Top 5 Extras On Disney Cruise Line

You may know about the amazing food, entertainment and kids programs on a Disney cruise. But what are some of the “extras” that make these cruises even more special? Here are my top 5 extras on a Disney Cruise.

Number 1: Complimentary Drinks

On a Disney cruise, many non-alcoholic drinks are included in your cruise cost. These typically include:

Sodas—available at meals and in the drink stations on the pool deck, as well as in Vibe (a lounge for teens)
Hot Chocolate--available at meals and in the drink stations on the pool deck
Juice–available at meals and in the drink stations on the pool deck, as well as in Vibe
Milk— available at meals and in the drink stations on the pool deck
Coffee and Tea—available at meals and in the drink stations on the pool deck
Water (not bottled)—available at meals and in the drink stations on the pool deck

I would definitely recommend bringing a refillable bottle, etc. for drinks available at the drink stations on the pool deck. Cups are provided but they are regular sized cups and may not last long! There are also water refill stations on deck 4 of most Disney ships.

Number 2: Complimentary Room Service

This is one of my favorites, for several reasons.

For one thing, sometimes you just don’t feel like going up several decks to get to a restaurant or quick service location. The ability to order food and have it brought to your cabin is amazing!
Second, Disney has these amazing chocolate chip cookies. They are typically only available at the buffet restaurant and through room service. If that cookie craving hits and the buffet isn’t open, this is your only option! Disney knows how popular they are and includes 2 in an order!

Now, just two disclaimers. First, while food is free through room service, drinks are not, including non-alcoholic drinks. You can, however, purchase a canned soda, etc. Also note that you can purchase a multi pack of soft drinks, so you can save some for later by putting them in the cooler/fridge in your cabin. Second, please tip the person who brings your food. They are not included in the gratuities that you paid for ahead of your cruise (those are for your wait staff at the main restaurants as well as your cabin host/hostess). Remember, they did have to go up/down several decks to get to you!

Number 3: Special Celebration Desserts

Celebrating something special while you are on a cruise is always fun! I mean, you are on an amazing cruise, and you are having a special day as well. What could be better? Having Disney help you celebrate, that’s what! I love the way Disney tries to make the event special. Typically, that celebration centers around where you are eating dinner that night. Whether that includes the main dining restaurants or one of the specialty restaurants. Check out these important details below on setting up a special celebration.

Details to know

Celebrations need to be set up in advance. When you (or your travel agent) book your reservation, be sure to let them know that you will be celebrating something special. You will also need to decide on which night you want to celebrate. Typically, for my clients, I don’t set up celebrations for the 1^st night as that one can be pretty chaotic! Don’t worry if you won’t be in the main dining room that night, the information will also show up at any of the specialty restaurants where you are dining. I actually celebrated my birthday one time while dining at Palo. I didn’t realize that they would celebrate with me since I wasn’t in the main dining room—great surprise!
There are no guarantees that Disney will recognize your special event, although they will do their very best. Also please note that while the title above says Special Celebration Desserts, there are no guarantees on how Disney will choose to celebrate your special event. Please don’t set your heart on having a celebration cake for your birthday only to be disappointed when it’s ice cream or a card instead. My best advice, act like they are going to forget to celebrate with you and then be pleasantly surprised when they do!
Also keep in mind that if the celebration is a food item, it will typically be just for the one person celebrating and not be big enough for the whole table, although of course feel free to share if there is enough!

Number 4: Sweet Surprise Each Night

After an amazing day of fun, food and shows, it’s time to retire to your cabin. You may be surprised by what awaits you!

First, your amazing host/hostess has turned down your bed/beds for the night. Isn’t it amazing how nice and comfortable that feels? I’m guessing most of us do not have that done for us at home!
Plus, you may have an amazing towel animal like the one pictured above. There tend to be a wide variety of animals and they can end up in all sorts of locations! I’ve actually taken a towel animal class on a Disney ship. It’s definitely even more difficult than it looks. These guys are masters!
The best part of all? There is chocolate involved! Whether it’s brand name chocolates or pirate treasure gold, there will be something for your sweet tooth waiting for you each evening in your cabin.

Number 5: Hidden Mickey’s/Character Encounters

I have saved the most unique Extra for last. Disney ships are the only ships that offer Hidden Mickey’s and/or encounters with Disney characters.

Hidden (or not so hidden) Mickey’s

There are several types of Hidden Mickey’s:

Mickey Heads–3 rings with a “face” circle and 2 smaller “ear” circles above the face
Profile of Mickey’s entire face
Profile of Mickey’s entire body
Objects that are placed in the shape of one of the above (usually Mickey Heads)

These fun shapes can be woven into the décor, furniture, carpets, menus, ironwork, pools and other furnishings on every Disney ship as well as be present in artwork on the walls! Some are quite easy to find and some are more difficult. Disney is always about the details and that’s especially true when it comes to these Hidden Mickey’s.

Character Encounters (called Meet and Greets)

Every Disney cruise gives you the opportunity to meet (and greet) your favorite characters.

There will be scheduled Meets and Greets throughout the day, all over the ship. Be sure to check the Navigator app to see what characters are offered that day and when/where you can meet them. Arrive early as some of the most popular characters can create long lines of people waiting! Typically, you will be able to take a picture with a character and have a very short conversation as well.
Many ships also offer a Royal Gathering option that can be booked ahead of your cruise. On a specific day of your cruise, you will be able to Meet and Greet multiple characters in one location—typically multiple princesses. While there is no charge for this, you do have to reserve the tickets in advance as this is only available to a limited number of people.
There are also other “non-scheduled” Meets and Greets—at least Meet, if not Greet. Since you are on a ship, the characters usually have to travel to where they will be greeting guests and you may run into some as they travel. Just be aware that they won’t be doing pictures but they may greet you as they go by. My favorite of these was running into Donald on a ship and I told him to try and stay out of trouble! Something I’m sure he ignored!

Ready to go search for your own extras?

Well, that’s my list of top 5 extras on Disney cruises. I’m sure you can come up with many more and I would love to hear some of your favorites in the comments! I would love to help you plan a Disney cruise or other vacation. Email me at emily@themagicforless.com or fill out a no-obligation quote request to get started! I look forward to helping you plan a vacation that you can remember for a lifetime!