Planning a vacation can be tough. Especially when you have no idea where to go or what to do. There is so much to research, so much to budget for. What hotel am I going to stay at? Where are we going to eat? Do I need a rental car? The list goes on.
Going on a cruise is why this is the perfect solution. But now we have to worry about which cruise line to choose from. There are so many, and so many are fantastic options. However, there is always one specific cruise line that families (& even adults) keep coming back to year after year, over and over again.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line officially started sailing in July of 2008 when the Disney Magic had her first voyage. And ever since that inaugural sailing out of Port Canaveral, FL, Disney Cruise Line has been breaking barriers and creating tons of memories for families with magic at sea.
Why should you choose Disney Cruise Line?
ALL INCLUSIVE FEELING– Unlike other cruise lines, Disney Cruises truly feel like an all-inclusive vacation. Everything is including from broadway shows, to gourmet cuisine by 2 award winning chefs, to the standard beverages like sodas, juices, and water. There is no need to add on a drink package, everything is included. Even when you pre-pay your gratuity.
CASTAWAY CAY- Disney’s private island is nothing short of amazing. The beaches are beautiful. The water is as clear as glass and so calm. There are fun snorkeling experiences with magical Disney touches and the kids have access to water slides and fun activities too. There is also an adult’s only beach called Serenity Bay. Not to mention that the food on the island is just as amazing as the food on the ship!
THE FOOD- Okay I may have already brought up the food in the other two haha but it’s true. The food on the Disney cruises is better than any other cruise I have experienced. I love that the menus change with the theming of the restaurant. Especially on pirate night. There are so many options. You have not experienced heaven on a plate until you have experienced a churro Mickey waffle. Just sayin’!
KIDS CLUBS– There is nothing like the Kids Clubs on a Disney Cruise Line ship. The clubs are broken up into 3 different categories and have age appropriate activities at each.
- Oceaneer Club/Lab: (ages 3-12) with magical themed rooms like Andy’s Room, the Millennium Falcon, Pixie Hollow, and a Disney Infinity Game Room just to name a few.
- Club Edge: (ages 11-14) gives these tweens their own special hangout where they can connect with other tweens from around the world. The club is full of high-tech entertainment including flat-screen TVs, computers and video games and featuring daily guided activities.
- Club Vibe: (ages 14-17) was designed with their interests in mind, each lounge is laden with amenities and activities that will keep your teens engaged and entertained while encouraging them to mingle. Just like Edge, there is so much to do and that includes high-tech entertainment too.
But what also makes the Kids Clubs so amazing is the Club Counselors. Truly and whole-heartedly those counselors are why the kids will want to keep going back. The counselors become like family by the end of the cruise and it is hard to say goodbye.
THE CHARACTERS- You get to see Mickey on a cruise ship. Enough said. End of story. Not really, you guys should know me better than that but Mickey does pretty much seal the deal. But truly, you will get to have the most amazing character interactions on the cruise ship. Disney princesses, the Fab 5, and some specialty characters even appear if you do a Pixar Day At Sea or Marvel Day at Sea. If you have been envisioning your child meeting a Disney Princess- the Atrium on a Disney ship is a magical way to do it.
ONBOARD EXPERIENCES- Bingo anyone? Maybe wine tasting or a culinary class? How about a animal towel folding class or an adult only acapella show? I get asked alot if guests will get bored on their cruise and the answer is no! Disney cruises have tons of activities throughout the day for guests aboard young and old-er. There are alcohol tastings, Disney trivias, bingo, culinary classes, interactive game shows, baby crawling races (it’s the best and hilarious) character meet n greets, there’s a movie theatre on board, award winning broadway shows, food tastings, the list goes on and on. Trust me you will not get bored.
YOUR STATEROOM HOST- Listen, you will see them multiple times a day because they really go above and beyond giving you the Disney experience. They treat you like the Queen Elsa that you are. I cannot say enough good things about your stateroom host. It is so nice to get to know them, where they are from and learn about their stories. And they will remember you when you cruise again.
YOUR ROTATIONAL DINING SERVERS- Same as above! They’re with you throughout your cruise & they get to know your likes and dislikes. By day 2 our server knew exactly what we wanted to drink. Every night he would have a coke waiting for my husband, a sprite waiting for me, and 2 kids lemonades for the boys. I did not have to say a word. They are fun to get to know as well. They play games with the kids at the tables, leaving us with fun riddles to solve before our food got to our table. Just an amazing and fun experience getting to know them. Not to mention the BARTENDERS! AYYYYYY! Put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up… Okay you won’t get whole coconut but man do you get amazing service and drinks. Again, another group of cast members that just go above and beyond to make sure your cup is full and you are having an amazing time.
BROADWAY SHOWS- I know I mentioned this in Onboard Activities but seriously this deserves its own spotlight. The broadway shows on Disney cruises are OUT OF THIS WORLD AMAZING. I cannot believe you do not have to pay separately for them. They are full on productions that, well lets just say I cry everytime. It is included in your cruise and it is something you definitely do not want to miss.
EXCURSION OPTIONS– Disney partners with some awesome companies to provide fantastic excursions ashore at your ports of call. These companies have Disney’s stamp of approval and go the extra mile for guests. My absolute favorite excursion group is in Tortola, British Virgin Islands and it is the snorkel at Norman Island. Seriously the best crew around. My husband made quite a few friends on that trip and they were so good with the kids that were nervous. We snorkeled through amazing locations, we even went into a cave!
GUESTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS- This is an obvious reason for me. Being a special needs mom myself, I feel like Disney Cruise Line has great accommodations for guests with special needs. Special needs requests and accommodations can be discussed before you even book because they have a great accessibility team just for Disney Cruise Line. I personally loved how the camp counselors interacted with our autistic son. They were amazing with him and went out of their way to ask how they could better help my son if he felt overstimulated. The crew on board knew we were traveling with a guest with special needs and they took all of that into account when we booked our room, when they saw him in the kids club, even down to our seating arrangement in the dining rooms. Truly an unforgettable experience with the special needs team.
THE DISNEY DIFFERENCE- This goes with wrapping all of those wonderful reasons into one. All of those people I mentioned is the Disney difference. The customer service you will encounter on a Disney Cruise is unlike anything you have experienced because they do not treat you like a customer, they treat you like family. I cannot say this enough, (as I am getting teary eyed writing this) the cast members you come in contact with, your family will establish a relationship with them and it will be hard to say goodbye at the end of it all. (now teary eyed writing this- we especially love Jerome & Vikram on the Disney Dream, & David & Princess on the Disney Magic) It truly makes a huge difference on your experience when you are surrounded by people who make the magic happen.
Best option
For me and my family personally, Disney Cruise Line is where it’s at. We have everything we could possibly need and want on a Disney Cruise. The Disney difference and amenities is what keeps me and my family & thousands of other families, going back to Disney Cruise Line over and over again.
Ready to plan
If you are interested in what a Disney Cruise could look like for you and your family, I would be so honored to help. With my cruising experience and my special needs resources, I know that I can make magic accessible for all families. Click the link below if you would like a complimentary Disney cruise quote.
