If you've ever dreamt of setting sail with Mickey and friends, you're in the right place! A Disney cruise is a surefire way to have the ultimate vacation experience with that added sprinkle of pixie dust. But the best time to embark on your most perfect voyage can be as tricky as escaping Captain Hook! Your favorite frogs are here to guide you through the seas of decision-making. While it's true that almost any time is a frogtastic time to hop aboard a Disney cruise, we're about to chart a course through the nuances of timing, from avoiding sea serpent-sized crowds to navigating the weather whims of the high seas. So without any further ado, here's the best time to take a Disney cruise!
FAQs
- Is there a bad time to take a Disney cruise? Not really! Disney cruises are magical year-round, but the experience can vary based on crowds, pricing and weather. The “best” time depends on what matters most to you — school schedules, budget, crowd levels or special events.
- What are the busiest times to sail with Disney Cruise Line? Peak seasons include spring break, summer break and the Christmas to New Year’s holiday period. These sailings are popular because kids are out of school, but they tend to book up early and come with higher prices and fuller ships.
- When can you find the best deals on Disney cruises? Off-peak months such as late August, September, October and early November often have lower prices and better availability. Last-minute sailings can also provide savings if you’re flexible with travel dates and stateroom categories. Don't forget, Undercover Tourist offers exclusive Disney Cruise Line savings year-round!
- Are seasonal and themed Disney cruises worth it? Yes! Halloween on the High Seas, Very Merrytime Cruises, Pixar Days at Sea and Marvel Days at Sea offer exclusive entertainment, décor and character experiences. These sailings are very popular, so booking early is key.
When Is the Best Time to Take a Disney Cruise?
Not to sound lazy or corny, but … ANYTIME is the best time to take a Disney cruise. No, really!
OK, OK — if you really want a helpful answer other than "anytime," we’ve got some pointers below. But the great news is: You really can’t go wrong.
And with Disney Cruise Line expanding their fleet and itineraries — including new destinations in Europe, the South Pacific and Australia — there are more magical options than ever before!
Set sail with premium savings on Disney Cruise Line, provided by Undercover Tourist! Save up to 25% on select Disney Cruise Line bookings. Plus, get a FREE in-room decor set! Even better? You can lock in select Disney cruises for only 10% down! Ribbit!
Peak Sailing Seasons
The most popular times to cruise are spring break, summer break and winter break (meaning during and/or between the Christmas and New Year’s Eve holiday timeframe). It makes sense, right? The tadpoles are off from school. Adults have vacation and holiday time off. The lure of blissfully balmy beaches and warm, salty air breezes during the cold, winter months sounds just as perfect as soaking up rays and working on your tan during the summer months.
But a word of Mommy Frog caution: BOOK EARLY! These prime, peak-season sailings book up quickly. And even if they’re not sold out, you might not get the stateroom or deck you’re hoping for if you procrastinate on locking in your sailing.
Did you book super early, like we recommended? If you’re not 100% sure about your sailing, make sure you review the fine print of your reservation terms. Know the cancellation fee policies and schedule any reminders if you think there's a chance your plans may change!
Seasonal Sailings on Disney Cruises
Another favorite time to take a Disney Cruise Line vacation is during Halloween and Christmas. These special seasonal sailings are called out by name as either a "Halloween on the High Seas" sailing or "Very Merrytime" sailings. And of course, Disney’s New Year’s Eve celebrations take place during all voyages that are at sea on Dec. 31 across all the Disney cruise ships.
Halloween on the High Seas sailings feature spooky and silly decorations, characters in trick-or-treating costumes, dance parties, candy stations and a variety of other Halloween-themed activities.
If you take a Very Merrytime sailing, you’ll be treated to Christmas trees in every nook and corner of the ship, lighted garlands, big red bows, seasonal music and special themed activities and events, such as a heartwarming tree-lighting celebration hosted by Mickey, Minnie and friends. Even Disney Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point get decked out with Christmastime décor for the holidays!
Disney Cruise Line’s New Year’s Eve celebrations include special food and drink menus, a rockin’ deck party, festive swag such as hats and noise-makers, seasonally dressed characters and private holiday parties catered to kids, tweens and teens. And the icing on the cake ... fireworks at sea!
Seasonal sailings typically tend to have pretty good availability since the Halloween and early Christmastime cruises coincide with school time and hurricane season. But if you’re looking to sail on Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve, be sure to reserve your spot early before they’re all booked up.
And here's a hop tip for ya! Disney and your fellow sailors, go all out for holidays, so pack accordingly! Sailing for Halloween? Bring those froggy family costumes. Guests typically dress up for one or multiple nights. Sailing for Christmas? Feel free to pack a mini Christmas tree, door magnets or stockings to spruce up your stateroom for the holidays. Sailing for New Year's? You might want to dress up in your finest suits and sequins for an adult-only dinner and the evening’s deck party. And of course, don’t froget to take a lot of photos. You might just end up with your best family photo of the year on one of these voyages!
In addition to holiday-themed cruises, Disney Cruise Line offers specialty sailings such as Pixar Days at Sea and Marvel Days of Sea on select itineraries. You'll find Marvel Days at Sea on select sailings on the Disney Magic, sailing from Galveston, TX and Pixar Day at Sea on select sailings on the Disney Fantasy from Port Canaveral.
These unique itineraries feature exclusive character meet-and-greets, themed dining, entertainment and special activities the whole family will love. Pixar Days at Sea includes characters from popular Pixar films such as "Toy Story," "Coco" and more, while Marvel Days at Sea brings superheroes — Spider-Man, Black Panther and other Avengers onboard for an epic day of action and adventure. Be sure to check which sailings offer these experiences when you plan your trip.
Off-Peak and Last-Minute Sailing Deals on Disney Cruises
Last but not least, if you’re looking to get a deal on your Disney Cruise Line vacation, consider an off-peak or last-minute sailing.
Off-peak times are typically late August, early September, October and November. Why?
- Kids have just gone back to school.
- While hurricane season officially lasts from June through November, many people believe the brunt of it falls in those September, October and November months.
- Most families will have booked and sailed during the summer or are waiting to sail during spring break, versus late summer and fall months. And … the sailing prices often reflect that ebb in demand with heavily discounted itineraries.
- Bonus! Some of these off-peak months are when specialty sailings like Marvel Days at Sea and Pixar Days at Sea are offered, particularly on select five- and seven-night itineraries from Port Canaveral, Florida!
Last-minute sailings, if you’re flexible and able to travel quickly, also afford some hefty savings. Cruise lines want to fill as many of their staterooms as possible for each and every sailing. Disney is no exception to this. So keep an eye on rates and keep refreshing those browsers as your preferred sailing gets closer. While you could risk missing out if the ship sells out, oftentimes you'll see those prices fall as the sailing gets closer and closer.
Here's a ribbit-ing tip for savvy cruisers: Opt for a "Guaranteed Stateroom" to snag a lower fare. Just pick your category, and your stateroom number is a surprise until check-in day. Bonus: Though not guaranteed, you might even score a sweet upgrade! It's an effortless way to save some bucks without fussing over details.
When NOT to Sail?
While we’re inclined to say you can sail anytime (see above!), there are a few considerations you might want to think over about times to avoid:
Remember that hurricane season? Well, usually you’ll be in the clear. But of course, sometimes, there will be storms.
- In most cases, you'll have some scattered rain and maybe spend some extra time in the ship’s movie theater, spa, lounges or stateroom.
- During rarer situations, you may be stuck inside 100% of your sailing and your ship skips docking at Castaway Cay or other port destinations. Or, if a storm is dangerously close to where your ship will be sailing, Disney will have to change course, stay at sea longer to avoid coming home through rough seas, or — very rarely — they’ll cancel and refund/reschedule your voyage because #SafetyFirst.
- So, if you don’t want to risk any of the above, you might want to skip booking a cruise between June and November. Just remember, though — you could get great, or not-so-great, weather at ANY time of the year.
The BEST Times to Take a Disney Cruise
Do you get claustrophobic? Hate big crowds? Then you'll want to avoid spring break, Christmas, New Year's and peak summer travel months.
While these are still GREAT and super fun times to sail, if you want a little bit more room to spread out at the pool deck, Disney Castaway Cay or Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, consider a less popular timeframe when the ships will be less likely to be sold out — in late August, September and the January-to-February timeframe minus the New Year’s, Martin Luther King Jr. and Valentine’s Day holidays.
A simple look through the available sailings will give you a sense of how sold out a particular cruise is. Nearly sold-out cruises will have very limited options available, whereas lighter sailings will have every single category, tier, deck and an array of stateroom options pop up as you browse the booking section.
You may also want to browse itineraries that include stops at Disney's new island destination, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. This new Bahamian retreat offers a distinctly Disney experience inspired by culture, colors and the natural beauty of the islands.
So much of the best time to take a Disney Cruise is subjective. For you veteran sailors, what DO you do? What is your favorite time to sail? What times of year do you avoid? Let us know in the comments below!
Related: Choosing the Right Disney Cruise Stateroom for Your Family
Related: How to Save Money on a Disney Cruise
Hoppy planning!
