Cruising the Bahamas

Cruising with a disability can be a mixed bag—but Disney Cruise Line gets it right about 90% of the time, which is pretty magical in itself. I recently traveled aboard the Disney Fantasy, and I was genuinely impressed by the thought and care that’s gone into making the experience accessible for wheelchair users and families like mine.

Let’s start with the wheelchair-accessible cabins. On the Fantasy, these rooms are surprisingly spacious, allowing plenty of room to maneuver. The best part? Automatic doors that open with the push of a button—no fumbling with keycards while balancing bags or trying to navigate a tight space.

On land, Disney’s private islands—Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point and Castaway Cay—are just as thoughtfully equipped. Both beaches have all-terrain beach wheelchairs available, and they’ve laid down wide mat strips over the sand, so I was able to wheel my daughter right to the edge of the water in her own wheelchair. That’s a game changer for us. And at Lookout Cay, there’s even an adult-sized changing table, something that’s still way too rare in most public spaces.

All the transportation—buses, trams, and tenders—was wheelchair-friendly, with crew members trained and ready to help out without fuss or confusion.

Of course, no system is perfect, and we ran into a few hiccups here and there, but overall, Disney hits the mark on accessibility far more often than not. For families with disabled travelers, that reliability and attention to detail can turn a good vacation into an unforgettable one.

Disney magic really is for everyone—and that includes the wheelchair users and caregivers who need a little extra pixie dust to make it all work.