There’s nothing quite like stepping onto a Disney ship- that first whiff of ocean air, characters waving to you from the grand hall balconies, and your kids plotting how soon they can get up to the soft serve machine.
But to be honest, as magical as Disney cruises are, they’re also a big investment for families. And if you’re anything like me, you want the pixie dust without the “why did we spend that?” regret when you get home.
The good news is that with a little planning before you sail, and a few smart choices once you’re onboard, you can enjoy all the magic, memories, and Mickey bars your heart desires…while keeping your budget happily afloat.
There was once a time when a Disney Cruise vacation was completely out of reach for my family. We had two young kids, had just bought our first house, and were paying a lot of childcare tuition while trying to further our careers. But I made it a goal of mine to make this dream vacation come true.
Let me walk you through some of the tricks I used.
Start With Smart Planning
Planning early is hands-down the biggest money saver. Disney uses dynamic pricing which means fares rise as staterooms fill. Booking early locks in the lowest price and gives you the best selection of rooms.
What Time of Year You Sail Matters
Some weeks are simply cheaper than others. Can you guess which ones? Ding, ding, ding- you got it- the weeks where kids would typically be in school are cheaper! If your family has flexibility (homeschoolers and families with toddlers, I’m looking at you!), you can save hundreds, sometimes thousands, just by choosing one of these lower demand weeks.
The most budget-friendly times of year include: late January, early February, early May, and September.
On the contrary, avoid holidays, spring break, and mid-summer if you are trying to keep costs down. These are the most expensive times to sail.
My kids have a 4-day weekend every February around President’s Day. We have taken several cruises during this time as it gives us a break from the gloomy Midwest winter, allows them to not miss a full week of school, and is much more affordable than waiting for spring break.
Room Strategies
Disney Cruise Line offers four types of staterooms- Inside, Oceanview, Verandah, and Concierge. Let’s go ahead and take Concierge out of this discussion as this type of room is next level and likely not going to save you money.
As for the other three, you have to decide what is important to you in a stateroom before booking. Not planning on spending much time in your room other than to shower and sleep? Then an Inside Stateroom (some have magical, virtual portholes) might be best for you. These are the least expensive rooms.
Next up in cost are the Oceanview rooms. These have a porthole (sometimes 2!) so that you can view the ocean. This is what we book for our shorter cruises and my kids love climbing up into the porthole window!
Finally, the Verandah Staterooms offer a bit more square footage and of course more space on the balcony. This stateroom type is worth the extra cost if you have a longer itinerary, crave the instant breath of fresh air in the morning, or cannot miss the views (hello Alaska!).
The location of the stateroom on the ship also makes a difference. Forward and Aft rooms are less expensive than mid-ship. Some guests are willing to pay more to be centrally located or to potentially help with motion sickness. We have stayed in all three locations and have been perfectly happy each time.
Look For Disney Sales and Specials
It seems like DCL has been running more specials lately than they have in the past. I recently booked a cruise where each of my kids was 50% off. (50%+50%=100% which means one of my kids is sailing for free!)
Other great sales I have come across were saving up to 25% off voyage fare or saving $500 per guest (up to $1500)on select sailings.
Disney Cruise Line also offers military discounts, and discounts to those who are residents of Florida, Southern California, or Canada.
As departure dates get closer and there are still staterooms available, Disney will discount these specific room types, sometimes by quite a bit! This is called their “Guaranteed Rate”. The only catch is that DCL picks the stateroom for you, but it is guaranteed to be in the category of your choosing- Inside, Oceanview, or Verandah.
We happily let DCL pick our room recently on the Fantasy for a 5-night sailing, and we were completely satisfied.
The best way to find these special rates is to visit the DCL website often!
*Disclaimer- Please read the fine print on all DCL sales and specials, found on their website or with the help of a licensed travel agent.
The Magic of the Placeholder
On Disney Cruise Line, the Placeholder is basically a “future cruise deposit” you purchase while you’re onboard. It’s Disney’s way of saying “Hey, if you think you might sail with us again, lock in some perks now and decide the details later.” It’s one of the easiest ways to save money and it’s a no-brainer. Here’s why-
A Placeholder is a $250 deposit you buy while you’re on your current cruise. It doesn’t lock you into a date, ship, or itinerary. You just have to take a cruise in the next 24 months. If you choose not to, you get your money back. Yes, all $250 of it.
And if you do book another cruise (believe me you will want to), then you get 10% off your future cruise fare- and sometimes a reduced deposit!
For families who know they’ll cruise again, this is one of the most reliable ways to save real money.
Cut Costs During Online Check In
Online check-in is where Disney tempts you with add-ons. Some are great- but many aren’t necessary. You can skip these, save money, and still have a magical voyage:
- Wifi package- take this opportunity to have a digital detox! We try to stay as unplugged as possible on our cruises and it really is so freeing.
- Photo packages- you know you will be taking tons of photos with your own phone so this is an easy one to skip. If there are one or two shots that the DCL photographers take that you love, you can purchase those individually.
- Spa packages- these can be pretty pricey onboard. Consider getting a mani/pedi before your trip and your nails will be vacation ready!
- Adult only dining- while these restaurants are fabulous, they can add quite a bit to your onboard bill. If you are a foodie who wants a true culinary experience or a couple looking for a romantic date night, then this may be worth the cost. If not, I promise you will be well taken care of and won’t go hungry at the rotational dining restaurants.
- Excursions- we typically book one excursion during our itinerary. One. And that’s more than enough for our family. In our experience, Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay offer everything we need for a fun, relaxing beach day.
If you are looking for more adventure at some of the other ports, I would recommend booking through Disney. This is usually not the cheapest but is often the safest. The excursions are vetted through Disney and there are designated cast members onboard to help with any hiccups.
Other Onboard Savings
Once you are onboard, the magic is everywhere- and so are opportunities to overspend. I cannot overstate enough that there are so many things to experience that are already included in your cruise price, that you will not feel like you are missing out if you choose not to participate in the extras.
There have been cruises where we have spent about $200 onboard or close to $2000 onboard, and one was not any more fabulous or memorable than the other.
Some things to consider:
- Buy a Disney gift card to use at the onboard shops (they don’t accept cash anyway). That way the card is pre-filled with what you budgeted for and you (or your kids) can’t go over.
- Bring your own wine (up to two bottles) or beer onboard to help save on pricey cocktails.
- Take advantage of room service. Need a snack? Room service is available 24 hours a day and is already included.
- Bippiti Boppiti Boutique and Royal Tea: If your child is really into princesses then one of these will be a lot of fun! But no need to do both. A great alternative is to take part in the Royal Gathering where they can meet several princesses at one time- and it’s free!
- Reuse popcorn buckets and refills are only $1.50. We bought two popcorn buckets on our second cruise and have been bringing them back each time to get discounted refills! This is one of our favorite onboard snacks to take to the live shows or movies.
Check out 7 Things We Skip on Our Disney Cruise (And You Probably Could Too) for more ideas that could help you save money.
Final Thoughts
Saving money on a Disney Cruise isn’t about cutting corners- it’s about choosing what matters most for your family. With a little planning, you can enjoy all the magic without the financial stress. And honestly? That makes the memories even sweeter.
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