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When my family sailed aboard the Disney Fantasy to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary, we expected to have an amazing vacation—and we absolutely did.
But even as a Certified Disney Travel Planner, I learned a few things the hard way.
Thankfully, none of these mistakes ruined our vacation. In fact, they gave me valuable insight that I now share with my clients so they can make the most of their Disney Cruise.
Here are three things I'd do differently next time.
1. We skipped the Oceaneer Club Open House
If you're cruising with children, don't make this mistake.
On embarkation day, Disney Cruise Line hosts an Open House where families can explore the Oceaneer Club together before it transitions to supervised programming. I assumed we'd have plenty of time to see it later. We didn't. And not even because they didn't have others, we just chose not to do them.
Looking back, I wish we had toured the space with our daughter before dropping her off for the first time. While she ended up loving the Oceaneer Club and couldn't wait to go back each day, visiting together first would have helped all of us feel more comfortable and excited.
My tip: Head to the Oceaneer Club during Open House on embarkation day. It's a great opportunity to explore the space, meet the counselors, and let your child get familiar with the club before their first visit.
2. We didn't go straight to the Sail Away Party
After completing the mandatory muster drill, we made what seemed like a harmless decision.
Instead of heading directly to the upper decks for the Sail Away Party, we stopped to take photos around the ship.
By the time we were ready to head up, the elevator lines were incredibly long, and hundreds of guests were trying to reach the pool deck at the same time. We ended up taking the stairs just to make it before the party started!
We still had a wonderful time, but next cruise we'll grab our photos later.
My tip: Once the muster drill is over, head straight to the Sail Away Party if it's on your must-do list. You can always explore the ship and take photos afterward when the crowds have thinned out.
3. We underestimated the character lines
One of the things we love most about Disney is meeting the characters.
Since we visit Walt Disney World regularly, I assumed the character lines onboard would be similar to what we're used to in the parks.
I was wrong.
Some character meet-and-greets had surprisingly long waits, and we spent a significant portion of our cruise standing in line for characters we can see almost anytime at Walt Disney World.
If I could do it over again, I'd be much more intentional about which characters we prioritized.
Instead of meeting every character, I'd focus on those that are unique to Disney Cruise Line or wear exclusive cruise outfits and spend more time enjoying the ship itself.
My tip: Review the Navigator app each day and prioritize the character experiences that are most important to your family. You don't have to meet everyone to have a magical cruise.
Final Thoughts
The good news?
None of these mistakes took away from what became one of our favorite family vacations. In fact, we loved our Disney Cruise so much that we booked another one before we even got home.
Every cruise teaches you something new, and now I get to pass those lessons along to the families I help plan Disney vacations.
If you're getting ready for your first Disney Cruise, I'd love to help you avoid some of the same mistakes we made.
🎁 Download My FREE "Be Disney Ready" Guide
Inside, you'll find answers to the five questions I hear most from first-time Disney cruisers, plus practical planning tips and a printable packing checklist to help you feel confident before embarkation day.
👉 Download your free guide today and start planning your Disney Cruise with confidence!
