Last updated on March 19th, 2024 at 11:43 am
Disney cruises are magical, memorable, and full of surprises! Even if you aren’t a diehard Disney lover, this is a vacation everyone should experience at least once. Here are some Disney cruise tips and facts to help you plan a great trip.
I am fortunate enough to say that our family has taken many cruises. Most recently, we sailed aboard the Disney Wonder out of San Diego, and before that we cruised aboard the Disney Dream. I’ve rounded up nine things – good and bad – that surprised me on our Disney cruise, so you don’t have to be!
Disney Cruise Tips & Facts – Nine Things that Surprised Me
1. The entertainment is exceptional.
2. “Pirates in the Caribbean” Deck Party was a blast.
3. Staterooms are huge (for a cruise ship).
4. Kids can’t use the fitness center.
5. Adults can’t use all water slides.
6. The pools are tiny.
7. Keeping track of your kids onboard is easy.
8. Unlimited soft drinks are included!
9. There is a ton to do onboard to stay active and healthy.
Surprise #1 – The entertainment is exceptional.
Anyone who reads my blog knows I love Las Vegas! So while the fact that Disney cruise ships do not have casinos onboard did not come as a surprise, I was expecting to feel the void. But surprise, surprise – the entertainment on our ship was so abundant and amazing, I didn’t even notice!
So the first of my Disney cruise tips is this: don’t miss the shows!
The award-winning, Broadway-style shows were the highlight of our evenings. The performances occur opposite your dinner time slot, so you are free to attend every night of your cruise. There are also fun game shows, musical performances and other both family-friendly and adults-only entertainment options throughout the night.
Disney cruises also feature lots of movies. Whether in the plush movie theater or out by the pool, there’s always a Disney movie playing. In the afternoon, kids play games out on deck and the winner gets to choose which flick they show next. (My son kicked butt at trivia one day and opted for The Lion King – a classic.)
Surprise #2 – “Pirates in the Caribbean” Deck Party was a blast.
The “Pirates in the Caribbean” Deck Party is one of Disney’s signature events!
Pirate Night is a dinner and deck party with Disney characters, capped off with fireworks over the ocean. Everyone gets a pirate-themed bandana to wear and many get really into it – donning eye patches and carrying (plastic) swords.
So why did this surprise me?
The surprise was how much fun the party was, being we’re not exactly what you’d call “Pirate People.” But this was a really fun experience. Happy to say that every Disney Cruise includes this event; ours did even though on our cruise from San Diego and we weren’t anywhere near the Caribbean!
Surprise #3 – Staterooms are huge (for a cruise ship).
Disney prides itself on its larger-than-average staterooms, and when you are traveling with kids, space is a premium! Taking a Disney cruise is already a splurge, so the last thing you want to have to do is pay for a room upgrade to get more space. Not necessary! Standard rooms fit four comfortably, with pull down beds and a privacy curtain to separate the grown-up space from the children.
Another great thing about the staterooms is that the bathrooms are way bigger than the average cruise ship bathrooms, and they have bathtubs. No walk-in showers here! Perfect for families.
Other room amenities we loved were fold-down bunk beds for kids, magic portholes, ample closet space, and nonstop Disney movies playing on the TV.
Surprise #4 – Kids can’t use the fitness center.
We’re not perfect but we try to stay healthy when we travel. And that usually means when we’re at a hotel my son and I like to go to the fitness center together.
But that wasn’t possible on our Disney cruise. Every Disney Cruise line ship has a state-of-the-art exercise facility with a breathtaking ocean view, but you have to be 18 and over to use them.
Now, I can certainly understand adults not wanting little kids running around the gym while they are trying to get a work-out in, but it was very disappointing to not be able to have my very mature son join me on the next treadmill.
Surprise #5 – Adults can’t use all water slides.
If my kid was disappointed that he couldn’t go to the fitness center, my husband was disappointed that he couldn’t go down the water slide.
The Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy have Mickey’s Slide, a great water slide that the kids onboard love! I say kids, because unlike other ships we have been on in the past, only kids are allowed to go down this slide, so there were a few disappointed dads watching from the deck.
Mickey’s Slide is restricted to children ages 4 to 14, between 38 and 64 inches tall. As the original Disney Cruise Line ship, the Disney Wonder used to have only the Mickey Slide too, but the ship has since been upgraded.
Newer ships are bigger and have water slide options for adults. The Disney Dream and Fantasy have the AquaDuck, the first-ever watercoaster on a cruise ship. The coaster features a transparent, acrylic tube that propels riders along on a raft, up and down four decks of the ship, swinging out 13 feet off the side, 150 feet above the sea! For this slide you actually have to be 42 inches or taller to ride.
Tip: You can find height restrictions and rules for all the Disney Cruise Line pools and water slides here.
Surprise #6 – The pools are tiny.
Knowing how much kids love to swim, you would think Disney would find a way to build bigger pools on their ships. Alas, there were far more people wanting to swim than there was room in the pool. This was disappointing.
On a high note, grown-ups can take advantage of the adults-only Quiet Cove Pool, available on every Disney ship. And there’s always the beach at Castaway Cay (if your cruise’s itinerary takes you there).
Surprise #7 – Keeping track of your kids onboard is easy.
If you are the type of mom who likes to constantly connect with your kids, there’s no need to worry about going through a painful digital detox just because there’s no cell service at sea. Disney offers two free options for staying in touch!
The first is the Wave Phone, which is like a cell phone. Each stateroom comes with two, and the service is completely free. While on board or on Castaway Cay, you can stay connected to your kids no matter where they go. So if your kids are at the Oceaneer Club and you are at a lounge, you can sip your cocktail guilt-free knowing if they need you they’ll call! And similarly, if your teens are due back from their club at 11:00 and it gets to be 11:30, call them up and tell them to get back to the room! Peace of mind at its finest.
The other option comes on the app. Download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app to your cell phone. You can text each other through the app, see the schedule of activities for the day, view your plans, and more. There is no charge to use the ship’s Wi-Fi with the app! Use the Onboard Chat feature to send messages and Disney emoticos one-to-one or to multiple friends and family members at once! Using the app is one of the best Disney cruise tips I can offer!
Surprise #8 – Unlimited soft drinks are included!
It may not seem like much, but if you drink a lot of soda all-you can-drink soft drinks is a pretty big deal! While other cruise lines charge extra for soft drink packages, Disney has self-serve drink stations on deck, available 24 hours a day for your drinking pleasure.
Milk, juice, tea, coffee, lemonade and soft drinks are available there free at all times. You can also order any of these drinks for free in the dining rooms. On a family cruise line where there’s not as much booze flowing, this was a huge perk.
Surprise #9 – There is a ton to do onboard to stay active and healthy.
Most cruises have shuffleboard and maybe a ping pong table or two, but the big surprise aboard a Disney cruise was how many active things to do they have onboard.
The Disney Wonder has the Wide World of Sports Deck, located up on Deck 10. This deck has some great fitness and recreational sports activities for all age groups. There are basketball courts, ping-pong tables and a soccer net to practice shots. Down on Deck 4, there are shuffleboard courts and a 1/3-mile lap running track.
Larger Disney ships have Goofy’s Sports Deck, an open-air activity center featuring a miniature golf course, virtual sports simulators and a basketball court.
So even though the fitness center is off limits to kids, we could still stay active and healthy together!
Hopefully these Disney cruise tips will be helpful in planning your trip! Looking for more ways to stay healthy on your Disney Cruise? Check out these tips for healthy eating on a cruise!
Carly LM says
I understand why they might not want kids in the gym, but no adults on the waterslide? What kind of cruel and unusual punishment is that? I’m only 5’4″… think they’d notice if I tried to go for a sneaky slide?
Gwen Kleist says
LOL I totally think you should try it! 🙂
Lidia says
Adults can ride the slide on The Dream and The Fantasy
Candy says
I’ve always wondered what a Disney Cruise was like. The Pirate Night sounds like a fun night! I also like how roomy the quarters are. The only thing that is a bit disappointing is that the adults can’t go on the water slides. I love those!
Sarah says
This sounds like so much fun! Ya know, MINUS THE FACT THAT I CAN’T GO ON THE WATERSLIDE! Lol what a bummer, but I’m sure it was a great experience!
Lidia says
Adults can ride the waterslide on the Dream and the fantasy
sam topping says
Looks good but no adults on the water slide?! Such a shame, we are big kids too haha!
Soujanya says
Wait what – adults can’t use the waterslide?! Haha that one’s a bummer but the cruise sounds like a ton of fun 🙂
Hayley says
I can’t think of anything more exciting than a Disney Cruise! This must be such an experience and a great trip to take for kids. Such a shame that adults aren’t allowed on the water slide haha!
Francesca says
I want to go on a Disney Cruise again one day! I did one on the original ships, but the cost is always the drawback for me. That aqua coaster sounds amazing and I would love to have Disney movies playing 24/7! The shows also sound fantastic!
Jasmine says
This is not helping my obsession with Disney Cruise Line whatsoever! We have yet to do a cruise but refuse to do anything other than DCL for our first time, first and foremost because we’re huge Disney advocates. But also because of the quality and top-notch amenities – which from your post, aren’t lacking.
Eden says
I’m a big Disney fan and an annual passholder, so I go to the park quite a bit. I’ve always seen the ads for the cruises but had no idea what they would be like. I appreciate your honest review. I don’t have kids so it’s probably not the cruise for me, but I love shows too, so would probably have a blast anyway!
Rosemary says
Sounds like a great family cruise. It’s a shame adults can’t go in the waterslides! That’s a bummer. I’ve never been on a Disney cruise before but it looks like fun activities for kids of all ages. Nice comfortable room.
Emily says
Since 2016 dry dock on the wonder adults can ride the new Mickey slide.