Disney Cruise Packing List & 7 Top Travel Agent Tips [+Customizable Packing List]
When it comes to packing for a Disney Cruise, it's not too different from a standard cruise in terms of clothing. However, there are critical travel advisor insider tips you'll want to follow and park-specific extras you'll want to bring along.
Here's what's on deck!
⭐️ HAR Article Highlights! ⭐️
1. Don't forget to pack for Pirate Night, matey (or any other theme nights!).
2. Bring Markers and an autograph book.
3. Disney trinkets & toys can prove your parenting prowess.
4. Portable power banks are especially critical on a Disney cruise.
5. Reusable straws are highly recommended. Here's Why.
6. What the heck are Fish Extenders on Disney cruises, and what do you need to pack?
7. Gift ideas for travel advisors to give their Disney cruise clients to make packing easier
- Brand HAR's Cruise Packing List to Your Travel Biz!
- More Cruise Packing Lists!
- Already Know How to Make Travel Magic? Why Not Become an Advisor?
This article focuses on Disney Cruise-specific packing tips! Don't miss HAR's universal cruise packing tips, which take a deep dive into all things magnetic hooks, packing cubes, power banks, and everything else you need in addition to the Disney magic mentioned here!
Your Customizable Disney Cruise Packing list
Let's not delay our Disney Magic! Take HAR's Customizable Disney Cruise Packing List for a spin below! All you need to do is uncheck the items you don't want with you! Once you submit the form, you'll get your customized packing list in your inbox (because, hey, some people can't live without nail clippers for a week, and some can).
Top 7 Disney Cruise Packing Tips from Travel Advisors
What makes Disney cruises unique are their special events, itineraries, and guidelines. I recommend booking a Disney cruise with a travel professional . . . especially for first-timers (but you won't go back). Travel advisors are truly the fairies who sprinkle the pixie dust of knowledge.
Who are some of these magical creatures? For this article, I consulted with Nikki Miller, Travel Consultant-Owner of Travel With Nikki, Michele Cartwright, Owner of Destinations by Designs, and Rita Perez, Owner of Take the Helm, to come up with Disney Cruise packing tips.
1. Don't forget to pack for Pirate Night (or other theme nights) on your Disney cruise!
Disney cruises are known for their theme parties and events. Chances are, if you’re attracted to one of their theme cruises, you’ll already have your Marvel costume, prince/ss regalia, or your Halloween duds. After all, you don’t want to be the only one at the Pirate Night without your jerkin and flowing linen shirt. So make sure you throw in something costume-friendly onto your Disney cruise packing list pdf.
2. Bring markers and an autograph book:
Traditionally, if you’re on a Disney Cruise you absolutely need a Sharpie and autograph book with you AT ALL TIMES in case you run into Elsa by the pool. (Miller recommends a thick pen for the characters' very large hands.)
A character-signing scavenger hunt for kids can be super fun! But if there are unmissable signatures, or your kiddo is die-hard set on getting every. single. one. then you can also bring a heavy-duty cardstock or autograph book and ask your room steward at the beginning of the cruise if it will be able to be signed by the characters. (Psst, if you do this as a surprise for younger Disney fanatics, it will help take the edge off your departure.)
3. Bring Disney trinkets & toys to prove your parenting prowess
"On your cruise, leave Disney-themed trinkets on your child's towel animals/pillow and let them know their favorite character left it for them." - Michele Cartwright
Need a win with the kiddos in your crew? Cartwright's suggestion is a surefire way to wow your kids, “Buy little trinkets for the kids (Disney-themed, of course!) well in advance of the cruise. On your cruise, leave these trinkets on your child's towel animals/pillow and let them know their favorite character left it for them. #ParentWin (Bonus points if you print off cute notes for your child using Waltograph font!)”
4. Portable power banks are especially critical on a Disney cruise
A Disney Cruise requires the use of its Disney app, which will drain your cell battery pretty quickly. According to Miller, “The Disney app is required for mobile food orders. Checking dining reservations and wait times will drain a battery very quickly.”
You heard the lady, add that portable charger to your Disney cruise packing list ASAP! If you need a portable charger upgrade, now's the time!
5. Reusable straws recommended
Miller pointed out that “Disney only provides paper straws, so bring your own disposable or reusable straws if you have a strong preference.” If you’re a slow sipper of all things beverage, you may want to bring a reusable straw so it doesn’t dissolve into mush before you finish your drink.
If you're a travel advisor, this would make a great client gift for their Disney Cruise clients!
6. What the heck are Fish Extenders on Disney cruises?
Being a Disney novice, I had a double take at the mention of fish extenders. Fish extenders are essentially a Disney-themed "Secret Santa" where you leave small gifts/trinkets for other cruisers.
It's important to note that fish extenders are not affiliated with Disney. If you want to join one, a good bet is to ask to join a Facebook group by searching your ship and cruise dates.
If you want to pack along fish extenders, keep in mind you might be giving in the ballpark of 20 gifts (depending on how many cabins you are assigned) so choose your fish extender gifts wisely. The budget will depend on each specific group!
Don't give what you yourself wouldn't want to bring home. Consider small gifts that are reusable (like straws or magnets!) or even consumable. If you're crafty, you can even make something!
7. Gifts for travel advisors to give their Disney cruise clients
If you're a travel advisor, reading this to sharpen your Disney cruise know-how for your clients, well done. You are differentiating yourself by anticipating your clients needs!
To go the extra mile, you might offer your Disney cruise clients a gift before they set sail . . . and this article is replete with gift ideas!
Here's some gift ideas:
- Cellphone external charger/ power bank
- Disney trinkets/toys for the kiddos
- Reusable straws
- A character autograph book kit & marker
- Fish extenders
- Disney pirate night costume enhancements/kit (eyepatch, red sash, bandanas, fake mustaches or beards, striped tees with your branding included, gummy ring pops for loot etc., etc.)
These are just a few ideas! Don't forget, many of these items you can brand to your agency!
Brand HAR's River Cruise Packing List for YOUR Site!
We think the customized packing list is pretty. We can't just keep it to ourselves! You can go ahead and download our cruise packing list for your site with YOUR branding on it!
If you want to use our form on your site, all we ask is that you link back to this article at the bottom of the page you are embedding it on.
Here's how to do it:
- Reach out to JotForm directly and ask them clone the form from this URL: https://form.jotform.com/242953018975163
- Check out our video tutorial on how to customize forms (the example isn't this exact form, but the process is the same!)
- Autoresponder Emails: Take a look at the notification and/or autoresponder emails. You'll need to add your email/name and maybe some less template-y text.
- Thank you page: Add your logo or some thank you text specific to your agency.
- Embed to your site and/or share your link with your clients!
Any questions? Just give us a holler at Hello@HostAgencyReviews.com! If you want to use our form on your site, all we ask is that you link back to this article! Thank you!!
Find all of HAR's Cruise Packing Lists
This is the "but wait, there's more!" moment in the blog. Why? Because we have packing lists for all sorts of cruises!
Find the packing lists that are perfect for YOU below!
- General Cruise Packing List
- Alaska Cruise Packing List (or any adventure/expedition cruise)
- River Cruise Packing List
- Caribbean Cruise Packing List
Already Know How to Make Travel Magic? Why Not Become an Advisor?
If you're reading this thinking it's old news or thinking you're, I am a travel packing and planning master, and you are the first person your family calls to plan trips, then why not earn some cash doing what you already do? Better yet? Make it a full-fledged career and make a career from what you love to do!
May as well earn a commission for that group cruise you’re planning for your friends/family/book club anyway.
A great place to start is with HAR’s 7DS Accelerator course. It gives you the lay of the land with seasoned industry experts, 80+ video tutorials, exclusive live course meetups, and so much more. For perspective, you’ll recoup the cost of the course after you earn the commission of your first ~$2,000-$4,000 cruise booking.
You’re Ready to Get Packing
If you’re reading, thinking, “Wow, I didn’t know there were so many different options for types of cruises, let alone cruise lines. How will I ever decide?”
Want to know where else you can find travel advisors who specialize in cruises? We recommend ASTA’s (American Society of Travel Advisors) Connect with a Travel Advisor or CLIA’s (Cruise Line International Association) Agent Finder.
Questions? Comments? Packing tips? Favorite Marie Kondo YouTube video recommendations? Give us a holler in the comments below! We’d love to hear from you!
