5 Reasons a Disney Cruise Is Worth the Extra Money

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Did you just Google “is a Disney Cruise worth it?” I’ve done that, too. Here’s why this frugal mama thinks Disney Cruises are absolutely worth the money.

I’ve only had ONE vacation with my children in the nearly seven years I’ve been a mom. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve taken LOADS of trips with the kids. On each of those trips, though, I still had to make everybody breakfast, find activities for kids who were “bored”, and chug down my fruity drink because one of the munchkins was about to go nuclear in the restaurant at dinner.

Mama, that’s not a vacation.

We recently took a cruise on the Disney Fantasy for their Star Wars Days at Sea, though. It was the most expensive family trip we’ve ever taken, but I thought it was priceless. Because for once, Mama actually got a vacation, too. Considering a Disney Cruise yourself? Here are all the reasons it’s worth your hard-earned pennies.

Related: Insider Secrets That Will Save You Money On Your Disney Cruise, How to Have an Awesome Day at the Beach When You Have Little Kids, Everything You Need to Know to Make Flying with Kids Carefree

A Disney Cruise is Worth the Money Because of the Kids Club

Holy cow, we loved the Kids Club. Disney is obviously known as a kid-friendly operation, so I expected it would be good, but I definitely underestimated just how awesome it would be. 

The Kids Club is open from 9 a.m. until midnight!

Whether your kids are ready for action first thing in the morning after awakening at 5 a.m., or whether you’re wanting an after-dinner soak in the hot tub with your husband, the Kids Club folks are there to cheerfully take your children. Even better, you’ve already paid for unlimited babysitting as part of the cruise fare, so there’s no reason to not take advantage of it.

The Kids Club is incredibly efficient

Like most things Disney, the Kids Club is a well-oiled machine. Competent employees check the kids in and out using electronic wrist bands assigned at embarkation, ensuring that no one sneaks in or out or is sent with the wrong dad.

We even had to choose a secret code word to give upon each check out for more security. Because of the computer chip in the band, counselors can tell you exactly where your kid is when you come to pick him up. (Totally want one of these for home use, by the way!)

Also, just inside the door are automatic hand washing machines (!) Each kid sticks his hands inside, and they are soaped and dried. It’s a genius way to make hand washing fun and to assure that our little Typhoid Marys aren’t spreading disease all over the ship.

The Kids Club can contact you on your free Cell Phones

Each stateroom comes with two free cell phones for guests to use while they are on the boat. You don’t need to worry that your kid is unhappy in the Kids Club, because if he is, you’ll get a short text that says, “[Your child] would like to be picked up from the Kids Club”.

Our older son loved the Club so much that he preferred going there to spending time with us. Our younger son, though, would get tired after a couple of hours. It was comforting to know that as soon as he was over it, we could come get him. (And bring him back to our comfortable cabin to rest while watching basically any Disney show/movie ever made on demand on our TV). 

The Kids Club has something for Every Kid to Enjoy

There are video games, crafting areas, places to quietly lie and watch a movie, big spaces for physical games (especially neat was the area with the “Magic Floor”), opportunities to play pretend, etc. The two clubs (the Oceaneer Club and the Oceaneer Lab) each had several different rooms inside, which were beautifully furnished with unique decor and activities. There were also ample staff members in each room to ensure the kids were enjoying themselves. 

There’s a Kids Club on Castaway Cay (Disney’s Private Island)

It’s called Scuttle’s Cove. You can visit the beach with the kiddos, spend an hour swimming in the ocean and digging in the sand as a family, and then drop them off to play while the adults enjoy a piña colada and a stroll on the beach.

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A Disney Cruise is Worth the Money Because of the Restaurants 

By some Disney Magic, the restaurants on board the ship manage to be both really nice and also totally appropriate for kids. At dinner time, diners rotate through three different restaurants over the course of the cruise, each with unique decor and a different dining experience.

Your wait staff, however, remains the same. Children can eat off of the adult menu or off of a kids menu full of all of the usual suspects—chicken nuggets, spaghetti, grilled cheese, etc. 

Let’s be honest. Long, multi-course meals with wine are awesome without kids, but usually a total drag with them. Disney planned for this, too. As my kids inevitably started to get antsy near the end of the meal, our waiter was always available with a magic trick to show them or a puzzle for them to solve. 

If you are assigned to the late seating at dinner, counselors will come through the restaurant to TAKE YOUR KIDS to the Kids Club so that you can relax and drink your wine in peace. (Oh, and if you’d rather enjoy the whole meal sans kids, you can just check them into the Club 15 minutes before dinner time and they’ll feed your kids there!)

The Pools Make a Disney Cruise Worth It

The pool area on board is spectacular, with facilities available for kids of all ages. Onboard the Fantasy, in addition to the standard large pool, the kids could choose to swim in the kids pool, ride one of two water slides, or play in one of two splash zones. Disney movies are shown on the big screen all day in case one of the kids (or the grown ups) gets tired of swimming and wants to relax on a lounge chair. 

I often find it hard to relax at all when my kids are near water, but the lifeguard staff onboard are excellent. When one of my sons slipped and fell in the Nemo’s Reef splash zone, a lifeguard got to him to make sure he was ok faster than I could.

If you’ve managed to come to the pool without your kids (seriously, send them to the Kids Club!), there’s a Quiet Cove Pool for adults 18 and older. It’s got a plunge pool, sunbathing pool, and hot tub, and there’s a cafe with coffee and alcoholic drinks right next door.

A Disney Cruise is Worth the Money Because of The Rooms

The rooms onboard the ship are thoughtfully designed for families and were a lot more comfortable than rooms I’ve had on other ships. Our family of four didn’t feel a bit squashed in our room, despite different sleep schedules and nap times. The boys shared bunk beds, which were set up for us every night during dinner. They were separated from the king-sized bed by a curtain to provide a little bit of privacy.

Closets in the room were ample, and there was space under the bed to store suitcases. The bathroom was a major upgrade from the typical cruise ship water closet. The bathroom is split into two rooms—one room has a sink, mirror and toilet, while one has a sink, mirror and shower (with bathtub!) so everyone can get ready at the same time. Genius.

The Extras Make a Disney Cruise Worth It

My husband and I have taken several cruises. The fare often seems low at first, but when you get on the ship, there are individual charges for everything. This is not the case with Disney.

Want to see a first-run movie in the theatre on board? Your ticket is included. Want to grab a coffee or a soda on the pool deck? That’s included, too. Want to grab room service instead of heading to a restaurant for lunch? You guessed it—included. Want to take a picture with Mickey every day? Included. Want to see the only fireworks show at sea (twice if you’re on one of the Star Wars Days at Sea cruises?) Included. I was, honestly, shocked by how many really fun extras were included in our cruise fare.

In summary: A Disney Cruise is worth every penny

I have just scratched the surface of all the reasons that your cruise fare on a Disney Cruise is worth every penny. Since coming home, my kids talk about the cruise all the time, even building cruise ships out of their Magnatiles and re-wearing their Kids Club wristbands as they create their own Club here at home.

When considering the cost, consider what it would cost to pay individually for: transportation for your family to your exotic destination of choice, a lovely comfortable room cleaned by someone else, unlimited access to fun pools with slides, unlimited, really yummy food eaten in an environment where no one rolls their eyes at your kids, and most importantly: virtually unlimited guilt-free childcare for a week. 

I’ll leave you with one of my favorite memories from the boat. On Sunday morning, we had breakfast and pool time as a family and then split up. I went to the spa. The boys went to the Kids Club. My husband went to O’Gill’s Pub to watch football. Everyone had the opportunity to do exactly what he wanted to do, and at dinner that night, everyone was happy and relaxed—even Mama.

Totally worth it.

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