Disney Cruise with a 1 Year Old... Am I Crazy?

Our journey began with a flight to Orlando the day before embarkation. Pro tip: Always plan to arrive at least a day early to avoid any travel hiccups. We stayed at the Hyatt Regency inside Orlando International Airport, and I highly recommend it for a convenient overnight stay. Disney Cruise Line offers motorcoach transfers directly from the airport hotel. Even better? You can complete check-in at the hotel, and your luggage is picked up from your room and delivered right to your stateroom on board—no schlepping required! The bus ride to Port Canaveral featured Disney cartoons to keep children entertained, but our little guy opted for a nap, which made for a smooth ride for everyone.

Disney goes the extra mile to make traveling with babies and toddlers stress-free. They provide a pack and play for sleeping, an in-room diaper pail, and bottle warmers upon request. For any last-minute needs, additional diapers, formula, and baby items are available for purchase on board.

Here’s a helpful hint for better sleep: my daughter created a perfect “slumber pod” by hanging blackout curtains (with magnetic hooks) around the pack-and-play and using a small noise machine to muffle our whispered conversations during naptime and bedtime.

Spacious cabin can accommodate up to five with a queen bed, sleeper sofa, and pull down bunk bed.

Pack-and-play and diaper pail—must-haves with a baby/toddler

Since my grandson isn’t yet toilet trained, we spent a lot of time at the Toy Story Splash Zone, a fantastic, enclosed water play area designed for kids four and under. With pop-up fountains and small slides, it was an absolute hit. And yes, Disney takes cleanliness seriously—when an “oops” moment happened, the entire area was closed and sanitized for about three hours. For potty-trained kiddos, the ship offers multiple pools to enjoy.

Toy Story Splash Zone for those 4 and under

Water play fun!

We also took advantage of Toddler Time, a scheduled play session in the “It’s a Small World” Nursery where adults accompany their under-three explorers in a supervised space. While we didn’t use the paid nursery services, it’s a great option for parents needing a short break. Older kids (ages 3–17) have access to the ship’s famous kids’ clubs, all included in the cruise fare.

Toddler Time in It's A Small World nursery

Mealtime is made easier, whether you’re dining in one of the three main restaurants, Marceline’s Market (buffet), or the quick-service venues, thanks to Disney’s excellent service. Disney operates a rotational dining system for dinner, allowing you to experience each main restaurant with the same serving staff nightly.

Upon arrival, a highchair and a plastic straw cup of water are already waiting for your child. Children’s menus cater to their specific tastes, but the staff is more than willing to deviate if it makes your child happy—so no worries if your little one only eats chicken fingers or plain pasta every night! When dining outside the main dining rooms, staff will assist with highchairs and ensure everything is wiped down before you eat.

Disney Cruise Line offers exceptional food allergy accommodations. My daughter and grandson, both gluten-free, experienced seamless dining. Gluten-free rolls were provided at dinner, and staff discussed dining options for all meals. Our server even proactively reviewed the next day’s menu to inform the kitchen of their dietary needs.

Marceline's Market: a buffet where food is served to you

Don’t forget, Disney also offers 24-hour room service included in the cost. Helpful hint: You can even get Mickey Bars delivered to your stateroom at no extra charge!

Our four-night itinerary included a day at sea, a day in Nassau, and a visit to Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. Given my grandson’s young age and our previous explorations of Nassau, we opted for more time to enjoy the ship.

I signed up for the Royal Gathering, a reserved opportunity to meet some of the Disney Princesses in the Grand Hall. Even at just one year old, my little one was full of smiles as he greeted Rapunzel, Belle, Tiana, and Cinderella. The princesses were incredibly accommodating and engaging. This popular event is offered daily and typically fills up within minutes of registration opening pre-cruise. For those hoping to attend, I highly recommend signing up at midnight on the day it becomes available.

One of the most adorable events on a Disney Cruise—especially for the tiniest travelers—is the Jack-Jack Diaper Dash. Designed for little cruisers who are still crawling (and not yet walking), it’s a race like no other. The rules are clear: if a baby stands and takes even a single step, they’re out of the running.

What truly surprised me was the crowd! Dozens of guests showed up to cheer and support the pint-sized racers. Since my grandson hasn’t started walking yet, we proudly signed him up. There were six determined babies participating, each ready to show off their crawling skills.

Parents are allowed to wave a favorite item at the finish line to help motivate their little one—as long as it’s not food. My daughter knew just the trick: our stateroom’s TV remote. And it worked like magic! With laser focus, our little guy crawled straight for it and crossed the finish line first—earning the title of Jack-Jack Diaper Dash Champion!

It was such a joyful and proud moment for us. Every participant received a keepsake bib, and our superstar took home a winner’s medal to commemorate his very first race—and first victory!

Castaway Cay is another cruise highlight for all ages, offering a beach day with a complimentary barbecue lunch. There’s a family beach and an adults-only beach. Cabanas are available for rent in both areas, though they come with a hefty price tag and sell out quickly. While we didn’t rent one on this trip, we have in the past, and it’s wonderful to have a shaded space with indoor and outdoor seating, a refrigerator stocked with drinks, floats, bike use, and an attendant to assist with anything you might need.

For our little cruiser, we enjoyed playing on the beach, wading in the warm, calm water, and splashing around in Castaway Cay’s Spring-A-Leak splash pad. This shaded splash zone features water tables and fountains, perfect for little ones to enjoy some water play. When it was time for lunch, our main dining server greeted us and assisted my daughter in picking up her specially prepared gluten free lunch. Other Disney crew members were on hand at lunch to help with highchairs and carry trays—always going above and beyond.

Map of Castaway Cay

So, was I crazy to cruise with a one-year-old? Not at all! While my grandson may not remember the fun he had on his first cruise, my daughter and I certainly will. We’ll show him the pictures, tell him the stories, and relive those memories for years to come. Watching Disney magic unfold through the eyes of a child—even one as young as one—made this trip unforgettable.

If you’re considering cruising with a baby or toddler, don’t let the idea overwhelm you. With Disney, the experience is not only manageable—it’s magical.

Jack-Jack's DiaperDash contest., which I am proud to say my grandson was the fastest crawler!

Helpful suggestions:

Larger staterooms (deluxe family verandas) provide additional floor space to allow for the pack-and-play and extra storage space for clothes and toys.

If you are concerned about the verandah, don’t be. The doors have a double lock system: one safety lock at the top of the door and a door handle that must be rotated to open. In addition, the doors are heavy.

There are strollers and wagons available on Castaway Cay for use. Grab one quickly.

Pre-and post-cruise trips to Disney World are always a wonderful addition to increase the magic. Disney transportation is available to those staying at a Disney Resort.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our cruises page.