What makes Disney Cruise Line so special? Why would I, someone who has visited the Disney parks over 10 times, want to sail with DCL?
I have my Disney park planning down to a science. I can tell you the best, and worst, places to eat, how important Rope Drop is, and what time is best to catch a FastPass for Slinky Dog Dash.
I can even give you directions to get from Main Street USA to the Jungle Cruise without looking at a map.
So why would I want to step onto one of the Disney Cruise Line ships?
Today, I am going to share with you why Walt Disney World Fans will enjoy Disney Cruise Line! And you might just find yourself sailing away to the Bahamas before you know it!
First, the dining is stress free.
Sure, I love to plan my ADRs (Advanced Dining Reservations) just like the next Disney parks fan. I am right there at 6AM EST on my My Disney Experience, hoping for the ideal plans, because my park plans won’t be the same if I have to make changes to my dining!
But, there is something about stepping onboard a Disney Cruise ship, knowing that I have amazing meals ahead of me, and I didn’t have to plan a single one!
Dining on Disney Cruise Line is so simple. You follow a rotation, so you are eating in a different restaurant each night. Your servers follow you to each restaurant, and by the end of Night 1, they know that you like lemons in your water, your little one needs to eat ASAP, and that your teenager has to have a Mickey bar at the end of his meal.
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They will even bring you pizza from Cabanas (buffet) if that is the ONLY thing your 6 year old will eat. They are so accommodating, and they literally go out of your way to make sure you enjoy your meal.
Dining on Disney Cruise Line is included with your cruise fare. Yes, you read that correctly. There is no out of pocket cost once you board the ship for food….for the most part.
If you want a fun tropical drink, then yes. You need to charge that to your account. But if you are out of snack credits and you just HAVE to have a Mickey shaped pretzel in the parks, you need to pay for it.
On Disney Cruise Line, you can eat to your heart’s content, and even have warm cookies and milk every night before bed, and you don’t have to open your wallet.
You can eat whatever you want, and it’s included. Do you want the Black Truffles at Animator’s Palette for your appetizer, main course and dessert? Oh, just me? Okay!
Anyway, you can have those if you want for every course. Want to give lobster tail a try, and then find out it isn’t for you? No problem! They will bring you another entree for no extra cost. It. Is. Fantastic!
Second, there is literally something for everyone.
As our children have gotten older, the age gap in them has become more and more apparent. I still have one who wants to run around and meet characters all day, while her older brothers really just want to hang out by the pool, play games, and chill out.
That makes planning days in the parks challenging! On Disney Cruise Line, there are three areas for kids, separated by age. Perfect!
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Plus, if you have teens, they even schedule excursions on Castaway Cay so your teen can head off with new found friends to snorkel, swim, etc. We meet as a family for dinner, and to see the night show. Sometimes I even get a glimpse of my teens as they are roaming the ship during a scavenger hunt. Family time and kid time are no problem on Disney Cruise Line!
There are characters EVERYWHERE on the Disney Cruise Line ships. Princesses, Mickey and friends, Disney Jr. friends….I seriously think we meet more characters on a cruise than we do in the parks.
And, it doesn’t suck up attraction time. This is a great place to meet characters, and still have time for more fun! Characters not your thing? Then take some time to see a show, watch a first run movie, or enjoy a mixology class.
There is SO much to do on a Disney Cruise, you won’t even notice you don’t have a FastPass for Slinky Dog Dash.
Third, Disney’s private island in the Bahamas – Castaway Cay.
Need I say more? Every Disney Cruise ship out of Port Canaveral stops at Castaway Cay, the MOST amazing place on earth. Seriously.
This is privately owned by Disney, so no one else is there but you and your ship mates! The kids clubs are open on Castaway Cay, there is plenty of beach space for everyone, and you can even get your afternoon soft serve ice cream cone…after you eat lunch that is provided of course!
As a Disney parks fan, I am often looking for something new and different to do in the parks….and Castaway Cay matches that description for us!
Fourth, the attention to detail is wonderful.
We have been impressed over, and over, and over….at the attention to cleanliness and detail on the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy.
When you see the crew members repainting the scratches on the outside of the ship while she’s docked at Castaway Cay, you know they want it to look great inside and out!
And scrubbing the deck is truly taking place. Everywhere you go, they are cleaning handrails, bathrooms, common areas, and your room is cleaned so well everyday!
We have been impressed with both our accommodations and customer service on every Disney Cruise Line voyage.
Finally, it is just enough Disney for the die hard Disney fan in your life….without going over the top.
Disney Cruise Line has taken the amazing experience of cruising, and coupled it with Disney magic. The special touches we have come to love from the theming of the resorts, to the character interaction, to the Mickey waffles at breakfast….all come together nicely on Disney Cruise Line.
It also caters to those who get over stimulated in the parks, and can’t stand the idea of hearing ‘It’s a small world’ one more time! It is the perfect compromise for everyone in your travel party.
