Credit: DisneyOn Thursday, Disney Cruise Line updated its website with several new policies for future sailings. In addition to reducing the amount of alcohol guests are allowed to bring and consume on board, Disney has also updated its rules about families decorating their stateroom doors. Here’s what to know before your next voyage.
Disney Cruise Line Updates Stateroom Door Decorating Rules
Disney Cruise Line is cracking down on families whose exterior stateroom decorations extend beyond the magnetic doors, onto nearby walls and ceilings. The new rules read:
- Please avoid using tape and other adhesives, including gel adhesives, to affix items to your stateroom door, as this can damage the door’s finish.
- Using over-the-door hanging organizers is prohibited, as they may cause scratches or other damage to stateroom doors and trim.
- Items of value should not be used to decorate your stateroom door. Disney Cruise Line is not responsible for damage to or loss of these items.
- As a courtesy to other Guests, sound or video elements should not be used.
- Decorations should only be placed on doors and are not permitted on corridor walls or ceilings.
This policy takes effect on sailings beginning June 3, 2026. Guests who cause damage to stateroom doors or nearby areas by violating these guidelines will be fined $100 “per incident” to cover the cost of damages.
Guests sailing in Concierge staterooms on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy will not be able to decorate their doors, as these doors are wooden.
The rules do not specifically address fish extenders–a basket or other decor hung over the fish-shaped room number sign next to stateroom doors, used to collect gifts from other cruisers. As long as fish extenders are hung with something that won’t cause damage and aren’t large enough to disrupt cast member operations, guests are likely safe to continue using them.
Cruisers Respond to the New Policy
The news of the policy update spread quickly on Thursday. On Reddit, the overwhelming majority of Disney Cruise Line fans supported the new rules. Many argued that some over-the-top passengers had ruined what had once been a simple tradition: hanging a personalized magnet on the stateroom door.
“Love it,” Reddit user u/unreliable_ibex wrote. “We still get to decorate doors and no one can take over the hallway.”
“I appreciate people’s creativity but only to a certain extent,” said u/RemoveComfortable511. “The people who do full blown displays including a gallery wall of photos from prior cruises are out of their minds. This isn’t your personal living room, hallway, or entryway. No one cares about your family photos. I hope DCL enforces this rule. It’s getting out of hand and into fire hazard territory with some of these extensive displays.”
“This is great for people with mobility devices,” u/snarkprovider added. “Having things on the walls displaces the stateroom attendant carts and takes space out of the hallway for them to pass. Now I hope they think about limits to how far items can extend from doors, lights and motorized elements.”
Several Reddit commenters shared images of extensive decorations they spotted on recent Disney Cruises. From u/disappointedCoati:
People go all out on the Merrytime cruises for sure.
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“From a recent sailing… Won’t miss it,” u/HighLearn replied.
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Have you ever decorated your stateroom door on a Disney Cruise Line ship? Share your experience with Inside the Magic in the comments!
