Top Tips to Have the Best Disney Cruise
Top Tips to Have the Best Disney Cruise
If you’re looking to plan your very first Disney Cruise, you’re probably wondering if there are any tips or tricks or must-do things when you’re planning your Disney Cruise. You wouldn’t be alone! This is one of the most asked questions we see in the Disney Cruise Line Community (you can join us for free here).
We asked thousands of Disney Cruisers what their top tips were for first time cruisers, and here are the most popular top 15 tips!
1. Hakuna Matata
The number one tip for having the best Disney Cruise comes from our friends, Timon and Pumba from The Lion King: “Hakuna Matata”. It means no worries, for at least the next 3-14 days (depending on the length of your sailing).
So often we see cruisers who want plan every second of every minute of every day, book excursions for every port, and over analyze every aspect of the vacation.
While as a super planner myself I can absolutely understand wanting to research and plan, take it from me. You do not need to over plan your Disney Cruise vacation! You are allowed to have mornings, afternoons, and evenings where you just see what everyone in your party feels like doing, go with the flow, and relax. Some nights might call for an evening dip in the pool, stroll along deck, or enjoying live performers. If you over plan, you could actually end up missing out on activities you didn’t even think about before boarding.
⚓ Disney Cruise Tip: You can’t do it all on your first trip. There is so much to do on a Disney Cruise that it’s literally impossible. So instead of stressing yourself out and making yourself exhausted before you head home to work, school, and reality, do yourself a favor. Pick a couple of things before you board that are priorities and the rest of the time, see how you and your family feel. Reminder that relaxing is okay.
2. Bring a sweater
If you’re wondering what to pack for your Disney Cruise, don’t forget some sort of sweater or sweatshirt. Yes, even if you’re sailing on a Caribbean Disney Cruise in the middle of July, they are not shy about the air conditioning in the indoor spaces.
We always bring a plain black sweater that goes with all outfits to accompany us to the movies, game shows, theater performances, and even dinner.
If you’re looking for a full Disney Cruise packing list, check out our Ultimate Packing List here.
⚓ Disney Cruise Trick: Bring an old gift card or room key with you. Wondering why? Click here to read about all the item you’re not thinking about packing that you might want to add to your list.
3. Get a passport
Do I need a passport for a Disney Cruise? Well… While we understand that getting a passport is an additional expense and that it’s not technically required, in over two decades that we have been sailing with Disney, we have never heard of someone who brought their passport and regretted it.
Worse case scenarios of medical emergencies at sea, having to fly home from another country after missing the ship, or any other stress-filled entrance back into the country you departed from are reasons enough to want to bring a passport.
There are plenty of folks who do not bring a passport and prefer to bring other required documents instead. For us though, the peace of mind that comes with having a passport is priceless.
⚓ Disney Cruise Tip: We always recommend getting the passport book instead of the card because the book will also cover you for international air travel as the card will not.
4. There’s no bad ship
What’s the best Disney Cruise ship? The one you’re on!
We get questions all the time about which cruise is better for one reason or another, but we truly mean it when we say that there is no bad choice.
We talk about some of the similarities and differences of the ships in this blog, but if this is your first cruise, we would recommend picking your Disney Cruise based on the itinerary and places you want to go vs the ship itself.
⚓ Disney Cruise Trick: We’ll talk about drinks later in the blog, but if you get a beverage card for some of the specialty drinks at the Quiet Cove Café for example, you can bring that card with you from ship to ship to get to your free beverage faster.
5. Get a Travel Agent
The best way to book a Disney Cruise is up to you. You can absolutely book a Disney Cruise on your own or through a third-party travel site or bulk warehouse.
Everyone has a preference; however, we would not be doing this list justice if we didn’t include one of the best kept travel secrets – having a Disney Cruise Travel Agent!
I know what you’re thinking. “Why should I pay someone to plan a vacation for me when I have the internet/have cruised before and can do it myself?”. Well, my friend, I’ll tell you why.
First of all, Disney Travel Agents services are 100% free to you. Let me repeat that, free to you. Disney is actually the one who pays them. So instead of Disney keeping that for themselves, you can support a small business at no charge to you.
On top of that, you get the advice, expertise, and customization of working with a Disney Cruise expert instead of having all the pressure of planning, organizing, and coordinating put on your shoulders. Shouldn’t you get the chance to enjoy the vacation too?
If you’re looking for more reasons to work with a Disney Cruise Travel Agent, check out this blog for everything you need.
⚓ Disney Cruise Tip: If you’re not sure what Travel Agent to use, just fill out this form and we’ll connect you with one of our awesome Recommended Travel Agents today!
6. Try all the food
If there are two things Disney Cruises are not short on, it’s magic and food. From Disney’s rotational dining to complimentary room service (remember to bring cash for tips!), you can eat just about anywhere at any time onboard a Disney Cruise.
Something new cruisers don’t always know is that you have options at all mealtimes. For breakfast, lunch, and dinner you can order room service, enjoy casual dining of Cabanas or Marceline Market, visit the main dining rooms for a sit-down meal, or grab quick bites like burgers, chicken tenders, wraps, ice cream, and more on deck.
You can’t go wrong, so try it all and see what you prefer. With all your food included in the price of a Disney Cruise (except for the Adult-Only Restaurants like Remy and Palo), don’t be afraid to order something new. That might mean getting two entrees... or three. Disney hires some of the most amazing chefs in the world, so even if you or a family member have dietary restrictions, they will be able to have incredible meals served by the finest crew at sea.
⚓ Disney Cruise Tricks: Order cookies from room service or grab some from the restaurants, bring them to the pool deck, and make ice cream sandwiches from the ice cream machines. So good!
7. Get in at least one day before your cruise
We know that coordinating travel can be tricky. Between taking time off of work, having to find a place to stay, and potentially not as many flight options, we understand this might not be feasible for everyone. However, if you can get in the day before your cruise, whether flying or driving or taking a magic carpet, then we would absolutely recommend it.
The reality is that no one can control Mother Nature sending a storm through your town cancelling every flight or that your car’s engine decided halfway through Georgia that it was going to retire.
We don’t say this to scare anyone, but there’s a reason that so many Disney Cruisers recommend this. Learn from our mistakes!
If you can’t make it in the day before, have a backup plan in place. Another great reason to have a Travel Agent is they can help coordinate with Disney if things go sideways.
⚓ Disney Cruise Tip: If you’re wondering what the best hotels to stay at before your Disney Cruise, check out this blog with our community’s top picks.
8. Drink deals
Even though there’s no drink packages (alcoholic or not), that doesn’t mean that there’s not drink deals to take advantage of while onboard.
Does Disney do unlimited drinks? Well, on deck you can grab as many fountain drinks (Coke products), coffee, and tea as you would like. Other drinks like smoothies, specialty coffees, and alcohol will cost additional fees including if you order cans of soda/pop in the theaters or lounges.
Disney does have Drink of the Day specials, discounted drinks like mimosas between 9A-12P, and a beverage card for specialty coffees and lattes where you buy 5 and get the 6th free. Plus, Disney does allow guests 21+ to bring some adult beverages onboard like wine and beer. For the full policy, click here.
⚓ Disney Cruise Trick: Disney includes tip 18% gratuity automatically, so take that into consideration when adding additional gratuity before signing. If you get amazing service, we always recommend tipping more if your means allow.
9. Go to the shows
Walt Disney made a name for himself entertaining generations of families around the world. The Walt Disney Company is keeping that legacy alive and well, especially onboard the Disney Cruise ships.
The Broadway-style shows will transport you to kingdoms far away. The game shows, trivia, Bingo (additional charge for Bingo) will have the whole family excited to play along. The entertainers like jugglers, magicians, comedians, and ventriloquists will help you make memories that will last a lifetime.
Yes, you can get some extra swim time in by passing on these shows, but everything is so well done that it makes it hard to pass up. We never miss a Broadway show, no matter how many times we have seen them.
⚓ Disney Cruise Tip: I know you’re tired at the end of the day, but if you can, go to the adult-only entertainment at night. The cruise staff is hilarious, the performers are fantastic, and you might even make some friends.
10. Fill out the comment card
Disney prides itself on providing the best possible service on land or sea. Their teams train extensively and work tirelessly to make your vacation practically perfect in every way.
If someone makes your cruise especially wonderful, please mention them on the comment card. Disney management reads those cards carefully after every sailing, so don’t think you’re doing busy work. Those comment cards are extremely important to those taking care of you, so please make sure to note who helped you make memories and who offered above and beyond service.
On the flip side, if something is ever wrong or if you have a question, don’t be afraid to speak up and ask. Didn’t get a reservation for the tasting you wanted? Something not quite right in your room? Not sure which way to the pool? Guest Services and your entire cruise team is there to help you with whatever you need.
⚓ Disney Cruise Trick: The comment cards are fairly small, and you might have more to say. Inside the stateroom desks and at Guest Services, you can find sheets of stationary. You can add those to your comment card for additional feedback. Just be sure to add your stateroom number and name in case pieces of paper get separated.
11. Bring a big drink cup
Disney has plenty of cups onboard, but the cups do tend to be on the smaller side to accommodate cruisers of all ages. We like to bring a refillable water bottle or cup to stay hydrated, to carry our drinks more easily around the ship or to excursions, and to keep beverages either warm or cold.
If you’re wondering about some other things you might not be thinking about packing, check out this article for a full list from our Veteran Cruisers.
⚓ Disney Cruise Tip: So many of our members love these Tervis cups. Yes, they’re an environmentally friendly company and the cups are nicely insulated, but the best part is that everyone in the family can get their favorite character or design to keep things organized while onboard.
12. Book a placeholder while you’re onboard
What is a placeholder on a Disney Cruise? A placeholder is a booking you make while onboard your current cruise for your next cruise that can be somewhat open-ended. You can select your sail date at a later date or lock in your future cruise date.
Why should you book a placeholder if you’re not sure when you’re going to sail again? Booking your next Disney Cruise while you’re still onboard the ship gives you the opportunity to pay a lower deposit ($250) and get a discount of 10%! Who doesn’t love discounts?!
Placeholders have to be used within 24 months before being automatically cancelled and can only be used for a maximum of 2 staterooms and one sail date. There can also be blackout dates, so keep that in mind.
Booking a placeholder Disney Cruise is one of the best ways to save money on a Disney Cruise. Even if you’re not sure if you can go again in 2 years, it’s better to book the placeholder and have it versus missing out on the discount. To do this, you can visit the Future Travel Desk or complete via the Disney Cruise Personal Navigator App.
⚓ Disney Cruise Trick: You know by now that we recommend booking with a Travel Agent, so how does that work with a placeholder? When you book onboard, you can have Disney automatically transfer your reservation to your agent. They make it extremely easy to work with Travel Agents as they know the best Disney Cruise Travel Agents provide the same quality of service off the ship as you got while onboard.
13. Get to know the crew
The crew onboard the Disney ships is out of this world amazing. They’ll help you and your family make memories that will last a lifetime.
For some cruisers, the Disney crew ends up becoming like extended family who they see every time they board the ship. Make no mistake – the crew will remember you and the laughs you share. We have had the same server at Palo for years and have stayed connected as he got promoted, got married, and became a father. The crew is such a big part of the magic you experience at sea, so take the time to get to know them.
⚓ Disney Cruise Tip: Some cruisers like to bring extra “pixie dust” to gift to crew members who really make their experience memorable. Top recommendations are extra cash and candy, cookies, or local food treats as their living quarters are small leaving not much room for trinkets and souvenirs. And reminder that it costs nothing to be kind and say please/thank you!
14. Catch a sunrise or sunset
Some of the most beautiful moments can be found early in the morning or towards sundown. With things on the ship quiet, enjoying the fresh ocean air, and sipping on your beverage of choice, there is serenity that comes from taking in the simple beauties of life that so often we take for granted. Your Disney Cruise vacation will be filled of plenty of activities, but let this relaxing moment be one of them.
⚓ Disney Cruise Trick: We love sitting on deck at the front of the ship in the adult-only area to watch the sunrise in the morning. It makes you feel on top of the world. What an incredible way to start your day! If you get a stateroom with a verandah, order room service coffee to be delivered in the morning to enjoy from your own private verandah.
15. Join the DCL Community
We would love to have you join our online community for Disney Cruise Line! With over 210K fellow Disney Cruise Line lovers who are sharing, planning, and asking questions all related to Disney Cruising, there’s so much to learn as you countdown to your next Disney Cruise.
You can also join the group for your specific sailing to learn more about Fish Extenders and make friends before you set sail. Just remember that this is your vacation! What works for someone else’s family might not be best for yours, so ask your questions, share your opinions, and get ready to be addicted like we all are to Disney Cruises!
