{"id":15439,"date":"2016-08-01T19:07:29","date_gmt":"2016-08-01T19:07:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goport.com\/cruise-blog\/?p=15439"},"modified":"2026-03-12T10:36:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T14:36:53","slug":"disney-cruise-hacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goport.com\/cruise-blog\/disney-cruise-hacks\/","title":{"rendered":"21 Disney Cruise Hacks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Planning to take a Disney Cruise? These 21 Disney Cruise hacks will help you get the most out of your vacation!<\/p>\r\n

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  1. Character Call<\/strong>– Surprise the kids with your Disney Cruise by setting up a Character Call. Log in to your Disney Account<\/a> and schedule a date and time that works best. You can also choose from a couple different characters. The best part? It\u2019s totally free.
    \"Mickey<\/li>\r\n
  2. Board Early<\/strong>– Make sure to choose the earliest port arrival time if possible. You\u2019ll add several hours of fun to your vacation. Even if the ship doesn\u2019t depart until later in the afternoon, you\u2019ll be able to enjoy most of the\u00a0amenities\u00a0from the moment you board. Plus, you\u2019ll often\u00a0enjoy a shorter boarding time. (Pro Tip:<\/strong>\u00a0If you’re sailing\u00a0out of Port Canaveral, you’ll want to take advantage of this exclusive\u00a0Go Port<\/strong>\u00a0Homewood\u00a0Suites Fly Snooze Cruise Package<\/a>. It’s the closest hotel to the port and offers the earliest cruise transfers at 9:45am for those boarding the ship as early as 10:30am. Check here for more information on Homewood Suites Fly Snooze Cruise<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n
  3. Pressed Penny\u00a0Souvenirs<\/strong>– Pressed pennies are a popular collectible in Disney parks. While there are no machines on Disney\u2019s ships, you can still get pressed pennies at the cruise terminal in Port Canaveral. There are six designs: One for each of the four Disney ships, one for Castaway Cay and a general Disney Cruise Line penny. You\u2019ll need one penny and two quarters to make a pressed penny.<\/li>\r\n
  4. Fish Extenders<\/strong>– If you\u2019re the kind of family that loves goodie bags, secret\u00a0santa, or cookie swaps, then listen up! Disney Cruise line passengers can participate in an optional gift exchange phenomenon known as fish extenders.<\/li>\r\n
  5. Navigating the Ship<\/strong>– If you\u2019ve got a fish by your door, you are on the port side (left, facing forward). If you have a seahorse, you are on the starboard side (right, facing\u00a0forward).<\/li>\r\n
  6. Meet-and-Greets<\/strong>– There will be countless character meet-and-greets throughout your cruise. Disney Cruise Line offers free tickets for the most popular meet-and-greets as a way to control crowds. These tickets work much like a fast pass and guarantee entry at your scheduled time. You can pick up your ticket after boarding at the Guest Services desk.
    \"Peter<\/li>\r\n
  7. Hidden Mickey Challenge<\/strong>– Ask guest services for a Hidden Mickey Challenge that\u2019s sure to keep\u00a0you and your kids busy.<\/li>\r\n
  8. Decorate Your Door<\/strong>– Cruise ship corridors\u00a0tend to be very long and every door ends up\u00a0looking the same. This can make it\u00a0difficult for kids to find your stateroom. Use magnets to personalize the outside of your door.<\/li>\r\n
  9. Navigator App<\/strong>– Make sure to download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App<\/a> before your trip. You\u2019ll be able to check out the daily weather, onboard activities,\u00a0character appearances and even stay in touch with family and friends\u00a0through the chat feature. You can even\u00a0\u2018favorite’ events to plan your day and receive 15 minute reminders.<\/li>\r\n
  10. BYOB (Bring Your Own Beverages)<\/strong>– You can bring aboard two bottles of unopened wine or champagne (up to 750ml each) or six 12oz beers at the beginning of your voyage and at each port of call.<\/u>\u00a0Room service will even bring you wine glasses and a corkscrew upon request so you can drink in the comfort of your own cabin. Just beware that if you choose to enjoy your booze in the dining room, you will be charged a corking fee of $25 per bottle. Apart from alcohol, you’ll also want to pack some bottled water. You\u2019ll need it for excursions and it can get expensive on the ship or in port. You can fill a small carry-on with just bottled water and then on the way home you\u2019ll have an empty suitcase to stuff with any souvenirs you collect on your cruise.
    \"Wine<\/li>\r\n
  11. Alcoholic Drink Specials<\/strong>– The ‘drink of the day’ is usually about $4 less than the other cocktails onboard. There is a\u00a0\u2018drink of the day\u2019 EVERY DAY (you can find the featured drink in your Personal Navigator). From time to time there will also be unadvertised drink specials. Make sure to check with your bartender to see if there are any \u20182 for 1\u2019 deals going on. If you\u2019re a big beer drinker, for about $15 you can purchase a 22oz Disney Cruise Line glass beer mug and have it refilled for\u00a0the price of a 16oz for the remainder of your cruise. When you\u2019re ready to take the mug off your hands, the bars will exchange it for a token until you\u2019re ready to trade it in for your next beer. You can even use the mug on future Disney cruises to really get your money\u2019s worth.<\/li>\r\n
  12. Free Drinks & Snacks<\/strong>–\u00a0If you order drinks at the bar or snacks at the concession stand, it will cost you. To avoid these\u00a0unnecessary charges, bring your own goodies to the shows, movie viewings or even poolside. You can get free drinks from the beverage stations and use room service to get free snacks delivered\u00a0straight to you door.<\/li>\r\n
  13. Bedtime Treats<\/strong>– Keep the magic alive by ordering cookies and milk from\u00a0room service\u00a0while the kids are getting ready for bed. What a wonderful way to end the day! You can even order\u00a0Mickey ice cream bars.
    \"Girl<\/li>\r\n
  14. Room Service<\/strong>\u00a0for Breakfast<\/strong>– If you\u2019d rather not go to the breakfast buffet or don\u2019t have time before disembarking on port day, you\u2019ll want to set up room service. You can place your order on\u00a0cards provided in your stateroom to have breakfast delivered to your door. As long as you get your order on the doorknob before 3am the morning of, you\u2019ll be able to enjoy free breakfast in the comfort of your room.<\/li>\r\n
  15. Lightswitch<\/strong>– Every Disney Cruise cabin features an energy-saving main light switch that requires you to leave your key card in the slot to power the cabin. While this prevents you from wasting power, it can be problematic if you want to charge\u00a0electronics when you\u2019re not in the room. You can\u00a0outsmart the lightswitch by putting any other similarly sized card in the slot as a placeholder. Just\u00a0remember to switch\u00a0the lights off when you step out.<\/li>\r\n
  16. Outlets<\/strong>– There are never enough outlets in any cruise ship cabin. Make sure to bring a\u00a0power strip. You can also find an extra USB port on the side of the flatscreen TV.
    \"multiple<\/li>\r\n
  17. Lanyard<\/strong>– Bring a lanyard with a clear card holder to keep your stateroom key in. Wearing the card around your neck is super handy for parents and kids alike since you\u2019ll need it for almost everything onboard. The card\u2019s magnetic strip even works through the\u00a0plastic so you\u2019ll never have to take it off.<\/li>\r\n
  18. Clotheslines<\/strong>– Your stateroom shower will\u00a0have a retractable clothesline. Bring clothespins to hang up wet swimsuits so they can dry faster.<\/li>\r\n
  19. Activities<\/strong>– Participate in free onboard family activities such as trivia. Winners often get free Disney Cruise Line swag.<\/li>\r\n
  20. Pirate Party<\/strong>–\u00a0On every Disney Cruise, there is a Pirates of the\u00a0Caribbean night with a deck party. Bring homemade costumes to partake in the fun. It will cost you a lot less than\u00a0purchasing pirate gear offered\u00a0in the ship\u2019s\u00a0gift shop.\"Children<\/li>\r\n
  21. One Last Tip<\/strong>– Embrace the experience! Dive into the fun and act like a kid.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    \"Port<\/p>\r\n\n

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