Taking a Disney Cruise With a Baby? Here's Everything You Need to Know

There are a ton of built-in conveniences that make a real difference. From included room service for snacks, milk or freshly prepared baby food, to onboard childcare (available for a small fee) where parents can enjoy a date night, much of the planning is taken care of.

Getting around with little ones is also simple, with strollers available onboard and beach strollers and wagons offered at Disney Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. The result is a vacation that feels manageable and often relaxing enough that families find themselves thinking about their next cruise before the first one even ends.

What to Know Before Sailing

Disney Cruise Line hoppily welcomes babies onboard, but before you set sail, you'll want to be aware of the minimum age requirements. For most domestic sailings, including cruises to the Bahamas and Caribbean, babies must be at least 6 months old on the day of sailing. For longer itineraries, including transatlantic, transpacific, Hawaii and Panama Canal cruises, babies must be at least 12 months old. Make sure you check your baby’s age at the time of sailing, but also at the time of booking, especially for expectant mothers who are planning further out.

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One thing that often surprises first-time cruising parents is that babies of all ages count as passengers on a Disney cruise. Unlike the Disney theme parks, where children under three don’t need a ticket, cruise pricing is based on every guest onboard, including infants. That means a family of four with a baby will be priced as four passengers.

That said, who shares the stateroom with the baby does affect the cost. Disney Cruise Line offers discounted rates for the third and fourth guests in a stateroom, regardless of age. Because of this, a baby traveling as the third or fourth guest with two adults will usually cost much less than a baby traveling as the second guest with just one adult. For example, one parent cruising alone with a baby will often see a higher per-person cost for the infant than a family where the baby is the third or fourth guest in the room.

You’ll also notice that pricing changes again as children get older. Rates typically increase at age 3 and again at age 13, reflecting Disney’s child and adult fare categories.

The easiest way to estimate your cruise cost is to visit our cruise booking page and price out a sailing. You can adjust the number of guests, their ages and the stateroom configuration to see how pricing changes. Even if you’re not ready to book, this gives you a realistic idea of what to expect.

Your baby will also need proper travel documentation, just like everyone else in your party. Depending on your itinerary, this may include a state-issued birth certificate (hospital birth certificates are not accepted) or a passport. If your baby or toddler will be traveling with someone besides the parents, such as a grandparent, aunt or uncle, you'll also need to have a Minor Authorization Form signed by the child’s parent(s) or legal guardian, authorizing the adult permission to take the child on the specific cruise, supervise them and allow emergency medical treatment to be administered if necessary. Be sure to double-check the DCL travel document requirements before your online check-in.

Stateroom Accommodations for a Baby

Disney Cruise Line staterooms are one of the biggest reasons cruising with a baby works so well. Most staterooms include a queen-size bed, a fold-down sofa bed and an upper pull-down berth. When both extra beds are in use, it creates a bunk-bed style setup that works for families of four or fewer. Families needing additional space may want to consider a Deluxe Family Oceanview stateroom, which includes a fifth wall-mounted pull-down bed (on select ships). Most staterooms include Disney's split bathroom design, with a shower and full bathtub combo — perfect for baby's bathtime!

Inside staterooms can be a great option for small families or shorter cruises, especially if you plan to spend most of your time out enjoying the ship’s amenities. While the Inside staterooms do not feature Disney’s split-bathroom design, they are bright, surprisingly spacious and offer all that’s needed for a comfortable stay. They are also the most budget-friendly!

If you want natural light but feel uneasy about a balcony with a baby, an Oceanview stateroom is a great middle ground. These staterooms have a large porthole window, so you'll have ocean views and sunlight without opening to the outside.

Disney Cruise Line also provides several helpful extras at no additional cost. Bed rails are available for older babies and toddlers who plan on sleeping on the fold-down sofa. Families with younger babies can request a Pack ’n Play and your stateroom host will set it up each evening and provide sheets.

Additional baby-friendly items can also be requested for your stateroom, including a bottle warmer, bottle sterilizer and diaper pail. Complimentary services and amenities are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

To request a crib and a diaper pail, sign in to the Disney Cruise Line website or Navigator app and under My Reservations, submit the Special Requests form. Once on the ship, you can make this request with your stateroom host. For a stroller, bottle warmer or a sterilizer, you can checkout these items at Guest Services. Keep in mind that these items will need to be returned to Guest Services before the end of your cruise.

Another detail parents quickly come to appreciate is Disney’s twice-daily stateroom service. Rooms are cleaned and refreshed during the day, and in the evening, your stateroom host provides turndown service. This typically includes setting up the sofa bed, upper berth and/or Pack ’n Play. There’s usually a towel animal waiting on the bed, along with chocolates, which adds that touch of Disney magic at the end of the day.

Dining on a Disney Cruise With a Baby

Another reason many families find cruising easier than other vacations is how simple meals can be, even with a baby in tow.

Buffet and Quick-Service Dining

Each ship has a main buffet that’s open for breakfast and lunch. The buffet is convenient with a baby because you can move at your own pace and grab exactly what works that day.

For breakfast, you’ll find scrambled eggs, breakfast meats, fresh fruit, yogurt, cereals, oatmeal, pancakes, Mickey waffles and more. Lunch options include pasta, rice, vegetables, salads, soups and carved meats, just to name a few.

Out on the pool deck, quick-service counters serve kid-approved favorites all day long. You'll find pizza, burgers, fries, chicken tenders, tacos, wraps, salads and soft-serve ice cream available throughout the day. Milk, juice and water are available at the buffet and on the pool deck.

Rotational Dining

Each evening, you’ll dine in one of three themed Rotational Dining restaurants. Your servers rotate with you, which means they quickly learn your family’s preferences. This is especially helpful with babies and toddlers. Our servers have always been so hopful, remembering our drink orders before we even sit down, helping to cut Lily's steak and entertaining the kids between courses with jokes and magic tricks. They are amazing!

You'll find kids' menus available at all the Rotational Dining restaurants that include options such as pizza, burgers, mac and cheese, vegetables, fries and desserts. Mickey bars and ice cream sundaes are also available in the main dining rooms. For healthier options, look for the Disney Check meals, which include menu items such as baked chicken, salmon, whole wheat pasta and veggies.

If your toddler has sophisticated tastes, they are welcome to order from the regular menu too. Yes, your two-year-old can order the filet mignon if that’s what they want!

Disney Cruise Line is known for being incredibly accommodating. If your child loves something specific, like applesauce, and it’s not listed on the menu, just ask. More often than not, the dining team can make it happen.

Room Service

Room service is available 24 hours a day and is included in your cruise fare, minus the tip. If your baby wakes up hungry at an odd hour or you need milk, snacks or puréed veggies delivered to your room, Disney has you covered.

Feeding Babies and Early Solids

For babies just starting on solids, fresh puréed fruits and vegetables are available in the Rotational Dining restaurants. These can also be delivered through room service. Additionally, high chairs are available at all the dining locations onboard.

"it's a small world" Nursery

Now for the real reason you may have landed on this post ... the onboard nursery! "it’s a small world" nursery is for babies and toddlers ages 6 months to three years old. It also makes adults-only dining possible. Parents can enjoy a meal at one of Disney’s adult-exclusive restaurants, such as Palo, Remy or Enchanté.

Beyond dining, the nursery gives parents flexibility. Whether you want to relax by the pool, take a quiet nap, enjoy a spa treatment or grab a coffee and a book at Quiet Cove, knowing your baby is nearby and well cared for makes all the difference.

The nursery is located near the kids' clubs and family areas, making it easy to drop off and pick up your baby. On the Disney Magic, Wonder, Dream and Fantasy, the nursery is located on Deck 5. On the Disney Wish, Treasure and Destiny, the nursery is on Deck 2.

The nursery provides supervised care for babies and toddlers, which includes playtime with toys and activities, crafts, character meet and greets and quiet time as needed. You'll find that the space is immaculate and beautifully decorated with "small world"-inspired designs, colorful wall murals, comfy floor mats and tables for play. There's also a separate nap room that's dimly lit with cozy cribs and rocking chairs.

Parents are asked to provide diapers, wipes, bottles, formula and any comfort items their child may need during their stay. Simple snacks such as crackers, teething crackers, milk and juice are available at the nursery.

If you bring formula and plan to have the nursery crew feed your baby, there’s one important thing to know. The nursery must approve the formula before the Disney crew can prepare and feed it to your child. The nursery has an approved formula list onboard. If your specific formula isn’t on the list, that’s toadally OK! The crew will just need to get it approved before they can mix it. While waiting for approval, you can prepare bottles yourself and bring them to the nursery. Just keep in mind that pre-made bottles must be used within one hour. The formula approval process is fairly quick, but sharing as a helpful tidbit to know ahead of time.

On your first visit to the nursery, you’ll fill out a detailed information form about your child. This includes their name, birthdate, language spoken and milestone info such as if your child is still in diapers, walking, feeding details and any other important notes. Each time you drop off your child, you’ll also complete a shorter daily form. This one focuses on that specific visit, such as when your child last ate or slept, specific care instructions and anything the nursery staff should know while your child is there.

While your child is in the nursery, you may receive messages through the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. These are standard check-in messages. Just a heads-up — you can’t reply back to these messages. If the nursery needs to speak with you, you’ll receive a message asking you to contact them. You can reach the nursery by stopping by in person or by using any phone on the ship and calling the nursery extension.

If you’re visiting Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, the ship is anchored farther away than at Disney Castaway Cay. Because of this, the phone system doesn’t reach the nursery as easily. When we experienced this, we went to Sebastian’s Cove (the kids club on the island) and asked a crew member for help. They were able to use walkie-talkies to communicate with the nursery onboard.

When you pick up your child from the nursery, the crew will walk you through everything your child did during their time there. This includes details such as when they ate, slept, played and the frequency of diaper changes.

We even received updates about special character visits. During one nursery visit, Cinderella stopped by to spend time with the children. The crew took photos with a Polaroid camera and gifted us the photos to keep as sweet keepsakes.

How to Make Nursery Reservations

Nursery time is booked in advance and is an additional fee (around $10 per hour, pricing subject to change). Reservations are made once your booking window opens, and based on your Castaway Club status. You can book up to 10 hours in advance before your sailing (more hours for longer cruises), and more once onboard, subject to availability. Because space is limited, we recommend reserving nursery time as soon as you’re eligible. You can always adjust or cancel later if plans change, just be sure to cancel at least four hours in advance to avoid a cancellation fee.

Children ages 3 and up can attend Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Lab. 

Disney Cruise Line Activities for Babies

Disney Cruise Line offers a wide range of activities for families with babies and toddlers.

Each ship has special splash areas for babies and tadpoles still in diapers. On the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, there’s Nephew's Splash Zone; on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, Nemo’s Reef has themed fountains, bubbling jets and shaded play areas; and on the Disney Wish, Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny, the Toy Story Splash Zone has colorful, interactive water fun.

Daily character meet-and-greets allow babies to meet Disney favorites, princesses and superheroes. Families can enjoy deck parties, Disney movies, live stage shows, crafts and games. Mobile babies can also participate in the Diaper Dash!

Special sailings include even more fun. As an example, Marvel Day at Sea features superheroes and themed activities, while Halloween on the High Seas includes trick-or-treating, seasonal decorations and festive family-friendly activities.

The Disney Cruise Line Navigator app helps parents plan their day by showing the daily activities and character meet-and-greet times.

Helpful Tips for Cruising With a Baby on Disney Cruise Line

Here are a few more helpful tips and insights you'll want to know before taking a Disney cruise with a baby.

• Laundry services are available on every ship, including self-service laundry rooms and full-service options, which can be especially helpful when traveling with a baby.
• Pack swim diapers for the splash areas. Babies and toddlers are welcome in the designated splash zones, but swim diapers are required.
• Guests may bring baby food and formula onboard as carry-on items, as long as they are pre-packaged, unopened and do not require food preparation from the ship’s kitchen.
• Ship-wide announcements are only piped into staterooms on embarkation afternoon. After that, announcements are not played in the rooms unless there is an emergency, making nap times uninterrupted. Daily updates and announcements can be found in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app and on your stateroom TV.
• A small selection of baby care items is available in the onboard shops, including diapers, wipes, ready-made formula, pacifiers, sunscreen and other essentials.
• Limited strollers are available at Guest Services for onboard use. At Disney Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, families can also use sand-friendly strollers and wagons.
• For food allergies, accessibility assistance or medical equipment requests, be sure to complete Disney’s Special Services form in advance so everything is set up before you sail.

Taking a baby on a Disney cruise may require a little extra planning, but for many families, the ease, flexibility and thoughtful details make it surprisingly smooth. If you’re considering cruising with a baby and still have questions, leave them in the comments below!

Related: Top 10 Tips for Sailing With Kids on Disney Cruise Line

Related: Get to Know the Disney Treasure Kids Club

Hoppy planning!