BY MARJORIE TREGER

So, you've shopped around and found the very best price for your Disney Cruise. You've used all the tricks, like a Magical Rate. Hopefully you've found Small World Vacations and are getting a rebate. Maybe you've even snagged an onboard credit from Disney Rewards® Visa® Card or another promotion.

Congratulations! You can pat yourself on the back, get out your bags and start your packing list. You've earned an advanced degree at MouseSavers U! But wait. Is there a way to squeeze out a little more savings or value from this trip? I think you can!

Careful planning can increase the value of your dollar on a Disney Cruise. By understanding how the Disney Cruise Line operates, there are little things you can do to get more time on the ship, collect special experiences and souvenirs for little investment, and avoid the crowds.

When planning our most recent Walt Disney World Vacation, my husband, two children and I though it would be terrific to add on a Disney Cruise to the end of our timeshare stay. Fortunately, there was a four day cruise available for the exactly the dates we needed.

If you are thinking about booking a Land and Sea Vacation with Walt Disney Travel Company, I highly recommend doing your cruise at the end of the vacation. What a wonderful way to wind down and relax after all that madcap fun in the parks!

If you're willing to take your chances, consider booking a low-priced stateroom and hoping for an upgrade. When I booked our cruise, being the frugal (or cheap!) person I am, I decided on a Category 11 "guarantee" stateroom. That meant we would get at least a Category 11 standard inside cabin. I knew that we wouldn't be in the room very much, so the lack of a window or a balcony didn't bother me. Also, with an inside cabin it's often easier for my kids, ages 5 and 3, to nap. It's cozy and dark, with few distractions.

When booking this category, we were not immediately assigned a specific cabin. Instead, Disney Cruise Line guarantees you a room at this rate and waits to see how the ship fills up. This can really work to your advantage. Since many people want to book the least expensive fare, the lowest fare often sells out. When that happens, Disney Cruise Line will frequently upgrade those who booked the lower fare first, in order to make available the lower fares for new guests.

Obviously in this situation it's to your advantage to book a lower category as early as possible. Although you are not guaranteed an upgrade, in our case we ended up with a Category 8 cabin on Deck 5 with a porthole -- but we paid for a Category 11. We got a great cabin with easy access to all other decks and right around the corner from the kid's clubs.

Another trick is to request an upgrade at the port upon check-in. Depending on how full your cruise is, they sometimes are willing to upgrade you for a fee. Usually this fee is much less expensive than if you booked that category originally.

The more time you can spend on the ship, the more value you get for your dollar. We wanted to get to the port as close to 10:30 am as possible. Now, why would we want to get there so early? The ship doesn't even leave until 5:00 pm!

Aha! Here's the part about getting more for your cruise dollar. The sooner you get on the ship and start enjoying the amenities, the less your vacation costs per hour. In my research, I discovered that Disney Cruise Line had recently begun to allow guests to board about an hour earlier than usual. We wanted to get on early and start having fun!

With this in mind we decided to stay in Cape Canaveral at the Radisson Resort at the Port the night before the cruise. This is the closest hotel to the port and often runs special prices. Be sure to check out the information on this resort to get the best deal possible.

The resort itself is nice. The room is on the dark and small side, but quiet and the beds are comfortable. The pool is terrific and has a lovely waterfall. We enjoyed swimming, the Jacuzzi and live music at the poolside bar.

The restaurant at the Radisson, Flamingo's, was having an all-you-could-eat seafood buffet, so we decided to give it a try. We really enjoyed the crab legs and peel and eat shrimp. But the best was the cooked-to-order salmon and grouper. The chef seasoned and cooked your fish right there in the dining room. There was also a nice selection of salads, pastas, side dishes and desserts. We definitely got our money's worth from that meal!

The Radisson offers a free shuttle to the port, which was another reason we chose that hotel. Upon check-in I made reservations for the shuttle the following morning. We were given a couple of time slot choices. Obviously we took the earliest available time.

We took a 10:30 am shuttle to the port, checked our bags at the tent outside, walked right into the terminal and checked in with no waiting by 11:00 am. There were fewer than 100 guests in the terminal at that point, with only a few of them starting the queue to board the ship.

The terminal is great and has many things to keep you and the kids entertained. So in my book this is when the cruise vacation starts! There is a model of the ship to look at, cartoons playing for the kids, a coffee shop, plush seating and a balcony for up-close viewing of the ship. And then the characters appear for photos and autographs!

In short, there's plenty to keep your group happy before embarkation. You may even want to encourage your kids to mingle with the other children at this point, looking for someone who will be their pal at the kids' clubs for the cruise.

At 11:30 am I got in the queue to board the ship while my husband and kids wandered around and visited with Goofy. Just after 11:45 am we were allowed to board. Let the onboard fun begin!

We were among the first fifty people on the ship and I was glad we had planned it this way. Using advice from PassPorter's Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line, tips from some Disney related on-line chat groups and a dose of common sense, we got our cruise off on the right foot.

After being "announced" in the beautiful atrium of the Disney Wonder, we immediately headed upstairs to Topsider's/Beach Blanket Buffet for a scrumptious lunch. The crew tries to guide you to Parrot Cay, but both restaurants are open for lunch buffet and being up on deck 9 was a beautiful spot to enjoy our first meal onboard.

One of my favorite tips is to make sure to either wear your swimsuit or bring it with you in your carry-on bag. Right after an early embarkation is one of the few times you will find the Mickey's Kids' Pool fairly empty. So, right after lunch, the kids and Dad changed into their suits for a dip in the pool while I headed down to the shore excursion desk. My advice for shore excursions is to book them in advance, online or through your travel agent. Many of the excursions are very popular and fill up early. I did not do this, so I ended up in line.

Disney is great with traffic control. They know how to keep people moving and happy. At the shore excursion desk a Cast Member was working the line to answer questions and hand out information so that when it was your turn, it was a quick reservation process. I made my plans for the Blue Lagoon Beach Day at Nassau and was on my way by 1:00 pm.

Our cabin was not supposed to be ready until after 1:30, but I decided to head up there anyway, just to get the lay of the land. I was pleasantly surprised to not only find our cabin made up and ready, but our luggage delivered as well. I took this time to unpack and ready the room for my family before heading back up to the pool.

Around 2:00, I returned to deck 9 where Stephen and the kids were still having a great time in the pool and hot tub. I grabbed myself the drink of the day, a Bahama Mama, and sat down to enjoy the atmosphere. From here on, it was smooth sailing. All the plans and details had been cared for, and there were no more big decisions to make, only the business of relaxation.

By boarding the ship almost 5 hours before departure we got an extra half day of value from our cruise! When time came for the Sail Away Party after the Assembly Drill, we were in full vacation, relaxation, cruising mode. And by using our first two hours onboard wisely, we made all our desired arrangements and appointments while avoiding the bulk of the crowds.

Here are some other tips for increasing your Disney Cruise value:

• Have a plan. I recommend reading PassPorter's Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line. Jennifer and Dave have an excellent first-day-aboard "touring plan." Take their advice and customize it to meet your needs.

• Use room service. It's included in the cost of your cruise, except for drinks like soda and bottled water or specialty items. (Milk, juice, coffee and tea are free.) We loved to order cookies and milk at bed time. Order extra cookies to have on hand for snacks. And be sure to try the "All Hands on Deck" cheese platter!

• Pack a lunch. Actually, let room-service help you out again. Many families order sandwiches and pack them to take on shore excursions. Saves money and time! (Some international ports may not allow food to be taken off the ship, so check first.)

• Get your picture taken, but skip the lines. During dinner is one of the best times to have your picture taken. Once the first course has been served, step out to the atrium to visit the characters without the crowds. (Obviously this should be a speedy visit between courses to get a quick shot with Mickey, not an extended absence from the table while you have a whole set of formal portraits done!)

• Stack the deck. At Shutters, the picture shop onboard, stack your pictures daily, as they are less likely to be discarded this way. Then it's easy to view them all toward the end of the cruise to make your final selections.

• Go for the picture package. It's a significant savings, and if you don't purchase enough photos to fulfill the pack, the Shutters staff will refund you the difference. Be sure to save your receipts.

• Get to Castaway Cay early. Use room service to have breakfast in your cabin and then be on shore around 9:30 am. You'll have your pick of chairs, no lines for character greetings and photo opportunities, and the snorkeling will be undisturbed by others stirring up the bottom.

• Beat the crowds. Use Mickey's Kids' Pool on days in port when everyone else is off the ship.

• Bring a soft-sided, collapsible cooler. This is handy for shore excursion days or to just keep snacks on hand in your cabin.

• Bring your own bottled water. The water on the ship is expensive! Consider packing a small suitcase with just bottled water. Then on the way home you'll have room for all those things you didn't plan to buy!

• Skip the talks. Both the shopping and disembarkation talks are replayed on the television repeatedly. Don't waste your vacation time attending these lectures in person.

• Read your Personal Navigator religiously. This is the newsletter published onboard every day, letting you know what's happening on the ship. By carefully reading and planning you can get in more special experiences than just playing it by ear. Bring a highlighter and carry the Navigator with you throughout the day to remind you what's available.

• Volunteer. Whenever you are at an event onboard and a cast member asks for volunteers, be sure to jump at the chance. You may just get a free souvenir, like a key chain or magnet. Plus, it's fun to be involved!

• Bring a pillowcase. For an inexpensive and yet priceless souvenir, purchase a new pillowcase and a pack of colored Sharpie pens before your trip. Drop it off at Guest Services on the first night with a request for the characters to sign it. Pick it up on the last night of your cruise.

• Talk to the Mouse. Getting a wake up call from Mickey Mouse personally every morning adds a little more "free" magic!

• Be sure to budget for tips. You may want to set aside tip money in envelopes before you even board so you don't have to worry about the expense later. If you want to take care of tipping through Guest Services, remember you can do this at any time. Earlier is better! There will be longer lines toward the end of the cruise.

• Avoid lines and have more fun. Increase your vacation value by waiting is a few lines as possible. Show up for dinner five minutes after they begin seating and walk right in. Same goes for the shows, except The Golden Mickeys, where the pre-show is a lot of fun.

• Get the kids in on the act. By allowing your children to be a part of the kids' show at the end of the cruise, they'll score free t-shirts!

• Know where the drinks are free. You can get milk, juice, tea, coffee, lemonade and soft drinks free at meals. The Deck 9 self-service drink station offers milk, juice, tea, coffee, lemonade and soft drinks for free at all times. Castaway Cay offers milk, juice, tea, coffee, lemonade and soft drinks for free. Room service offers milk, juice, tea or coffee free, but charges for soft drinks and bottled water. There is a charge for all drinks ordered at the bars, including soft drinks.

• Enjoy every last second on the ship. Increase your vacation value by enjoying your last morning on the ship. Instead of going to the restaurant for breakfast, send someone up to the buffet to bring it back. Then you can relax in your cabin, have a leisurely morning and when you're ready (within reason of course) walk off the ship with no crowds and no hassles finding your luggage or getting through customs.

• Plan to go again. Consider booking your next cruise while still onboard this one. They often offer terrific savings and generous onboard credits. So, check your calendar before you leave home for your next cruising opportunity. You can later transfer this reservation to your favorite travel agent for more personalized service.

We had a great time on this cruise and can't wait to go again!

To see information about current Disney cruise discounts, click here.

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