It has become a tradition in our family to spend my husband’s birthday at Disney since that’s what he had done with his parents every year since he was 9. However, with this year being his 30th, we wanted to do something big and decided to go on a Disney cruise. We set sail on the Disney Wish, the newest Disney cruise ship that had just started sailing in the summer of 2022. 

All grown up

Although we were on the cruise to celebrate my husband getting old, I felt it was my daughter who was growing up before my eyes. She was now 3, which meant she was finally old enough to get an appointment at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. She could now go to the kids club. She was tall enough to ride her first roller coaster. And unfortunately, she was old enough to no longer be free at the parks and at character restaurants. 

30 and 3. Decades apart yet somehow evoking similar emotions. Two significant milestones that seemed more linked than ever- and amplified on this cruise.

The cast members went above and beyond

Our youngest, who was 8 months old, was also growing up. We’d never left him with anyone other than my mom, but when I saw there was a nursery on board, I booked a time slot so we could finally get some time to ourselves. My husband was hesitant and told me he wasn’t sure he’d be okay with leaving him with a stranger. After attending the nursery and kids club open houses (which I highly recommend), all doubt disappeared. “This is the best nursery I’ve ever seen!” my husband said. On top of that, the staff was incredible. I saw a couple bring their son in who only spoke Portuguese, so a cast member said, “Hold on one moment,” and in 10 seconds was back with a cast member who was fluent in Portuguese. I was impressed. 

I didn’t know what to expect when we took my daughter to the kid’s club. I expected her to be shy and not want to leave us, like the typical image of a child holding onto their mother’s leg on their first day of school. But that would have been out of character for our daughter. When the moment came, she ran into the club without so much as a backward glance or goodbye. Let’s be honest, I probably missed her more than she missed me.

The cast members at the kids club left us feeling at ease. Every cast member on the cruise seemed genuinely happy to be there. The waiter for our dinners had been working on Disney cruises for 10 years. I didn’t encounter a single rude or uninterested cast member. The same used to be true for WDW, but unfortunately wasn’t the case on our last visit when we saw a cast member yell at someone over a misunderstanding. 

The only lines I made were for the unlimited soft serve

When I say I wasn’t exhausted when I disembarked, I don’t mean I wasn’t tired, as that’s my perpetual state of being with young kids- but I wasn’t fatigued. I didn’t have to walk 15,000 steps and stand in hours upon hours of lines in the blistering Florida heat. The only lines I made were for the unlimited soft serve or in an air-conditioned space to meet characters. And admittedly, sometimes for the elevators. 

You travel lighter

On our last trip to WDW, we got to the park no earlier than noon or 1 PM because of the jet lag and how long it took to pack everything we needed. But we were ok with it. We typically rope-drop at the parks and are overly ambitious with what we try to accomplish, but this time we decided to take it easy and let our kids sleep in if they wanted to (because that never happens!). What took the longest in our prepping was the food. We’d pack lunch for the adults and toddler plus 10x the snacks we thought we’d need and a change of clothes for each kid. When you add that on top of the diapers and wipes, we were basically packing a whole suitcase every day. 

The nice thing about the cruise is that you don’t have to worry about packing everything you might need because you never leave your hotel. If you forget something, it’s just a short 5-10 minute walk away. One of us could put the baby down for a nap in the stateroom while the other took our daughter to meet a character or to enjoy one of the many activities on board. 

It’s all pre-planned and pre-paid

Another key advantage to the cruise is how much of your schedule is built-in. Don’t worry about planning your dining reservations; they’re made for you. Don’t worry about budgeting your food; it’s already been paid for (and you can order as much as you’d like!). Want to go to an adult-only lounge or try the wine-tasting course? Leave your kids at the nursery and/or kids club.

I should note that although it’s mostly paid for, you will be charged daily gratuity to your room ($14.50 per night). These gratuities are per night, per stateroom guest, including children and infants (so $14.50 x 4 people x 3 nights for our cruise). They go to your dining room server, assistant server, head server, and stateroom host. Toward the end of your voyage, you’ll receive a breakdown of exactly how much each person is receiving and envelopes in case you want to leave more. You’re also welcome to adjust the gratuities with guest services but the lines can get long so I was glad I had some cash on hand. After looking at the breakdown of how much each person received, and considering just how much work they did and the attention to service they provided, we decided that the automatic gratuity definitely wasn’t enough. But that’s up to your discretion and experience!

So did I like it?

When I end a trip to Disneyland or Walt Disney World (WDW) with my family, I’m exhausted and vow not to return for a good long while (a promise I never keep). But as I packed my bags to disembark the Disney cruise, I wished I had more time on board. Everyone in our party was sad to leave. I should note that I’m scared of the ocean, so for me to say that I didn’t want to get off what is basically a floating hotel is saying a lot.

My husband looked at me and said, “Instead of going to Disney World, let’s take whatever money we would have spent on those trips and spend it on another cruise instead.” Wish us luck!

We’ve since purchased annual passes for Disneyland, but we’re still hoping to take another cruise at some point in the future.

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Some advice for future cruise-goers

The cruise truly provided us with a magical experience, which seemed true for guests of all ages. However, with so many activities and amenities available on board, it can be overwhelming to plan the perfect vacation. Here are some tips to help make the most out of your Disney cruise experience.

1. Attend Open Houses for Nurseries and Kid's Clubs

If you're traveling with kids, attending the open houses for nurseries and kid's clubs is a must-do activity. It's the only opportunity to see the inside of these areas since adults aren't allowed in at any other time. You'll have a chance to learn about the activities and facilities available for children, which can help you plan your daily activities on board.

2. Sign Up for Fish Extenders

It makes the trip more fun and special! Fish extenders are an optional activity on Disney cruises that involves exchanging small gifts with other guests in your assigned stateroom block. I had initially signed up thinking it would be fun for my daughter, but my husband was the person who enjoyed it the most. You can sign up for fish extenders on online forums or Facebook groups dedicated to Disney cruises.

3. Visit the Character Warehouse for Discounted Disney Merchandise

If you're embarking at Port Canaveral and have time to spare before the cruise, consider visiting the Character Warehouse for discounted Disney merchandise. The warehouse sells products from previous Disney collections at a reduced price, making it an excellent opportunity to stock up on souvenirs for your trip.

4. Download Your Folio from the App Ahead of Debarkation

Download the folio and photos ahead of time. Your folio contains a summary of your charges during the trip, and you won’t have access to it as soon as you disembark. I was expecting to receive an email pdf with a summary of my charges the way you would in a hotel but that’s not the case for the cruise. It completely disappears from your profile. 

In general, the app needs some work.

5. Order the Drink of the Day for $5

If you want to save money on drinks, order the drink of the day for about $5. It's a mixed drink that's not on the menu and a great way to get a delicious drink without breaking the bank.

It’s worth noting that anything additional that’s ordered/charged will incur an auto gratuity of 18%.

6. Consider Visiting the Bibbity Bobbidi Boutique

If you have a daughter between the ages of 3-9, the Bibbity Bobbidi Boutique is a must! The boutique offers a princess (and prince) transformation experience similar to the one at Walt Disney World. I was initially worried that my daughter would be too young to enjoy it since she’s 3, but I’m so incredibly happy we did it. She came out of the appointment walking like a princess and singing and dancing through the whole ship. 

Side note, they also have a pirate transformation on the cruise’s “pirate day.”

7. Catch the Shows

Disney cruises offer a variety of shows that are entertaining for guests of all ages. Make sure to catch as many shows as you can during your trip. They're a great way to relax and unwind after a day full of activities.

8. Changing Reservations

We had a few reservations we needed to change once on board (Bippidi Boppidi Boutique, Spa, and nursery) and were able to do so without a problem. Even though the online reservation system showed the boutique as fully booked, there seemed to be more availability once on board. In general, the crew members were very flexible and accommodating. 

9. Dining Seating and Rotations

You'll be assigned a set table number for your whole sailing, which means you won't be able to move to be closer to the entertainment. This was a bummer when we were seated in the furthest corner behind the waiter station for the Arendelle dinner, something my daughter had been looking forward to for months. 

We were seated at a private table because of our party size (6), but I saw that other smaller parties shared a table. Disney does a pretty good job of grouping similar parties, in this case, two families with one child each. It can be fun to meet new people but also tiring to share a table with the same people every night of the cruise (plus what if you don’t get along that well?). 

You also get a restaurant rotation, so you don’t have to worry about planning every dinner unless you want to eat at an adult-only restaurant. Once on board, we tried to change our restaurant rotation order but the cruise was completely full, so they weren’t able to accommodate our request. 

10. There’s a Laundry Room on the Cruise

If you have kids, you know that traveling with kids can lead to unexpected accidents. The cruise has a laundry room which you can use for a small fee and is great for emergencies. I planned on using the laundry room but ended up not needing as many clothes as I thought. Plus, I didn’t want to take time away from activities to do laundry- it was a vacation after all!

11. Take Advantage of Castaway Club Membership

If you've sailed on a Disney cruise before, you're automatically a Castaway Club member. When I had called ahead of the cruise to ask a question, they told me they found my profile from when I was 10 and had gone on a cruise with my family. They merged my profiles and gave me a silver membership level, which came with a dedicated club line for check-in and an onboard gift (shown below).

12. Castaway Cay 

Castaway Cay is a private island owned by Disney and is a popular stop on their Bahamian and Caribbean itineraries. We loved being on a private island where Disney characters were chilling in beachwear, and we didn’t have to worry about sightseeing, crowds, and safety (compared to stopping in a Bahamian city).

Although it’s more crowded in the morning and quiets down after lunch, things sell out by the afternoon. We missed out on buying Olaf and Sven sippers and trying some popular drinks because they were all sold out by 1pm. However, we still had a great time on the island! It's worth noting that Castaway Cay can get quite hot, even in February.

There’s also a portion of the island for adults only, and there are spa cabanas. You can also rent a private cabana but they sell out incredibly fast and are expensive.

13. Experience the Ultimate Relaxation at the Cruise Spa

If you want to unwind and relax during your cruise, visit the cruise spa! Although some people have had mixed experiences with cruise line spas, I can confidently say I had an amazing one on my recent trip. The only minor issue was that it was supposed to last for 75 minutes, but it ended up being closer to 60 minutes. Luckily, when I told the spa front desk they offered to only charge me for a 50-minute massage.

Aside from massages, the spa also offers day passes or cruise-length passes for the Rainforest Room, which includes a range of amenities such as lounge chairs, steam rooms, hot tubs, and showers. Each ship has different offerings in its rainforest room, but in general, it's a great value and the spa is open late.

It's important to note that the pricing for the Rainforest Room pass is only available once you're on board the ship. It typically costs around $30 per person, but if you plan to use the rainforest room frequently during your trip, the cruise-length pass may be a better value. Ask the spa staff about pricing and availability once you're on board!

14. Merchandise

If there is anything you like from the store on the ship, buy it! They don’t sell cruise merchandise online or in other stores that aren’t on the ship (except the occasional character warehouse item- but they’re rare). If you’re planning on stopping by the store, try not to wait until the last night before disembarking. The lines were very long, especially between the two dinner times.

15. Save on your next cruise

While onboard the cruise, you can make a placeholder reservation for a future cruise and save 10%. It’s an open-ended reservation to sail at a later date and requires a fully refundable deposit of $250. It needs to be used within 24 months and is valid for up to two staterooms per household on a single cruise. Since we enjoyed the cruise so much, we decided to make the reservation, knowing we could cancel later if we wanted to!

So did I like the cruise? No, I LOVED it. We’re already saving up for our next adventure!

Feel free to leave me a comment if you have any questions or need any advice! I would also love to hear any of your favorite cruise travel tips!

Two years ago my husband, who’s a big fan of the ride, convinced me it was a good idea to let my daughter get on. Unfortunately, I didn’t listen to my gut instinct and we got on the ride. My daughter spent the entire time covering her ears with her face nuzzled in my torso on the verge of tears. Every cannon fired caused her to jump in her seat and wail. After what seemed like hours, but was probably more like 10-15 minutes, the ride was over and we thought we were safe from the torment of the ride. Except it didn’t end there. She proceeded to wake up in the middle of the night and have nightmares for months. I haven’t been on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride since.

Just because a ride says it's for "all ages" and a "slow ride," doesn't mean it's the best choice for babies or young toddlers. Lesson learned. But, don't worry, we've since learned to choose rides wisely. You can use my list of Top 10 Rides for Babies below to avoid making the same mistakes we did. We also picked up on some tricks to make the whole experience less stressful for the little ones.

Having kids visualize the experience really helps prep them for rides for future trips. There are lots of ways you can get them excited about the parks and rides before you even set foot in Disney World.

Your child will enjoy the ride and their experience at the park so much more if they’re already invested in the theming. Before our first trip to Disney World, we played “it’s a small world” at home pretty much on repeat (I know, you must think we’re crazy for willingly enduring this torture, but bear with me here). My daughter loved the song so much that by the time we went on the ride, she was extremely excited to hear it and danced the entire time.

Try showing them a video of the ride before your trip so they know what to expect. If there’s a ride you’re worried your toddler might be scared of, or a ride you’re not sure they’ll like, this usually helps weed out the ones you need to avoid.

There’s so much more to enjoy besides the rides. We love taking our kids on all the transportation vehicles: boats, railroads, and main street vehicles. They have so much fun and don’t even realize they’re not “rides.” As an added benefit, there are little to no lines and give you longer breaks.

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Sometimes getting on a ride is unavoidable, whether it’s because your husband loves it or it’s raining so hard you need to take refuge in the Tiki Room. So, here are my top picks for Magic Kingdom rides, perfect for little ones. Some of these rides can be pretty loud, so depending on your baby’s age you might want to pack some noise-canceling headphones, just in case!

Top 10 Rides for Babies

1. It’s a Small World (Fantasyland)

   This slow-moving boat ride is the quintessential Disney ride and is perfect for babies and kids of all ages. My favorite part? It’s long and has air conditioning which gives you a nice break from the Florida heat and your legs a rest. It’s equally as good for grandparents, my father-in-law has taken a nap on this ride every single time he’s been on it.

2. Jungle Cruise (Adventureland)

   This has become by far my daughter’s favorite ride. It’s a boat ride that takes you on an adventure to see all sorts of animals (spoiler: they’re not real animals). It’s great for kids and can be hilarious for adults too, especially if you get a good skipper. We bought my daughter the “Jungle Cruise ANIMALS!” book online and she loved knowing what to expect on the ride. She actually ended up memorizing which animals came next.

   Pro tip: When you’re approaching the hippos, watch out for the gunshot noise. It startled my toddler the first time she was on it and she cried the rest of the ride. I’m not entirely sure if they're phasing it out though because the skippers haven’t shot their gun the past couple of times we’ve been on it.

3. Prince Charming Regal Carrousel (Fantasyland)

   Who doesn’t love a good old carousel ride? If you’re riding with a smaller baby there’s a seated portion that doesn’t move up and down.

4. Dumbo the Flying Elephant (Fantasyland)

   Another classic. You can control the amount of vertical movement on the ride with a lever.

5. The Magic Carpets of Aladdin (Adventureland)

   This ride is essentially the same as the Dumbo ride, however, I’ve found the line is typically much shorter. It’s also right next to the Jungle Cruise which is convenient if you want to do both (or have someone stand in line at one while you ride the other).

6. Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid (Fantasyland)

   This ride is a slow-moving vehicle that takes you through different scenes of The Little Mermaid. The Ursula scenes can be scary which is why my toddler doesn’t like this ride, but for a baby who doesn’t really know what’s going on it’s totally fine (or for a toddler who isn’t afraid of Ursula).

7. Peter Pan’s Flight (Fantasyland)

   This ride is mostly dark and it feels like you’re flying over London and Neverland (not in a scary way at all). The ride is very short and usually has a very long line. I would avoid it if you have a child who’s scared of the dark.

   Here we start getting into the more “vehicle” category than the “ride” category but they also have their merit:

8. Liberty Square Riverboat (Liberty Square) 

   This is a nice change of pace from standing in line for rides. There’s usually no line and the boat takes you from Liberty Square around the river. I should note that although it’s a large boat, strollers aren’t allowed. Sometimes Tiana will make an appearance here.

9. Walt Disney World Railroad (Main Street, Frontierland, Fantasyland)

   Who doesn’t like a train? You can use it to move from one land to another, or as a roundtrip scenic ride around Magic Kingdom.

10. Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover (Tomorrowland)

    The only reason this is listed as last is because some people might not consider it a “ride.” It’s a vehicle that takes you around Tomorrowland. This can also be a nice change of pace and can give you a break from all the standing.

If you’re liking this post, share it with your friends who are planning a Disney World trip with babies/young toddlers!

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The ones that didn’t make the cut (and why)

Here are the other rides listed in the my Disney experience app as being for all ages and why they didn’t make my list so you can decide if it works for you and your family.

• The Hall of Presidents (Liberty Square) - Not great for a baby who might cry, it’s dark, and not particularly entertaining for a toddler.

• Mad Tea Party (Fantasyland) - I debated whether this one should be on the list. In the end, I decided it was too fast for the “baby” category, but it’s okay for toddlers. I will note, you can control the speed of the spin for the most part, but the teacups still move fairly fast for a baby.

• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Fantasyland) - I find this ride to be very loud, even for an adult. I usually cover my toddler’s ears during certain portions and definitely wouldn’t take my baby without headphones. 

• Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress (Tomorrowland) - Similar to the Hall of Presidents; it’s dark and not a great setting for a baby.

• Pirates of the Caribbean (Adventureland) - This ride has a drop, it’s dark and loud. Read my scarring experience above.

• Haunted Mansion (Liberty Square) - This ride would be fine for a very small baby who has no idea what’s going on. The ride vehicles are slow and smooth. But I wouldn’t dare take my toddler on it. 

• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger’s Spin (Tomorrowland) - This is stimulation central. My daughter had loved it at one point, but then also started getting nightmares from it. There’s just too much going on for a baby/toddler: bright lights and noises.

• Astro Orbiter (Tomorrowland) - Similar to the Dumbo and Aladdin rides, but it seems to move faster.

And there you have it, folks! My top picks for the Magic Kingdom, where the only nightmare you'll have is getting the "It's a Small World" song out of your head! Which is your kid’s favorite Disney ride? Are there any on my list you disagree with? Let me know in the comments!

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Where our adventure began…

I wasn't always the big Disney fan I am now. In fact, I’d say that I’ve become an even bigger fan as an adult than I was as a child. My Disney journey began in March 2021, when my husband, a full-grown adult, decided he wanted to go to Disney World for his birthday. At first, I made fun of him for it, but he then explained to me the sentimental value that Disney holds for him. My husband and his family had to flee their home country when he was just 9 years old and settled down in Florida, where he spent the rest of his childhood. Almost every year for his birthday, no matter what was happening financially or otherwise, his family would go to Disney World, even if they couldn’t afford it. From the perspective of a 9 year old, everything seemed magical when he was there and nothing else mattered.

Our Disney trip in March 2021 was the first time we went anywhere since the Covid pandemic had started. On top of the pandemic, my husband had been laid off the year before, so we didn’t have the flexibility to go anywhere even if we wanted to. By March, however, he had a good and steady job, and we had moved out of my parents’ guestroom and my in-laws’ guestroom and into a townhome. Even though Covid was still very much present, we decided it was time to leave our bubble. Our trip allowed us to escape what was happening in the world and feel some magic again. It gave us a sense of normalcy and comfort to believe life would go back to the way it was pre-pandemic. Seeing our daughter enjoy it so much was the cherry on top, especially since she was a Covid baby who grew up spending most of her time in a living room. So after that first trip in March, we ended up going back again in two months, and a month after that. It’s because the magic is still there with every trip we take, it doesn’t run out. And although we obviously must all face real life, it’s nice to take a break from it once in a while.

Making it possible

With our family growing and inflation rising, we’ve learned how to save money on our trips in order to make visiting Disney possible. We’ve also learned some helpful tips for traveling with babies and toddlers. I want to share what I’ve learned in hopes that it will help other families make their trip more magical and less stressful. I’ll be covering subjects such as what to pack, how to save at the park, and some helpful advice for traveling with babies and toddlers. Subscribe to get weekly Disney advice and join a community of Disney lovers!

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