Disney Cruise Planning Guide: Pairing Disney Cruise Line With Walt Disney World
A Disney cruise brings Disney storytelling, characters and service out to sea, and for many families it is the trip they talk about for years. It also comes with its own planning decisions: which sailing, which stateroom, how dining works and whether to add days at Walt Disney World. This guide walks through planning a Disney Cruise Line vacation, how to pair it with a Walt Disney World stay, and where an experienced advisor helps the most.
How a Disney cruise is different
Disney Cruise Line includes much of the onboard experience in your cruise fare. According to Disney, the fare includes:
Your stateroom, plus taxes and port fees
Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Rotational Dining restaurants, casual dining venues and quick-service spots
Soft drinks, coffee and tea at meals and at beverage stations
Disney Character encounters and live Broadway-style shows
Themed pools, waterslides and sports activities
Youth clubs for kids, tweens and teens
A visit to Disney Castaway Cay or Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point on most Caribbean and Bahamian sailings
Disney lists some experiences as extras at additional cost. These include Port Adventures (shore excursions), spa services, nursery babysitting, alcoholic beverages and the premium, adults-only dining venues. Knowing what is included and what is not keeps your budget realistic from the start.
Rotational Dining, explained
One of the most distinctive parts of a Disney cruise is Rotational Dining. Disney explains that guests rotate through three themed dining venues during the voyage, and a dedicated serving team moves with you from restaurant to restaurant, learning your preferences along the way. On sailings longer than three nights you will visit an assigned venue more than once. Children's menus are available in all the restaurants in your rotation.
Adults who want a night on their own can book the adults-only dining venues, such as Palo, for an extra cost. Your advisor can help you plan which nights to reserve.
Kids clubs and adult spaces
Disney's youth clubs are a big reason families choose a Disney cruise. Disney lists:
Disney's Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab for kids ages 3 to 10
Edge for tweens ages 11 to 14
Vibe for teens ages 14 to 17
Mickey & Minnie Captain's Deck, an area designed for babies and toddlers
Disney also offers adults-only spaces for guests 18 and older, including dining venues, lounges, a quiet pool area and a spa. That makes a Disney cruise work for multi-generational groups, and not just families with young kids. For more family tips, read our post on cruising with kids.
Disney's island destinations
Most Bahamian and Caribbean Disney sailings stop at one, and sometimes both, of Disney's island destinations in The Bahamas: Disney Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Disney says a BBQ lunch, soft drinks, beach activities, and towels, lounge chairs and umbrellas are included. There is also an adult-exclusive beach for grown-ups who want a quiet day.
Pairing a Disney cruise with Walt Disney World
Combining a Disney cruise with days at Walt Disney World is one of the most popular ways to plan a bigger Disney vacation. Disney Cruise Line sails from Port Canaveral, which Disney calls the gateway to Walt Disney World Resort. The drive from Walt Disney World Resort to Port Canaveral typically takes about an hour to an hour and a half, depending on traffic. Disney also sails from other home ports, including Fort Lauderdale.
Parks first or cruise first?
There is no wrong answer, but here is how many families think about it:
Parks first, then cruise: End the trip relaxing at sea after busy park days.
Cruise first, then parks: Arrive rested and save the park excitement for the finale.
Build in a buffer: A rest day between the parks and the ship helps little ones and adults alike.
Pieces to coordinate
A combined trip has more moving parts than either piece alone:
Your cruise dates, which set the anchor for everything else
Resort nights and park tickets on either side of the sailing
Transportation between Orlando and Port Canaveral
Dining plans on land and Port Adventures at sea
Flights that leave room for delays
Disney offers Land and Sea vacations as one way to combine the two. An advisor can help you compare the options and keep every reservation lined up. Explore our Disney travel planning page to see how we help with both.
Disney cruise planning tips
Decide your must-haves first. Ship features, itinerary length, island days and stateroom type all affect which sailing fits.
Watch your booking windows. Disney advises checking for Port Adventures about 120 days before departure, and booking in advance.
Think through your stateroom. Disney describes staterooms tailored for families, including private verandahs, deluxe rooms with extra space and split bathrooms.
Plan the Walt Disney World side carefully. Theme park days need their own strategy for tickets, dining and transportation.
Protect the trip. Understand deposit and cancellation terms, and consider travel insurance.
Why plan your Disney cruise with an experienced advisor
Disney does a great job once you are on board. Getting there, with the right sailing, the right stateroom, every reservation on time and a Walt Disney World stay that fits around it, takes real planning. An experienced, reliable advisor:
Helps you choose the sailing and stateroom that fit your family
Keeps track of booking windows for dining and Port Adventures
Coordinates your Walt Disney World resort, tickets and transportation with your cruise
Is your one point of contact before, during and after the trip
At 1923 Travel, planning is free, and you pay the same price you would booking direct. To learn more about how that works, read Is a Disney Travel Agent Free?. We are a CLIA-accredited agency based in Raleigh, NC, and we plan Disney vacations for travelers nationwide. Every one of our advisors is experienced and can plan any trip, so whoever you work with can handle your Disney cruise and your days at Walt Disney World together. See all our cruise planning services.
Frequently asked questions
What is included in a Disney cruise?
According to Disney, your fare includes your stateroom, taxes and port fees, Rotational Dining and casual dining, soft drinks at meals and beverage stations, character encounters, live shows, pools, youth clubs and island destination visits on most Caribbean and Bahamian sailings.
How far is Port Canaveral from Walt Disney World?
The drive typically takes about an hour to an hour and a half, depending on traffic.
What ages are the Disney cruise kids clubs for?
Disney lists Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab for ages 3 to 10, Edge for ages 11 to 14 and Vibe for ages 14 to 17. Mickey & Minnie Captain's Deck is designed for babies and toddlers.
Should we do Walt Disney World before or after our Disney cruise?
Either works. Parks first lets you end relaxed at sea, while cruise first lets you arrive rested for the parks. A buffer day in between helps.
Does it cost more to book a Disney cruise through a travel agent?
Not with 1923 Travel. Planning is free, and you pay the same price you would booking direct.
Ready to plan your Disney cruise?
Tell us who is traveling, when you would like to sail and whether you want to add Walt Disney World. An experienced 1923 Travel advisor will build your options, and we are available 7am to 7pm Eastern, every day. Request your free quote.
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