the reservations into one account so you can change between them easily. Then make sure the one person checking everyone in has EVERYTHING needed to do it, which is referenced in this post. (Security photos, passports or birth certificate info, etc.)

Our check-in printable has a checklist to ensure you’re prepared for check-in! Be sure to download that through this post.

⭐️ Be sure to download our free printable Disney Cruise Line Check-in Cheat Sheet, in the box above or here , so you're fully prepared, including a checklist of what you need for a smooth online check-in! ⭐️

Below, we'll go into depth about each item you need to check-in, in the bulleted list above.

➜ Photo of Your Passport

You'll need a photo of every traveler's passport, taken one at a time (not a group photo of the passports). It has to be a clear, unobstructed, glare-free photo. Alternatively, a Passport Card may be acceptable if you travel between the United States, Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, and the Caribbean.

This is harder to get than you would think! We recommend taking the photo during daylight, near a window with natural light. Turn off any artificial light in your home. Then take your photo.

If you can't get the light coming in from your window to stop reflecting on your passport, try closing the blinds a little or closing a shade that still allows light to come through.

You'll upload citizenship documents for check-in if you don't have a passport.

Check-In Tip:

Passport Card

You can use a Passport Card to check in if you are traveling between the U.S. and Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, in lieu of a passport. They may be easier to photograph.

You cannot use this option if you're cruising elsewhere, including Europe.

If you're cruising between the United States and the Caribbean, including Castaway Cay, you can use your Passport or Passport Card.

➜ Solo Photo of Each Passenger

Disney wants a photo of each passenger for their onboard account. It should be taken from the shoulders up, looking straight at the camera.

It cannot be the same exact photo as your official ID. (In other words, you cannot simply take a photo of the image in a passport.) However, use that photo as guidance for what they want.

Think of your passport or driver's license photo. This is the type of photo DCL is looking for of each passenger to identify him/her upon check-in/out of the ship at ports.

We simply looked for a photo of us from vacation without a crazy background, where we were looking at the camera straight-on. This doesn't have to be a glamour shot – it simply has to show what you look like, without a face mask or sunglasses , looking directly at the camera.

There is a size limit to how large the photo can be (minimum and maximum size). Be sure that it meets these requirements before you upload it. The process will move along quicker if it's not huge (especially because cameras take huge-sized photos these days in terms of storage space).

The check-in website may crash if the photo is beyond the photo size limits it states. (Trust us – it crashed a few times for us because the image was too big. It stopped crashing when we reduced the file size.)

➜ Proof of Vaccination (No Longer Required)

Before November 2022, you needed to have a photo of vaccination cards for any vaccinated passenger. While this is no longer required, regulations/requirements can change anytime.

➜ Credit Card

You'll input the info of a credit card you want to use for purchases while onboard during online check-in. Have one handy.

Alternatively, you can choose to pay for cruise expenses in cash. If you do so, you'll have a credit limit depending on the length of your cruise. If you reach the limit, you'll have to go to guest services to pay off the bill (in cash) before you can charge more to your account.

➜ Flight Information

Have your flight info ready to input so you don't have to search for it. If you are driving to the port, then you do not have to enter this info. (You simply check “No” when they ask, “Are you flying in for your cruise vacation?”)

➜ Hotel Information

This includes any Orlando hotel (for example), Port Canaveral area hotel, Air BnB, VRBO, etc. that you may be staying at before or after your cruise.

If this does not apply to you, then you do not have to input this information.

⭐️ Check in to Your Disney Cruise Line Sailing 30 Days Prior to Embarkation: Timezone Info

Online check-in is available for your sailing 30 days prior to the day you board the ship. We thought this was according to the time in the same time zone as your port of embarkation.

However, it's not. It is at midnight EST, regardless of where you are or what timezone you're sailing from.

Why does this matter? Because if you live in England but your cruise leaves from Port Canaveral , Florida, you can check in at midnight EST . You cannot check in at midnight BST time (England's local time).

We tried to check into our cruise while we were enjoying a barge cruise in France. Dan and I specifically stayed up late just in case the countdown showing in the app was correct.

Forcing myself to stay up until midnight in France, I realized that somehow the Disney counter switched to local time in France during the trip. The countdown was incorrect .

Imagine our disappointment (and exhaustion) when we realized that we could n ot check in at midnight. Instead, I set an alarm for 6:00am (six hours later) to check into our cruise at midnight EST . And voila, we could check-in.

➜ So, if you're wondering, “Is the 30 days local time for Disney Cruise Line, or is it my local time where I live?” The answer is that it's Disney Cruise Line's headquarters local time, midnight EST. Disney Cruise Line officially confirmed this for us via email correspondence with their PR team.

Check-in, and any modifications to your check-in, must be completed by the day before you sail.

⭐️ Disney Cruise Line Online Check-In Process

➜ begin check-in.

When you open the DCL Navigator app at any time before your cruise, you'll see an awesome countdown to your sailing. We love that they use emojis in the counter. They sub out a lot of the zeros for fun Disney characters. (A lot of the characters are also available in the app chat feature while you are on your cruise.)

When you can check in, you'll see that a little button that says “Begin Check-In” appears in the app (screenshot below, right). This button will not appear until 30 days before your cruise, at midnight EST.

You can see that our Online Check-In screenshot says “6:00” on the upper lefthand corner because we were in France at the time of check-in; it was 12:00 midnight EST.

⭐️ Complete Check-In Items on the Overview List

When you hit the “Begin Check-In” button, it will take you out of the app. It opens an internet browser window to begin checking in.

You will see a checklist for what you need to do to complete check-in. The icons, which are silhouettes of the faces of classic Disney characters (like Goofy, Donald, and Minnie) are not filled in if you haven't completed the task.

But as you fill in the information, you'll see the faces start to fill in with more graphic and colorful drawings. So cute, right?

In the screenshots below, you'll see the top two don't have the faces filled in yet. In the bottom two screenshots, the faces are filled in, which indicates we completed those tasks for check-in.

➜ Moving Through the Steps of DCL Check-In

You'll be glad you will have already gathered what we recommended to have on hand, ready to go, as you move through the Disney Cruise Line check-in steps. Things will move as efficiently as possible this way.

Each step is sequential. You cannot jump ahead to the Port Arrival Time, for example, then go back to filling in your contact information. You must fill in your contact information first before it lets you move to the next step.

As you can see from the screenshots below, we filled in the information for our Travel Plans, picked our Port Arrival Time (the BEST part of check-in), accepted the terms of the Cruise Contract, and we were done.

All DCL guests, including Platinum Castaway Club members , need to select a Port Arrival Time.

➜ Port Arrival Time

The Port Arrival Time is a timeslot you are given or select during the check in process. This is the time you are able to arrive at the cruise terminal to board the ship on embarkation day.

It's an important timeslot! If you're able to, given how you're arriving at the port (especially if you're driving yourself) you'll want to select the earliest available arrival time.

This is the time you can arrive at the port and drop your luggage off, curbside. (The luggage is delivered to your cabin later in the day.) Then you go inside the terminal to continue your check-in, in person, and you get your boarding group. The earlier the boarding group, the earlier you get on the ship. This means the longer your cruise is, even if that's just hours longer.

Disney has a lot of shorter cruise itineraries that are three or four days that head to Castaway Cay and Nassau, then head back to Florida. This Port Arrival Time particularly matters for shorter cruises. Why not maximize your time onboard a Disney ship if you can?

If you want one of the earliest arrival times, it's imperative you check in for your cruise at midnight. Being one of the first to check in means you will increase your chances of being able to select an early arrival time.

For Guests taking Disney Cruise Line Transportation

The caveat to the Port Arrival Time you get during check in is if you are taking DCL transportation from your Orlando-area hotel. This is especially true for resorts that are on-property at Walt Disney World. If this is the case, your Port Arrival Time doesn't really matter because you will arrive at the port when the bus drops you off.

➜ Disney Cruise Line Website Delays During Check-In

We're not going to sugarcoat this: Disney websites are notoriously slow and buggy.

It's not uncommon to get an error message that the website is experiencing complications during check-in. This is very frustrating when you feel like you're racing against the clock to get your earliest Port Arrival Time and have to do the steps sequentially as the app presents them.

Trust us, we know, and we can relate. We were on vacation overseas the last time we had to check-in for a Disney cruise…at 6:00am local time! It wasn't what we wanted to deal with. Alas, we are all at the mercy of Disney.

The good news is that Disney periodically saves your work. If you need to reload check-in, simply re-open the app. Log in again. Then click “Complete Check-In,” and it will take you back to the check-in website.

You may lose some check-in work (we did), but not all of it. It usually doesn't take much time to re-enter the info.

⭐️ Confirmation You're Checked-In for Your Cruise

When you have successfully completed the online check-in process, you'll see the message in the screenshot below, that says, “You're All Set to Sail!”

An important note is that while it says you're set to sail, your online check-in may still show as “ Pending Review “. This is because a Disney Cruise Line cast member has to check the photos you submitted (a real human, from what we understand), and it's a long process.

It could potentially say “Pending Review” until you sail. If it does, don't worry. We have heard that this is common. In our case, our account said “Pending Review” up until the day we embarked on our cruise.

As long as you bring all the documents with you that you uploaded to the app, you should be golden when you arrive at the port to embark on your Disney Cruise. (Remember you must keep all of these documents in a carry-on bag with you at all times during embarkation.)

➜ Disney Cruise Line Port Arrival Cards for your Digital Apple Wallet

If you have an iPhone, one of the coolest things you can add to your Apple Wallet after check-in is your Port Arrival Form QR codes. This makes it extra easy to find those important QR codes you need when you get to the cruise terminal to embark on your Disney Cruise.

We're not 100% sure if the same cool feature is available to Android phone users with Google Pay. But if you know (because you use an Android and you've gone through the check-in process with Disney Cruise Line, firsthand) please let us know in the comments!

➜ Your Check-In Should be Good to Go!

Though there used to be another step to clear “Safe Passage by Inspire Diagnostics” (aka: “Safe Passage”) through the end of September 2022 for some of the Disney Cruise Line ships (Disney Dream, Wish, Wonder, and Fantasy) and through November 7 for Disney Magic, you no longer need to do this.

The official statement from Disney Cruise Line to its guests was the following:

Beginning November 14, 2022, for sailings departing from the United States, Disney Cruise Line will no longer require Guests (regardless of vaccination status) to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to sailing.

The Safe Passage portal is no longer available as of January 1, 2023.

Visit DCL's “ Know Before You Go ” page for the latest updates.

➜ How long did the Disney Cruise Line Online Check-In Process Take Us?

It took us 50 minutes to complete the DCL online check-in process. In an ideal world, it should have only taken 20 minutes. But it is what it is.

To reiterate a sentiment we mentioned earlier: we're all at the mercy of Disney Cruise Line's website speed and how well it works – or doesn't work – when you check in.

Our fingers and toes are crossed, and we're knocking on all the wood for you that the website is working and it's quick and painless when you go to check in! If it's not working, simply keep logging back in and refreshing things.

⭐️ Important Information Regarding your DCL Port Arrival Time and Sail-Day Embarkation

There is nothing quite like the morning you board a Disney Cruise ship. The excitement is almost unbearable!

I always look forward to driving to Port Canaveral from Orlando and seeing that first glimpse of the iconic DCL cruise ship stack in the distance. It comes into view as you cross over the second bridge on A1A to get to the port.

The most important thing to know about arriving at the terminal is that you can only arrive within your Port Arrival Time window . This is the 15-minute time block that you chose when you checked in.

Don't arrive an hour earlier, hoping they let you embark early. Though we have heard if they are running ahead of schedule they might let you arrive early, it would be a bummer if they say no and then you have to find something to do to kill thirty minutes or an hour of time. Especially because it's not quite enough time to explore Cape Canaveral .

If you forget your Port Arrival Time, you can easily view it on your Port Arrival Form. It's also in your iPhone Wallet if you added the cards to the iPhone Wallet app.

If you arrive early, they will tell you to come back later during your scheduled time. They might tell you to come back later after several other time blocks clear if you arrive late.

⭐️ Disney Cruise Line Check In FAQs

✦ if one reservation in our traveling party has concierge but the rest of us don't, can we get in with the concierge guests.

No, there is no formal way to do that. But we have heard that once you're at the port, you can simply ask someone who works there if they'll allow you to board as a group at the earlier boarding time. Sometimes they say yes.

✦ I accidentally only registered half of our party for check in, then realized later and now my group has two different Port Arrival Times. Can I change the later ones to be earlier?

The answer is no, you cannot change the later time to be earlier. But you can arrive later than your Port Arrival Time and board as a whole group with later group.

✦ We're doing a closed-loop cruise and don't have a passport. What do we need to upload for documentation proof?

You must have a photo or scan of a birth certificate and photo ID ready to upload upon check in if you don't have a passport. Note that this is only true of a cruise that starts and ends in a US port and goes to certain areas.

If you have a passport, then — without a doubt — upload that as your photo documentation.

✦ We will be checking in ten people for our Disney Cruise. Would it be best for three people to do 3 or 4 check ins so that we can get the same boarding time?

One person can do all the check-ins for your cruise. You can link all the reservations into one account and change between them easily. Just make sure the one person who is checking everyone in has everything we mention that you need to do it. (Security photos, passports or birth certificate info, etc.)

Our check-in printable has a checklist on it to ensure you’re prepared for check-in! Be sure to download that.

✦ When in the process of doing the check-in steps. Do you need to go through them in order or can you jump ahead to selecting the Port Arrival Time first and then go back and fill the rest?

The system will not allow you to select a Port Arrival Time until you’ve completed the previous steps.

✦ Can you take photos of your passports and upload those photos when checking in? Or do you actually need to create a file (pdf)?

You can take photos of the passports on your phone to upload. Just make sure that the photos you create are glare-free and all the information is legible.

✦ We’re staying at Walt Disney World before and after our cruise. Should I mark “no” when it asks if we’re flying in?

Our Disney Travel Agent, Becca Plans Vacations , helped us with the official answer to this question. If you won’t have a car at the port, say you’re flying in even if it’s at the start of your WDW trip.

✦ Is it best to check in on the app through your phone or on a computer?

It's best to do it in the app on your phone. However, we know some people check in through their computers, especially if they need bigger fonts for eyesight reasons or they have trouble pressing small links and buttons on their phone.

Some people even have their phone and computer in front of them to see what's faster. Do what's best for you, but we personally stick to the app.

✦ What happens if you arrive 30 or 40 minutes prior to port arrival time?

If you arrive before your Port Arrival Time , ask the staff if they'll let you arrive early. If they're running early that day they might, but they may also tell you that you have to come back later.

✦ How long does the security check usually take at Port Canaveral?

We have embarked at Port Canaveral many times. It usually takes about an hour or less from parking our car to getting inside the terminal. Twenty to thirty minutes is a good approximation for the security line itself. However, that's just getting through security.

The time you board the ship is dependent upon the boarding time you receive once you arrive at the port and go through security.

⭐️ What to Do After You Check-in for Your Disney Cruise

➜ mark your calendar with important dates.

You'll want to mark your calendars with the date below. (Don't forget to get our Free Check-in Cheat Sheet Printable if you haven't already, which makes counting the days super easy.)

• After check-in, before you sail: Enjoy booking things like special dinner reservations at Enchanté , Palo, or Remy's, depending on the Disney Cruise Line ship you'll be on. You can also book spa treatments in the app and schedule gifts, like flowers or chocolate-covered strawberries, for delivery to your stateroom. (Read our “Start to Pack for Your Disney Cruise” info below for great things to purchase and bring onboard to decorate your room.)
• 3 days before your cruise is when online bookings for cruise activities close, like spa treatments and dining reservations.
• The day before you sail : mark your calendar to buy wine or beer if you want to bring some onboard. But seriously…mark your calendar to go to a local wine/beer store if you want to bring some on board. This way, you won't have to worry about it the day you embark! Disney's policy is as follows:

Disney Cruise Line Guests 21 years and older may bring a maximum of 2 bottles of unopened wine or champagne (no larger than 750 ml) or 6 beers (no larger than 12 ounces) on board at the beginning of the voyage and at each port of call. These beverages must be packed in carry-on (not checked) bags or luggage. Guests wishing to consume wine or champagne that they have brought on board in one of the dining rooms will be charged a corking fee of $25.00 per bottle. Disney's Policy stated on their website

• Date for the day you sail . (Just in case you haven't already marked it in your calendar!) You'll also want to set a reminder to complete the Pre-Trip Embarkation Health Questionnaire , which is available in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app on your embarkation day.

If you need to figure out any dates above, simply Google, “What day is __ days before [enter your sailing date]” and Google will show you the date in its results. It's a beautiful thing.

➜Start to Pack for Your Disney Cruise

When we come back from one trip, we're always excited for the next. Whether you're cruising as adults only on Disney Cruise Line or looking forward to a DCL sailing with the entire family, we know it's never too soon to think about packing.

If you're going to the theme parks before or after your trip, be sure to check out our Ultimate Year-Round Walt Disney World and Universal Packing List , which includes a helpful printable.

➜ Order Cruise Essential Items in Advance

This is because you may need to order some cruise items ahead of time, which might take time to ship. Such things as Blissets (which are awesome and fashionable anti-nausea bands ), or perhaps custom Disney Cruise Line attire on Etsy , take time to arrive at your doorstep.

Other things may be available on Amazon, where you can use Prime to ship within days. If you don't already have a Prime account, now is the perfect time to sign up for a free 30-day trial so you'll get free shipping.

We also have a list of Cruise Essentials for you to browse in our Amazon shop , from handheld fans to beat the heat to Apple AirTags if you're checking luggage, to reef-safe sunscreen, and more.

➜ Get Trip Insurance

If you didn't opt for Disney's trip insurance but still want to explore covering your trip, it may not be too late! We never get trip insurance through the cruise line because it's more cost affective to get it elsewhere and we like what third-parties include.

⭐️ Disney Cruise Activities: Make any Desired Reservations from Dining to the Spa and Port Excursions

As your cruise countdown continues, you can do some additional things in the app. For example, you can make reservations or appointments for dining and the spa ahead of time. You can access this online app feature up to three days before your cruise.

If dining (like Enchante on the Disney Wish , for example) is showing as unavailable, that usually means there are no more advance reservations available. (In that case, you'll want to ask about how to make a reservation while on board the day you embark.)

Port excursions and spa reservations can also be made in advance from within the app.

If a spa treatment, or appointment for Hook's Barbery on Disney Wish , is showing as “Sold Out,” you may want to check about availability once you board the ship on embarkation day.

Cruise Essential FOR YOUR TROPICAL VACATION:

The only thing we have tried that gets rid of bug bites from your skin is The Bug Bite Thing . This item is a MUST pack when we travel. We always pack one in our backpack/day bag and another in our luggage. Don't travel without it!

⭐️ Things to Do Nearby in Port Canaveral

If you are sailing from Disney Cruise Line's Port Canaveral Terminal and are looking for things to do nearby, we've got you covered!

There are many great activities, whether you have a few hours, half a day, a full day, or multiple days.

Check out our recommendations for things to do near Port Canaveral and make the most of your trip to the Florida coast! (Or “Space Coast,” as it's called!)

Going on a Disney Cruise? Read this next:

• Best Disney Cruise Ship, According to DCL Experts
• Experiencing a Disney Cruise without Kids
• Anti-Nausea Medication and Other Cruise Sea Sickness Solutions 

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30 comments.

When in the process of doing the check-in steps. Do you need to go through them in order or can you jump ahead to selecting the Port Arrival Time first and then go back and fill the rest?

Great question, Sebastian. Unfortunately, it will not allow you to select a Port Arrival Time until you’ve completed the steps before it!

We will be checking in ten people for our Disney Cruise. Would it be best for three people to do 3 or 4 check ins so that we can get the same boarding time?

Hi Kathryn – One person can do all the check-ins for your cruise. You can link all the reservations into one account and change between them easily. Just make sure the one person who is checking everyone in has EVERYTHING you need to do it, which we reference in this post. (Security photos, passports or birth certificate info, etc.) Our check-in printable has a checklist on it to ensure you’re prepared for check-in! Be sure to download that through this post. – Mikkel + Dan

We just finished our check-in. There were five people in our party, and we got it done in about 30 minutes, and got an 11:30 port arrival time! I’m pleased.

One hint: if you have a choice between using normal passports or passport cards, keep in mind that passport cards are really easy to photograph, because they lay flat like a credit card or driver’s license. You’ll need to take pictures of both the front and back, but that’s easy.

There are five in our party. Four had passport cards, and one had only a regular passport book. The passport cards worked beautifully, and the app was able to read them to determine the passport numbers, expiration dates, birthdates, names, etc. But the check-in app was unable to read our (admittedly imperfect) photo of the regular passport, so I had to manually read and type in all that info. The passport cards were much easier to deal with.

The passport book is required for international air travel, so everyone in our party has one of those. I was glad that most of our party additionally had the passport cards.

Thank you so much for your comment, Rich! This is very helpful to know. I’m going to add it to the post, but note that passport books are only good for certain countries, just in case someone checking in is going to Europe, for example, for their cruise. I’m glad most of your party had the passport cards too. Great tip! – Mikkel

Can you take screen shots of the passports and upload those photos when checking in or do you actually need to create a file (pdf) for the passports and such? Thanks for the information!

You should be able to if you give the app access to your photos.

We’re staying at Disney World before and after our cruise in April. Should I mark “no” when it asks if we’re flying in? It asks where you’re staying after the cruise but not before, so do we not need to put that anywhere? We’ll be using DCL transportation coming and going.

Hi Jillian! Our Disney Travel Agent, Becca Plans Vacations, helped us with the official answer for you. DCL transport overrides port arrival time so don’t stress about the time you get when you do Disney Cruise Line check-in, in the DCL app. If you won’t have a car at the port, say you’re flying in even if it’s at the start of your WDW trip.

Is it best to do this on a phone or laptop/desktop (actual computer) ?

It’s best to do it on the app through your phone.

I found when checking in several people, it was easier to use my computer to quickly find all the photos to upload. My chubby fingers easily make mistakes on my iphone.

Thank you for that tip, Barb! Have the best time on your Disney Cruise!

What do you do if you arrive 30 or 40 minutes prior to port arrival time?

If you arrive in your own car or private shuttle, you can try to see if they’ll let you come in early but they may turn you away. It could depend on the day or who you talk to. If you arrive in a DCL shuttle (Disney-owned) then they will let you come into the port when you arrive.

Is the check-in 12AM EST when the app clicks to 30 days, or is it technically 12 AM EST when the app clicks to 29 days? I’m getting conflicting information between the app and the web site. The website says 30 days, and the app says a date that’s 29 days left.

Hi Dan! Go by what the app tells you when you’re logged in, which should be the first minute of 30 days before cruise embarkation day. Hope that helps! – Mikkel + Dan

We are a group of 11 people from 3 family groupings. If one person checks all of us in, and gives one credit card, is it possible to change the credit card information after check in so that each family can use a separate credit card?

Hi Marie! We recommending checking in with 1 credit card. Then, after you’re onboard, go to Guest Services to divvy up the accounts and corresponding credit cards as you wish! Hope that helps. – Mikkel + Dan

How long does the security check usually take? We have an arrival time of 12:30, and a massage booked for 1:30 (the only time available for day 1). Is that cutting it too close? I’ve seen some say it was backed up, but that was also during the first few sailings so I’m hoping the kinks are worked out.

Hi Matt! Great question. The security line is pretty fast. It’s usually 10-20 minutes. The only delay we had last time, and why it took more than 20 minutes, was because the US Coast Guard made a surprise visit to the port/ship which delayed their boarding process, which backed up security a little at 11:30 am. This was before guests could board. But it’s pretty rare that happens. Don’t hesitate to tell people that you have a massage booked at 1:30 pm on the ship, just like you’d tell airport TSA if your flight was boarding sooner than later. Everyone at the port is very nice! A lot of FL retirees are working there and they’re very kind and understanding. 🙂 If you arrive at 12:20/12:30 pm for your 12:30 pm port arrival time and head to security efficiently, tell the person who gives you the boarding group number – in particular – that you have a massage. That may help! You could even say “I don’t know if you have any pixie dust on you today, but we’re trying to make a massage for the only time they had left onboard and it’s in less than an hour.” kind of thing. Good luck! Enjoy the massage! – Mikkel

I found your site a few days ago and came back to tell you thank you! This post was incredibly helpful and our checkin process was flawless. I had all the photos ready and waiting on my phone, edited to the correct size. Well written!

Thank you so much, Amber! Comments like yours make us smile from ear to ear and are exactly why we post the content we do…to help other cruisers!!! – Mikkel + Dan

Is a photo with Minnie ears on acceptable for the check in photo?

That’s a good question, Bri. We haven’t tried, so we’re not sure. It’s kind of like a headband so I would think as long as it’s not obstructing your face it is okay. If you try, let us know! – Dan + Mikkel

hello! Did the photo work? with ears? Thank you!

That’s a great question! We don’t know because the person didn’t write back after trying. We’re not even sure she tried!

Just curious if the check-in time you mention is Eastern Time bacause that is the time zone the cruise leaves from. We are cruising out of San DiegoWill the check-in time still be Eastern Time, or will it be Pacific Time?

Hi Pam – please refer to the section in this article that is titled “⭐️ CHECK IN TO YOUR DISNEY CRUISE LINE SAILING 30 DAYS PRIOR TO EMBARKATION: TIMEZONE INFO” – it explains that check in is always EST. Hope that helps – Happy cruising!

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How to Check-In for Your Disney Cruise

Updated January 25, 2024.

Online check-in is similar to pre-COVID sailing. You can begin using either the webpage or the app at 12:01 am Eastern Time. Your check-in date is based on your Castaway Club status.

• Pearl – 40 days before sailing
• Platinum – 38 days before sailing
• Gold – 35 days before sailing
• Silver – 33 days before sailing
• First-Time Disney Cruisers – 30 days before sailing

What Do I Need to Check in for My Disney Cruise?

If you haven’t downloaded the app, now is the time to do it; you will use it for most things on board. The biggest recommendation is to gather all your documents and take all your pictures BEFORE you start completing the form s. Have any flight and hotel information handy.

Guest Information

You will need to provide personal details, including address, contact info & emergency contact. You will need to include a clear image of your passport or proof of citizenship.  Also, you will need a photo/selfie of each guest for your onboard account security photo. The photos must be an image file like a jpg or a png. If you are taking your photos with your iPhone, you will need to export your photos as jpg . 

You will need a picture of the photo page of your passport. If you’re using a driver’s license, you will need to have a photo of the front and the back of it .

If DCL doesn’t accept your passport/proof of citizenship or security photo, they will email you to inform you that a new one is required.

Security Photo Tips

This should be a recent colour photo of you facing forward, from the shoulders up, with no filters . Your face should be fully and clearly visible; please remove eyewear that prevents your eyes from being seen and any items on top of your head . There should be no other people or objects included in the photo . We took ours in front of an empty wall.

It may take some time for your online check-in to change from pending to approved. Most are approved a few days before the sailing .

Onboard Account

You will need information on how you plan to pay your stateroom charges. Your credit card or debit card numbers and expiration dates. At this point, it will ask you which members will have charging privileges. If members of your party are paying for their own charges, you can enter their card information. You can not put a dollar limit on charging privileges.

Travelling With Children

Children under 3 years old can be registered for the Nursery if they cruise after October 2022 . If you are sailing before that date, you must sign up for the nursery once you are onboard. You can register kids ages 3-12 for the Oceaneers Club/Lab during check-in. Pre-teens and teens, they will register once you are onboard at the Edge and/or the Vibe.

Travel Plans

You will need information about your plans before & after the cruise. If you are flying in for the cruise, you need your flight details, including Airline, Flight Number, Departure Time, and Arrival Time. Also, you will need your plans to leave the port after the cruise.

PAT (Port Arrival Time)

This is why you are filling out this information at 12:01 am and not waiting until morning. It is your chance to choose your arrival time at the port.

Most people want to spend as much time on the ship as possible and are trying to get the earliest PAT. On our upcoming cruise, the earliest PAT was 10:45. We took Disney Transfers and received boarding group 3 with a PAT of 11:00 – 11:15. The earliest PATs depend on the port you are sailing out of; some ports have guests arrive later than others. Concierge Guests do not need to select a PAT.

Since Covid, they have been much stricter about arriving at your PAT. If you arrive earlier, you will likely be turned away .

Cruise Contract and Boarding Pass

Read & agree to the cruise contract and print or email the contract. You will be given a Boarding Pass with a QR Code when complete. You can add it to your Apple wallet.

You will need it throughout different stages of the boarding process. It is a good idea to have a printed copy if you encounter any technological problems. The QR code will be used to board the ship because you have not yet received your KTTW cards. Keep reading for details.

KTTW (Key to the World) Cards and lanyards will await you at your cabin in your Fish. You will no longer get your card at the desk in the port and use your QR code to board the ship.

Optional Forms

During check-in, you will also find some optional forms. They include authorization to administer an epi-pen , special services form , and authorization for minors travelling without a parent or legal guardian .

Bring your patience; the website can be glitchy, especially when check-in first opens, with many people attempting to check in. If you are using Disney transportation and are not concerned with an early PAT , it might be best to wait and check in later.

Check out the other  menus for the restaurants on the Wish . Keep checking back or sign up for our newsletter for the latest  Disney Cruise News , like  the return of pre-booking character meets , the current  pre-cruise Covid testing ,  Disney Cruise rumours , and the  latest discounts .

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An unofficial disney cruise line news, information, weather, and photo blog..

A First Look at Disney Cruise Line’s Revised Online Check-In Process

August Disney Cruise Line sailings are on the horizon (at least as of publication), and guests are entering the 30-day online check-in window for their scheduled voyages. That’s right, you can check-in for your Disney Cruise 30-days prior which is different from the tiered activity booking window based on your Castaway Club Status… I forgot, and while I was prepared to share my experience last night I was quickly reminded of the 30-days so we booked our onboard activities and called it a night.

Thankfully, a friend was actually hitting the 30-day window last night, and offered to share his experience in the event we had different screens based on our Castaway Club statues… Well, kudos to Eddie for saving the day since I completely forgot about the 30-day window for the check-in process.

When you hit that 30-day window and you’ve paid in full, begin the check-in process by filling out cruise documents, registering the kids for youth clubs and selecting a port arrival time, as you’ll need one before you make your way to the cruise terminal. The process begins with you completing the guest information details.

This was the only spot where the process had some issues. The upload photo feature was not working, but Eddie reported he was able to use his webcam to take a photos to complete this section. This could be a browser issue specific to Safari, or just one of those things that still needs some work behind the scenes.

Port Arrival Time

The current earliest time to chose for port arrival was 1:00 PM which placed you in boarding group 3. Until we hear from more readers, it is unclear, but I suspect boarding groups 1 and 2 may be reserved for concierge and Platinum Castaway Club members. The time however, will likely stick around for a while as the resumption of cruise operations roll out as there will undoubtedly be extra sanitation measures required between guest debarking and the embarking passengers. Alternatively, with the new online check-in process and the uploading of travel documents and security photos, we may just get to enter the terminal and if all is in order, walk directly on the ship beginning at 1:00 PM.

At the end of the process, you are provided the Port Arrival Form which the ability to add to a mobile wallet.

Below is a look at the mobile wallet complete with QR code which will surely speed up the port arrival process.

Following the online check-in, it appears you will receive an email from Disney Cruise Line confirming your completed online check-in with a note that they will review the information and will contact you by email to let you know if you are all set to sail, or if they require additional information.

Have you gone through the new online check-in process? What did you think?

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38 Replies to “A First Look at Disney Cruise Line’s Revised Online Check-In Process”

Our family is checked in the August 9th sailing. We are taking the Disney bus transportation to the port, so weren’t given a time versus picking one. They have assigned us to group 2. Not that we really know what that means at this point, but that is what we were given!

Are you either platinum or concierge status? That may explain your group 2. How exciting to be checked in!

Nothing about a vaccination card?

that’s for the 15 day check in for safe passage

We just got checked in for our August 9th cruise!!!!!

Scott – Do you know if you can use a copy of your passport photo to satisfy the photo upload process?

Based on the the the wording –> “cannot be the same photo used on any of the identification documents”, I’d say no. This is the photo they’d typically take with the hand held web cams at the check-in desk at the terminal. Sounds to me they’d prefer a recent photo.

We wonder if DCL will still mail out the cruise booklets? Perhaps this new process eliminate the booklets, we always look forward to those in the mail.

Thanks for notification new checkin is live, very similar to previous online checkin. Fingers crossed we will be sailing again soon.

We were on one of the DCL ships when the Captain made the announcement that when we reached port in a few days all cruise including DCL were being suspended. Very surreal experience! DCL had notified us 2 days before boarding that we could cancel without penalty by just calling a number by the day before sailing. The ship seemed to be about 65% full from normal. Several other passengers said they had tried to cancel but the phone line was busy, so they hoped the ship wouldn’t be crowded. Everything went as normal, there was no issues with our ship but news reports said after the fact but there was with the cruise from NO that went thru PC.

As we lined up to board our ship, they took temperatures and did pull several kids in front of us over for high temps. We had seen them running around while waiting for their time to board. The temp check (contractors) allowed the very distraught boys to wait (under observation) for a few minutes before rechecking their temps. We later saw them on board and all they had needed was a few minutes to cool off after all the running around.

It was hard leaving the ship knowing all the crew members were facing some level of uncertainity. Also there were no people outside the terminal waiting to board the next cruise. We had been notified by our employers the we had to work from home quarteened for 2 weeks because we had “been on a cruise ship!” before returning to the office. Grocery shelves were bare, no toilet tissue, etc. The world had drastically changed while we were on a cruise ship. One year and four months later we’re still working remotely.

Really looking forward to walking through the cruise ship portal so we can return back to the world we left mid-March 2020. Safe and Happy Sailing everyone!

For those of you going on 8/9 cruise, I am super happy for you! I hope it goes well and that we can safely resume sailing in a way that doesn’t shut the place down again. I am pulling for you as we want to go on our cruise later this year.

I meant to include that… I’m just silver!

They stopped mailing the booklets a while ago. For my 2019 cruise we just got an envelope with our luggage tags

When signing up for kids’ clubs, is it as it’s always been, or are they requiring you select specific days and times?

Do we still get to book onboard activities and cabanas at 120 days out for platinum even if we can’t check in until 30 days?

Yes. I’m booked on an October cruise and I was able to book onboard activities and port adventures last month (120 days out).

So, can you use the mobile wallet card/QR code as your Port Arrival Form, or do you still need to print out, sign and bring the form with the bar code at the top, as you did pre-COVID?

Sounds like a very similar check in process as per the UK Staycation cruises. They used a separate company called prenetics to oversee the proof of vaccination (Over 18s), and proof of negative PCR test (under 18s). Though arent I correct in saying that these US cruises dont need proof?

That is currently specific to Florida sailings, but there are workarounds.

We don’t know yet, DCL hasn’t said anything about the USA cruises.

It’ll be interesting to see.To me, it makes sense, however It seems to be a more politically sensitive/contentious topic in the states (at least that is how it is portrayed to us Brits in the media)

Hi, has anyone gotten their luggage tags for the 8/9 cruise? We haven’t gotten ours yet.

What time does check-in start? is it midnight eastern?

Thanks! My window is next week!

what are the cruise protocols, hope no mask requirements on the ship, compared to Carnival, mask not required

These details have not been announced by DCL for U.S. sailings.

What about those who do not wish to upload pictures?

While I do not know for sure, I suspect, you will need to go to a designated check-in line at the port to have the same photo taken.

We checked in for a Disney Magic At Sea UK cruise last week…. it took 7bhiurs ti check in 3 rooks because of the uploading photo issue. We used chrome,;safari, Samsung Internet and Internet explorer…. it was a long day!

Thanks. I realize I will have to sacrifice getting an earlier time slot for boarding, but I just do not have the ability to upload copies of documents or photos. Someone in a fb group mentioned that they didn’t think there was an option for those in my position. In the past we were able to type in our id numbers.

Even pre-pandemic I was given the option to not upload documents/photos on RCCL when they had already had the options in place for those who wanted faster check in.

Do you know someone who could help with that, maybe with a cell phone or with a web cam? Even if they could take the picture and email it to you, it might work that way.

Thank you Beth. I am just not sure I want to send photos of my documents over the internet.

Thank you for posting these screenshots, as they provide far more detail than what Disney is providing to us (even as a TA). I heard the photos have to be JPG; is that true?

Is it possible to upload photos at a later time, or is it required to go to the next step? Looking to focus on PAT and kid club reservations and get that done.

I just checked in for the Thanksgiving week cruise from Miami. The preview was a great help. One item I didn’t have prepared was picture of the passport. The form would suggest it is optional, but the process would not complete without it. FYI, I signed in the first hour of 30 days prior and have a 10:30 arrival and group 3 boarding. My daughter completed her checkin about 6 hours later and has an 11:00 checkin and group 6 boarding. We received the email and completed onboard activity booking but the status is still pending. I expect they are swamped with everyone signing in at 30 days

I don’t have those screens and my 30 day opened today at midnight. I was up until 4am trying to check in and I still cannot check in. It’s been paid in full for months and now I’m on an 81 min. hold with Disney to try and find a solution.

You may be a day early. This happened to me, and I realized my countdown was showing 30 days, but in reality it was still over 30.# days. At the next midnight, it worked.

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A Disney Cruise Line Online Check-In Cheat Sheet

5/3/2023   |   Cruises

It’s almost here! You have been dreaming of setting sail on your Disney cruise for months and months, and the time has finally come!

Soon you will be able to complete your online check-in. To keep you from being one of those frustrated sailors in your Facebook group, we are going to prepare you for smooth sailing through the online check-in process by making sure you are armed and ready with everything you need!

Check-In dates vary by your Castaway Cay level or if you are sailing Concierge:

- Pearl / Concierge Level = 40 days prior to sailing - Platinum Level = 38 days prior to sailing - Gold Level = 35 days prior to sailing - Silver Level = 33 days prior to sailing - First time Disney Cruise Line cruisers = 30 days prior to sailing

Before Your Online Check-In Date:

- Confirm the exact spelling and full name of each guest between your Disney Cruise Line reservation and the government-issued identification you will be using for boarding. (Passport, birth certificate, etc.). They must match exactly. - Confirm the expiration date of the government-issued identification you will be using for boarding. - Be sure you have already created your DisneyCruiseLine.com and have linked your cruise reservation(s). - Download the official Disney Cruise Line Navigator app and checked for any updates.

- Make sure you have linked any other friends’ or family’s reservations to your reservation so that you are seated together at dinner and can book activities together. - Confirm that you have booked your on-board activities and shore excursions. (The booking window for this also varies depending on your Castaway Club status or if you are sailing in a concierge stateroom. If you are unsure of the date, you can start booking, pull up your reservation on DisneyCruiseLine.com).

You can cancel activities and excursions up until 3 days before your sailing.

Triple check your Online Check-In Date on the app or at DisneyCruiseLine.com. Remember: the check-in time is Midnight Eastern Time on your check-in day. Meaning, if your check-in date is Tuesday April 18, you can start the check-in process at midnight Eastern on Monday night.

Important: Online check-in closes at midnight the day before your cruise. If online check-in is not completed by then, you may be denied boarding.

What to Have Ready at Check-In*:

- A clear photo of each passenger’s passport. Be sure there is no glare and that you can easily read the passport number, name, issue and expiration date, and the photo is clear.

- Passports need to remain valid for a minimum of 6 months after your debarkation date and have at least a few blank pages available. (Requirements can vary by country).

- A clear photo of each passenger. This should be different than the passport photo and should be a solo photo of the guest from the shoulders up. Select a photo that has a plain background.

- Flight information (even if you are not using Disney transportation)

- Pre- and Post-Cruise hotel information

- A credit card to keep on file for onboard purchases

- Name and phone number of an emergency contact not traveling with you

* I recommend having copies of your passports and photos on both your computer and phone in case the website or app is not working for you. This will reduce possible delays in having to transfer the information over while checking in.

At midnight Eastern time on your online check-in date:

Remember: the check-in time is Midnight Eastern Time on your check-in day. Meaning, if your check-in date is Tuesday April 18, you can start the check-in process at midnight Eastern on Monday night.

You will be able to log in to your Disney Cruise Line account (I personally prefer the app), select your sailing, and click on “Begin Check-In.” Click through each step in order. The icons on the right will fill in as each section is completed.

- Guest Information - Onboard Account - Travel Plans - Port Arrival Time

Port Arrival Time (PAT). Most people will select the earliest time available so there is more time to explore the ship before you sail away. You will also be automatically assigned a Boarding Group.

Note: if you are staying at a Walt Disney World resort hotel and have booked the Disney Cruise Line transfer, you will not be asked to select a Port Arrival Time.

- Cruise Contract

Once you have completed your Online Check-In, you will see the message “You’re All Set to Sail!” You can check back periodically before your cruise to ensure your documents have been reviewed by a cast member and your check-in has been upgraded from “Pending” to “Complete.”

Be sure to print out (and you can also add it to your digital wallet on your iPhone) your Port Arrival Form.

At the 30 day mark, you will also be able to:

- Book the Princess Gathering. This princess meet-and-greet is included in your cruise fare, but it requires a reservation and is limited due to the popularity. - Purchase a photo package. Purchasing in advance will be the least expensive pricing available. You can opt to purchase once on-board at a higher price. Disney Visa holders get a discount on-board, but the pre-purchase price that is offered to all guests will be the best pricing.

Make sure to add any special requests which is very easy to do directly in the app. This can include things like: high chairs, bedrails and cribs; dietary requests; celebration planning. This should be done at least 5 weeks prior to your sail date. Additional requests for food allergies and accessibility assistance/medical equipment can be requested on the Special Services Form.

Website Glitches:

Remember: technology is not perfect. If you are getting an error message in the app, try the website. If you are getting an error on the website, try the app. If neither works, try an incognito browser/window on your device.

Disney Cruise Line can be reached at 800-951-3532, or contact your Me and The Mouse Travel Specialist. (Please note - Disney Cruise Line will not answer specific questions regarding your reservation or make any changes for you if you are booked with a travel agent).

Special Situations:

- What if we have multiple staterooms to check in?

If you have several staterooms to check in, you can opt to have each stateroom have their own account and try to coordinate as best you can with Port Arrival Times.

Alternatively, you can link the reservations to one account so that one person can be responsible for checking everyone in. That person would need to have all the information ready for each stateroom. They will still need to toggle between each reservation.

With either method, you likely will not get the same PAT. If this is the case, you can all arrive at the latest PAT time to board together.

- What if we do not have passports or are traveling on Visas?

For complete details on proper documentation for sailing on a Disney cruise, please refer to the official Disney Cruise Line website .

I strongly, strongly urge you to have a valid passport for everyone in your traveling party in case of emergency.

Just a few weeks to go!

Now that you're checked in, you can make a packing list, start putting your vacation essentials together, place your travel documents/Port Arrival Form/passports in a folder in a safe place, and look forward to stepping on board your Disney cruise!

Other helpful hints: Packing List Prohibited Items Alcohol Policy

Nancy loves sailing with Disney Cruise Line and would love to help your family plan their next adventure!

Tagged: cheat sheet , Disney Cruise , Disney Cruise Line , online check-in , Planning , Travel , trip , Vacation

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Everything You Need to Know About Disney Cruise Line Check-In

If you’re going on a Disney Cruise Line sailing, you’ll be checking in for your cruise online. Here’s everything you need to know about the process.

When do I check in?

Check-in becomes available at midnight Eastern Time, on staggered dates based on your Castaway Club status . You’re not required to check in at that exact time, but many guests choose to sacrifice sleep to complete their check-in right at midnight.

Is this a recent change on when I can check in?

DCL has tinkered with check-in timing several times during the past few years.

Pre-pandemic, Disney Cruise Line offered staggered check-in dates, based on your DCL Castaway Club status or whether you were sailing in a Concierge level stateroom. From the return to sailing during summer 2021 through April 2023, check-in opened prior to sailing for all guests at 30 days in advance. In May 2023, DCL returned to a staggered date program.

What are the new check-in dates?

As of May 2023, the following dates apply:

• Pearl Castaway Club members and Concierge Staterooms: 40 day prior to sailing
• Platinum Castaway Club members: 38 days prior to sailing.
• Gold Castaway Club members: 35 days prior to sailing.
• Silver Castaway Club members: 33 days prior to sailing.
• First Time Cruisers: 30 days prior to sailing.

I went to check in at midnight and encountered multiple computer problems. Help!

Disney is known for its glitchy websites. The resumption of staggered check-in should help a bit, but you never know what you might encounter.

You’re less likely to have problems if there is only one DCL ship opening its check-in on a particular date, but there’s not much you can personally do about this. Pack your patience and just try to go with it.

Do I have to check-in in the wee hours of the morning?

You can check in at any time between your check-in opening date and 3 days prior to your sailing. You should probably do it closer to opening day rather than 3, to give yourself time to rectify problems in case there are any hiccups with your documents. But you can certainly wait a day – and you’re much less likely to have computer problems if you wait to check in until mid-day.

If check-in is wonky at midnight, then why do people make a big deal about being online at Cinderella time?

The only real advantage you might gain by checking in early is that you’ll have a better chance at snagging an early port arrival time if you’re among the first on your sailing to check in.

With the staggered check-in dates, Pearl and Platinum guests should not have any problem securing their preferred port arrival time. Concierge guests may arrive at the port whenever they like.

Why do I care about getting an early port arrival time?

Folks with the earliest port arrival times get on the ship first. Currently the earliest arrival times are in the 11:00 a.m. range, depending on the sailing.

If you’re among the first on board the ship on embarkation day, you’ll have a few moments of calm. You can get some epic photographs of empty ship spaces, you’ll have first crack at booking last minute spa or adult dining appointments, and you’ll have first dibs on possible stateroom upgrades (for a fee). If you aren’t anticipating any last minute onboard chores, the difference in an hour or two in your port arrival time likely won’t matter much.

There is also a subset of guests who prefer a later arrival time. These might be people with children who nap in the late morning or early afternoon, who have work or school calls they must complete before boarding, or who don’t want to be on the ship until they can go directly to their stateroom (which typically happens at about 1:30 p.m.).

Note: Pre-pandemic, Platinum and Concierge level Castaway Club members could arrive at the port at any time and get in the next available boarding group. Now all non-Concierge guests must select a port arrival time. 

I’m a new DCL cruiser. Does that mean I’ll only have late port arrival times available when I check in?

Yeah, maybe. But try not to stress about it too much. You’ll have a wonderful time on the ship, regardless of what time you board.

Does check-in impact when I book my port excursions and onboard activities?

No, this is an entirely different set of tasks.

You are allowed to book port excursions, adult dining, nursery appointments, and many onboard activities after you’ve paid in full for your cruise AND your personal booking window opens. Booking windows for these items are based on your Castaway Club status, but occur at an entirely different set of dates.

How do I get started?

Well before your check-in date, you should have a Disney Cruise Line online account. Make sure that you can log into this account and that your cruise is listed in the My Reservations Section.

When your check-in window opens, go to the site and click the Online Check-In button in the My Disney Cruise menu.

What are the components of online check-in?

Check-in involves Disney collecting information about:

• Guest identity and contact information
• Payment for onboard spending
• Travel plans to/from the port
• Port arrival time selection
• Accepting your cruise contract.

If you’re traveling with minors, you’ll have additional sections about Youth Activity Registration and Traveling with Minors.

What do I need for identification information?

During online check-in you will upload a photo or scan of your required citizenship documents. For most folks, this will be an image of the passport pages that include your signature, photo, legal name, and passport number. Other folks on closed loop cruises from the United States (cruises that start and end at the same point) may be able to use alternative documentation such as an original birth certificate AND a government issued-photo ID. See the Disney Cruise Line website for the complete list of acceptable citizenship documentation .

Your required identification documents may vary depending on your citizenship and destinations visited.  It is your responsibility to check with your travel agent, government agency, embassy or consulate to ensure that you have all the proper documentation to board the ship and enter each of the countries on your cruise. U.S. travelers can visit the U.S. State Department’s travel website  or call the U.S. National Passport Information Center at (877) 4USA-PPT [877-487-2778] for more information.

Whichever documents you’re using, the photos/scans of these items should be in focus and free of shadows, glare, or other distractions. A member of the Touring Plans team had to resubmit an image of a family member’s birth certificate because their scan of that document had a tiny fold in the corner. Getting a glare-free photo of a passport can be oddly challenging. You may find it helpful to have a second person hold the passport upright while you snap a picture, rather than laying it flat on a table.

If you’re using a drivers’ license as part of your identity documents, you will need photos of the front and back of the license.

For check-in, you’ll need to have images of the required documents for all members of your party , including children.

You will also need to physically type in much of the information that exists on your documents. For example, you’ll need to type in your passport number as well as uploading a scan.

You may find that Disney has auto-populated some fields during online check-in. For example, if you’ve sailed recently with DCL, your passport information may already be keyed in from your previous trip. PLEASE double check that the information is correct.

Passports or other identification information will also be reviewed in person at the port prior to embarkation. YOU MUST ALSO BRING THESE ITEMS WITH YOU TO THE PORT.

I’ve heard people talk about photos for identification. What’s that about?

During the check-in process, you will need to upload a individual photo of each member of your party, including children.

The photo you upload must be a color picture with no filters, one person per photo, with a neutral background. You cannot wear a hat or sunglasses in the photo, or any glasses that obscure your eyes. You cannot use the same picture that is on your passport.

As long as you follow these guidelines, you’ll find that a selfie or a child’s school photo often works.

Why do I need to upload a photo?

Pre-pandemic, DCL took a photo of every guest at the port just prior to embarkation. They stopped this practice as a way to thin out crowds and reduce time spend gathering in close quarters at the port. Your uploaded check-in photo is the replacement for the embarkation identification photo.

These pictures are used by ship crew as identification while you’re on board and when you exit and enter the ship during port stops.

Your picture doesn’t need to be perfect or glamorous, it just needs to allow the crew to accurately identify you. Simpler is better.

The check-in says I need to provide emergency contact. Who should I put?

The odds of your emergency person being contacted are extremely small. Just pick any competent close friend or family member. However, you must choose someone that’s not traveling with you.

What information do I need to complete the onboard payment section?

This is the section where you’ll input a credit or debit card that will be used for onboard charges such as adult beverages or dining, spa treatments, port adventures and the like. You may also elect to use a cash account for onboard charges. If you’re traveling with more than one adult, you can designate different payment methods for each.

You can also grant, or choose not to grant, charging privileges to minors in your party.

I’m traveling with kids. What else do I need to know about check-in?

If you have guests in your party under age 18, you’ll have an additional section of check-in to complete. This is where you can register them for kids’ clubs (you can also do this at the port or while on board).

During check-in, you can also complete a debarkation permission form, if needed. Debarkation permission allow children to disembark the ship with an adult not staying in their stateroom. For example, if you’re traveling with extended family across several staterooms, you might want to give permission for, say, a grandparent staying in a different stateroom, to take a child off the ship.

How do I fill out the travel section of the check-in form?

If you’re flying to your cruise port, you’ll need to provide your flight numbers and dates/times of travel in both directions. This helps Disney plan the flow of guests embarking and debarking, as well as giving them an additional means to assess your whereabouts if you’re running late for your cruise.

If you don’t happen to have your flight information available when you’re completing online check-in, just say that you’re not flying in for your cruise. You can add flight information later.

If you’ve paid for Disney transfers to/from a hotel or airport, make sure that the appropriate button is clicked on.

If you’re staying at a local hotel before or after your sailing, DCL will also want to know this.

How do I select a port arrival time?

Once you’ve completed the bulk of the check-in tasks, you’ll have the opportunity to select a port arrival time. Concierge guests may arrive at any time, but everyone else must choose a time. Typically options are available in 15 minute increments beginning at about 11:00 a.m. and ending at about 3:30 p.m., but there are variations depending on the port and the itinerary.

Most guests will opt to select the earliest arrival time available, but as mentioned above there may be circumstances where you prefer to have a later arrival window.

In the post-COVID era, Disney has been stricter about port arrival times, but things have loosened up in recent months. In general, plan to arrive at the port no earlier than half an hour prior to designated time.

The check-in process includes a contract. What is this?

The Cruise Contract is the official document that outlines the rights and responsibilities of both you and DCL related to your cruise. There are different versions for cruises in different locations. You’ll have the opportunity to print the contract or have an electronic version of it sent to your email address.

There’s a lot of technical, legal info in the contract, but it makes sense to give it a read, particularly if you’re a first time guest or haven’t sailed in many years.

To complete check-in, you must scroll to the bottom of the contract and accept it.

How do I make requests for things like seating in the main dining rooms?

You can make DCL preference requests in the online check-in section of the DCL website, but you can do most of this at any time after you’ve make your booking. There’s no need to wait until  30 days before your trip.

See our full post on understanding DCL preferences for more details on this topic.

Do I need to test for COVID or provide proof of vaccination as part of the check-in process?

Not currently.

During the early post-pandemic return to sailing, Disney, along with most other major cruise lines, required that guests undergo varying sorts of pre-cruise COVID testing or levels of vaccination. There are currently no COVID-related requirements to cruise and no COVID-related components of check-in.

Disney could choose to reinstate these or similar requirements at a future date if COVID rates, or the incidence of any other communicable disease, become elevated. Be sure to check the Know Before You Go section of the DCL website several times in the weeks and months leading up to your cruise.  (Note: There are different versions of this section depending on your itinerary. Look for different rules if your sailing departs from the United States, Canada, Europe, or Australia and New Zealand.)

How do I know that I’m done with check-in?

When check-in is complete, you’ll be issued a port arrival form. You can download this and/or have it emailed to you.

The arrival form will state your port arrival time and boarding group, along with QR codes for your party members. You WILL NEED THIS FORM AT THE PORT. Be sure to bring it with you (both print and electronic versions of the form are OK).

Should I use the Disney Cruise Line website or the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app for check-in?

You can do either, but I prefer using the website on my computer. I find that it’s easier to read all the little boxes that must be checked and to upload documents using a larger screen, but that’s my personal choice. Whichever version you opt for, make sure you have a strong Internet connection and that all your photos/scan are easily accessible on your device.

Why does the check-in section of the DCL website say “pending” even after I’ve uploaded all the documents and completed all the forms?

DCL uses humans to review all the identity documents and photos – and this takes some time. It often takes a few weeks for your documents to clear this process. Don’t even begin to stress about this until a week prior to sailing.

When your check-in forms have been successfully reviewed, you will receive an email notification. As an example of typical time for review, I received this “Check-In Finalized” email on February 19 for a sailing departing on March 4.

If you still see “pending” a few days before sailing, you may want to give DCL a call to see what’s up. And as in all cases, be sure to bring all your documents with you to the port.

If you’re looking for additional advice and planning assistance with any Disney Cruise Line sailing, be sure to check out the Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line .

Note: Updates made May 1, 2023. 

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Erin Foster

Erin Foster is an original member of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel (now PlanDisney), a regular contributor to TouringPlans.com, and co-author of The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line. She's been to WDW, DL, DL Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, Aulani, DVC Vero Beach, and DVC Hilton Head. She's a Platinum DCL cruiser and veteran of 10 Adventures by Disney trips. Erin lives near New York City, where she can often be found indulging in her other obsession - Broadway theater.

6 thoughts on “ Everything You Need to Know About Disney Cruise Line Check-In ”

This is SO helpful!! Especially the screenshots! Thank you!

You really need a good editor for this page.

Do you know if this staggered check-in process will affect the reserving of the Royal Gathering. My girls have their hearts set on that, but we are silver members.

This is brand new today, so we’re still working on getting a full assessment of the situation. Stay tuned.

Note regarding web vs phone app. On my last cruise there was lots of grumbling because people couldn’t check in via computer. The app worked. Of course I had all my files to upload on the computer and had all kinds of problems getting them on my phone. Lesson learned: be ready to use either and switch if your preferred method doesn’t work.

Good tip! It’s incredibly frustrating that the site is so fickle and unpredictable.

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Disney Cruise Boarding Groups and Embarkation Day Guide

There are few things more exciting than waking up on the morning of embarkation day . The Disney Cruise countdown has finally reached the big day, and you’re feeling both thrilled and stressed at the same time!

But don’t worry, my family and I have navigated through many embarkation days throughout the years. My guide below will walk you through everything you need to know about embarking on your Disney cruise ship.

We’ll cover everything from port arrival to boarding group times to how the embarkation process works. Plus, I’ll provide a list of everything you need to know before boarding the ship, including what you need to pack in your day bag !

(This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Please see my disclosure policy at the bottom of this page for more details.)

Cruise Terminal

If you are new to cruising, you may be hearing some unfamiliar terms during the planning process. One of those terms may even be the word embarkation .

Embarkation Day is the first day that you board the cruise ship to set sail on your much anticipated vacation. The Disney Cruise Line Navigator App even has a fun countdown to your specific cruise’s embarkation day, which makes it even more exciting!

This is one of my favorite features of the app before boarding the cruise ship. Even though embarkation day is an incredibly exciting time, it can also be quite stressful , especially if you aren’t sure what to expect.

Before discussing the time that you need to arrive at the terminal on embarkation day, I want to first talk about how you can get to the port . There are many different ways you could choose to arrive at the Disney Cruise Line terminal:

• motor coach
• DCL Transportation

My family finds Disney Cruise Line ground transportation to be the easiest method to get to the terminal, especially since we travel with our small kids. We prefer the DCL motor coaches because they handle our luggage, and they don’t require car seats for our toddler and six-year-old.

This allows for a much easier experience of getting through the airports with two little ones. We have used the Disney Cruise Line transfers in both Port Canaveral and Miami , and I highly recommend them for ease of use and peace of mind.

Port Arrival Time

The Disney Cruise Line terminals open their doors at different times depending on the port where you are embarking. The typical time the terminal opens is at 11:00 am. This means that, depending on your port, you will probably find that the earliest Port Arrival Time is at 11:00 .

Regardless of when your cruise terminal opens its doors, you should plan your arrival based on your Port Arrival Time and not on the time the doors open.

So, how do you get a Port Arrival Time?

During the Disney cruise online check-in process , you should have chosen a time that you would like to arrive at the port. The reason that you should arrive at the Disney Cruise Line terminal during your Port Arrival Time is that Disney will give you a boarding number BASED ON this selected time .

So, let’s say you chose a Port Arrival Time (PAT) of 1:00. If you show up at the terminal early at 11:00, Disney still has you down for a 1:00 arrival. This means that you will NOT receive a boarding number for a low group like Boarding Group #2. Instead, Disney Cruise Line will give you a boarding number based on your PAT of 1:00.

You may receive Boarding Group #15 even though you arrived at 11:00. This would mean a lot of waiting in the cruise terminal until your boarding group number gets called. So, the important thing to remember is to arrive at the terminal based on your Port Arrival Time and NOT at the time that the doors open.

Now, if you book Disney Cruise Line ground transfers through Disney, you will not need a Port Arrival Time . If this is the case, you will arrive at the port whenever your Disney motor coach drops you off. DCL will issue you a boarding group number based on your drop off time.

Embarkation Day Check-in Process

After you arrive at the Disney Cruise Line terminal and give your bags to a porter (don’t forget to tip), you will be guided to the main entrance of the building. At both Port Canaveral and Port of Miami, you will immediately go through security as you enter the building.

Health Questionaire

Disney Cruise Line guests used to fill out a health form at the terminal once they were past security. However, at the time of this writing, you can now answer the questions on your phone the morning of the cruise. We like to complete this task on our ride to the terminal .

The security process is very similar to the one at the airport. You will be asked to present your:

• Port Arrival Form
• Identification documents

Note that you don’t have to print the Port Arrival Form since it can be scanned on your phone. However, we find it helpful to carry a paper copy with us on embarkation day.

You then put your carry-on bags on a conveyor belt to go through an X-ray machine just like at the airport. On our most recent cruise out of Miami, we were permitted to leave on our shoes as we walked through the metal detector. However, we did put all metal and electronics in a bin to go through the X-ray machine with our bags.

Once you go through security with your family, you will be directed up to the main check-in area at the terminal. Make sure you notice the different lines available .

There is a line for first time cruisers, a line for Castaway Club members, and a line for Concierge guests. So, be sure to stand in the correct one. Even though the cruise terminal may seem to have long lines of people, the Disney crew members move you through the lines quickly.

They will have multiple check-in counters available. The whole process for security and check in usually only takes us about 15 minutes .

When you are at the check-in counter, you will show your Port Arrival Form and your identification documents again. They will make sure your documents match the information and the selfie style photo you submitted during online checkin.

Once you have completed check-in, you will wait in the terminal until your boarding group number is called.

Boarding Group Times

If you are wondering what time Disney cruise boarding usually starts, it can depend. However, it has been our experience that Disney usually starts calling boarding numbers at around 11:30 .

Disney Characters

While you’re waiting in the terminal for the boarding process to start, it’s a good time to look over the Disney Cruise Navigator App and activity options. Depending on where you are embarking, Disney Cruise Line may even have characters in the terminal for you to meet while waiting to board!

Boarding Group Numbers

Once boarding begins, you will hear group numbers called out in the terminal. They will start with Group 1, which is for Concierge and platinum guests. They will then continue in numerical order until everyone is on the ship.

Usually only 5-10 minutes goes by between each group number. Each boarding group contains (what seems like) hundreds of people, so there will be a line. Luckily, it moves quickly and you’ll be onboard in no time!

What to Do after Boarding

Once you have made your way onto the Disney ship, you may be wondering what to do after boarding. Depending on the time you step foot on the ship, you will probably want to grab lunch. Below, we will discuss our favorite embarkation day lunch spots along with other activities we complete soon after boarding.

Embarkation Day Lunch

Each of the Disney ships offers a sit-down meal for lunch in a main dining room . This is a good option for those who would like to be seated and served by a cast member.

Since my family and I tend to head straight to the pool deck after boarding, I usually grab a table for us all to sit near the pools. Then, we get food from one of the quick service windows near the pool.

These dining options are super kid friendly with entrees like hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken tenders, and pizza. There are usually healthier options like salads and wraps available too.

My husband loves the buffet restaurant , so he will typically get his food there and carry it to our table on the pool deck.

After eating lunch, I usually have a few house keeping items on my list to complete. One of the first places I visit is Guest Services for a stroller.

We like to borrow a stroller for our toddler to use during the cruise even though we don’t use it a ton on the ship because the hallways are so narrow. Additionally, the elevators can get really busy, so we often use the stairs, which obviously are not stroller friendly.

Still, the stroller comes in handy during nap times on the go and when you get off the ship in port. To borrow a stroller, you just visit Guest Services where they will put a temporary charge on your account. I think it’s around $250 .

Once you return the stroller at the end of your cruise, they will remove the charge from your account. I particularly like having the stroller when our toddler wakes early in the morning.

It’s nice to be able to stroll around Deck 4 while my older daughter and husband sleep in the room. We also take the stroller onto Castaway Cay with us. This makes it easy for my toddler to take her nap without the rest of us having to go back to the ship. The stroller that Disney Cruise Line has available on board is the City Mini Baby Jogger.

It has a storage area underneath that is super accessible. It also features a huge canopy with windows to keep your baby shaded. There is a handle on the seat of the City Mini that you simply lift to make the whole stroller fold up like a suitcase. You can store the stroller in your room under the bed or even in the closet .

Staterooms on the ship usually open at around 1:30 ; although, this time may be different on your sailing. If you have booked a concierge level room, your stateroom should be ready earlier than this as ours was open right after boarding.

I usually head to the room right at 1:30 to put our toddler down for a nap. As she’s napping, I organize our things in the room as much as I can. The stateroom host typically starts delivering luggage at this time .

I’ve also heard a lot of families like to order a cheese plate or snack from room service after getting into their rooms. I try to get as much as possible unpacked during this time if our bags have arrived.

Key to the World Cards

Key to the World Cards are now placed outside your stateroom door rather than handed to you at check in at the cruise terminal. For more information on these really important items, we highly suggest checking out our Ultimate Guide to Key to the World Cards .

DisneyBand+

I’m adding information about the DisneyBand+ here since we just talked about the Key to the World Cards. That being said, since you can use the DisneyBand+ during your port arrival and check-in process, we suggest purchasing your DisneyBand+ before your cruise .

You will still receive Key to the World Cards outside your stateroom as these must be used when leaving and re-entering the ship. However, the DisneyBand+ can take the place of the Key to the World Cards while on the ship since you can use the band to open your door and make charges to your account.

This is similar to Magic Bands at WDW. You can find more information on the ships and sailings where the DisneyBand+ is available here .

Muster Drill

At around 3:30, the captain will start making announcements about the upcoming Muster Drill. You can look on your Key to the World card or in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App to see which station you need to report to for this mandatory procedure.

For the drill, you will be asked to line up with your travel party from shortest to tallest . You stand shoulder to shoulder with the cruisers on each side of you. The Disney Cruise Line staff will then give you information on their emergency procedures. Once it begins, the muster drill only lasts about 15 minutes or so .

Sail Away Party

After the Muster Drill, most cruisers head to the pool deck to attend the Sail Away Party. We like to stand by the balcony above the pool deck to look down on the party.

However, if you stand on the deck near the stage, you have a chance of greeting the characters as they walk out into the crowd. The Sail Away parties are a great way to get even more pumped up about the cruise! Cast members and characters spend about 30 minutes dancing to fun songs and telling you about some of the fun activities planned for your trip.

Carry On Bag

As mentioned above, before you enter the cruise terminal, the porters will take your luggage from you. Even though it has been my experience that luggage tends to arrive to the stateroom by 4:30, this is not guaranteed.

Sometimes your bags may not be delivered to your stateroom until later that evening AFTER dinner . Because of this, you will probably want to pack an embarkation bag to carry on to the cruise ship with you.

I prefer to use a backpack as our embarkation bag because it’s easy to carry while still allowing full use of my arms. This is the backpack I use as a diaper bag, airport carry-on, and embarkation bag all in one! (Amazon Affiliate Link)

Packing List

The official Disney Cruise Line website provides a small packing list for your embarkation day bag. You can find their suggested list here. I have expanded on the DCL list, and these are the items I typically pack in my embarkation bag:

• lanyards- to hold your Key to the World cards
• reef safe sunscreen – We like Blue Lizard . (Amazon Affiliate Link)
• gallon zip lock bag- to hold wet swimsuits
• change of clothes for dinner (more on this below)
• prescription medications
• seasickness remedies – We use seasickness bands . (Amazon Affiliate Link)
• chargers for electronic devices
• identification (passports/birth certificates)
• Port Arrival Form (that you printed after online check-in)
• dollar bills- to tip driver and porters

If you have a baby or a toddler like I do, you will want to make sure to carry on your child’s diaper bag with baby essentials. This includes enough diapers and wipes to get you through the day. Also, don’t forget to pack a couple swim diapers for the toddler splash area!

What to Wear on Embarkation Day

Deciding which outfits to pack for your family can be a tedious process, especially if you aren’t totally sure what to expect at your destination. When I am planning outfits for embarkation day, I first take into account the weather.

We typically cruise in warmer climates, so that is what I will mostly focus on here. Obviously if you are going on an Alaskan cruise, your Disney cruise embarkation day outfit would look a whole lot different than mine!

Disney Cruise Outfits for Kids

Once I have a good idea of what the weather will be like on embarkation day, I determine the activities that my family will most likely be doing once we board the ship.

My kids love to swim, and they are usually most excited to experience the cruise ship’s pools and water play areas. Because of this, I dress both of my kids in their swimsuits so that they don’t have to waste time changing on board.

My toddler is still in diapers, so I like to put her in a swimsuit that still allows for easy diaper changes. We tend to dress her in a swimsuit that has separate bottoms or that has a bottom that snaps. This way we have easy access to diaper changes in the terminal and onboard.

I usually have my girls wear comfortable dresses over their swimsuits with flip flops or water shoes on their feet. This makes it easy for them to get undressed.

I also find it much easier to keep up with one dress per child as opposed to shirts AND shorts. You could even let your kids wear their swimsuit coverup to board the ship. We always see lots of kids doing this on embarkation day.

↓↓ Visit My Etsy Shop ↓↓

I created a Disney Cruise Planner and Packing Guide (pictured above) that makes it super easy to plan your outfits for each day of your cruise. If you are interested, you can check it out in my Etsy shop above!

Disney Cruise Outfits for Adults

Since we usually spend our time on the pool deck after boarding the ship, my husband and I typically wear clothes appropriate for hot weather. My husband usually dresses in shorts, a T-shirt, and sandals. I tend to wear shorts with a T-shirt or a sundress with sandals.

I don’t wear my swimsuit under my clothes because I usually don’t swim on embarkation day. Instead, we let our older daughter swim while one of us sits on the side of the pool to watch her.

The other adult usually goes to the toddler water play area with our younger daughter. I like to wear flip flops or sandals for boarding so that I can easily slip them on and off on the pool deck.

Disney Cruise Dinner Outfit

Regardless of what you choose to wear on embarkation day, know that it’s a super casual day. Even dinner that first night of the cruise is a really casual experience .

As mentioned above, I make sure to pack our dinner outfits in our carry-on bag in case our main luggage does not arrive in time. However, we typically just wear our embarkation clothes to dinner.

After swimming, my girls will take off their swimsuits and put on the dresses they wore while boarding. (Don’t forget to pack underwear for the kids to put on too!)

I typically find the dining rooms cold on the ships, so I make sure to have light cardigans/jackets in our embarkation bag for each of us. My husband usually doesn’t change for dinner on embarkation day.

He just wears the same shirt and shorts from boarding. Since I tend to get cold in the evenings, I put a pair of jeans or leggings in the day bag as well. I change into these after the Sail Away party.

Disney Cruise Concierge Embarkation Lunch and Perks

On a recent Disney Cruise Line vacation, may family and I were able to upgrade at the port to the Concierge Level. If you are sailing in the Concierge Level with Disney Cruise Line, you will receive some special benefits on embarkation day. These are the Concierge perks that were available for us on embarkation day:

• Priority Boarding – Concierge guests are permitted to board the Disney cruise ship in Boarding Group 1 . This means that as soon as boarding becomes available, you will be escorted onto the ship.
• Private Embarkation Lunch – Concierge guests are able to attend a sit-down lunch on embarkation day in one of the ship’s main dining rooms. You will be served food and complimentary beverages (including alcoholic drinks) at this lunch. You will also meet your Concierge Team at this time.
• Stateroom – Concierge guests get early access to their staterooms on embarkation day. Instead of waiting for rooms to open at 1:30, we were able to go directly to our room after boarding and enjoying our lunch.
• Concierge Team – Your Concierge Team will make notes of your special requests at your embarkation day lunch. You can request a stroller, dinner reservations, or virtually anything you can think of without having to stand in line at Guest Services.

Now You’re Sailing!

Embarkation day is such an exciting time for your whole family! Hopefully this post has helped you feel prepared for your fun-filled day.

All the worries and stress that you feel pre-cruise magically seem to go away as soon as you climb onboard the Disney cruise ship. Just do your best to pack and plan for embarkation day, but don’t forget to enjoy yourself once onboard.

The embarkation day lunch, fun pool deck, and helpful cast members will have you feeling like you’re on a luxurious vacation in no time!

Shari is an experienced planner and organizer for Disney vacations, cruising, and U.S. travel. Her family vacation information, reviews, and tips provide insight for moms and dads everywhere. You can read more about her story, including her journey through breast cancer, in the about me page.

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My husband and I have been on 20 cruises, but the Disney Dream in February 2023 will be a first for us. We usually carry our luggage ourselves on RCL and Carnival. Is that allowed on the Dream?

I’m so excited to hear that you will be sailing on the Disney Dream! You and your husband are going to love the ship so much! I believe you are curious about whether or not you can carry on your luggage on boarding day. Disney Cruise Line will allow you to carry your own luggage onboard as long as it fits through the security machines. The DCL security machines look very similar to those used by Royal Caribbean and the airport. (I would assume Carnival also uses the same type of machine, but I have not sailed with them.) So, as long as your bags are the typical carry-on size and NOT huge suitcases, you should be fine. Hope that helps! Have a wonderful trip!

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Preparing for Your Cruise

Because most onboard dining ,  entertainment and activities are included when you sail with us, getting ready can be as simple as packing shorts, shirts, swimsuits and sunglasses. Of course, there are a few other things you’ll need to understand, including:

• Your required documents
• What currency to use on board and in port
• Our alcohol policy
• Items not allowed on board

We recommend you review this important information in advance of your departure date:

• Passports and Travel Documentation
• Packing Lists by Itinerary
• Port Addresses and Parking
• Air and Ground Transportation

With your cruise all set, we’ve got plenty of information to help you prepare for an unforgettable vacation:

• Traveling with infants and small children
• The boarding process and departure time
• When to book Port Adventures excursions

Frequently Asked Questions

How far in advance should I book a Disney cruise?

How do I arrange air and/or ground transportation to and from my port of departure?

Is babysitting available on board while the ship is in port?

Can I bring lithium metal or lithium ion batteries onboard?

What is the best time of year to sail to the different cruise destinations?

Disney Cruise Online Check-in and Reservation Tips and Tricks

If you’re planning a Disney cruise, then this video is perfect for you. Eric D. walks you through the online check-in process and shares tips and tricks to help you secure reservations for special onboard activities, dining, and port adventures. He emphasizes the importance of making reservations early to ensure availability of your desired activities. The video also covers the different Castaway Club levels and when reservations can be made based on the number of cruises completed. To ensure a smooth check-in process, Eric provides a step-by-step demonstration of how to fill out the necessary information, upload identification documents, and complete the online check-in. He also mentions that the website or app may experience difficulties due to high user volume and advises being patient and persistent throughout the process.

If you’re looking to make your Disney cruise experience as enjoyable as possible, then this video by Eric D. is a must-watch. From securing early boarding time to making reservations for character meet and greets, port adventures, special dining, and onboard activities, Eric provides valuable tips and tricks. He highlights the importance of making reservations as early as possible to ensure availability, especially for high-demand activities like Palo brunch. Eric also explains the different Castaway Club levels, the process of online check-in, and provides a walkthrough of how to fill out the required guest information and upload identification documents. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned Disney cruiser, this video will help you navigate the online check-in and reservation process with ease.

Table of Contents

Online Check-in Process

Navigating to the reservation and cruise details page

To begin the online check-in process for your Disney cruise, you will need to navigate to the reservation and cruise details page on the Disney Cruise Line website. This page will provide you with all the necessary information about your upcoming cruise, including the itinerary, ports of call, and any special events or activities. Take some time to review this information before proceeding to the check-in process.

Starting the check-in process

Once you’re on the reservation and cruise details page, you can start the online check-in process. Look for a button or link that says “Check-In” or something similar. Clicking on this will take you to the check-in portal where you can enter the required information to check-in for your cruise.

Entering basic information for each guest

During the online check-in process, you will be prompted to enter basic information for each guest in your party. This includes their full names, gender, birthdates, and citizenship. You may also be asked to provide contact information such as address, email, and phone number. Take your time to accurately enter this information for each guest.

Uploading identification documents

As part of the online check-in process, you will be required to upload identification documents for each guest. This typically includes a valid passport, but other acceptable forms of identification may be specified by Disney Cruise Line. Make sure to have digital copies of these documents ready before starting the check-in process.

Providing a security photo for each guest

In addition to identification documents, you will also need to provide a security photo for each guest. These photos will be used for security purposes and to ensure that only authorized individuals have access to the ship. Follow the guidelines provided by Disney Cruise Line for taking and uploading these photos.

Filling out credit card information and guest authorization

As part of the check-in process, you will be required to provide credit card information for charges throughout the cruise. This includes setting up a “Key to the World” account, which serves as your onboard credit card. You may also need to fill out guest authorization forms, giving consent for charges and allowing the cruise line to use the provided credit card.

Additional information for guests 10 years and younger

If you have guests who are 10 years old or younger, there may be additional information and authorizations required. This could include permission for these guests to disembark the ship at ports of call, as well as authorization for them to participate in the kids’ club or other onboard activities. Make sure to carefully read and provide all necessary information for these guests.

Providing travel plans

Finally, as part of the online check-in process, you will be asked to provide your travel plans. This includes information about your arrival and departure dates, as well as any transportation arrangements you have made. Disney Cruise Line uses this information to coordinate your port arrival time and ensure a smooth embarkation process.

Obtaining the Port Arrival Form

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Agreeing to the cruise contract

Before obtaining the Port Arrival form, you will need to review and agree to the cruise contract. This contract outlines the terms and conditions of your cruise and includes important information regarding cancellation policies, liability, and other legal matters. Take the time to read through the contract and make sure you understand and agree to its terms before proceeding.

Printing or sending the Port Arrival form

Once you have agreed to the cruise contract, you can proceed to obtain the Port Arrival form. This form provides important information about your cruise, including your assigned port arrival time. You can choose to print the form or have it sent to your phone or other electronic device. Make sure to keep a copy of the Port Arrival form as you will need it for the embarkation process.

Reservations and Port Arrival Time

Making reservations for character meet and greets, port adventures, special dining, and onboard activities.

After completing the check-in process, you will have the opportunity to make reservations for various activities and dining options during your Disney cruise. This includes character meet and greets, port adventures (excursions), special dining experiences, and onboard activities such as spa treatments or adult-exclusive events. Take advantage of this early reservation window to secure spots for activities that may have limited availability.

Release of special character greetings with reservations

One important consideration when making reservations is that special character greetings are often released at the same time as the port arrival time. This means that by securing an early port arrival time, you may also have the opportunity to reserve spots for exclusive character meet and greets. Keep this in mind when planning your reservations and prioritize activities that are important to you and your family.

Reservations availability and importance of making them early

The availability of reservations for certain activities and dining options can vary depending on demand. Popular experiences such as Palo dining or spa treatments tend to fill up quickly, especially for guests with higher Castaway Club levels. To ensure you can participate in the activities and dining options of your choice, it is crucial to make your reservations as early as possible. Take advantage of the reservation window provided based on your Castaway Club level to secure your desired times and dates.

Determining port arrival time

Your port arrival time will be specified on the Port Arrival form obtained during the check-in process. This time indicates when you should arrive at the port for embarkation. Generally, earlier port arrival times allow for smoother boarding experiences and more time to enjoy the ship upon arrival. Keep in mind that securing an early port arrival time also gives you a better chance of reserving spots for special character meet and greets.

Castaway Club Levels

Different castaway club levels.

Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Club is a loyalty program that rewards guests for their repeat cruises. There are different levels within the Castaway Club based on the number of cruises you have completed. These levels include Silver, Gold, Platinum, and the recently introduced Pearl level. Each level comes with its own set of benefits and privileges.

When reservations can be made based on the number of cruises completed

The ability to make reservations for activities and dining options is tied to your Castaway Club level. Guests who have completed their first Disney Cruise can start making reservations 75 days prior to their sailing. The reservation window increases for guests with higher Castaway Club levels, with Platinum and Pearl members having the earliest access at 120 days prior to their cruise. It is recommended to take advantage of these early reservation windows to secure your desired experiences.

Benefits of concierge level and the Pearl level

Guests who reach the Platinum and Pearl levels of the Castaway Club are entitled to additional benefits and privileges. These may include early booking windows for reservations, dedicated onboard concierge services, priority embarkation and debarkation, and exclusive receptions or parties. The exact benefits may vary, so it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the perks associated with your Castaway Club level.

Tips and Tricks for Online Check-in and Reservations

Recommended time to stay up till midnight (eastern time).

To ensure you have the best chance of securing desired reservations, it is recommended to stay up until midnight Eastern Time on the designated reservation day. This is when the reservation window opens for guests at different Castaway Club levels. Being ready to make your reservations as soon as the window opens can increase your chances of getting the times and dates you want.

Dealing with website or app difficulties

During the reservation window, it is common for the Disney Cruise Line website or app to experience high traffic and potential technical difficulties. If you encounter any issues such as slow loading times or error messages, try refreshing the page or app and continue to be persistent. It may take some time and patience, but don’t give up. Keep trying until you successfully complete your reservations.

Importance of being patient and persistent

The online check-in and reservation process for a Disney Cruise can be competitive and frustrating at times. It is important to remain patient and persistent throughout the process. If you encounter difficulties or encounter challenges, don’t get discouraged. Keep trying and don’t hesitate to reach out to Disney Cruise Line’s customer service for assistance. Remember, the end result will be a magical and memorable cruise experience for you and your loved ones.

The online check-in and reservation process for a Disney Cruise can be an exciting yet challenging experience. By carefully following the steps outlined in this guide and being proactive in making your reservations, you can maximize your chances of securing the activities and dining options you desire. Remember to take advantage of the early reservation window based on your Castaway Club level and stay up until midnight Eastern Time if necessary. With patience, persistence, and a little Disney magic, you’ll be well on your way to an unforgettable cruise vacation.

In this video, we will guide you through the Online Check-in process so that you can secure an early boarding time on your Disney Cruise. We will also provide tips on making reservations for Character Meet and Greets, Port Adventures, Special Dining, and Onboard activities.

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• September 7, 2021

10 Ways the Online Check-In Process Has Changed for Disney Cruise Line

Storybook destinations.

• Disney Cruise Line

Cruising is back!  After two Royal Caribbean cruises, I returned from a four night on the Disney Dream recently!  Oh, how I’ve missed being on a Disney cruise ship.  Do you think people could tell I was weeping behind my mask?  Probably so, dang it! 

The online check-in process has changed, so I thought it may be helpful to share what the process is like now.  The following applies to all sailings out of Port Canaveral.

1. Check-in is at 30 Days – Online check-in begins 30 days before your trip, for everyone!  Online check-in availability used to open in staggered windows of 120, 105, 90 and 75 days before sailing based on how many times you had sailed with Disney before, or whether or not you were sailing concierge.  Now, everyone can check-in online at midnight 30 days before the sailing!  Excursion and activity bookings still open in the staggered windows, online check-in is the only change.  

2. Everyone Picks Port Arrival Times – All non-concierge guests must pick a port arrival time at the end of the online check in process!   Platinum Castaway Club Members (those who have sailed with Disney more than 10 times in the past), did not used to have to pick an arrival time.  Now they must also select a time.

3. Port Arrival Times are Enforced – The port used to open around 10:30, and no matter what port arrival time you picked, if the terminal wasn’t at capacity, you were usually allowed inside.  Now, the earliest port arrival time is 11:00, and if you show up earlier than the time you selected, you will be turned away and asked to return when it’s your time.  Disney is serious about spreading guests out! 

4. There is a Second Website Page to Complete – Currently, in addition to completing the online check-in process at DisneyCruise.com , there is another VERY important step.  You must also go to DCL.SafePassage.com , and complete the information there.  After you create an account, and link your reservation, everyone age 12 and over will need to submit a picture and details from their Vaccination card, and children under 12 will submit a negative PCR test taken between 3 days and 24 hours of sailing.  You can find your own independent tests, or order home tests for that PCR test for $98 per test if you choose to.  Once you have completed the steps, they will be reviewed, and you will get a “Cleared to Sail” green message.  You need to repeat this for every single guest on your reservation.  The Safe Passage website does not always make a clear distinction between who is cleared to sail and who is not, so make sure every single person in your group has completed it and received the clear.

5. You Will Upload Your Own Security Photo – Disney used to snap a quick photo of each guest at check-in to use for on-ship security checks like boarding and deboarding at ports of call, but now you can take your own!  Have a clear selfie (shoulders and head, straight on) ready to upload for each guest.

6. You Will Upload a Picture of Your Citizenship Document – In the past, Disney would ask whether you were traveling with a passport, or other proof of citizenship like a birth certificate (for cruises starting and stopping at the same US port), and ask you to enter the passport information if applicable.  Now Disney asks you to take a clear picture of your document, and someone manually reviews it before you arrive.  You still need to bring it with you as well! 

7. You Will Actually Need Your Port Arrival Form – In the past there was a cruise contract to sign, and an arrival form to print, but I was rarely, if ever, asked for it.  The new port arrival form includes QR codes that you need to show to even be admitted into the terminal.  I’m positive they have procedures in place if you forget them, but to speed things up, definitely bring either a printed or digital version.

8. The Port Arrival Form Shows Your Muster Station and Boarding Group Number – In the past, you were given your boarding group number after you arrived and checked in at the port, and your muster station was on your Key to the World card and the back of your stateroom door.  This new port arrival form actually shows your boarding group number and muster station. 

9. You Will Also Need Your QR Code from Safe Passage – Once you have completed the Safe Passage information and it has been approved, you will get a QR code to print or save digitally.  It’s your proof that you are cleared to board.  Bring your physical proof (vaccine card or test results for children) as well!

10. The Online Check-In Will Show as Pending After Completed – When you completed check-in in the past, you were done and ready.  Now you need to wait for the document upload review, and the Safe Passage verification review.  The Safe Passage verification is usually pretty quick, within 24 hours.  The online check-in, however, showed as pending until about 3 days before we sailed.  Don’t worry if yours does the same, it’s normal.  If you uploaded anything incorrectly, they will ask you to try again.  If the Safe Passage doesn’t clear, bring everything you need to the port.

It’s unknown how long this new process will stay in effect, or whether or not it will be tweaked, but this is how it is currently working.  Do you have any questions?  Ask them below!

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Back to the Mouse

Disney cruise line check-in process.

You’ve booked your Disney Cruise — now it’s approaching your check-in day and you wonder what will happen.  The most important thing you need to know before checking in for your cruise is that you must be paid in full before you begin the check in process.  Once you have paid in full for your cruise, you can start checking in.  Your check-in date will depend on how many Disney Cruises you have taken.  If this is your first cruise, your check-in day will be 75 days from your sailing date.  If you have taken 1-4 cruises (this makes you a Silver Castaway Club member), your date will be 90 days out.  If you have taken 5-9 cruises (this makes you a Gold Castaway Club member), your date will be 105 days out.  If you have taken 10 or more (a Platinum Castaway Club member), your date will be 120 days out. 

Checking in isn’t nearly as important as booking your activities .   You aren’t competing with other people for activities, adult dining times, or meet and greets with characters.  You do want to get this important information to Disney Cruise Line, but you can do it after you book your activities.

Once you reach your check-in date, you will want to go to the Disney Cruise Line website at https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/.  

From the My Disney Cruise Menu option, select My Online Check-In.

Once you have logged in, you should see a listing of all of the cruises you have booked, but haven’t taken yet. 

Right next to the cruise you are checking in to, you will see the Online Check-In: Closes <Date> and then the words Check In in blue.  You will want to click on “Check In”.

This will take you to the “My Online Check-In Overview”.  The first panel just confirms that the sailing as well as the passengers in your reservation.  Select Begin Now to start.

The first panel you will fill out with be the Guest Information Panel.  This will include the Home Address and Emergency Contact Information.  You can fill this information out for the first guest, then copy it to the remaining guests if it is the same.  It is possible this information might be pre-filled for you if you’ve sailed with Disney Cruise Line before.  Select Save at the bottom to move to the next panel.

The next panel will be the Identification panel.  Each guest will have to have proper identification to board the cruise as well as to get off the cruise ship.  For most people, this will be a passport.  There are some other types of documentation you can use for certain cruises, but we’ve always used our US Passports.  For more information, contact Disney Cruise Line to see what is acceptable.  Make sure you go through each guest to ensure their passport information (or other identification information) has been entered.  Select Continue to move to the next panel.

The next panel will gather information about your pre- and post-cruise travel plans.  You can enter in whether you are flying or driving to/from the cruise area.  If you are flying, you can enter your flight information as well as how you are arriving at the port terminal (taxi, Disney Cruise Transfers, etc).  Another note here, if you are flying home after your cruise, your flight information will help to determine when you leave the ship.  If you have an early flight, you will be leaving the ship before passengers with later flights.  So, if its important you be at the airport early, make sure you enter your flight information when you check in.  People that are driving home or staying close to port will possibly be assigned later times for debarkation.  Once you enter the information for one guest, you can copy this information for all the guests in the reservation if it is the same.  When you have entered in your travel information, you can select Continue to move to the next panel.

After entering in your travel information, you can now enter information for settling your onboard account once you leave the ship.  Everything on the ship is charged to your room.  As your room account accumulates charges, Disney will periodically charge your credit card on file.  If you have selected to settle your account with cash, you will have to pay the bill before you leave the ship.  I don’t know how much Disney will allow you to have charged to your room if you choose to pay with cash.  They will charge your card once you reach $500 in charges (at least they did with ours).  You can select the same payment method for everyone in your traveling party as well if you would like (or enter in different payment methods for them).  You can also grant or deny charging privileges for members of your party.  Once you have filled out this information, select Continue.

The Port Arrival Time Panel allows you to select the time you would like to arrive at the Port.  This keeps the port from being overwhelmed with passengers while they wait for the ship to be ready.  Some of the times may not be available to select and will be greyed out.  It is possible the Port itself won’t allow you to enter if you arrive before your Port Arrival Time. The earlier times get you onboard the ship sooner.  The later times allow for a less hectic arrival and boarding process.  The staterooms aren’t ready until 1:30 PM, so if you are hand carrying a lot of items on the ship, it might be a good ideal to select a later boarding time so you can head directly to your room.  Once you have selected your time, you can also select if you would like to receive your cruise documentation or just your luggage tags.

You will also be presented with your Cruise Contract, which you must review and select that you agree with the Contract.  If you disagree with the contract, you won’t be allowed to board the vessel.  The contract gives the terms of the cruise and Disney liability.  We won’t go over the details of the contract, but Disney basically says they can alter the length of the cruise, the stops, and anything else they want to for safety purposes. 

The last part of the check in process is to Print your Port Arrival Form.  Once you have printed the form, you can select “Complete My Online Check-In”. 

Congrats, you are now just a few weeks away from your cruise!

If you return to your cruise reservations, you will see that you have completed the check in process.  You can always go and update the information if it changes though.

If you have enjoyed this article, please be sure to check out our Disney Cruise Line information page , which has useful hints in addition to our cruise trip reports!

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Disney Cruise Line: How to Check-In Online and Book Activities

by Key to the World Travel Jan 23, 2019

You’re going on a Disney Cruise ! Congratulations! After you book your cruise there are still several steps to complete before you embark on your magical cruise. You will need to do your online check-in and select any extra activities that you want to add to enhance your cruise experience. Your Key to the World Travel ® Planner can help you with these, or you can choose to do them on your own.

Advanced Booking Window

Your Advanced Booking Window is determined by your Castaway Club Membership level as follows:

• Concierge Guests can book 120 days prior to sail date
• Platinum Castaway Club Members can book 120 days prior to sail date
• Gold Members can book 105 days prior to sail date
• Silver Members can book 90 days prior to sail date
• First Time Sailors can book 75 days prior to sail date

Your window opens at Midnight EST – That means West-coasters can check in at 9 pm the night before!

For our upcoming cruise, we were able to log on and complete the check-in about 1 hour before our window opened, but we were not able to book activities until the window officially opened.

Your cruise needs to be paid for in full to register for activities, but not to check in.  Note: your final payment for the cruise is due between 75 and 120 days prior to sail date, depending on the cruise you select.  Be sure to check your cruise details. Your Key to the World Travel ® Planner will remind you of when your final payment is due.

Information to gather before check-in

If your Key to the World Travel® Planner is doing your check-in, please be sure to supply the following information. If not, then having it handy will help you when it is time to check in.

• Passport information
• Credit card information
• Flight details
• Pre and post travel location address
• Emergency Contact Information

If you are doing your own check-in, you will need to login to https://disneycruise.disney.go.com . Select Sign In or Create Account. If you are new to the Disney websites, you will enter your email address and select a password. If you have registered on Disney’s Parks sites before it will be the same username and password that you have used previously. Your Key to the World Travel ® planner will have helped you with setting this up. Once logged in, select My Disney Cruise tab located on the top right of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear, select My Reservations under Plan and Manage. Here you can select check-in.

Check-in Process

There are 9 steps and you need to go in order of the check-in steps and complete each step before you move on to the next one.

Step 1: Guest Information

You will enter your address, phone number, emergency contact, if you are pregnant and if you are the parent or legal guardian of children in your party.  These steps repeat for each member in your party.

Step 2: Identification

You will select your citizenship and enter your identification type (photo & government ID or Passport), numbers, and expiration dates.

Step 3: Pre/Post Cruise

Are you flying into the port? You will enter your flight information, the address of where you are going after the cruise as well as the transportation you are using from the cruise terminal.

Step 4: Onboard Account

Here you will enter in your credit card information for onboard charges and select who is authorized to charge on this card.

Step 5: Port Arrival Time

You can select an arrival time between 10:30 am and 3 pm. They are in 15-minute intervals. Select the time that best matches up of when you realistically plan to get to the port. This is not your boarding time. Just the time you expect to arrive at the port.  This helps Disney manage the flow of passengers.

Step 6: Youth Registration

If you are bringing children on the cruise this is where you register them in the kid’s clubs. This is something that your travel planner cannot do for you, the parent or guardian must complete this step.

You will select who can pick up and drop off your child and if you want them to have self-check-in and out privileges. You will also pick a secret word for you and your children to know. Here is also where you indicate if any child has any allergies. The kid’s clubs will sometimes offer your child food so they need the authorization to feed them and if they can participate in activities with Play-Doh. There is also information on if you are bringing an EpiPen. There is an additional form for special services information that must be completed 60 days in advance of your cruise.

In this step, there will also be a link to download and print a My Disney Cruise Adventure booklet. There are fun pages for your child to fill out before, during, and after your cruise.

Step 7: Traveling with Minors

Here you can select if your children can get off of the ship with any other adults, and who those adults are. This is something that your travel planner cannot do for you, the parent or guardian must complete this step.

Step 8: Review Contract

Make sure to read and check that you understand the contents.

Step 9: Port Arrival Form

You can Print your Port Arrival Form and/or send it via email. After you make your selection click “Complete My Online Check-In”.

Cruise Activities

Now you get to choose your cruise activities like port adventures and specialty dining experiences.  Are you traveling with others in a different stateroom? You can link your reservations and book your activities together. You can link up to 3 rooms together. In order to link reservations, you will need their confirmation number and the date of birth of one of the guests.

Go back to the My Disney Cruise tab located on the top right of the screen. Select My Cruise Activities on the drop-down menu under Plan and Manage.  For this section, I suggest you have a rough outline of the days you are cruising with plans that you already have set. For example, put in your dinner time so you know that when you are scheduling activities. As you select activities, I also suggest penciling these in, that way you can keep track of what you have already selected.

Once you are on your Cruise Activities page, there will be a link for your day-by-day itinerary.  Select the day you’d like to reserve your activity for, then click “Add Activities” and select from the options provided. You can add the activities for one up to all of the passengers you have linked to your reservation.

Some of the activities you will get to choose from are listed below.  Note: activities are based on the ship you are sailing on, the duration of your cruise, as well as ports you visit. Also, some activities have an additional cost, which will be listed.

• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique packages
• Drink tasting events
• Shutters Portrait Studio
• Golf Simulator
• Sports Simulator
• Character Meet & Greets (Princesses and specialty characters on Star Wars and Marvel cruises)
• Royal Court Royal Tea
• Senses Spa appointments
• Port Adventures
• Character Breakfast
• Spa and Fitness

If you didn’t get something that you wanted don’t fret! On your day of departure, you can go to the Port Adventure desk located on Deck 5 on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy and on Deck 3 on Disney Magic and Disney Wonder to see if there is any availability. If you want to register for group babysitting visit it’s a Small World Nursery on Deck 5 for all ships, and Spa & Salon Services can be booked in the salon on Decks 11 and 12 on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy ; Deck 9 on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder .

The most important thing to remember: do not be surprised or worried if many of the activities are booked up by the time your booking window opens [due in large part to the Advanced Window Booking noted above].  Your cruise experience will still be magical! All of the restaurants included in the rotational dining provide top notch food and there are more than enough onboard activities listed in the daily navigator to enjoy.

All Key to the World Travel ® planners are experts and offer the highest level of exemplary customer service. Contact your travel planner to book your vacation, or click here to request a quote today!

Lynette Brown

Travel Planner

Contact Lynette today, using the links below!

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11 Things to Do at Your Disney Cruise Online Check-in

Disclosure: This Disney Cruise online checkin page contains affiliate links. Read  full Disclosure Policy .

You can book activities and reservations for your Disney Cruise online 75 days prior to sail date (if you’re a first time guest) and you can do the official online “check-in” 30 days before your cruise.

These online check-ins for a Disney Cruise are very important steps in making your cruise as magical as it possibly can be. Get this right and you’ll be off to a great start for your cruise !

For simplicity sake, I will refer to this entire process as  online check-in.

I’ve also made an infographic checklist, located at the end of this article.

>> CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE INFOGRAPHIC CHECKLIST BELOW <<

Here are the 11 most important things to do at the time of your Disney Cruise online check-in . Follow these steps to make your check-in smooth and easy.

THE PREP WORK

1. gather this information one day before check-in.

Take some time the day before your Disney Cruise online check-in to gather the following information.

You’re going to need to have it to complete your Disney Cruise online check-in. So it’ll be helpful to have it at-hand.

• Disney Cruise website login and password
• Passports for all cruisers
• Your flights
• Your hotels or Airbnb you will be staying at before and after your cruise
• Credit card to add for incidentals and gratuities 
• File folder or accordion folder (like this ) to store all your important cruise documents

2. Be at Your Computer 5-10 Minutes Before Midnight (EST)

Mark your calendar and make sure you are near a computer at midnight (EST) on your online check-in date.  

Note: Remember this is midnight Eastern Standard Time, so if you are in California that is 9:00pm PST the night before your check-in date.  (e.g. Check-in date is July 3rd at midnight EST would be July 2nd 9pm PST)

3. Login to Disney Cruise Site BEFORE Midnight

Go to the Disney Cruise website and login to your account BEFORE  your cruise online check-in opens at midnight (EST). When midnight strikes, do the following:

• Hover over “My Disney Cruise” tab on the right side of the page
• Then click on “My Online Check-in”
• Now just follow the steps. If you don’t have all your travel information (passports, flights or hotels) at the time of check-in, that’s okay too. You can add it at a later date.   

THE ESSENTIALS

4. select the earliest possible port arrival time.

You can choose your Port Arrival Time. This is the time you should arrive at the terminal port. You’ll go through security, drop off your luggage, and physically check-in for your cruise.

This is the number one thing you can do to ensure you’ll get on the ship as early as possible. Why do you want to be on the ship earlier? To beat the crowds! You and the kids will have the water slides and pools to yourself for awhile. You can get to Guest Services before anyone else. You’ll enjoy exploring the ship with no crowds.

5. Print Your Contract Signature Form

Print it and put it in your Disney folder. You need to take this with you on the cruise.   Tip: I like to use this for all my important documents such as these signature forms, passports, flight itineraries, cruise document booklet etc.  

6. Print Parental Debarkation Authorization Form (if needed)

Disney Cruise Line uses a security system that prohibits children under the age of 18 from getting on/off the ship unless accompanied by an adult in the same stateroom. The Parental Debarkation Authorization form allows you to list all adults that you think might possibly take your child off the ship (e.g. grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings over 18, family friends ). Print it and put in your Disney folder. You can turn it in at physical check-in on your day of sailing.

7. Book Character Meet and Greets

Now go to the “On Board Fun” section and reserve your spot at the Princess Gathering and the Frozen Meet ‘n Greet. These character greetings are free to attend, but you must have a ticket. You’ll meet Disney princesses like Belle, Cinderella, Tiana, and Ariel at the Princess Gathering. At Frozen Meet ‘n Greet, you come face to face with Elsa and Anna. These tickets sell out quickly, so if you’re on the fence, just do it. You can always cancel later.

Also, if you are unable to reserve a ticket at a time you prefer, don’t fret. Disney Cruise Line holds some tickets in reserve to give out once you are on the ship. (These will go fast, so make a visit to Guest Services immediately once you board.)

FINAL STEPS

8. book the special character breakfast (if applicable).

9. Get Palo Reservations (and any other premium dining reservations)

Palo is a premium dining experience on-board every Disney Cruise ship. An additional fee per person is charged and only adults 18 and over are allowed. The food is incredible and the experience is worth it, but seating is limited.  I recommend securing a reservation just before sunset (after dark, you don’t see much) because the seascape and sunset is spectacular.

10. Book Excursions

If you would like you can also start booking your excursions now. Disney will list available Port Adventures and you can secure your spot at online check-in.

11. Reserve Your Spot at It’s a Small World Nursery

Kids ages 3 and under are both cared for and entertained by Disney counselors at the It’s a Small World Nursery . Naps, games, crafts, and movies are all part of the nursery activities. 

Unlike the other clubs, an additional fee applies for the nursery. Currently rates are $9 per hour for the first child, $8 per hour for any additional children in your family. Reservations are required, but you may cancel without penalty up to four hours before your reservation. So you might as well lock up your Nursery times early. 

Here are some times that makes sense to have a nursery reservation:

• During the nightly shows. If you think your little one might be fussy, just get a reservation so you don’t miss the show.
• Palo or Remy reservations. No kids allowed in these premium dining experience.
• Spa treatments.  This should be obvious.
• A day at sea to yourself. How about scheduling some “downtime” just for you?
• Castaway Cay. Sometimes the little one doesn’t enjoy the sand and sun as much as you do.

SOME FINAL THOUGHTS

You’re putting so much time, planning, and money into your Disney Cruise vacation that it just makes sense to master this really important step of your Disney cruise online check-in. By following each of the 11 steps listed above,  you will be way ahead in your planning for your Disney Cruise.

PRO-TIP: PIN FOR LATER

Below, you’ll find my infographic checklist to print to have by your side on the day of your Disney Cruise online check-in.

If that’s a long ways out, I suggest you add it to your Pinterest board for later (you do have a Disney Cruise board on Pinterest , don’t you??)

Since the restart, everyone does online check-in 30 days prior to their sail date

• Close 

What time does the on-line check-in process start on your designated check-in date? ”

Hi Andrea, Welcome aboard planDisney! You must be getting close to your sailaway date, so let's get everything ready to go for your online check-in day! Online check-in begins at midnight (EST) on the day you are eligible to begin. It sounds like you are already familiar with your designated date based on your Castaway Club membership status  and you have your calendar marked! To begin the process, log into your Disney Cruise Line online account or the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app and select "Begin Online Check-In" under Already Booked or My Reservation s, depending on your device of choice.  It is easier if you have your travel documents and photographs for everyone in your party organized prior to your check-in day. You can always finish the process in more than one sitting if needed. Andrea, here are some things you can expect with online check-in:

• Guest contact information
• Travel documentation
• Security photos (these are different from your passport photos, and can be taken with your cell phone as long as they are forward-facing with a plain background)
• Travel plans before and after your cruise
• Onboard account information including how you will pay for onboard expenses
• If you are traveling with minors, you may need to complete special permission forms
• Selecting your Port Arrival Time
• Reviewing and accepting the terms and conditions of the Cruise Contract .
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Meet the Panelist: Shannon, Georgia

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