In this video, I’m sharing my not-so-typical Disney Cruise Line tips—the stuff I wish someone had told me before our first sailing (and yes, we learned some of these the hard way). John and I cruise with three kids, so I’m always looking for the easiest, smoothest way to do DCL with babies, toddlers, and little kids. I talk about why booking Disney transportation (when it’s available) can seriously help your boarding group, and how boarding early honestly feels like you just gained a whole extra day of vacation. I also walk you through check-in prep—like having passport/birth certificate photos and those “passport-style” pictures ready ahead of time (and don’t use Live Photos!). Then we get into cabin location strategy for Castaway Cay/Lookout Cay views, the truth about alcohol on Disney Cruise Line (no drink package), and what DCL has instead of casinos (hello, bingo). I share a super practical parenting tip for messaging your kid onboard with an old phone + the DCL app, plus my favorite “stop wasting time” hacks: don’t line up early for the See You Real Soon party, don’t get trapped in the buffet line, and use the elevator trick when everyone’s going the same direction. And finally—how we tip extra without carrying a bunch of cash.