Things I’ve Learned About Using the Nursery on Disney Cruise Line
Written By: Travel Advisor, Jodi Chiz
If you’re cruising with a baby or toddler, let me introduce you to one of my favorite little Disney Cruise Line resources: the nursery.
After using it with my own kids over the years, I’ve learned a few things that make the whole process SO much easier - and these are the things I wish someone had told me before our first cruise with a baby!
Give yourself more time than you think you need
If you really need your baby dropped off at 6:00, I’d book the nursery starting around 5:30–5:45 if you can.
Why? Because you may have a line at check-in, you’ll need to go through the drop-off process, get baby settled, etc.
And if you have a 6:15 dinner reservation or a show you’re trying to make, that extra 15–30 minutes can save you from running through the ship like a crazy person.
You’ll fill out a little “instruction manual” for your baby
At drop-off, you’ll give the nursery staff information about your baby. Things like feeding, sleeping, comfort, and what you’re leaving with them are essential.
So, think through your baby’s routine before you get there. The more information you can give them, the better they can make your little one comfortable.
LABEL. EVERYTHING.
I cannot emphasize this enough. Diapers. Wipes. Cups. Snacks. Everything. And I don’t mean when you get on the ship. I mean before you even leave your house.
My personal system is writing my child’s first initial + last name on the butt of every diaper with a Sharpie. Then I vacuum-seal them for space saving while packing. (And get all that room back for souvenirs when I pack to go home!)
Is it slightly ridiculous? Maybe.
Does it make me feel better with the nursery staff knowing exactly whose diaper is whose? Absolutely.
Snacks have to be individually packaged
If you’re sending snacks to the nursery, think small, individually packaged and factory sealed.
Baby granola bars, apple sauce pouches, baby fruit snacks, etc. are the type of thing I’m talking about.
This isn’t the place to send in a little baggie of homemade snacks, so plan accordingly when you’re packing.
KEEP YOUR PHONE WITH YOU!!!
This is probably my biggest practical tip. When you leave the nursery, keep your phone nearby and check it regularly.
If your baby isn’t happy and the nursery staff needs you to come back, they’ll contact you.
So, while you’re enjoying your dinner or riding a waterslide with your big kids, don’t completely forget that you have a baby hanging out downstairs.
If your baby isn’t used to daycare… start SMALL
This one can make a HUGE difference.
If your baby doesn’t regularly go to daycare or spend time in a nursery, I wouldn’t make their first experience a 3-hour separation halfway through your cruise.
Instead, try a couple of shorter nursery visits early in the cruise — even on night one. Maybe 30 minutes. Maybe an hour. Let them get familiar with the room, the caregivers and the idea that you’re going to leave… and then come back.
Once they know the routine, you can work your way up to those longer 2–3 hour stretches for that Palo brunch or sea day fun halfway thru your sailing. You’re basically helping them understand, “Okay, Mom and Dad leave, but Mom and Dad ALWAYS come back.”
We use the nursery FOR our BIG kids
This is something I really love about cruising with three kids. We can find time, space, and activities for everyone. And Disney Cruise Line makes that doable, and easy.
For our family, we primarily use the nursery for two main reasons:
Adult specialty dining (brunch or dinner)
Dedicated pool & waterslide time with our big kids
Because here’s the thing — our baby doesn’t need to be included in every single activity for it to be a family vacation.
Sometimes my big kids deserve an hour where they don’t have to worry about whether the baby can do something.
Sometimes my husband and I want to sit down for a meal together.
And sometimes… I just want to eat my food while it’s hot. 😂
The nursery gives us the flexibility to do all of those things without feeling like we can't make it happen.
Bring a SMALL bag
Don’t bring your giant diaper bag and expect it to fit in the locker. A small backpack or little diaper bag is ideal.
If it’s too big, the nursery can give you a drawstring bag to put your baby’s diapers, wipes and snacks in. Which is totally fine! But if you want to make things easy, small bag = less hassle and faster check-in.
And my biggest piece of advice…
Don’t feel guilty about using the nursery. I think that’s something a lot of parents struggle with this the first time. Will they be safe? Will they cry? Am I abandoning them to have fun without them?
You’re not putting your baby in the nursery so you can ditch them for the entire cruise. 😂 You’re using a resource that’s there specifically to help families enjoy their vacation. (And help mom + dad enjoy it too!)
Your baby gets some time with the nursery staff, to play with age appropriate toys, and space to crawl/walk around safely.
Your big kids get some uninterrupted time with Mom and Dad to do "big kid" things.
And you and your spouse get to have dinner together.
That’s a win-win-win.
Cruising with a baby is different than cruising without one… but that doesn’t mean it can’t be just as much fun.
You just have to learn a few of the little tricks along the way. And after doing this a few times, these are the ones I’d definitely add to your Disney Cruise Line packing + planning list!
Have you used the nursery on Disney Cruise Line? What would you add to this list?