'I just went on a Disney cruise with my two kids, and these are the 5 things that surprised me.'

Thanks to our brand partner, Disney Cruise Line

All it takes is faith, trust and a little pixie dust. If there's one thing we know, it's that Disney is guaranteed to provide a magical escape, time and time again.

For Sarah-Marie Fahd, the chance to board Disney Cruise Line for a few unforgettable days on a holiday was the ultimate bucket list experience. She set sail aboard the Disney Wonder from Sydney with her mother and two children, Malik, aged four, and Lyon, aged one. It was a "full circle" adventure.

"I remember going to Disneyland Resort in California with my mum and grandparents when I was young. I had a purple-pink princess hat with a veil, and I still remember it to this day. My mum's a big Disney person and so am I," she told us. "So now, for my mum to come with me and my sons on the Disney cruise, it was a full circle moment."

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Much like any Disney experience, the Australia and New Zealand itineraries offer their own unique and exclusive brand of whimsical delights, unexpected thrills and magical memorable moments. 

From show-stopping Broadway-style stage show productions to a range of casual and fine dining, to a kids' club that would leave her children wanting more, Sarah-Marie admitted she was blown away by all the experiences.

"You're completely immersed in the magic," Sarah-Marie said of her time on board, adding, "Everything was really organised. They're just doing the most to give you everything you need. The guest service was next level."

Once she was on board, a world of wonder truly awaited — here are some of the surprising features and moments her family will never forget. 

Each day feels unique.

"I had never gone on a cruise," said Sarah-Marie, admitting she wasn't sure what to expect. "A cruise could just be a cruise, but they've put in the work to make sure that everything about it feels so special and uniquely Disney."

From the moment you board, you're surrounded by touches of magic and an abundance of Disney-inspired details.

"You're constantly looking at the cruise app for what's happening that day. You don't have to wake up and have a plan, or you can make a plan and have it set in your itinerary. So, it's just easy," she said.

One of the ship's most popular locations is Goofy's Pool on one of the top decks, with poolside movies on the 24-foot-wide Funnel Vision screen. The area is also host to lively deck parties, including Marvel Heroes Unite and Pirate Night (on sailings of four or more nights), some of which include fireworks at sea.

Image: Supplied.

Sarah-Marie's family loved the upper deck, but also especially enjoyed Dory's Reef — a Finding Nemo-themed pool for toddlers.

Then there's the Buena Vista Theatre to watch films, the sports deck and so much more. Sarah-Marie "loved" that no two days were the same.

The itinerary is super customisable for your family.

While they enjoyed spending time together as a family of four, she said the ability to book Malik and Leon into kids' club and the nursery on two days meant the boys got to enjoy their own unique adventures.

The It's a Small World Nursery is a whimsical nursey, for little ones aged six months to three years that is run by specially trained Disney counsellors (additional fee required, but worth it!). The kids' club — known as Disney's Oceaneer Club — is for ages three to 10. There are also two other clubs for ages 11 to 17 too.

Image: Disney Cruise Line.

And if you're looking for some "me" time, exclusively for adults at an additional cost, there's the Cove Café, Senses Spa and Salon and Palo, a fine dining restaurant featuring Northern Italian inspired cuisine — open for brunch and dinner on select days.

"It was really, really lovely to have the variety," Sarah-Marie said. "It was just nice to spend some time with my mum one-on-one. And then when I picked up Malik and Leon, they were both happy after their days."

To make the most of your time on board, you can treat the family to additional Disney experiences for an extra fee. The kids can enjoy a magical transformation at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, where they can become a princess or a captain.

During your sailing, you might have the chance to meet some of your favourite Characters including Captain Mickey, Captain Minnie and their friends as well as princesses like Cinderella and Tiana and superheroes such as Spider-Man, Ant-Man and Thor.

Image: Supplied.

The fine-dining and easy eats. 

The ship's many eateries, quick service options and even room service are almost all included in the cost of your cruise. 

The standouts are undoubtedly the three dining restaurants, which guests visit on a rotating schedule. Your dedicated service crew takes the time to learn your preferences, ensuring everyone enjoys the best possible experience.

Tiana's Place offers a Princess and the Frog themed experience, with live jazz music and Louisiana-style cuisine. At Triton's, inspired by The Little Mermaid, guests are treated to continental cuisine with a French flair for dinner.

Then there's Animator's Palate. While you're eating a fusion menu of Pacific Rim and Californian cuisine, you're immersed in the magic of Disney animation.

"Animator's Palate is my favourite restaurant ever, my gosh!" Sarah-Marie said.

"You can draw and colour in the papers that they give you, and then midway through your dinner, a show comes on and it features everyone's actual drawing."

Image: Supplied.

Sarah-Marie also loved the ease of the Pinocchio's Pizzeria and Eye Scream Treats.

"I love that they've just constantly got free ice cream and pizza outside, and then you've got the big TV if you want to watch a movie by the pool with your treats," she said.

The quality of the entertainment.

We all expect a certain level of dedication to craft when it comes to Disney, but that didn't stop Sarah-Marie from being overwhelmed by the glitz, glamour and production of the ship's entertainment offerings. 

There are three stage shows to enjoy, including a production of Frozen, A Musical Spectacular, the spellbinding tale of Disney Dreams — An Enchanted Classic and the star-studded The Golden Mickeys awards show.

"I really loved the shows at night," she said. "That was actually one of Malik's favourite things. I didn't realise to what extent they do those shows — they are literally Broadway quality. The props, the way the stage moves, the way everything's set up. It's actually really extravagant."

The shows add their own unique brand of Disney magic to the experience that you won't see elsewhere. "I've been to two Disney Parks, the cruise is completely different — it was amazing," Sarah-Marie said.

The ease of her travels and the Disney guest services.

The ships conveniently depart from both Australia and New Zealand, out of Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland, and are running from now until February 2025, but also in the October 2025 to February 2026 season.

Image: Disney Cruise Line.

Sarah-Marie's biggest takeaway was the incredible work of the ship's creators in developing a beautiful space, and the crew members' ability to provide a seamless and special experience on board. 

"The one thing I keep telling people is there's a lot of people on the cruise, but it doesn't feel like that. Everything was so organised and ran so smoothly, from the very start," she said. 

The family stayed in one of the spacious staterooms on board, with Sarah-Marie shouting out its "magic touches" along with functional amenities. 

"The balcony door lock was on the top, so the kids were not able to open it. There were blackout blinds; the kid's beds can go down so you have space when you need it. There's a separate bathroom and shower. Things like that make all the difference."

She also said the Kids' Club and Nursery were "incredibly safe and professional".

"You have a security wristband and a security word when you pick your child up. Even as a parent, you have to come at the selected time. The spaces have been intentionally designed. It felt professional, and it made me comfortable because otherwise I wouldn't have been able to leave them."

It's clear Sarah-Marie and her family cherished their time on board.

"You'll love the ease — but you'll also enjoy your time so much and the kids will enjoy it. You're completely immersed in the magic for the entire trip. None of my kids wanted to leave!"

Ready for a family holiday? Book your own magical Disney Cruise Line adventure sailing from Australia and New Zealand.

Two-night sailings may have modified or limited entertainment and dining offerings. Health and safety measures, ports of call and offerings may change at any time without notice. On board venues, experiences, services and offerings may be modified or limited in capacity or availability, and are subject to restrictions, cancellation or closure without notice. See disneycruise.com/updates. ©2024 Disney ©2024 Disney/Pixar ©2024 MARVEL  Ships' Registry: The Bahamas.

Feature Image: Supplied.

Disney Cruise Line is sailing for a limited time close-to-home from Australia and New Zealand. Secure your place on board and experience the magic of Disney storytelling with all that is included. With experiences including some of your favourite Characters, Broadway-style shows, imaginative dining, action-packed kids clubs, relaxing adult-exclusive spaces, exciting deck parties & so much more, there is something for everyone on board. Visit to DisneyCruiseLine.com/AUNZ or see your local travel agent to book today.