by Matt Houtby
I recently had the opportunity to combine two of my favourite experiences: Disney theme parks and cruising. If you know me, you know I love Disney and I was excited to cruise on a Disney ship for the first time. So, after five incredible days at Walt Disney World, my family boarded the Disney Magic for a 4-night Bahamas cruise sailing out of Port Canaveral.
When choosing which parks and cruise to pair, I was very intentional and I worked to ensure that it was as easy as possible to transition from shore to ship. Port Canaveral was a must for pairing our cruise with a park stay, and since I wanted a shorter sailing (3 to 5 nights) to fit neatly into a business week, I looked at the available options and ended up booking 10 months in advance, which not only gave us peace of mind but also locked in a fantastic rate.
Our voyage visited Nassau and Disney’s brand-new private island, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, a perfect mix of classic Caribbean and fresh Disney magic.
If I had to share one tip that was a game-changer it would be booking transfers through Disney Cruise Line. It really made our embarkation day stress-free—which when you’re travelling with children means a lot! Disney provided transportation from the resort that was on time, and included a pre-set boarding time. That meant no racing to the app to secure an early check-in slot. Once at the port, we breezed through security, checked in quickly, and were called to board almost immediately
The magic started the moment we stepped onto the ship. Our family name was announced as we entered the atrium, which was classic Disney with a Mickey statue and whimsical Halloween décor, including the pumpkin tree. Characters were out and about, waving to guests and creating a truly magical experience. As a parent, you treasure the moments that you know are creating lasting memories for your children. As I watched my daughter’s eyes light up, it confirmed exactly why we chose a Disney cruise and my heart may have melted just a little bit.
We all know that family travel can be expensive so to keep costs down, we booked an interior stateroom, and it turned out to be a smart choice for a short sailing packed with activities. When you spend most of your time out of the room, this is an excellent and cost-effective option.
Our forward Deck 6 location was quiet, away from the busiest stairwells and elevators. The room featured a king bed, sleeper sofa for our daughter, spacious vanity/desk, double closet, and plenty of drawer storage. The bathroom was compact but functional, with a tub/shower combo. But when you sail Disney, there is always that extra Disney magic. Ours came from our stateroom host who provided nightly turndown service, towel animals, and chocolates.
Disney’s unique rotational dining system meant we experienced all three main restaurants, with the same wonderful servers travelling with us each night. We loved how our servers remembered our preferences and added personal touches each evening, it makes the experience just that much better.
The three restaurants we dined at included: .
Animator’s Palette – a creative, interactive dining show.
Rapunzel’s Royal Table – a Tangled-inspired celebration with live music.
Lumiere’s – elegant French cuisine in a Beauty and the Beast setting.
Quick bites like Pinocchio’s Pizzeria and Duck-In Diner hit the spot for lunches, and free room service (hello, Mickey ice cream bars at midnight!) was a nice perk. Though we didn’t try the adults-only Palo, it’s on my list for a future sailing.
Everyone knows that Disney is a stand out for entertainment in everything they do. We had four nights to take in as much as we could and the lineup was packed.
There were three Broadway-calibre shows: Tangled: The Musical, Twice Charmed, and Dreams. With the perfect schedule to match our dining rotation, we were able to attend all three shows. Tangled is an abbreviated version of the film and was great with performers coming out into the crowd. Twice Charmed is a clever spin on the Cinderella story where (spoiler alert) we see what would have happened if the glass slipper fit someone else’s foot (similar to Cinderella 3 if you’ve seen that film). I particularly liked Jacques and Gus Gus, the mice from Cinderella, in this performance. And Dreams is a wonderful mashup of several different Disney stories told through the eyes of a child in her dream where she meets Peter Pan. It was a great show with a few surprises along the way.
Movie screenings with the latest releases (Fantastic Four, Lilo & Stitch live-action, Elio) plus Disney classics are a great way to chill out. There were concessions stands out front of the theatre where you could purchase drinks (non-alcoholic or adult beverages were offered) as well as popcorn. Helpful Tip* If you have a Disney popcorn bucket, bring it with you for the cruise. You pay less for refills. Collectible popcorn buckets are also sold on the ship if you are a collector.
You don’t want to miss the deck parties like the Sail-Away Celebration, Pirate Night with fireworks at sea (what?!?), and Halloween trick-or-treating. My daughter had an amazing time filling her treat bag and getting a head start on some seasonal fun.
One of the best parts of a Disney Cruise is the character meet-and-greets. Short lines, air-conditioned venues, professional photographers, and unforgettable memories, all without the theme park crowds. This was definitely a win for us.
One splurge I’ll never regret was booking the Royal Court Royal Tea Party with my daughter.
From her regal introduction by uniformed guards to meeting Belle, Tiana, and Ariel, the experience was nothing short of magical. Once seated, we had royal servers all come out in procession and in unison, served all the tables with delectable sandwiches and fine desserts with tea for the adults and juice served in tea cups for the kids. During our tea service, we were entertained by our hosts who sang and danced, as well as each princess giving us some backstory about tea parties they’ve attended in the past. Then the Princesses would come to the tables to greet their guests and sign autograph books. At the end of the tea service, each guest of the Royal Court was invited to the front of the restaurant for a personal photo with all the princesses.
In addition to the tea service, the keepsakes given to the guests alone were worth it. Each child received a plush toy of Gus Gus the mouse in a tea cup (very appropriate), a very regal looking crown and cape, new autograph book with pen, tea set, and a personalized photo delivered to our stateroom. Watching her light up during this special moment was priceless.
TIP: If you are interested, reservations for this event are limited and sell out very quickly. If you intend to book this, be prepared to secure it the day they become available for reservations.
Our first port was Nassau, Bahamas. Since we have visited before, we opted to stay onboard and enjoy the quieter ship as there was so much to do onboard so we didn’t feel like we missed out at all. For those that haven’t visited, here are a few recommendations for families to enjoy their time in port:
Our second port was Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point: Disney’s brand-new private island. This was definitely a highlight. The pier walk takes about 15–20 minutes and then onto the tram ride, to get to your final destination. While at Lookout Cay, we enjoyed soaking up the sun, playing in the ocean and some family beach time. We had a delicious BBQ lunch, enjoyed some Bahamian-inspired entertainment with the RUSH Junkaroo party, and of course, there were character greetings by some Disney favourites.
One of the unique things about Lookout Cay is that Disney designed the island with sustainability in mind, preserving the coral reefs and lush vegetation which is great for the local ecosystem.
I’ll admit that I was worried a Disney cruise might be all kids, all the time. I mean it’s Disney right? Instead, I discovered an impressive lineup of adults-only options for those who are still a kid at heart or for when you have some “alone time”.
Here are some of the key areas/features geared to adults:
Disney truly makes sure there’s something for every guest, from toddlers to grandparents.
Our first Disney Cruise exceeded every expectation. Our ship, the Disney Magic delivered on its name, blending elegance, world-class service, and that unmistakable Disney charm.
Whether you’re travelling as a couple, a family, or a multi-generational group, Disney Cruise Line truly does offer something for everyone. With new ships like the Disney Treasure launching soon and the Disney Destiny just around the corner, the possibilities are growing even more magical.
Ready to create your own magical memories? Contact us to start your Disney adventure.
