While the Disney Parks are one of our most favorite places to vacation, we find that sometimes, a Disney cruise just hits the spot. 

After all, what could be better than a few days of surf, sun, and the occasional trek off the ship to some white sand, especially when you’re surrounded by all your favorite Disney characters and theming? Well, if you ask us, nothing sounds better. If you’ve been debating whether or not you should plan your first Disney cruise or plan your first Disney cruise in a while, we need to tell you a few things first! 

Disney cruises are filled with all sorts of surprises. There are five things that really surprised us on our last Disney cruise, and trust us, these are GOOD surprises that you’ll want to know beforehand. Let’s go!

It’s nearly IMPOSSIBLE to do everything.

A lot of folks avoid cruises because they’re worried they’ll run out of things to do before their trip is complete, or that their kiddos will be bored after being trapped on a ship in the middle of the ocean for a few days.

Rest assured, my friend, that there is a very, VERY low chance that you will run out of things to do on a Disney Cruise. From a water coaster on some ships to seemingly endless themed entertainment on board, it’s pretty much impossible to do every single thing, meet every single character, and try every single snack in three to four days.

This cruise had us wishing we were a KID.

Disney Cruise Line’s ships have a massive, indoor play area called the Oceaneer Club. It’s super themed, and it looks like SO MUCH FUN.

One thing we also loved at the Oceaneer Club was the automated hand washing station outside of the club. Yes, your kiddo can stick their hands in the slots, where their dirty paws will be blasted with a mixture of soap and water in a circular motion for 20 seconds.

There are DOLE Whips galore.

On each Disney ship, you’ll be able to get a different version of a DOLE Whip treat. These are more like smoothies, as opposed to ice cream, though.

Here’s where you can get DOLE Whip on each Disney Cruise Line ship:

• Disney Magic: Frozone Treats (Deck 9)
• Disney Fantasy: Frozone Treats (Deck 9)
• Disney Dream: Frozone Treats (Deck 11)
• Disney Wonder: Sulley’s Sips (Deck 9)
• Disney Wish: Wheezy’s Freezies (Deck 12)

If your itinerary goes to Nassau, Bahamas, though, there’s a spot located just to the right of the port entrance where you can grab nine (!!!) different DOLE Whip flavors in the traditional soft serve form.

They do taste more like sorbet, but they’re SUPER good.

There is just as much theming as there is in a Disney Park.

If you’re used to vacationing in a Disney Park, it can be hard to decide to do something else, like go on a cruise. A major concern is that the cruise just isn’t as magical!

We were surprised at how much theming was found across the ship, from the grand hall, to the rooms, to the characters you can meet. It’s Disney through and through! So, trust us, it’s still magical.

There are so. many. dining. locations.

Seriously, there are just as many dining locations aboard a Disney ship as there are in a Disney Park. It’s incredible!

Each ship has a buffet option, quick service (or fast-food) type options, snack bars, table service dining, and luxury signature dining. Plus, Disney Cruise Line’s signature Rotational Dining lets you dine at every restaurant while the wonderful crew servers rotate with you, so they get to know your group and dining preferences!

Well, folks, there you have it! These five things definitely had us pleasantly surprised on our Disney cruise, and we think that you’ll love these things as well. If you’re debating a Disney Cruise, make sure to say hello to our friends over at Small World Vacations, as they’ll help you plan your cruise from start to finish, and might even be able to help you snag a discount or two along the way.

We’ll be sure to keep you updated with more Disney news, so make sure to follow along so that you’re always in the loop.

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