One of the first things I wanted to understand before our Disney cruise was:
After paying for the cruise, how much more are we going to feel like we need to spend?
Especially because this is our first Disney cruise.
I don’t know which activities the boys will love yet.
I don’t know whether they’re going to care about characters.
I don’t know whether the kids club will be a hit.
And I absolutely don’t want to pay for extra activities simply because someone else’s family calls them a “must-do.”
The good news is that a lot is already included.
Disney currently includes rotational dining, casual and quick-service food, many snacks, soft drinks at designated locations, soft serve, character experiences, Broadway-style shows, movies, pools, waterslides, youth clubs and 24-hour room service, although some room-service items or deliveries can cost extra.
For a three-night cruise?
We aren’t going to run out of things to do.
Our Five Main Priorities
If I had to narrow down the things I’m most excited about onboard, they would be:
- Room service
- Waterslides
- Pirate Night
- Stage shows
- Rotational dining
Not necessarily in that order.
Everything else is something we’ll explore without pressure.
Room Service Is Going to Be a Surprise
The boys don’t know I’m excited about room service.
To them, having someone bring food directly to a hotel or cruise cabin feels extremely fancy.
So I’m keeping that one in my pocket.
Disney includes 24-hour room service in the cruise fare, although some items or deliveries can carry an additional charge, and gratuity is separate.
I don’t need it to be some elaborate meal.
I just want to see their faces the first time food arrives at the stateroom door.
Those are exactly the little travel moments they end up remembering.
We’re Excited About Rotational Dining
We love trying new foods.
My nephew is the pickier eater of the two boys, but cruises are actually one of the places where we encourage him to experiment.
Try it.
If you don’t like it, that’s okay.
We can find something else.
That takes a lot of pressure away.
Disney’s rotational dining system moves guests through three themed dining rooms while the service team rotates with them. Your restaurant assignments appear in the Navigator app once onboard.
To me, that’s already part of the entertainment.
We’re not booking specialty dining on this short first sailing.
I want to experience what we already paid for before deciding we need to upgrade it.
The Kids Club: Zero Expectations
This is one area where I’m specifically not creating expectations.
The boys tried a kids club on our previous cruise.
They didn’t really care for it because their ages put them in different groups.
They wanted to be together.
So I’m not planning our Disney cruise around dropping them off for hours while my sister and I disappear.
We’ll show them the Disney youth spaces.
They can try them.
If they love them, wonderful.
If they stay for 20 minutes and announce they’re finished, also fine.
Youth clubs are among the activities Disney includes in the cruise fare.
I’m not going to force them to enjoy something simply because Disney is known for it.
Character Lines Have a Limit for Us Too
Same rule with characters.
If we happen across a manageable character line and the boys are excited?
Absolutely.
If the wait is an hour and neither child particularly cares?
We’re probably going on a waterslide.
This is where not being a die-hard Disney family is actually making the trip easier.
We don’t have a list of 15 characters that will make or break the vacation.
We can enjoy whatever naturally fits.
The Waterslides Are a Safer Bet
I feel much more confident predicting that the boys will care about the water.
Disney includes themed pools and waterslides as part of the cruise experience.
And if they want to repeat a slide instead of attending an activity I saved on the Navigator app?
The slide wins.
It’s their birthday trip too.
Shows Matter—but We’re Already Missing Part of One
Our Pirates League/Bibbidi Bobbidi appointment slightly overlaps one of the stage shows.
I wish it didn’t.
But that’s first-trip learning.
We chose the makeover.
The pirate transformation feels like something these boys will remember right now, especially while they’re six and seven.
A show is something we can prioritize on a future sailing.
And strangely, I like that.
It leaves something for next time.
Pirate Night Is High on the List
Pirate Night is one of the things I’m genuinely excited about.
Disney Dream is among the ships that offer Pirate Night on select itineraries, with pirate-themed dining and deck entertainment.
The boys will already have their pirate transformations that evening, so I’m expecting that to be one of the most memorable nights of the trip.
My sister and I aren’t bringing full adult pirate costumes.
We’ll use simple pirate accessories and whatever is provided onboard if available.
What We’re Paying Extra For
Our planned extras are pretty limited.
The big one is the boys’ pirate makeover.
Then potentially:
- A fun specialty drink or coffee
- One or two souvenirs per child
- Anything unexpected that genuinely feels worth it
We aren’t booking premium dining.
We aren’t booking a Lookout Cay excursion.
We aren’t trying to upgrade every part of the vacation.
No Hour-by-Hour Ship Schedule
This may be the most important part of my plan.
I love itineraries.
Clearly.
I planned our entire Lookout Cay route.
But I am not building an hour-by-hour itinerary for the ship before we’ve even boarded it.
It’s three nights.
Once we’re connected to the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app, we’ll see what is actually happening.
Then we’ll decide.
Something looks fun?
We’ll go.
The boys want another waterslide?
Fine.
Everybody is exhausted and wants room service and the balcony?
Also fine.
I want enough planning that we don’t feel lost.
Not so much planning that vacation starts feeling like an appointment calendar.
That’s basically the entire philosophy behind The Plan Edit.
Continue the Series
Our sailing is also Halloween on the High Seas, which introduced an entirely new packing category.
Read next → What I’m Packing for Halloween on the High Seas Without Overpacking
