A 4-Night Halloween on the High Seas Cruise With a 3- and 4-Year-Old
Our family recently sailed on the Disney Wish for a four-night Halloween on the High Seas cruise, and I can officially say that Disney Cruise Line knows how to make a vacation magical for little kids!
This was our first Disney cruise, but our second time cruising with kids. Our first family cruise was aboard Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas, so I was especially excited to see how the two cruise lines compared. We were traveling with our two daughters, ages 3 and 4, and while we had the best time, there were definitely things I loved about Disney and a few things I thought Royal Caribbean did better.
From meeting princesses and dancing with Mickey to relaxing on our balcony with morning coffee, there were so many sweet moments during this trip. We visited Disney Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, enjoyed themed dinners, spent plenty of time at the pools, and even booked another Disney placeholder before getting off the ship!
If you're considering sailing on the Disney Wish with toddlers or preschoolers, I'm sharing our entire experience, what we loved, what we would do differently, and all my tips for making the most of your cruise with little ones.
Disney Cruise Line Check-In: What You Need to Know
I'm going to start with something I wasn't expecting: Disney Cruise Line's online check-in process is much more involved than Royal Caribbean's.
For first-time Disney cruisers, online check-in opens 30 days before sailing. I recommend getting everything ready ahead of time, especially if you're hoping for an earlier port arrival time.
Before checking in, you'll want to have:
A clear individual photo of everyone in your party against a plain, solid-colored background
Photos or scans of your passports or required travel documents
Your reservation information
A credit card for onboard charges
Your phone or computer ready to upload everything
I logged in right when our window opened at midnight and had everything ready to go. Even with all that preparation, the earliest port arrival time I was able to get was 12:45 p.m.
For comparison, we were able to board our Royal Caribbean cruise around 10 a.m., so this felt pretty late.
Honestly, though, it worked out perfectly for us! We were coming from Disney World, so we had a relaxing morning before heading to Port Canaveral instead of rushing out the door.
My tip: Take all your check-in photos ahead of time and have your documents saved and ready to upload. It's one less thing to worry about when your window opens.
Boarding the Disney Wish
When we arrived at the port, the lines looked pretty overwhelming. There were people everywhere, and I was worried we were going to spend forever getting through everything. I recommend arriving an hour before your port arrival time, that way you have time to park, drop your luggage off, and get in line for your arrival time.
Thankfully, the line moves quick and it wasn't nearly as bad as it looked.
There are several steps to get through before boarding, and it does take some time, but the process was fairly smooth. Once we were through, we were ready to start our vacation!
One thing I would definitely recommend is bringing a rolling carry-on suitcase instead of a bag you have to carry over your shoulder. You'll be holding onto your carry-on luggage until your stateroom is ready, and having something with wheels makes things much easier with little kids.
As soon as we stepped onto the ship, everything felt magical. The beautiful Grand Hall is one of the first things you see, and being welcomed aboard with a Disney princess waving was such an exciting moment for our girls.
It was the perfect way to start our first Disney cruise!
Exploring the Disney Wish Kids Club
Our first stop after boarding was Disney's Oceaneer Club.
During the open house, families can explore the kids club together, and we wanted our girls to get to experience it even though we weren't planning to leave them there.
The kids club is amazing! There are so many themed areas for children to play and explore, and our girls especially loved getting to go down the slide.
We personally aren't comfortable leaving our kids in the kids club yet, so the open house was the only time they visited the space during our cruise.
If you're in the same situation, I highly recommend checking it out during an open house. Your kids can still experience some of the fun without having to be dropped off.
Food on the Disney Wish: So Many Great Options!
After exploring the kids club, we headed upstairs to grab lunch.
One thing I loved about the Disney Wish was how many casual food options were available throughout the day. This is especially helpful when traveling with younger kids because you don't always want to sit down for a long meal.
Some of our favorite quick-service spots included:
Donald’s Cantina: We ate here a lot! Such a great option for a quick and delicious meal.
Mickey's Smokestack Barbecue: A great stop when you're craving barbecue.
Daisy's Pizza Pies: Perfect for an easy lunch, especially with kids.
Goofy's Grill: Another convenient option for grabbing something quick.
Minnie's Ice Cream: Unlimited soft-serve ice cream. What more could kids want?
One fun thing about Minnie's Ice Cream is that they always have chocolate and vanilla, but the other two flavors change each day. Definitely make sure to check back throughout your cruise!
Marceline Market Buffet
The Disney Wish also has a buffet called Marceline Market.
We ate here a few times, and while it was okay, it wasn't necessarily my favorite dining option on the ship.
I definitely preferred the breakfast selection over lunch.
And speaking of breakfast, there's one very important thing you need to know about the buffet on the Disney Wish: the churro waffles!
I'll get to those later, but trust me when I say they're worth the hype.
Our Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom With Verandah
Once we finished lunch, our room was ready. Our luggage was waiting outside, so we were able to unpack and even squeeze in a quick nap before the muster drill.
We booked a Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah, and I would absolutely choose this room category again.
Having the extra space was so nice with two young kids, especially since we were spending time in the room each afternoon for naps and in the evenings winding down.
Our room included:
A queen-size bed
A sofa that converted into a single bed
A bed that pulled down from the ceiling
A split bathroom
A private balcony, also called a verandah
The split bathroom was one of my favorite features.
One bathroom had a toilet and sink, while the other had a bathtub/shower combination and another sink.
If you've ever tried getting two little girls ready for dinner at the same time, you know how helpful two separate bathroom spaces can be!
Is a Balcony Worth It on a Disney Cruise With Kids?
For our family, absolutely!
We loved waking up every morning, opening the curtains, and seeing the ocean right outside our room.
One of my favorite parts of cruising is enjoying a quiet cup of coffee on the balcony while watching the water. It makes the mornings feel so peaceful.
I also loved getting ready for dinner each evening with the curtains open, looking out at the ocean, and enjoying a glass of wine.
We spend enough time in our stateroom with little kids that having a balcony is definitely worth the extra cost for us.
For an extra special touch, I also had a cake and bottle of champagne delivered to our room. It was so fun having a little celebration and champagne toast as we sailed away!
Disney Cruise Line Stateroom Service
Another thing I loved about Disney Cruise Line was the stateroom service.
Our room was refreshed twice a day, and every evening we came back to a towel animal and chocolates waiting for us.
This is one of those little cruising traditions that I absolutely love, and it wasn't something we experienced the same way on our Royal Caribbean cruise.
The Disney Wish also has Disney movies and shows available on the television in your stateroom, which was wonderful when our girls needed some quiet time.
They especially loved the Disney bedtime stories!
After busy days of swimming, meeting characters, and exploring the ship, having familiar Disney entertainment in the room made bedtime so much easier.
Disney Cruise Door Magnets
We also brought Disney-themed magnets to decorate our stateroom door.
Not only are these really cute, but they're helpful for younger kids because they make your room easier to recognize in those long hallways.
You can find so many affordable Disney cruise door magnets on Amazon, and I definitely recommend bringing a few!
One of My Favorite Disney Cruise Perks: Room Service Breakfast
Something else I absolutely loved was the included room service.
For breakfast, you can fill out the breakfast request card and hang it outside your stateroom door the night before.
Then the next morning, breakfast and coffee are delivered right to your room!
There is something so nice about enjoying coffee and breakfast on your balcony first thing in the morning, especially when you're traveling with young kids.
You don't have to rush everyone out of the room or get dressed just to grab breakfast.
Most standard room-service items are included in the cruise fare, although gratuities are appreciated and some specialty items cost extra.
This was easily one of my favorite little luxuries on our Disney cruise.
Muster Drill and the Disney Wish Sail Away Party
Before we could officially set sail, we had to attend the muster drill.
This was another area where I preferred Royal Caribbean.
Disney's process felt more old-fashioned. We had to report to our assigned station and go through the safety instructions in person.
On our Royal Caribbean cruise, the process was much smoother because we could complete most of it through the app and check in at our station.
It wasn't a huge deal, but definitely something I noticed when comparing the two cruise lines.
The Sail Away Party
Once the muster drill was over, it was finally time for the sail away party!
We headed straight up to the top deck, where everyone was gathering for the celebration.
I will say that getting to the upper decks immediately after the muster drill can be chaotic. The elevators are busy, and the stairways fill up quickly.
But here's my advice: don't stress about getting the perfect spot.
There are plenty of areas where you can see the celebration, and even if you aren't standing right up front, your kids are going to love it.
The music, the Disney characters, the excitement of sailing away — it's such a fun way to kick off your cruise!
Rotational Dining on the Disney Wish: Our Honest Review
Disney Cruise Line uses rotational dining, which means your family rotates between different themed restaurants throughout your cruise while keeping the same serving team.
We had the early dinner seating at 5:45 p.m., and I absolutely loved this time.
On our Royal Caribbean cruise, our dinner seating was at 5 p.m., which always felt a little early. That extra 45 minutes made a difference for us, especially when trying to get everyone cleaned up and ready after a busy afternoon.
During our four-night cruise, we experienced all three main dining restaurants, with one restaurant repeated on Pirate Night.
Worlds of Marvel
Our first dinner was at Worlds of Marvel.
This is a Marvel-themed dining experience featuring interactive entertainment and superhero-themed details throughout the restaurant.
It was a fun way to start the cruise, and the girls enjoyed looking around and taking everything in.
After dinner, we wandered through the gift shops before heading back to our room to relax.
Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure
Our second evening was at Arendelle, and I was really looking forward to this because my girls love princesses.
Unfortunately, this was my least favorite dining experience.
The restaurant felt very chaotic, and with so much going on, it wasn't exactly a relaxing dinner.
Anna and Elsa do make their way around the dining room, which sounds amazing in theory, but they don't stop at every table for individual pictures or conversations.
If your child is hoping to actually talk to Anna or Elsa, I wouldn't go into this dinner expecting that experience.
I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had known what to expect beforehand.
It's definitely a fun concept, but for our family, it was a little overwhelming.
Pirate Night Dinner
On Pirate Night, we returned to Arendelle, but this time we had the special pirate-themed menu.
The food wasn't my favorite. It wasn't terrible, but there was nothing that really stood out to me.
I still enjoyed having a themed evening, but the dining experience itself wasn't particularly memorable.
One really fun thing about Pirate Night on the Disney Wish is that they have fireworks at sea! Unfortunately, we didn't stay up to watch them because our girls were ready for bed. As much as I would have loved to see the fireworks, we try to stick to their normal bedtime routine as much as possible while traveling. There is always so much excitement throughout the day, and sometimes getting a good night's sleep is more important than squeezing in one more activity! If your kids can handle staying up a little later, I definitely recommend checking out the fireworks because it's such a unique Disney Cruise Line experience.
1923: Our Favorite Restaurant!
We saved the best for last!
Our final dinner was at 1923, and this was easily my favorite dining experience on the Disney Wish.
The atmosphere was much calmer and more relaxed than the other restaurants.
The food was delicious, the restaurant was beautiful, and I loved the large round windows that let us look out at the ocean while we ate.
It was exactly the kind of dinner experience I love while on vacation.
If I could choose one restaurant to dine at again on the Disney Wish, it would definitely be 1923.
Day 1: Disney Castaway Cay
Our first full day was at Disney Castaway Cay, Disney's private island in the Bahamas.
Unfortunately, my youngest daughter wasn't feeling her best that morning, so she and I decided to stay on the ship.
My husband took our oldest daughter to explore the island, and they absolutely loved it!
They said the water was calm and smooth, almost like a lagoon, which made it wonderful for younger kids.
One tip they shared was to take the tram because the walk is much longer than it looks.
While they were enjoying the beach, my youngest daughter and I had our own little Disney day onboard.
We made friendship bracelets, met Belle, and enjoyed a much quieter day together.
I also grabbed a specialty coffee, which was one of my favorite little Disney touches!
They create adorable Disney designs on the specialty coffees, and it's just such a fun detail that makes the experience feel extra special.
One thing Disney does so well is creating magical moments everywhere you go. You can be walking through the ship and suddenly come across a princess or another Disney character.
My girls absolutely loved that.
I'm sad I missed Castaway Cay, but I guess that just means I need to book another Disney cruise so I can finally experience it myself!
Disney Wish Pools and the Toy Story Splash Zone
One of our favorite areas on the Disney Wish was the pool deck.
The ship has several pools, including shallow options that are great for younger children.
We loved being able to sit by the pool while Disney movies played on the giant screen.
There is something so fun about watching a Disney movie while swimming in the middle of the ocean!
Toy Story Splash Zone
The Toy Story Splash Zone was another huge hit with our girls.
This area is colorful, playful, and perfect for little kids who love splashing around.
One important thing parents should know is that children who aren't potty trained are not allowed in the regular swimming pools, even with swim diapers.
However, Disney has designated splash areas for children in swim diapers, so younger kids can still enjoy water play.
For families traveling with toddlers and preschoolers, the water play areas are definitely a highlight.
Halloween on the High Seas: Was It Worth It?
Since our sailing was a Halloween on the High Seas cruise, we were excited to experience the Halloween festivities onboard.
One evening, we changed into our Halloween costumes and headed up to the deck for trick-or-treating and Mickey's Halloween dance party.
We were all given bags of candy, and we watched Mickey and the characters celebrate Halloween with music and dancing.
It was cute, and I'm glad we got to experience it.
However, I personally wouldn't go out of my way to book a Halloween on the High Seas sailing specifically for the Halloween activities.
I thought the celebration was fun, but it wasn't anything that completely blew me away.
We enjoyed dressing up and getting candy, but the regular Disney cruise experiences were much more memorable for our family.
If the dates work for you, it's a fun bonus. I just wouldn't choose a sailing solely for the Halloween theme.
Day 2: Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point
Our next stop was Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
I had read that the walk from the ship was long, so I was expecting it to be pretty difficult with two young kids.
Honestly, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
There were wagons available to help transport the kids, which made the walk much easier.
Once we reached the end of the pier, we took a tram to the main beach area.
It is a little bit of a process getting from the ship to the beach, but it was manageable.
The Beach at Lighthouse Point
The beach itself was absolutely beautiful!
The water was gorgeous, and everything felt so tropical.
However, the waves were much stronger here than what my husband described at Castaway Cay.
With our girls being 3 and 4, we preferred the idea of the calmer water at Castaway Cay.
We spent some time at the splash pad, which the girls really enjoyed, and explored a little before deciding to head back to the ship.
We were ready for some lunch, and with so many good options onboard, we decided to eat there instead.
I'm glad we got to experience Lighthouse Point, but based on our family's experience, Castaway Cay would be our preferred beach day with young kids.
Pirate Night on the Disney Wish
After returning from Lighthouse Point, we took naps and started getting ready for Pirate Night.
Our pirate bandanas were waiting in our room, which was such a cute touch.
I love having some downtime in the afternoon, especially on a cruise. We try not to overpack our days because the girls still need time to rest.
While everyone was getting ready, I enjoyed a glass of wine and watched the water from our balcony.
It was one of those moments where I thought, this is exactly why I enjoy cruising!
Can You Bring Wine on a Disney Cruise?
Yes! Disney Cruise Line allows guests 21 and older to bring one unopened bottle of wine or sparkling wine (up to 750 mL), or six beers (up to 12 ounces each), at the beginning of the cruise.
The alcohol must be packed in your carry-on luggage rather than your checked bags, and it needs to stay within Disney's current policy.
This is a great way to enjoy a glass of wine on your balcony without having to purchase drinks every evening.
Tiana's Bayou Lounge
Before dinner, we stopped at Tiana's Bayou Lounge.
I absolutely loved this space!
The drinks, music, and atmosphere were all so much fun, and it was one of my favorite places we visited onboard.
If you're sailing on the Disney Wish, definitely make time to stop here.
Day 3: Our Relaxing Day at Sea
Our final full day was a sea day, and we decided to make it a relaxing one.
We started with breakfast at Marceline Market, and this was the day I had been waiting for.
Churro waffle day!
If you've seen people talking about the Disney Wish churro waffles, believe the hype.
They were absolutely delicious and definitely one of my favorite things I ate on the cruise.
After breakfast, we went to meet some Disney characters.
Meeting Disney Characters on the Disney Wish
This is one of the biggest reasons I think Disney Cruise Line is so special for families with young kids.
There are character appearances happening throughout the ship, and it feels like there's always someone new to meet.
One tip that worked really well for us was having one adult stand in line with the kids for one character while the other adult went ahead to another character line.
This helped reduce the amount of waiting the girls had to do.
Royal Gathering Princess Meet-and-Greet
During our sea day, the Royal Gathering was happening.
This is a special princess meet-and-greet experience where you can meet several princesses in one scheduled session without having to wait in multiple individual character lines.
I really wanted to get a reservation for this!
Reservations open 30 days before sailing, and I logged in right at midnight to try to book it.
Unfortunately, I still wasn't able to get a time slot.
If you have little girls who love princesses, I would definitely recommend trying to reserve this experience.
My tip: If you can't get a reservation before your cruise, check the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app once onboard for any additional availability. You can also ask Guest Services about possible openings.
We still met plenty of princesses throughout the cruise, so missing the Royal Gathering didn't ruin anything, but I would love to do it next time.
So Much to Do, So Little Time
After meeting characters, we spent the rest of the day swimming and relaxing by the pool.
One thing I really appreciated about the Disney Wish was how much there was to do throughout the day.
There are character meet-and-greets, crafts, games, movies, pool activities, shows, themed experiences, and so much more.
It would be impossible to do everything on a four-night cruise.
Compared with our Royal Caribbean cruise, I felt like Disney offered more activities geared specifically toward younger children.
We never felt like we needed to search for something for our girls to enjoy.
And honestly, sometimes the best activity was just watching a movie by the pool or taking a break in our room.
Broadway-Style Shows and Movies on the Disney Wish
Another wonderful thing about the Disney Wish is the entertainment.
There is a movie theater onboard where you can watch Disney movies, including select newer releases.
There are also Broadway-style productions performed in the theater during the cruise.
The three main shows on the Disney Wish are:
Disney Seas the Adventure
Disney's Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular
Disney The Little Mermaid
We decided to attend Disney Seas the Adventure on the first night because it was a shorter show, around 30 minutes.
And it was AMAZING!
The singing, costumes, characters, and overall production were so impressive.
I highly recommend seeing this show if you're cruising with young kids.
The other two productions are longer, closer to an hour, and I just didn't think our girls would make it through them without getting tired.
My kids love their bedtime, and I didn't want to push them too far just to squeeze in another activity.
If your children are a little older or do well with later evenings, I'm sure the other productions would be wonderful, too.
Mickey's Farewell Dance Party
On our final night, Mickey and his friends hosted a goodbye dance party.
This was one of the cutest moments of our cruise!
Our girls got to dance with Disney characters, listen to music, and celebrate one last evening onboard.
They were having the best time.
It was the perfect send-off after four wonderful nights on the Disney Wish.
I loved that instead of simply ending the cruise, Disney created one more special memory for the kids before heading home.
Disney Wish vs. Royal Caribbean With Young Kids
Since we previously sailed on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas, I wanted to share a few differences I noticed between the two cruise lines.
Overall, I felt that Royal Caribbean had a smoother check-in and boarding process. We were able to board much earlier, and their muster drill was so much easier since most of it could be completed through the app.
However, when it came to activities and entertainment for our girls, Disney Cruise Line was definitely our favorite! There were so many opportunities to meet Disney characters, enjoy themed activities, and experience little magical moments throughout the day. I felt like Disney offered more activities specifically geared toward younger children, which was perfect for our girls at ages 3 and 4.
I also loved our stateroom on the Disney Wish. The split bathroom was incredibly convenient, and the little extras, like towel animals, chocolates, Disney bedtime stories, and movies available in our room, made the experience feel special.
As far as dining goes, I loved all the quick-service options on the Disney Wish. There was always something easy to grab, which is especially helpful with kids. The themed dinners were fun, although some of them felt a little chaotic. We definitely preferred the calmer atmosphere at 1923.
Both cruise lines have so much to offer, and I would absolutely sail with Royal Caribbean again. But for this stage of life, with our girls being 3 and 4, Disney Cruise Line was our favorite. The characters, entertainment, and extra Disney touches made the entire experience feel magical for our family.
My Best Disney Wish Tips for Families With Toddlers and Preschoolers
After our first Disney cruise, these are the things I would recommend to anyone sailing with younger kids.
Prepare for online check-in early. Have your photos, travel documents, and payment information ready before your check-in window opens.
Download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. You'll use it constantly for activities, character appearances, dining assignments, and entertainment schedules.
Arrive an hour before your port of arrival time. This way it gives you enough time to drop your luggage off, park, and make your way to your port of arrival line.
Bring a rolling carry-on. You'll want an easy way to transport your essentials until your room is ready.
Visit the kids club during an open house. It's a great way to explore with little ones even if you don't plan to use drop-off childcare.
Consider a deluxe family stateroom with a verandah. The additional space, split bathroom, and balcony were absolutely worth it for us.
Bring door magnets. They're cute, affordable, and help kids recognize their room.
Try room service breakfast. Coffee and breakfast on your balcony is such a nice way to start the day.
Book Royal Gathering as soon as reservations open. And check again onboard if you don't get a spot.
Make time for the Toy Story Splash Zone. It's such a fun area for younger kids.
Don't skip the churro waffles. Seriously, they're that good!
Bring your compatible MagicBand+. It can make accessing your stateroom and certain onboard features more convenient.
Don't overbook your days. There's so much happening onboard, but naps and downtime are important, too.
Check Disney's carry-on alcohol policy. Being able to enjoy a glass of wine on your balcony is a nice perk.
Don't stress about getting the perfect sail away party spot. Your kids will enjoy it from almost anywhere with a good view.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Disney Wish With Kids
Is the Disney Wish good for a 3- and 4-year-old?
Absolutely! We thought this was a wonderful age for our girls to enjoy Disney Cruise Line. They loved the princesses, character meet-and-greets, pools, splash pad, movies, and dance parties. There's so much designed with young families in mind.
Is four nights enough on the Disney Wish?
Four nights on the Disney Wish was great. We definitely didn't get to experience everything the ship had to offer, but we did a lot. I would love to do 5 nights on our next Disney Cruise just to have one more day!
Is a balcony worth it with toddlers?
For us, yes! Since we spend time in our room for naps, getting ready, and winding down at night, having the verandah made a huge difference. We loved being able to sit outside and enjoy the ocean views.
Do you have to use the kids club?
Not at all. We chose not to leave our girls in the kids club and still had plenty to do throughout the cruise. We visited during the open house so they could enjoy the space while we were with them.
Which Disney island is better for young kids?
Based on our family's experience, we preferred Castaway Cay because of the calmer water. Lighthouse Point was beautiful, but the beach had stronger waves during our visit. Conditions can vary from day to day.
Is Halloween on the High Seas worth it?
It's a fun extra if you're already planning a fall Disney cruise, but I personally wouldn't book the sailing just for the Halloween activities. The trick-or-treating and dance party were cute, but the regular Disney cruise experiences were the highlight for us.
Is Disney Cruise Line better than Royal Caribbean for little kids?
We enjoyed both, but Disney was our favorite with kids ages 3 and 4. Royal Caribbean had a smoother check-in and boarding experience for us, but Disney offered more of the character interactions, entertainment, and little magical moments that our girls love.
Final Thoughts: Would We Cruise on the Disney Wish Again?
Absolutely, and we already have plans to!
Before getting off the ship, we booked a Disney Cruise Line placeholder, which gives us an opportunity to save on a future eligible cruise.
I think that says everything about how much we enjoyed our first Disney cruise!
Was everything perfect? No. The online check-in process was more complicated than I expected, Arendelle wasn't my favorite dining experience, and I didn't think the Halloween activities were anything particularly special.
But those things were small compared to everything we loved.
There is just something so magical about seeing your kids dance with Mickey, wave to princesses, enjoy ice cream by the pool, and experience Disney in a completely different way.
I also loved the quieter moments — drinking coffee on our balcony, enjoying dinner while watching the ocean, and having time together as a family without feeling rushed.
Cruising with young kids is such a fun way to travel because you get to visit beautiful places without constantly packing and unpacking, and there's always something to do right outside your room.
Our four-night Disney Wish cruise was filled with wonderful memories, and I can't wait for our next Disney adventure!
Have you been on a Disney cruise with little kids? I'd love to hear which ship or itinerary you recommend!
