Why You Should Take Your Teen on a Disney Cruise

Disney Cruises are a great experience especially for families that enjoy visiting Disneyland or Walt Disney World and are looking for a change of pace. But there is a common misconception that teens might not enjoy a Disney Cruise or have outgrown the experience!

This couldn't be further from the truth! My teenage son has recently begun to love Disney Cruises. So much that he is even starting to prefer them over the theme parks which is a bold statement in itself.

We've been on three Disney Cruises this past year and I'm here to tell families why your teen would love a Disney Cruise experience!

Youth Clubs Aren't Just for Young Kids

Disney Cruise Line is known for its stellar youth clubs and the teen club is no exception! The Vibe is the name for the teen club for ages 14 to 17 and is available on each Disney Cruise ship.

The events at The Vibe last throughout the day and even go as late as midnight so there is always something for teens to do. The youth clubs even carry out some of their activities onto the Disney islands like Castaway Cay and Lighthouse Point!

While the idea of joining a Youth Club may not sound appealing to some teens, they will actually be surprised at how much fun they have and how many friends they make. I was surprised at how much my teen loved all the activities The Vibe offered when it's not something he normally would engage in outside of a Disney Cruise. The cast members do a great job of entertaining the teens and working with them!

Kids Of All Ages Love Disney Youth Clubs

My son's experience with the Vibe on three different Disney Cruise ships have all been positive and he's kept in touch with all the kids he's met on each cruise. It's a testament to how well these clubs are run that kids are so incredibly engaged to want to keep going back over and over. I can barely tear him away from the club on each trip!

This is also great for parents to get a chance to enjoy the adult only areas on the ships and not have to worry about your kids. In fact, good luck even getting your kids to hang out with you once they experience a Disney Cruise youth club for the first time!

Teens Can Be Independent on Disney Cruises

READ MORE – 10 Biggest Misconceptions About Visiting Disney That People Get Wrong

Disney Cruises allow teens to be independent! This is something that my son loved once he felt comfortable navigating the ship alone and made friends in The Vibe. It's common on nearly every Disney Cruise to see teens roaming the ship either playing the games The Vibe created for them or just exploring together!

My son loved the independence of a Disney Cruise. He was able to plan a day with his friends, get their own food, swim, and do anything else they were interested in! He had so much fun that I had to practically beg him to come join us for dinner each evening.

All Inclusive Food Is Perfect for Teens

Since nearly all the food is included with your Disney Cruise, with just a few small exceptions, your teen can have a blast grabbing food as often as they like.

You don't have to worry about giving them a spending limit for food on a Disney Cruise as there are plenty of options on the ships they can enjoy while they are hanging out with friends. All the Disney Cruise ships have easy grab and go options offering things like burgers, pizza, icecream, and more. All things that teens love.

This is also yet another factor in teens feeling independent on the cruise since they can go grab food as often as they like.

Disney Cruises Offer Multiple Movie Theaters

Disney Cruise Line ships offer multiple movie theaters showing a variety of films throughout the cruise. The movies shown vary and aren't just general Disney animated films!

During one of our last cruises, the lineup for shows included everything from Star Wars to Marvel films and even a special R-rated showing of Deadpool & Wolverine (that teens could attend with parent permission) which really showed off the variety of options.

Recreation Options Teens Will Love

My son loves basketball and each Disney Cruise Line ship offers a space to play basketball along with other recreational activities like mini golf and foosball. There is a section on each ship that houses these different recreational options.

Depending on the ship these options will either be on the top deck or inside the ship itself allowing teens to play all day and night.

Teens Make Lifelong Friends on Disney Cruise

Teens will make lifelong friends on Disney Cruises and this will make them want to repeat this experience again and again.

My son still has a large group chat from his first Disney Cruise with over 10 other teenagers in it and they all have kept in touch since that first sailing. He has now done three Disney Cruises and each time he leaves with another group chat full of new friends. For a kid that has been raised an only child, Disney Cruises have been such a great experience for him to connect with other kids his age and have his own sense of independence.

If you are on the fence about doing a Disney Cruise with your teen, I highly recommend checking it out. These cruises are for everyone, not just families with smaller children!

READ MORE – Here Are the Attractions We Want Disneyland to Bring Back to the Parks

There are several retired Disneyland attractions and entertainment offerings from the past that visitors remember fondly. While some may be gone for good, there are others that could eventually return…see if you agree with our list of the attractions and shows we wish would return to Disneyland!

READ MORE – Disney Bans Guests From Theme Parks. No Exceptions Were Made For These Celebrities That Broke the Rules!

Disney has a variety of rules in place for the safety and happiness of its guests, and if guests break these rules, there can be consequences—even for celebrities. See the celebrities who have been banned from Disney Parks and what they did!