Disney Cruise Line has a whole fleet of incredible ships with fantastic entertainment and dining onboard.

Maybe you’ve been on a Disney Cruise or two? Maybe you’re a seasoned Disney Cruise Line expert? Or perhaps you’ve only dreamed of setting sail with Disney. Well, no matter how many times you’ve been on Disney’s ships, we have a feeling there are some AMAZING details about them you’ve never noticed or never heard about! Today, we’re breaking down some of the best hidden details and secrets about Disney Cruise Line just for you.

A quick note that some of these things might be specific to one or more of Disney Cruise Line’s ships, but might not be found on ALL of the ships. Also, note that many things have changed on Disney Cruise Line due to COVID-19, so different policies may be in place at the moment.

1 — You Need to Look DOWN

There’s so much to look at when you get on a Disney Cruise — the statue in the atrium, the decorations all around, the characters popping up here and there — perhaps the last place you’d think to look is the floor. But, you should definitely look DOWN!

Throughout Disney’s cruise ships you’ll generally find a variety of carpet designs. For example, a DFB team member sailed on the Disney Wonder in 2019 and took a free tour of the ship on one of the later days in the trip. (Another secret you probably didn’t know about — there are often FREE tours of the ship offered on select dates. Be sure to check the Navigator App to see if it’s being offered during your cruise). During the tour, a Cast Member pointed out all of the amazing carpets throughout the ship.

There are what feels like DOZENS of different carpets aboard the Disney Cruise Line’s ships, each meant to transition you into a different space, guide you around the ship (more on that in a second), or immerse you in the theming. You probably wouldn’t actively notice any of these if you don’t purposefully look for them.

But, once you see them, they’ll suddenly pop out at you everywhere.

If you’ve been on a Disney cruise, look back at your photos and see how many different carpet designs you can spot (and count how many of them you didn’t even notice!).

2 — Portholes Can Be Deceiving

Throughout the ship, you’ll find portholes, giving you a view to the outside. One of the spots where you’ll find portholes on various floors all visible at the same time is the atrium. That’s when you might just notice something unique.

At least on the Disney Wonder, the portholes actually change in size in the atrium space as part of the illusion of the space. You’ll notice that the portholes on the middle floor are a bit bigger than the ones on the higher floor.

It’s sort of similar to what you see with forced perspective, where Disney uses certain visual tricks to alter how big or small a space feels (like Cinderella Castle in Disney World!).

3 — Look All Around You in the Atrium

While we’re in the atrium, we have to mention all of the details you’ll find here if you look carefully. In the Disney Wonder, there are actually designs of characters built into the design elements at the bottom of each floor. But, the characters aren’t just featured in ordinary poses.

Instead, the characters are actually depicted doing different jobs around the ship! Daisy is making beds, Pete is serving some food, Minnie is cooking, and there’s more.

On the Disney Fantasy, you’ll also find special designs on some of those bottom portions.

On the Disney Wish, Disney’s upcoming, NEW ship, you’ll also find some incredible details in the atrium (or what they’re calling the “Grand Hall”). In the rug, there are designs of vines, like a pumpkin patch, along with glass slippers and other character designs. And the railing has elements meant to sort of look like a tiara and there’s colored glass fit into it.

The atrium space is one that you walk right into when you start your cruise, and one you’ll inevitably walk past or through many times, but if you don’t stop to look closely at these little details, you could totally miss them!

4 — Even the Signs Have Hidden Details

As if you needed even more proof that there are hidden details EVERYWHERE on Disney’s cruise ships, we just had to share that there are secrets hidden in the signs too! So, once you’re done looking down at all of the carpets, look UP at the signs and see what you can spot.

One sign in particular stands out to us — the After Hours sign on the Disney Wonder (for the area that is home to the adult entertainment district) features a hidden detail. Do you see it?

That martini glass? It’s formed by Mickey’s Sorcerer Hat flipped upside down! It’s hard to tell in the image above, but if you look closely you can see that it has the signature stars and moon you’ll find on Mickey’s sorcerer hat.

5 — They Sail Under the Bahamian Flag and Have Crew From ALL Kinds of Different Places

You may have taken off on a Disney Cruise from a port located in the U.S. or another country, but did you know that Disney Cruise Line’s “flag state” is The Bahamas? The cruise ships are registered there and they sail under the Bahamian flag, as many other cruise lines do.

According to WUSA 9, “a 2015 report from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said that 90% of commercial vessels calling on U.S. ports fly a flag other than the American flag.”

WUSA 9 notes that the CLIA “cited American restrictions as their reasons for registering their ships in other countries. They said U.S. flag vessels are required to have Americans as at least 75% of their on-board personnel, they must be owned by an American and they must be built in the United States.”

Disney Cruise Line’s ships have all been built in shipyards overseas, including the NEW Disney Wish.

Not only do Disney’s cruise ships sail under the Bahamian flag and come from overseas shipyards, but Disney Cruise Line’s personnel also show off the cruise’s international flair. Typically, Disney Cruise Line Cast Members represent more than 86 different nationalities!

Next time you’re on a cruise, be sure to look at the Cast Members’ name tags and see where they’re from!

6 — The Carpet Can Help You!

Disney’s cruise ships are LARGE. After spending a day splashing around in the pool or eating all of the soft-serve ice cream you can handle, you might find it a bit confusing to find your stateroom. Which way is toward the front of the ship? Which way is toward the back? How do you know where to go when many of the stateroom hallways look the same?

Well, that’s just one more reason why you should look…DOWN!

The carpets are here to help! If you’re walking through the stateroom hallways, look down at the carpet design. The carpets generally feature stars. If the stars are pointing straight (meaning the peak of the star is pointing forward, in the direction you’re walking), then you’re walking forward. If the stars are not pointing straight, then you’re headed aft!

The maps you see in the carpet can also help. If those maps are right-side up, then you’re heading forward.

More fun facts: the maps on the carpets show the Disney Cruise Line ships and the flags around the cruise wheel on the carpet spell out the name of the ship you’re on! So, the next time you’re on the ship, remember this phrase: look down to help you get around!

7 — The Colors Have a Purpose

Disney Cruise Line’s ships have a pretty distinct design from the outside. They look quite different than other ships, and their color scheme can stand out. But, the color scheme has been put in place for a very specific reason (not just because it looks nice).

As Disney Cruise Line notes, the ships feature a black hull, white superstructure, yellow trim (and yellow lifeboats), and 2 large red funnels. Black, white, yellow, and red…those colors sound familiar to anyone? 

Of course! The colors represent…Mickey Mouse! Seems like the Mouse that started it all is truly everywhere you look.

8 — Disney Got Special Permission for Their Lifeboat Color

Speaking of colors, the color of the lifeboats on Disney’s ships have a backstory all their own! As Disney Cruise Line shares, they were actually the FIRST cruise line to have yellow lifeboats. Before that, lifeboats had to be an orange color due to regulations in place. You can see the orange boats on the Carnival Cruise Line boat below.

Orange lifeboats are good, but Mickey’s classic look doesn’t exactly involve orange, does it? So, to fit in with the color and theming of the ship, Disney wanted yellow lifeboats (like Mickey’s yellow shoes).

And they were able to make that dream come true after getting special permission from the U.S. Coast Guard to use the yellow color!

9 — A Ship That’s Built in HALF?!

You’ve probably imagined that building a cruise ship isn’t easy, but Disney has taken things to the next level!

As Disney Cruise Line shares, the Disney Magic, Disney Cruise Line’s first ship, was actually built in 2 halves that were 100 miles apart! 

Part of the ship was built in Anacona, Italy and then towed 100 miles to meet the stern of the ship, which was in Marghera, Italy. The two pieces were then joined and welded together! That’s one impressive feat.

10 — People Eat a LOT of Food

If you’ve ever been on a cruise then this is probably not shocking to you, but people eat a LOT of food and drink a LOT of drinks of all kinds when on a cruise. While you may know that in theory, seeing the hard numbers shows you just how intense it is!

According to one press release originally made in 2018, on an average 7-night sailing aboard the Disney Magic, the following items are consumed:

• Beef – 5,000 pounds
• Chicken – 10,000 pounds
• Salmon – 1,200 pounds
• Shrimp – 1,300 pounds
• Lobster Tail – 1,000 pounds
• Melon – 15,000 pounds
• Pineapple – 4,500 pounds
• Eggs – 71,500
• Coffee – 57,820 cups
• Soda – 3,125 gallons
• Beer – 12,385 bottles/cans
• Wine and Champagne – 2,700 bottles

A Business Insider article from 2018 shared slightly different but still IMPRESSIVE food figures. According to that article, each week before setting sail, the ship “is loaded with about 12,000 pounds of chicken, 5,000 to 6,000 pounds of beef, and 10,000 to 12,000 bottles of wine.”

Of course, these figures can vary depending on the length of the sailing and the number of guests the ship can hold, with Disney’s newer ships able to hold many more guests per sailing. Still, no matter how you slice it or dice it, that’s a LOT of food.

Another random and fun fact (not food-related) is that the anchor on the Disney Magic weighs 28,200 pounds, which is about the same as 3 full-grown elephants!

11 — There’s a Meaning Behind the Names

Palo is an adult-exclusive, elegant, and fan-favorite restaurant located on the Disney Magic, Wonder, Dream, and Fantasy ships. It typically serves a popular brunch and dinner, both of which feature flavors inspired by Italy.

Like all things with Disney, there’s a reason why Disney built an Italian restaurant on the ship (and it’s not just because people love chicken parmesan).

The decor and food of Palo are inspired by Italy, which is the birthplace of both the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder — Disney Cruise Line’s first 2 ships! Look at the artwork near the restaurant, as you might just find something showing its Italian influence!

According to Disney, Palo actually “takes its name from the poles that line the canals of Venice.” When you enter the restaurant, be sure to look at the masks that surround you, all reminiscent of Venetian masks used for Carnevale.

Also, look for the gondola pole by the reception desk and an elaborate mask nearby.

While Palo has lots of amazing food to eat, its decor isn’t something to be overlooked!

Click here to see a guest review of dinner at Palo on the Disney Fantasy!

12 — How Does Castaway Cay Get Fresh Water?

One of the highlights of Disney’s Bahamian cruises is a stop at Disney’s private island — Castaway Cay! According to Disney, the island is typically home to about 60 Disney Cruise Line crew members who live and work there full-time.

But, that’s not the only cool thing about Castaway Cay! Ever wonder how the island gets fresh water? Well, Disney has shared that water is actually procured in Port Canaveral and delivered to Castaway Cay by the ships. The water is then stored in an 80,000 gallon fresh water storage tank on Castaway Cay! 

13 — They’ve Had a Lot of FIRSTS

There are lots of things you can take for granted when sailing with Disney Cruise Line (or other cruises that have adopted some similar policies). But, Disney Cruise Line actually had a LOT of firsts.

Disney Cruise Line was actually the first to:

• Have a fireworks display at sea
• Implement rotational dining where guests dine in a different restaurant each evening but are accompanied by their same serving team at each restaurant
• Have a dock at their private island, which allows guests to easily walk on and off the ship (no need for tender boats)
• Create a water coaster at sea (the AquaDuck, which appears on the Disney Dream and Fantasy) — the water coaster spans 4 decks in height, goes over the edge of the ship, and is over 700 feet in length

• Give inside staterooms a “window” to the outside with their Magical Portholes
• Show movies at sea on the same day the movies debut in theaters
• Offer guests FREE soft drinks at any time with a 24/7 beverage station
• Have a bath-and-a-half set-up for staterooms (so families with children have the ability to take a bath!)
• And more!

14 — Just HOW Many Cast Members Are There?!

There are a lot of Cast Members aboard Disney’s ships, from performers to housekeeping, cooking, guest relations, and more. But, you might not realize just how MANY Cast Members there typically are.

Back in 2018, Business Insider shared that the Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream (both of which have 1,250 staterooms and can accommodate 4,000 guests) typically have around 1,450 Cast Members. That means that when those ships are at full guest capacity, there would be about 1 Cast Member for every 2.76 guests. That’s a pretty impressive ratio!

Of course, the situation with the number of guests and Cast Members on board has changed recently due to COVID-19, as Disney is reducing capacity on its ships and not all Cast Member positions may be filled. But still, it’s impressive to know what things look like when the numbers are in full force.

15 — Hacks to Help You Find Your Way

We’ve already talked about how the carpets on the ships can help you find your way, but if you’re traveling on the Disney Fantasy or the Disney Dream, there’s ANOTHER navigating hack you need to know about.

While on the ship, your stateroom will either be on the starboard or port side. But, when you’re walking through stateroom hallways that all look fairly similar, it can be difficult to tell what side of the ship you’re on.

Here’s an easy tip! As Disney shares, on the Fantasy and Dream, if you’re on the port side (left), you’ll find a FISH next to your room’s door. If you’re on the starboard side (right), you’ll find a SEAHORSE next to your room.

So, the next time you’re walking the hallways, you can look at the icons next to the door numbers to help you find your way!

16 — The Jogging Track You Don’t Want to Miss

Disney Cruise Line has plenty to keep you busy all day long, including a jogging/walking track (typically on the outside of deck 4) for those who might want to get in a bit of exercise during their trip.

Now, a run around the ship might be the LAST thing on your mind after filling your stomach with all the chicken tenders and fries you can handle. But, even if you just give it a quick walk, it can totally be worth the journey!

First of all, many guests don’t even realize that the walking/jogging track is there, so you’ll often have much of the space to yourself or find that it is quite empty.

Second, and most importantly, the jogging/walking track can sometimes take you past some really unique spots on the ship! You might get the chance to run (or steadily walk) past some of the more behind-the-scenes, operational parts of the ship, which is something you wouldn’t otherwise see.

While on your run/walk, be sure to look for any special portholes that might be along the way. On select Disney Cruise Line ships, there is a porthole along the track that actually looks into one of the ship’s kitchens, giving you a really unique view!

17 — Change Your Dinner Time & Line Up

Each night on Disney Cruise Line, there are 2 different seating times for dinner — a “main seating” time and a “second seating” time. The main seating is typically earlier, while the second is a bit later. You can request your seating time when you book your vacation, but if your preferred time isn’t available, you’ll just be assigned to the other time.

Not happy with what dining time you got? Call Disney Cruise Line ahead of your trip and see what changes can be made! Or let your travel agent know about your request so they can make the call. Disney may place you on a waitlist to get the dining time of your choice, but it’s worth it to call and give it a try. Be sure to also look and see if/where you can visit once onboard to potentially request dining changes. Sometimes a change may not be possible ahead of the cruise, but you can try to request a change again when you board.

Along with dining times, you’ll also get a restaurant rotation — the schedule of restaurants you’ll visit during your cruise and what order you’ll visit them in. Got a specific rotation request? Call Disney ahead of your trip and ask to place a request on your reservation. There are no guarantees that you’ll get what you want, but it never hurts to ask.

To see your restaurant rotation, you can check the “My Plans” section in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app upon boarding. Not happy with your dinner lineup? You can request a change when you board the ship. Just be sure to ask where dining changes are being made and try to go there as soon as you step on the ship.

18 — The Nursery Has Special Rules

Disney Cruise Line has all kinds of awesome spaces for younger kids, older kids, teens/tweens, and adults. But, the littlest guests aren’t forgotten about either. There are nurseries aboard Disney’s cruise ships — called the “it’s a small world” nursery on the Disney Magic, Wonder, Dream, and Fantasy. The nursery will also be coming to the Disney Wish.

This spot is meant for guests 6 months to 3 years old (or 1-3 years old on Transatlantic and Panama Canal itineraries). But, if you’re planning to use the childcare services at the nurseries, you’ll need to do some planning.

While the other kids spots are generally available on a more casual basis (note that COVID-19 has changed that situation), you MUST make advance reservations for the childcare at “it’s a small world” nursery. Because space is limited, Disney recommends that advance reservations be made as early as possible.

Also, childcare at the “it’s a small world” nursery is one of the few things that is NOT included in the overall cost of the cruise. Unlike the kids clubs for the older children and teens/tweens, you will have to pay for childcare at the nursery. Rates are $4.50 per half hour for the first child, and a minimum of 1 hour must be booked.

There are also certain cancellation fees.

So, if you’re planning on traveling with a little one and want to use the nursery’s childcare services, be sure to plan ahead!

Note that at the moment, due to COVID-19, the nursery services may not be available. Be sure to check and see what the situation is like on your cruise.

19 — If Things Sell Out, Don’t Give Up

Port adventures, character meet and greets (when available), and specialty dining associated with Disney Cruise Line can sell out QUICKLY. Many times, select Disney Cruise Line Castaway Club members (like Gold and Platinum members) will get first access to these things, and some can sell out even at those earlier levels, leaving no or very few reservations for silver members or new cruisers. If that happens to you with a specific port adventure you were hoping to get or reservations for popular adult dining spots like Palo and Remy, don’t give up hope!

As soon as you board your cruise, go directly to guest services or to the designated area for requesting these dining reservations/port adventures (typically there will be a spot to make some of the dining reservations in an adult dining or bar/lounge space). There, you’ll be able to see if there are any last-minute openings. Sometimes you’ll be able to score that reservation or port adventure that you were hoping for! But, you’ll want to visit the designated spots to make these reservations on the ship as soon as you can.

20 — Get Seasick? Your Room Choice Can Help

This isn’t specific to Disney Cruise Line, but rather a tip you can generally use on any cruise. Still, we thought it would be something helpful to include here! If you’re worried about getting seasick or you do tend to get seasick, picking the right stateroom might be able to help!

According to USA Today, a cabin near the center of the ship could help with seasickness. “Ships tend to roll from side to side,” so if you can get a room near the center, that could help. You can take a look at the ship’s deck plan ahead of time and try to see what cabins would be best.

Lower decks are also generally recommended (until you go below the waterline into the crew areas). According to USA Today, the lower decks are “less prone to movement than upper decks.” But, some people can feel a bit claustrophobic on the lowest decks, so consider picking the lowest deck that you feel comfortable with and which might provide you with easy access to dining areas or other spaces on the ship you’ll be making heavy use of.

Forbes echos this by noting that mid-ship is best on lower decks for those with seasickness concerns. They note that there is “more noticeable movement in the more forward areas of the vessel, or on higher decks.”

USA Today also shares that some people might feel more movement when they can’t see the waves — the source of the movement on the ship. If you feel like that might be the case for you, consider a room with windows or a balcony. Though Disney’s inside staterooms on some of their ships have the “magic portholes” it might not provide you with the same effect as literally looking out of a window or balcony.

In terms of booking forward or aft, that can depend on the scenery you’ll be going by on the cruise. Consider what you’ll be cruising past and whether you’ll get a better view it on the port (left) side or the starboard (right) side.

And that’s a look at some Disney Cruise Line secrets! Want to know more about Disney Cruise Line? Watch our video below!

Stay tuned for more Disney secrets!

What is your favorite thing about Disney Cruise Line? Tell us in the comments!