18 things I wish I knew before my first Disney cruise
Thinking about a Disney Cruise? Here are 18 surprising tips, quirky facts, and little-known hacks I wish I knew before setting sail with Mickey and friends.
Disney Wonder atrium at Christmas time
1) How attached we would get to our servers - Your dining team stays with you throughout your cruise, getting to know your preferences. What blew us away was returning to the Wonder six months later—and being greeted by name.
2) The entertainment isn’t limited to the theatre - Sure, Disney’s Broadway-style shows are a highlight—but the real magic often happens outside the theatre. We once found ourselves cheering with a crowd of strangers as babies raced to their parents in a crawling contest. Only on Disney.
3) The smell of the hand soap is amazing - Disney fans will know what I mean when I say: the soap smells like magic. I may have taken a tiny bit home to keep the scent alive just a little longer.
4) The trivia is next level - Trivia is no joke on DCL cruises, you need to bring your ‘A’ game, but there are some strategies to get you there. Read our blog post about it.
5) Cabin door decorations - People put in a huge effort in personalising their cabin doors. Celebrating special times, their cruise history, and special connections with Disney. Bring magnets or decorations—it’s a fun way to celebrate special moments and makes it easier to find your door.
Looking down at Jack-Jack Diaper Dash in the Disney Wonder atrium
6) Drinks are portable - Late in one cruise, we figured out that the Cadillac Lounge had a happy hour just as our dinner service started. Cadillac Lounge cocktails can travel with you to dinner. Game changer.
7) You can apply discounts after you purchase - this one surprised us so much and saved us thousands. Read about our story here.
8) Adult only events do happen - From the trivia to the late night buffet in the pub; Palo dining, and game shows, Disney does does not leave the adults out of the magic.
9) Room service is included - This one is becoming more rare on cruises, and SO worth taking advantage of.
10) Soft serve + cookies = bliss - I can’t believe it took us so long to figure this hack out. Get cookies from Daisy’s Delites in a cup, then top with soft serve from Eye Scream. Instant dessert.
Tiana’s on the Disney Wonder
11) Pin trading happens on board so bring some to trade. If you don’t have any, Ebay is a good source.
12) So does queuing… a lot - Just like experiences at all Disney properties, there are many popular events like character meet and greets that everyone in the park, ship, etc, wants to take part in at the same time. So bring your patience, and prepare to queue. If there’s a character you must meet, line up early or keep an eye on the Navigator app for timing.
13) The deep knowledge of the cast - We’ve participated in “The Art of the Theme Show" ship tours a few times. The cast running the tours offer a behind-the-scenes look at the spaces onboard insider facts that you wont hear about anywhere else (you won’t look at the carpets the same way again). Look out for these tours on the Navigator app.
14) Pirate night surprises - Longer cruises include a Pirate Night complete with a show, special meals, and Mickey & Minnie all decked out. (no pun intended) But you will also get a complimentary pirate themed bandana in your room on the night to complete your pirate costume.
15) You don’t need to eat at the buffet, ever. - While Mickey waffles are great, the buffet can get chaotic at the best of times. We eventually learned that quieter breakfast options (with table service!) exist all around the ship.
Getting ready for the Pirate party
16) The cast will take photos of you with the characters - Yes, you can pay for the professional photos, but they don’t come cheap. If you hand the photographers your phone, they will take some nice photos of you and your party at the character meet and greets. Don’t be afraid to ask.
17) That horn is LOUD - I should have known this intellectually, right? It’s a horn. On a ship. That iconic "When You Wish Upon a Star" horn? It’s beautiful… and booming. They announce it beforehand, but the first time might still catch you off guard
18) Soft drinks on tap 24/7 - We drink quite a bit of sparkling water. Just outside of Cabana’s there is a soft drink station that is open 24/7. Many cruise lines charge for soft drink packages these days, so we really appreciate that we don’t need to think about how much staying hydrated is going to cost. Bring your own refillable cup or bottle — those tiny paper cups don’t cut it on a hot day.
Whether you're sailing with Disney for the first time or the fifth, there's always a little more magic to uncover—and a few quirks you only learn once you're onboard. Hopefully, these tips save you from some “I wish I’d known that!” moments and get even more fun out of your time at sea.
Find us at Instagram and Pinterest and leave comments of the things you wish you knew about Disney cruises.
