You have finally decided to take the plunge and try a Disney Cruise Ships. You’re after the whole experience; waterslides, pools, live entertainment, cinema, restaurants, coffee shops, kids clubs. But now the big questions. Are there princesses onboard? Do Mickey and Minnie have there own cabin? We might not get into the last question. But lets find out about characters on a Disney Cruise Liner.
There are many characters aboard Disney Cruise ships and available for photos daily.
Each ship can be different but you may see:
- Mickey
- Minnie
- Donald
- Pluto
- Goofy and the gang
- Princesses
- Marvel Heroes (i.e Captain America)
- Villains (i.e Captain Hook)
There are a lot of perks that come with meeting and greeting with the Disney characters aboard Disney Cruise Liners. Let’s zoom in.
Where can we meet or see characters on Disney Cruise Line?
Not all characters are on every Disney ship but finding a character is as easy as looking left or right. ‘Meet & Greets’ are scheduled throughout the day when at sea or on Disney’s Castaway Cay, if your itinerary includes it that is. When in port you will see characters around the ship but there may not be an official line formed and they will keep moving. No reason you can’t stalk them though! It’s your perfect chance. If your not careful some of the more “cheeky” characters will give you chase. So maybe don’t be too careful!
The Atrium
This is the main meet & greet area for most characters. Here you will find almost every one of your favourite friends at some point during a cruise. By far the most popular meet & greet is the princess gatherings. These take place on the lower atrium level and fans get the chance to meet all princesses there that day. Make sure you stick to the line though as its just polite! Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Chip ń Dale, Pluto and Goofy all make regular appearances here. I love seeing the feisty Tinkerbell as she is so interactive with the kids. Peter Pan and Hook often turn up too. I could go on to mention all the Incredibles and Marvel characters but it’s best to take a bit of time when your sailing to check the navigator app each day for meet & greet times in the Atrium. I don’t want to ruin it for you if it’s your first time. That would be just rude!
Here’s a quick look at the Atrium.
Shows
Every show on a Disney Cruise has character appearances. You can see most playing alongside actors and dancers in their Main theater’s playing roles such as Dr. Greenaway or Sophia from ‘Believe’ as well as Ensign Benson in the ‘Golden Mickey’s’. There are many shows that are Character led such as Sail away. This is on the top deck, on your first day, as you are… well… sailing away! Pirate Night & club pirate is in the same location and has as a pirate show where you see “Captain Jack Sparrow”, “Hook & Smee” with a few other surprises. There are of course dance parties in various locations on the top deck, the Atrium and D-Lounge; which is the family entertainment venue. D-Lounge is also the place where characters may join in on a game show such as ‘Mirror, Mirror” where Dopey has been known to make an appearance and Saludos Amigos Fiesta, Donald Ducks dance party. You don’t want to miss any of that. It’s hilarious and everyone can join in.
Kids Clubs
For your Little (and big) ones the kids clubs are a great place for planned or surprise visits from characters. At any point Mickey and the gang can pop in to say hello or maybe a boogie. You may get the chance to see planned entertainment with the characters such as Puzzle Playtime with Mickey and friends or Stitch Live. You never know what’s going to happen in Andy room in the oceaneers club so make sure your kids are checking that out. As always check your Navigator App for schedules and timings.
Castaway Cay
If your itinerary includes Disney’s Castaway Cay then you are in luck. Chip ń Dale, Hook and Stitch are among some of your more prominently featured island friends but keep a look out for many more. You will get the chance to meet & greet on the island while basking in the Bahamian sun. Join in on Mickey’s dance party and Get pictures with Goofy in his beach gear. You may even see his son, Max. But again, the luck needs to be on your side.
Are there characters in the restaurants?
Characters regularly visit restaurants on the ships. A great example is animators pallet where you are immersed in Finding Nemo and can even get a chance to have a live conversation with Crush, on screen. Have a chat with guest services or go talk with the team in the restaurant itself.
In addition, complimentary, ticketed, character dining is available. The ‘Junior Character Breakfast’ and the ‘Disney VIP Character Breakfast’ are special events that can be pre-booked. The higher the level you are in the Castaway Club membership the earlier you can book.
| Castaway Club Level | Advanced Booking Window |
| First-Time Guests | 75 days prior to sail date |
| Silver Castaway Club Member | 90 days prior to sail date |
| Gold Castaway Club Member | 105 days prior to sail date |
| Concierge Guests and Platinum Castaway Club Member | 120 days prior to sail date |
You might want to get in their as quick as you are allowed to. The process is easy enough.
- Head to your reservation at the disney cruise website.
- Click on the My Cruise Activities section where you can view or add activities.
- Look for your day to day activities and choose from the available choices
Please be aware that there is a limited availability of tickets and character appearances are subject to change. If you do forget it may not be disastrous, have a chat with guest services on your first day and you may be able to pick up a ticket.
You can also pay for a special experience called , “Royal Court Royal Tea”. This is a gorgeous tea party with special hosts, The Royal Tea Hostess, Lady Chamomile and The Royal Pastry Chef, Chef Brule. You will also have the company of some very special guest princesses. This is your chance for a personal meet & greet with dance and stories. Kids are $220 and adults are $69. My opinion, it’s well worth it. But I’m a crazy fan!
Who are the people with characters in blue shirts?
It’s hard to miss the people in blue shirts hanging out with the characters when they are out and about. These guys have a very important job. They look after and make sure the character they are accompanying have everything they need to give Disney Cruise Line guests a magical experience. They also help with autographs and photos. If you have your own camera feel free to ask them nicely to help you take a picture. They will be happy to do so.
Their official title is, “Greeter” and they basically do just that. They also help manage the character lines and make sure everyone is safe. If they ask you to do something such as stand in line, step back, hand them your autograph book, step to the side or even dance please help them out as they are asking for an important reason. Okay, maybe the dancing is just for a bit of fun but you get what I’m saying.
Conclusion
All 4 Disney Cruise Ships have great character experiences. There may be small subtle differences but these can make each trip and meeting with a character very unique.
You will always have the chance to go to a princess gathering, meet a character around the ship and get autographs. If you are looking for an extra experience and happy to pay a little extra you can do that. its definitely worth the cost.
Alway’s make sure you listen and do what a ‘Greeter’ asks of you. They are trying to keep everyone safe, everything moving and want to help your party have an amazing time.
When you board the ship and get your bearings maybe take a wander to find the places that I have mentioned in this article. Some ships will have certain characters in slightly different places. Most of the information here is first-hand information so things can change.
Check the navigator app every day to see what’s going on and where you may find your favourite characters. My number 1 tip would be to always keep your eyes peeled as you never know who is going to pop out and say hello.
I hope you have found this has answered your questions. As always have fun
See you real soon.
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