10 Things Disney Cruise Line Does Better Than Other Lines

I’ve been thinking lately about things that Disney Cruise Line does better than other cruise lines. When comparing big ocean lines, there are some places where Disney absolutely stands out. There are other places that it doesn’t, and we will talk about those in next week’s blog post! But for now, here are 10 things DCL does better.

1. Family Shows and Atmosphere – Disney Cruise Line is nothing if not family-friendly. You’re not going to go to the headliner show worried about what your kids may see and hear. Other lines do a good job of letting you know that the Broadway show is PG-13, so you shouldn’t be surprised by it, but PG-13 does not even exist in Disney’s Broadway-style shows. I’ve walked past the movie playing on the pool deck during the day on a Royal Caribbean ship and heard a swear word. I’ve heard entertainment hosts make decidedly un-family friendly comments during a sexiest man alive contest in the afternoon on a pool deck. Even the adult-only shows late at night on DCL, while certainly not for children, don’t reach the level of bawdiness that happens in the same type of shows on other lines. None of those may bother you in the slightest; it’s just something to be aware of when comparing. If you want family-friendly – that’s Disney.

2. Character Experience – Disney corners the market here. While other lines like Royal Caribbean have some partnerships with DreamWorks and you may encounter some fun characters, none of them have the beloved history of Disney. On Disney, you’ll find characters roaming the pool deck, organized meeting times, and they’ll appear throughout the sailing in deck parties and dance parties in the atrium. Anyone who loves characters or has a character-loving child or grandchild should find ample opportunities to see them.

3. Stateroom Setup – Cruise line staterooms (or cabins as other lines call them) have come a long way over the years! Disney still has the best setup in my opinion. Split bathrooms are standard in almost every category onboard a Disney ship. A split bathroom means there is one bathroom with a sink and toilet, and one with a sink and shower/tub combo. That makes it so much easier for multiple people getting ready at the same time. Also, notice I said shower/TUB combo. With the exception of the Disney Adventure, DCL is still the only line where tubs are standard in every non-accessible room. On other lines, you need to get to a suite before you start seeing tubs.

4. Children’s Programming – Another area where other cruise lines have come a long way is in the children’s programming. Where the kids’ clubs used to feel like a bit of an afterthought on other lines, many of them now have great spaces and programming. Having said that, Disney still reigns supreme here. The clubs are highly themed, well-thought-out spaces. The programming is elaborate, with longer hours than other lines. On some other lines, once you hit late night, the kids’ clubs charge by the hour. Outside of the hourly charge for “it’s a small world” nursery! for children under three, Disney’s clubs are free.

5. Soda and Non-Alcoholic Beverages – As a die-hard Coke Zero lover, I get on this soapbox often. I love that Disney offers soda and some other non-alcoholic beverages like juices at no additional cost. It’s always available on the pool deck and in the restaurants. On other lines, it is not. You’ll pay by the glass or have to purchase a soda package beforehand. The soda packages are not cheap, and to use them, you’ll have to carry around a large tumbler to use the freestyle machines or stand in line at a bar. On the private islands like CocoCay, they often pour your soda out of a flat liter bottle. It’s absolutely maddening to me that I actually have to pay for such an inconvenient and subpar experience. Sorry. Off my soapbox again!

6. Room Service – With the exception of some packaged snacks and drinks, room service is free onboard Disney ships. The Disney Adventure is the exception, as they charge a small fee for room service. On other lines, DCL’s exception is the rule. You’ll almost always pay a small fee for room service. You should always tip the crew member who brings it, whether you are paying extra for it or not.

7. Themed Dining and Dinner Shows – Disney does themed dining like no one else. If you’re looking for a lively dinner show or themed experience while eating, Disney’s the one. The other lines have beautiful dining rooms, but outside of some upcharge experiences, there’s nothing that really compares to Disney’s theming.

8. Themed Night – Speaking of themes, how about that Pirate Night? I’ve seen white nights on other lines, but there aren’t many themed nights overall. There is a Pirate Night with deck parties, music, and fireworks on most Disney itineraries. The guests are all in. As far as costumes go, I’ve seen participation levels grow from 10-20 percent in my early days of cruising to well over 50 percent these days! Disney is also still the only cruise line with fireworks at sea.

9. Self-Serve Laundry – While I would prefer to never do laundry onboard a cruise, sometimes laundry is a necessity. Disney is one of the only lines with self-serve laundry options. For just a few dollars per load, you can do as much, or as little, as you like. You can also pay to have it sent out and let someone else take care of it, as you can on other lines.

10. Movies – Disney’s movie and TV show catalog is deep, and you will find first-run and classic movies playing several times a day in the theaters onboard. The TVs in your stateroom also offer a large selection of options. On other lines, you’re usually looking at standard TV channels, or paying to rent a movie.

Do you have any I missed? Do you have suggestions for next week’s blog when I discuss where the other lines beat Disney? I’ve got my list, but I’m happy to hear more!