Our family absolutely loves cruising, and Disney Cruises hold a special place in all of our hearts. However, planning a Disney Cruise can be quite overwhelming. With 20 Disney Cruises under my belt, I’ve gathered the 50+ tips you need to know for a magical and stress-free experience.

From planning and budgeting to embarkation at Castaway Cay and the bittersweet debarkation, we’ve got you covered with the best Disney Cruise tips to ensure your voyage is smooth sailing.

50+ Best Disney Cruise Tips

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How to Get a Deal on a Disney Cruise

• Don’t Book on the Disney Cruise Site: The site is great for researching cruises but booking directly can be costly. Instead, use a travel agent. They can match the price found on the Disney Cruise site and often offer onboard credits, sometimes up to $1000. This credit can be used for specialty dining, spa services, cocktails, shore excursions, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, or other onboard purchases. Some travel agents charge a planning fee, but our agency, Best Day Ever Vacations, will find you the best deal with no additional fee!
• Hidden Last Minute Deals Are Available on the Site: These are described as “Restricted Guaranteed” rates. You choose the type of cabin (inside, outside, verandah) but not the actual room. We have done this numerous times and always received great rooms, sometimes even connecting ones.
• Florida Resident and Military Discounts: Disney Cruise discounts are hard to come by, but both Florida Resident and Military Discounts are available.
• The Best Way to Save Money on Your Disney Cruise: Book your next cruise while on an existing cruise to save 10% off the prevailing rate, receive an onboard credit of $200, and get a reduced deposit. Also, purchase discounted Disney gift cards if you are a Target Red Card holder to receive 5% cash back. You can save an additional 5% off your cruise by purchasing gift cards at Target. Additionally, take advantage of bonus points from your credit card company, such as the Chase Ink card, which offers 5 points for every $1 spent at office supply stores that sell Disney gift cards.
• DVC Members, Don’t Use Points to Book Your Cruise: Using points for a Disney Cruise is a terrible waste due to poor point value. It is much better to rent out your points through a service like David’s Vacation Rentals and use that money for the cruise.
• Sometimes Two Cabins Are Better Than One: If you have a family of five, booking a family cabin can be pricey. Sometimes booking two connecting rooms is cheaper than one large room, providing more space as well.
• Book Off Season: The cheapest times to cruise are when the kids are back in school. The cheapest month is September (hurricane season), so if you are willing to risk sailing during hurricane season, you can save a lot of money.
• Book Early, Book Early, Book Early: If you are looking for a specific itinerary, book it as soon as sailing dates are announced. Disney cruises rarely go down in price (except for last-minute specials), so the cheapest prices are usually right when the itinerary is released.

Did you know you can book a Disney Cruise with our Travel Agency, Best Day Ever Vacations? Our agents are incredible and our services cost you $0!! Learn more here.

How to Choose the Best Room on a Disney Cruise

• All About Concierge Rooms: All five ships have concierge rooms and now have concierge lounges. These rooms get booked up the fastest, so book early. Check out the amazing experiences of having concierge level here!
• Book Your Room on the Starboard Side if You Love Fireworks: The fireworks at sea show is pretty spectacular (occurs on pirate night). If you book your room on the starboard side of the ship (right side), you can watch the fireworks from your verandah. Disney does not recommend sitting on your balcony during the fireworks, but many families do so anyway.
• The Low Down on the Secret Mini-Suite: There is a secret mini-suite that is considered an ocean-view room. On the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy on Deck 5, there are 6 cabins that sleep only 3 people. These rooms are massive compared to the normal Disney Cruise rooms and are priced at the same rate as a regular ocean-view cabin. The rooms are 5018, 5020, 5022, 5518, 5520, and 5522. These rooms get booked quickly!

Before You Board – Packing, Checking In, Booking Port Adventures & More

• Check-In Online ASAP (120 Days Before Sailing): Embarkation times vary, but the earlier you do your online check-in, the earlier you get to board the ship, giving you more time to spend onboard. Show up at the port about 30 to 45 minutes before your scheduled embarkation time. This allows time to drop off your bags with the porters, go through security, and check in, so you can embark as soon as your scheduled time slot allows. Arriving too early might result in waiting around the port, which is not very enjoyable.
• Online Check-In Dates:
  • Platinum Castaway Club members and concierge guests: 120 days before sailing.
  • Gold Castaway Club members: 105 days before sailing.
  • Silver Castaway Club members: 90 days before sailing.
  • All other guests: 75 days before sailing.

Grab our FREE Disney Cruise Packing List Printable, Click Here!

• Booking Activities: As soon as you check-in, you can book dining, cabanas on Castaway Cay, shore excursions (port adventures), and spa experiences. Many of these book up fast, so book them right away.
• You Can Bring Your Own Alcohol On Board: You can bring two bottles of wine or a six-pack of beer per person. Do not pack them in your suitcase; they need to be in your carry-on for the ship.
• Decorate Your Door: This is one of those super fun Disney Cruise Tips. People love to use custom magnets and “Fish Extenders” which hang on the door and identify different members of the family. It is a fun way to place surprises for the kids and often times Disney fans share gifts and notes with other fans.
• Pre-Book Upgraded Dining: These dining options book up fast. The Palo Brunch is my favorite upgraded dining. For shorter 3-4 day cruises, you don’t want to miss the rotational dining, so upgrading to the Palo Brunch is perfect. On longer cruises (5 days or more), check out the fine dining at Palo & Remy.
• Allergies or Specialty Dining Needs: During online check-in, you can specify allergies and special dietary needs. The chefs and waiters are very accommodating. At every meal, a waiter will ensure you are taken care of, and there is always a chef on hand at self-service and buffet stations to provide information about ingredients.

• Pre-Book Character Experiences & Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique: The character experiences are free. Try to book them for days at sea. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique costs about $119.00.
• Booking Dining Times Tips: There are two seatings onboard Disney Cruises: Main Seating (5:45 PM-6:00 PM) and Late Seating (8:00 PM-8:15 PM). If you want the main seating, try to book it right away. Main dining is more popular, but late dining has its perks:
• Kids Club Pick-up: During late seating, the kids club can pick up your kids in the middle of dinner so that the kids can play and the adults can enjoy a relaxing meal. (Waiters know to serve the kids quickly.) The late seating is usually less busy, so you don’t have to rush to the Walt Disney Theater for a good seat, and picture lines before dinner are typically less crowded. Plus, if you have late dinner, you get a late breakfast on your final day, so you don’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn.

• Booking Port Adventures: Port adventures can be pricey, but here are a few tips to save money:
  • Many of Disney’s port adventures are offered via third parties that also sell the same excursions directly or through other third-party sites. Check out Trip Advisor’s reviews on the excursion you are considering to see if you should book outside of the cruise.
  • In Nassau, Bahamas, the most popular port adventure is Atlantis. An Atlantis Day Pass typically runs $165 per person. Save money by booking a room for one night at Atlantis for as little as $199, which entitles you to 4-day passes, saving around $400.
  • Also, check out the new Baha Mar Water Park, which is incredibly nice and not typically crowded.

• Plan for Pirate Night: Pirate Night is one of the best nights on the ship, with characters and guests dressed up. Find pirate costumes online before you go, as the ship’s pirate attire can be pricey. (Everyone gets a Mickey bandana at dinner.)
• Pack a Day Bag for the 1st Day: Your room might not be ready until 3 pm on the first day. Pack a day bag with a swimsuit and sunscreen so you can enjoy the day onboard the ship. (The waterslide lines are usually shortest when you first board.) You can change in the fitness center or bathrooms (which Disney keeps spotless).
• Download the Disney Navigator App: This app will inform you of everything happening onboard and includes a free chat service to communicate with your family and fellow cruisers. It’s a great tool for your cruise!

• Getting to Port Canaveral: Most Disney Cruises sail from Port Canaveral, about 40 minutes from Orlando Airport and 1 hour from Walt Disney World. Disney transportation costs $45 each way per person, which can be expensive for large parties. Additionally, Disney Cruise transportation from Disney hotels is only once per day, often resulting in being among the last to board the ship.
• Save Money on Transfers and Arrive Early:
  • Rent a Car: Rent a car and park at an offsite lot. We rented a car for $20 a day, and parking was $6 per day. We paid $180 including gas for 5 people. Disney transportation would have cost $450, saving us $270. (Consider a one-way car rental.)
  • Take an Uber or Lyft: Uber XL (seats 5-7) is $125 each way, so you save $100 if there are 5 of you.
  • Book Offsite Transportation: This typically runs $100 each way, offering additional savings.

Embarkation Day

You’ve made it, life is good because your vacation is about to begin!!! Woohoo! This day goes fast and sometimes can be hectic so here are our best tips so you enjoy embarkation day.

• Arrival: Arrive about 1 hour before your boarding time. This allows enough time to have your luggage handed over to the porters (tip them, they work hard), go through security, and complete the check-in process. Arriving too early may result in sitting around waiting.
• Kids Club Check-In: You can complete the majority of your kids club check-in online. Avoid doing the kids club check-in at the port unless the line is very short, as it can be very long. On embarkation day, the ship will have a few tables set up where you can bring your kids to get them all set up to enjoy the fun.

• Boarding the Ship: When you board the ship, the Disney Cast will personally announce and welcome your family by name. If you like to video, have your phone or camera ready. My kids love this part of the cruise; it’s a great memory.
• First Thing We Do On Board: Dine!: When you first board, they will direct you to the lido deck for the buffet. It can be a bit hectic, but not as hectic as many other ships’ buffets. If you’re not hungry, head over to the pool and let your kids enjoy the pool and slides while they are not busy.
• Alternative Dining Option: If you prefer to avoid the chaos of the buffet on the first day, head to one of the three dining restaurants, typically Animator’s Palate or Enchanted Garden, and enjoy a nice relaxing sit-down lunch. On the Disney Wish, the sit-down dining is typically at 1923.

Tips for While On-Board

• Bring a Water Bottle for the Water Refill Stations: There are water refill stations onboard, so bring a refillable water bottle to fill up at these stations or the soda stations, which also have a water refill option.
• Free Alcohol for Vacation Club Members: There’s a DVC Member Celebration on Embarkation Day that offers free alcoholic drinks and some giveaways. It’s a way to get you to purchase more points, but free alcohol is a nice perk!
• Sail Away Party: The sail away party is a fun event with characters dancing and music as the ship departs. It’s best to watch from the top deck as it gets crowded on the party deck, where you might have to lift your child onto your shoulders.
• Mandatory Safety Drill: Right after the sailaway party is the mandatory safety drill. Head to your room to unpack and get ready for the drill when the alert goes out. Staff will guide you to the safety drill location.
• On the Disney Wish: The safety drill is now online; just visit your muster station to check in quickly.

• Buffets: Healthy dining options are available, such as egg white omelets, vegan omelets, and scrambles at the cook stations. Create your own delicious concoctions!
• Kid’s Clubs: The kid’s clubs onboard are amazing, with incredible staff, plenty of activities, and character meets. On the first day, there is an open house for exploring with your kids. After that, the kids have the club to themselves for most of the cruise.
• Pool Chairs: Pool chairs get snagged early, so wake up early to grab one on at-sea days. When in port, the pool area is usually less crowded.
• Slides: The slides can have long lines. For shorter waits, head up early, get in line on embarkation day, or return early on a port day.

• Goofy’s/Pluto’s Pajama Party is a Must for Kids!
• Don’t Miss the Broadway Shows!
• Movies: If you love popcorn, grab a refillable popcorn bucket for $7.50, with refills costing only $1.50.
• Find the Hidden Mickeys!
• Schedule a Character Wake-Up Call: You can schedule a free wake-up call where a Disney character will give you a fun wake-up message. Baymax is a favorite!
• Personal Navigator: The personal navigator used to be delivered to your room but now must be requested from your stateroom host. Grab it before dinner to plan your next day, or use the app to plan out your day.
• Enjoy Some Amazing Latte Art: Head to the Cove Cafe on Deck 11 in the Adult Area for lattes with fun Disney character art on the foam, featuring characters like Mickey, Minnie, Baby Yoda, and Baby Groot.

• Great Bar to Check Out: The Skyline Bar on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy has a rotating skyline behind the bar that changes every 15 minutes.
• Rotational Dining: Experience different restaurants each evening. Don’t miss Animator’s Palate, where the restaurant comes alive, and on the Disney Fantasy, your artwork is part of the show.
• Order a 2nd Meal at Dinner: Feel free to order an extra entrée or multiple desserts. You’re on vacation!
• Mickey Ice Cream Bars at Dinner: Although not on the menu, you can order a Mickey Ice Cream bar for a delicious treat.

• Cash-Free Living – Almost: All charges go on your key to the world card, so no need for cash onboard, but have some cash handy for additional tips on the final night.
• Laundry: Disney Cruises offer laundry pick-up and dry cleaning at reasonable prices. There’s also a laundry room with washers, dryers, detergent, and ironing equipment.
• Take Lots of Photos: Capture memories of the specially themed nights; they make great keepsakes.
• Purchase Pictures Before the Final Night and Morning: It gets hectic on the final night and debarkation day. Check out your pictures on the morning of the final full day to save time. You can also pre-purchase your pictures before you board.

Castaway Cay Tips

Castaway Cay has always been my favorite port. The incredible beaches, the bike rides around the island, the water slides, and the character dance parties are a must-do for our family. Here are our best Disney Cruise tips to enjoy Castaway Cay!

• Early Birds Get a Medal: Technically, you have to run a 5k on Castaway Cay to get the medal, but Mickey will have one waiting for you. Sign up beforehand (onboard or online) to participate in the 5k, and a safety meeting is required.
• Grab Breakfast on the Ship: Breakfast is not served on the island, and the buffets are not open until lunch.
• Send Some Mail from Castaway: Castaway Cay has a post office drop-box with an exclusive Castaway Cay postmark. Purchase stamps aboard the ship and mail a postcard to friends and family.
• Booking a Cabana as Soon as Possible: If you want a cabana, book it very early (usually concierge and platinum guests get them first). Here is my complete guide to the Castaway Cabanas.
• Meet Jack Sparrow: On Castaway Cay, you will find Jack Sparrow. Check your Personal Navigator for details.
• Hit the Waterslides Early: The waterslides are located right past the family beach. The lines get long later in the day, so head over early.

• Enjoy a Delicious BBQ Lunch Included in the Cruise Fare: One of the great things about Castaway Cay is that all the stuff included on the cruise ship is included here as well, including a delicious BBQ lunch. Lunch is served from 11:30 – 1:30 and offers BBQ Chicken, Ribs, Burgers, Mahi Mahi, Veggie Burgers, and some delicious side dishes.
• Excursions to Book: We book the 3-in-1 Castaway Cay Getaway Package, which includes snorkel equipment for the day, an inner tube, and bicycle rental for one hour. After dropping off our beach stuff, we head for the bikes before it gets too hot. You get to ride around the island and climb a tower with an amazing view of the island.
• Adults-Only Beach: Serenity Bay is the adults-only beach on Castaway Cay. If you are looking for peace and quiet, this is the spot. They have buffets at Serenity Bay, so you can relax there all day long.
• Kid’s Club on Castaway Cay: How can you enjoy Serenity Bay if you have kids? No worries. Castaway has its own kids club called Scuttle’s Cove, with the same great counselors from onboard the ship. It features a fun area with a giant whale dig for the kids.
• Character Dance Party: Every afternoon, there is a character dance party where you can do a little conga with Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto. It is so much fun for the little ones.
• Cool Off with a Little Basketball and Shuffleboard: There is a great place on Castaway called “In Da Shade” where you can shoot hoops, play ping pong, and shuffleboard under the shade. It’s also a good spot during a random downpour.

Disembarkation Tips

The saddest day of the cruise has arrived and if you don’t plan well it can be even sadder. Here are our best Disney Cruise tips to make disembarkation easy peasy.

• Buy Photos & Settle Credit Card Charges the Day Before: Make sure to review your bill and purchase photos the day before you disembark. The guest service line gets long on the last day.
• Packing Up: The night before the cruise ends, staff will collect your luggage if you leave it in the hallways. Here are a few tips to ensure you do it correctly:
• Do Not Pack Everything: If you pack everything, you’ll only have your pajamas in the morning to get off the ship, which is not ideal.
• Carry Off Your Luggage and Get Off the Ship First: The lines for disembarkation can be long. If you don’t have too much luggage, you can carry it off yourself and be among the first to leave the ship.
• A Few Options for Morning Breakfast: You will be assigned a morning breakfast with your wait staff at one of two times based on your dining time choice. Alternatively, you can head to the buffet on the pool deck, which is not very crowded on the final day.
• You Might Have to Head Up the Elevator to Get Down: With upwards of 4,000 people disembarking with luggage in hand, the elevators get packed. If you are not on the top floor, you might have to wait a while for an empty elevator. Instead, take an elevator up while it’s empty and then ride it back down.
• Smile! You had a great cruise. Even though it’s over and you might feel a bit down, remember the fun times and cherish the memories.

Map of Disney Cruise Itineraries

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Mama Munchkin

Amber is not only the dynamic CEO and founder of our team but also a dedicated mother of six and savvy entrepreneur. Her extensive travels with her family have not only created lasting memories but have also led to their tight-knit bonds. Helping you bring your family closer together and finding community with all of you is what gets her out of bed everyday (although her toddler plays a role in this as well).

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