Packing for a Disney Cruise is mostly straightforward, but a few smart extras can make your trip feel smoother and less cluttered. Think of these as the tiny upgrades that seasoned cruisers swear by — the things you don’t realize you need until you’re already onboard wishing you had them.
Room Essentials
Your stateroom becomes your little home at sea, so a few simple additions go a long way in keeping things organized. Clothes pins are surprisingly useful since each cabin has a pull-out clothesline in the shower, but swimsuits tend to slip without clips. Magnetic metal hooks are another must-have because the cabin walls are metal, which means you can instantly add hanging space for hats, backpacks, jackets, and lanyards without cluttering surfaces.
The cabin feels much more manageable if you bring a pop-up laundry hamper or even just a pillowcase to corral dirty clothes. And to keep the small bathroom from becoming a disaster zone, a hanging toiletry bag is perfect as it keeps everything visible, dry, and off the counter.
One of the most fun room traditions is bringing door magnets. Decorating your stateroom door is a whole Disney Cruise subculture, and exploring the hallways to see everyone’s creativity is genuinely one of the joys of the trip. We add a new one every cruise, and it has become a running tradition.
Food & Drink Helpers
A reusable drink cup with a lid is one of the most useful things you can bring. The pool deck drink stations only offer small cups, and you’ll be refilling constantly unless you have something bigger. A lidded cup also makes it easy to carry water or soda around the ship without spills.
For snacks, bring a Disney popcorn bucket from the parks if you have one. You can refill it onboard for just a few dollars, which is perfect for movie nights, deck parties, and those late-night “I just need something salty” moments.
Clothing Extras
It can be warm outside and surprisingly chilly inside the ship, so pack a light sweater or jacket even if you think you won’t need it.
And don’t forget pirate attire for Pirate Night. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, even simple accessories or a bandana help you join the fun, and the photos are way better when you’re dressed up even a little.
Out-and-About Gear
When you head onto Castaway Cay or visit ports, you’ll want a few things that make adventuring easier. A waterproof phone case is a lifesaver around beaches and pools. And a handful of Ziploc bags in different sizes always come in handy for wet swimsuits, sandy items, snacks, or anything small you need to keep dry.
Also, bring a few small bills for room service tips, the porters, and quick expenses in port. It’s one of those things you don’t think about until you need them.
Charging & Tech
Disney cabins have limited outlets and they do not allow power strips, but multi-port USB hubs are allowed. Bringing one means everyone’s devices can charge at the same time without fighting over the single outlet next to the bed. It’s such a small item, but it makes a huge difference.