We took our first family Disney Cruise when our two kids were just 3 and 4 years old, and we fell in love with the experience. Since that first vacation, we've become annual Disney cruisers and recently returned from our fourth one. Of course, all those days onboard translate into lots of tips and tricks. Here's what you need to know before you set sail.
Before You Board
Sign up for on-board activities. Many of the activities, including princess meet and greets, fill up quickly, especially those that take place during "at-sea" days.
Download the free Disney Cruise app. Use it to access everything you need to know during the cruise, including activities, hours for restaurants and pools, a map of the ship, and more. You can also use it to text back and forth with any other people cruising with you. Since there's no cell phone service on the ship, it's the easiest way to communicate.
Register for Fish Extenders. This is a free, guest-led gift exchange that happens during every Disney Cruise. You'll be matched up with about 10 other families and you provide a small gift for each one. In return, each of those families will drop a gift in your "Fish Extender," a mailbox of sorts that hangs outside your door from the fish-shaped cabin room number. For my kids, delivering and receiving these gifts is always a highlight of the trip! (Fish Extender groups are organized via Facebook groups. To find your cruise group, type your ship and sail date in the Facebook search box.)
Pack a lanyard. Each person on your cruise will receive a Key to the World card, a small card that you'll need for everything onboard, including purchasing drinks, getting on and off the ship, and even turning on the lights in your cabin! Bring a lanyard to keep your card securely and conveniently around your neck.
Take a carry-on bag. On the day you sail away, you'll hand over your luggage at the port, and you won't see it again until late afternoon or early evening. Pack a bag with everything you'll need for the afternoon, including bathing suits and a change of clothes. It's also important to note that you can't immediately get into your cabin when you board -- although you probably won't want to anyway! Use that time to grab some food, explore the ship, and check out the pools.
During Your Cruise
Grab the free wifi. Disney offers 50mb of free internet, which isn't much, but will allow you to check your email here and there. The free 50mb are only available on the first day, so be sure to register or you'll miss out.
Visit the Senses Spa and Salon open house. If you're even considering a spa treatment, don't miss this opportunity to tour the facility and enter to win great prizes, including free treatments! This event takes place shortly after you board.
Utilize the kids club and enjoy some adult time! The Oceaneers Club and Oceaneers Lab are fun and safe spaces for children ages 3-12 to play without their parents. There are interactive, themed rooms to play in and explore, and plenty of counselors on hand to lead activities and supervise the fun.
Take your own snacks to Castaway Cay. Almost every Disney Cruise stops at Castaway Cay, Disney's enchanting private island in the Bahamas. In my family, it's a tradition to use the toppings from the morning oatmeal buffet to make trail mix that we eat on the beach -- including cereal, banana chips, dried fruit, and walnuts. Throw a few extra sandwich baggies in your luggage if you want to make your own.
Pack Your Pirate Gear. Every Disney cruise has one Pirate Night when everyone on board gets into the pirate spirit. Disney gives every guest a red pirate bandana, but most people go well beyond that with their outfits. During our most recent cruise, we packed blow up swords for the kids and matching pirate shirts for the whole family. Our outfits were minimal, but some people go all-out with full head-to-toe costumes. Anything goes, as long as it's pirate-themed!
