If this is your first Disney Cruise or if you are new to the cruise lifestyle – welcome! We are so excited for you to set sail with us. Below is our unofficial survival guide, tips and recommendations to have the BEST CRUISE EVER!
Disney Cruise Line App
Almost everything about your cruise can be managed through the Disney Cruise Line app. It will show you the onboard activities, your daily dining reservations, show times, character meet & greets, map of the ship, and more! To make your experience great we highly recommend downloading the app prior to sailing. Looking at the map prior to sailing is also a great way to get accustomed to the ship.
Room Key
On a Disney ship your room key is the only thing you need! This room key not only opens the door to your stateroom, but it is used for any purchases made on the ship. It is your ship form of identification (no need to carry around a drivers license, passport or credit card). You will find your key card on your stateroom door when you arrive.
Wifi
Wifi packages can be purchased for an additional fee once on the ship, but the Disney Cruise Line app and wifi messaging (iMessage) will work for free throughout your cruise. Make sure to turn your phone in airplane mode so you do not incur roaming charges from your cell phone carrier!
Child Care
All Disney Cruise ships have state-of-the-art child care options that we recommend you check out as the service is completely FREE and packed with Disney fun. If interested, make sure to tour the location with your kid(s) on the first day of the cruise and register them to use it throughout your stay. There is a nursery for children 6 months – 3 years old and the Oceaneer Club for kids ages 10 and under. There are also spaces dedicated for teens and pre-teens!
Learn more here:
Extras
This is our wedding but it is YOUR cruise! If you are interested in booking excursions, wine tastings, spa services, or specialty dinners please do! You can find these extras on the Disney Cruise Line app or website.
Alcohol
Unlike many cruise lines, Disney does not sell “unlimited” liquor packages. They do however offer a drink of the day at a reduced fee, sell a collectible beer mug that can be refilled all around the ship at a discount, have various wine packages, and they allow you to carry on one bottle of wine OR one six pack of beer per adult. Please note if you bring alcohol on the ship it can only be beer or wine and MUST be in your carry-on (do not put it in your checked luggage). Unlimited non-alcoholic beverages and snacks can be carried on as well, but there are many drink and snack options onboard the ship!
Food & Beverage
Nearly all food & beverage is included on the ship! The buffet, dining room, and pool deck food options are complimentary and you will find beverage stations throughout the ship where soft drinks (coke products, lemonade, teas, coffee) are included. There is also free soft serve ice cream!!
Each night you will be reserved to dine in one of the rotational dining rooms. These are all themed differently and have unique menus. Order as many plates of food as you wish to try – it’s all included!
Hungry late? Room service is complimentary and available 24 hours (just remember to tip!). Yes, you can get Mickey bars delivered to your stateroom at any time!!
What is not included? Alcoholic drinks and some premium virgin drinks, specialty coffees at Cove Cafe, movie theater popcorn, or specialty restaurants which you can reserve in advance of the cruise (Palo, Remy). If they don’t ask for your room key to charge, it is “free”!
Disney Cruise Fun
Cruisers (especially Disney cruisers) like to have a good time and you are welcome to join in! Cruisers love to decorate their stateroom door (they’re magnetic) and you will commonly find rubber ducks hidden around the ship. You may get pixie dusted (where people leave you gifts) and if you’re really serious you can sign up for fish extender gift exchanges on Facebook for our sailing date where you can exchange surprise gifts with other families.
One of the most unique experiences about a Disney cruise is that there is always a “pirate night”. Everyone will be dressing up in their pirate-best and enjoy a pirate themed party complete with fireworks at sea. Go all out and dress up if you wish, I promise you cannot out-pirate any of the hardcore Disney fans on the ship…
Full Sail Fantini 