10 Things You Should Know When Planning a Disney Cruise with Toddlers

I am a #girlmom to two beautiful toddlers, and my hubby and I just took them on an EPIC Disney Cruise Vacation! No lie, I think about our cruise daily. It was SUCH a fantastic experience. We are those parents who almost never consider our children are “too young” to experience new places.  We spent the first four years of our marriage traveling/living in Europe, and we place a lot of value on experiences. Getting out and living life builds your spirit.

We went to Walt Disney World when Raegan was almost two, and I was 4 months pregnant. I’d like to think that some of her first memories will include our family time there. Maybe of the road trip…or spinning in the tea cups with her mama…or being silly while waiting in line. Or she might not ever remember it, but I certainly won’t ever forget! I want adventure to be a constant in my girls’ lives. I don’t want them to ever be afraid of experiencing the world around them. Plus, kids under three are FREE at Disney World! I’m down for free.

So, thats when it started; our love for Disney vacations! My husband and I were legitimately surprised by just how much WE enjoyed that vacation. Not watching Raegan enjoy it, but loving it ourselves. There are several reasons we decided to go the Disney Cruise route this time.

• The people in charge of advertising for Disney Junior are fantastic at their jobs. 
• This would be something new/different.
• We thought it may be more fun for a baby Zarie’s age (not quite 1) who wouldn’t necessarily be able to ride much in the park.
• Orlando, Florida in August sounded miserably hot.
• We wanted something all inclusive and fairly simple to plan.
• It fit our vacation budget.

We sailed on a 3-night Bahamian cruise on the Disney Dream. Next time we are going for a full week. We could have easily doubled our time. We booked the vacation through USAA’s travel partner: Explorer Cruise and Travel. We had used this same service to book our first cruise. Their customer service is always high quality, and they got us a great deal.

Everyone has asked, and I am going to be honest. Disney cruises are expensive. There is no other way to put it. The cost is higher, but it is worth every last dollar. We sailed with Celebrity Cruises (pre-parenthood) and that cruise was exquisite. The bar was high, and Disney knocked it out of the park! So, now I want to share some tips for planning your vacation, and some things I wish I’d known prior to mine.

1) CHOOSE A ROOM WITH A VIEW!

A veranda room was a nonnegotiable for us. We had a balcony room on our first cruise (which had a killer Mediterranean itinerary) and there was no way we were going back. The inside rooms are significantly less expensive, but having that easy outdoor access was everything! Be sure to snag a veranda with an unobstructed view. Sometimes you can get less expensive veranda rooms, but the locations aren’t good. You don’t want a lifeboat taking up half of your view! (If you travel on the Disney Dream, we were on floor 7–it was perfect!)

 It was lovely to have breakfast delivered to our balcony each morning. I LIVE for moments like that. Peaceful isn’t an adjective I would usually use when describing travel with toddlers, but the time in our room was just that. We would enjoy our coffee and the gorgeous ocean views.

Sidenote: Room service is totally FREE on Disney Cruises. We had breakfast and a pot of hot coffee delivered each morning. It helped a lot to already have the girls something to eat in the room—and Mark and I loved our little ocean coffee dates before they got up!

Our girls loved looking out at the ocean, and I never felt fearful that they’d be able to get off the balcony. The Disney Cruise staterooms are a great size, but the balcony seemed to add “more room” to the space. Everything felt open and airy. Plus, I don’t think anything can beat the actual ocean when it comes to providing white noise for tired babies. Worked like a charm.

As for sleep arrangements, our stateroom actually had bunkbeds. During the day the living space was a sofa. After turndown service, the sofa would turn into a bed, and another bed pulled down from the ceiling. For Zarie, they actually set up a super adorable Mickey Mouse Pack-N-Play. That worked well for us, but if your kiddos are older, the bunkbeds were super cute and space efficient. (They made Raegan’s bed with those sweet Frozen sheets after we met Elsa and Ana–just a sprinkle of Disney magic.)

A couple details about the stateroom that I loved:
There was a BATHTUB! I remember the bathroom on our first cruise, and there was barely room for a shower in that thing! On the Disney Dream, there were two separate bathroom areas. The toilet room had it’s own sink, and the bathtub/shower room had it’s own sink. It was SO convenient to give the girls baths after beach days! They did a fantastic job with the layout. Also, they automatically provided us with a diaper genie, and changed it daily. Can you imagine having stinky diapers in a small space all day? This was awesome!

2) DO NOT OVERPACK!

Seriously, you won’t need half the stuff you think you need.

For some reason, tiny humans require SO MUCH STUFF! Luckily, Disney has already thought of everything you could need. Need a stroller? You can just rent one on the boat, and/or on Castaway Cay (Disney’s private Bahamian Island). No need to bring pool/beach towels, because they’re provided to you. You won’t need toys, because there is something amazing to do at every moment of the day. There is hand sanitizer available at every corner. Literally. I was pleasantly surprised by how high quality the toiletries were. They’re happy to provide you with any extras you may need. Don’t overpack.

The single most useful thing I bought: MY TULA CARRIER! Although plenty of people did it, I didn’t want to push a stroller around the ship. Wearing her was SO convenient—for check-in…walking around Nassau…getting on and off the boat. She actually fell asleep in there A LOT! Raegan did great with walking, and catching rides on Daddy’s shoulders. I’d say if you have a non-walker or a new walker, bring your baby carrier. Thank me later!

Sidenote: On the first day, either wear or pack your swimsuits in a small bag. You’ll board the boat and your luggage won’t be delivered to your stateroom until later. If you want to enjoy the pools beforehand, just have your swim gear with you. Also, diaper wearers can’t get in the pool for obvious health reasons. There is a badass splash pad directly beside the pool though that they’re allowed in.

3) BOOK EVERYTHING BEFORE THE CRUISE!

While you do have the opportunity to book onboard and offshore activities at the customer service desk, I wouldn’t recommend it. I am very much a Type A personality. I like to do things super early, and give myself plenty of planning time. I didn’t want to spend a second of our vacation unnecessarily waiting in line–although the customer service on the boat was efficient and plentiful.

I booked everything weeks in advance, and there were a ton of time slots already taken when I logged in. I booked our sunset date night dinner (we will talk more about this later), childcare slots, and all of our princess gatherings. If you have/are a princess lover, I say book these ASAP! They are 15 minute slots that are completely free. We did one really cool one where we went to Arendale and got to hang out with Elsa and Ana. My girls had a very cute big sister/little sister bonding moment. So freaking sweat. 

The second one was held in the main lobby of the ship. We met Cinderella, Belle, and Princess Sophia. You can’t actually meet the princesses if you don’t have tickets booked. We saw a slew of really sad little girls who saw the princesses, but didn’t have access to them. Book early! If you don’t have a chance to book online, I would make customer service my very first stop after boarding.

Don’t get me wrong, there are still TONS of opportunities to meet the characters. There are several character meetings throughout the ship, and on Castaway Cay. Raegan even got to attend story time, where Princess Tiana read all of the children The Princess and The Frog. We didn’t book any offshore excursions, but the process was just as streamlined as onboard booking.

4) GO ALL OUT!

When it comes to anything Disney, people are going to go all out. I found this to especially be true on the cruise! Most people had on some sort of Disney gear! There were little princesses walking around everywhere! You could throw a rock and hit like 12 Jack Sparrow lookalikes. Families had personalized shirts (including us). 

If you’re wanting a chance to do something special, I would say go all out for Pirate Night! The whole ship gets to watch a special performance on the top deck! Entertainment, fireworks, and a full taco bar afterward! It’s not to be missed! I wish I had a family photo of us IN our shirts, but #momlife. People also decorate their room doors with festive magnets and signs (totally doing this next time). You can participate in pin exchanges, and gift exchanges.

Go all out! Don’t be afraid to totally fangirl–I squealed when I saw Tiana and Belle! Wear a tiara the whole cruise, let your littles rock Mickey ears, buy your husband Chip and Dale trim trunks. Have fun with it. Sing all the songs. You’re going to be in good company!

Sidenote: If I could go back, I would purchase the uber expensive photo package. We had photographers snapping family photos everywhere, and I wish I’d made it a point to budget for that. To be honest, by the end of the trip, going to check out the photos was the last thing on my mind. I didn’t take as many family photos as I’d wanted, and you have to purchase them on the ship or they’re deleted. #momfail

5) REMEMBER IT’S NOT JUST FOR THE KIDS!

I will be the first to admit that I probably never would have considered doing this cruise five years ago. I was one of those people who purposely excluded Disney from travel search engines. Our first cruise was a week of luxury and adventure in Croatia, Greece, and Turkey. NO WAY could a Disney cruise compare–WRONG! The ship was exquisite. There were also ample opportunities for adult time.

There is an 18 and up pool and jacuzzi area, that leads right into the spa. That area has it’s own private bar and deluxe coffee shop. Mark and I cozied up on our own cabana for drinks one night. We obviously chose this trip so that we could enjoy it as a family, but it was important to us to have time to ourselves. Which meant some time away from our children, and everyone else’s.

There are several romantic spaces to accomplish this. One evening we participated in a hilarious game of movie trivia. Don’t worry, the cruise itself is not obnoxiously overrun with children (like I previously imagined). There was a great balance. Which brings me right into #6.

6) BOOK A ROMANTIC DINNER AT PALO OR REMY!

Y’all. Wow. I don’t want to ruin this experience by spilling too many of the special details. It was truly a dream. Mark and I have had some pretty beautiful dinners. We’ve dined in the sky with a perfect view of the Eiffel Tower. We celebrated our second anniversary in Barcelona, with a gorgeous 360degree view of the beach. We’ve eaten LIFE CHANGING pasta made right in front of us on a tiny Italian island. We indulged at Oktoberfest. We appreciate great food and ambiance. Palo did not disappoint.

There are two adult restaurants on the ship; Palo (French) and Remy (Italian). These restaurants are an additional cost. Palo is modeled after the movie Ratatouille. We dressed in our best attire and enjoyed 2+ hours of bliss. I will leave it at that. Take my word for it, you deserve this.

7) DON’T BE AFRAID TO UTILIZE THE NURSERY.

If you’ve read my recent post on sending my oldest to preschool, then you know I’m a bit of a helicopter mom protective. I am particular when it comes to my kids. I was hesitant about where I would be dropping them off. To be honest, I imagined it would be crowded and a mess. This place was a DREAM COME TRUE.

You have to be at least 6 months old to sail, and the It’s A Small World Nursery was for ages 6 months to three. Raegan could have went to the age 3-10 kids club, but I wanted to see for myself if I thought she’d enjoy It’s A Small World. I preferred for both girls to be together, but I didn’t want her to be bored. I also didn’t want her to be overwhelmed by older kids being that she was a new 3-year-old. Its A Small World was a great fit.

We actually just happened to walk by on the first day, and figured we’d check it out before our scheduled drop-off the next night. Y’all, it was like walking into a nursery rhyme, complete with eight British nannies. Just kidding….kind of. They really were all British (My husband jokingly asked if that were a requirement, and it isn’t.) We were getting some serious modern Mary Poppins vibes, y’all!  The staff was highly trained, and many of them had previously worked as au pairs or nannies. They were completely disarming and kind. They happily answered all of my questions.

The play space was so. freaking. cute. There was a front area where most of the children were, and there was a back space full of cribs, and rocking chairs. I also believe this is where all the food was prepared. They only accepted a certain number of children at once. The check-in process was very thorough. Security was a big deal, which I loved. They made sure they knew exactly what our girls needed. Their items were all labeled, and they were clearly well versed in taking care of children with food allergies.

We used It’s A Small World twice. The longest block being 2 1/2 hours. Each stateroom comes with onboard cell phones. You can use them to communicate with other rooms, or with your spouse. The nursery could also text you if there was an issue with your child. I loved this. I got a message once that just let us know that Zarie was fussy, but that they were rocking her, and in the process of getting her some almond milk. She was fine.

They were supportive of nursing mamas. They let me into the back room to breastfeed Zarie in the rocking chairs. They put signage up so that I wouldn’t be disturbed. I swear it was the most peaceful nursing session. Raegan colored and painted us so many adorable projects! They made Disney princesses out their footprints. I was very happy with It’s A Small World. Raegan went into the older kids club once, and that was for story time with Princess Tiana. That spaced seemed LOUD but very cool!

8) GO SEE THE LIVE SHOWS!

I ALMOST DIED when I saw that one of the live shows was Beauty and The Beast! Y’all, that is my FAVORITE–I knew we couldn’t miss an opportunity to see it! I remember the live entertainment on our Celebrity Cruise was pretty good. Some better than others, but not bad. This was a totally different ballgame.

Beauty and the Beast was SPECTACULAR! I don’t mean that it was spectacular “for cruise entertainment” either. This show could have easily been performed at Disney World or in a major theater. They outdid themselves!

We weren’t sure how our girls would fare during the show. We go to the movie theater with them often, but weren’t sure what to expect during a live show. Raegan was completely enamored, and filled to the brim with popcorn. Zarie fell asleep for the last half, but seemed to love all of the music. She happily bounced along. My husband (who is more of a Lion King kinda guy) still talks about how great it was.

There was another live show that we didn’t make it to. There honestly are SO many things to do, that you sometimes have to weigh your options. I would say that if you don’t do anything else as a family, go see Beauty and the Beast. You will not be disappointed.

9) BE PREPARED TO EAT!

Cruises are notorious for offering guests plenty to eat! Disney is actually the only cruise line that offers rotational dining. What that means is that guests eat in three different restaurants for dinner. Your wait staff follows you to each restaurant. My FAVORITE was the Royal Palace! It was elegant and inspired by the major Disney princesses. 

The food was DELICIOUS! I think I had one mediocre salad during the entire trip. I like that there were so many options, and that there was a specific healthy option for the kids. Both girls devoured their meals. We never found ourselves without something we all liked. Our girls couldn’t have them, but they offer the children Mickey Mouse shaped ice creams for dessert.

There are buffets all over the place! We went to the breakfast buffet before heading on shore one morning. Raegan and Zarie loved the infamous Mickey Mouse waffles! There are walls of ice cream machines by the pool. I promise you that I had at least three of those cones every day. There are also drink machines, water, and hot coffee by the pools.

I love that it didn’t ever take much effort to find the coffee. They know what parents need. There was also a cafe available for espresso drinks. The cappuccinos were no more than three bucks extra, and fantastic. We were up early and asleep late. Mama needed some espresso. They also had a specialty sweet shop with beautiful desserts, and candies.

You’re going to eat very well on a Disney Cruise. While you’re on Castaway Cay they also provide a generous barbecue buffet lunch. One of my favorite meals of the trip. We ate so well. I miss the food, and not having to do any cleaning afterward!

10) DECIDE HOW YOU WANT TO SPEND YOUR TIME OFFSHORE. 

Apparently, almost half of the people who cruise with Disney don’t ever get off of the ship. Those cruisers are there to solely to enjoy the amenities of the ship. We wanted to do both. There was no shortage of things to do on Castaway Cay or on the Bahamian island of Nassau. There are tour boats and excursion offerings all over the place. When you get off the boat into Nassau, it’s not right onto the beach. It can be a confusing area. So, you’ll need to have an idea of where you’re wanting to end up. Or, if you planned excursions, you’ll want to figure out where your meeting point is.

We wanted to spend our time in The Bahamas relaxing with the kids at the beach. We set up shop on Junkanoo Beach, and soaked up the sun and sand there. The water there is like swimming in bathwater. I highly recommend grabbing (a few) coconut drinks. We wanted to eat some local grub, and ended up going with conch fritters! WOW. My mouth is watering as I write this. Those were delicious and so was the local beer. The locals are friendly and helpful. There is a large straw market in town, filled with everything you can imagine.

Castaway Cay reminded me of what it would be like if a beach and a resort had a baby. The seating was plentiful and the beach was immaculate. They had a huge water slide, and tube floats. They had gaming areas, and shopping. They had walls of ice cream, strollers to rent, and an optional early morning 5K race. They also offer childcare on Castaway Cay. So, if you’re wanted to do a water excursion, sans littles, that is an option!

ENJOY THE MAGICAL OCCASION!

Thank you for spending some of you day at Occasions by Shakira! I hope this is helpful for anyone considering taking their toddlers on a Disney Cruise. If you have any additional questions about planning, or our experience, please ask! I’d be happy to help as much as possible!

XOXO,
Shakira