What To Expect From A Disney Cruise- Everything You Need To Know!

I just got back from my first Disney Cruise! I’ve cruised on several different cruise lines before, but this was my first time with Disney. Disney currently has five cruise ships to choose from. Disney Dream, Disney Magic, Disney Fantasy, Disney Wonder, and the Disney Wish. We cruised on the Disney Dream out of Port Canaveral on a Bahamian cruise. We’ll talk about what to expect on a Disney cruise in this post. Hopefully, this will help you decide if it’s worth the cost for you!

This is just a brief overview of what you can expect on a Disney Cruise. If you’re interested in my full experience, you can find my review on my podcast

I made my Disney Cruise line reservation through my partners at Get Away Today. They are Disney Cruise experts! Their customer service is top-notch! They helped me every step of the way and were so great to answer all of my questions. I felt so prepared when I showed up to board the ship! If you’re considering a Disney cruise, you need to give them a call. They can give you all the info you need on dates, pricing, and locations. Tell them Melissa from Mix In Some Magic sent you for the very best deals! You can find them here or call them at 1-855-GET- AWAY.

Disney Cruise Line App

Before you leave on your cruise, download the Disney Cruise app. You can use the app for just about everything on the cruise line! You’ll find your personal navigator on there which includes all the activities that are taking place throughout the entire ship. It’s quite handy and will have lots of information that will be helpful to you even before you set sail! There’s also a handy chat feature that will work to communicate with your family members even after you’ve lost your internet connection.

Rotational Dining

The Disney cruise line is the only one to offer rotational dining. This means you’ll eat at a different main dining restaurant each night of your vacation. Your wait staff follows y

ou, so you’ll always have the same team serving you. On my cruise, we dined at Animator’s Palate, Enchanted Garden, and Royal Palace. Each dining room was unique and full of Disney magic! Each restaurant had a different menu filled with lots of choices for adults and kids.

Disney Magic Details

The Walt Disney Company has thought of everything when it comes to cruising! Disney cruise ships have everything you’d expect from a cruise line but with a little extra Disney magic. Disney is in the details and you’ll find Disney magic around every corner. There are hidden Mickeys throughout the ship, Magic paintings hanging on the wall and each and every crew member works so hard to sprinkle extra magic into your vacation! Keep your eyes open while you’re out and about so you can spot all of the hidden magic!

Onboard Entertainment

There are so many things to do on all the Disney ships! Classic Disney films are playing by the pool area, water slides, movie theaters showing first run films, and unlimited ice cream and soda, just to name a few! There are also animation classes, interactive game shows, arts and crafts, and more! In the evening you can enjoy Broadway-style musicals and shows in the Walt Disney Theatre that are absolutely incredible! You will never be bored while you’re on board!

Other Amenities

The Disney cruise line ships have lots of amenities that you will love! There’s a fitness center, Senses Spa, fine dining, and 24-hour room service! The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is open for princess makeovers! The Oceaneer Club will keep kids ages 3-12 busy with lots of fun activities. There’s so much for your whole family to enjoy! You’re sure to make lots of unforgettable memories.

Just For Adults

Disney hasn’t forgotten about the adults enjoying the Disney Cruise experience. There are so many things for adults to enjoy on the high seas! Each ship has an adults-only section with pools, hot tubs, bars, and plenty of lounge chairs. There is at least one adults-only table-service restaurant on each ship. You can find lots of classes and entertainment for adults. Each ship has several bars and nightclub areas for you to enjoy while your kids are busy in the Oceaneer Club. Alcoholic beverages are not included in the price of the cruise.

Characters

It wouldn’t be a Disney Cruise if you didn’t get to meet some of your favorite characters! The characters are out and always ready for a hug or a picture! On our cruise, we saw Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Daisy, Donald, Goofy, and many more! Keep your eyes peeled. You never know who you might run into!

Shore Excursions

On your cruise, you’ll stop at one or more ports of call. Once you arrive, you can get off the ship to enjoy the local atmosphere! If you’re getting off the ship, I recommend booking a shore excursion with the cruise line before your vacation. They have lots of options to choose from. Or course, you can remain on the ship when it’s docked in port if you prefer.

Castaway Cay

On our cruise, we spent a day at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. This was probably my favorite part of the whole cruise! We got to enjoy beaches, snorkeling, and good food. We took advantage of the adults-only section of the beach, which was nice and relaxing.

There’s so much for guests of all ages to enjoy on the island. You can swim with stingrays, rent bicycles, and enjoy water slides and splash pads. You can even rent jet skis if you like! There’s so much fun to be had here. I know you’ll love it!

What’s Included

There are so many things that are included in your Disney cruise, that it’s almost easier to talk about what’s not included. Alcohol, certain restaurants, bar service drinks and child care for kids under 3 are not included. The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, some classes and a sweet shop are also an additional fee.

Everything else is included. You can totally get on board, not pay another penny and still have an amazing time! I only spent additional money on a couple of drinks by the pool. Other than that, I didn’t pay for anything extra.

Is It Worth The Cost

Is a Disney cruise worth the cost? I get asked this question all the time. My answer is always the same: Maybe. Disney cruises are expensive. There’s really no way around that. If you’re family is able to afford it, then I say DO IT! You’ll have a great time!

If taking a Disney cruise is a huge financial stretch for you, then I think you should skip it and find another vacation that is more budget-friendly. A Disney cruise is great, but not worth wrecking your budget or going into debt for.

If you’re looking for creative ways to save for your Disney vacation, I have a whole post here that you will love!

Disney Park Vacations

If you’re looking to visit Disneyland or DisneyWorld soon, I’ve got so much information that will help you plan your vacation! I’ve got a complete guide to planning for Disneyland and Disneyworld. These are a great place to start! You can follow me on Instagram for lots of tips and Disney fun!