What to Pack for A Disney Cruise: The Ultimate Guide
Disney Wonder in Alaska, one of the few places you’ll need to dress warm
Here’s the complete Disney Cruise packing list (printable Disney Cruise Packing Checklist included). I’ll give you the necessities, as well as lots of tips to make your life easier and more fun on your upcoming trip. I’ll also let you know what not to add to a packing list for a Disney Cruise.
Having a packing list for a Disney Cruise is the best way to start off on the right suitcase and save yourself a lot of hassle. I get so excited about trips that I usually pack blindly and end up having to use my wife’s toothbrush. My wife on the other hand usually packs for twice as long as we need. Hopefully, this guide will help you (and us!) meet in the middle, so you only end up with what you need and what you want in your Disney Cruise packing list.
I’ll go section by section (or you can use this printable checklist).
If you don’t have all this stuff, here’s a wonderful Amazon shopping list I put together for you. (As an Amazon associate, I may earn if you purchase anything. Then I will use it to take my kids on a cruise, or pay for college, whichever they’d prefer in the moment)
Carry-On Items
Clothing
Toiletries
Medicine
Electronics
What Not to Bring
Carry-On Items
The first thing you need to worry about when packing for a Disney Cruise is what to put in your carry-on. First of all, you need your cruise document and identification available, or you’ll have a hard time getting on the boat, and everyone behind you will be mad at you. Then they will glare at you at dinner. You don’t want that.
Second, your luggage will still be getting sorted when you board the Disney Cruise. It could be a few hours before you’ll be able to get anything out of your checked bags. Therefore, you want to have a few necessities and fun items to hold you over until your luggage arrives. So, here’s the list of things you should pack in your carry-on for a Disney Cruise.
Identification
You will need to show your passport or other form of identification when you board the ship. It will depend on the age of your party members as well as the destinations that you are sailing to which documents you will need. Make sure you have them easily accessible, and I recommend a Ziploc bag to keep everything together and dry. Here’s a link if you want to check which documents you will need for your sailing. https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/ships-cruises/required-documents/
Cruise Documents
You not only need to prove who you are; you also need to prove that you are allowed on the Disney Cruise ship. You either need to print your boarding QR code or (preferably) use an acceptable digital version. I have found it easiest keep my tickets for my family in my Google or Apple Wallet.
Phone, Wallet, and Car Keys
You will want to put your phone, wallet, and car keys (if you brought them) in your carry-on. You will have to go through metal detectors, so you’ll want this stuff out of your pockets to speed things up.
Even though you’re getting away from civilization, you still need to bring your phone in order to use the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App. You’ll need the app to book experiences and adult dining, check your itinerary, see the cruise schedule, and talk to the Kids’ Club or Nursery if they need you.
Money
You will need to have some cash on hand for tips. Once you get on the boat, you shouldn’t need cash for everything (though a cash tip is better than any other for the bartenders). However, the luggage guys that are helping you unload your car and putting the suitcases on the boat don’t work for Disney. They work for the port, so you’ll need cash to tip them. They have helped me so many times when we’re traveling with three little kids that can hardly carry anything. I take care of the porters.
If you are trying to carefully budget your trip, you can use cash, gift cards, or different credit cards at Guest Services instead of just letting charges rack up on your card on file. In fact, you can ask them not to charge the card and wait for you to pay if you want. However, guest service lines can be a nightmare, especially at embarkation and debarkation.
Swimsuit
You might want to go swimming as soon as you get on the Disney Cruise Ship. If you have an early boarding time, this might offer you and your kids a chance to hit the Aquaduck/dunk/mouse without much of a line. You don’t want to have to wait for your luggage to show up to get your swimsuits. This is a great first activity.
Sunscreen
If you’re going to hang out on the deck, you’ll want to pack your sunscreen in your carry-on for your Disney Cruise. You don’t want to have to hide from the sun until your luggage arrives. Also, it’s really risky to put sunscreen in your luggage. It can absolutely destroy your clothes.
Hat and Sunglasses
Again, if you’re headed to the deck, even just to look around, you’ll want to protect yourself from the sun with your hat and sunglasses, especially if you’re bald like me. You don’t even necessarily need to pack these in your carry-on. You can just wear them on to the boat.
Motion Sickness Medication and Sea Bands
If you are prone to motion sickness, or you’re not sure if you are because you’re new to cruising, put these things in your carry-on luggage (or just wear your sea band). The boat will already be rocking when you board, so you don’t want to have to wait to use it if you need it.
Sea bands are bracelets you can wear that help with motion sickness. My wife wore them while she was pregnant both on the boat and during the worst of the first trimester morning sickness, and they worked as advertised. There will be a link for them in the Amazon shopping list, but you can see them here.
Reading Material and Electronics
You may want to bring some reading material to relax with during your cruise, and if you pack it in your carry-on, you can do it right away. If you bring any electronics, I recommend you also put them in your carry-on to keep them from getting damaged. And, if you end up having to wait to board for any reason, you can use them for entertainment.
Here are some additional tips for packing your carry-on luggage:
Pack your carry-on luggage in a way that makes it easy to find what you need (especially identification and cruise documents).
Label your carry-on luggage with your name and room number.
Keep your carry-on luggage with you at all times, even when you are on the ship.
Clothing
Since Disney Cruise Line is a family-friendly entity, you’re going to have to wear clothes, so make sure you bring the right things, enough things, and don’t pack a bunch of stuff you don’t need. Here’s a list of the clothes you’ll need to pack for a Disney Cruise, and why.
Cruise Casual Attire
Most of the time, you’ll probably be wandering around your Disney Cruise in casual attire. For most sailings this will mean shorts, capris, sundresses, t-shirts, loose button-ups, or athletic wear. If your particular Disney Cruise sailing is going to a higher latitude like Alaska, you’ll want to check the weather and bring an assortment of pants, long-sleeve tees, and jackets/sweaters/hoodies. Remember that there is laundry on the ship, so you can pack light if you don’t mind doing laundry.
Warm Clothes
Typically, you won’t need a lot of warm clothing on a Disney cruise (unless it’s a cold-weather sailing). That being said, you can make your room as cool as you want, and different venues on the ship may have their air conditioning lower than you’d prefer, especially if you’re sitting still. Also, for me, I’m usually cold when I first wake up. Therefore, a good rule of thumb is to bring light hoodie for everyone and maybe a pair of sweatpants. Maybe also bring a cardigan, sweater, or blazer if you get cold at dinner. Don’t overdo it though. Warm clothes take up a lot of room.
Pajamas
I always forget pajamas when I go on vacation, and I don’t sleep as well without sweatpants or pajama pants. Whatever you like to sleep in at home, bring that on the ship. You can make the room temperature match your preferences. Good pajamas are also great for pictures if you locate Sleep Walking Goofy wandering around the ship.
Formal Attire and Semi-Formal Attire
Disney is very permissive with their dress code for dining. Therefore, it’s up to you what you want to wear for dinner at the normal rotational dining. If you like to dress up just a little bit, that’s fine. If you want to wear tuxes and ball gowns, also fine. The only thing you can’t wear to dinner are swimsuits and tank tops. In other words, you and your party decide what you want dinner to feel like. I like it to be a little fancy, but I don’t stress about it. Whatever you decide, remember that dress clothes, especially floor length dresses and suits, take up a lot of room when packing for a Disney Cruise.
There is one exception. The adult dining on each ship (Palo, Palo Steakhouse, Remy, Enchanté) require, at minimum, slacks and a collar for men, and dress or slacks with a blouse for women. So, if you’re planning on dining at one of these, you’ll need to pack for your Disney Cruise accordingly.
Swimwear
You’re going on a Disney cruise, so you probably want swimwear. This includes swimsuits, cover-ups, and maybe a puddle jumper for the little ones. Life jackets are available in various sizes for bigger kids and adults that need them. Seriously, don’t forget your bathing suit—not for the pools or any beaches you visit. If you do, Disney has plenty for you to purchase at Disney prices.
Sun Protection
There’s a lot of sun on a Disney Cruise, so you’ll want to protect yourself accordingly. Bring light, long sleeve cover ups, hats, and anything else that will keep you from burning yourself to misery.
Rain Gear
This isn’t really necessary, but if you’re the kind of person that wants to be on deck during a downpour, so you can feel like you are a fisherman on Deadliest Catch, then by all means, bring your raincoat and galoshes. For the most part though, you can avoid the rain or enjoy it in your swimsuit.
Outdoor Gear
If you’re planning on doing some excursions that involve hiking, like visiting Mayan Ruins or hiking a volcano, bring your boots for that. If not, leave them at home. It will take up a lot of room.
Undergarments
People, don’t forget your underwear. I’m pretty sure Disney doesn’t sell any at the gift shop, so you’ll be stuck wearing it inside out, washing it daily, or buying weird stuff at port.
Costumes
You’re packing for a Disney Cruise. You might want to bring some costumes. Go all out. Bring princess dresses, Toy Story, Marvel, or Star Wars costumes for anyone who loves this part of the experience. Finally, don’t forget pirate night. Bring all of your swashbuckling attire to fight (or join) Captain Hook when he tries to take over during your voyage.
Active Wear
If you plan to make use of the onboard fitness center, make sure you add active wear to your Disney Packing list. This might seem like a waste of time, but exercise boosts mood, and being in a good mood is the goal of your trip. Also, exercising regularly boosts your metabolism, allowing you to eat more of all the amazing food without making yourself sick.
Matching Clothes
Going on Disney Cruise is usually a special occasion. Rock it by making even the grumpy party members wear matching attire, whether that’s costumes, matching t-shirts, or just Disney themed shirts. Or just have everyone wear white, so you can take a good family photo.
Toiletries
Next on the list is toiletries. You might need to put a lot of helpful supplies on your Disney packing list in order to make things comfortable. Get a good toiletry bag to get everything organized. Here are the essentials:
Shampoo and Conditioner
It’s been over decade since I’ve had anything resembling a full head of hair, so I can’t relate to this one. Disney provides shampoo, conditioner, body wash, soap, and lotion. However, if your needs require something better or more specific than what’s provided, then make sure to pack it. I would recommend getting travel size bottles. Otherwise, it will take up a lot of room on your Disney Cruise packing list.
Toothbrush and Toothpaste
Everybody brushes their teeth every day, right? We all floss every day as well, right? Don’t lie. But, whatever your dental hygiene habits are, make sure you pack accordingly. If you forget, Disney has these available at the gift shop, but it will cost money you’d rather spend on a drink or a popcorn bucket.
Deodorant
For the safety and well-being of all guests aboard a Disney Cruise Ship, please pack deodorant. Please.
Sunscreen
Again, there’s a lot of sun on a Disney Cruise—probably more sun than where you came from. Get waterproof sunscreen, and use it whenever you plan to be in the sun for more than 20 minutes. I recommend bringing 30 SPF or higher. Anything less than that, and the sun will just laugh at you. You can bring sprays if you want, but a cruise ship is incredibly windy. You’ll mostly be spraying the people next to you if you’re not careful.
Razor and Shaving Cream
If you need to shave, pack accordingly.
Makeup
You’re beautiful just the way you are, but if you want makeup, bring it. I don’t think you’ll find any on the ship unless you pretend you’re a kid and head to Bippity Boppity Boutique (or maybe spend a lot of money at the spa). An alternate option could be trying out for the shows, so you can use their makeup room, but then you’ll have to sing in front of everyone.
Hairbrush
If you have hair that needs brushing, bring a hairbrush.
Hair Dryer
Disney Cruises come equipped with a hair dryer, so you don’t really need to bring one. That being said, my wife has thick hair, and using the provided hair dryer would probably make us miss dinner. If that’s you, bring your good hair dryer to speed things up. However, Disney has strict power output guidelines for your hair dryer. If it’s a 110V hair dryer, it can’t exceed 1500 watts. If it’s a 220V, it can’t exceed 2000W. I wouldn’t chance sneaking in a more powerful one. You could short out your cabin, or worse start a fire. That will not get you to dinner on time.
Nail Clippers
Nail clippers can be useful if you want to give yourself or someone else a pedicure or manicure. They are also useful for cutting tags off of all of your new souvenir shirts you’re about to buy.
Tweezers
Tweezers have plenty of applications as well. I’m getting close to 40, which means I now have a bunch of weird eyebrows sticking out. Tweezers are also useful if you get a random splinter onboard or on an excursion.
Glasses/Contact Lenses/Contact Lenses
If you wear prescription eyewear, make sure you bring them, bring the supplies, and bring back ups. You don’t want to lose a contact and only see out of one eye the rest of the trip.
Bathroom Spray
If you’re traveling with your whole family, packing bathroom spray for your Disney Cruise will keep the magic alive for everyone (just make sure you train your kids not to overdo it). Just to be safe, the husband should be forced to use the nearest public bathroom, but don’t be surprised if for some reason it takes 45 minutes, especially if this coincides with getting the kids ready for dinner. We put our best sprays in the Amazon list for you, but you can see this one.
Other Personal Care Items
You might want to make a list of any specific toiletries I left off here: feminine products, beard oil, after shave, cologne, perfume, flushable wipes. If there is anything you use daily at home, consider if it’s worth it to bring it.
Medicine
One of the best ways to ensure you don’t have random illnesses, headaches, or injuries ruin your trip is to pack an entire pharmacy for your Disney Cruise. Bring everything you can think of possibly needing because it’s expensive in the gift shop and even more expensive if you have to go to the infirmary. (Second Dad to the Right is not qualified to offer medical advice)
Pain relievers
Lots of sun, drinks, disrupted sleep schedule, and dry air can give you a headache. Don’t let that ruin your trip. Have your pain reliever of choice with you such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen, or aspirin.
Antihistamine
You’ll be around a lot of new environments, foods, and insects. If you’re prone to allergies, bring some seasonal allergy medicine and something stronger like Benadryl for any major reactions. If your at risk for being anaphylactic, make sure to bring your epi-pen.
Stomach Medicine
There are lots of opportunities on a Disney Cruise to mess up your stomach! Everything from traveler’s diarrhea, rich foods, indigestion, and motion sickness to stomach flu and Montezuma’s revenge can upset your stomach. Be prepared with products such as Pepto-Bismol, Imodium, or Tums, for nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Motion Sickness Medication
Motion sickness medication, such as Dramamine or Bonine, is a must have if you or your child are prone to motion sickness (or if you’re new to cruising and aren’t sure). Also, don’t forget your Sea Bands. They are bracelets that somehow reduce motion sickness. I don’t understand it, but when my wife was pregnant with our third, she swore by them for morning sickness and for our cruise.
First-Aid Kit
Bring a small first-aid kit with bandages, antibiotic ointment, and other basic first-aid supplies. Little cuts and splinters can waste a lot of time (and money) if you have to go all the way to the infirmary to get treated.
Melatonin
We’re big believers in melatonin, regularly for adults, and occasionally for kids in very small doses. One of those occasions is on an exciting trip like a Disney Cruise. It helps you fall asleep, stay asleep, and get deeper sleep, which will make the rest of the trip more fun.
Prescription Medicine
If you’re bringing prescription medicine, make sure that it’s in its original container, no weekly pill boxes. It’s illegal to transport it outside of its original packaging. Also, if your medication requires refrigeration, make sure you communicate with Disney to ensure your drink cooler is sufficient.
Electronics
One of the benefits of a cruise is being able to disconnect from the outside world, but there are still plenty of electronics you may want to put on your Disney Cruise packing list. Remember, even the top-tier internet can be spotty.
Laptop or Tablet
If you need stay connected during your cruise, and a laptop or tablet is a great option. You can use it to check email, surf the web, watch movies, or play games. Internet costs extra, so be ready for that if you need to do work, or you’re worried your Instagram followers will forget about you.
White Noise Machine
If you use this at home, you should bring it on your trip. It’s also helpful to limit the negative effects of snoring, noisy neighbors, waking babies, and docking noises. If you forget, you can download free apps on phones or tablets.
Camera
Be sure to pack your camera to capture all of your memories from your Disney cruise. You can use it to take pictures of the ship, character interactions, the ports of call, and your activities. Most people just use their phones, but if you consider yourself a real photographer with real equipment, do your thing. Make sure you pack chargers, extra memory cards, and a protective carrying case.
Phone
All adults will absolutely need their phones when packing for a Disney Cruise. It’s almost impossible to book anything, know the schedule, send your kids to the kids club, manage your charges, communicate with the rest of your party, or even navigate the ship without the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App on your phone.
You’ll also want your phone when you leave the ship in case of emergency. And you’ll want it to take pictures. Don’t forget your phone, or it’s charger. If you plan on making any calls or checking your email with data, make sure you communicate with your carrier about how best to do this without racking up hundreds of dollars of charges. My wife forgot to put her phone on airplane mode after one excursion, and it cost us $200 by the end of the day, just because of background apps.
Chargers
I’ll say it again: be sure to pack chargers for all of your electronics. You can use the outlets in your stateroom to charge your devices, or you can use the charging stations that are located throughout the ship. You can also get a portable charger, so you can charge wherever you want, especially on excursions. If you forget your chargers, you will have a great first day—but then everything will get a lot more stressful.
External Hard Drive
If you plan on taking a lot of pictures or videos, you'll want to pack an external hard drive to store them on. The last thing you want to do is start capturing memories and then realize your phone is full. Nobody wants to spend time on a Disney Cruise deleting media.
E-Reader
If you like to read, you'll want to pack an e-reader. This will allow you to bring a whole library of books with you on your cruise without having to worry about weight or space.
I highly recommend the new Kindle. It’s waterproof, so you can read it in the hot tub, and it is backlit with sepia tone, which is better for reading at night than a whiter light (with more blue light). Blue light is known to over-stimulate the brain and make it harder to sleep.
Here are some additional tips for packing electronics:
Pack your electronics in a way that protects them from damage.
Label your electronics with your name and room number.
Keep your electronics in a safe place when you're not using them. You can use the room safe if you want, but the staff is trustworthy. Just don’t leave them on a table at the bar.
Be sure to pack any chargers that you need for your electronics. I think it’s always good to have a micro-USB, USB-C, and Apple Lightning charger in my bag at all times. That covers 95% of electronics.
Items that Will Make Life Easier
Magnets And Magnetic Hooks
The walls in your Disney Cruise stateroom are metal. Bringing magnets and magnetic hooks can benefit you in so many ways. You can use magnets to hang sheets around a crib. You can use hooks to give you more places to hang up towels and swimsuits. You can decorate your stateroom and the outside of your door to make it more festive. Bring some magnets.
Lanyard
If you’ve never been on a Disney Cruise, you’ll want to bring a lanyard with a room card holder. It will help you pay, get in your room, and get help from staff more quickly if it’s hanging around your neck instead of trying to keep it in your pocket.
However, if this is not your first Disney Cruise, room stewards will put Castaway Club lanyards (and other gifts) in your room that mark your Club level. Therefore, return cruisers don’t need to pack them for their Disney Cruise.
Old Card
If you have an old room key or empty gift card, bring it with you. Every Disney Cruise ship (except the Magic) requires a room key to be placed in the light switch for it to work. This is to help limit the amount of energy used. However, I’m prone to forget the card when I walk out the door. Or worse, I’ll take my key card out to leave while my wife’s in the shower, leaving her in the dark. I’m better at remembering to turn out the lights. So, bring a card if you want to keep the lights on, but make sure you turn off the lights.
Something to Keep Your Phone Dry
As I mentioned earlier, you’re going to want our phone everywhere for communication, checking the schedule, and probably for taking pictures. If you’re phone isn’t waterproof, I recommend getting a case (or even just a Ziploc) that allows you to use it but keeps it from getting water damaged.
Packing Cube or Collapsible Hamper
There’s a decent amount of storage in the Disney Cruise staterooms compared to a lot of cruises. However, if you’re sharing the room with 3-4 other people like we do, consider bringing packing cubes or a collapsible hamper. Then you can organize more things and have a place for dirty clothes. There’s tons of empty space under the bed, so you’ll be able to keep these extra items out of the way.
Room Spray
I’m going to say it again. Having a room spray in the bathroom will make everyone happier unless it is abused.
Specific Items You Need for a Baby
Having a baby requires a completely different packing list. For more information about taking an infant on a Disney Cruise, check out this post.
What Not To Pack for a Disney Cruise?
There are plenty of items you don’t want to put on your Disney Packing List. For starters, there’s a list of prohibited items. You can see it here.
https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/guest-services/prohibited-items/
Items You Probably Don’t Want To Put On Your Disney Cruise Packing List:
There are plenty of items that you CAN bring with you, technically, but you probably don’t want to, either because they are bulky, unnecessary, or already provided.
Don’t Bring Anything That Takes Up A Lot Of Room
Large Electronics
You don’t need your boombox or flatscreen.
Extra Pillows
You can ask for as many pillows as you want, so unless you need a certain pillow for a medical reason, leave them at home.
Floats
You can’t use them in the pool. You probably shouldn’t bring them.
Lots of Fancy Clothes
Unless you’re sure you’re going to use them, leave a lot of the fancy clothes at home (except what you need for dinners and other fancy events). They take up a lot of room.
Items That Are Provided
There are plenty items you can put on your Disney Cruise packing list that you should probably leave at home because they are provided.
Soap, Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash
These will be available in the shower. Obviously, as I mentioned before, if you have specific needs, and aren’t a bald man like me, then maybe bring what you like.
Towels
Towels for bathing and for swimming are provided by Disney. They even give you towels to take with you on excursions and on Castaway Key. Unless you have a cool towel that you need to have your picture on (we have a Magic Carpet towel), leave your towels at home. They will take up so much room, and since you’re not supposed to dry anything on the balcony (and it might blow away), it’ll be hard to reuse them.
Bedding
Disney will provide bedding and change it every day for you (including pack and play sheets). They’ll also give you extra blankets if you ask.
Food
Bring snacks or stuff you need for an infant, but there is food everywhere for free. You can also order room service at will (again for free, except tip).
Board Games
Unless you are some niche boardgame junkie who needs to play Settlers of Catan on the ship, there’s plenty to do without taking up all that space with board games.
Conclusion
There you have it. Now you have a comprehensive Disney Cruise packing list to prepare for your next trip. Feel free to use the packing list I created, and use the Amazon list to purchase anything you don’t have that you think you’ll need. We are frequent Disney Cruisers, and we’ve learned a lot about what we need and don’t need on the boat. So, learn from our mistakes and tips to know exactly what you need to pack for a Disney Cruise.
