Is Disney Cruise Line Worth the Hype (and the price tag)?

When it comes to cruising, Disney has considered details
that you never knew you needed out of your vacation at sea.

Disney Cruise Line sailed onto the scene in 1998 with the launch of the Disney Magic. Outfitted in classic style emulating grand ocean liners of the Gilded Age, the Magic set the standard for future members of the fleet.

Fast forward 25 years, and Disney Cruise Line is celebrating its silver anniversary across five ships, with a sixth on the way in 2024.

As anticipated, Disney’s ships and itineraries cater to families and guests with young children. Characters and magical touches are infused into the décor, dining, activities and various public spaces. They’re known for family-friendly entertainment, top tier childcare and the award-winning private island, Castaway Cay.

For those who’ve sailed other lines, or who haven’t sailed at all, one of the most common questions becomes… is a Disney cruise worth the price point?

Let’s break it down.

“We love Disney Cruise Line because as a mom of four, from preschool to middle school, they have the best offerings for children,” says MVT Agent Heather O.

Most, if not all cruise lines offer some sort of entertainment or club access for younger guests, but Disney Cruise Line takes it several steps further. Their elaborate designs are specifically geared toward the age groups they’re meant to serve. Imagine bright colors and shapes for toddlers, to interactive labs and creative stations for young children, to cool tones and sleek lines for the teens in your life.

Activities are always available – from coloring and dance parties to karaoke and team challenges – but these clubs are also a great place for kids to do their own thing in a safe environment.

The It’s a Small World onboard nurseries accept babies from six months to three years old. Nurseries feature brightly colored décor and toys, as well as a separate naptime space with cribs and soft lighting so your little one can recharge properly.

There’s even an app to download so caregivers can communicate with you as needed.

Nurseries are staffed by Castmembers with childcare experience, as well as first aid training. This is the only childcare that comes with a fee, but snacks are provided and child-to-caregiver ratios ensure that your baby is given all the attention they deserve.

Once your child is at least three years old and is potty trained, they graduate to the Oceaneer’s Clubs, which are safe spaces for young children to play and explore through both free time and organized activities.

Counselors staff these areas, and are able to help and play with your child as needed.

Tweens and teens aged 11 to 14 are welcome to hang out at the Edge club, with lounge space, video games, karaoke and other activities that offer your child independence while still in the care of onboard counselors.

Finally, Vibe clubs across the fleet cater to Guests aged 14 to 17. They’re given their own key card to access parent-free lounges where they can feel comfortable to socialize with others their own age.

“By far my favorite thing about cruising Disney is the kids clubs,” said Heather. “The kids club workers would come in the dining room during dinner to pick them up and take them back to play, while parents finished their meals. The club was split up into different ages, and my children would beg to go back to play.”

Onboard youth clubs are just a branch of the activities available to kids and families, but the consideration put into each space far surpasses most we’ve seen on other ships and cruise lines.

One of our favorite features of these clubs? Security. Depending on your child’s age, you get to decide who is allowed to pick them up from the counselor’s care and when. After aging out of the nursery, they’ll either be issued a wristband or key card to get in and out of the clubs, so you and the staff can be sure that the only kids and adults in these clubs are the ones who are supposed to be there.

“Something that sets Disney apart from other cruise lines is the safety aspect,” said Heather. “I felt safe in every area of the ship with my children.”

Rotational Dining lets you and your family experience multiple dining options throughout the course of your trip. Your server also follows the rotation and learns your preferences along the way!

A unique feature of Disney Cruise Line is how they approach dining.

Of course, you’ll always have the open buffets, poolside eats and unlimited ice cream… but their rotational dinner experience stands out among the rest.

Throughout your vacation, you rotate between dining rooms on the ship as a way to be sure you’re experiencing all of the onboard options.

“This really helps with food variety,” said Heather. “Your server stays with you at each restaurant you go to, so they remember your family from night to night.”

And in true Disney fashion, the dining experiences are getting even more immersive, as we’ve seen firsthand on the newest ship, the Disney Wish. Shine up your shoes for a celebratory engagement dinner for Anna and Kristoff in the Kingdom of Arendelle, where Oaken has prepared for you a traditional Norwegian dinner and performances by Elsa and Olaf are always on the menu. The next night, channel your inner superhero as you help Ant Man and the Wasp using the Quantum Core right at your table. Finish up with classic west coast flavors at 1923, where decor and atmosphere honors the year Walt Disney Studios was founded.

Dining varies from ship to ship, but we’re even more excited for what’s to come in future.

Whether you’re traveling with a family, friends or significant other, Disney Cruise Line has put the extra thought into your staterooms.

Not only have many agents and travelers hailed the rooms as larger overall, but the layout takes into consideration how multiple people interact in one space.

Split bathrooms mean someone can be taking a shower or getting ready at the mirror, while another uses the restroom. Plus, the addition of a tub is a luxury not often found for cruisers with young children.

Elevated beds let you store your luggage out of sight without taking up valuable extra space, and a strategically-placed curtain lets you “divide” your room between the seating and sleeping areas for more privacy.

“I had to book two connecting rooms on a competitor line next summer to have comparable accommodations to the one Disney room,” said MVT Agent Nicole. She and her husband travel with young boys and use the extra space and curtain to be sure they can all stay in one room without being on top of one another.

Disney’s private island deserves a spotlight for itself – and will be explored deeper in a future post – but for good reason.

The Bahamian Island serves as far more than just another beach excursion, and it starts the moment you step off the boat. For one, you’re not ushered through lines, trying to reach a tender to bring you to shore. Simply stroll off the ramp and onto the island, where you’ll be able to walk or take a tram to the main welcome area.

There, you’ll find a laundry list of daily activities and areas for you to set up camp.

Some of our favorite stand-outs include the Pelican Plunge floating platform, with splash zones and two popular waterslides, and the (free) Castaway Cay 5K around the island that will end with an exclusive free medal to take home.

Need some kid-free space? Serenity Bay is reserved for Guests 18 and older who want to soak in the white sand beach with sun loungers, oceanside massages and adult beverages.

We’ve only just scratched the surface of Disney Cruise Line, and are still learning about more details and offerings that make this experience stand out among the rest.

Stay tuned for a deeper look into the ships, activities and ports that keep guests coming back year after year!