mommb

Usually, guests can pour their own ice cream. Sometimes (especially if there is illness going around) the cast members do the serving.

I have seen Peter Pan on some of my cruises, but not necessarily on Pirate Night. So he may be around but might be busy elsewhere.

The characters onboard each ship will vary between cruises. In addition to the 6 you mentioned and princesses, I usually see Chip and Dale, and have also seen some Pixar characters (Mike and Sully, Incredibles, Edna Mode), Fairy Godmother, Jiminy Cricket, Peter Pan and Captain Hook, and others, but not every character on every cruise. Rather than expecting specific characters, just take a look at the daily Navigator which lists scheduled meet and greets, and keep your eyes open as you walk around the ship.

No, the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique offers services only to kids aged 3 through 12. If you walk by at a time when they're not busy, though, they might be able to sprinkle older guests with a bit of pixie dust.

As you noted, there is apparently a pirate night, since the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is doing pirate makeovers. However, it is likely there will not be fireworks, since the cruises in the British Isles and northern Europe last year did not have fireworks. They had a "Color Splash Dance Party" on the pool deck instead.

I've staying in connecting rooms (not concierge) many times and rarely heard any noise from other rooms or in the hallway at night. I've never had anyone bang on the connecting door. So you should be fine.

Snorkeling gear is $38 for ages 10 and up, and $22 for kids ages 5-9: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/port-adventures/castaway-cay-snorkel-lagoon-equipment-rental/ Bike rentals are $15 per bike: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/port-adventures/castaway-cay-bicycle-rental-one-hour-rental/

You can select a Port Arrival Time starting 30 days in advance, when you do online check-in and provide information about each passenger's documents (passport or birth certificate/drivers license), method of payment, arrival and departure transportation plans, and kids' club registration. There are no extra-cost activities that are essential to enjoy your cruise. You can have a great time without booking excursions (just walk around by yourself in ports), adult dining (enjoy the main dining rooms and pool-level quick service booths), beverage tastings, bingo, Bibbiti-Bobbiti-Boutique, and spa treatments. You can find plenty to eat and drink without purchasing popcorn, specialty desserts, smoothies, specialty coffee and tea, or alcoholic drinks. It's really up to you what you feel is worth the extra cost.

Princesses do greet at other times throughout the cruise. Sometimes greeting times are announced in the app in advance, and sometimes princesses just show up. I have met Belle and Tiana in the lobby around dinner time, just standing around. I'm not sure how quickly ticketed events fill up. My guess is that the Princess Gathering books fairly quickly, since it is free, and that the Royal Court Tea books more slowly since it is so expensive, but those are just guesses since I haven't booked either in many years. I hope your son and daughter recover quickly so you can book your cruise enough in advance to book activities. The Princess Gathering tickets don't become available to non-Concierge guests until 30 days before the cruise. Concierge guests can book earlier.

Two adults can attend with one child, but I don't think adults without kids can attend. This text is from the description on the Disney Cruise site with highlighting added (https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/onboard-activities/royal-court-royal-tea-party/). Please note that this special experience is designed for children ages 3 to 12 and their parents. Each child must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, 18 years of age or older. Children in attendance ages 13 to 17 will be charged the adult price. Solo adults are not eligible for this event. Adults are welcome to attend other character meets, including getting free tickets for the Royal Gathering/Princess Gathering.

Filming from within the theater will be difficult due to the number of people moving around and talking. Also, as mentioned above, your mother won't know when you are about to show up, if you do. It would be better for your mother to wait in line with you so she can grab her phone quickly if you are interviewed.

If someone in your party is being interviewed on the red carpet, you should be able to record the interview on a phone. I don't line up in time to see the interviews, but I have taken pictures of my kids meeting characters in the area outside the theater, and I once had a cast member use my phone to film a quick video of a conversation my daughter and I had with Minnie Mouse.

Lookout Cay has not actually opened to guests yet, so no one can be sure how it compares to Castaway Cay. The first sailings scheduled to stop there are in early June.

You can purchase a DisneyBand+ (which is the same as the MagicBand+ used in the US Disney parks) for around $35. It is now available on all 5 ships. It can be used for charges and to enter your room. At various times on the cruise, it may light up or cause things to happen around the ship. As jalves said, you will still need a Key to the World card to reboard the ship in ports.

Excursions will be charged to your onboard account after you board the ship. However, you can make a payment toward your onboard account before sailing by calling DCL (or having your travel agent call, if you used a travel agent). This is typically described as "prepaying gratuities" but since all charges are handled the same way, you can think of it as prepaying excursions too. You can also purchase "onboard credit" through the Onboard Gifts section of the Disney Cruise website.

The only way to be sure you will have the same reservations is to book them at the same time, meaning you would need to wait until your friends' booking window opens. For adult dining, if you are interested in that, you can book for your family, have your friends book when they can, and then ask Palo/Remy/Enchante to combine your reservations once you are onboard. For excursions, you can book for your family and then have your friends check whether the activity you booked is still available when they book. If it isn't, you can either keep it without them, or cancel and book something all of you can do. One other option is to "swap" passengers so that each room has someone with Silver Castaway Cay status, and then swap back at Guest Services after boarding. If you're on a standard Bahamas or Caribbean itinerary, this is probably unnecessary, but if you're on an unusual itinerary, it's possible that excursions will fill quickly.

I use a travel agent, so I can't pay through the Disney Cruise website. When I look at my upcoming reservation online, I do see a blurb about pre-paid gratuities: You can also purchase onboard credit through the Onboard Gifts section, which would have the same effect as pre-paying gratuities.

I have often carried a hot tea or coffee into a bar or lounge, and no one ever said anything about it. When asked if I'd like anything to drink, I simply say no, and I'm not usually asked again. I think you can get tap water at no cost, though I haven't tried that.

Since I always to go Guest Services and add extra to the gratuities anyhow, I just let the gratuities go on my credit card with all my other charges at the end of the cruise.

If you are used to longer cruises, then I agree that a 3-night cruise would not be ideal. Disney Cruise offers 7 night cruises from Port Canaveral in the Fantasy this year and on the new Treasure next year. There are also 4- to 7-night cruises from Texas and Florida on other ships, as well as 7-night cruises through Alaska and Europe. You could do back-to-back shorter cruises, but you'd have the same menus and mostly the same events on each cruise. Yes, Disney cruises will have a lot of kids. However, they also have a lot of kids programming, so other than at deck parties, theater shows, and meals, you may not see kids that often. Deck parties, theater shows, and heading into dinner are when you will see large crowds in general. As Shmoo said, longer cruises tend to have fewer kids and more adult-oriented activities. I have never done a repositioning cruise, but if you have the time, that would be a good choice since the fares are (relatively) low compared to other Disney cruises.

There is usually at least 1 and often more than 1 trivia activity per day. Some are intended for families -- these focus on Disney movies and music. In the past there have been "game show" type activities for kids and parents, but I'm not sure if those are still offered. Other trivia events are more geared to (or exclusively for) adults. Some are diverse "pub trivia" and others are more focused, such as television, music, brainteasers, and Disney parks. During sea days, trivia may occur throughout the day. On port days, it's more likely in the afternoon and evening, though there may be some earlier as well.

From the DCL website (https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/prohibited-items/carrying-alcohol-onboard/😞 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. If you need extra luggage tags, you should be able to get them from porters at the port. I don't know what wines are available onboard. My family typically stays at the Country Inn and Suites in Port Canaveral, which offers a shuttle bus to the port, when we don't stay at Walt Disney World before the cruise. There are a few other hotels on the same street.

1. Guest Services will no longer get items signed by characters. You are welcome to bring items to character meets to get them signed in person. 2. Children 3-10 can be dropped off and picked up at any time while the Oceaneer's Club and Lab are open. You do not need to make reservations or set a pick-up time in advance. The daily Navigator will list scheduled events and times, so you can make plans with your granddaughter for when she'd like to be at the Club/Lab. 3. The main theater shows on the Magic are Tangled, Twice Charmed (a twist on Cinderella) and Disney Dreams. On other nights the theater typically has guest performers such as a magician, comedian, or musical group, and one night might be a movie.

If you want a soft drink, coffee, or tea while other members of your party are ordering alcoholic or specialty drinks at a bar or lounge, you can go up/over to the drink station on the pool deck, get a drink, and bring it into the bar/lounge without an issue. I routinely bring a cup of tea to trivia games. I have sometimes ordered a specialty drink (such as a Shirley Temple, virgin mojito, or caffe latte) in a bar, but never felt the need to order something I could get for free elsewhere.

My family of 4 stayed in 8032 on the Magic, which should be the same layout. It felt huge. It did have a pull-down bed and a sofa bed in the living room. We also stayed in concierge rooms 8102 and 8598, which didn't have a pulldown bed at all. We were able to request a rollaway bed so my kids didn't have to share the double sofa bed, but I wouldn't count on that. I would definitely go for 8032, 8034, 8532, or 8534 if any of them are available.