Disney Cruise Review & Tips

Looking for honest Disney Cruise Reviews and Tips? Start here with a complete Disney Cruise guide and real-life photos of everything from the ship to the food to the staterooms and more from our Disney vacation. Does a Disney Cruise live up to the hype? Find out here!

Are you planning a Disney Cruise? Check out my Disney Cruise Packing List, Top 20 Photos from my Disney Cruise Part 1 and Part 2, which includes all our family character meet and greets.

Disney Cruise Reviews and Tips

Here you'll find honest Disney Cruise reviews and tips for your next vacation!  Being a Disney fan, I've wanted to go on a Disney Cruise for as long as I can remember.  We finally booked it when my extended family including my Dad and Brother's family was looking for a memorable, super kid-friendly (between us we have four kids under 5) vacation we all could enjoy.  I had been on cruise ships but not in the past 15 years and not on Disney... so we all felt like cruise newbies—or first-time cruisers.

We sailed on the Disney Wish on a five-day itinerary that took us to Nassuas, Bahahams, and Disney's private island, Castaway Cay.  The Disney magic was everywhere on the ship.  From the gorgeous staterooms to the never-ending food to the characters (including Mickey,) we all had a vacation we will remember for a lifetime!   Of course with most travel though, I found some pros and cons that I thought I'd share here.  So you can use these Disney Cruise tips to help plan your trip if you decide to go too.

Overall Experience - Pros

Our honest Disney Cruise review is that we had a great time and our kids loved it.  From the moment you walk on the ship, they announce your family's name and give you "wish" wands, and you can feel the positive energy on the boat.  It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime, magical experience for us.  Disney Cruise Lines knows how to make things special.

The Disney Wish is only a few years old and it felt new, fresh, and so pretty.  The ship's activities were endless and we packed in as many as we could, but we still felt like there were many things we hadn't done.  The decor on the ship was spectacular and beautiful.  Disney does theming so well and the large and small details on the ship were so memorable.  If you are a Disney fan, that alone makes taking a Disney cruise worth it.

There was so much to do on the boat we didn't feel the need to get off the boat in Nassau or pay for extra port adventures.  Disney cruises do dock in all sorts of fun ports like Jamaica, Bahamas, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and even Europe.

If you are curious about what our trip looked like on more of a personal level, check out my Top 20 Photos from my Disney Cruise Part 1 and Part 2.

Also, check out my Disney Cruise Packing List before you go.

Our boarding process could not have gone smoother and we easily got on the ship even before our official port arrival time.

Our family was able to easily connect with our larger family and we all were able to enjoy dinners, activities, and shows together.  It was a great vacation where no one felt like they had to work, clean, or cook for everyone.  The scheduled cruise activities also meant that we could do things together without having to do a bunch of planning for our trip.  I feel like a cruise is a great way for extended family with different age groups to travel.

Highlights for our family were the amazing Broadway-style shows, character meets and greets, the super cool themed dining rooms, and the fun Disney-themed bars.  We also enjoyed the famous pirate night and fireworks.

So much of the cruise is geared to kids and our kids just loved it.  Also, nearly everyone had kids, so our lively boys never felt a bit too rowdy or out of place.

I had wanted to go on Disney Cruise for so long, and I'm so glad we finally booked it.  It was an amazing experience and the charming Disney details, spectacular shows, and themed dining made this trip worth it.  It was also a perfect way to connect with our larger family.

Overall Experience - Cons

If you are looking for honest Disney Cruise reviews, this is it because I'm sharing some cons with you too.   While we did have an amazing time and made so many magical memories, there are some things that we didn't love on the ship.

First is the lines and crowds.  Since it was a cruise, I was prepared for crowds, but it felt like a lot more than we anticipated. We thought that since it was a controlled cruise ship, perhaps there wouldn't be as many lines as at the Disney Parks, but we found ourselves waiting in line for everything and it got frustrating for our kids.  It honestly felt like there wasn't enough space on the boat for the amount of people on it. We even had to wait in the morning for a table at the breakfast buffet and then the room was still so crowded you could barely walk around.  I'm sensitive to crowds and almost constantly felt overwhelmed except when we were in our stateroom.  The other problem is that the quieter, calmer areas are reserved for adults-only guests, but we wanted to enjoy our vacation with our kids so we had trouble getting away from the crowds.

Second is how loud it was.  I know a cruise ship might not be the best place to find peace, but it was loud and overstimulating all day long.  If you are sensitive to that, you might have trouble.  There wasn't a good place to get away.

Third is the lack of shade and the pools.  We didn't love how there were very few places where you could sit outside but in the shade.  We went in July, so outside needed some shade.  The pools were also super small and filled so there were no good places to just sit and chill outside which is my favorite thing to do on vacation.  I was hoping my family could sit and enjoy each other's company on the pool deck, but there was no way to find that many chairs together.  We ended up spending time together indoors at some of the themed bars.

With all that being said, I'm still glad we went and checked a Disney Cruise off the bucket list.  We made so many wonderful memories that we'll have forever.  If you want to take this vacation, I think you still should, but I just want to be honest about how I felt about it.

Disney Cruise Reviews - Staterooms

I wanted to share more details in these Disney Cruise reviews, by sharing real photos of the staterooms and what we thought of them.  We had a Deluxe Family Stateroom with Verandah.  It was gorgeous and had a sleeping beauty theme.  Since the ship is newer, the rooms felt bright and fresh.

The room felt small, but in cruise ship standards I think it was very large.  There were lots of small cubbies, shelves, and drawers to stash things away.

There was a curtain to divide the room.  The couch pulled out to a bed and there was also a bunk bed that could get pulled out above, PLUS a Murphy bed that pulled out from the wall.  Since our boys were too little to sleep on a top bunk, our stateroom host pulled out the couch bed and Murphy bed each night.  They had no trouble sleeping.

An inside cabin is similar but without the outside space.

The verandah was amazing and gave us space to breathe a bit and get some fresh air without any crowds.  If you are traveling with a larger family, you can book your rooms together and the stateroom hosts can open the divers between the rooms and you can have a larger space to share with everyone.

The bathroom was small, but very nicely equipped and the toilet was actually in a split bathroom separate room from the sink and shower, which was nice.

I feel like we would have been crawling on top of each other on a several-week cruise, but we made this work without any issues on the five-night cruise.

Disney Cruise Reviews - Food

All cruise talk goes back to the food, right?  If you are looking for Disney Cruise reviews on the food, I have it here!

We enjoyed all of our meals on the ship.  Was it the best food we've ever had, nooooo, but it was all good and I didn't have a single bad meal on the ship.  We do find that vacations without all-inclusive food tend to be a bit better, but in terms of all-inclusive food, this is about as good as you will find.

There is a larger buffet on the ship (Marceline Market on the Disney Wish,) plus pool-side deck dining and the fancy evening dining rooms.

One unique part of Disney Cruise food is there are several main themed dining rooms on the ships and you rotate through them during your vacation.  You had set dining reservations each night that rotated, while you keep the same head server and assistant server.  It's called rotational dining. So in the case of the Disney Wish, we got to eat Arendelle (Frozen-themed,) Marvel, and 1923.  While the food was really tasty, the theming and EXPERIENCE of the meals was what made it even more memorable.

We're not huge buffet fans but were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food at the Marceline Market and loved how the wait staff served the food instead of everyone touching it.  It was a lot more than chicken tenders and fries. We loved the breakfast buffet and lunch, which included crab legs.  As a foodie, I can say it was all delicious.

Another fun cruise tip is room service is included.  Just check the Disney Cruise Navigator App for the menu and ordering directions.  There is not a menu in the room.

A few of our favorite things we ate during our Disney Cruise was the eggs benedict for breakfast.

We also really love the grilled tuns steak at the Marvel restaurant.

And this dish on pirate night.  The menu was extensive offering something for everyone every night including meat, steaks, chicken, fish, vegetarian, and vegan.  They even had a separate category at the bottom for healthy and more simply prepared food.

There was a separate kids' menu each night, including classic kids' foods, but kids could also order off the main menu.  The waitstaff was super helpful, charming, and accommodating for any requests.

They also have Sweet Minne's Ice Cream for most of the day, so you can't go wrong!

The food is about the best I've found in an all-inclusive situation, and you will most likely enjoy it.

Disney Cruise Reviews - Top Experiences on the Ship

Character Meet & Greets

One of the reasons for this positive Disney Cruise review are the character meet and greets.  During most of the day and evening, Disney rotated different characters that were available to meet and take photos with.  This is such a unique and special Disney experience and it was an easy and fun thing to do on the ship.  It felt a bit more personal than briefly meeting the characters at the park and I felt like they all took some quality time with the kids in line.

The schedule for meeting the characters isn't released until you get on the ship, but once you board you can plan out which ones to see.  It's on the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App My biggest Disney Cruise tip is to get in line early for these because the lines fill up and they cut them off at a certain point.  Send an adult early to wait and have the kids join you when you are close to the front.  If meeting characters is something your family wants to do at all, I'd make it a priority to do this on the ship, because it is a special experience exclusive to the Disney cruise.

We got to meet Mickey Mouse, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, and others!

 

Broadway Shows

Another reason for this positive Disney Cruise review is the shows and entertainment.  The show was in a class of their own and simply spectacular.  I'm a huge Broadway fan, and I felt like they were just as good as anything I've seen there.

The shows are in The Walt Disney Theater.  The first is Disney Seas the Adventure which is a fun show to celebrate the first night on the ship.  The other two are Disney's The Little Mermaid and Disney's Aladdin- A Musical Spectacular.

The best part about the shows is they are abridged, cutting them to just about an hour, which is perfect for small kids.  My boys sat MESMERIZED by them every night.  The shows are definitely a reason to book a Disney Cruise. My biggest Disney Cruise tip for the shows is to once again send an adult early to wait in line to get seats.  You aren't supposed to save them, but you can have your party show up right when the doors open.

Another unique Disney entertainment option on the ships is they have a theater offering first-run Disney Movies.  They also had wonderful live music at man of the bars.

 

Frozen Themed Dinner

The themed dinners were another simply magical part of our Disney Cruise.  Our party included my boys, who happen to like Frozen, and their niece who adores Frozen.

The restaurant is named Arrdendelle and has gorgeous theming down to the menu that matches the movie.

During dinner, they had a live show with all their favorite characters, who also walked around the room to wave at the kids.

My best Disney Cruise tip here is to splurge on the kid's frozen drink.  It has Olaf on it!  And to request a table closer to the stage.  My only complaint is we didn't have the best table and the show at times was hard to see because of a wall.

 

Worlds of Marvel

Add the Worlds of Marvel to these positive Disney Cruise reviews!  My kids haven't gotten into superheroes yet, so I wasn't sure if they would like the World of Marvel restaurant, but they did!  The dinner has another fun show as a part of it that is interactive and fun.  There are also large screens for them to watch the show, plus some live-action components including meeting Spider-Man mid-dinner.

The food was great here and we all had such a fun dinner because of how fun it was for the kids.  Superhero fan or not, you will love this night of your cruise.  Disney really knows how to take a regular cruise dinner and make it something special.

 

Hyperspace Lounge - Star Wars Bar

The Hyperspace Lounge is another truly unique Disney Cruise experience.  This themed bar takes you to the lands of Star Wars with interactive theming, music, and decor.  It is such a cool space and something you have to see during your Disney Cruise.  It was one of our favorite parts of the experience.

They have this super cool drink with a giant bubble!  Kids are welcome to visit during the day and the waiters even made extra bubbles for our kids to pop, which was so fun for them.

They even have a drink with an ice cube shaped like Dark Vader.

You have to add this fun space on the Disney Wish to these Disney Cruise reviews.

 

The Rose Bar

Another top experience on the Disney Wish and addition to this Disney Cruise review, is The Rose Bar.  It's on the upper levels of the ship, with amazing views and this incredible Beauty and Beast theming.

The drinks all had a Beuty and the Beast twist, including those that were mad with tea, in honor of Mrs. Potts.

Remy and Palo are the other adults-only restaurants that we didn't try but got great reviews offering dinner and brunch.

 

Kids Club - Oceaneer Club

The Kids Club is another reason for this positive Disney Cruise review.  The kids get to the kids' club via a fun slide!

I'm not a huge fan of leaving my kids in situations like this, but it was nice to have this on the ship.  The kids were in a secured area and had to have a wristband and code word to get checked in and out.  They have fun activities all day for the kids including meeting characters, crafts, and even an entire treasure hunt on pirate night.  The treasure hunt with Captain Hook was my boy's favorite part.

I've seen reviews with people saying their kids loved it so much that they begged to go.  That was not the case with ours, but they did enjoy it enough to go for about an hour a day, which gave us enough time to check out some of the adult-only areas on the ship.  We made sure to time their visit with a fun activity in the club.

My Brother also used the Small World Nursery for kids under 3 and had a great experience.

Teens also have a special space called The Vibe.

 

Pirate Night

Pirate Night has to be another reason for this great Disney Cruise review.  We were all so excited to get dressed up and enjoy the pirate night's fun.

My Disney Cruise tip for Pirate Night is to buy your outfits and costumes ahead of time and bring them.  I got these on Amazon, and it was so fun for the kids to dress up.  They had a few things on the ship, but it's worth it to plan ahead and bring your own.

I'd also recommend planning your evening around the Captin Hook and Mr. Smee character meet and greet, so you can get this photo.  They asked the boys to join their ship!

I'd also recommend getting a good spot for the pirate show on deck.  It's full of fun dancing and singing for the kids.  They all had a blast!

Fireworks

Pirate night is also when the fireworks happen and another one of our favorite Disney Cruise experiences was these fireworks!  Did you know Disney is the only cruise ship that is allowed to shoot off fireworks?  This is the face of pure joy from Jackson during the show.

They were SUPER late for kids though, and mine were completely exhausted by the time it rolled around.  The upper deck to watch them gets crazy packed too, so I'd plan on that for them.

 

Mickey Coffee

Another small touch that elevated this Disney Cruise was the sweet theming details like the Mickey's in the coffee.  These were extra from the coffee shop, but worth getting once for the adorable foam on top.

Disney really knows how to make small things feel special.

 

Aqua Mouse

Looking for honest Disney Cruise reviews?  Well... the Aqua Mouse was SO fun!  It's part rollercoaster, part waterslide, and all fun.  The entire family loved it!

The line was LONG for it though, so plan time for that.

 

 

Toy Story Play Area & Slinky Dog Slide

Another top Disney Cruise experience was this really fun Toy Store Splash area.  It's only for the little kids and is so much for them.  It's also in the shade, which is hard to come by on the deck.  The pools themselves honestly were not that fun, so I was happy we had this.

We also all loved the smaller slinky dog slide, which was fun for the kids and adults.

 

Castaway Cay

Looking for honest Disney Cruise reviews on Castway Cay?  Here it is!

First, it was stunning! The white sand and blue waters were gorgeous.  It is a tropical paradise in the Bahamas!

Second, it has a fun waterslide in the ocean and a fun snorkel trail that is interesting for everyone.

The kids all had a really fun day playing on the beach!

A few things we didn't love is it was once again pretty crowded, with rows of beach chairs.  The time we were there people were getting stung by bugs IN the water.  We discovered it was sea lice that lived in the grassy areas of the water, so I would avoid that if I went again.

We also didn't love the food on the island, but it was available and you didn't have to get back on the ship to eat.

My biggest Disney Cruise tip for Cast Away Cay is to get off the boat as soon as it docks to get a good seat and avoid the grassy areas of the water.   Also, bring loads of sunscreen and hats because there isn't a lot of shade.

 

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

My final favorite Disney Cruise experience is the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.  My niece got to experience this magic, that Disney does with such a class!  They give the kids a princess makeover complete with hair, nails, and a dress.

A fun tip is they do offer them to boys too including pirate night makeovers, prince makeovers, and Captin Mickey makeovers.  We didn't do it, but it's fun to know it's an option.

My Disney Cruise tip for this is to book it as soon as you can when your booking window opens at online check-in.  This is one of the more coveted things to do on the Disney Cruise, and books fast.  Book any slot you can get and then try to move it around once your cruise date gets closer.  You can also visit the boutique when you are on the ship and see if they can get you a better one.

It was pure Disney magic!

 

Disney Cruise Tips

That wraps up my Disney Cruise review with honest pros and cons, but I wanted to offer some further Disney Cruise Tips if you are planning on going.

• Fly in the Day Before - If your flight is delayed the morning of your sailing, the boat will not wait on you!  I almost missed a cruise over this and will never fly on the same day again.
• Stay at Cape Canaveral or Orlando - Spend the night before or two nights and enjoy Cape Canaveral including the Kennedy Space Center.  You can also stay at Walt Disney World beforehand and they will give you transportation to the cruise dock.
• Door Decorations - We did matching door decorations for our crew and it was super fun.  The door is magnetic, so it will stick with magnets.
• Bring Extras for Storage - I brought extra magnetic clips and an over-the-door shoe organizer to help with some of the stuff in the room.  Both of them worked great!  We used the magnets to hang the shoe organizer and also to hang some of the bags and purses, instead of it all collecting on the floor.
• Bring Motion Sickness Medicine -I was so worried about my kids getting motion sickness on the boat and brought all sorts of natural medicines for them and kids Benedryl.  They ended up being fine, but I started feeling sick and off-centered as soon as we got on the boat.  I luckily had gotten some prescription motion patches from my doctor -just in case - and they ended up saving me from feeling pretty sick the entire time.  Our cruise was very calm, but I still felt it.  Make sure to bring medicines onboard if you ever have motion sickness at all, because it could hit anyone.  My kids were fine!
• Buy the Drink of the Day: There is a drink of the day, which is a fraction of the price of other drinks on the menu. You can ask for it at any bar.
• Bring Drinks: You can also consider bringing your own drinks. They let you bring two bottles of wine or a six-pack of beer per person.
• Prioritize: There is no way to do all of the activities and see everything on the ship.  Before you get on the boat, decide what kind of activity is most important to your family, and that will help you plan your days and time when you get on.  It can be a bit overwhelming when you see all of the options.  We decided to prioritize distinctly Disney experiences like the character meetings, themed bars, and shows.  Plus, beach time at Castaway Cay.
• Check my Disney Cruise Packing List. Are you curious about what else to pack for your cruise? Check out my Disney Cruise packing list to take will take all the guesswork out of packing.
• Buy the Photo Package & Wait in the Lines for the Photos - I'm so glad I splurged for the photo package.  You can buy a photo package ahead of time.  There are professional photographers all around the cruise ship including fun photo stations and the character meet and greets.  We didn't even try that hard and got nearly 100 photos at the end of the cruise to enjoy.  If you love photos at all, I'd get the package and spend the time waiting in some of the lines for the photos.  It is worth it!  Look at this GEM of a family photo we got.  Send an adult about 15 minutes early and have the rest of the family and kids show up right before the photo station opens.

 

Disney Cruise Reviews - Mostly Magic!

To wrap it all up with honest Disney Cruise reviews, our trip was mostly magical.  It was a great way for our family to enjoy time together, especially with our kids being so small.  The kids made so many wonderful memories and they adored it.  Whether you are going on the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, or Disney Wish like we did, I"'m sure you will have fun.  It's an amazing fleet of boats and Disney makes it special with great service and crew members too.

If you are sensitive to crowds and such, I'd consider maybe a smaller boat, but even with the small complaints, it was still worth taking this magical bucket list trip!

More Disney Cruise Tips:

• Top 20 Photos from my Disney Cruise Part 1
• Top 20 Disney Cruise Memories Part 2
• Disney Cruise Packing List 

 

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