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Disney cruises are truly one of the most magical vacations you can ever take. After our first cruise back in September of 2022, my husband and I became hooked. As a parent, it was the first time I felt relaxed and actually on a vacation! Disney can be so stressful with all of the new changes and plans you have to make ahead of time. But, a Disney cruise gives you all of the Disney magic without the stress. So, we finally booked another one and will be embarking on the Wish next month for a Very Merrytime Cruise!
What is a Very Merrytime Cruise?
A Very Merrytime Cruise is a special sailing where the ship transforms into a holiday wonderland. The ship receives beautiful holiday decorations, and there are special holiday activities and entertainment. People love taking photos in front of the giant Christmas tree in the atrium.
Not all ships participate in this event, so please check with your travel agent and your itinerary if you’re looking specifically for this cruise. Sailings begin as early as November 4th on the Disney Wish and end promptly on December 25th, which is very different from the parks, as they tend to celebrate through the first week of January.
The decorations are a big part of the festivities, but the special activities are what make this cruise so unique. There is a tree lighting ceremony with Mickey, Santa’s Winter Wonderland Ball, which is a special Broadway style performance, a Deck the Deck Holiday Party, a meet and greet with Santa and characters in holiday costumes, storytime with Mrs. Claus, and so much more! Plus, Castaway Cay gets a holiday makeover too!
What to Wear on a Very Merrytime Cruise
Packing for a Disney cruise can be stressful, and I made a lot of mistakes the first time around. You can watch that here.
So, Lauren and I thought we would share some family coordinated outfits that can help make your outfit planning easier for your vacation. If you are looking for something a little more customized to your trip, you can check out our customized services!
Gingerbread Family Outfits
One of the unique traditions onboard a Very Merrytime Cruise is the life-size gingerbread house. Construction begins on these incredible and edible creations in November. So, that does mean you may not get to view the gingerbread house in its full glory if you have an early November sailing.
However, that inspired us to create some coordinating looks for the entire family based on these delightful treats. We wanted to create outfits that would be perfect for your holiday and beyond. These outfits will be perfect for snapping photos in front of the gingerbread houses, the 24 foot Christmas Tree, or even Santa!
Gingerbread Momma
First up, we have our look for Mom. As mothers, we always want to make sure we are comfortable for chasing our kiddos around, but also like to dress up a bit while on vacation, as it’s one of the rare times where we are IN the photos! We loved the idea of giving mom a sweatshirt that she could wear outside of Disney, and this one has the gold details that make it feel dressed up a bit. Jeans or leggings are always a great option, but if you wanted to feel a bit fancy, this skirt with the bow detail is a great option. We recommend buying a crop tuck band to give the sweatshirt a tucked effect and let the bow show.
Gingerbread Dad
Dads can get a bad wrap about not wanting to go all in for Disney outfits, but we have found more times than not that Disney dads like getting dressed up too! The options tend to be fewer as far as unique items go, but this look is great because it’s subtle while still on theme. Patches are a fun way to add a little holiday flair to a bag or hat. While you’re not going to be hauling a backpack around the entire cruise, it’s good to pack at least one for the day you embark and one for your port days. We also like to recommend that at least one person has a lanyard on the cruise to carry your key to the world card. This one is perfect, as it’s Disney and holiday themed!
Gingerbread Girl Youth
If you are traveling with a tween or younger, we created a look that would hopefully avoid any eye rolls. 😆This look combines the theme of Disney gingerbread with a playful, yet comfortable outfit that will be perfect for photos. If they aren’t into skirts, leggings and jeans of course will work as well. The ships tend to run cold on the inside, so that’s why we have added a layer to most of these looks. We also added elements of non-Disney items here in case your kiddo wants to rewear these items to any holiday parties!
Gingerbread Boy Youth
If you happen to have a tween boy who might feel like they are “too cool” for Mickey & Minnie gingerbread, we found this Marvel one that hopefully will appease them for at least one photo! If they haven’t hit the threshold of Disney items, we will link some fun options below. You’ll notice we styled this with a Disney MagicBand+ as you can now use these on a Disney Cruise!
Gingerbread Girl Toddler
Planning outfits for toddlers on a Disney trip is so much fun. There are a lot of fun and adorable options that can make for some great photos and memories. This dress is another re-wearable piece that makes a perfect gingerbread outfit. From the adorable purse to the colorful accessories that really make everything else pop, we think Minnie Mouse will approve.
Gingerbread Boy Toddler
Keeping anything on a toddler for long can be a challenge, but we still wanted to create a look for the busy toddlers who want to be comfortable! This shirt is just too cute, and we think it would also be adorable to wear while baking cookies with grandma. The Disney shoe game for toddlers is strong, so pairing this look with any Mickey or Minnie themed shoe is a win/win. Again, you most likely won’t need the jacket for outside of the ship, but you might need it for dining and inside activities!
Matching Family Pajamas
Upon doing some research for my own trip, I discovered that a lot of families like to dress up in their matching family pajamas and either take photos with Santa, or just hang out on the ship in their cozy clothes! If you’re looking to match your entire family, these Mickey holiday pajamas are a great option. There are multiple sizes and styles. If you have a tween, we would recommend grabbing the fitted adult pair and size accordingly. Youth sizing was the only size that was difficult to track down!
Small Shop Shoutout
If you are in a time crunch, but looking for some adorable options from small shops, these three are our go-tos! Not only do these shops ship fairly quickly, but they are high quality. If you are on a SUPER TIGHT turnaround, PLEASE email the shop before purchasing!
1953 Designs has a lot of holiday themed shirts and accessories! We have shopped from this store for many years and continue to be blown away by Mallorie’s customer service and kindness! Darling Dream Co. creates some beautiful designs, and I just ordered slippers from them for my own trip. The fanny packs are currently shipping within 2-3 days! And last, but certainly not least, Polka Dot Pixie Shop. As a seasoned cruiser, you can find creative holiday cruise designs. Also, be sure to check out their blog, as it is where I obtained A LOT of information for my own upcoming cruise! It’s superb writing and info!
We hope that you have found this helpful. If you happen to wear any of these looks, we’d love to see them! Tag us at @ouawardrobe over on instagram. Be sure to check back for my review of our cruise and our outfits.
And remember, theme park fashion doesn’t have to be complicated, it just has to make you smile!
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