Best Tips Before Taking a Disney Cruise
Have you booked or are looking at booking a Disney Cruise?! If so I am really excited for you. If you are a Disney lover (like me) then a Disney Cruise is an absolute must. The Disney Cruise Line is next level Disney magic that can’t be missed. I am going to share with you what I feel are the best tips to know before boarding the ship.
Booking
We have taken a number of cruises. We have booked with travel agents and just on our own. I wouldn’t say that I personally have a preference. Even when we do book with a travel agent I am doing the back work to look for the ship and sailing date that I am wanting and checking out which staterooms are available.
The Disney Cruise website is really user friendly and has all of the information that you might need to know. Only a deposit is required to book the cruise as long as you are far enough out for your sailing. This is nice because the cruise is quite expensive so it gives you the time to pay it off. Just be sure to pay attention to the payment due date. Personally we like to ensure the entire amount is paid at least 3 days before the due date just to be sure.
Disney Cruise App
We have only started cruising in the last 3 years so we can’t compare what the technology used to be. But we found the technology on the cruise ship was fantastic. The app is where it is at. You are able to checkin for your cruise through the app which is essential so be sure to do this before you board the ship. Using the app on the ship does not cost extra. You connect to the ships free wifi and the app will work.
The app shows all of the daily events such as shows or when characters will be out to meet. It also provides the menu for restaurants. There is a messaging feature within the app to connect with your party as well. For our family our i messages still worked over the free network but I have heard that this varies depending on the ship you are sailing on.
For our family the app was so great for paying attention to what was going on in the kids club. Our kids love kids club but more specifically they don’t want to miss any of the special events or games that are happening.
The cruise countdown feature in the app is exciting as well as you lead up to the cruise.
Kids Club
When we were planning our first Disney Cruise we were not sure that our kids would want to attend the kids club or that we would want to send the kids. On your first day make sure you carve out a bit of time to go and check out the kids club during the open house. It was really great to get the opportunity to meet the staff as well as see where your kids will play.
The first night the kids wanted to try so we took them. The kids club on Disney is from ages 3-10 all in the same room so it is pretty hectic. We have sailed on other lines where the groups are more age specific and there was less chaos in the kids clubs- but our kids still had a great time.
As parents we were most concerned8 about the security of the kids. This is where I feel Disney is above other lines. The kids have to wear a bracelet in the kids club. It has a tracking sensor in it so they are able to find your kids easily. The adult card has to be scanned and they have to scan the kids band to match.
The Pools
One of our family’s most favorite experience on any trip is swimming. It doesn’t matter if we are at a hotel close to home or on a luxury cruise ship in the middle of the ocean swimming is always top of mind. There are many options on board Disney ships for swimming. But there are a few things to keep in mind.
If your child is in diapers they are not allowed in the pools. It does not matter if they are in a swim diaper or not it is a rule on board all cruise ships. Disney does have a splash park area for the little ones so they are able to cool off as well. One of the unexpected things we noticed on our first cruise was how often the pools were closed. It wasn’t for a long time, maybe a quick clean or for lifeguards to do a quick check but it happened a lot, almost hourly. This took a little while for our kids to get used to but after the first few times they did understand that the pool would reopen soon they just had to wait.
The aquaduck waterslide is really cool and a lot of fun! We found it best to ride it at night when there was less of a wait. The other slide was a lot of fun for the kids too.
Dining
The food and service on Disney Cruises are five star level. The food is beautifully served and every bite delicious. One part to prepare your family for is the length of time dinner will take. The kids will get served first however they only serve the adults at the same time. As an example if you order an appetizer each adult will have to be finished prior to the plate being cleared and the main portion to be served. There were many times that we were enjoying our appetizer but the kids were finished their dinner and getting restless.
A colouring sheet is provided but this is where I would suggest some additional colouring, books or other small toys such as fidgets. Some families choose to bring electronics but we try to keep them away from the dinner table.
Have Fun
I hope this has helped you think about booking a Disney Cruise and will make you more prepared. To check out more travel tips for family fun check out Home – Together We Can Travel
