So you booked your Disney cruise with some great money saving tips, and you want to make the most of your trip. I thought I would include 5 Tips for Your Next Disney Cruise Vacation, including a few photos and tips from the three cruises our family has been fortunate to take.
We have been on both the Wonder and the Dream and hope these 5 Essential Disney Cruise Tips For The Best Disney Cruise Experience will be helpful to you as well.
If your kids are at the age they want to wait in line for character signatures, they always have a list of these opportunities in your daily planner. You can literally spend your entire cruise waiting in line for these signatures.
Go to a few of these so your children actually get to meet their very favorite, remember some of them have appearances in camp too. On the first day of your cruise drop off an autograph book at the front desk with a sharpie or two and pick it up the last evening of your cruise.
It will be signed by all the favorites. You can actually pick if you want princesses or favorite Disney characters.
2. PIRATE NIGHT
Every cruise we have been on either the 4 or 6-night hosts a Pirate Night. Unless this is the night you are going to Palo, you will want to have a little pirate swag on hand.
At the restaurant they provide these cute bandannas but why not rummage through your kids dress up or hit the dollar store for some other items. Yes, you can get your fill in the Disney Store onboard but it won’t be dollar store prices!!
This is the first cruise we saw people totally decked out in extreme costumes and we are talking the adults.
The picture above comes from the Dream and the Animator’s Palate. What a bump up from the same restaurant on the older ships. Crush talks to the diners. we were lucky to have a table by one of the screens.
3. MEALS
Dinner Times: Disney has 2 set dinner times an early and a late. I keep debating which is better. With the early sitting which is 5:45 usually, you eat and then you see the show at 8:30. You are not going to bed on a full stomach but it is a quick turn around when you are at a port. If I was on a different time zone, say mountain I would definitely do the last seating I think.
PALO: Is the adult dining room and I recommend making reservations as soon as you are able. (This depends on the number of cruises you have been on) There is a $20 service fee per diner, but the Northern Italian Flair is amazing and you will not go to bed hungry.
BRUNCH: This was the first cruise we were able to get reservations for the ADULT only brunch which is only available on sea days. Also a $20 fee but well worth it.
ROOM SERVICE: Order away, room service is also free (some items may have fees like snack foods) but you only pay for the tip. Each cruise our tradition is milk and cookies one evening.
CHEESE PLATTER: It is not on any menu but you can pre-order a cheese platter at your dinner table. Our server told us we needed 24 hours notice but it is a nice compliment to ones dinner.
BYO Drinks: Outside of free soda, anything else cost $$ Bring Water Bottles on Board. Disney Cruise allows passengers to carry on alcohol to consume in their room.
FOOD ALL DAY– No one will go hungry, there is food service available 24 hours so put your diets behind and enjoy
Free Ice Cream: Kids will go crazy so be sure you set your limits as it is free ice cream all day and all night.
4. ENTERTAINMENT:
There is so much to do on a Disney Cruise for all ages. The shows are all wonderful and some Broadway worthy. I think I skipped one this year only because I had seen it before and I had to pack 4 suitcases…
Keep up with the daily planner for activities and if someone says they are bored, it is there fault!! From fitness to cooking classes there is something to keep you busy each hour of the day, when you are not sleeping.
Kids Activities
The kids enjoyed the Putt Putt course on the Disney Dream.
The Aqua Duck on the Dream and Fantasy is a big hit, it can get crowded so finding off times like when at port or when you first get on the boat, early, are great times.
5. Photos
Have a wonderful time and have your camera available as they will be taking pictures but they run about $15 a picture and most are 8×10 sizes. While they are cute when you are looking at them, how many pictures that size do you really use.
6. Check In
It is a seamless process if you register online first. Get there early so you can board early and enjoy the amenities before you even set sail.
thank you for this i’ve been wanting to do a disney cruise so this helps quick question can you pay on a cruise over time like you do for i=visiting the parks
becca
on January 22, 2013 at 12:43 am
thank you for this i’ve been wanting to do a disney cruise so this helps quick question can you pay on a cruise over time like you do for i=visiting the parks
Tara
on January 22, 2013 at 12:26 am
I can’t wait to go to Disney, whether it is a cruise or not, I so want to make it a dream for not only my hubby and I (neither of us has been) but for our kids along with us!
Tara
on January 22, 2013 at 12:26 am
I can’t wait to go to Disney, whether it is a cruise or not, I so want to make it a dream for not only my hubby and I (neither of us has been) but for our kids along with us!
Colette S
on January 21, 2013 at 11:23 pm
What an adventure! I can’t wait to go on one of these with my children!
Colette S
on January 21, 2013 at 11:23 pm
What an adventure! I can’t wait to go on one of these with my children!
ElizabethWiley
on January 21, 2013 at 8:39 pm
Wow, how fun! I’m glad the food was great 🙂 Reminded me of this super cute infographic I saw earlier:
ElizabethWiley
on January 21, 2013 at 8:39 pm
Wow, how fun! I’m glad the food was great 🙂 Reminded me of this super cute infographic I saw earlier:
savannah
on January 21, 2013 at 8:23 pm
I would love to be able to take my kids on a Disney Cruise! I want to wait until my 2 year old is a little older though 🙂
savannah
on January 21, 2013 at 8:23 pm
I would love to be able to take my kids on a Disney Cruise! I want to wait until my 2 year old is a little older though 🙂
Tom Shewbridge
on January 21, 2013 at 8:17 pm
Great article and information, thanks so much for sharing, never been on a cruise before, we don’t have children either, but would love to know if there is enough for adults to do.
Tom Shewbridge
on January 21, 2013 at 8:17 pm
Great article and information, thanks so much for sharing, never been on a cruise before, we don’t have children either, but would love to know if there is enough for adults to do.
thank you for this i’ve been wanting to do a disney cruise so this helps quick question can you pay on a cruise over time like you do for i=visiting the parks
thank you for this i’ve been wanting to do a disney cruise so this helps quick question can you pay on a cruise over time like you do for i=visiting the parks
I can’t wait to go to Disney, whether it is a cruise or not, I so want to make it a dream for not only my hubby and I (neither of us has been) but for our kids along with us!
I can’t wait to go to Disney, whether it is a cruise or not, I so want to make it a dream for not only my hubby and I (neither of us has been) but for our kids along with us!
What an adventure!
I can’t wait to go on one of these with my children!
What an adventure!
I can’t wait to go on one of these with my children!
Wow, how fun! I’m glad the food was great 🙂 Reminded me of this super cute infographic I saw earlier:
Wow, how fun! I’m glad the food was great 🙂 Reminded me of this super cute infographic I saw earlier:
I would love to be able to take my kids on a Disney Cruise! I want to wait until my 2 year old is a little older though 🙂
I would love to be able to take my kids on a Disney Cruise! I want to wait until my 2 year old is a little older though 🙂
Great article and information, thanks so much for sharing, never been on a cruise before, we don’t have children either, but would love to know if there is enough for adults to do.
Great article and information, thanks so much for sharing, never been on a cruise before, we don’t have children either, but would love to know if there is enough for adults to do.
We can’t wait to go on a Disney Cruise! Thanks for the tip about ordering the cheese platter – I would have never known that!
We can’t wait to go on a Disney Cruise! Thanks for the tip about ordering the cheese platter – I would have never known that!
That looks like such a fun time! Thanks for all the great tips!
That looks like such a fun time! Thanks for all the great tips!
I would love to go on a Disney cruise some day. I’ve never been on any cruises. Thanks for the tips!
I would love to go on a Disney cruise some day. I’ve never been on any cruises. Thanks for the tips!