The Disney Cruise Line is popular with families, and with even more ships on the horizon, now is a great time to plan a cruise vacation. While many families are familiar with the Disney theme parks, fewer know exactly what activities and amenities the cruise ships offer.
Here are the top Disney Cruise Line activities for kids of all ages. Remember that the ships differ, so you’ll want to look at the specific ship you are sailing on to see what activities are offered on that ship. We’ve been on a media preview cruise and two cruises as part of Disney Social Media Moms (as well as 15+ cruises that I paid for on my own).
Kids’ Clubs
The youth clubs on the Disney Cruise Line are world-class. Even my kids, who never loved kids’ clubs, spent so much time at the ones on the Disney Cruise Line.
There are several different youth clubs on board, separated by age.
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
If your kid loves costumes and dress-up, the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique on the Disney Cruise Line can be lots of fun. There are several packages to choose from, including princess, knight, and sea captain packages.
Movies on Board the Disney Cruise Line
There are several different places to see movies on the Disney Cruise Line. First run movies from Disney brands (including Pixar, Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars), play in the indoor theaters on the ships. On the pool deck, you can also watch some of the most popular Disney movies outdoors. FunnelVision is a large movie screen on one of the ship’s funnels.
Character Greetings
Want to see some of your favorite characters? There are lots of different character meet and greets on the Disney Cruise Line. This includes the Fab Five, princesses, and other popular characters. Characters also greet guests on Disney’s Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
Water Slides, Pool Deck, and Splash Pads
When I go on a cruise in the Caribbean, I love taking advantage of the nice weather. There are lots of ways to get some sun and fun on the Disney Cruise Line.
Each ship offers several pools, including main pools on the active pool deck and adult-only pools. There are also water slides and splash pads – options vary by ship.
Sports Deck
Each ship offers a sports deck if you want to stay active while on the Disney Cruise Line. Activities can vary, but include basketball, mini golf, virtual sports simulators, and ping pong. Where available, the virtual sports simulators need to be reserved in advance, but the other activities are usually first-come, first-served.
Shows and Games on the Disney Cruise Line
The entertainment on the Disney Cruise Line is top-notch. Three Broadway-style shows play in the Walt Disney Theater on the Disney Cruise Line ships. They include shorter versions of popular shows like Finding Nemo and Frozen, along with Disney Cruise Line originals.
One of our favorite Disney Cruise Line activities is the family game shows and trivia offered throughout the day. While some of these are adult-only, there are many family options through the days and evenings. Visit our blog post to learn more Disney Cruise Line activities for families.