Mickey and Donald On beach at Castaway Cay; ship in background; family flying with characters
  • On Jan 19, 2026
    Cynthia from VA Asked Please note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    I am planning a family Summer trip and i will have children from age range 1 yr to 17. what are things to do

    Hi there, Cynthia! I’m happy that you’ve sailed over to planDisney with this question, because as a mom who’s sailed on board Disney cruises with babies, a soon-to-be teen, and everything in between, I’m well-versed in all the Disney cruise activities! Rest assured, that if there’s one thing that Disney Cruise Line does well, it’s catering activities to a whole host of ages and stages! 

    I’ll start with the activities the whole family can partake in together: deck parties, Youth Activities Open House, Character Experiences, watching first-run Disney movies, swimming, splash zones, Broadway-style shows, trivia games, karaoke, character dance parties, recreation spaces, and so much more! Whether for the whole family or by age group, the best way to find out which activities are taking place is through the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App, which will have them listed daily. 

    Now on to the activities that are catered to each individual age group, starting with the littlest sailors: babies and toddlers. The cutest, and arguably one of the most popular events on board, is called “Jack-Jack’s Diaper Dash”, where babies take part in a crawling contest. That’s right, Disney Cruise Line races human babies! Only crawling babies can enter, but anyone can be a spectator! When you’re ready for some adult time, they can safely play in “it’s a small world” nursery! while being supervised by expert youth counselors. You can also head to their dedicated “Toddler Time” at Disney’s Oceaneer Club together each morning. My kids loved Toddler Time, and I loved having the nursery available when catching an adult-only dining reservation or spa appointment. 

    For the younger and older kids, there are plenty of activities always happening at Disney's Oceaneer Club. Sometimes a Disney Pal will even join in! My kids have played games with Peter Pan, Belle, BB-8, Spider-Man, and so many more Disney friends! Anybody could show up; it varies by sailing, but it’s always such a fun surprise! My kids always loved meeting the characters around the ship, Royal Gathering, and the fun interactive games that vary by ship, such as Midship Detective Agency on the Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream (check the one for your specific ship). They also love the splash pads, water slides, and eating the unlimited Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bars on board! 

    As for tweens and teens, Edge (for tweens) and Vibe (for teens) are the place to be! These cool and comfortable spaces, designed just for them, are filled with all of the things teens love, such as video games, card games, and plenty of group activities. Sometimes, a fun Disney Pal will head here, too! In fact, on our most recent sailing, my daughter battled Goofy during a Nintendo tournament! There is so much to do in these spaces that I often find that I have to compromise with my kids just to get them out and vacation with us again! When they’re not hanging out here, they love to do Family Karaoke and search for all the fun trivia games on board, so they can earn those medals and bragging rights back home! 

    Cynthia, I hope I helped set your mind at ease and gave you plenty of ideas for all the kiddos in your group. Please sail back to planDisney if you have any more questions. 

    Seas the Adventure, 
    Rana 
thumbnail image for Rana

Meet the Panelist: Rana, Michigan

Welcome aboard, friends! I’m Rana, a wife and mom of two from Michigan. I’ve practically raised my family aboard Disney Cruise Line and thus have experienced so much that Disney cruises offer—for kids, adults, and multigenerational groups. Creating magical moments for my family is what I Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Do-Best and I would love to help sprinkle magic on your Disney Cruise Line adventures!   Learn More About Rana

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