A Disability Packing List for Your Disney Cruise

A Disney cruise is an amazing vacation – but you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared ahead of time so that you can make the most of your trip.

I’ve got a regular packing list, too. Something with all the basics (shirts, shorts, bathing suits) and all of the things that will make your cruise more convenient and more fun. Click here to see my Top 25 Must-Pack Items for Your Disney Cruise blog post. [Link coming soon!]

Sometimes, though, there are other considerations. If you’ve got mobility issues or food allergies, or any type of disability or accessibility concerns, you’ll want to take some time to make sure you’re packing everything you’ll need on the ship AND you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared.

I’ve got a list for TOP THREE THINGS TO PACK and TOP THREE THINGS TO DO ahead of time.

Which is what I go over in my Disability Packing List for Your Disney Cruise video:

So to review the video, the three main categories of Things to Pack include:

• Medication – This includes both prescription medication AND over-the-counter medication. Make sure you pack what you think you may need in case the stores are closed. For prescription medicine, either bring it in the original packing as cruise lines suggest or at least take photos of the bottles or prescriptions in case you need an emergency refill. Bring medicine in your carry on bag, not your checked luggage.
• Pain Accommodation – Bring what you need to stay comfortable. Remember that extension cords with surge protectors are not allowed (fire hazard), so if you need electronics, like a heating pad, try for one that is battery operated. You can sometimes borrow cords from guest services, but these have limited availability. Don’t forget about your feet if you’ll be doing a lot of walking. And be sure to stay hydrated!
• Transportation – If you use a cane, walker, or wheelchair, consider bringing one that folds up. If you need to borrow a wheelchair or an ECV scooter, you’ll need to rent one ahead of time and arrange for it to be dropped off at the port. Remember to reserve an accessible room to give you space to store your wheelchair or scooter.

Be sure to watch the video above for further details.

Plus, you’ll want to do a few things ahead of time. My Top Three Tips are:

• Get familiar with the layout of the ship ahead of time. This will minimize the amount of time you spend getting from one place to another. Take notes of where the main things you’ll want to visit are located. Look at the deck plans and figure out where the elevators are. Watch deck-by-deck tours on YouTube to get an idea of how the ship is laid out.
• Print out your medical instructions / plans / medication descriptions ahead of time. This includes information that family members may need to know, and also be sure to print things out in the local language where you will be visiting. For example, if you want to be able to communicate a food allergy while visiting Mexico, bring a written paper with the information translated into Spanish. Also, bring along any doctor’s notes, for example if you are unable to go through a metal detector.
• Make your “special requests” ahead of time. This would be specific to which cruise line you are traveling on, but with Disney you can make special requests ahead of time in your Navigator app or on the Disney Cruise Line website. There are places to notate meal requests, as well as a form to fill out to let them know of any special needs you have or if you’re bringing along a mobility device. For example, if you need distilled water for a CPAP machine, you can tell them and they’ll deliver it to your room. If you would like them to set up the wheelchair lift at the pool, you need to tell them in advance. They can work with all kinds of special requests for food, and can also puree almost anything for feeding tubes, but it helps if they know what to have in stock ahead of time.

Be sure to discuss all of these things, and any other concerns you may have, with your travel agent.

Here’s the printable version of my list, which contains the information I discussed here:

Here are a few quick links to some of the items I’ve suggested in the video:

• Folding Cane:  https://amzn.to/3HjD7Cq
• Battery-Operated Heating Pad:  https://amzn.to/3RpIWmw
• Electrolyte Tablets:  https://amzn.to/3wE0amz
• Epsom Salt Foot Cream: https://amzn.to/3l1mbZG

[These are affiliate links and I may receive some payment at no cost to you if you purchase something. Thanks in advance as it allows me to continue making content like this!]

*** I am not a doctor. This is not medical advice. Please seek the advice of your doctor before trying anything new or taking any medication. ***

You can also find a lot of information on Disney’s website at https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/guest-services/.

I hope these tips and suggestions are helpful! It’s impossible to cover everything in one single video or blog post, so if you have any questions, or any suggestions, please comment here or in the comment section of the video!

Also, let me know if there are any similar issues you’d like me to address in a future video.

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Happy Travels!