Unique Items to Pack For Your Next Disney Cruise

Have you recently booked your next cruise on Disney Cruise Line? Now it’s time to think about what to bring with you! Creating a travel packing list for your next Disney Cruise can be a time-consuming process. The essentials to bring will be specific to your destination and duration. However, there are many unique items that may not be considered. On our first Disney Cruise, we had many “thank goodness we had this” moments, and I was grateful to have done the research and prep that we did. This post will focus on those unique items to hopefully help you in the planning process.

*Note: be sure to check out packing suggestions at the official Disney Cruise Line website as it will also cover the important documentation to bring.

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Often times when we are traveling, we are not as worried about those “forgotten items” as a grocery or drug store is almost always nearby. However, when sailing on a Disney Cruise, stores are not readily available. Your ship will have some essentials to purchase on board, but selection will be limited and prices may be inflated. Also, if traveling to a foreign destination, items such as specific medicines, may be tricky to come by.

Clothing Items

A Disney Cruise vacation is unlike a traditional family vacation. The number of outfit changes in a day will give a fashion model a run for their money! For anyone who has sailed on a different cruise line, the stress of what to wear is real. Especially on those formal dinner nights where oftentimes guests are dressed as if they’re reliving their senior prom!

A benefit of sailing on a Disney cruise is that their dress code is fairly relaxed. Every evening will have a determined dress code, however, Disney Cruise Line does not strictly enforce it. There are a few exceptions to this, specifically the adult-only restaurants on board. If you are lucky enough to score a reservation to Palo, Enchante, or the many other exclusive dining options, be sure to confirm the dress requirements prior to sailing. The last thing you want is to arrive at your reservation only to find out your attire is not appropriate.

For dinner in the main dining rooms, these are the various dress codes you can expect (this is itinerary dependent):

• Casual wear – as long as you arrive with shoes and a shirt, dinner will be served!
• Semi-formal – think “Sunday brunch with your mom” at a nice dining establishment
• Formal – fancy wedding attire or black-tie affair
• Pirate Night (or another theme) – most sailings have a “theme” night where guests are encouraged to dress in their best get-up. Think of it as any excuse to dress in costume outside of Halloween!

As mentioned, the dinner dress code is merely a suggestion, not a requirement. If you want to make casual wear every night, no one will stop you. If anything, this will surely cut down the number of outfits you will need to pack!

FOr the Kiddos

• Airtags and band – for those little ones who like to go on their own adventures. This is most useful on port days as airtag tracking will not be able to determine deck location on the cruise ship.
• Travel Drawing Boards – dinner on cruises are known for their long durations, which can result in antsy little ones. These reusable drawing boards are great for keeping the kiddos occupied (and they’re screen free!)
• Autograph book – for those coveted character meet-and-greets, and a wonderful memento for your little ones to take home

• Children’s Cold Medicine – one of those items you don’t think about taking on vacation, but can save your day when you need it. Our oldest did not feel well on our Embarkation Day and having medicine on hand avoided him missing out on too much those first couple of days. *This is also one of those items that may be tricky to find the appropriate dosage, if sailing internationally.
• Packaged snacks – Disney Cruise Line is very strict on what type of foods you are allowed to take on/off the ship (whether it be on Embarkation Day or port days). They do, however, allow you to take non-perishable, fully sealed snacks. Seems crazy to bring food ONTO a cruise ship, but these snacks may save some very hangry children (and adults too!) when out on port days. Just be sure to consume the entire snack before heading back to the ship as you will not be allowed to bring on the opened packages.

The Random THings

• Phone Crossbody Case – the likelihood of photos being taken near a railing is very high…need I say more? There are also options for cases with card slots, which is great for holding your Key to the World card, ID, and any other cards you may need. I found this was one of the most useful items I packed!
• Hand Sanitizer Spray – you’re on a cruise ship…germs are everywhere.
• Hand Sanitizer Wipes – I like these better than the spray for our little ones’ hands as I find you can clean them more thoroughly. And it doubles as a way to wipe down those communal areas!
• Pharmacy essentials – as with the Children’s Medicine, this can be a lifesaver when you are in need. Our “pharmacy bag” included both Children’s Motrin and adult Ibuprofen, thermometer, band-aids and Neosporin, Tums (for those overindulgence days – bring enough for every day!), Zyrtec, Ginger Chews (to help with sea-sickness), and Prunes (for the other over-indulgence issue).
• Aloe Vera – you could bulk this into the “pharmacy essentials” category, as this is an essential if you forget to pack sunscreen!
• Waterproof pool/beach bag – more useful on those port days if you plan to visit a beach. The waterproof/water resistant option is great for protecting those items you’d like to stay dry.
• Reusable Water Bottles – staying hydrated is important! Especially if you are going on a tropical adventure. There are fill stations with water and soft drinks available, which are included with your cruise fare. You could use the disposable cups that Disney provides, if you prefer. We are a water drinking family and like to have your H2O available wherever we are.
• Water Bottle Sling – this coincides with bringing a reusable water bottle – it allows you to keep your hands free! Between this and the phone crossbody case, I was all set for the day. The North Face Water Bottle Holder is a great option as it also has pocket space for your phone, cards, etc. Allows you to be hands free for the day!
• Water Jug/Growler – fill stations are the only option for water outside of purchasing water bottles. Being that our family drinks a lot of water, we brought an insulated growler to have in our stateroom so we could have water accessible to us during the evenings. This item is more specific to our family’s “must bring”, but I thought I would add this to the list as we found it to be a lifesaver!
• Laundry Bags – again, remember all those outfit changes? Dirty laundry accumulates quickly, especially with a family of four like ours. Having a place to keep your dirty clothes can help keep your tiny stateroom tidy! We opt to bring a couple kitchen garbage bags on our vacations, but other bloggers suggest those collapsable laundry baskets. The full garbage bags are easy to pack straight back into your suitcase, which I find very convenient.
• Portable Fan – living in Florida, this is a must bring for us anywhere we go during those hot summer days. Just a little bit of airflow on your face can make the world of difference.
• Stain Remover Packets – my son’s school introduced me to the Emergency Stain Rescue stain remover wipes that are perfect when you are on the go, especially on vacation. I swear by them now!
• Magicband+ – this is very useful if you don’t want to have your Key to the World card on you at all times. The Magicband+ (same one you use for the Disney Parks) will give you access to your stateroom, allow you to charge purchases, and can be used to check you on/off the ship on port days. If you have an Oceaneer Clubber, the Magicband+ will also be able to give them access to the club without having to borrow one. There are designs exclusive for Disney Cruise Line guests. It doubles as a great souvenir!
• Closet Hanging Organizer – there is very little drawer space in the staterooms and thus a closet organizer can come in handy by creating extra storage. There is surprisingly ample closet space, so we found no problem with having the organizer amongst our hanging clothes. Most are collapsable and make for easy packing in your suitcase.
• Clothes Pins – there is clothesline in the bathroom for hanging any wet items to dry, such as swimsuits and trunks.
• Magnetic Hooks – these hooks are one of those “cruise hacks” that you will find most everyone recommending. We did not use them as much as we thought we would as we found the staterooms to have enough room for our items. But they were very useful in hanging the several hats that came along with us!
• Ziploc Bags – another go-to item for us whenever we go on vacation. We pack a plethora of sizes as you never know when you may need one.
• Wine or Beer Bottle Opener – a must if you are planning to bring your own alcohol on board (and the bottles are not twist-off).

Carry-On Luggage

Embarkation Day is a busy day for both guests and crew members. Just think about the thousands of luggage pieces that need to be correctly dispersed throughout the ship! Disney Cruise Line aptly prepares their newly arriving guests with the possibility that their luggage may not arrive at their stateroom until the early evening hours. Because of this, packing a carry-on bag with your essentials is a must. Some items to consider are:

• Travel Documents
• Important Medicines
• Swimsuits and sunscreen (if you plan to dip into the pool on Day 1)
• Valuables (such as jewelry, electronics, cash, etc.)
• Reusable water bottle
• Glasses/Contact Lenses (if applicable)
• Baby essentials (if applicable)
• Alcohol (each guest 21+ is allowed to bring 2 unopened bottles of wine/champagne, OR 6 bottles of 12oz. beer, and in their carry on only)

Just a tidbit: I suggest your carry-on be an easy one for you to take around (such as a rolling carry-on suitcase). The last thing you want is to be lugging around a bag that is difficult to carry while you are exploring the ship.

Carry-Off Luggage

A carry-off piece of luggage is imperative if you choose the option of having the crew members offload your luggage for you. Once your luggage is picked up on the last evening, you will not be able to access it until you disembark. You will want to consider packing the following in your carry-off bag:

• Travel Documents
• Important Medicines
• Valuables (such as jewelry, electronics, cash, etc.)
• Pajamas
• Clothing for the last morning
• Toiletries
• Any other items you may need for the last 12 hours or so on the ship

Are you getting ready for a cruise adventure and wondering if there is anything else to consider? Have you recently returned from a cruise and have suggestions to offer? Please comment below as I’d love to hear your suggestions!