This past year, I had a travel dream come true when I embarked on Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Fantasy.
I had dreamed about sailing on this ship as a child, and now I can look back and cherish the memories that I made while onboard! Since this was my first time sailing with Disney Cruise Line as an adult, I did a lot of research ahead of our cruise to learn everything I needed to know to make our cruise truly magical.
As Disney fans know, there's a lot to do when it comes to planning a Disney theme park vacation, and I quickly discovered that planning a Disney cruise can be quite similar.
Here are some tips for those planning their first-ever Disney cruise!
#1 - Set A Budget
One of the most important parts of planning any cruise vacation is setting a budget. This can be an important thing to consider, especially for a Disney cruise.
It is true that, oftentimes, Disney Cruise Line sailings can cost quite a bit more than the base fare of other lines. That being said, the higher cost does some with some complimentary features and amenities that are hard to come by on other cruise lines.
Because of this, I recommend browsing the Disney Cruise Line website and taking a look at some of the itineraries currently offered and how much they cost. This will give prospective guests an idea about how much a cruise costs.
Something helpful about the DCL website is that all of the prices listed include taxes and fees, so when it comes time to check out there is no guesswork involved.
Of course, other additional items should be considered, such as gratuities, specialty dining, shore excursions (or what Disney calls Port Adventures), alcoholic drinks, and more.
Because there can be many potential add-ons, setting a budget is an important financial step when planning.
Read: 16 hidden cruise ship extra charges you should know about (2024)
#2 - Pick An Itinerary With Travel In Mind
Once a budget is set, next comes the fun part of planning a Disney Cruise Line vacation: picking the itinerary and ship!
Currently Disney sails to the Bahamas, Western Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Northern Europe, Norwegian Fjords, Mediterranean, British Isles, Bermuda, Alaska, Canada, Mexican Riviera, Panama Canal, Pacific Coast of the United States, Hawaii, South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia, and Transatlantic.
To sail to these awesome locations around the world, Disney currently sails out of the following embarkation ports: Auckland, New Zealand; Barcelona, Spain; Brisbane, Australia; Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Galveston, Texas; Honolulu, Hawaii; Melbourne, Australia; New Orleans, Louisiana; Port Canaveral, Florida; San Diego, California; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Southampton (London), England; Sydney, Australia; and Vancouver, Canada.
More often than not, prospective guests will not live near very many, if any, of these embarkation ports, so it is important to factor the travel logistics into your planning process.
Flights and a pre-cruise hotel can add more to your overall vacation cost!
#3 - Prebook Specialty Dining
When it comes to dining, Disney strives to make meals not just for dining, but an entire experience in and of itself.
This extends to their specialty dining as well. On every Disney ship, there is at least one adult-only specialty venue:
Disney Magic: Palo
Disney Wonder: Palo
Disney Dream: Palo and Remy
Disney Fantasy: Palo and Remy
Disney Wish: Enchanté and Palo Steakhouse
All of these specialty dining restaurants strive to give adult guests an enchanting and elevated dining experience onboard. Similar to a Michelin-star restaurant, these restaurants serve some of the best ingredients in the most luxurious and sophisticated setting.
Additionally, to eat at any one of these popular restaurants, guests will need to make reservations ahead of time.
After guests have made the full payment for their Disney cruise, their booking window will open. The booking window is when guests can make reservations at the specialty dining restaurants. First-time Disney Cruise Line guests can make reservations at these adult-exclusive restaurants 75 days prior to the sail date.
The more you sail with DCL, the further in advance you'll be able to make reservations. For example, guests who have sailed with Disney Cruise Line at least once are added to the Castaway Club and become Silver Castaway Club Members. Silver Castaway Club Members can pre-book specialty dining 90 days prior to the sail date.
Reservations for any of the specialty restaurants can be made through the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app or online. To avoid a cancellation fee, it is important to know that guests need to cancel any reservation they do not plan on attending at least 24 hours.
It is also important to know that all of these adult-only restaurants have an extra charge to dine at. For example, dining at Remy onboard Disney Fantasy currently costs $135 per person, or $270 for a couple dining together.
Read: Our in-depth review of what dining in Disney’s most premier restaurant is like
#4 - Even The Cheapest Staterooms Are Great; Do Not Dismiss Them!
For my cruise onboard Disney Fantasy, we chose the most affordable stateroom category: a standard interior stateroom. While this room was the cheapest onboard, it still felt rather luxurious and came packed with all of the expected Disney charm.
This room came complete with plenty of space for a couple traveling together, as well as a small family of three or four people. These inside staterooms measure about 169 square feet in size.
Onboard all Disney Cruise Line ships guests will find the following stateroom categories: Inside, Oceanview, Verandah, and Concierge.
Something I loved about the room that was unique compared to all the other staterooms I've ever stayed in was the fun magical 'window' screens. Keep an eye out for little character animations that pop up every once in a while!
Personally, I found our inside stateroom to be one of the very most comfortable inside staterooms I have ever stayed in!
All inside staterooms onboard Disney Cruise Line ships can accommodate up to three and four guests. There is one queen-sized bed and a sofa that can be converted into a bed.
These rooms are designed with families in mind, which means there is also a full-sized tub shower in each stateroom bathroom as well. These tub showers make it easier to get little cruisers cleaned up and ready for bed after a long day of exploring and having fun in the sun.
I appreciate how Disney pays extra attention to every single detail onboard their ships, and the staterooms are no exception. The classic nautical theming and subtle Disney design can be seen throughout even the cheapest staterooms onboard.
Guests staying in these rooms can cruise with Disney for a more affordable price and still have a magical vacation with all of the great amenities that they offer!
Read: Our in-depth review of the most affordable stateroom onboard the Disney Fantasy
#5 - Research Cruise Destinations
Disney Cruise Line visits many exciting destinations. Something that I recommend is researching each stop and port of call that your chosen cruise will visit.
Doing this will help ensure that when you arrive at that destination, you will have a plan of how to make a great day on vacation creating memories.
Whether guests choose to book a Port Adventure (also known as shore excursion) directly through Disney Cruise Line or go off on their own, having a plan in place for each day can help maximize a vacation.
Some of my favorite cruise experiences have come from exploring on my own, and this could not have been accomplished without a little research ahead of time.
#6 - More Characters Than The Parks
If you are considering a Disney cruise, chances are you are at least somewhat of a fan of the Disney company, films, characters, or theme parks.
Those who enjoy the Disney characters will be thrilled to know that Disney Cruise Line has just as many, if not more, opportunities for guests to meet and interact with characters!
Disney does an excellent job of having character meet and greets available for guests all over the ship nearly every day!
Character meet and greets in the park are often accompanied by long lines and complicated logistics. Onboard Disney cruise ships, however, there are many characters onboard, and the lines seemed much shorter than in the theme parks. Plus, the whole process seemed much more relaxed and easy.
We were surprised by just how easy it is for guests to meet and interact with characters. If you or your children like to collect Disney character signatures, do not forget to bring those autograph books, as there will be plenty of opportunities!
During evening events onboard Disney ships, make sure to look out on the outer decks of the ship near the atrium. Oftentimes, characters such as Pluto or Donald can be found wandering about during events and in the evenings.
Read: What is it like for adults traveling without children onboard Disney Cruise Line?
#7 - Arrive To Firework Shows Early
Disney Cruise Line has perhaps the most unique form of entertainment onboard: the only fireworks at sea! However, not every cruise sailing offers shows. For example, there are no fireworks shows on Disney's Alaska itineraries. You will find them on nearly every cruise in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, though.
During our Caribbean cruise on Disney Fantasy, we were in luck to have seen not just one but two firework shows! One was during the famous Pirate Night, while the other was during the 25th Anniversary Celebration night.
We quickly discovered that it is very important for guests to plan out their evenings on the nights that there is a fireworks show, as they're quite popular and nearly every passenger onboard will make seeing them a priority!
Because of this, it is very important to arrive at the top outdoor decks of the ship early to grab a good standing spot. Guests can see the fireworks the best from the upper decks of the main pool area.
I recommend getting your fireworks spot at least 20 minutes before the show starts. The main pool deck and upper decks will fill up very quickly, and it can be difficult to find a good viewing spot. It is also important to know that there is very little to no sitting room during fireworks shows; it is mostly just standing room for guests.
These fireworks shows are a lot of fun onboard Disney Cruise Line ships, and I highly recommend planning on seeing them whenever they are offered onboard!
Read: Ultimate Guide to Disney Cruise Line’s Pirate Night
#8 - Ask For Private Dining Table (Or Not)
Something important to know about Disney Cruise Line is that besides the adult-exclusive specialty restaurants, there is very little private dining. This means that most guests will be seated with other passengers. For example, on our Disney fantasy sailing, we initially sat with two other couples traveling together who were about our same age.
If you are someone who would like to have an assigned table just for you and your family, you can request a private table for dinner time. However, it is important to know that this request can not always be accommodated. Depending on the amount of passengers onboard, there may not be enough tables to accommodate every family having their own space.
If a private table is something you would like, I recommend making this request as early on in your cruise as possible. This will help to ensure there are no disruptions to your vacation and will make things easier for the cast members who are attempting to accommodate your request.
Guests looking to make friends and connect with fellow passengers will enjoy this unique chance onboard! Disney does a great job of sitting passengers with similarities together. Usually, they'll seat guests with passengers their own age or who have the same amount of children in their travel party.
Each travel party onboard Disney ships will be assigned a specific dining time and location for dinner each night. Guests can choose either the earlier dining time or the later dining time at the time of their cruise booking.
Read: 12 hidden details that can be found onboard the Disney Fantasy ship
#9 - Arrive To Theater Shows Early
Similarly to the fireworks shows, arriving early to theater shows will help ensure you get a great seat.
Disney as an entertainment company specializes in shows and entertainment. Because of this, the theater and Broadway-style shows onboard Disney Cruise Line are truly impressive. There are usually multiple main theater shows onboard each sailing. I recommend seeing all of these shows at least once if you're able!
Oftentimes, the theater will fill up rather quickly before a show. For this reason, arriving early will help eliminate any issues or trouble finding a good seat for the theater shows.
Disney Cruise Line calls their Broadway-style shows "Live Shows." It's important to research what shows are currently on each ship. However, you'll be able to see a mix of the following: Beauty and the Beast; Disney Seas the Adventure; The Little Mermaid; Frozen: A Musical Spectacular; Tangled: The Musical; Disney Dreams; Disney’s Believe; The Golden Mickeys; Disney’s Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular; Twice Charmed; and more.
Read: Shows You Can See on a Disney Cruise (2024)
#10 - Research The Ship’s Layout
Similarly to researching the ship’s port destinations, researching your chosen Disney ship’s layout can be helpful and important before a cruise. Every Disney ship is slightly different. They each have their own unique areas, venues, activities, and amenities.
Knowing the ins and outs of your chosen Disney ship will help eliminate confusion during embarkation day once onboard.
Knowing everything that is onboard and the layout of the ship means that guests can maximize all of the offerings onboard.
#11 - Enroll Children In Kids Clubs Right Away
Because Disney specializes in families, DCL has some of the best youth programming in the cruise industry.
They have dedicated clubs for the very youngest cruisers to teenagers. It’s A Small World Nursery is for children under the age of 3 years. Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab are for children 3 years to 10 years of age. Edge is for the tweens of the family, from ages 11 to 14 years of age, and, finally, Vibe is for teenagers between 14 and 17 years of age.
Something that we witnessed onboard Disney Fantasy was just how busy the open house period can get onboard during embarkation day.
Each Disney ship will conduct an open house for an hour or two in which parents can tour the children’s clubs and enroll their children. These open houses can get quite busy and crowded with parents and children.
While it is a good time to come see everything available to kids in the children’s club, I recommend showing up to the open house as soon as it starts in order to avoid the crowds.
#12 - Visit The Adults-Only Pool In The Morning And Evening
There are a surprising amount of amenities onboard Disney Cruise Line ships intended just for adults.
Onboard Disney Fantasy, guests will find not just one adult-only pool, but two! This is a great feature for adult guests looking to enjoy a pool onboard that is a bit more relaxed and quiet than the main pool.
With a bar, multiple pools, and a cafe with a coffee bar, Quiet Cove is the perfect oasis for adult guests onboard Disney Fantasy!
The primary adults-only pool, called the Quiet Cove Pool, tends to get the busiest during the middle of the afternoon. To enjoy the Quiet Cove Pool at its least crowded times, I recommend visiting this pool and bar area either in the earlier hours of the afternoon or late morning, as well as in the evening time.
The second adults-only pool area is called Satellite Falls, and it is located above the Quiet Cove Pool at the very front of the ship.
The main adult pool, Quiet Cove Pool, currently can be found onboard every DCL ship.
#13 - Ride The AquaDuck And Waterslides During Dinner Times
Similar to the adult-only pool areas, the exciting AquaDuck water slide that can be found onboard Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream can get quite busy during the middle of the afternoon.
Just as they do in the Disney theme parks, Disney Cruise Line will often have a posted wait time for their bigger water slide attractions onboard their ships.
Other main water slides that can be found onboard Disney ships are the AquaDunk drop slide on Disney Magic and the AquaMouse water attraction onboard the Disney Wish.
To avoid the crowds and long lines, I recommend riding these water slides in the late afternoon, right before dinner time.
Each night of our Disney Fantasy cruise, we rode the AquaDuck in the late afternoon before getting ready for dinner. This proved to be a successful strategy, and we never waited in a long line to ride this popular waterslide onboard the Disney Fantasy!
#14 - Bring Wine Or Beer Onboard
Disney Cruise Line does not currently offer an alcohol package onboard any of their ships. Because of this, guests are unable to prepay for any alcoholic beverages. Once onboard, guests will pay al a carte for any alcoholic beverages they purchase.
Disney Cruise Line allows all adult passengers to bring on either two bottles of wine per adult guest or one six-pack of beer per adult guest. This is a great feature that is not always allowed onboard other cruise lines!
For our Disney Fantasy cruise, we brought onboard four bottles of wine (two per each of us); these four bottles lasted us through the entire week-long cruise, and it was a great way to enjoy a drink at night on a budget!
I recommend asking one of the helpful crew members at any one of the bars to borrow a wine glass. Additionally, remember to bring onboard a bottle opener if you do choose to bring onboard wine or beer.
Another drink tip onboard Disney Cruise Line ships is to check out the drink of the day. These drinks change each day of the sailing and are usually a bit cheaper than other cocktails onboard. These drinks of the day can be ordered as an alcoholic or a non-alcoholic version.
#15 - Pack Your Own Snorkel Gear
The snorkel trail on Castaway Cay is a must-see when visiting the island! This is a complimentary and self-guided activity.
Prior to our Disney Fantasy cruise, we realized there would be several opportunities throughout the week for snorkeling during our Caribbean itinerary.
When it comes to snorkeling, there are two options for most guests: cruise passengers can buy their own gear ahead of time or rent snorkel gear. When I researched how much snorkel gear costs to rent I found out that, currently, Disney Cruise Line charges $38 for adults and $22 for children ashore on Disney’s private island Castaway Cay.
On Amazon, I was easily able to find some great snorkel gear for cheaper than this price. We brought this snorkel gear with us onboard and were able to use it twice throughout our trip: once in St. Thomas and again in Castaway Cay.
The next time we go on a Disney cruise or Caribbean cruise, we will bring our snorkel gear with us again.
Read: 10 things Disney's Castaway Cay got right
#16 - Busy Buffet? Try Flo’s Cafe
The main buffet onboard Disney Fantasy is called Cabanas, and it's a great spot for breakfast and lunch.
However, we discovered that during the afternoon around lunch, Cabanas can become quite crowded. There were several times we instead opted for Flo’s Cafe, which was usually much less busy during the day.
Located near the main pool deck area, Flo’s Cafe consists of three food stations;: Luigi’s Pizza, Tow Mater’s Grill, and Fillmore’s.
These three areas offer a great selection of different types of food for guests to enjoy during the afternoon. Passengers can find burgers, chicken, pizza, salads, and sandwiches!
#17 - Take The Behind The Scenes Tour
If you are looking for a fun and interesting activity during a sea day onboard, I recommend taking the "Art of the Theme Show Tour."
This ship tour is for adults only and is a fun way to discover many behind-the-scenes features and artistic details. It'll take you through various areas of the ships and reveal facts about the design and detail. Plus, you'll learn about why certain design choices were many.
This tour was offered several times throughout our week-long sailing onboard Disney Fantasy. Passengers can find the times and locations of the tour in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.
#18 - Shop Early For Souvenirs
For those who are fans of Disney, you may know that Disney merchandise is something that Disney lovers are often quite passionate about. I was not expecting just how intense the merchandise shopping can be onboard onboard Disney Cruise Line!
If there is a certain item you are looking for, or if there is a limited edition collection onboard, I recommend stopping by the merchandise shops as soon as they open. Oftentimes, once these items are sold out, they might not be restocked during a sailing.
Onboard certain itineraries there will be special itinerary-specific merchandise, such as Alaska items for Disney’s Alaska sailings.
#19 - Go To The Welcome Parties And Special Events
(Mickey and Minnie in their special Disney Cruise Line 25th Anniversary outfits)
Onboard nearly every Disney cruise, there will be parties and events that take place in the main atrium. I highly recommend stopping by these parties, even if it is just for a little while.
These atrium parties often feature character appearances, music, performances, the ship’s officers meeting and greeting, and more. These events are a great opportunity to participate in some fun onboard in the evenings and to see what Disney Cruise Line is all about.
Additionally, crew members will pass out complimentary cocktails.
To know when and where these parties will be conducted, passengers can check the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.
#20 - Prebook Extra Experiences And Excursions
There can be a lot to think about and plan when it comes to a Disney Cruise Line vacation. One of those things is shore excursions, also known as Port Adventures.
Port Adventures will often sell out before embarkation day. This means that once onboard your Disney cruise, there may not be much to choose from, and guests may feel disappointed.
To avoid any disappointment, I recommend browsing the available Port Adventures as soon as your Disney cruise is booked.
(This was the exact Port Adventure we booked for our visit to St. Thomas, and I highly recommend it!)
We booked a Port Adventure through Disney Cruise Line for our port visit to St. Thomas: a shipwreck snorkel adventure that was a ton of fun and well worth the additional cost.
Additional things to consider booking before a Disney cruise sailing are beverage-tasting seminars, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and Pirates League sessions, Royal Court Royal Tea, and Senses Spa appointments. These are some of the extra activities and items onboard the Disney Fantasy that can be booked before a cruise begins.
Pre-booking these experiences will help ensure that these things do not sell out for you before your cruise. This will help avoid any feelings of disappointment for your Disney cruise.
#21 - Download The App
Disney Cruise Line has a great app called the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App. This handy tool and feature allows guests to plan their Disney cruise from start to finish, as well as be connected to all of the events and happenings onboard during a cruise.
I recommend downloading the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App as soon as you book a sailing with Disney. Once a trip is booked, guests can start exploring and familiarizing themselves with the app.
Knowing the ins and outs of the app will ensure that passengers know how to easily navigate the app come embarkation day. Guests can also use the Disney Cruise Line app to explore their Disney ship for planning their vacation.
#22 - Know What Goes On At Pirate Night
Perhaps one of the most unique and exciting things about Disney Cruise Line Caribbean itineraries is their "Pirates In The Caribbean" party, also known as Pirate Night onboard.
Pirate Night is something that Disney Cruise Line fans plan for, and I recommend that first-time cruisers with Disney do as well. There is a lot that goes into Pirate Night, from multiple pirate-themed performances to specialty fireworks, themed activities, and a themed dinner.
Many guests will also dress up for this event onboard. We decided to bring some subtle pirate-themed items we already had, and this was a fun way to get into character and embrace the fun of this themed evening. Guests are also gifted a complimentary themed bandana to make the evening extra pirate-like.
#23 - Plan Out Your Castaway Cay Day
For those passengers who are sailing on Disney Fantasy and will be visiting Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, I recommend doing thorough research before visiting the island.
There is so much to do ashore at Disney's Castaway Cay. I was pleasantly surprised by just how many unique things guests can see and do. We did a lot of research before our visit to ensure that we would make the most out of our day.
Oftentimes, Disney Cruise Line ships will only be stopped at Castaway Cay for around 5 to 6 hours. Because of this, the time can feel limited. For this reason, I recommend making a priority list of the things that are most important for you to do and see while on Castaway Cay.
#24 - Consider If Magic Bands Are Right For You
In the last year, Disney Cruise Line has brought onboard a feature that is quite present in the theme parks, Magic Bands.
These wearable accessories also function as a stateroom keycard and a form of payment onboard Disney Cruise Line ships. During our sailing, we bought and wore Magic Bands to test them out.
My main takeaway was that these accessories are not necessary for all guests. Magic Bands are more about the wearable accessory aspect and not necessarily the technology or functionality.
These bands can be quite expensive. For this reason, I recommend holding off on purchasing these bands unless you are someone who absolutely wants one. If you decide later you would like one, they are available for purchase in the gift shops onboard.
For those guests who purchase Magic Bands before their cruise, they will be delivered to your house before your cruise.
We enjoyed wearing these fun accessories throughout our cruise! However, I do think they are an extra purchase, not something that is essential to your Disney cruise.
#25 - Keep An Eye Out For Awesome Details And Hidden Activities
Perhaps one of the very best things about sailing with Disney Cruise Line is all of the hidden details, attention to detail, and Disney magic that can be found onboard each ship.
The Disney Fantasy is no exception. I was thoroughly impressed with how many cute and magical details can be found onboard. One of my favorite magic touches was the magical Disney art. Much of the artwork around the ship will move and change throughout the day, so keep an eye out!
Additionally, Disney Fantasy has a fun complimentary activity onboard for all ages called Midship Detective.
This free activity involves guests exploring the ship and doing a bit of detective work. One of my favorite aspects of this activity was that there were multiple variations, and it was a great way to explore the ship in a unique and fun way.
I had so much fun exploring everything Disney Fantasy has to offer
From delicious dining to themed events and more, I loved my cruise onboard Disney Fantasy. It was a dream come true, and I cannot wait to explore other ships that make the DCL brand a family favorite!
Hayley Phillips
Hayley Phillips is a military spouse currently living in Florida and loves all things travel and travel planning.
