If you are departing from a U.S. port and returning to the same U.S. port, passports are not required for U.S. citizens. All children 15 years of age or younger need only an original or copy of their state-issued birth certificate. They will not need any government-issued photo ID. This will be the case if you are referencing arriving and leaving different ports during your itinerary.

If you plan to disembark from a port outside of the U.S., I would suggest checking out the Travel Documentation page to get the most up-to-date information regarding what type of documentation is required when sailing. There is a great chance that a passport will be required for many of these itineraries, even for small children.

In addition to the current Disney Cruise Line – Authorization for Minor to Travel without a Parent or Legal Guardian form which must be completed and presented at the port according to the Disney Cruise Line – Travel with Minors details, I would also highly recommend that the child’s social worker and/or case manager be consulted with what may also be needed from a legal perspective for the child as a ward of the court, as state laws may vary from state to state. As well, please ensure that the Disney Cruise Line – Port Arrival Form and Other Documents are completed for presentation at the port. The Port Arrival Form can be printed out, but can also be added to a digital wallet on a mobile device, by selecting the Online Check-In Status option via the Online Check-In link beneath the Already Booked tab. The option to add the Port Arrival Form via Add to Mobile Wallet should be available once the Port Arrival Form has been completed.

You can absolutely get the app for your kiddos even though they are too young to create an account.  As soon as you board the ship, you will have an activation code that your kids will use to activate the app while onboard. The code can be found in your Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. Don’t worry-there are instructions showing you how to do all this in the app. But it all has to be done once onboard.

Preliminary steps you can do before boarding? Have all the kids download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app on their device before you arrive at the port. There have been some challenges when attempting to download apps while at the port, so don’t wait until then. You already know you need it, so that can be your homework after reading this answer!

The good news is that there is a dedicated desk onboard if you have any questions called Connect@Sea. This desk is located on Deck 3, Aft inside the Promenade Lounge on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder and on Deck 4, Midship on the Disney Cream and Disney Fantasy. Representatives are there to help you navigate any issues you might have with wifi or the app.

Do not worry about communication since your children will not have cell phones, you can discuss this with the Youth Activity Counselors when you bring your children to the Oceaneer Lab and based on my personal experience the counselors can and will send a message to your mobile device using the Navigator App or through the vessel’s Wave Phones (if still on the ship) which are located in the staterooms. To check the hours of operation and listed activities for the Youth Clubs, please refer to the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App – you are also able to explore the area as a family during an open house session, it’s a lot of fun, and you also have an opportunity to meet the Youth Activities Counselors.

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Good news though – you can reuse these bands on a future Disney Cruise and not be charged again.

These will work on all ships currently in the Disney fleet and their expected battery life is approximately two years.

Please note while they look similar, the technology is different than a MagicBand or MagicBand + and the Disney Cruise Line bands cannot be used at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Next time you cruise and receive new bands, the details of a potential fee are shared upon check-in to the Oceaneer Club and return instructions are included in the disembarkation guidance.

Sadly the answer is no unless read below

Disney's Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab have a strict age policy when it comes to secured programming. Children older than 12 are not allowed in these spaces unless there is an Open House scheduled.

Open Houses are often scheduled on embarkation day, in the mornings throughout the voyage, and at select times during your sailing. During an Open House, guests of any age can come and enjoy the offerings in the youth activity spaces. That means your 13-year-old can be with your 8-year-old during an Open House. The adults in your travel party can even join in the fun!

An important thing to note is that during an Open House, children do not check in and check out of the area. The doors are open for anyone of any age to come and go as they please.

Collapsible stroller wagons are allowed onboard. You are welcome to use your stroller throughout the ship, but you may not store it in public passageways.

For the safety of all Crew Members and guests, strollers must be stored inside staterooms or a designated public storage area.

The Crew Members can point you in the direction of any public storage areas onboard.

You are wise to bring a stroller that folds flat. I've been able to easily store my stroller under the bed in my stateroom as this area is raised and provides ample room for luggage storage.

Yes, you are allowed to bring juice for your child onboard the ship. The juice must be sealed in its original packaging and brought aboard in your carry-on luggage only.

You are welcome to bring a reasonable amount of non-perishable sealed snacks and beverages with you on board. That means that your toddler's favorite juice boxes can definitely join you on your voyage.

Just keep in mind that the crew has already loaded gallons upon gallons of juice, milk, soda, and more onto the ship, so try not to add another pallet of juice boxes to their list of to-dos on Embarkation Day!

Remember, a Disney Cruise Line sailing can also be a great time for your little one to experiment with some new foods and drinks.

I'd be happy to clarify the Disney Cruise Line age restrictions for pool use onboard. Goofy's pool is the central pool on Deck 9, located near the Funnel Vision. This pool is intended for guests ages three and older. Your two-year-old child is invited to enjoy the Splash Zone located just aft of the delicious Pete's Boiler Bites.

As your child is not yet three, I think a visit to Disney's Oceaneer Club during an Open House time would be a fun family activity! During Open Houses, secured programming is temporarily paused so families of all ages can enjoy the offerings in this interactive activity space. There is a great big Slinky Dog slide in Andy's room that my children loved when they were younger.

Yes, a puddle jumper brand personal flotation device for your child is allowed onboard. I confirmed with a Crew Member that since the puddle jumper is a U.S. Coast Guard personal flotation device (PFD) it will be welcome onboard. I understand wanting the comfort and safety of a familiar item when traveling, especially with little ones in the water. Disney Cruise Line does provide flotation vests of varying sizes for children onboard for use in the pools and also at their private island, Disney Castaway Cay.

I know they need to be inspected by the Chief Electrician, but I want to make sure I bring one that meets the requirements.

White noise machines should:

Support the ship’s electrical system (standard wiring and plugs)

Should be carried on, not in your checked luggage

Carry-on bags cannot exceed measurements of 9” x 14” x 22” so the machine must fit within those dimensions in the bag (in addition to any other items packed)

Be sure the cords do not show signs of wear and are in good working condition

Please know that I don’t have further insight into what may make the Chief Electrician’s final decision beyond this guidance, but I feel confident you’ll be ship shape if you stick to these requirements.

While there isn’t an official birthday list or activity, we found so much accidental magic around the ship. First, make sure to stop by the Guest Services Desk on deck 3 to pick up a Happy Birthday button. Your daughter will get lots and lots of smiles and well-wishes from every Cast Member that you meet. I’ll also encourage you to let your stateroom host and main server in the dining room know the date of your daughter’s birthday when you first check-in. While I can’t guarantee you’ll have the same experience, our amazing stateroom host created a birthday cake out of towels for my son and our serving team sang Happy Birthday with dessert.

Don't forget to also indicate your special event on your reservation. Check out the "how-to" HERE.

As you know, Vibe is a club for teens aged 14-17. There, teens can lounge, listen to music, and even play video games. Since he'll be on the cusp of a new year as you embark on the first leg of your sailing, you'll need to stop by Vibe and speak with the Youth Counselors to sign a consent form. This will allow him access to all the fun that awaits in Vibe from the beginning of your sailing. Keep in mind Edge is also available for ages 11-14. He should be able to visit both during your cruise. I'd recommend keeping an eye on the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App so he can see what activities are happening and decide where he'd most like to spend his time.

Either way, the documentation you will need for your voyage is as follows: all Guests 16 and up will need to present an original or copy of their state-issued birth certificate AND a government-issued photo ID. Children 15 years of age or younger only need an original or copy of their state-issued birth certificate. So you will need an original or copy of a state-issued birth certificate for your 11-year-old granddaughter. A passport would also be an acceptable form of identification if she has one, but it is not required.

I always like to tell Guests that these guidelines are based on government regulations, which are subject to change at any time. Because the rules in this area can be fluid, I strongly recommend checking the Passport and Travel Documentation page on Disney Cruise Line website. Not only will this page have all the particulars, it will also be updated in case changes are made to these requirements by the U.S. State Department.

As far as appropriate legal documents for traveling with a minor child, it would be a nice idea to have a Medical Consent Form signed by the parent(s) in the event of a medical emergency. I also would recommend that you google "Minor Travel Consent Form" and have one completed. You would need to have your grandchild’s parent(s) sign before a notary to leave no doubt that your grandchild may be traveling with you. I have never found these to be a requirement for cruising, but they are still wise documents to have just in case.

From complimentary diaper disposal units, bottle warmers, bottle sterilizers, cribs, and playpens, Disney Cruise Line has it all when it comes to traveling with the littlest sailors. As a father with his own tiny nautical explorer, it's great to know that all you need to do is ask!

While you definitely can bring nursery water with you aboard, there are a few things of which to be aware.

All beverages, including those for infants, must be brought aboard as or within your carry-on luggage.

There are no kettles available, but as I mentioned, a limited number of bottle warmers may be available, so be sure to request these as soon as you embark!

Any special foods or formulas must not require any food preparation from the kitchen and be brought aboard in the sealed original container.

If providing your little one with their formula works within those guidelines, it looks like you'll be in for smooth sailing! Now I will say again that these items can be in limited supply, so I would have it noted on your reservation that you will be traveling with a baby. Additionally, you should request what you need as soon as you board the ship with Guest Services. You can additionally ask your stateroom host for assistance, too!

If your little one loves vegetables, fresh pureed veggies can be prepared upon request in the rotational dining rooms and through in-stateroom dining! Talk about service!

When it comes to Guests with allergies, I know how important it is to be as careful as possible, and Disney Cruise Line does everything it can to ensure the safety of all Guests! When it comes to these requests, the level of the allergy's severity often dictates how available things are, so I have good news and potentially disappointing news.

Unfortunately, since Inside Out: Joyful Sweets technically falls into the "quick-service and in-room dining locations" group, Disney Cruise Line cannot guarantee that they will be able to meet all requests at these locations. But the good news is, at table-service restaurants - meaning the main dining rooms of Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure, Worlds of Marvel, and 1923 - allergy-friendly menus are available to satisfy allergies the Food and Drug Administration considers most common, and this includes peanut and tree-nut allergies! I know on our last sailing there were at least three dessert options on the allergy-friendly menu at each dining room!

Now it's important note that all allergy-friendly offerings are reliant on supplier ingredient labels, and we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the contents of each food item. Allergen advisory statements (e.g., "may contain") are not regulated and therefore not taken into consideration when developing allergy-friendly meals. So it's ultimately up to you to determine if this level of risk is acceptable for you and your crew. For more information, be sure to check out the Special Dietary Requests information on the Disney Cruise Line website!

That said, I definitely suggest you let your dining team know at your first dinner, too! On every sailing I've taken, they are very aware and have asked us if anyone in our party has any allergies they should be aware of.

I spoke with a tech-savvy Crew Member who helped me understand how the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app is different than other Disney vacation tools – good news for your family in that you do not need a Disney account to use the chat feature! This is important because you must be at least 13 years old to have a Disney account, per the Terms and Conditions. Guests under the age of 13 can only use the chat function in the app with a Permission Pin, a digital code from the lead adult on the reservation.

You will just need the reservation number to enable this for them; an option to “link” the reservation will become available onboard even when the account is not logged in. This is specifically for underage Guests who cannot make their own accounts in advance.

Once your family boards the beautiful Disney Wonder you can all join the ship’s Wi-Fi and go on airplane mode. This means you’re also in vacation mode! The app will magically transform to "onboard mode" to display many new features only for use on the ship. Your twins will now be able to use the chat function with your Permission Pin. This chat is very easy to use and a lot of fun, with cool Disney, Star Wars, and Marvel emojis to express those vacation vibes. You can turn on push notifications and never miss a message from your family.

If your children don’t have phones and you’re seeking a way to only use their Apple watch, in my experience I was able to use iMessage on the ship’s Wi-Fi without purchasing an Internet package. I say this with caution because that could change at any time, and in any location, but has had success among many Guests.

As a final, no-tech option, my family likes to pack sticky notes for every cruise! We leave them on the stateroom door or in the room for each other as to where we’ve gone, what activity is on the horizon, or where we’re meet next. It’s old school, as the kids say, but it works in a pinch.

It's great to have you sail our way with your question as you prepare for your Disney Cruise. If you were unable to book a Port Adventure for your daughter, she must be under the approved age limit, and therefore will not be able to accompany you on this specific adventure. If there is space available, you are welcome to make a reservation for your infant in the "it's a small world" nursery! while you plan to be ashore.

There are many types of bikes available at the bike rental area on Castaway Cay. You can find bikes for adults and for children, and also bikes for adults that have a child seat integrated. Children will need to wear helmets, and they are provided. The bike rental area is located at the far end of the family beach. When you arrive, you will be able to check out all of the bicycles available to be sure that there are some that suit your needs!

I called and checked with Disney Cruise Line about your question. The cast member I spoke to suggested that you transfer the diapers into luggage or a bag that you might otherwise check. Her reasoning was that the luggage or bag would be more durable than a box, and this would help to protect the diapers and wipes while they are being loaded onto and carried about the ship. You will receive two luggage tags per guest, and you can use one of these for the suitcase or bag into which you put the diapers and wipes. If you have further specific questions on this, I suggest that you call Disney Cruise Line.

My biggest tip when it comes to packing is to be sure to pack your carry-on luggage intentionally. You will not have access to your checked luggage immediately when you are on the ship, so your carry-on bag should include your required travel documents, medication, valuables, and anything else that is very important to you. For my family, that means swimsuits so that we can head to the pools right away. For you, this will also include the amount of diapers that you would need in a day!

Disney Cruise Line does not require legal documentation from parents who are divorced or if one of the parents is not traveling. As long as you are your son's parent or legal guardian, no additional forms need to be completed to sail with him. When you check in at the port, everyone will need to present a passport or birth certificate. Guests 16 years of age and older will also need a photo ID.

Pricing is based on occupancy per Stateroom, in addition to Guest ages. If you will be sailing as a party of two, pricing would be charged as two adult fares regardless of Guest age. Additional Guests added to your Stateroom will be charged at a reduced rate based on age.  Guests over the age of 13 are billed at a reduced adult fare, and guests aged 3-12 are billed at a child fare. Passengers under 3 also receive a reduced rate.

Pricing is based on the age of the Guest on the day of embarkation, so your son would still be charged at a reduced rate for the length of the sailing assuming there are more than two passengers in the Stateroom. You'll be able to price out different scenarios and view rate details using the Plan a Cruise tab.

I reviewed the Authorization for Minor to Travel Without a Parent or Legal Guardian – this official Disney Cruise Line form is required to be completed when a child is traveling on the cruise with an adult other than their parent or legal guardian. This safeguard is in place to protect the littlest sailors from the scariest potential dangers in this world (such as child trafficking) and gives legal authorization to empower the adult to retain care, custody, and control of the child during the span of a Disney Cruise Line vacation. A reminder of this required form becomes available during the Online Check-In process 30 days prior to sailing if the traveler confirms that the parent or guardian is NOT traveling on the cruise with a child on the reservation.

If this situation applies to your travel party, the form must be completed by the parent granting authorization for the adult traveler to retain that care, custody, and control of the child for this Disney Cruise Line vacation. Given the weight of this delegation of responsibility, yes – the form must be notarized. As you observed, there is a spot for a notary seal on the form. This step must be completed by the parent and then the notarized form must accompany the authorized adult on the cruise. This form will be validated in person upon arrival at the port terminal by Disney Cruise Line. Disney solemnly informed me that without this notarized form, the party will not be allowed to sail. This is a critical distinction and I appreciate you reaching out to confirm before your vacation in a few weeks, Jason.

Notaries can typically be easily found in your hometown if you know where to look. I often use the local U.S. Post Office or shipping service stores, making a quick phone call to ask what hours the notary is available before I stop by. Hopefully a quick Internet search will find one convenient to your travel party - they are often found in banks, city and town halls, law offices, and even pharmacies.

Disney Cruise Line is very well known for its record for safety and immersive youth spaces among the fleet, and it is very common for children who meet the age requirement for Disney's Oceaneer Club and Disney's Oceaneer Lab to spend a considerable amount of time in these spaces during secured programming. These are scheduled blocks of time with both organized activities and free time where children are signed in and are only permitted to leave with an authorized adult, with their secret password.

In my experience, many parents and guardians may be very comfortable with the idea of leaving the kids on board and leaving the ship; in most cases this is for a short amount of time and they remain within close enough proximity that they can return quickly in the event that anything happens while they're away. The spaces themselves are safe and the crew may be very well-trained; ultimately it is up to the children and their level of independence, along with their own consent and understanding that you'll be off the ship for a certain amount of time. Most similarly-aged kids in the 9-12 range have been very resilient and sometimes barely notice how quickly the time has flown and I'd only caution against it if the kids were either very young or very resistant to being left in secured programming. In my professional experience each family is different and it'll be up to you knowing the kids well enough to determine whether leaving them on their own will be the best idea for all of you; most of the time it's an excellent way to ensure everyone has an enjoyable time, but it's the exceptional situations that you may need to be prepared for!

For the best experience possible for all of you, I also highly recommend that you let the Youth Activities Crew Members and especially the management team be aware of your intention to leave your children on board, along with contact information including where you're headed to in the event that you need to be contacted in case of an emergency. If you're on a Port Adventure, it will be useful to let them know which one you're on and the departure/return time so that they can find ways to reach the staff responsible for the excursion. It's also worth inquiring about self-check privileges for your children to be able to leave and return to your stateroom if that's something you're also comfortable with.

I almost always tell friends and family to make sure that the kids have at least eaten before you depart and if possible, have at least one responsible designated person onboard while you're away who is authorized to sign the children out with the secret password just in case, if the kids are unable to sign themselves out.

As you already know, each of these specially-designed spaces come with age restrictions that are already created with a bit of overlap to accommodate our younger sailors; typically they may either be 11 and want to transition between the Oceaneer Club or Lab to make their way independently over to Edge or perhaps 14 and ready to take on the older-teen hangouts in Vibe. I wish I knew what age ranges your children are so that I could more directly address your situation, but know that you're definitely not alone - the Youth Activities Counselors who work with teens and tweens often encounter parents who feel that their child is more mature and capable of handling the older age group and request exceptions. Here are some of my tips that might help you have a better chance of success on your sailing:

I wish I could say that the shoreside Cast Members who you may speak to were childcare professionals or crew members trained to make decisions or have additional insight about the youth spaces on ships, but these decisions and policies are ultimately at the discretion of the crew and their leadership on board the ship at the time of your sailing. Remember that any exceptions are subject to availability, policies are subject to change without prior notice from ship to ship and may vary with the management on board so whenever you're in doubt it's always best to speak directly with the team that's actually on your voyage.

On the first day of your voyage as soon as you embark, be sure to explore each of the spaces together during the posted Open House hours; this will give you an opportunity to speak with the Youth Activities team directly and hopefully chat with a manager about their options. In the past some kids have decided that the younger-aged spaces were more appealing and had activities they were interested in, while others immediately felt that they were well beyond that; you might have an opportunity to sign a waiver that may allow an exception to be made but taking this first step is key to determining where they may feel most comfortable and for the team to observe how your child interacts within the space and its particular age group.

Ahead of each voyage they will already have a good idea about the demographics and age makeup on board, which can vary wildly between sailings. (You might have a 13-year-old who desperately wants to be in Vibe but is on a cruise dominated by 17-year-olds talking about relationships and college applications and who might feel less comfortable with a much younger child in their space.) Striking this balance is important and the Youth Activities team understands group dynamics on board well to advise what might make everyone happy in the end!

From what I understand, if no price is listed for a certain age group for a Port Adventure, then, unfortunately, cruisers in that age group typically won’t be able to participate.

If you have your heart set on a specific excursion, I’d recommend that you check with the Port Adventures desk when you arrive onboard. They might be able to give you some great advice about some alternatives or even see whether the tour operator can accommodate your little one(s).

First, make sure the app is downloaded to your junior sailors' mobile devices. They do not need a Disney Cruise Line account. On embarkation day, the app transforms for everyone once you’re connected to the ship’s Wi-Fi. Each Guest will be prompted to link their stateroom. Once linked, your children can access the onboard activities and the chat feature.

For safety, Guests under the age of 13 may only use the chat function by obtaining a unique pin from the Primary Guest in the stateroom. This is usually the name of the first person on the reservation. Tap the child’s name in the app on a grownup's phone to obtain the pin. Your kids can then enter this pin on their app and start chatting.

Keep in mind that the Wi-Fi on Disney Castaway Cay can be spotty. If your kids are going off on their own, I recommend having a meeting time and location planned as a backup. I hope this information helps, Tiffany. One of my favorite app features is the ability to see all the activities planned for the entire cruise. You can favorite activities and will receive a push notification about 15 minutes before the fun is about to begin.

I reached out to a Disney Cruise Line Cast Member who advised that, unfortunately, microwaves are not available for guest use onboard. She also pointed out that Crew Members are unable to store, prepare, handle, or reheat any personal food and/or medications brought onboard by guests. Additionally, guests are only able to bring nonperishable, factory-sealed food items with them as indicated by the list of prohibited items.

I know that accommodations are available for guests with food allergies or other special dietary requests, in addition to services for guests with disabilities. You may complete the "Request Special Services form" online, but I'd recommend reaching out to the team directly by email at SpecialServices@disneycruise.com or by calling 407-566-3602. Be sure to include your reservation number and sail date in addition to your son's specific needs. I can't guarantee exactly what they might be able to offer, but I'm hoping they'll have some options to make your cruise experience as enjoyable as possible.

I’m happy to share that collapsible stroller wagons may be brought onboard, but they must be collapsible and stored in your stateroom. The Disney Wish doesn’t have a designated public parking area to stow oversized items. I recommend reviewing the Prohibited Items list on the Disney Cruise Line website to ensure everything you plan to pack is approved.

You can use your wagon all over the ship, but navigating the elevators and hallways might be challenging. When my son was little, we decided to leave his larger stroller at home and purchased a small umbrella stroller for the cruise. We ended up not using it on the ship, but it came in handy when exploring the islands. Check your Port Adventures to ensure they are stroller or wagon friendly. Locate your Port Adventure and expand the Know Before You Go section to view this information.

There are a limited number of complimentary strollers available from Guest Services that can be used for the duration of your cruise, both onboard and ashore! Disney Castaway Cay has complimentary beach-ready wagons near Scuttle’s Cove and the Pelican Point tram stop. This is an excellent option if you only plan to use your wagon on the island. Your Mouseketeers can travel in style and carry your towels as you look for the perfect beach location to settle in for the day.

Lucille, I’m not sure if you are aware, but Disney Cruise Line offers many helpful amenities for parents traveling with little ones. Your stateroom host can provide a portable crib, bed rails, and diaper disposal unit upon request. Since your cruise is just around the corner, this would be the perfect time to download the My Disney Cruise Adventure Booklet for your younger cruisers. The booklet features helpful information about what to expect during their cruise. There are even some helpful tips for parents too!