Skip the rookie packing mistakes. These are the 10 Disney Cruise Line essentials seasoned sailors swear by, no matter how many cruises you’ve been on.

Packing for a Disney cruise is a whole different beast than packing for a regular Disney World vacation. Between the formal nights, themed parties, port days, and pool time, there’s a lot to fit into a single suitcase, and it’s easy to overlook the little things that can make or break your trip.

After multiple sailings on the Disney Fantasy, Disney Dream, and Disney Wish, I’ve made just about every packing mistake there is to make, and I’ve also figured out which items I always wish I had packed (or am very glad I did). Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or you’re heading back to the high seas after a bit of a break, these are ten Disney cruise essentials most people forget to (or don’t even realize they should) pack.

Embarkation Day Backpack

When you arrive at the Disney Cruise Line port, you’ll drop off your checked luggage with the porters, and you won’t see those bags again until later that evening (usually around dinner time). That means that if you want to swim, sunbathe, or change clothes during the day, you’ll need to carry those items on with you.

Photo by Danny Shuster

Pack a small backpack with bathing suits, a change of clothes (especially if you’re wearing your swimsuit onto the ship), sunscreen, any medication you might need, sunglasses, and anything else you want immediate access to. Your stateroom typically becomes available early in the afternoon, so you usually don’t have to lug it around the ship for too long.

Reusable Water Bottle

One of the best things about sailing with Disney Cruise Line is that you get access to free (and unlimited) self-serve drink stations on the pool deck and in the buffet. So, you can fill up on water, soda, coffee, and tea 24/7. While these stations have cups out for you to grab and go at any time of the day, they are on the smaller side, and Disney doesn’t provide any lids or straws for the cold cups.

Bringing your own reusable water bottle (especially one with a built-in straw or lid) makes life a whole lot easier. You can refill it as often as you’d like throughout your cruise, and you’ll save yourself from a few spilled drinks along the way.

Multi-Port USB Charger

Disney has shifted pretty much all of the cruise information and daily itineraries onto the Disney Cruise Line app, which means that you’ll be using your phone a lot. Because of this, you can’t afford to go even one night without charging your phone, and finding a charging port can be difficult if you’re traveling with friends and family. Disney’s staterooms simply don’t have enough outlets for a family’s worth of devices. Between phones, Apple Watches, DisneyBands, tablets, e-readers, and camera batteries, you can quickly run out of places to plug things in.

Photo courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

That’s why a multi-port USB charger can be a game-changer. It gives your whole family a central charging spot, and it cuts way down on the cord clutter on your already-limited nightstand space. Just be aware that Disney has specific rules about power strips and surge protectors (those aren’t allowed for safety reasons), but a standard multi-port USB charging block is totally fine.

Pop-Up Laundry Hamper or Pillow Case

Cruise cabins can be tight, especially when you’ve got a family of four (or more) sharing one space. Without a designated spot for dirty clothes, it’s easy to end up with random piles of laundry tucked into every corner of the room.

Photo by Jeremiah Good

A collapsible pop-up laundry hamper takes up almost no space in your suitcase and keeps everything contained in your room when you’re sailing. If you don’t have enough space for a full laundry hamper, an empty pillowcase from home does the same job. As a bonus, either option makes packing up on the last night of your cruise so much easier when all your dirty laundry is already in one place.

Pirate Night Outfit

Pirate Night is a Disney Cruise Line tradition, taking place one night on every cruise, no matter where you’re cruising or what ship you’re on (with the exception of the Disney Adventure). And, let me tell you, people go all out for it (including the Crew Members, who get into full costume). If you want to participate, you’ll need to pack an outfit ahead of time because the onboard pirate-themed merchandise is limited.

Photo by Scott Smith

You don’t need anything fancy, though. A striped shirt, a bandana, and an eye patch from your local party store will do the trick. Disney also typically provides a pirate bandana for each guest in your stateroom on most cruises, so that’s one piece of the outfit you don’t need to plan for.

Cash

Most of your onboard expenses get charged directly to your stateroom, so you might be tempted to leave the cash at home. Unfortunately, that can be a big mistake and get you into a pinch. Cash is helpful for tipping Crew Members beyond the automatic gratuities (especially if someone goes above and beyond), and it’s essential at international ports of call where credit cards may not be accepted or where you’ll want to tip local guides and drivers.

Now, you don’t need to bring a lot of cash, but having some small bills on hand is a good idea. Break a larger bill into ones and fives before you leave home so you have plenty of options for tipping.

Magnetic Hooks

Magnetic hooks might sound like something random to pack with you on a Disney cruise, but they can actually be one of the biggest hacks to making more space in your cramped staterooms. The walls and ceilings of your room are magnetic, which means you can stick magnetic hooks just about anywhere to create extra hanging space.

Use them for damp swimsuits, backpacks, hats, lanyards, jackets, and anything else that you want off the floor and within reach. In a small space where every square inch matters, magnetic hooks are an easy way to keep things organized.

Light Jacket

Even if you’re sailing to the Bahamas or the Caribbean, where it’s going to be hot, the inside of Disney’s cruise ships are heavily air-conditioned, which can be a problem if you’re someone who tends to get chilly easily. A light jacket, sweater, or cardigan is one of those things you’ll be so glad you packed when you feel the full impact of a small air-conditioned space during dinner or the nightly theater shows.

Photo by Danny Shuster

This also doubles as a useful layer for port days where you might be visiting a destination in cooler weather, or for early morning excursions when the sun isn’t fully up yet.

DisneyBand (a.k.a. MagicBand)

If you have a MagicBand+ from a previous Walt Disney World trip, bring it! The MagicBand+ also works on Disney ships, where it’s referred to as a DisneyBand (you can also buy these on the ship if you’d prefer). It acts as your room key, your ID for boarding and disembarking at ports, and lets you charge purchases directly to your stateroom.

The alternative is your Key to the World card, which you’ll need to keep on hand at all times if you forget to pack your DisneyBand. While there are definitely ways to store these cards easily (like a lanyard or a phone case with a wallet), a DisneyBand on your wrist is much easier to keep track of at the pool or on excursions.

Beach and Water Toys

If your itinerary includes a stop at Disney’s private islands (Castaway Cay or Lookout Cay) or any other beach destination, pack a few beach toys for the kids. Disney offers plenty of activities and excursions on port days, but sometimes all you want to do is plant yourself in the sand and let the kids dig holes for a few hours.

Photo by Abby Richardson

A small shovel and bucket, an inflatable beach ball, sand molds, or anything else lightweight that your kids would enjoy can save you a lot of money. Onboard and at-port shops do offer some of these, but they tend to be pretty bulky and pricey compared to what you can find at your local Walmart or Target. 

Want more Disney Cruise Line packing tips? Check out more cruise essentials Disney experts swear by here!