My family of 4 went on a Disney Cruise. Here are 9 things I'm glad I packed and 3 things I wish I'd brought.

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Jill RobbinsJul 2, 2022, 19:40 IST
My family of 4 went on a Disney Cruise. Here are 9 things I'm glad I packed and 3 things I wish I'd brought.

We went on a Disney Cruise for three nights.Jill Robbins

  • My family took a 3-night Disney Magic Cruise, and I was pretty happy with my packing skills.
  • I was glad we brought motion sickness remedies, and I don't regret bringing magnetic wall hooks.
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I'm glad I packed a drink bottle for everyone.

I'm glad I packed a drink bottle for everyone.
Bringing a water bottle can save you a few trips around the boat.Jill Robbins

There was a drink station on Deck 9 of the Disney Magic where ice water, sports drinks, tea, lemonade, and soda was always available.

I'm glad I packed everyone a reusable bottle to use there throughout the cruise.

I like having cold water in our stateroom at night and my kids took their own drinks to the movies and shows.

On a Disney Cruise, there's no additional charge for soft drinks on the deck or in the dining rooms, but soft drinks at shows and lounges were extra.

If you're a coffee drinker, pack an insulated tumbler. You can fill your coffee mug and find a scenic place on deck to sip.

Motion sickness happens, so it's good to be prepared.

Motion sickness happens, so it's good to be prepared.
You can find motion sickness remedies at most pharmacies and grocery stores.Jill Robbins

We enjoyed calm waters on our cruise to the Bahamas, but my husband proactively wore an anti-nausea wristband.

Out of the four of us, he's the only one who consistently gets seasick. We also always pack oral medication, which he'll take if the ocean gets really choppy.

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Door decorations are a great way to get the most out of the Disney Cruise experience.

Door decorations are a great way to get the most out of the Disney Cruise experience.
They're not a necessity, but little things like this really enhance the experience.Jill Robbins

We always like to decorate our stateroom door on cruises, so I packed some fun decorations I got on Etsy.

If you're crafty and have access to a Cricut machine or laminator, you can try your hand at making your own.

We never had any doubt which door was ours throughout the cruise.

I like to keep towel clips handy on the windy decks.

I like to keep towel clips handy on the windy decks.
They're small but mighty and definitely worth the money.Jill Robbins

Towel clips help keep your towel on your lounge chair when you're enjoying the pool on a windy day at sea.

They're inexpensive and can be found on Amazon or any dollar store.

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A beach bag is a necessity for carrying the essentials.

A beach bag is a necessity for carrying the essentials.
We used a cooler so we could keep our drinks cold.Jill Robbins

Whether you're hitting the pools on deck or planning a beach day as a shore excursion, you'll need something to carry your towels, sunscreen, beach reads, and water bottle.

A soft backpack or tote that easily folds inside your suitcase is perfect for holding your beach and pool gear.

We opted for a cooler bag so we can also keep our drinks cold.

Magnetic hooks are convenient to have to get the most out of your space.

Magnetic hooks are convenient to have to get the most out of your space.
Invest in some wall hooks to hang up your lighter items.Jill Robbins

Stateroom walls on Disney cruises are magnetic, so magnetic hooks maximize your storage space and help keep surfaces clutter-free.

The ones I have are small and don't hold much weight, but they work for lanyards, jewelry, and other lightweight items.

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Travel-sized toiletries and makeup are always good to bring along.

Travel-sized toiletries and makeup are always good to bring along.
I also brought travel-sized makeup.Jill Robbins

Disney Cruise staterooms have shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and hand soap. But I'm glad I brought my own conditioner from home as well as smaller toiletries.

There's not much storage room in the bathroom so saving up those travel/trial sizes was a good move.

A USB charging block is going to be a life saver.

A USB charging block is going to be a life saver.
It's times like this when I'm proud to be a part of the age of technology.Jill Robbins

Power strips, surge protectors, and extension cords aren't allowed on Disney cruises, but charging blocks are permitted.

My device has 10 USB ports and is more than adequate to charge everyone's electronics.

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I saved some money by bringing my own snorkel masks.

I saved some money by bringing my own snorkel masks.
Bringing my own snorkel masks definitely came in handy.Paula Bronstein / Getty Images

If your cruise includes a stop at Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, or other excursions, you'll find the clear waters perfect for snorkeling.

Although places to rent masks and fins will be plentiful, you can save money by bringing your own gear, especially if snorkeling is something you'll do more than once.

I don't trust anyone's cleaning enough to wear something over my eyes and nose a stranger wore before me — especially right now, during the coronavirus pandemic.

I've brought it in the past, but I wish I'd thought to pack pirate gear this time.

I've brought it in the past, but I wish I'd thought to pack pirate gear this time.
I didn't mind buying pirate gear on board, but we'll be bringing our own next time.Jill Robbins

There's a pirate night on every Disney Cruise, which can include special menus; photo ops with characters such as Captain Jack Sparrow, Captain Hook, and Smee; and a party with music, dancing, and fireworks.

Lots of cruise-goers dress in pirate gear for the night. We have in the past, but I decided to skip it for our three-night Disney Magic Cruise.

I didn't think my kids would mind, but I was wrong. We ended up buying costumes in one of the shops.

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If I'd known the stateroom would be so dark, I'd have brought an extra light source.

If I'd known the stateroom would be so dark, I'd have brought an extra light source.
The lighting in the room was nothing we couldn't handle, but a night light would've been nice.Jill Robbins

We booked an inside stateroom for the first time and loved our accommodation, but it was pretty dark.

Our kids wanted to sleep with the bathroom light on, which we did. But I wish we'd brought a battery-powered or rechargeable light for those late-night bathroom trips instead.

I would've much rather brought my own snacks than spend so much on the boat's movie concessions.

I would've much rather brought my own snacks than spend so much on the boat's movie concessions.
It would save a lot more money bringing our own snacks.Emily Hendrix

Disney cruises show a variety of Disney movies (including new films) and Broadway-caliber shows.

Although most food is included, movie concessions are not.

I should've snagged movie-theater-sized boxes of candy at a big-box store ahead of time. Packing Junior Mints and Milk Duds will save money on the expensive — albeit delicious-smelling — popcorn buckets.

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