Disney Cruise Line Nursery Review: “It’s a Small World” Nursery With Babies and Toddlers

Before our Disney Dream cruises, I was not sure how our kids would do in the nursery. Neither of our boys attends daycare or nursery at home, and on this trip we were traveling with a newly turned one-year-old and a three-year-old who had only recently become fully potty-trained. I wondered if drop-off would feel stressful, if they would settle in, and whether the nursery would actually be useful during such a long itinerary.

Looking back, “it’s a small world” nursery became one of the most important reasons our Disney Cruise Line experience felt manageable, flexible, and genuinely enjoyable for all of us. It gave our younger son a safe space to crawl, explore, snack, and nap at a stage when the stateroom felt small, and it gave our older son a familiar, calmer option even though he was also eligible for the kids’ club.

What made the nursery stand out was that it did not feel like something we used only when we needed childcare. It became part of our family’s rhythm onboard. Some days, it helped us enjoy adult-only activities. Other days, it helped with naps, rest, packing, safe playtime, or one-on-one time with our older child. For families traveling with babies or toddlers, having that kind of support on board can completely change the feel of the cruise.

Why the nursery mattered on a long cruise

On a shorter cruise, the nursery might feel like a nice bonus. On a longer cruise, it became part of how our family made the trip work. Over 21 nights on the Disney Dream, the nursery gave our kids consistency, gave us flexibility, and helped everyone get what they needed at different points in the trip.

This was especially helpful because our kids were at different ages and stages. Our younger son needed a safe place to crawl, nap, snack, and explore. Our three-year-old sometimes wanted activities, pool time, or one-on-one attention, but he also still appreciated a smaller, calmer space. The nursery gave us more options instead of trying to make every activity work for both kids at the same time.

It also helped us avoid feeling like every adult-only activity, rest break, or packing window had to happen while the kids were asleep in the room. Cruise staterooms are not huge, and with babies and toddlers, even simple tasks can feel harder in a small space. Having nursery support made the long cruise feel more sustainable.

What the nursery space is like

Each Disney Cruise Line ship’s nursery space is a little different, but the overall setup is designed for babies and toddlers. On the Disney Dream, there was a main play area with toys, space to crawl around, and a screen where they played age-appropriate Disney shows or movies. My oldest loved helping to pick out what to watch.

The nursery also offered snacks and had plenty of opportunities for play and activities. During our sailing, the snacks and drinks available included crackers, yogurt, bananas, milk, apple juice, and water. Families could also bring their own sealed, nut-free snacks if their child needed something specific.

Our kids did lots of crafts, including especially cute personalized ones with their handprints and footprints. Sometimes there were even character visits. One time, the boys came back with a Polaroid photo with Mickey, which was such a special surprise.

There is also a separate nap area with cribs for babies. For older toddlers, the staff can pull out mats so they can rest or nap, too. The nursery also has a small potty for older toddlers in the nursery age range who are potty trained or potty training. This was helpful to know because the nursery counselors are able to assist children with potty needs if necessary, unlike the kids’ club, where children need to be more independent with toileting.

What made the nursery feel truly special was the staff. They were genuinely excited to see our kids when they arrived, and that made such a difference in how comfortable we felt leaving them. We even saw some of the nursery staff during their off time on a port day, and they still said hi and checked in on the boys. Those little moments made the care feel personal and warm, not just transactional.

An example craft from our last trip

Nursery vs. kids’ club

The nursery and kids’ club serve different purposes, and families should think about what will work best for their child. The nursery is smaller, calmer, and designed for babies and toddlers. The Oceaneer Club is a larger kids’ space for children who meet the age and potty-training requirements.

This was the first cruise where our three-year-old was fully potty trained, so we expected him to want to spend more time in the Oceaneer Club. He did visit the kids’ club independently a couple of times, but he still often preferred “It’s a Small World” nursery. I think the nursery felt comfortable to him because his younger brother was there and because it is a smaller, calmer space.

Another helpful difference is that the nursery can provide snacks, while the kids’ club does not serve snacks. For our family, that mattered because both boys could eat, rest, and play in a way that fit their needs.

Bathroom support is another important difference for families with toddlers. The nursery has a small potty, and counselors can help older toddlers who are potty trained or potty training if needed. In the kids’ club, children need to be more independent with toileting, so the nursery may still be a better fit for some three-year-olds depending on where they are developmentally.

Some of the amazing nursery staff during our last cruise on the Disney Dream

Booking & reservations

Nursery time can fill up, so I highly recommend pre-booking hours before your cruise for the times you think you will need them. The number of hours you can pre-book depends on the length of your sailing, but once onboard, you can check for additional availability and add more time. Reservations can be adjusted on the ship with four hours’ notice.

It is also okay to book multiple nursery sessions in one day, especially on sea days. We often used a late morning or early afternoon session and then another session either before or after dinner, depending on our dining time. This gave our kids time to rest, play, or have a safe change of scenery, while also giving us flexibility for adult-only activities, packing, resting, or one-on-one time with our older child.

Nursery care is an additional cost, so families should budget for it before sailing. For us, it was absolutely worth it because of the flexibility and support it gave our family.

What to do on boarding day

One of the first things I recommend doing after boarding is visiting the nursery. You can register your child, schedule extra hours, meet the staff, and see the space. This is especially helpful if using a nursery or childcare setting is new for your family.

Seeing the rooms and talking with the team can give parents a lot more confidence before the first drop-off. It also gives you a chance to ask questions about naps, snacks, separation, comfort items, diapers, bottles, and scheduling. If you are nervous, ask. The more we understood the process, the more comfortable we felt.

I would not wait until the last day of the cruise to try the nursery if you think you may want to use it. Giving your child a chance to visit earlier in the cruise helps the space feel familiar, and it gives your family more flexibility later.

Drop-off, pick-up & separation

Neither of my kids attends daycare or nursery at home, so we were nervous the first time we used the Disney Cruise Line nursery. Thankfully, both kids adjusted much better than I expected. Honestly, our one-year-old sometimes seemed to enjoy his time in the nursery even more than time with us because the nursery gave him a safe space to crawl, play, and explore. There were only one or two times when my toddler said beforehand that he did not want to go, but once we arrived, he went right in. For our family, the nursery quickly became a familiar and positive space.

That said, every child is different. We did see some children having a harder time at drop-off, which is completely normal, especially in a new environment. The nursery staff were very supportive and seemed experienced in helping kids settle in.

One thing I appreciated is that the staff can message you through the Disney Cruise Line app if your child is having trouble settling. It is a helpful heads-up so parents can decide whether they want to check in or return. Families can also bring comfort items like blankets or stuffed animals if that helps their child feel more secure.

Safety, check-in & health policies

Disney Cruise Line takes safety seriously in the nursery, which gave us a lot of peace of mind. If your child has a MagicBand, they can use it for nursery check-in and check-out. If not, Disney will assign one for your child with a refundable deposit. Parents also scan in and out using their Key to the World card or MagicBand, and the child’s MagicBand is scanned as well.

For pick-up, parents need to know the family’s secret password. This extra layer of security helped the process feel very safe and controlled. Between the parent scan, child scan, and password, it was clear that Disney has a careful system in place.

Disney is also very serious about health policies, especially in shared childcare spaces. If a child is reported to have nausea or vomiting, they need to go to the health center and be cleared before returning to the nursery or kids’ club. While that may feel inconvenient in the moment, I really appreciated that Disney takes this seriously because it helps reduce the spread of germs on board.

What to send with your child

For each nursery drop-off, I would recommend sending whatever your child may realistically need during that session: diapers, wipes, a change of clothes, bottles or cups, comfort items, and any sealed, nut-free snacks you want to provide. During our sailing, the nursery had crackers, yogurt, bananas, milk, apple juice, and water available, but I still liked knowing we could send specific snacks if needed.

We tried to send extra clothes each time, but on one occasion, when our baby had an accident and we had forgotten a change of clothes, the nursery had a spare onesie available. They also had spare wipes and diapers if we did not leave enough, which gave us peace of mind.

The nursery team did a great job keeping track of each child’s items and needs. They labeled and monitored milk or formula, tracked when something needed to be discarded, and documented food, drinks, diaper changes, and other care details. At pick-up, they reviewed these notes with us, which made the care feel very thoughtful and organized.

How we used nursery time

We used the nursery in several different ways throughout the cruise, and that flexibility was one of the biggest reasons it was so valuable. Some sessions allowed us to enjoy adult-only experiences, like Palo or other 18+ onboard activities. Other times, we used the nursery so one parent could rest, pack, take a break, or reset during a long itinerary.

We also used nursery time to create one-on-one time with our older son. Since our younger son was not toilet-trained and could only use the splash areas, nursery time gave us the chance to take our three-year-old to the pools and do activities that were better suited for him. That kind of divide-and-conquer flexibility was so helpful with two young kids at different stages.

The nursery was also great for naps and safe playtime. Cruise staterooms are not huge, so having a space where our one-year-old could crawl around, explore, play with toys, eat a snack, or rest made a big difference. It was not just a place we used when we had adult plans; it was also a space that genuinely worked well for our kids.

Parents can also use the nursery while they get off the ship in port. We did not personally do this, but it is an option, and families interested in it should talk with the nursery staff about how it works.

Best times to book the nursery

The best nursery times depend on your family’s schedule, but I would think carefully about sea days, nap windows, adult dining, spa appointments, and other 18+ activities. On sea days, booking more than one session can work well, especially if you want a mix of family time, adult time, and rest.

Dinner-adjacent times may also be helpful depending on your dining schedule. We did not personally use the nursery during dinner because our baby loved going to dinner, enjoyed trying new foods, and had wonderful interactions with our servers. For other families, though, nursery time during dinner may be a great option.

I would also consider reserving time toward the end of the cruise for packing. Trying to pack in a small stateroom with babies or toddlers underfoot can be challenging, so nursery time can be very helpful even when you are not doing anything exciting.

What surprised me most

What surprised me most was how much my kids genuinely enjoyed the nursery. I expected it to be something we used when we needed coverage, but it became a space they were happy to visit. My one-year-old especially seemed to love having room to crawl, explore, and play in a space designed for little ones.

I was also surprised by how personal the care felt. We had some of the same nursery team members from a previous Disney Dream cruise, and they remembered our sons. Over the course of the trip, the staff knew the boys, greeted them warmly, and created sweet moments we will remember. It made the nursery feel like part of the Disney magic, not just a practical service.

What I'd tell nervous parents

If you are nervous about using the nursery, especially because your child does not attend daycare or nursery at home, I would suggest visiting the space as soon as you board. Meet the staff, ask questions, and let your child see the room before the first drop-off. You can start with a shorter session and build from there.

Every child is different, and some tears can happen, but the staff were supportive, communicative, and experienced in helping little ones settle. Bring comfort items if your child uses them, communicate your child’s routines clearly, and remember that the Disney Cruise Line app gives staff a way to reach you if your child is having a hard time.

I would also encourage parents to think of nursery time as support for the whole family, not just childcare for when adults want to do something. Sometimes the best use of nursery time is a nap, safe playtime, a calmer space for your toddler, or a chance for you to reset. For us, the nursery helped everyone enjoy the cruise more.

• Pre-book nursery time before your cruise. Hours can fill up, especially on sea days and around popular adult-only activity times.

• Visit the nursery on boarding day. Register your child, meet the staff, ask questions, and see the space before your first drop-off.

• You can add more time onboard if space is available. The amount you can pre-book depends on the length of your cruise, but additional hours may be available after boarding.

• Reservations can be adjusted with four hours’ notice onboard. This gives families some flexibility if schedules change.

• The nursery is for babies and toddlers. Disney Cruise Line’s nursery is designed for children from six months through three years old.

• The nursery can provide snacks and drinks. During our sailing, options included crackers, yogurt, bananas, milk, apple juice, and water. You can also bring sealed nut-free snacks if you want your child to have something specific.

• The nursery has a small potty for older toddlers. Counselors can help potty-trained or potty-training toddlers if needed, which is different from the kids’ club where children need to be more independent with toileting.

• Send diapers, wipes, bottles, cups, comfort items, and a change of clothes. The nursery may have backups if needed, but it is best to come prepared.

• The staff tracks care details carefully. At pick-up, they review food, drinks, diaper changes, naps, and other helpful notes.

• The nursery has cribs and can use nap mats for older toddlers. This made it useful for both our baby and our three-year-old.

• A MagicBand or assigned band is used for children. Parents also scan in and out, and a secret password is required for pick-up.

• Health rules are taken seriously. If a child has nausea or vomiting, they need to be cleared by the health center before returning to the nursery or kids’ club.

• Nursery time is not just for adult activities. Use it for naps, safe crawling time, packing, rest, or one-on-one time with another child.

• Do not wait until the end of the cruise to try it. Starting earlier helps the space feel familiar and gives your family more options.

Final thoughts

For our family, “It’s a Small World” nursery was one of the biggest reasons cruising with babies and toddlers felt manageable. It gave our kids a safe, warm, and engaging space, and it gave us the flexibility to enjoy adult-only activities, rest, pack, divide and conquer, and support each child’s needs. What started as something I was nervous to try became one of the parts of Disney Cruise Line I appreciated most.

By the end of our time on the Disney Dream, the nursery felt like part of our family’s rhythm onboard. The staff knew our boys, greeted them with excitement, and created sweet moments we will keep forever, from personalized crafts to a Polaroid with Mickey. For our family, the nursery was not just childcare—it was part of what made the Disney Dream feel like home.

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