Imagine your child getting to meet their favorite Disney movie or TV character. I can just see the cheek-to-cheek smile on my son’s face if he were to ever meet Woody or Buzz from “Toy Story.” The encounter might be followed by some tears of shock, but that moment of seeing them ‘come to life’ would be a core memory, for sure.
Any parent who’s been to a Disney theme park knows the stress involved with finding scheduled character appearances and planning your days around them. On the flip side, it’s easy for kids to meet characters on Disney Cruise Line thanks to all the various appearances that take place throughout each sailing. There are even special theme cruises and experiences for super fans.
In addition to meeting characters from Disney films and TV shows (a la Doc McStuffins), you can mingle with icons from Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars—all of which also fall under the company’s umbrella. Below are five ways to ‘guarantee’ you’ll see your kiddo’s favorite character and make their dreams come true.
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1. Pre-book your favorite characters, if possible
Some character experiences are available for families to secure, prior to embarkation. Once your cruise is paid and the reservation window is open, sign into your account and view the list of available activities. Note: Appearances and character activities vary by ship, but examples include the Royal Gathering, where Disney’s royal characters all gather together in one location, and Olaf’s Royal Picnic, featuring favorites from the movie “Frozen.” While some are free, others might come with an additional cost.
2. View the character lineup for your sailing as soon as you board the ship
Standard character appearances are listed in the Navigator daily program (also accessible via the app), on the first day. Seeing all the meet-and-greets available each day allows you to more easily plan around them. You’ll typically see lots of opportunities to meet Mickey Mouse and his crew, so pay close attention to “rarer” characters (think Pixar) and those who meet only once or twice throughout each cruise. We recommend arriving about 10 minutes before the noted time.
3. Seek out opportunities to meet characters beyond scheduled appearances
Characters often pay little ones a visit at the ships’ youth clubs, Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab. You can also see them making the rounds at restaurants during mealtimes; participating in staple experiences such as the embarkation, fireworks, and disembarkation shows; and hanging out on the cruise line’s private islands. Although these don’t include professional photos and autographs like scheduled appearances do, they still serve up serendipitous magic.
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4. Consider specific ships for “rarer” characters
You’ll have to put in a little more effort to meet certain characters, namely those from more recent movies like Moana from “Moana” and Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog” as well as Pixar characters. Compare Disney’s ships, to see which ones feature your favorites. For example, Moana is the star on Disney Treasure—whose main production show is “Disney the Tale of Moana.” She’s also on Disney Wish, where fans can book staterooms themed around the movie.
Tiana, meanwhile, has been known to frequent several ships. But your chances of seeing her will be greater on Disney Wonder, since there are a handful of amenities inspired by the movie.
For Pixar movie lovers, Disney Wonder also hosts a Pixar Pals Party, where you can meet characters such as Woody and Jessie from “Toy Story,” Mr. and Mrs. Incredible from “The Incredibles,” Remy and Emile from “Ratatouille,” Boo and Sully from “Monsters, Inc.,” Joy from “Inside Out,” and Russell and Dug from “Up.”
5. Book a theme cruise for the full character experience
Select itineraries in January, February, and March are designated for Disney’s Special Days at Sea, which amp up your chances of meeting characters on Disney Cruise Line. Arguably the most popular is Marvel Day at Sea, where little super heroes can stand tall next to characters like Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, Captain America, Mighty Thor, Shang-Chi, Black Panther, Thor, Loki, and Black Widow. Activities and entertainment are centered around the theme for a fun, immersive experience. Note: Special Days at Sea themes are subject to change each year.
