With ships designed specifically for families that are full of Disney magic, Disney Cruise Line is widely considered the best cruise line for families. Kids love the whimsical play areas, Disney-themed entertainment and kid-friendly restaurants.
If you’re a parent planning your first Disney cruise, you’re going to want to make the most of all the magical moments on board. To help make sure you’re well prepared to do that, we’ve compiled a list of key things to know about the Disney Cruise Line dining and entertainment schedule, pool policies and childcare.
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Even if you’ve been on a cruise before with another cruise line, you might not know these four things that many families with young children wish they knew before their first Disney cruise.
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1. You should choose your dinner time wisely.
It’s important to know that the earlier dinner seating time, which typically begins at 5:45 p.m., means a late showtime if you plan to watch the evening’s live stage performance.
Disney cruise shows are performed two times in the evening. An earlier show begins around 6 p.m. and is intended for those with the second dinner seating time to watch prior to dinner. The later show is usually around 8:30 p.m. and many families find their kids fall asleep during this after-dinner show.
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Since Disney cruise shows are a highlight for many families, some prefer the later dinner time, which typically begins at 8 p.m. That way, their kids can enjoy the night’s show at the earlier showtime.
Since 8 p.m. is late for many kids to eat, some families feed their kids a quick meal before the 6 p.m. show. They also have the option to check their kids into the kids club or nursery after the show. This allows parents to enjoy dinner alone while the kids enjoy some quiet activities and downtime in the kids club.
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Image source: Disney Cruise Line
2. Kids must be potty-trained to swim in the pools and go to the kids club.
If you want your kids to be able to enjoy the pool on your cruise, make sure they are potty-trained before you set sail. Kids must be potty-trained to swim in the pools and swim diapers are prohibited in all pools on Disney cruise ships.
Kids who are not potty-trained can still enjoy the water play areas on board each ship. Swim diapers are required in water play areas for any child who is not potty-trained.
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If you have a three-year-old who is not potty-trained, you should also note that they won’t be able to go to the kids club available for their age group.
Disney Cruise Line requires kids who stay in the Oceaneer Club or Oceaneer Lab kids clubs to be at least three years old and fully potty-trained. Young children who are not potty-trained can still go to the nursery on a Disney cruise ship.
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3. If you’re traveling with a baby or toddler, make nursery reservations as early as possible.
Space is very limited at the Disney cruise nursery, “it’s a small world” nursery! Reservations can be made on a first-come, first-served basis.
The nursery begins taking reservations during the open house on Embarkation Day. The minimum reservation time is one hour and a childcare fee of $9 per hour applies.
You can also request a Pack 'n Play crib to use in your stateroom for free. Before your cruise, just make sure to fill out a special request form by signing into My Reservations and selecting “Special Requests.”
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4. Pirate Night is a big deal, and people dress up for it.
Pirate Night is an extremely popular themed night featured on most Disney cruise itineraries. It features a special dinner and deck party with a Pirates of the Caribbean theme and fireworks at sea.
Many first-time Disney cruisers don’t know that people go all out with costumes and pirate attire for the special occasion. Disney cruise ship salon Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique even offers "Pirate's League" appointments to get swashbucklers ready to party.
If you don’t want to stick out as a landlubber on Pirate Night, make sure to bring your buccaneer best!
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