As someone with 50+ cruises with Disney, here is my list of tips and tricks: Wear your swim suit under clothes when you get on board, and go straight to the pool. Most pools will always be crowded so change in a bathroom if you carry a swim suit in a bag, or take off everything and start swimming before all the crowds. When things start picking up, you can go to one of the all you can eat buffets if you haven’t already stuffed your face with top deck food. If you are going to go to castaway key, do the marathon (even if you aren’t a fitness person) and you will be able to get extra island and a better choice of beach chairs time after you finish (you are also not required to run at any point) On the magic/wonder on deck 8 there is a secret entrance to cabanas at the very very end, you’ll have to go up a spiraling staircase! Very secret. Bring a water bottle and/or a water cooler to refill at the drink station instead of using the small cups Use the cups at the drink station for ice cream instead of the small ice cream cones. The calmest area in sail away is the back of the ship, enjoy the party for awhile and then enjoy the peace of watching land fade into the horizon. You can order cocktails from bars to be delivered to your dining table! You can also order menu items from the restaurants to your room (depending) and most room service items are free :) Med bay carries items for sea sickness if you need it Definitely go to the muster station, even if it’s no longer required, not only for safety but also because it helps you get a better lay out of the ship if anything unfortunate does happen. Look for hidden mickeys! There everywhere! You can split the bed, but you will have to ask guest services or a steward to do it for you. Get magnetic or hooked/hangers bags for toiletries so your bathroom isn’t crowded and you have everything roll around inside. The rooms at the back of the boat (aft) rock less, and the closer forward the more the boat will sway. If you have sea sickness, plan to have a room at the back. If you are one of the last people on castaway key, lots of shovels, buckets, sand castle stuff is left by people. If you are planning on going to more beaches after take advantage. You can request to dine alone, (without another family at the table) but you will have to request this on the first couple days as seating is limited. If something isn’t up to the Disney standard (rarely happens) let someone know (politely of course) and they will do everything they can to make it right. We had a room smell like… well, pee. And we got free cups, fruit bowl, and we the problem continues, we got to party on the Mickey slide (this was on the fantasy) at pirate night (this is not a normal thing lol, and I got a ton of pics hahahah) but please be cretinous and don’t complain just to get free stuff!!!! There are lots of Disney outlet stores near Port Canaveral, so save money buying stuff from there instead of paying for expensive items on the cruise. There’s lots more but that’s all I can remember rn.

One thing my professor taught us on the first day of our cruise course is that every passenger has the right line for them. This is no question NOT the one for me. Cruising with that many kids and no drink package . . . hell at sea.

Second dining/first theater show is DEFINITELY the way to go on Disney Cruises! Perk: If you HAVE kids on this schedule, the kids club will come and pick your kids up from the tail end of dinner, so you can finish your meal in peace with a glass of wine, and then go hang out sans kids for the evening hours. It's better planned out than any other cruise we've ever been on in that regard.

Plenty of people would find the Disney cruise experience to be heavenly. For me, it would be a trip in quite the opposite direction! But even a curmudgeon like me can appreciate the creative theming and attention to detail that Disney puts into, well, everything.

Finally an honest unsponsored review, thank you

Can I just say, those people who like the video before you've ever watched it all. I love you guys.

The trick for the free soda is to bring your own 32 or 44 oz tumbler aboard the ship so you only have to fill it up once or twice a day rather than using the small provided paper cups.

I went on a 7 day cruise to the Caribbean with my family of 4 in a balcony cabin on Carnival out of Miami in August. With prepaid gratuities it was $2,700. My coworker went on a 3 night cruise on Disney with her family of 5 in December and it was $11,000. There are a lot of factors that play to the price, but that’s a hell of a difference. I’m so happy my boys never really cared for Disney. But, for those who do I’m sure it’s a wonderful experience.

Is a Disney cruise for me? No. However, I view it as a themed cruise & would expect to pay more for whatever theme it is, be it '80s or Star Trek or Golden Girls, etc. You're absolutely right: Disney cruises are perfect for Disney fans & I'm glad they have the choice of so many ships & itineraries. 👍🏻

It’s so unusual, I have zero interest in Disney, zero interest in cruising, and yet I can’t stop watching your videos! Keep up the great work 👍

I just got off our Disney Cruise. The tipping envelopes came with a sheet of paper that told your servers and steward what their tip was. You were just expected to put the sheet of paper into the envelop and give it to the staff with your thanks. You could put additional amounts if you wished, but there was no pressure to do so. Once I saw what was expected, I was completely fine with the process. We went on this cruise with a discount, so it was very much worth the cost.

This was a well-balanced review. Having seen your instagram posts I was afraid you were totally bummed out by it. I still think a 3-day cruise is just too intense on any cruise line. I have been on DCL six times -- we do the door decorating and fish extenders -- but I confess that my in-laws paid for it (indulgent grandparents that they are -- they are in their 80s and also cruise Disney without children or grandchildren!). I'd never be able to afford it on our own and wouldn't spend that kind of money if I could do two cruises for the same amount of money.

I used to contract on the magic from 2002-2007. I'm a welder and a mechanic. I changed a lot of pumps and valves and welded and installed a lot of stuff I seen in this video. We had passenger cabins and did anything they did and we could go to crew areas. They have their own bars on deck 1 on the bow and stern. Beer was much cheaper and we usually ate in the crew mess which was free. It was a cool job but a few times I was stuck on it for 2 months. It sailed out of my home town at the time , Port Canaveral Florida. One thing is the kids can drive u crazy and if I ever hear it's a small world ever again it will be too soon.

It's absolutely crucial that people pick the right cruise for themselves and their family. I am not a fan of budget cruising, and I would be miserable in a Carnival Cruise, or something similar. Cruises like Disney or Viking are more expensive, but there is a certain level of service and care that makes it worth every penny. It's important that people do their research. Thank you so much for giving your perspective!

I have to give it to them - animating the characters that people create at dinner looks absolutely amazing.

Hi Emma, I’m a Disney lover and am hoping to go on the Disney Dream in the next couple of years. I am glad to see a balanced review from someone who isn’t Disney mad, but has obvious experience with cruising. It has been so helpful to get the perspective from someone who isn’t in the Disney bubble and I have been looking at your other videos for tips on what will be my first cruise. Thank you 🌸

We love Disney cruises. Extremely safe for kids - staff move kids all about the ship in their own passageways while never coming in contact with any passengers.

I’ve been on 30 cruises. Disney is my top choice for cruise line. It’s expensive, but worth it to do it at least once… I’ve done Disney twice. We went around Halloween so we dressed up twice during the week long cruise; once for the pirates theme, once for Halloween. It was a blast. My favorite upper class cruise line is Celebrity. My favorite destination is Alaska. My favorite budget cruise line is Carnival. And, yes, they are the “fun ship”.

Great video! I’ve been on 11 Disney cruises now, one of which was a Staycation cruise. The staycation cruises were completely different to a normal Disney cruise. On a normal cruise (non-covid times), there is live music (usually they have a band, singers etc around the ship), they have more variety acts and keep the adult areas open later at night with a DJ, comedy shows, live music etc. They also have more parties on top deck that include fireworks and buffets. My tip to anyone who did a staycation cruise and is not sure what they think - please do a normal one and give it another chance!

I have two trips on Disney with my children that will never be forgotten, perfect cruise for the times. I can still feel the emotions from those trips, makes me teary just to think about it.

One thing amongst many things that I enjoy about sailing ⛵️ with Disney is they actually keep the kiddos out of the adult only areas.

1939 1939: Dove Milk Chocolate In 1939, Leo Stefanos, an ice cream shop owner in Chicago, invented the “DOVEBAR.” Stefanos' Dove Candies & Ice Cream became a powerhouse, selling 1 million bars annually by the 1970s. Love your shows!

"It was originally created as Galaxy here in the U.K., and it seems like for some reason they changed the name and it is Dove in other countries." Actually, it started in Chicago as Dove in 1939. It wasn't introduced to the U.K. as Galaxy until 1960. Then in 1986 the business was sold (along with both the Dove and Galaxy brand names) to the international confectionary company Mars, Inc.

2:12 is exactly why the Magic/Wonder are our favorites. We've done the Dream/Fantasy and prefer the smaller ships. We've done the RCI mega ships too and were really disappointed by how much of a 'number' we felt like. Something out there for everyone. Love the channel and glad you made these vids.

Love your review. As always you put a lot of thought and detail into it. It think this shows the importance of knowing yourself when picking a cruise line. You know what you enjoy and what you value and take all recommendations with that in mind. Good lesson for all cruisers.

As an avid Disney fan, and a 14-tike Disney Cruiser, I'd like to say that all of the things you said were fair. I would also like to credit your other videos for encouraging my wife and I to try other cruise options sailing from Florida for next year. Excellent work!

Whoa its really cool to see the added enclosed slide added to the Magic! It's been a few years since I sailed on that ship and glad to see them upgrade the water activities!

This brings back many memories. When we came back to the cabins I would take the chocolates and keep it until i went home. Disney cruise was the best cruise I've been on

I recently came across your videos and honestly it put me more at ease to try a cruise for the first time. So informative and great content ☺️

Thoroughly enjoyed watching your review. I think it would be something one would pay for to make a life time magical memory for your kiddies. I would have absolutely loved as a kid.

My first cruise experience was with Disney. I absolutely loved it! The entertainment, food, staff etc were amazing.

Love the amount and quality of this vlog. Thank you for this information.

I'm not interested in cruising but I love your channel. I really appreciated your expertise. Your videos are super informative and fast paced. Great watching a pro.

Definitely right about there being a cruise for everybody. I like that the ships don’t have a casino and lots of bar so I never had to worry about my kids. I also like the rotational dining and the food so I don’t have to pay for specialty dining or a drinks package to get soft drinks. I’m willing to branch out and try other lines, but I’ll always compare it to Disney 😂

Good review, you gave a interesting perspective compared to other review/tour videos I have watched in the last few days regarding taking a Disney Cruise. Thanks for posting!

I loved your assessment. I totally agree with you about everything. Very well presented. Good work, Emma.

We were able to meet quite a few families via disboards before our cruise. Probably 100 or so families. And we arranged fish extender gift exchanges, meetups, ornament exchanges, etc. That by itself made cruising so much more fun. We had been communicating for over a year before we sailed. We’ve only cruised Disney but are leaving on our first non-Disney cruise in a few weeks.

Great review! I didn’t think it would be your cup of tea, but glad you liked it. These cruises are definitely different during Covid and that means lots of things missing … live music, full shows, day and evening activities .. there really is so much missing. Like you say though, there is a cruise line for everyone! P.s. The split bathrooms are a firm favourite of a lot of Disney cruisers. So much easier to get ready when you have a separate shower/toilet! Joa

I did this cruise as a kid in the early 2000s…truly maybe 2003/4 and your descriptions are EXACTLY how I remember it. Very nostalgic

Awesome! Looking to go on one in April. I am so excited!

Great insights Emma. I've sailed the Magic on a 7 night Western Caribbean with a 3 and 5 year old girls and yes, it is loud at times. But we let ourselves get totally wrapped up in the experience and created a life time of memories.

I hit the LIKE button after the first 30 seconds. Saving for later viewing as I have a meeting with our travel agent about the 2022 NCL cruise we are taking. I told the travel agent about your KZfaq site.

Thanks for your review. Looking forward to our 3 disney cruises in the next two months. Great Job Emma.

I learned so many new things about Disney from you, thanks so much Emma!

The Disney Magic is actually our favorite of the Disney ships. We love the Cast Members and the ship overall. I think in this case smaller can be better.

It was nice seeing what a Disney cruise is like from a passenger point of view. I worked on both the Dream and the fantasy but never got to experience it from a guest side.

So glad I watched this….totally made me change my mind about taking a Disney cruise. I will go with a different cruise. Thank You

Thank you for this honest review.

I’ve been on Disney 5 times and for the Buffet I can say they usually have to open for more hours of the day. On our last cruise it was open from 6:30am-11:30am | 12:00pm-3:30pm | 5:00pm-9:00pm. (One day they have a midnight buffet). They must do it now because of Covid and probably since the ship was less passengers onboard.

The rotational dining thing seems like such a great idea

I'm so glad you had a good time. When I went on the Disney Dream in 2017, I sprained my ankle playing basketball during one of the days of my cruise. Luckily, the staff did well in getting me to the er on the ship and got me the service I needed to ensure that I was comfortable and feeling better soon!

Interesting and informative video. I love how much information you give us, thank you

My family got to take a Disney cruise back in 2004. And I mean my WHOLE family (cousins, uncles, aunts, grandparents, etc). It was a Christmas gift from my late great grandmother. I was 10 at the time so a Disney Cruise was right up my ally. I loved the free sodas, the black and white restaurant with the animated drawings, the swimming, and the kids club, of course. We all had an amazing time and made so many wonderful memories together there. One of the highlights of my childhood, for sure. That said, could I see myself ever going on a Disney cruise again? Probably not, if I'm being honest. If nothing else, it's too pricey for what it offers. My family was only able to go back then thanks to my great grandmother's remaining life savings. On our own, my parents would have never been able to afford the trip, even if it had just been for my sister and I. I got a ton of value out of it as a kid for it to ultimately be worth the cost, but that was almost 20 years ago. I'm sure things have changed on the ship since then, especially in a post-covid world, and I'm not as big on Disney as I used to be. I remember there being some adults-only things to do on the shipt, but unless you're obsessed with Disney as an adult, this cruise is mainly for the kids to enjoy. If I had kids of my own, I'm sure they would absolutely love it. But for adults, I think there might be better alternatives out there.

We consider ourselves a Disney family and definitely enjoyed the Disney cruises that we've traveled on. We can't wait to get back to cruising again and getting onboard one of the mega-ships that you've recommended.

Love this! I’m taking my first cruise ever on DCL next fall and appreciate your experience and perspective.

Here’s a tip for disney! Don’t go to the buffet for embarkation lunch, go to the main dining room! Much quieter, and higher quality good

Thanks, Emma; it's crystallised for us that we are not the right demographic for a Disney cruise! Very informative video.

Very fair review, I think. DCL deliver a great experience - we've spoken to people who have cruised extensively and they rated Disney as the best - but different things matter to different people, and cost is a factor. We've had a brilliant time when we've sailed with DCL, especially in Alaska.

Woah! I've been watching your videos for a few days, reminiscing about the two cruises I've been lucky enough to go on, and I couldn't believe it when I heard you mention starting out going to the kids club on Norwegian! My two cruises were on the NCL Gem, and the during the first one I spent the first few nights in the "teens club" before making friends and going out on our own. definitely a formative experience for me. keep up the great work, you make great videos!

I really enjoyed listening to your experience based on such a short cruise. I've only cruised on the Fantasy thus far and for 7 nights and while I do find it expensive, I also believe that you get what you pay for. I also believe your experience might have been heightened/lowered due to post-pandemic conditions, especially on the live music thing, on every cruise I've been on there have been artists playing at different spots all over the ship which was always nice. Very happy to have heard your thoughts on this cruise and looking forward to your future video.

I've never been on a Disney cruise but I really like the style of their ships. I think it's designed to resemble the old ocean liners on the late 1800s and early 1900s.

I love how you can be so positive about a cruise you didn’t fully enjoy with out trashing it for personal preference reasons. There is a cruise for everyone is right! Also… did carnival phase out towel animals abs chocolates? You said some lines have.

My first time to watch your channel. Your description and narration is amazing factual and to the point

My fiancée and I are planning on doing a Disney Cruise for our 10 year anniversary in 2027!. I have never been on a cruise before and she has when she was young but we're both Disney fans (especially her; she used to work at Disney World). But I think of us being fans, this is definitely something I would like to experience at least once. We're both really looking forward to it and we can't wait. Great video!

DCL Pro tip for tall people: shower at the spa/fitness center locker rooms. It’s free and much more spacious!

I cruised on this ship in January 2020 before the pandemic. Full ship, great experience. Eye-popping to see it so empty.

Good video Emma, possibly one of your best. Nicely balanced.

Excellent review as always

I’m planning one next year for my 3 boys and husbands. They are not HUGE on Disney but enjoy the movies and shows. I also hear the kids clubs are great. It feels like a bucket list item I want us to do so I think we will just do a 3-4 day cruise. Enough time but not too much

There are definitely some significant differences in Disney Cruises Pre vs Post Covid. (The shorter buffet hours is a Covid thing) And also between cruises out of the UK vs the US. Personally I have gone to the Buffet 2 or 3 times across all the times I have cruised with Disney. I prefer the full service restaurants (my wife prefers room service) If you are cruising without kids the 2nd dining rotation is the way to go. And even on a longer cruise with a "formal" night, it is never required to dress up. (Unless you go to Palo or Remy)

Thank you for the review. I found it very interesting.

Thank you for sharing all of these details. I keep hearing that it's not worth what they charge. BUT, you shared enough to show that there are details that you get and the Disney details that make me want to find a low cost one.

Great video. As a Disney nerd and a DCL veteran, I know I’m biased in my love for Disney cruising. I love so many things about their ships (I’m one of those who love the smaller ships) and their service. But your takes on Cabanas (and off peak food options in general) and late night adult options is something that I completely agree with. Are you planning a food-specific video? Just wondering what you liked and didn’t like about not only the restaurants, but the quick deck 9 options. I feel like those need some updating and additional late night hours too.

I will be doing my first Disney cruise next year with my granddaughters. I have told the family I will be spending a lot of time in the adult areas. Not that I don't love them but a lot of kids drive me crazy. Thanks for an honest review.

I’m loving all your videos! I’ve been a musician on DCL for almost 9 years and it made me so sad when you noted there wasn’t any live music… it took a while for them to get us back on board after 2020 (18 months to be exact) but I just wanted to say we’re over the moon to finally be back and thank you for missing us! ❤️❤️❤️

Very good and informative video Emmma. Thanks. I do not think DC would be for me either. I’m with you on all around Promenades and inside cabins! ✊

This was a couple years ago but when we on the cruises we brought a tumbler and would just use one of their cups and pour in our tumblers so we didn’t have to go back and forth to get sodas

I’m going back onto a disney cruise next month and can’t wait to be back onboard. Got lots of credit that my family can do loads of stuff like the various beverage tastings, spa stuff and doing Palo & Remy. We do these normally but now they’re ‘free’ for us with all the credit we got (almost $4000). Was hoping to use some for stuff in Nassau but nothing I would’ve used it for is available so it’s all going towards ship stuff and Castaway Cay. I love these ships so much I had to check what other cruises I’d even want to do that wasn’t Disney and the only ones that have tempted me are Viking and Cunard with their transatlantic voyage.

Disney Magic was the first cruise I ever went on as a kid. This video brings back memories

I've never been on a cruise ship, or any ship. Life long Colorado USA, not much water around. Thanks for showing me the cruise experience, you are a joy to watch and kinda like a vacation!

I've priced 4 day Disney Caribbean cruises for 2 adults (pre Covid19) and it was going to be around $3500 not including air fare. A 7 day Princess cruise in the Caribbean would be around $2000. And I don't have to worry about the multitude of small children. I have heard that Disney does set the bar high for customer service. Great video.

I’m a teen and Disney Cruises are even fun for me. The teen only sections are great and offer loads of activities. I’m social so I met a lot of people too.

Thx for the fun review! 😁

Dove, always Dove :) Great video! Thank you!

Well, definitely this being a "pandemic era" cruise it was not quite the usual experience. I may try a Disney cruise someday, but, like Emma, I don't know that the extra expense is worth it -- to me.

I appreciate your review of Disney and im glad you enjoyed it. It is expensive but i feel if you have kids that love Disney it is a good value. There is so much for the kids to do and they are in supervised areas. We almost never saw my brothers kids till meal times as they where so ingrossed in the club activities. I do not think other cruises due as much for kids as Disney does. When my daughter graduated from high school I took her on one of the European Disney cruises. My friends all laughed and asked why Disney. I just felt safe on that brand w her. I was only on carnival before and wasnt too impressed. Still has the party hook up image of them. Didnt want to worry about that atmosphere. Just felt safer and more family centered on Disney. I have since been on other cruise lines. Some I will do again others no. Some companies look after their ships others don't. I enjoy that old world feel and atmosphere on the disney cruise. My dream is to do a transatlantic one w my grand children.

I LOVE Disney cruises! They’re my favorite cruise line for sure

I thought I recognized the interior! The Disney Magic was my first cruise ever!! I loved every second of it!!

An honest review thanks for bringing us along. That sea looked mighty rough did you feel seasick?

This was a really helpful video! I’m taking my 4 year old to the obligatory Disney World visit in April. I was thinking that a Disney cruise with her when she’s a little older, 7 or 8 years old might be more enjoyable then braving the ride lines at the Park. I’ve cruised once before more than a decade ago with Carnival from New Orleans to the Yucatán and my least favorite part of the trip was time aboard ship. Yet, your video makes it seem that she’d have a lot of fun if we did the Disney cruise and seeing her having fun is probably worth the crazy price in order to make lasting memories. Thanks again!

Once again information in abundance - good upload.

I remember going on this cruise when I was 9 or 10. Most fun ever! I remember being so excited about the 24/7 self serve soft serve ice cream. I asked my mom recently and she said that she had fun too but there wasn’t enough adult stuff to do, it’s def a cruise more catered to kids.

The chocolates are called Dove where I am, but I'm in the U.S., so no surprise! :) Like you, I've crunched the numbers many times and I just can't bring myself to spend the money for a Disney cruise. My go to cruise line is Royal Caribbean and I can get at least twice the value for my money with Royal, and the cruise line is a good match for me and my family. I have young adult children who have gone on Royal cruises with me at all ages and enjoyed the variety of activities and even the kids' clubs on those ships. I'm trying my first Celebrity cruise this coming March and think the "vibe" and level of activity sounds perfect for me. I anticipate I'll be taking advantage of the "Next Cruise" desk before we disembark!

So interesting to hear your opinion! Whenever my friends ask if Disney cruises are worth it, I always say if the Disney experience is important to you then yes, but otherwise probably not. We also have a maximum price we'll pay for a Disney cruise (about $225 per night per person), so there's usually only a few options in a year that fit into our schedule 😂 As for the live entertainment, our last cruise pre-covid had a lot of it scattered throughout the ship, but what I've heard on cruise Facebook groups is that it's drastically decreased since sailing resumed.

This video is amazing I loved it 😍

Emma I've been waiting for your review of a Disney cruise since before you every booked one. Thank you

Okay, seeing "O'Gills Pub" put a smile on my face. That's an ancient callback for something very appropriate. In the US, Dove Chocolate is marketed as slightly more upscale than Hershey's, so it's a bit more expensive sounding than the British name. That said, almost all of our mass produced chocolate is garbage on this side of the ocean.

Emma, I'm glad you finally did it. Thank you for the indepth analysis of Disney Cruise. It's just not for me especially at that price.

Great Video. We are considering this ship. Great tips.

i love the disney cruises so much! my favorite cruiseline!!