Disney Cruise first-timers often don’t know where to start- and that’s completely normal. If you’ve never cruised before, the idea of planning one can feel overwhelming. With this Disney Cruise Line Planning Guide for First-Timers you are in the right place!
The learning curve to plan our first cruise was steep and it took a lot of research! I am here to guide you through the process, step by step, so that you don’t have to stress and can start looking forward to the fun!
Where Do I Begin?
So, you’ve decided to go on a Disney Cruise! Let me start by saying – great choice! And if you need a little more convincing or reassurance, please visit my post Why Choose Disney Cruise Line.
Going on a Disney Cruise was a dream vacation for my family. Before our first cruise was even over, I knew we would go on more. And we have! In doing so I realized that I enjoy the planning and anticipation, like, A LOT. Some people like to scroll through social media, I love exploring Disney Cruise itineraries… All of that research is about to help you too!
When you are going on any vacation you ask yourself these questions-
Where do we want to go?
When do we want to go?
How long do we want to stay?
What is our budget? (Boo- the “B” word!)
These will apply to a Disney Cruise as well and only you can decide how they rank in importance.
Two other things to take into consideration for a Disney Cruise are which ship you would like to go on and what port you will sail out of.
What ranked high on the priority list for us, was when and budget. We prefer to take a Caribbean cruise in February or March in order to escape the harsh Midwest winters. We don’t want our kids to miss too much school so we have picked cruises that sail over a long holiday weekend on several occasions.
I am going to cover all of these areas as they apply to a Disney Cruise to help you make a confident decision for your family’s next vacation.
1. Choose the right time of year
Disney cruises sail year-round so if there is an ideal time for you to get away, rest assured you will have choices. But the experience changes depending on when you go.
Winter-Spring (Jan.-May)
mild weather
lower crowds after holidays
great pricing outside of spring break
Summer (June-Aug.)
peak family travel season
warmest weather
higher prices
Fall (Sept.-Oct.)
lower crowds
hurricane season (don’t worry – Disney handles changes smoothly)
Halloween on the High Seas sailings
Holiday Season (Nov.-Dec.)
Very Merrytime cruises
gorgeous decorations
higher demand
If you are flexible, aim for late January, early February, or early May. You will experience beautiful weather and friendlier pricing.
2. Choose the right ship
Disney currently has 8 ships in its fleet with the 9th (Believe) getting ready to set sail in Fall 2027. Each ship has its own personality and picking the right one helps shape the vibe of your vacation. Here is a quick overview:
Wish, Treasure, and Destiny – These are Disney’s newest and largest ships and have a modern design, immersive theming, and upgraded staterooms. Perfect for the biggest fans of everything Disney!
Dream and Fantasy – These sister ships showcase classic Disney elegance, family-friendly layout, and beloved staples like the Aquaduck.
Magic and Wonder – Smaller, more intimate ships with cozy charm and unique itineraries (Pacific, Alaska, Europe)
Adventure – this is the latest addition to the fleet and is based solely out of Singapore.
If it is your first cruise, choosing a ship is the detail I would worry about the least, and here’s why. No matter which ship you choose, you will experience the Disney magic that is truly what makes these trips unforgettable.
(While I have not been on every ship – yet, the Fantasy would be my pick for a family’s first cruise. My “don’t miss” ship would be the Treasure – it’s exquisite.)
3. Pick the best itinerary
Sailing on a cruise ship is a unique way to see different parts of the world. And luckily, Disney visits many of them.
You may want to pick your itinerary based on what port you are closest to. If you live in the Midwest or East Coast part of the U.S. you may want to sail out of Port Canaveral or Fort Lauderdale, FL or New York City. If you are on the West Coast then San Diego would be closest to you. Some other common ports are Galveston, TX, Vancouver, and various ports in Europe.
Or you may want to choose your location solely based on where the ship will make its stops (also known as Ports of Call). Once you have decided on what part of the world you hope to explore you can then pick the length of your cruise. Disney offers anywhere from 3 night to 14 night cruises!
If you are completely new to cruising, I would suggest a 3 or 4 night cruise for your first time. This will give you a chance to see if you and members of your family can tolerate this type of travel.
A Bahamas or Caribbean cruise would be the easiest and most magical starting point.
4. Set your budget early
Disney cruises aren’t cheap, but they’re packed with value. Setting your budget early helps you plan confidently!
Let’s start with what is included in your cruise price:
rotational dining
Broadway-style shows
kids clubs
room service
pools & entertainment
character meets
soft drinks
What’s not included:
port adventures
alcohol
specialty dining
spa treatments
tips
internet packages
travel to the port
There are many great ways to save on a Disney Cruise, as discussed in more detail here. But in general you can take these into consideration for early planning purposes:
sail off-peak (that means skip summer and holidays for now)
choose an inside or oceanview stateroom
book early
skip specialty dining or pricey port excursions if you are watching costs
5. Pick your stateroom
Your stateroom is your home base on the cruise ship, and Disney’s rooms are famously spacious and family-friendly. The staterooms can sometimes vary widely by price so this will certainly factor into your budget.
Inside staterooms are the most affordable. They are also cozy and dark which makes them great for sleeping. If you know you will not be spending a lot of time in your room or if you have a little one who needs to nap during the day, this might be the right choice for you. Some of the newer ships have a magical “porthole” screen in their inside staterooms so you will still get that cruise ship feel.
Oceanview staterooms have a real porthole window, are bright and airy, and are a great middle ground option. Personally, my kids loved the porthole window when we have stayed in these rooms. They often took turns climbing up to sit in it and enjoy the ocean views. For a 3 or 4 night cruise we felt like this was a perfect accommodation.
Verandah staterooms include a private balcony and are best for morning coffee, quiet moments, and sea views. They also offer a bit more space as an extension to your stateroom and are perfect for when you need a breath of fresh air. The verandah staterooms are a must for my family when we have longer itineraries.
Concierge staterooms are the largest and most expensive rooms and also offer a plethora of amenities. If you are able to swing one of these on your first cruise, congratulations – you are in for a real treat!
When deciding on the location of your room on the ship there are some general tips to keep in mind. But don’t spend too much time stressing about this. I promise you will be thrilled by so many other things that the ships have to offer.
Midship = less motion
Forward = quieter
Aft = close to dining
Final Thoughts
After taking all of these factors into consideration you can play around on the Disney Cruise Line website, using the filters to find the exact cruise that meets all of your needs. You can officially book your cruise on the DCL website or you can work with a travel agent who specializes in Disney Cruises.
Leave a Reply