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The largest ships in Disney's fleet are Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, at 1,115 feet long and 14 decks high, and Disney Wish, at 1,119 feet and 15 decks high. While Disney may be a household name, Disney Cruise Line is actually a small line. It currently sails just five ships, compared to 27 at its family-friendly competitor Royal Caribbean. But unlike at the Disney theme parks, which can be a bit complicated to navigate, long lines and complex strategies are rarely a part of the Disney cruise experience.
💡 Key Takeaways for First Time Cruisers
All of Disney Cruise Line's ships have some kind of waterslide on board. This is a fun thing to do before meeting a princess, before a more formal night or anytime you want to see a huge smile on your kid's face. If you have a princess dress or outfit from home you want to use or reuse, you can purchase a cheaper package at Bibbidi Bobbidi. Some of the drink-tasting classes that you book in advance can be a good value if you're a fan of the drink on offer and are interested in learning a little bit while you sip.
I'm looking to book for 2025 for me and my daughter. How do I book the 15 day stay and cruise option for then.”
At dinner, you will get a Mickey banana to wear for the party, but most guests choose to dress up much more! The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique onboard the ship does offer kids’ pirate makeovers for Pirate Night, but I highly suggest packing costumes/accessories with you. Specialty dining is a total experience on Disney cruises, and one of my biggest Disney cruise tips.
Your kids can (maybe) get into an older club
Disney Magic and Disney Wonder have inside staterooms with a porthole-shaped mirror on the wall. Disney Cruise Line frequently offers special discounts on cruises for Florida residents, US military members, Castaway Club members, and Disney Vacation Club members. When booking your Disney Cruise, consider whether it’s cheaper to travel during the week or on the weekends (if the itinerary you’ve chosen sails on different days of the week throughout the year). Since the weather is cooler, you will not have to worry about the heat.
I often order Uncrustables from room service the night before port days to toss in my bag for the family to eat while ashore. My girls learned how to politely call to order these by the second or third day of the cruise. Some travel agencies offer up to $1,000 in onboard credit for Disney Cruises. Most travel agencies don’t charge any planning fees to book cruises through them, so it truly is free money for those already planning a cruise.
You can change the ship or the sailing as long as the sail date is within 24 months of the initial booking date. If you end up changing to a more expensive booking, you’ll need to make up the difference between your original deposit and the new deposit. Keep in mind that if you later add a guest to a stateroom, they will get added at current rates, not at your initial booking rates. For the lowest final price and most flexibility, it’s a good idea to make the initial booking with everyone who might go, rather than only the people you know are going to go. I'm a fan of ordering room service for a quick breakfast (or that first hit of coffee) or for a fun anytime treat of Mickey ice cream bars.
Disney Magic
If you are on a ship that charges by day instead of by the amount of data used, expect the prices to vary from $12-$36 per day, depending on the speed you select. There are often discounts for buying Wi-Fi access for the length of the cruise. An 18% gratuity is added to onboard spa, bar, beverage, wine and deck service tabs. You can always add an additional gratuity for any of your services or servers.
If you enjoy wine or beer out on your veranda, you can save a little cash by bringing your own alcohol onboard, with limits. Again, these beverages need to be carried on and not stashed in checked bags. Remy and Enchante are super-fancy and pricy, but Palo is approachable-fancy and costs an additional $45 per person for the set menu.
Room service, the buffet and the on-deck food counter dining options don't cost extra and are available to you in addition to or instead of your rotational dining. While many guests dress up a bit for dinner (compared to their afternoon pool deck attire), most stay relatively casual for the rotational dining restaurants. Consider booking an inside cabin if you want the lowest fare on your next Disney cruise. Inside cabins are without a porthole window or a veranda/balcony, making them the most affordable option on any cruise line. On Disney ships, inside cabins have a few added features that make them feel less dark and enclosed. If you’re flexible with your travel dates and stateroom type, you can save money on your Disney cruise by booking a Restricted Guarantee stateroom.
If you’re sailing out of Miami, you may feel overwhelmed by the number of options for hotels. Port of Miami is right by downtown Miami, it can be pretty hectic. If you’re wanting to see the sights while you’re there, hotels downtown on South Beach are your best bets (and are still close to the port). If the shuttle service doesn’t work for you, Uber, Lyft, and other shuttles are all great options to get to the port. Be sure to prepare for a wait in the drop-off lane, though, as that can take awhile! There is also parking at the terminal if you want to drive your own vehicle, just know that the parking is a bit pricey and must be paid upfront.
Some travel agents will offer onboard credit based on the amount you spend on your Disney cruise. This is credit you can use toward drinks, spa treatments, excursions or anything else you can charge to your room. When you are on the ship, you will not need cash or a credit card — all incidentals, purchases and services will be charged to your cabin folio. Your Key to the World card (or your DisneyBand+ on Disney Wish) serves as your onboard payment method. To give an idea of the cost, a four-person family on a four-night cruise would pay $232 in recommended tips. The amount is split among your team of dining room servers who quickly learned your kids' preferences for dinner and your cabin hosts who made your room look like magic while you were out enjoying yourself.
If you wait too long, you may only have a few options, and they may not be the ideal stateroom for you and your family. Higher-priced stateroom categories may be the only choices remaining because staterooms with the lowest prices sold out earlier. If possible, it’s best to avoid these dates altogether and wait until an off-peak time.
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You can get breakfast through room service, but it’s mainly pastries and cereals — no eggs, bacon, or oatmeal. Room service shuts down on the last night of the cruise, so you will not be able to get room service breakfast before you leave the ship at the end of the cruise. Each ship has at least one adult-exclusive restaurant which offers elegant meals for an additional fee. Each ship features a buffet-style restaurant where you don’t have to show up at a set time and can sit wherever you like. You may be seated with another group; if so, it will be the same people for the entire cruise.
It’s no surprise that Disney ships host Disney characters throughout the journey. It starts with a sail-away party and continues with traditional character meet-and-greets each day. You’ll have many opportunities to see Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, plenty of princesses, and a smattering of other beloved characters.
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Solo travelers should expect to pay almost as much as two adults would have paid. Some ports are more expensive to visit than others and some itineraries are simply more popular and command higher prices. Comparing the cost of a Disney Cruise to a Disney World vacation is a bit difficult, because there are so many variables and differences between the two. For example, Disney World requires theme park tickets while a Disney Cruise includes all meals. You’ll have to decide if what you get when cruising with Disney is worth the additional expense. Disney Cruises may cost more when compared to Royal Caribbean, Princess, Norwegian, or Carnival, but many families still wouldn’t cruise with anyone else.
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