So you’re going on your first Disney Cruise! I am so excited for you, it was the best family trip we have ever had and we hope to do more in the future.
In fact, my husband Guy brings it up almost weekly (when he loses himself gazing at his Mickey Medal he won for 'The Cars' Themed Quiz night).
If you're planning to set sail, here's five things I learned that will help you have the most magical time possible:
Download the app! It's one of the easiest apps to use and the best way to figure out your day to day. Guy and I would have breakfast and pour over the day's schedule, highlighting things we wanted to do and which characters we wanted photos with. You can also communicate with other people in your crew with it and see where you want to eat and what’s open.
If there is a character you or your child really wants to meet and get a photo with, go 30 minutes early! Guy and I would divide and conquer here, while one of us was getting lunch with our 3-year-old Daisy - or at a dance party with her - the other would be in the line. Take your kindle or phone and if you might even find yourself fighting over who gets the 30 minute break to themselves. Then let the other person know when you are near the front, so you don’t have a toddler waiting in a long line (disaster).
Try all the restaurants at least once if you can - Daisy was in a real 'Princess and The Frog' phase at the time of our trip, so Tiana’s place went down a treat. But every restaurant has its own special meal and theme. The service is the fastest you will ever experience (just you wait, they are a well-oiled machine) so book a spot and enjoy the show.
Remember that the currency on board is American dollars! It pays to know the exchange rate at the time so you don’t get a surprise bill at the end of your trip. Your food is free, but the gift shops are amazing for clothes, toys and gifts. I got all of my Christmas gifts on board because they were different from what you can get Disney-wise in NZ stores.
If you can, take advantage of the kids clubs available on board. There are different clubs for different ages with full-time staff to look after them. It’s free and if your child is comfortable with being looked after by someone else then it gives you and your partner some time to check out places like Palo (the adults-only fine dining restaurant, which does cost extra), the adults-only pool area, or to get a massage at the spa. The kids are given a special watch that connects to your Disney Cruise app, allowing them to send you an alert if they want to come get picked up.
This article was written alongside Disney Cruise Lines.
