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When we went on our first Disney cruise back in September of 2022, there were a lot of things I wished I would have done differently. One of those things was to pack and plan our outfits a lot sooner. 😩 Yes, even though I run a magical outfit planning service and should know better, I too have fallen victim to panic packing. You can read my previous post about what you actually need to pack for a cruise here! If you want to avoid this mistake, you can check out our Custom Services to see how we can plan your outfits for your Disney Cruise!
However, if you’re a couple of weeks away and in need of some last-minute items, we have you covered. We will break down a few items I wished we would have had on the trip and show you some things that maybe you haven’t thought about yet. And don’t worry, all of these items are on Amazon, so don’t panic!Â
Magnet Hooks
Space can be limited inside your cruise cabin, so these magnet clips can be crucial! You can use them to dry your suits and towels or to just store other items without having to use drawer or counter space.Â
Towel Clips
Towel clips are extremely useful if you plan on hanging out on deck by the pool. Even if the ship isn’t moving, it’s pretty breezy, even if docked. Towels tend to blow away often, so these are super helpful for securing your items, as well as helping out the Cast Members on board.Â
Dry Bag/Beach Bag
This is something else I didn’t pack and wish we would have. As a first-time cruiser, I wasn’t sure what to pack for our day at Castaway and ended up purchasing a tote while we were there. Save yourself some money, and grab these. I love the dry bag as it does a great job at keeping anything you might be taking off the ship dry and safe, like your passport and phone.
You can also opt for just a beach bag, which is great for storing your sunscreen, cover-ups, shoes, and even toys for the sand! Both options fold easily, so they won’t take up a lot of room in your luggage or cabin.Â
Autograph Books
Oh boy. This was an epic parent fail moment. My kiddos are young and still enjoy meeting characters and getting autographs. My husband and I totally forgot to bring our autograph books. There are SO many characters on the ship. Each ship has different characters and offerings, but I guarantee you will see Mickey & Friends and plenty of Princesses!
You can absolutely go with a traditional autograph book, but these Little Golden books are also a fun way to capture your memories on board and still use the books when you’re done! So here is your friendly reminder to order them now to avoid the stress later.Â
Pirate-Themed Outfits
Disney is known for their themed nights and celebrations on board their cruise ships. Make sure to check your itinerary for specific themes such as Pixar or Marvel, but almost every single cruise has a Pirate Night! While it is not a necessity, people tend to go all out for these nights and dress to the nines.
Most items will arrive quickly, but if you are leaving within a week or so, we’ve gathered some items you can get on Amazon! Again, it’s not required to dress up, but it really does add to the fun. So, even if you just grab some eye patches, it’s sure to enhance your overall experience!Â
We also have some templates available for purchase if you are looking for some quick and easy outfits! These templates are digital downloads, and every item you see is directly linked to the product listing. So, all you have to do is click and add to cart!
Door Decorations
Door decorations are a really fun way to add some personalization to your room! This is also something we failed with, as we left ours at home for our first cruise. On our Very Merry Christmas Cruise we loved walking about the ship and seeing how everyone decorated their doors. You can add battery operated lights, garland, and of course magnets. We highly recommend the small shop, Citrus Skyline. Her attention to detail and designs are SO CUTE. However, if you are in a pinch and need them quickly, Amazon does have some too!Â
Fish Extenders
Fish Extenders are something we were unaware of until we boarded the ship. People LOVE participating in this, but it can be confusing as to what you need to do or bring to participate. This article from WDW Magazine breaks it all down. We’ve added some fish extenders and even some gifts to participate in this Disney cruise tradition!Â
Kiss Monkey Treasure Box Toys (great bulk buy if you're traveling with friends or family!)
Foldable Storage Cubes
Depending on your ship, storage in your cabin can be quite frankly, terrible. We had plenty of dresser drawer storage in our room on the Disney Dream. But on the Disney Wish, we found the drawer storage to be lacking. Our family doesn’t like to hang up our items as we organize our outfits by day. So we often keep our items in a packing cube or Ziploc bag for our trip. You only have one or two drawers on the Wish, and your other storage option is to out all other folded items near the closet, which is dark and hard to manage.
I wish we would have packed foldable storage cubes to keep our items together, and organized. The ones I have listed below will not take up much space in your luggage as they zip down and lay flay!
Foldable Laundry Basket
Okay so hear me out! This tip came from Shari at Mom's Plan-It Vacation Blog and I am forever grateful! Your space in a cruise cabin is limited. If you are traveling with your family or even a messy partner, this can be a life saver. We are used to Disney Resort rooms having a laundry basket to put our items in at the end of each night. This doesn’t mean I am doing laundry on my trip, it just means I have one spot for the kids to throw their items in so we aren’t losing things like socks, shorts, etc.
Laundry baskets are NOT included in your room on a cruise, so it’s easy to lose your stuff! By packing a foldable, cheap one, you’re more likely to keep track of your things and make packing up easier! brought one on our last cruise and didn’t have any regrets. It fit perfectly under the vanity and helped keep my sanity with organization. Plus, it folds up nice and flat so it didn’t take up a lot of room on in our luggage.
We truly loved our cruise, as it was the first time I felt like I was actually on vacation. I hope you find these items helpful. If you have reservations at Palo, Remy, or Enchante, I also have some items in our storefront that are approved for Disney’s dress code. You can check out our playlist on YouTube for further information on a Disney Cruise. And as always, I am happy to answer any questions you might have.Â
