Tammy Whiting, our Disney Cruise Line expert, shares 10 features you can expect in staterooms on Disney ships.
If you’ve never been on a cruise, you probably have a lot of questions about staterooms. The staterooms on Disney ships are tastefully decorated and well-appointed. While you probably won’t spend a lot of time in your stateroom, you still want a comfortable home base, and you’ll get that on a Disney ship. Here’s what you can expect in your stateroom.
1. Split Bath – Disney pioneered the concept of split bathrooms in every stateroom. With the exception of Standard Inside Staterooms (Category 11) and accessible staterooms, every stateroom has essentially two bathroom areas. One bathroom has a sink and toilet, and the other has a sink and tub/shower. I have always found these split bathrooms especially helpful when several family members are getting ready in the mornings. You’ll notice that I said “tub“ as well. Bathtubs are the norm in Disney staterooms, but that is not so on every other cruise line, where you won’t usually find tubs until you are staying in the most expensive rooms.
2. Storage – There’s a surprising amount of storage space in these staterooms. All staterooms have closets and a desk area. The closet usually has two hanging spaces as well as drawers. The desk area has additional drawers and cabinets. The beds are high enough off the ground to accommodate most suitcases. Note: The Wish-Class ships do not have as many drawers, so I’ve found packing cubes helpful in keeping things somewhat organized.
3. Beds – In addition to a super-comfy queen- (or, in some suites, a king-) size bed, there is at least one other sleeping space in the stateroom. Your stateroom host will turn your sofa into a twin-size bed at night if you need it, and there may be a bed that pulls out of the ceiling above it. In the Deluxe Family Oceanview Staterooms (Category 8) and Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah, you may also have a twin-size Murphy bed that pulls down from the wall. Not all staterooms have these fourth- or fifth-bed spaces, even if the category accommodates that many. If you want one, make sure you (or your travel agent) check when booking.
4. Sofa and Chairs – While there are a couple of staterooms without sofas, that is not the norm. The vast majority of staterooms have a sofa. There is also a stool for sitting at the desk, and if you are in a Category 4 or above, there will also be a chair.
5. Connecting Doors – Disney ships were built with families in mind, and many connect. In addition, many verandahs can be connected. If there is a connecting door between rooms, your stateroom host or hostess can unlock it and leave it open. Check when booking!
6. TV – All staterooms have televisions. On the Magic, Wonder, Dream, and Fantasy, the TVs are closer to the couch area and are on a swivel so you can point them where you would like. On the Wish-Class ships, the TVs are much larger, but they are in front of the bed and can’t be moved. All of them have a large selection of Disney movies on demand, as well as a selection of other stations you’ll be familiar with. Every morning, there will be a new talk show with your cruise director and a guest going over the day’s activities. I generally find it pretty entertaining!
7. Fridges – Each stateroom also has a small refrigerator big enough for water bottles, soda, and more. On the Wish-class ships, the fridges are drawer-style fridges (sideways), and while they have plenty of room, the layout is a little awkward.
8. Outlets – The Magic and Wonder started with a distinct shortage of outlets in the staterooms, but Disney has added more and more outlets over time. In general, there are plenty these days, including some USB plugs. The Treasure added several USB-C outlets in the staterooms as well. Many of the pull-down beds also have USB plugs, which is super handy. All staterooms have hair dryers to use, but they will only plug into the outlets by the mirror above the desk, which is guaranteed to wake anyone who is sleeping! The Magic and Wonder still have some old-school ones built into the walls of the bathrooms.
9. Toiletries – The staterooms have shampoo, conditioner, and soap to use. Concierge staterooms have upgraded brands, but I’ve always found the standard ones to be perfectly fine and never bring my own.
10. Themed Staterooms – While the Magic, Wonder, Dream, and Fantasy have more of a classic style, the Wish-class ships have movie/character-themed staterooms. These themes are very subtle and usually only involve two paintings on the wall. Themes include Up, Finding Nemo, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Frozen, The Princess and the Frog, and more! You can call DCL or verify with your travel agent which theme your stateroom will have.
About the author of the blog: Tammy Whiting is the coauthor of The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line. Blogger, Space Force wife, and mother of two, Tammy has been involved in the travel industry for more than 15 years. Though she certainly enjoys vacations of all kinds, her favorite adventures around the globe have been on cruise ships. Tammy spent five years of her childhood in Europe as a military brat and has been a military spouse for over 30 years, living in almost every corner of the US. When she isn’t traveling, you can find her enjoying her family, buying camera equipment, and planning her next trip!
What are your favorite features in a Disney Cruise Line stateroom? We would love to know.
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