Deciding Which Cabin to Book on a Disney Cruise
You want your Disney cruise to be a small slice of Heaven…or a large one, depending on how long you stay.
That’s the thing about booking a cruise these days. You face so many different considerations.
Disney
Where should you go, how long should you spend on your cruise, and so forth.
Today, I’d like to help you narrow your choices just a bit by explaining a few of your options.
When deciding which cabin to book on a Disney cruise, here’s what you need to know.
The Ship Placement
Disney
Let’s start with the one that could very well determine your overall enjoyment level.
Many tourists think the least about their placement on the ship. Why should it matter, right?
Veteran tourists know that’s a rookie mistake…and a potentially devastating one at that.
A lot depends on whether you or someone in your traveling party is susceptible to motion sickness.
If so, you should pay careful consideration to ship placement, as it matters greatly.
On Disney cruises – and most cruises, really – you want to stay in the midship area.
Photo: Disney
Ships are majestic vessels that weigh thousands of gross tons, but they’re still, you know, boats.
Heavy winds and huge waves will cause even the sturdiest vessels to rock in the water.
Photo: Disney
Just thinking about that may cause some readers to feel a bit queasy.
While Dramamine and Scopolamine patches will help, you can sidestep the problem entirely.
Photo: Disney
Choose Midship when you book, as the center of the cruise ship is the least susceptible to motion.
Conversely, if motion sickness isn’t an issue, you should weigh your options a different way.
Aft, the “back” of the ship, will provide you with easy access to the cruise ship’s dining options.
You’ll also enjoy arguably the best views of any cabin on the ship, but it comes with a price.
Birthday Stateroom
You may notice more vibration, as engine and propeller movements occur here.
People like me who travel as part of a couple may prefer the Forward area.
Disney Fantasy – Back of Ship (Aft) – Balcony Room
When you book a cabin here, you’ll gain quick access to the various Adult-only spots on the ship.
Also, the nightly theater performances are directly below here, which you’ll find convenient.
As you can see, there’s plenty to consider here, so please choose wisely. I’ll give you a pro tip later.
The Floor
(Matt Stroshane, photographer)
Here’s the aspect of booking a cruise I wouldn’t have prioritized enough without help.
Someone took care of setting up my entire cruise itinerary on my first sailing, for which I’m grateful.
If I’d done it myself, I’d have wound up making the rookie mistake of not thinking about stairs.
Folks, unless you like getting in your exercise reps during vacation, this one matters a lot.
Even with ideal floor placement, we probably walked 50 sets of stairs per day.
This seems like a good time to mention that I have a bad back, and I know it could have been worse.
We overheard people on that cruise complaining about their elevator luck.
Why does that matter? All Disney cruise ships are more than ten stories tall…and that’s not all.
DCL
You will visit at least half of those levels each day of your cruise. I am NOT joking.
As proof, consider that these are essential parts of your daily cruise experience:
Photo: DCL
- Medical center – deck 1
- Rotational dining – decks 2 and 3
- Grand Hall – deck 3
- Shopping – deck 3
- Walt Disney Theatre – decks 3 and 4
- Disney movie theater – deck 5
- Senses Spa – deck 5
- Edge tween club – deck 5
- Oceaneer’s Club/It’s a Small World Nursery – deck 5
- Main pool – deck 11
- Quick Service buffet dining – deck 11
- Sports courts – deck 12
- Concierge activities – deck 12
Credit: Disney
Note that I didn’t list everything, and some decks vary their offerings, depending on the ship.
Also, I didn’t even mention the cabins, which are primarily on decks 6-11.
Photo: Disney Parks Blog
So, the result is that you’re fighting for an elevator or climbing lots of stairs.
You can reduce your stair-climbing by booking a cabin near an elevator and choosing the right floor.
Doing those things is essential to having the best possible vacation.
Understanding the Various Cabins
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Here’s a topic so important that I’d add a companion piece in just a few days.
You MUST choose the right cabin, even when you don’t plan to spend much time in the room.When you get this one wrong, you tend to dwell on it every time you return to your room.
That will happen a LOT more often than you anticipate, making the right choice paramount to your enjoyment.
DCL
You have your choice of four different booking options for your cabin. Those are:
- Inside
- Oceanview
- Verandah
- Concierge
Note that there are subclasses within these booking windows, and that’s not all.
Disney
Disney offers special cabins with restrictions and a few last-minute booking options.
So, you’ll discover plenty of complexity when booking. For now, let’s stick with the basics.
DCL
Inside staterooms are the cheapest and smallest rooms on the ship, and they also have a trick.
You cannot actually look outside, as you don’t have a window in this sort of cabin.
DCL
However, Disney sprinkles a bit of magic in the room via a digital porthole.
This display will entertain you with Disney characters, so much so that some prefer it to an actual window.
DCL
Those who disagree with that assessment tend to book at least an Oceanview cabin.
You will pay more for this room type, but you’ll gain what the name implies: a view of the ocean from your cabin.
DCL
The catch is that you cannot stand outside and admire the view. You’d need a Verandah for that.
These cabins include a nautical balcony area where you can sit outside and bask in the ocean’s beauty.
DCL
Finally, we have concierge rooms, which are much more expensive but come with exclusives.
For example, there are concierge-only areas on the ship’s upper decks.
Deciding Which Cabin to Book
Pricing matters when choosing a Disney cruise. I don’t want to undersell that point.
Some cabins cost hundreds and sometimes even thousands of dollars more.
Photo: vecteezy.com
So, deciding whether you should pay depends entirely on how much time you’ll spend in your cabin.
Personally, I prefer Verandahs on the Forward side on a higher floor, 9 or 10.
DCL
That way, I’ll have quick access to the adult-only pool and seating area and the buffets.
You may discover that an Inside cabin midship on a lower floor works best for you.
DCL
Anyone susceptible to motion sickness should definitely consider that option.
That’s what’s so remarkable about booking a Disney cruise. Everyone’s different here.
DCL
Disney offers options that will align with everyone’s best interests. The key is learning what they are.
And that brings me to the pro tip. When you’re new/inexperienced with booking cruises, you need help.
Photo: Disney
I’d warmly encourage you to speak with a MickeyTravels agent to explore your options.
MickeyTravels has been a Diamond Earmarked agency for four consecutive years, exemplifying its excellence.
Despite this fact, the company’s agents provide their services free of charge.
These experts have booked literally thousands of cruises, so their expertise is invaluable.
Book with MickeyTravels now!
Your MickeyTravels agent can help you book the vacation of your dreams in the cabin that best fits your needs.
Photo: MickeyBlog
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Feature Photo: DCL
