I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to find one simple piece of information on Disney Cruise Line’s website: How much does “it’s a small world” nursery! cost? You would think that would be an easy question to answer, wouldn’t you?
Apparently not.
I’ve searched Disney Cruise Line’s official website and the Disney Travel Advisor resources I have available through Dreams Unlimited Travel, and I still haven’t found an official, publicly listed hourly rate. Disney explains what the nursery offers, who can use it, and how to make reservations. But when it comes to the actual price, all I can find is that an additional fee applies.
That’s a pretty important detail to leave out, especially for parents considering a cruise with an infant or toddler.
What Does Disney Cruise Line’s Nursery Cost?
The nursery is available aboard Disney Cruise Line ships for children ages 6 months to 3 years. Unlike the youth clubs for older children, nursery care isn’t included in the cruise fare, and reservations are required.
Disney has a section titled “Reservations and Rates” on its official nursery webpage, but it doesn’t actually provide the hourly price.
I did manage to find a September 2024 answer on the planDisney website listing the rate at $4.50 per half-hour for the first child and $4 per half-hour for each additional child, although the minimum time to book is one hour. More recent reports from unofficial Disney planning websites suggest that the price has increased to $10 per hour per child.
The problem? I haven’t been able to confirm that newer rate directly through Disney’s publicly available information. I also couldn’t verify whether there’s still a discount for additional children.
And that’s exactly why this is so frustrating. Guests shouldn’t have to piece together outdated answers and third-party reports to figure out what a Disney Cruise Line service costs.
Parents Need This Information Before Booking a Cruise
Disney recommends reserving nursery time in advance because space is limited. Guests can make those reservations when their onboard activity booking window opens, with the timing determined by their Castaway Club membership level.
But why should parents have to wait that long to find out what they’ll be paying?
Think about a family considering a seven-night Disney cruise with a baby. Maybe the parents want to enjoy an occasional adults-only dinner, spend a little time at the spa, or simply have a couple of hours to themselves.
If they plan to use the nursery for two hours each evening, that’s 14 hours of childcare over the course of their cruise. At the recently reported $10 hourly rate, they’d be budgeting approximately $140 for one child.
That’s useful information to have before making a reservation and paying a deposit, not just a few months before sailing.
And for families traveling with more than one little one, knowing whether Disney still offers a sibling discount matters, too.
Disney Cruise Line Should Make Nursery Pricing Easier to Find
I have no issue with Disney charging for nursery care. Providing supervised childcare for babies and toddlers requires specialized attention, and I understand why it’s handled differently from the complimentary youth clubs.
My frustration is how difficult it is to find the price before your cruise.
Disney Cruise Line does a wonderful job explaining many of its onboard experiences, and families should be able to research those offerings while deciding whether a cruise is right for them.
Publishing the nursery’s hourly rate, even with a note that pricing is subject to change, would make vacation planning so much easier for parents.
For now, parents should contact Disney Cruise Line or their Travel Advisor to confirm the current nursery rate before relying on prices found online.
And if Disney is listening, please put the hourly rate on the nursery webpage! Parents have enough to think about when planning a vacation with little ones. Finding out how much childcare costs shouldn’t require a research project.
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