When Should I Start Planning to Book a Cruise With Disney?

OK, you’ve decided that you want to go on a cruise and you already know you want to sail with Disney Cruise Line. Now what? You might be asking yourself, "Where should I start?" Or rather, "When should I start?" The good news? When it comes to cruising, you can have a frogtastic vacation with a year’s worth of advance planning or … on a last-minute sailing. You can’t go wrong, but like anything in life, there are advantages to starting early versus waiting until you’re closer to your Sail Away Party. The bad news? There isn’t any! No matter when you decide to book a cruise, Undercover Tourist offers exclusive Disney Cruise Line savings! Now, let's check out these five easy steps to figuring out when you should start planning the Disney cruise vacation of your dreams.

Hop To

• Time of Year
• Activities
• Planning
• Budget
• Book

FAQs

• How far in advance should I book a Disney Cruise? Disney cruises can be booked anywhere from opening day (often 15–18 months in advance) to just weeks before sailing. If you’re sailing during peak seasons like holidays, spring break or on themed sailings such as Marvel Day at Sea or Pixar Day at Sea, booking as early as possible gives you the best selection and pricing. If your dates are flexible, last-minute sailings can still be a great option.
• When can I book onboard activities and excursions? First-time cruisers can book Port Adventures, specialty dining and onboard activities starting 75 days before sailing. Castaway Club members receive earlier booking windows based on their membership level, with Concierge guests able to book as early as 130 days out.
• When do Disney Cruise Line itineraries open for booking? Disney Cruise Line releases itineraries in phases throughout the year. Currently, sailings are available through summer 2027. New itineraries tend to book quickly, especially for popular destinations like Alaska, Europe and holiday sailings.
• Is it cheaper to book a Disney Cruise early or at the last minute? Booking early usually means lower pricing and better stateroom availability. That said, last-minute deals do happen if Disney is trying to fill remaining staterooms, especially during slower travel periods like late August or early December. The trade-off is fewer choices for staterooms.

Step 1 — Decide if the Time of Year Is Important to You

To book a cruise, the planning process is pretty straightforward if the time of year is your most important factor. If you KNOW a Christmas or Halloween sailing is your make-or-break, then you'll want to book just as soon as you can. Those Christmas and New Year’s voyages book up quickly. Halloween cruises don't book quite as quickly, but with fall breaks spread out across the country, some weeks book up much faster than others. Spring break? Same.

Disney also offers limited-time themed sailings like Marvel Day at Sea and Pixar Day at Sea, which are offered on select ships at specified times. If meeting your favorite superheroes or Pixar characters is a top priority for your froggy fam, you'll want to prioritize sailings that host these events.

There are also regional sailings that are only offered at select times during the year. For example, Alaskan cruises are very popular, but are only available in the summer months. Panama Canal sailings, South Pacific cruises and Hawaiian sailings are also only offered during select sailings and times of year. Disney cruise itineraries are currently open through the summer of 2027, so if one of these destinations appeals to you, hop to it!

On the flip side, if you’re just looking to sail "during the summertime" or "anytime next year," keep reading.

Step 2 — Gauge How Important Activities Onboard Will Be for Your Frog Family

As you plan your cruise, think about what kind of experience you want. If things such as character meet and greets, adult-only fine dining, or specific excursions are important to you, you’ll want to book — and pay in full — at least 76 days before your sail date.

Disney opens up its reservations-required onboard activities, dining and Port Adventures for first-time sailors exactly 75 days before embarkation, but those with Castaway Club status will have earlier access. And some of the most popular activities, such as the champagne tasting or Olaf's Royal Picnic, typically sell out within hours of opening up. Not to mention things that have limited space per sailing, such as the “it’s a small world” nursery!," spa treatments or magical makeovers at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

To be fully prepared, you'll want to take into account and understand your Castaway Club membership level, which dictates your advance booking window:

• First-time guests: 75 days prior to the sail date
• Silver Castaway Club members: 90 days prior to the sail date
• Gold Castaway Club members: 105 days prior to the sail date
• Platinum Castaway Club members: 120 days prior to the sail date
• Pearl Castaway Club members: 123 days prior to the sail date
• Concierge Guests: 130 days prior to the sail date

Some experiences, such as treatments at Senses Spa or brunch at Palo tend to book up incredibly fast. So, if you know you’ll be heartbroken if you don’t get the exact itinerary you have in mind, absolutely make sure you’ve booked and paid in full before that 75-day mark hits. (And you might even want to be sitting at your computer, refreshing and ready when the clock strikes 12, if you’re really trying to snag something that’s in demand.)

Step 3 — Determine How Flexible Your Plans Are

This one’s similar but different from Step 1. Knowing the time of year you’re looking for is key, but you also need to be honest with yourself about how flexible — or not — your dates are.

Are you an early bird who knows your schedule far in advance? Booking your sailing as far out as possible will maximize your chances of getting in on popular ships, itineraries, the length of cruise you’re looking for, certain ports of call and even stateroom types.

Guests who require accessible staterooms, adjoining staterooms or special services (mobility or medical) should absolutely book as early as possible. These staterooms are limited and can fill early.

Worried about a change in plans? Then be sure to add on travel insurance. Plus, with your favorite frogs here at Undercover Tourist, you can place a 10% deposit on your cruise and change your mind before the remaining payment is due in full. For example, a one- to five-night non-holiday cruise from a U.S. port can be fully refunded, including your deposit, when canceled 90+ days out from sailing. Just be sure to read the fine print as policies are always subject to change, but know there are options available that make the advantages of booking earlier even more frogtastic.

Are you flexible & able to take a last-minute sailing? That works too! While booking and checking in early will give you the most options, booking close to your sailing date will often score you major savings.

Cruise lines aim to fill all staterooms and often have discounts for unreserved staterooms as the sail date approaches. These value periods hoppen usually during back-to-school and hurricane seasons. Despite concerns about the latter, booking between May and September offers a good chance of sunny weather. In case of rain, there are plenty of onboard activities. Moreover, Disney Cruise Line prioritizes passenger safety, and in rare cases of serious weather alerts, they may change course or even reschedule your journey at no additional cost.

While certain activities might be fully booked when you decide on a last-minute cruise, you'll still be able to enjoy the yummy food, entertainment and magical experiences that a Disney cruise offers. The Disney Cruise Line Navigator app will be your go-to resource here, listing all details on schedules and offerings throughout your entire journey, ensuring you won't miss a thing!

Step 4 — Set Your Budget Before You Book a Cruise

There are many types of staterooms and about, oh, a bajillion different excursions and activities available on a Disney Cruise Line vacation. Many are included (Broadway-style entertainment, deck parties, youth clubs and recreation — just to name a few), while others require additional expenses.

Disney Cruise Line also uses a tiered pricing structure — prices go up as stateroom categories sell. Booking early usually means getting a lower rate before your desired stateroom category becomes unavailable. The earlier you book, the better your pricing may be.

If you're budget-conscious, consider shoulder seasons — those weeks and months just before or just after a popular travel time. These include late January, early May, late August or early December — fares tend to be lower then while still offering all the magic.

Before you go, you'll want to get a good grip on your "all-in" budget. You might find that that’s what determines when — and how far out — you’ll be sailing. Play around with dates and types of staterooms to figure out what might get you the most bang for your buck or what’s "worth it" to you and your frog squad.

 Step 5 — Book & Prep for Your Disney Cruise!

You’ve asked yourself the important questions, you’ve browsed the internet for itinerary and ship options, and you’ve officially booked your cruise. Congratulations! You’re going to have a blast. But keep in mind: The early frog gets the worm. And, one more time for the froggies in the back: Book your extras EARLY! You’ll thank me later for remembering to stay ahead and on top of your vacation planning.

It might sound repetitive, but remember that 75-day out date. Mark it on your calendar. Set an alert or alarm clock. That’s the start of your pre-booking window for any and all activities, specialty dining and excursions other than booking the cruise itself. We literally cannot emphasize this enough!

In addition to the many activities and entertainment included in the price of your Disney Cruise Line vacation, there are plenty of magical extras you can sign up for in advance of your journey.

A few favorites that fill up fast include both free and upcharge activities:

• Port Adventures for when it’s time to step off the ship and adventure into the exciting destinations on your itinerary
• Adult dining upgrades to Palo, Remy or Enchanté
• Onboard fun such as mixology classes, champagne tastings, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique makeover appointment times and Goofy’s Sport Deck
• Spa and fitness special offerings
• Nursery bookings for babies and toddlers (tip: There’s a maximum number of hours you’re allowed to book pre-sailing. This is to give everyone with little ones a chance to take advantage of baby care and some special alone or couples time. But if you want more nursery hours, check with the nursery as soon as you board the ship. You can add more hours once you’re onboard, subject to availability.)
• Special ticket-required character meet & greets

In addition to booking the fun stuff, be sure to fully fill out all of your pre-arrival documents, including any needs for ground transportation, airline information, your dining rotation requests and personal information. Not only will this ensure you’re all set for any accommodations your party might have, but it’ll also make your check-in much quicker when you arrive at your departure port.

Don't froget to download or update the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app before sailing — you'll be able to book Port Adventures and dining, complete check-in, upload travel documents and set reminders for your "extras" booking window ahead of time.

Alright, hopefully you’re feeling more informed and better equipped on when to book a cruise with Disney Cruise Line. What tips or tricks do you have to share? Comment below!

Related: Exploring the Difference — What Sets the Disney Cruises Apart

Related: You Booked a Disney Cruise! Now What? Our In-Depth Cruise Planning Guide

Hoppy planning!