What Can You NOT Bring on a Disney Cruise? The Ultimate Guide to Prohibited Items
Whether you’re sailing on the Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, Disney Destiny, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, or Disney Adventure, here’s what you need to know about what you cannot bring on a Disney cruise.
What Items Are Prohibited on a Disney Cruise?
Disney Cruise Line maintains a list of prohibited and restricted items for the safety of its passengers and crew. While some restrictions are obvious, others are easy to overlook when packing for a family vacation.
Here are the major categories of items you should leave at home.
1. Irons, Clothes Steamers, and Certain Electrical Appliances
This is one of the biggest surprises for first-time Disney cruisers!
You cannot bring your own electric iron or clothes steamer onboard a Disney cruise. You also cannot bring several other household electrical appliances, including:
- Coffee makers
- Blenders
- Toasters and toaster ovens
- Rice cookers
- Hot plates
- Microwaves
- Heating pads
- Electric blankets
- Diffusers
- Extension cords
- Power strips, multi-plugs, and surge protectors
- Electric bottle warmers and sterilizers (unless approved through Guest Services)
The good news? Every Disney Cruise Line ship has self-service laundry facilities with irons and ironing boards available for guest use.
What can you bring instead? Curling irons, flat irons, electric shavers, and qualifying hair dryers are permitted. Each stateroom also has a hair dryer available.
Portable fans, humidifiers, baby monitors, and white noise machines require inspection and approval before use, so don’t assume you can simply pack them.
2. Weapons, Knives, and Self-Defense Items
Disney Cruise Line has a zero-weapons policy. This applies onboard the ship and at Disney’s private island destinations, including Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
Prohibited items include:
- Firearms and ammunition
- Knives of any blade length
- Straight razors
- Swords and daggers
- Pepper spray
- Tasers and stun guns
- Brass knuckles
- Fireworks and explosives
- Flares and pyrotechnics
- Air guns, BB guns, and paintball guns
- Slingshots
- Lasers
- Scissors with blades longer than four inches
There are a few exceptions for certain store-bought toys, including plastic pirate swords and toy lightsabers.
When in doubt, leave anything that could be considered a weapon at home.
3. Power Strips, Extension Cords, and Surge Protectors
If you’re traveling with a family of five like many Disney cruise families, you probably know the struggle of having enough outlets for everyone’s electronics.
However, traditional power strips, extension cords, multi-plugs, and surge protectors are prohibited onboard Disney Cruise Line ships.
This is particularly important for families traveling with multiple phones, tablets, cameras, watches, and other electronics.
Disney cruise packing tip: Look for a charging solution that does not include a prohibited power strip or surge protector. Check Disney’s current electrical appliance guidelines before purchasing or packing any charging accessory.
4. Candles, Incense, and Open Flames
Planning to make your stateroom feel like home? Leave the candles behind!
Disney Cruise Line prohibits:
- Candles
- Incense
- Hookah pipes
- Heating elements
- Other prohibited open-flame or combustible items
Even if you love a particular candle scent or want to create a relaxing atmosphere after a day at Castaway Cay, these items are not permitted.
Consider packing a favorite travel-size personal care product instead.
5. Balloons, Kites, and Certain Stateroom Decorations
This one catches a lot of Disney fans by surprise, especially those who love decorating their stateroom doors for themed nights, birthdays, and special celebrations.
Balloons and kites are prohibited onboard Disney Cruise Line ships.
Other restrictions include:
- Over-the-door hanging organizers
- Over-the-door hooks
- Seasonal or celebratory strands of lightbulbs
- Certain items attached to or displayed from ship railings and verandahs
You can still bring magnetic decorations for your stateroom door, provided they comply with Disney’s rules. Just remember that balloons are not allowed.
Disney mom tip: Magnetic hooks and decorations are popular cruise accessories, but always check the current rules before packing them. Don’t confuse magnetic door decorations with prohibited over-the-door hooks.
6. Drones, Hoverboards, Scooters, and Sporting Equipment
Planning to capture some incredible aerial footage of the ship or Castaway Cay? Unfortunately, drones are not permitted.
Other prohibited recreational equipment includes:
- Hoverboards
- Skateboards
- Scooters (with exceptions for approved mobility devices)
- Bicycles
- Roller skates and inline skates
- Heelys and other wheeled footwear
- Segways
- Baseball and cricket bats
- Hockey and lacrosse sticks
- Fishing equipment
- Archery equipment
- Pool noodles
- Inflatable pools and rafts
- Boogie boards
- Surfboards and wave boards
- Hammocks
- Diving equipment and underwater scooters
There are some exceptions. Guests may bring certain balls, including baseballs, basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, and volleyballs, but they must be stored in their staterooms and used off the ship in ports of call.
Golf clubs and tennis racquets are also permitted under similar storage and use restrictions.
If you’re booking a scuba, fishing, or other equipment-based Port Adventure, the necessary equipment will generally be provided as part of the excursion.
7. Homemade Food and Certain Snacks
Can you bring your own food on a Disney cruise?
There are restrictions!
Disney Cruise Line does not permit homemade, precooked, perishable foods, or open food containers.
However, there are some exceptions and allowances:
- Nonperishable snacks in their original, factory-sealed packaging are permitted.
- Breast milk may be brought onboard in carry-on luggage.
- Baby food and certain medically necessary dietary items are permitted.
- Small coolers measuring no more than 12 x 12 x 12 inches may be allowed as carry-on luggage for medications, baby food, or qualifying dietary items.
Always check the current food and beverage policy before packing snacks for your family.
8. Marijuana, CBD, and Certain Medications
This is an important one to understand before sailing.
Disney Cruise Line prohibits illegal drugs, including marijuana, synthetic drugs, and medically prescribed marijuana.
Products containing THC or CBD are also prohibited, even if they are legally purchased or prescribed in your home state.
This includes certain oils, gummies, edibles, and other cannabis-derived products.
If you take prescription medications, bring them in their original packaging when possible and keep them in your carry-on luggage. If you have questions about a particular medication or medical device, contact Disney Cruise Line before your sailing.
9. Streaming Devices and Certain Electronics
Planning to stream your favorite shows on the stateroom television? You might want to rethink that packing list.
Disney Cruise Line prohibits personal streaming devices, including:
- Amazon Fire Stick
- Apple TV
- Google Chromecast
- Roku
Remote-controlled toys and devices, including drones, toy vehicles, airplanes, and Star Wars droids, are also prohibited.
Your phone, tablet, laptop, camera, and other standard personal electronics are generally fine, but always check the specific restrictions for electrical accessories and appliances.
10. Alcohol Beyond Disney’s Allowance
One of the nice things about Disney Cruise Line is that guests are allowed to bring a limited amount of their own wine or beer onboard.
However, there are strict limits.
Guests 21 and older may bring the following at the beginning of their voyage:
- One unopened bottle of wine or sparkling wine, up to 750 ml; OR
- Six unopened beers, up to 12 ounces each.
Alcohol must be packed in your carry-on luggage, not your checked luggage.
You cannot bring liquor or spirits onboard, and you cannot exceed the permitted wine or beer allowance.
Alcohol purchased in ports of call is collected and stored by the ship until the end of the cruise.
There is also a $20 corkage fee per bottle if you bring your own wine or sparkling wine into one of the dining rooms.
What Happens If You Accidentally Pack a Prohibited Item?
So, what happens if you accidentally pack something that isn’t allowed?
Disney Cruise Line screens luggage before it is delivered to your stateroom.
If prohibited items are discovered, they may be confiscated and held by the ship. In some cases, your luggage delivery may be delayed until later in the evening on embarkation day.
More serious violations, particularly involving weapons or prohibited drugs, can result in denied boarding and potential legal consequences.
Disney Cruise Line also reserves the right to confiscate any item it considers a safety or security risk.
The easiest way to avoid an unexpected surprise at the port is to review the official prohibited-items list before you zip up your suitcase.
Disney Cruise Packing Checklist: What to Leave at Home
Before heading to the port, use this quick checklist to double-check your luggage.
- Clothes iron or garment steamer
- Power strips or extension cords
- Surge protectors
- Candles or incense
- Balloons or kites
- Drones or hoverboards
- Pool noodles or inflatable rafts
- Knives or self-defense items
- Coffee makers or heating appliances
- Streaming devices
- Homemade or perishable food
- CBD or THC products
- Over-the-door organizers or hooks
- Prohibited recreational equipment
Frequently Asked Questions About Disney Cruise Prohibited Items
Can you bring a clothes steamer on a Disney cruise?
No. Electric clothes steamers and irons are prohibited onboard Disney Cruise Line ships. Guests can use the irons and ironing boards available in the self-service laundry facilities.
Can you bring a power strip on a Disney cruise?
No. Extension cords, traditional power strips, multi-plugs, and surge protectors are prohibited. Review Disney’s electrical appliance guidelines before purchasing an alternative charging accessory.
Can you bring snacks on a Disney cruise?
Yes, certain snacks are permitted. Nonperishable food must be in its original, factory-sealed packaging. Homemade, precooked, perishable foods, and open food containers are prohibited.
Can you bring bottled water on a Disney cruise?
Factory-sealed bottled water may be brought onboard in your carry-on luggage. Do not pack beverages in checked luggage. Refillable water bottles are also a convenient option.
Can you bring a hair dryer on a Disney cruise?
Yes, provided it meets Disney’s voltage and wattage requirements. Hair dryers are also provided in every stateroom, so you may not need to pack one.
Can you bring a curling iron or straightener on a Disney cruise?
Yes! Curling irons and flat irons used for hairstyling are permitted onboard.
Can you bring a vape on a Disney cruise?
Vaping and smoking are subject to Disney Cruise Line’s smoking policies and designated-area restrictions. However, Disney Adventure sailings from Singapore have additional restrictions because of Singapore law. Check the current rules for your specific sailing before packing any vaping products.
Can you bring magnetic decorations for your Disney cruise stateroom door?
Yes! Magnetic decorations are a popular way to personalize your stateroom door. Just avoid balloons, over-the-door organizers, and prohibited hooks or attachments.
Final Thoughts: Check Your Disney Cruise Packing List Before You Sail!
The last thing you want on embarkation day is to discover that something you packed is prohibited or that your luggage is being held for inspection.
A little preparation can save you time, stress, and an unexpected trip to Guest Services.
My biggest Disney cruise packing advice? Pack smart, keep your essentials in your carry-on, and check Disney Cruise Line’s official prohibited-items policy before leaving home. Rules can change, and some restrictions vary depending on your ship and itinerary.
And remember, you don’t need to pack your entire house to have a magical Disney cruise!
Ready to plan your own Disney cruise?
Whether you’re dreaming of the Disney Treasure, Disney Destiny, Disney Wish, or your family’s first Disney sailing, Academy Travel can help you find the right itinerary, ship, and stateroom for your vacation.
Our Disney travel specialists can help take the guesswork out of planning, and there’s no additional cost to use our travel planning services.
Request your FREE Disney Cruise Line vacation quote with Academy Travel
See you onboard!
