Disney Cruises Top Tips- Essential Hacks for Your Disney Cruise Experience

Disney may be one of the latest players in the cruise line game, but by no means does that make them “lesser” of an option. Quite the opposite. With 6 cruise ships currently sailing and another on the way, Disney has developed one of the most immersive, exciting, and fun lines of cruises ever to sail the 7 seas. Yet, planning for a Disney Cruise Line vacation never felt so overwhelming. Some tips on the Disney Cruise Line would be great, right?

You may have been to one, two, or multiple Disney theme parks already and you want something more. Or, you might not be much of a theme park person but still want to experience the Disney magic. Either way, planning your Disney Cruise Line vacation doesn’t have to be so tricky.

As an experienced cruiser, I’ve come up with the top tips to make the most of your Disney Cruise Line experience. Read on for your one-stop shop of Disney Cruise Line tips!

Disney Cruise Top Tips: Know Before You Go!

There are some important tips and bits of information to know that will make your Disney cruise a smooth and fun vacation. Here are the most important things you need to know.

Gather Your Required Documents

All guests must provide a valid government-issued photo ID to board the ship at the start of any cruise.

In general, cruises from international ports require you to have a passport that’s valid for at least 6 months prior to the start of your vacation as well as a travel visa. This means that round-trip cruises coming out of places like Port Canaveral, San Diego, Galveston, and even San Juan, Puerto Rico often do not require a passport. Make sure to provide your passport number at least 7 days before the start of your cruise.

When arriving at the port terminal, additional documents are required. Make sure to complete these documents using the My Online Check-In. When completed, bring the Online Check-In Port Arrival Form with you to the ship.

Bring Motion Sickness Medicine

If you are prone to motion sickness, don’t forget to pack medicine for it. From past experience, the onboard stabilizers on the Disney ships make movement quite minimal, but it surely doesn’t hurt to be prepared. If you forget your medicine, don’t worry, because the onboard Health Center supplies motion sickness medicine among other health-related products. Additionally, reserving a room closer to the middle of the ship is a great way to plan around those more prone to motion sickness, as the middle of the ship tends to experience much less movement than the front or back.

Gratuity is Expected

One difference between cruise vacations and other types of vacations is that gratuity is customary on cruises. Disney recommends a gratuity amount of $14.50 per night, per stateroom guest, including infants and children. If you’re staying in concierge-level staterooms or suites, Disney recommends $15.50 per night, per stateroom guest. Your gratuity is distributed to the Crew Members who take care of you during your stay:

• Dining room server
• Dining room assistant server
• Dining room head server
• Stateroom server

You can pre-pay your gratuity online (no later than 3 days before the start of your cruise) by visiting My Reservations in your Disney account or through your travel agent (like Brooklyn from Get Away Today!). If you don’t get the chance to pre-pay, Disney will automatically charge your onboard account the suggested gratuity amount. Additionally, you have the option of visiting Guest Services while onboard to make any changes to your gratuity amounts.

Note that this gratuity does not include gratuities for the following:

• Extras added to rotational dining meals such as alcoholic beverages
• Adult dining locations such as Remy and Palo
• Food or drink in shops and outdoor or poolside eateries
• Room service
• Port adventures
• Senses Spa & Salon
• Concierge Lounge Team
• Any other additional services

The Safety Drill is Mandatory

On the first night that your ship sets sail, all guests must attend the pre-departure assembly drill. This is in compliance with the US Coast Guard and international safety regulations.

Plan Your Port Adventures

This Disney Cruise Line tip is crucial! Make sure to reserve your Port Adventures well in advance. That way, you’ll get to experience the adventures you really want. With its popularity, Disney Cruise Line experiences fill up quickly, so we advise booking your Port Adventure as soon as your booking window opens up.

Familiarize Yourself with the Ship

Each ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet is unique in their theming and experience offerings. In 2024, the Disney Dream will sail to the Bahamas and western Caribbean. The Disney Wish will sail to Nassau, the Bahamas, and Castaway Cay. The Disney Fantasy will sail to the eastern and western Caribbean. The Disney Magic will sail to the Bahamas and Caribbean and will include stops to Disney Cruise Line’s newest Bahamian destination, Lighthouse Point. The Disney Wonder will sail to Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Ensenada for the first half of 2024 and then will sail to Alaska for the second half!

Free Disney Cruise Line Vacation Quote

Our favorite Disney-approved re-seller, Get Away Today, can get you a no obligation Disney Cruise Line vacation quote for free! In addition to great discount prices, their customer service and easy support is absolutely fantastic. They have an entire department dedicated to making sure every order has a wonderful experience and they are on-call to help you during your vacation if you need them.

And at no additional charge, you get FREE concierge Disney Cruise Line services! These services include having Get Away Today’s Disney Cruise Line expert Brooklyn take care of all your reservations and price monitoring for your trip. This really takes all the stress out of planning a Disney Cruise Line vacation. Rather than waking up at odd hours of the night to book all your reservations, why not let their travel agents take care of it for you- for free!

Get A Free Vacation Quote Now!

Explore Your Disney Cruise Activity Options Before Boarding

With Disney, there is so much to do for everyone in your family. With all that Disney offers onboard, make sure to explore the Disney Cruise Line website to plan what you want to do!

Here’s just a handful of the activities you can experience – for all age groups!

Kid’s Activities (ages 3-12)

Disney offers some of the best themed kid’s clubs that I (as a Disney adult) am very jealous of. The Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab offer activities for kid’s to enjoy. Kids can also swim, play arcade games, watch movies and shows, play sports, participate in deck parties, and meet with their favorite characters!

Teen Activities (ages 14-17)

Vibe and The Hideaway are both clubs that offer teen-specific activities. Teens can also enjoy teen-specific parties, teen-only excursions, and Buena Vista Theatre.

Tween Activities (ages 11-14)

Like we said, Disney offers activities for everyone. Look for Edge, a tween-only club. The Hideaway was also designed for tweens. There are also tween-specific parties, and much more.

“it’s a small world” Nursery! (up to age 3)

With babies in mind, parents can rest assured knowing their children are safe and have something to do. At “it’s a small world” Nursery! children ages 6 months to 3 years (or 1 to 3 years on Transatlantic or Panama Canal itineraries) can stay here. Qualified Disney Counselors take great care of your children’s needs. Note that reservations are highly recommended and additional fees apply.

Adult Activities

While the kids are having their own fun, Disney offers a plethora of activities for adults. From spas to fitness centers to nightclubs and lounges, your needs are covered. Additionally, Disney offers adult-only itineraries for Port Adventures such as an adult-only side of Castaway Cay, beer, margarita, tequila, and wine tasting, cocktail hours, and the Quiet Cove Pool.

If you’re looking for more food options, both the Palo and Remy restaurants are fantastic fine-dining options for an additional fee.

Pro Tip: Although the age-specific clubs and play areas don’t allow parents, all kids club spaces empty out for the “open house” when anyone can check out the theming of these wonderful clubs.

Do Not Sleep on the Disney Cruise Entertainment!

Disney Cruise Line is known for its absolutely incredible entertainment. From its live Broadway-style musicals to its fireworks at sea (that’s right – fireworks at sea), you surely won’t be disappointed.

And of course, the character meet-and-greets are a can’t-miss, especially for a Disney vacation! You can meet Goofy, Donald, Daisy, Mickey, and Minnie in their special Disney Cruise Line outfits, sometimes specific to your cruises theme. Additionally, while the meet-and-greet lines tend to be short, many times, your favorite characters roam freely around parts of the ship and surprise guests in places they don’t expect!

Holiday Cruises and Special Days at Sea

The Disney Cruise Line is known for its holiday themed cruises. Two of the most popular ones include the Very Merrytime and Halloween on the High Seas sailings.

On the Halloween on the High Seas sailings, guests can experience trick-or-treating events, enjoy spooky movies, and marvel at the Halloween décor. On the Very Merrytime sailings, guests can meet their favorite Disney characters dressed and decked out for the Holidays, meet Santa Claus, and of course, eat special themed treats. Heck, you can even spend Thanksgiving at Sea or ring in the New Year with a New Year’s Eve cruise.

Disney also offers the Marvel Day at Sea, where guests can stand alongside some of their favorite Marvel heroes and participate in action-packed entertainment. For the Pixar fans, Pixar Day at Sea gives guests a chance to sing, dance and play with their favorite toys, supers, and monsters. The theming options truly feel endless!

Save Both Time and Money During Your Disney Cruise

What if I told you that if you took advantage of these strategies to save both time and money, you’d then be able to experience more? If that got your attention, read on.

Start out with a 4-5 Day Cruise

This tip helps provide you with much more value for your money. Although Disney Cruise Line offers 2- and 3-day cruises, this length of time is simply not enough, especially for first-time Disney cruisers. We recommend starting with a 4- or 5-day cruise to allow yourself a comfortable amount of time to learn the ways of cruising, understand how Disney does cruises, and truly soak in this magical adventure. After reading about all of the offerings we discussed earlier, it’s absolutely worth investing a little extra money into a longer cruise!

Download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App

Just like how the mobile app makes navigating Disneyland and Walt Disney World easy, the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App makes it easy to access your cruise schedule, plans, daily activities, entertainment, restaurant menus, destination details, and more!

Pro Tip: The Disney Cruise Line Navigator App even allows you to communicate with fellow passengers, family, and friends with its handy chat feature. The best part? You can use this feature without having to purchase a wireless package!

The Carpet is Your Guide

This tip is a huge time saver! Your first time on board a cruise ship can be very disorienting, but in true Disney fashion, no detail is left untouched. To find your way toward the front or back of the ship, use the carpet. It was designed in one particular direction, so if it’s right side up, you’re heading to the front of the ship. If it’s upside down, you’re heading to the back of the ship.

BYOWB: Bring Your Own Water and Beer

This Disney Cruise Line tip helps you save money that you can allocate for more experiences. Especially handy if you want some extra cash for cocktails, make sure to bring a case of water and make sure it’s sealed in its original packaging. Additionally, make sure you have it with you as a carry-on and not checked into your luggage.

Not really a cocktail person? You’re in luck – you can actually bring your own alcohol onboard. However, there are some limits: guests 21 years and older may bring a maximum of 2 bottles of unopened wine or champagne (no larger than 750 mL) or a 6-pack of beer (no larger than 12 oz) at the beginning of your voyage and at each port of call. Just like the case of water, make sure you have these with you as a carry-on.

Pro Tip: While there are water fountains and refill stations on board, they can be quite a walk from your room. Even if you choose not to drink any alcohol, the case of water will come in handy for this reason.

Fountain Drinks are Free

If you’re a fan of the refillable mugs at Walt Disney World, you’ll be happy to know that you can get unlimited refills on soda from the soda fountains onboard! They’re located on the pool deck and the buffet area. It’s a great idea to bring your own refillable mug to save a few extra dollars, but Disney does offer a huge, 22 oz refillable glass mug you can purchase onboard!

Most of the Food Onboard is Free too!

Don’t worry about packing snacks because most of the food onboard is free! Most restaurants, buffets, poolside snacks, and 24-hour room service are all covered. The restaurant exceptions are the adult-exclusive dining at Remy and Palo on the Disney Fantasy, Cove Café, Sweet on You, and snacks sold at the entrance to the Walt Disney Theatre and Buena Vista Theatre). However, if you’re not sure if a particular restaurant is free, just ask a Cast Member.

The Best Time for Dinner

Take advantage of timing your dinner. Disney cruises offer two dinner options: Main Seating (starting between 5:45pm and 6:15pm) or Second Seating (starting between 8:15pm and 8:30pm) seating, with your evening entertainment showtime opposite your dinner time. If you have an early dinner, you have the late show. If you have a late dinner, you have the early show. We advise planning for the late dinner.

Why? At 5:45pm, you’re more than likely to still be full from all the free food earlier in the day. You’ll also likely feel rushed because all of the other fun experiences onboard. And especially if you’ve got little ones, it can be hard for them to stay awake to watch an 8:15pm show after your early dinner. So you’re likely better off watching the early show when everyone has more energy and then grab a quick dinner before heading to bed!

Be Adventurous When Ordering Dinner

Since your food at dinner is included, don’t be shy, especially if you’re looking to be adventurous or want to try several food options. If you’re deciding between two appetizers, try both! If you want to try an entrée you’ve never had before, go for it! Better yet, when it comes to dessert, why not make your own sampler so you can try multiple options?

Speaking of Dinner, You Can Change Your Assigned Dining

On the Disney Cruise, you and your party are assigned a dinner rotation through the included restaurants on the ship. This means that your serving team and any other guests you sit with will rotate with you. However, if for whatever reason the guests you’re assigned with don’t work out, feel free to ask Cast Members at Guest Services to make changes.

Pro Tip: You also have the ability to request specific seating at the restaurant of your choice, such as the Enchanted Garden booths. While nothing is guaranteed, requests can always be added to your Disney Cruise Line reservation!

Snag Your Disney Cruise Line Merchandise Quickly

The most popular Disney Cruise Line merchandise tends to sell out quickly and generally doesn’t get restocked, so if you see something you really like, you should probably make the purchase on the spot. Note that the shops onboard the ship are only open while the ship is at sea.

Avoid Crowded Pools: Go Early or Late

Just like one of the most proven strategies to avoid long lines at Walt Disney World, the most proven strategy to avoid crowded pools or long lines for the slides is to head to the pool either in the mornings or late afternoons while everyone starts to get ready for the evening. Additionally, mid-day on sea days are most likely the busiest times in the pool, so you’d want to avoid hitting the pool at that time.

Combine Your Disney Cruise with a Disneyland or Walt Disney World Trip

For those who love visiting the Disney theme parks, combining your theme park trip with a Disney cruise can make for one of the most magical vacations ever! Combine a Disneyland trip with a trip aboard the Disney Wonder, which departs from San Diego, just 2 hours away from Disneyland. If you’re on the East Coast, why not combine a Walt Disney World trip with a trip aboard the Disney Fantasy or Disney Wish? Both of these ships depart from Port Canaveral, just 1 hour away from Walt Disney Wrld.

Find the Best Deals on Disney Cruise Tickets

Make no mistake, Disney Cruise Line tickets tend to be more expensive than other cruise line competitors, but in my experience, the value you receive on your Disney Cruise Line experience far exceeds the price you pay. With that being said, there are certainly some great tips to save a few extra dollars here and there!

Disney Cruise Line Special Offers

This tip works well when planning your vacation to Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and of course, your Disney Cruise Line vacation. Throughout the year, Disney Cruise Line offers plenty of special offers to help save you money on your next Disney Cruise. This includes limited-time offers, discounts for Florida residents, and discounts for Canadian residents. Make sure to check the Disney Cruise Line website frequently to see which offer works well for you!

Book as Early as Possible

When it comes to cruises in general, it’s important to know that booking your Disney Cruise early is a great way to save money on a Disney cruise. When it comes to pricing, Disney is different from other cruise lines because they use a tiered booking system, meaning the lowest ticket prices are offered first. In general, Disney Cruise Line tickets typically go on sale about 18 months before the sail date. As staterooms fill up, so do prices!

Sail Off-Peak and Be Flexible

Another great tip when planning your Disney Cruise Line vacation is to book during off-peak times of the year, which typically costs less money than during peak seasons. Additionally, having flexibility with your sail date can save you more money than you think. One itinerary that costs $2,000 in September (when kids are back in school) can cost up to 3 times more compared to the same itinerary in December.

Sail One-Way

Several times per year, Disney changes the homeport locations for their cruise ships. This means that they need to transfer their ship to their next cruising region to prepare it for the next season or cruises. When this happens, you have the ability to sail one way, starting in one port and ending in a different one. Also known as repositioning cruises, these one-off sailings cost much less than round-trip cruises that end in the same spot. The thing to keep note of is the cost of the one-way flight you’ll be taking to accommodate for your repositioning cruise!

Let Disney Pick Your Cabin

If you’re not very picky about which cabin you get, letting Disney pick your cabin can save you quite a bit of money! All you need to do is select a room type and then let Disney assign you to a specific cabin location when you get closer to your sailing time. When booking, make sure to read the fine print since this ticket-type comes with additional restrictions.

Upgrade Your Room at Port for Less

While this may not always be available, if higher room categories go unsold, you may be able to snag them for a better price at the port right before you board your ship. Again, there’s no guarantee, but it definitely doesn’t hurt to ask!

Save 10% by Putting a Deposit for Your Next Cruise While Onboard

One of the easiest ways to save money on your next Disney cruise is to book it while you on your current one! When you are onboard, you can put a $250 placeholder deposit on a future Disney Cruise to be used within 2 years and save 10% on the total cost of that cruise.

The best part is that you don’t have to choose which cruise you want to do at the moment! And, if you don’t book another Disney cruise in the next 2 years, that $250 placeholder deposit will be refunded back to you. This deposit can be made on the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.

Booking 2 Connecting Rooms vs. 1 Suite

A suite might be a great way for your family to have a little extra space. But if your budget is a little tighter, booking 2 connecting rooms may end up being significantly cheaper than buying a suite.

Book Your Disney Cruise Adventure with Get Away Today

All of the current Disney Cruise Line itineraries are available to book now! After viewing the current available dates, make sure to come back and request a free quote from our travel partner Get Away Today for our cruise. For a limited time, Mickey Visit readers get up to a $400 onboard credit!

Get Away Today is our first choice when it comes to authorized retailers for theme park tickets. They have worked with Disney for over 33 years and offer the lowest prices on multiple-day tickets to Walt Disney World, making them Disney’s largest travel partner! Mickey Visit readers also receive exclusive prices. They’re a highly reputable source and also offer concierge-level services for planning vacations to Walt Disney World.

They also provide exclusive discounts on hotels, transportation, tickets, and more to Mickey Visit subscribers. Make sure to sign up for our newsletter to get the most up-to-date deals!

Discount Disney Cruise Line Tickets

In addition to authorized retailers such as Get Away Today, you have several other options for finding discount Disney Cruise Line tickets. Make sure to read through each option to see which may work best for you!

Wholesale Resale Stores

With wholesale resale shopping becoming more and more popular, stores such as Sam’s Club and Costco occasionally sell discounted Disney Cruise Line tickets. Keep in mind that many of these stores don’t usually advertise their discounts. However, if you frequently shop there, you’re more than likely to catch them at the right time.

Discounted Disney Gift Cards

A popular strategy among Disney guests is to purchase Disney gift cards at a discounted price. Guests can then use these gift cards toward the purchase of their theme park tickets. The most popular example is using a Target RedCard credit card to take 5% off the face value of a Disney gift card purchased at Target. Note that wholesale stores sometimes offer Disney gift cards at even higher discounted rates around the Holiday season, so make sure to compare prices when looking for the best deal!

Discounted Disney Cruise Line Tickets Through AAA

If you’re a AAA insurance member, you’re in luck. AAA typically offers discounts for its members through its website, many times offering some of the lowest tick prices to guests. AAA members can purchase tickets through the AAA website, in-person, or by telephone.

Military Discounts

Walt Disney was an American Patriot through and through. So it should come as no surprise that Disney partnered with the military and Department of Defense to offer some of the most effective rates on select Disney Cruise Line tickets. Note that this only applies to new bookings and that these special rates are limited to a maximum of one stateroom per military member, per sailing.

All active and retired military personnel and Department of Defense civilian employees are eligible. The best part? The discount also extends to all the dependents in their group.

Guests who qualify can purchase their discounted Disney Cruise line tickets through their local military base in the tickets and services office or through their specific human resources department. Make sure to check what discounts are offered.

Plan Your Disney Cruise Line Vacation

Now’s the time to start planning! To get a head start to planning your Disney vacation, subscribe to our FREE Deals newsletter. Here you will have access to useful planning information, exclusive Disney deals, and access to the lowest-priced Disney tickets anywhere. Find more information on planning your vacation here:

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