The best secrets and Disney Cruise tips to help you and your family enjoy your trip.
Disney Cruise ships have something for everyone! They are perfect for families with kids – whether they are little or big, but it’s also great for adults! There are so many activities to do aboard, along with ports to discover, shows to see, food to eat, and characters to meet!
Preparing for a cruise can often be stressful, especially if you are unsure of what to expect. Below I have put together a collection of 101 Disney Cruise Line tips to help you and your family enjoy your amazing Disney Cruise!
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- Disney does run special offers on their website. Most frequent special offers are for Florida resident and US Military. These discounted cruises tend to pop up closer to sail date, so you will need to be flexible with your dates.
- The best way to save money on a future Disney Cruise is to book your next cruise onboard an existing cruise or book a placeholder. You will save 10% off the prevailing rate plus an onboard credit of up $200 and a reduced deposit.
- If you use your Target credit card to purchase Disney gift cards at Target, you will get a 5% discount. So for every $100 worth of gift cards you purchase, you are really only paying $95. You can use the gift cards to pay off your Disney Cruise (I prefer to use my Disney Credit Card – see below) or apply to your onboard account which is where you pay for your excursions, tips for your Disney cruise staff and any purchases made while aboard.
- If you pay for your cruise with my Disney Credit Card you will receive 6 months interest-free financing.
- If you are looking for a specific cruise itinerary, book it as soon as sailing dates are announced. Disney cruises rarely go down in price (except for last minute specials) and the cheapest prices are right when the schedules are released.
- Disney offers special themed cruises throughout the year including Star Wars or Marvel Days at Sea, Very MerryTime, and Halloween on the High Seas.
- Check-in online early (as soon as your time becomes available) and make sure to book your excursions and onboard activities ahead of time as well.
- Schedule the earliest port arrival time and make sure to get there on time. It will give you more time on the ship the first day to eat lunch and swim or tour the ship.
- Fly in at least the day (if not more) before your cruise leaves, so you are not stressed out the day of your cruise.
- Find the Facebook group for your cruise and meet your fellow cruisers before your trip.
- No one wants to be seasick on a cruise, so be prepared ahead of time. I use a combination of ginger root and oils, you can read about it here.
- If you are a Castaway Club member you will receive a lanyard at check-in, otherwise, you will want to bring one so that your Key to the World Card is close at hand to enter your stateroom, for purchases, and to use when you disembark and embark on the ship.
- You may want to bring room spray there are no fans in the bathrooms.
- Bring a carryon bag with whatever you will need until dinnertime. While you can get into your stateroom around 1:30 pm your luggage won’t arrive until later in the afternoon or after dinner. You will want to have a swimsuit, medications, electronics, and your ID’s/citizenship documents with you in the bag you board with.
- When you board the ship, a Disney castmember will personally announce and welcome your family by name. If you would like to video it be ready.
- If you board early, you can take advantage of fewer people at the pool and a shorter line for the waterslide, AquaDunk or AquaDuck (depending on your ship)!
- Download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App where once onboard you will be able to check the daily activities, add items to your personal schedule and message friends and family who are on the ship with you.
- Sign up for the free 50MB wifi package on the first day. Make sure to sign out each time you’re done using it or it will continue to use the data in the background.
- To help you know which direction you are going in the hallways on the cruise ship look at the stars. The top point of the star will always point forward.
- Unpack the first night and store your luggage under your bed. There isn’t a ton of room, so it’s best to get organized the first day.
- Many guests decorate their stateroom door with magnets to help identify their door among the sea of doors and also for fun! You can find directions on how to make Mickey magnets here.
- Soda, coffee, and tea are available for free 24 hours a day on the ninth deck of the Wonder and Magic and the eleventh deck of the Dream and Fantasy. You can also get free soda, coffee and tea at the sit-down restaurants and the buffets.
- When you purchase drinks (alcohol, coffee at the coffee shop or soda in the lounges/bars) on a Disney cruise, an 15% gratuity is automatically added to your check.
- All the restaurants are all you can eat. You can order whatever you want from the menus, I have ordered two appetizers or two desserts and even off the kids’ menu. If you do not like your food, let your server know they will bring you something else to eat.
- A reusable, insulated bottle is a great way to keep water cold while on the cruise ship, while in port, or on Castaway Cay. While Disney provides small cups, it’s always nice to have a larger, leakproof container for water.
- Room service on Disney Cruise Line is free (remember to tip) and available 24-7, so order a Mickey ice cream bar or warm cookies and milk before bed or breakfast in bed.
- The safety drill is mandatory! They keep track of everyone who shows up, so be sure to be on time so that everyone can get back to having fun as soon as possible.
- The sail away party is a fun little party with characters dancing and music as the ship begins to sail off. We like to be on the top deck and look down on the party as it does get crowded.
- The Buena Vista Theater is the movie theater on the ship where they show first-run movies. Almost anything Disney that is currently in theaters will be playing there. It’s so fun!
- If a Disney movie opens in the theaters while you are onboard a Disney Cruise, it should also premier on the ship the same day.
- You can bring your own snacks and drinks into the theaters! Disney does charge extra for the theater snacks. However, you can grab a soda upstairs and something at Cabanas or from the pool deck to bring into the theater with you.
- Do not miss the Disney evening shows and be sure to arrive early before the doors open to get a good seat.
- At the Captains Reception, each guest is offered a free alcoholic drink (a non-alcoholic drink is also available).
- Do not be afraid to dress up for Pirate’s Night, some people go all out! And be sure to be dressed by mid-day, so that you can meet all the characters dressed in their pirate costumes!
- For a nominal fee, various alcohol tastings (including Beer, Mixology, Wine, Champaign, Martini, Tequila and Margarita, Cognac and Whisky) are offered on the cruise ship. This is a fun way to try out different drinks.
- Another way to try out drinks is to order the drink of the day at a lower price. You can order the drink of the day in the sit-down restaurants or at the lounges/bars.
- You can purchase a Disney Cruise Line beer mug at one of the bars/lounges and then you will receive a 21 oz. refill for the price of a 16 oz. beer at any bar on the ship that offers draft beer. The best part is that you do not have to carry the glass around with you. Just turn the glass in for a token and then when you want another give the token to the waiter/waitress/bartender. At the end of your cruise be sure to turn in your token for a clean mug to take home.
- If you would like the glass that says Disney Cruise Line on it, purchase it at the sail away party from the waiters.
- You are also allowed to bring alcohol aboard the ship in your carry-on, click here to see the all the guidelines.
- Disney Visa cardholders receive 10% off on merchandise purchases of $50+ in the shops onboard.
- Each Disney Cruise Ship has a fitness center with everything from treadmills and ellipticals to weight machines and classes.
- Get pampered at Senses where a variety of spa and beauty treatments. Some options are massages, facials, aromatherapy, manicures/pedicures, hair styling and more. You can book prior to sailing online.
- There are many adult-only activities aboard the ships. Some of the activities including napkin or towel folding classes, animation class and Art of Entertaining (Anyone Can Cook) series. Be sure to check the navigator for the schedule.
- There is a section of each ship dedicated to adults in the evening with multiple bars and lounges. In addition, many will have evening entertainment including comedians, singers and even games (like game shows).
- Palo and/or Remy (depending on the cruise ship) are the adult-only restaurants. While Palo serves Italian fine dining, Remy offers French cuisine. Both restaurants are an additional charge, reservations can be made before sailing and strict dress code must be followed.
- You will find a real hairdryer (in a bag in a desk drawer) in your stateroom.
- Chairs and umbrellas are free to use at Castaway Cay.
- Towels are available on racks when you disembark at Castaway Cay (along with most beachy ports).
- You can run/walk a 5k on Castaway Cay and get a medal at the end. Be sure to sign up the first day on the ship.
- Castaway Cay has a post office drop-box that has an exclusive Castaway Cay postmark, so be sure to mail a postcard or letter home.
- Castaway Cay has an adults-only beach, Serenity Bay, if you are looking for peace and quiet.
- Adjust tips for staff and review your onboard charges early the day before you disembark because the line at guest services will get long.
- The night before disembarkment, the cruise staff will grab all your luggage if you leave it out in the hallways. Make sure you keep out everything you need for that night and the next morning.
- You can carry your luggage off the ship and you will be one of the first to get off the ship. Let your room attendant know that you will not be putting out luggage so they are not waiting for it.
- Once you have completed your first trip with Disney Cruise Line, you will be a member of Disney’s Castaway Club.
I hope you enjoy your Disney Cruise! Let me know if you have a Disney Cruise tip in the comments below.
