When you book a Disney cruise your choice of a stateroom is one of the most important decisions that you need to make.
There are so many things to do on a Disney cruise that you may not plan to spend much time in your stateroom.
However, what you must be sure of is that you are making the right choice. Not all cruise ship staterooms are created equal. Even on Disney ships there are some which are not as great as the others.
Which Disney cruise ship staterooms should you avoid?
Disney Cruise Stateroom Guide
Here our guide will help you make the best choice of Disney cruise stateroom – and avoid the ones that may leave you wishing that you had stayed on dry land.
Join my Disney Cruise Group for Tips and Free Giveaways!
Disney Cruise Stateroom Types
When you first start thinking about which stateroom to pick on a Disney Cruise you will have to make a choice between these categories:
- Inside Stateroom
- Outside Stateroom
- Verandah Stateroom
- Concierge Stateroom
An Inside Stateroom has no view of the outdoors.
An Outside Stateroom has either one or two portholes.
A Verandah Stateroom has a balcony.
The final category of stateroom on a Disney Cruise is a Concierge Stateroom. These are all either Verandah Staterooms, one or two-bedroom suites.
The largest and most expensive Suites on a Disney Cruise Ship are the Walt Disney Suite and the Roy Disney Suite.
The new Disney wish will also have new Concierge Suites including the Tower Suite which is located inside the iconic ship funnel.
- Category 11 are Standard Inside Staterooms
- Category 10 are Deluxe Inside Staterooms
- Category 9 are Deluxe Oceanview Staterooms
- Category 8 are Deluxe Family Oceanview Staterooms
- Category 7 are Deluxe Oceanview Staterooms with Navigators Verandah
- Category 6 are Deluxe Oceanview Staterooms with Verandah
- Category 5 are Deluxe Oceanview Staterooms with Verandah
- Category 4 are Deluxe Family Oceanview Staterooms with Verandah
All of the Disney Cruise staterooms have a category allocated to them. You will see this when you go to the Disney Cruise Website.
You will also see a letter, such as Category 5A, 11B, or 6A.
Wondering what the A, B and C mean in the categories?
These mostly relate to the location on board the ship, but can also show different features, for example, a white wall verandah instead of a clear plexiglass verandah.
Here is a guide to the different types of Disney Cruise stateroom to help you understand the different ones available.
We have to split this up into two different types of ships.
The Disney Wonder and the Magic have identical staterooms and the Disney Fantasy and the Dream have identical staterooms.
We will start with the Classic Ships the Disney Wonder and Disney Magic.
Disney Wonder and Disney Magic Stateroom Types
Interior Stateroom Category 11A, 11B and 11C
There are 160 of these Disney Cruise Staterooms available on the Magic and Wonder. If you pick an Inside stateroom these range from the Standard at 184 square feet up to 214 square feet for the Deluxe Inside Stateroom.
All the Category 11 Staterooms on the Magic and Wonder are the Standard Inside Staterooms.
So that you can get an idea of exactly what a Standard Inside Stateroom is like on the Disney Wonder I have made this video
As you can see, a Disney Standard Inside Stateroom makes great use of the available space. There is a comfortable, queen-sized bed and a sofa bed.
There is no split bathroom on the Standard Inside stateroom – the only cabin which doesn’t have this feature.
The Disney Cruise Standard Inside Stateroom is a great choice if you are looking for the lowest price and do not think that you will spend much time in your cabin.
All of the inside and outside staterooms sleep either 3 or 4 people maximum.
There is a Queen bed and a sofa bed in all staterooms. Some also have a pull-down bed above the sofa so they can sleep 4.
These are the only staterooms which do not have the split bathroom. We have stayed in this category and found it fine as a great choice when you are on a budget.
Everything is well designed, but it is compact.
If you think you are going to spend a lot of time in your stateroom this honestly is probably not a great choice.
However, if this is the only one that fits into your budget then our opinion is to go ahead and book.
You still get to enjoy everything everyone else does on the ship – you just don’t pay as much!
Deluxe Interior Stateroom Category 10A, 10B, and 10C on Disney Wonder and Magic
These are larger inside staterooms at 214 square feet. They do have the split bathroom so the toilet is separate from the bath and shower room.
There are 96 Deluxe Inside Staterooms available.
Oceanview Staterooms on Disney Magic and Disney Wonder Category 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D
These are the same square footage at 214 as the Deluxe Interior Staterooms. The difference is they have a window or porthole.
Navigator Verandah Staterooms on Disney Wonder and Disney Magic Category 7A
These are very popular staterooms and are usually the first to be completely booked. This is a design unique to the Disney cruise line as it is a mix of Outside and Verandah staterooms.
The stateroom is 214 square feet and the same design as the Oceanview cabin. The difference is an enclosed balcony of 54 square feet.
There is a separate sitting area that looks a lot like a balcony but it not open to the outside.
The Navigator Verandah Staterooms sleep up to 3 guests. They are not available on the Disney Fantasy or Disney Dream.
Deluxe Verandah Staterooms on Disney Wonder and Magic Category 5A,5B,5C and 6A
These are the same design as the Oceanview and are 214 square feet, with the addition of a verandah of 54 square feet.
These sleep up to 4 guests. This is the ideal choice for many Disney cruise guests as it offers a balcony.
Deluxe Family Stateroom With Verandah
These are a cruise industry rarity – a stateroom that sleeps 5. For most cruise lines you have to book a suite to have room for 5 but on Disney, these Verandah staterooms are great for larger families.
These Disney cruise staterooms are 250 square feet with a verandah of 54 square feet.
There is a Queen bed, sleeper sofa, and drop down above, with an additional drop-down bed which goes in front of the verandah door.
We have stayed in these staterooms multiple times and they offer great space for families of up to 5.
All of the Deluxe Family Staterooms with Verandah is on Deck 8 of the Disney Magic and Wonder and there are 80 available.
Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy Stateroom Categories
The staterooms on the Disney Fantasy and Dream are of the same basic design as on the Classic Ships, but there are some differences.
Inside Staterooms On Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy
There are two different types of inside stateroom on the new ships.
The great innovation on these newer ships is the Virtual Porthole in all of the inside staterooms. T The Virtual Porthole is a video screen that projects images of the outside of the ship.
It’s a really great innovation that allows you to have a virtual window on the outside world. And if you watch carefully you may well see some Disney characters swim across the screen.
These staterooms are very popular, and often sell out more quickly than the Outside Categories.
Interior Stateroom Disney Dream and Fantasy Category 11A, 11B and 11C
These are 169 square feet and do not have a split bathroom. They have a Queen bed and a sleeper sofa. Some also have the drop-down bed above the sleeper. There are 131 interior staterooms available on Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream.
Deluxe Interior Staterooms on Disney Dream and Fantasy Category 10A
These are 204 square feet and sleep either 3 or 4. There are only 19 staterooms so this Category tends to sell out quickly. These do have a split bathroom.
Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom on Disney Fantasy and Dream Category 9A,9B,9C and 9D
These Disney cruise staterooms are 204 square feet and have one or 2 small portholes. They sleep up to 4 guests and there are 91 available.
The ones with the 2 small portholes are not as popular as the ones with just one large window.
Family Oceanview Stateroom On Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream Category 8A,8B,8C and 8D
These Family Oceanview Staterooms sleep up to 5 guests and are 241 square feet. They have a Queen bed, sleeper sofa with a drop-down bunk bed above, and an additional pull-down bed near the window.
These Oceanview staterooms have a large porthole window which can be used as a window seat.
There are 108 staterooms on each of the Disney Fantasy and the Disney Dream.
Navigator’s Verandah Staterooms on the Disney Dream and Fantasy
The Navigator’s Verandah staterooms are very different from the ones on the Wonder and Magic. The term is used for the newer ships to mean that it is an obstructed view.
Some in this Category are still a good choice, but others are not so great.
The least desirable, as they do have quite a significantly obstructed view are 5024, 5524, 6178, 6678, 7182, 7680, 8176, 8674.
The best of the Disney Dream Cruise Secret Rooms with Verandah is 8022, 8164, 8520, and 8662. The obstruction is minimal and if these staterooms are available you should consider if they offer what you need for a better price than the category 6 Staterooms.
Deluxe Verandah Stateroom on Disney Fantasy and Dream Category 5A,5B,5C,5D,5E,6A,6B and 7A
These are the most plentiful staterooms with 499 to choose from onboard the Fantasy and Dream. They sleep up to 4 and have 203 square feet of living space and a balcony verandah of 43 square feet.
They have a Queen bed and sleeper sofa with some also having the drop-down bunk.
Family Verandah Stateroom On Disney Fantasy and Dream Category 4A,4B,4C,4D and 4E
These are 256 square feet of living space and a verandah of 43 square feet. There are 362 staterooms to choose from. They sleep up to 5 and all have a Queen bed, sleeper sofa with bunk above, and a drop-down bed near the verandah.
These are usually the highest price of the verandah staterooms. They are great if you have a family of 5 on a Disney cruise.
However, it is always important to check whether getting 2 staterooms for your family of 5 would be a better value – it also gives you much more space than the Family Verandah stateroom.
Disney Cruise Stateroom Size Is Important
Disney cruises have some of the largest staterooms at sea. They are up to 25% larger than average cruise line cabins. That makes a huge difference when you compare Disney with other cruise lines.
However, not all Disney cruise staterooms are created equal. As you would expect, the general rule is that the lower the price, the smaller the stateroom.
Always think carefully about the type of stateroom that you choose. If you want help with more detail about the different categories you can read this.
If you are choosing a stateroom on the Disney Fantasy or Disney Dream here is a guide with lots of pictures and videos.
Is A Disney Cruise Outside Stateroom a Good Choice?
Usually, the least expensive staterooms on a Disney cruise are the Inside cabins. These staterooms do not have a direct view of the outside. I say usually the least expensive.
However, sometimes the Outside Staterooms are priced only slightly higher than the Inside Staterooms.
So it always pays to check. If you sail on the Disney Fantasy or the Disney Dream you will have a virtual porthole in an Inside Stateroom. The virtual porthole is a unique feature for Disney cruises.
The virtual porthole has a video feed that shows you what is happening outside the ship.
If you watch carefully you may even see Mickey and his friends. Virtual portholes are not available on the Classic Ships, the Disney Wonder, and the Disney Magic.
The technology simply wasn’t there when these classic Disney ships were launched.
Even though they have been reimagined they did not add the virtual portholes in dry dock.
If you want a real view of the ocean you need to book either an Outside or Verandah stateroom.
One choice is an Obstructed View Outside or Verandah Stateroom. This usually means that your view will be obstructed by a lifeboat, post or panel.
The degree of obstruction varies a lot. Some you would barely notice the obstruction, but others really do block your view.
The bonus of Obstructed View Staterooms is that they are usually offered at a lower price than others in that category.
You just have to weigh up how important the view is for you and balance that against the price difference.
Disney Cruise Verandah staterooms are the most popular available. The luxury of having your own balcony is much sought after and many think that it is well worth the extra cost.
To help you choose a stateroom on one of the Disney Classic Ships we have written this comprehensive guide to help you. For Disney Wonder and Disney Magic staterooms Click Here.
You can also use a Disney Authorized Travel Agent to help you. We recommend Destinations in Florida as our trusted travel agent. All of their services are free. Click on the link below for a free quote. Disney Cruise Vacations
Disney Cruise Alaska Staterooms
There is a lot of debate over whether a balcony stateroom is essential for a Disney Alaskan cruise. Obviously, if the cost is not important to you, then it is an easy choice.
A balcony is definitely the way to go. However, for most people, cost is an important factor.
Are you going to be missing out if you do not have a balcony for an Alaskan cruise? The best way to put it is that you will have a different cruise experience.
I have found that in general, when you have an inside stateroom on a Disney cruise, you do not spend much time in your room.
This is absolutely fine as there are so many things to do on the ship. However, an Alaskan cruise is different.
You have to consider that a big part of the cruise to Alaska is the scenery. You will probably find that you want to spend a lot of your time on Deck 4 Promenade Deck so that you can take in the amazing sights.
There are comfortable deck chairs there on Deck 4. On most cruises on the Disney Wonder, you will rarely see anyone on Deck 4.
However, on an Alaskan cruise, it is the preferred spot for many people. At certain times good luck getting a chair!
Many guests sail very happily in an inside stateroom on a Disney cruise.
My advice is to compare the prices of the staterooms and see just how much of a premium you are paying for a balcony. A compromise is an Outside stateroom.
Sea Sickness Anyone?
One of the things which don’t get talked about very often is the possibility of experiencing seasickness on a Disney cruise. It happens.
Seasickness is rare and we can thankfully say that even in hurricane conditions we have never had a problem.
However, some people do. If you are concerned about seasickness you should pick a stateroom which is midship and on a lower deck.
Other advice would be to pick an Inside Stateroom as it is closer to the middle of the ship and you will experience less motion.
However, others would say that a Balcony Stateroom would be a better choice as you could see the horizon.
Are Some Disney Cruise Staterooms Noisy?
Different locations on the ship are noisier than others. The quietest places on the ship tend to be at the end of the corridor and on the middle decks.
Look carefully at the Disney Cruise Ship deck plans. If you are on the highest deck under the pools you may hear music and sun loungers being moved.
If you are on the lower decks you may hear the sound of the anchor being lowered when the ship gets into port. Staterooms near the elevators get more foot traffic with people passing to get to their cabins.
You may want to avoid a stateroom directly opposite the laundry as well. Always look at the Disney cruise ship deck plans to see what is above and below your stateroom.
This may be another reason to avoid Deck 1. Some people report that they would not choose this deck again as they could hear a lot of mechanical noise, particularly during docking.
Of course the lower you are on the ship the closer you are to the engines and you may hear noise from that or the machinery for putting down the anchor. I
have sailed on many different locations on the Disney ships. I have never been particularly affected by noise in any part of the Disney ships.
I would have to say that the nosiest has been Deck 8 though, and these are some of the most expensive staterooms on the ship!
Want more Disney Cruise Tips? Click Here
Is A Disney Cruise Guarantee Stateroom a Good Thing?
A Disney Cruise Guarantee stateroom has advantages and disadvantages. By booking a category guarantee you are saying that you will accept any stateroom either at the level you have booked or above.
For example, if you book an Outside Guarantee Stateroom you are booking a minimum of an Outside Cabin.
You can’t be downgraded to an Inside, but there is a very remote chance you will be upgraded to a Verandah.
However, the possibility of an upgrade is just that – a possibility. It does happen, but it is rare.
Never book a Guaranteed Stateroom thinking that you have a chance of an upgrade. It really is unlikely. Always make sure that you are happy with the category that you have booked.
That free Disney cruise stateroom upgrade will probably not happen. The advantage of a Guarantee is the price.
Usually, you will get a lower price on a Guarantee that you would for a specified stateroom.
The disadvantage is that you will not know which stateroom you will be allocated until very shortly before you set sail on your Disney Cruise.
For some people this is fine. However, for those who want a stateroom in a particular location they need to book a specific stateroom so that they can be sure of getting what they want.
However, I think that if you are prepared to take a bit of a chance then a Disney Cruise Guaranteed Stateroom is a great option.
I have booked them a number of times after being tempted by the great rate.
One other thing you need to know about Guaranteed Staterooms on the Disney Ships is that if you book more than one stateroom they may not be located together.
I have done this and had rooms allocated close by and others where we were on different decks. Disney cruise lines always do what it can to keep guests on the same reservation close by.
However, it is not guaranteed. If you want staterooms next to or opposite each other you must book-specific staterooms and not a guarantee.
Disney Cruise Stateroom Location, Location, Location
Is it important that you are close to the restaurants, the pool, or the buffet? For some, this really doesn’t matter, but other guests really like to be close to certain places on the ship.
The most popular location is to be close to the pools. Others may want to be lower on the ship so that they are closer to the shops and entertainment.
The Disney Wonder and the Magic are much smaller ships than the Fantasy and the Dream. Location doesn’t matter quite as much on the classic ships as things are not placed so far apart.
I personally would avoid staterooms on Deck 1 of the Disney Wonder and Magic. Deck 1 has Inside Staterooms and Outside staterooms.
However, Outside staterooms have two small porthole windows. We think this restricts the view quite a lot compared to the outside staterooms with one porthole.
However, Deck 1 staterooms on the Classic Disney Ships do not have access to the aft elevators.
Therefore it can be a little more challenging navigating around this ship. If this slight inconvenience is not a problem then it can be a good choice if the price is a consideration.
Disney Cruise Stateroom Starboard or Port Side?
Should you book a Disney cruise stateroom on the port or starboard side of the ship?
As we are talking about the best views here it really doesn’t make any difference which side of the ship you are in if you have an inside stateroom.
However, if you have a stateroom with a view it can make a difference. If you are sailing to Castaway Cay we prefer staterooms on the starboard side. This is because you get the best views of Castaway Cay when you are arriving in the morning.
Join this Disney Cruise Group for Tips. Secrets and Exclusive Giveaways!
Disney Cruise Connecting Staterooms
If you need a connecting stateroom on a Disney cruise then there are plenty available. Particularly on the Disney Dream and the Fantasy. These can give you a convenient set up if you have children but still want separate space.
If you have balcony connecting staterooms you can have a very large balcony as the partition can be pulled back.
However, if you are just having one stateroom we would suggest avoiding a connecting stateroom. Depending upon who your neighbors are you can sometimes hear them. A lot.
Which Disney cruise stateroom do you prefer? Do you have a favorite location? Join my Disney Cruise Group for exclusive Tips and Free Giveaways!
You may also like: What Not To Do in Your Disney Cruise Stateroom
Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando. In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.
MRcy
Monday 8th of April 2024
I would like to see this information for the Wish or am I missing it? Thanks!
Alison
Friday 12th of April 2024
I am working on an article for Disney Wish!
Disney Wonder Virtual Tour - EverythingMouse Guide To Disney
Thursday 2nd of April 2020
[…] Disney Cruise Staterooms to Avoid […]
Disney Dream Secret Rooms - EverythingMouse Guide To Disney
Sunday 9th of February 2020
[…] Staterooms 5188 and 5688 so not have an obstructed view, but they have a very small balcony. These are staterooms that we really would avoid on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. […]
Which is the Best Disney Cruise Ship? - EverythingMouse Guide To Disney
Sunday 2nd of February 2020
[…] Disney Cruise Ship Staterooms To Avoid […]
The Cost Of A Disney Cruise - What Is Included? - EverythingMouse Guide To Disney
Tuesday 14th of January 2020
[…] All staterooms are not created equal. You might want to read our Disney Cruise Cabins To Avoid […]