16 Disney Cruise hacks to make your next family vacation magical

A few weeks ago my family embarked on a Disney Cruise, a Halloween on the High Seas Cruise to be exact. This trip began as our family compromise. I had been excited to take my daughter to Disney World for a couple years, but as we started to crunch numbers we realized we could go on a lot of other amazing family trips for such a hefty price tag.

We settled on a Disney cruise as the cost was quite a bit less, included all meals, and allowed us to explore new locations as we stopped at different ports of call.

At the end of the day, once we factored in drinks, spa services, gifts, and excursions the cruise wound up costing only slightly less than if we had visited the actual park, but we all felt it was worth it and that the cruise itself had a lot more value. In fact, we loved this trip so much we are already planning our next Disney cruise adventure!

We’ve gone on a handful of cruises pre-kids and always really enjoyed them, but the Disney cruise surpassed any cruise lines we’ve previously traveled on, particularly if traveling with children. The attention to detail, top-notch hospitality, and extraordinary entertainment were all of the highest caliber. They created a truly magical experience for us all, and even managed to make my husband finally understand the allure of Disney!

As this was our first time on a Disney cruise, I realized there were many things I wished I had known before we embarked on our adventure. Here are some of the things I learned along the way that may help you plan your own magical vacation:

Decorate your cabin door. They are magnetic and it seemed that almost everyone on the Disney Cruises decorated with at least a few magnets, although some people got really into it adding twinkle lights and Disney swag. It does help you find your room more easily, which is beneficial when you’re walking down the long halls. Many families put up a small shoe organizer or other type of pouch or envelope on their door. Apparently, fellow passengers will go around and leave little trinkets inside for you. I imagine this is super fun for the kiddos!

Book a massage or spa service last minute on the days you’re at a port of call. The spa almost always offers a last-minute special on port-of-call days, as the spa is typically underutilized on these days. Since you have the whole day at port, you will likely have a window where you can squeeze in a spa service at a great price! I was able to enjoy a massage the morning we were in Nassau. We just got off the ship a bit later, which also meant fewer lines!

Some people deliberately skip disembarking on port days and use those days to enjoy the ship. The pools and restaurants are emptier making it feel like you have the place to yourself. If you’re excited to see a city this would not be an option for you, but I did hear several people mention they preferred to stay on the boat for at least part of the day when we were at certain ports. It is an option and something to remember as you’re planning out your days.

Some of the best character interactions are the impromptu, unplanned ones that happen throughout the ship. You can reserve certain princess character greetings, although space is limited and they go fast. You can also wait in line for scheduled meet and greets throughout the cruise. These meet-and-greets do not require a ticket, you just need to watch the schedule and get in line at the appropriate time. However, the characters also periodically roam the ship and when you’re able to spot one and get some one-on-one time with them it is extra magical.

Don’t miss the performances. They offer a different performance every night and they are top-notch. I was impressed by the caliber of acting, the pyrotechnics and animation, the singing, all of it. My six-year-old looked forward to them every evening, and to be honest, I did too.

Research “tips” and “hacks” for your specific ship beforehand. I was able to learn things specific to our ship’s dining options, pools, and Kids Clubs that I otherwise wouldn’t have known (i.e. if you’re on the Disney Magic and going to miss an evening dinner, skip Lumiere’s as nothing exciting happens in that restaurant, but you probably don’t want to miss Animator’s Palette or Rapunzel’s Royal Table).

Look at some of the themed Disney Cruise options. They add an extra element of magic to your experience. We were on a Halloween on the High Seas cruise and our Halloween-loving family greatly enjoyed the experience. They also offer Very Merrytime Cruises around Christmas that I am eager to try one year. You can also find cruises with Star Wars Days, Pixar Day at Sea, and Marvel Day at Sea. Most ships will do a pirate invasion night. The pirate party is the night they set off fireworks from the top deck. It’s extra magical to watch fireworks at sea! My best advice here is to get into it! Everyone dresses up and it makes the whole experience so much more fun.

Book a place saver before you get off the ship. You can save on a future Disney Cruise Line vacation by taking advantage of their special onboard-only booking offer. When you do, you’ll enjoy a 10% discount off prevailing rates as quoted on Disneycruise.com and a reduced deposit on 7-night or longer sailings. This special placeholder reservation requires a $250 deposit and is fully refundable if you end up canceling. The reservation must be used within two years.

While we were on the ship waiting in line to meet Minnie we had the pleasure of meeting fellow passengers, Shana Matos and family. Shana is a travel agent specializing in Disney Cruises. We got to talking about all things Disney Cruises and Shana was kind enough to share some of her insider wisdom with me.

Here are some of Shana’s top Disney Cruise tips:

Book early. When booking a Disney Cruise it is best to book your sailing as close to when it becomes available as possible. You will be able to secure lower rates and have a better variety of inventory to choose from. Disney Cruise Line typically releases itineraries about 15 months in advance.

Order complimentary Mickey Bars from room service. You won't find them on the room service menu because they are a "secret menu" item. One of my girl's favorite traditions is ordering Mickey Bars while we are in our cabin getting ready for dinner. Yes... BEFORE dinner! When we are on vacation, we break the rules!

Choose the RIGHT side of the ship. If you have an itinerary that is visiting Castaway Cay, Disney's Private island, you are going to want to be strategic with your cabin selection. The left side of the ship (when looking toward the forward section of the ship) is the port side and the right side is called the starboard side. When Disney Cruise Line docks at Castaway Cay they back the ships in versus pulling in because of the logistics of the port. If you have an ocean view cabin you will get the best view when you wake up from the starboard side. It is a breathtaking experience!

Order as much as you want. Many guests are surprised when I tell them there are no restrictions when ordering food in the main dining room. Can't decide between the Tangled Pasta and the Captain of the Guards Roasted Prime Rib of Beef? Get both! Try as many appetizers, main dishes, and desserts as your heart desires at no additional charge.

Celebrate special events onboard. Are you celebrating a birthday or maybe an anniversary during your sailing? Guest services have complimentary pins that they give to those who let them know about their celebrations. Most guests do not know about this because it is not something that is openly shared. The pins are similar to the ones that you receive in the parks and make great souvenirs/keepsakes.

Don't give up on the main dining time. There are two dining times offered for dinner in the main dining room. The most popular option is the main dining time which is the earlier dining time as opposed to the second seating. After the main dining time hits capacity before the sailing, you will have the option to be waitlisted. I always recommend joining the waitlist. If on boarding day you are still stuck on the waitlist, you can look in the navigator app after you board to find the designated time that you can meet with the dining team. The line will form quickly and they can only grant a set number of requests so get to the designated location early.

Enjoy Happy Hours. I didn't figure this one out until after my second sailing that there are happy hours on Disney Cruise Line and they are worth planning for! Keep an eye on your navigator's app for daily happy hours at multiple hours in the day in select lounges/bars. You can find happy hours that offer up to 50% off of select cocktails. When we ordered drinks during our first happy hour experience we did not take notice of the 'select" part of the deal and we ended up paying full price for our drinks.

Plan less, experience more. Disney Cruise Line has so much to experience aboard their ships. Bingo, trivia, family games, meet and greets, shows, movies, dance parties, holiday festivities (during select itineraries) and so much more. You will not know your exact itinerary until after you board and have access to the onboard experience of the Navigator App. If you over plan pre-booked activities onboard, you will risk missing some of these special offerings. I encourage clients to leave room in their itineraries to have the time to explore without a set schedule.

You can join Shana’s Disney Cruise Line Facebook planning group for more tips and tricks. It’s an excellent place to go to ask any specific questions you may come up with during your planning stages. You can also reach Shana via email with any questions or inquiries about your upcoming Disney Cruise at Shana@friendlikemetravel.com.

If you decide to give a Disney Cruise a try for your next family vacation be prepared for an adventure filled with magical fun and endless memories with your loved ones!

Crissy Fishbane is the co-founder of HER Health Collective, a supportive community and resource hub for moms. She is a certified therapeutic exercise specialist, personal trainer, wellness coach, and former high-school psychology teacher. Crissy believes in a holistic approach to women’s health and is a strong advocate of improved screening and treatment of perinatal mood disorders. She is passionate about building a supportive community for moms where they can make genuine connections and build authentic relationships. Crissy is a regular Go Ask Mom contributor.