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I Was On The First Sailing Of The Disney Wish, Here Are My 10 Favorite Experiences On Board

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Note: The Travel Awaits team regularly updates content to provide the latest, and most accurate information to our readers. The updated content in this article may not reflect the views or opinions of the original author.

For the first time in forever, the Disney Cruise Line has added a brand-new ship to its fleet. The 4,000-passenger Disney Wish is the cruise line’s first new ship in 10 years, and it was worth the wait. Disney Wish is filled with magical experiences, innovative technology, cinematic dining adventures, and immersive storytelling that brings much-loved Disney characters to life.

Joining the rest of Disney’s fleet, Disney Magic , Disney Wonder , Disney Dream , and  Disney Fantasy , is Disney Cruise’s newest ship, the Disney Wish . This vacation experience is designed to please families and multigenerational groups as well as adults traveling without kids. This floating luxury resort is packed with boatloads of fun, superb family-friendly staterooms , and some royal suites. Disney Wish sails 3- and 4-night cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida to Nassau and Castaway Cay, Disney’s island in the Bahamas. Guests often combine these sailings with a few days at Walt Disney World to get the best Disney vacation on both land and sea.

I was invited by Disney Cruise Line to be their guest on the Disney Wish christening cruise. Several attractions and experiences still needed a little pixie dust to be fully ready, but we were able to sample nearly all of them during our 3-night sailing.

Here are my 10 favorite experiences on the new Disney Wish :

1. Making A Grand Entrance

There’s something special about stepping aboard the Disney Wish . The ship’s theme is “enchantment.” The magic comes alive when entering the dazzling fairytale-inspired Grand Hall. While boarding, a crew member announces your name to all those in the Grand Hall, and clapping ensues. While this occurs on every Disney Cruise Line ship, the Grand Hall’s opulent setting made me feel like I was being formally welcomed to Cinderella’s castle at sea.

The Grand Hall’s magnificent chandelier features a spectacular wishing star that comes alive at certain times through the wonders of technology. Children receive their own wishing wand upon boarding so they can make their first vacation wish when entering the Grand Hall. Make sure to return to the Grand Hall in the evening to experience the mesmerizing “Kiss Goodnight” during your  Disney Wish  cruise.

Pro Tip: Look for Disney princesses appearing on the balcony of the Grand Hall as you enter. Disney characters can often be seen in and around the Grand Hall during sailings. Check the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app for scheduled appearances. 

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2. Feeling Like A Kid Again

The Disney Wish is an exceptional vacation destination for kids, teens, and adults who love staying connected with their inner child. Guests become immersed in a wonderland of familiar stories and beloved Disney characters. I always look forward to seeing the magic through kids’ eyes on a Disney cruise , and the Disney Wish kid’s and teen’s clubs are out of this world. Adults will be jealous, and kids won’t want to leave.

Disney’s Oceaneer Club

Disney’s Oceaneer Club is the best cruise ship area I’ve seen for children ages three to 12. The kids club features more extraordinarily well-themed areas than ever, including Fairytale Hall, Star Wars : Cargo Bay, Marvel Super Hero Academy, Walt Disney Imagineering Lab, and Mickey and Minnie Captain’s Deck. The attention to detail in these spaces is mind-blowing, particularly in Star Wars: Cargo Bay. Children can check in to Disney’s Oceaneer Club in the Grand Hall, then slide “down the rabbit hole” directly to their club on Deck 2.

Pro Tip: Adults can access Disney’s Oceaneer Club and the Oceaneer Club slide at the open house on embarkation day and during select Oceaneer Club open house events throughout the voyage. Ride the slide — your inner child will love it!

“It’s A Small World” Nursery

Plus other kids’ and young adult areas.

Kids of all ages have their special place on the Disney Wish . “It’s a small world” nursery caters to young cruisers ages six months to three years, while tweens and teens have their own hangouts. Edge is for tweens aged 11 to 14 and teens aged 14 to 17 have stylish Vibe. There’s also The Hideaway, a multi-purpose area that hosts events for young adults aged 18 to 20.

3. Riding AquaMouse

Disney calls AquaMouse its “first Disney attraction at sea,” and this first-of-its-kind water coaster delivers tons of family fun. As an avid lover of waterslides and coasters, AquaMouse was a must-do on my Disney Wish voyage. Based on The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse series, the ride includes 760 feet of tubes winding around the ship’s top deck, over 60 water features, special lighting effects, an entertaining cinematic show, and spectacular ocean views.

Guests board their two-seat ride raft and are conveyed through the lift hill tunnel while watching one of two new Disney animated short cartoons. Then, you’re off on a wild ride up around the ship’s upper decks, jetting up and down via speed blasters. It’s a cute ride — and you will certainly get wet. 

AquaMouse age and height requirements make the attraction accessible to many families with kids. The water ride is fun and adventurous without being too scary or overwhelming for younger kids. The Disney Wish family area also features six pools, plus a Toy Story Splash Zone for little ones.

Pro Tip: AquaMouse lines can be lengthy, so go first thing in the morning or during dinner seatings. If there are long lines, check out Chip ’n Dale’s Pool on Deck 14. It offers covered loungers and incredible views.

4. Adults-Only Restaurants

Palo Steakhouse

Palo Steakhouse is one of two exquisite adults-only specialty dining venues on Disney Wish . It’s an elegant Beauty and the Beast -inspired setting with wraparound floor-to-ceiling windows, cozy booths, and spectacular views. The service and cuisine are exceptional. Our meal at Palo Steakhouse was one of the best we’ve had on a cruise and included antipasti, Japanese A5 Wagyu beef, pan-seared salmon, and butternut squash agnolotti. The tiramisu and six-layer carrot cake are decadent and delicious.

Enchanté By Chef Arnaud Lallement

The ship’s second adults-only dining experience is Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement , a celebrated gourmet restaurant created by three-star Michelin French Chef Arnaud Lallement. 

Pro Tip: There’s an additional charge to dine at both restaurants . Guests must be 18 or older, and reservations should be made as far in advance as possible.\

5. The Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party

Disney’s parks are famed for their spectacular nighttime events, so it’s no surprise this floating theme park at sea has an amazing celebration as well. The “ Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party ” is a brand-new version of Disney Cruise Line’s pirate-themed nighttime deck party featuring live rock ‘n’ roll music, stunts, amazing special effects, and even a fireworks show at sea.

Inspired by Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, the pirate night extravaganza features Captain Redd and her pirate band along with an appearance by Captain Jack Sparrow. Disney Cruise Line is the only cruise line that includes fireworks shows regularly on its voyages, and I always look forward to their dazzling displays.

Pro Tip: The fireworks launch over the Disney ship’s starboard side. We watched from Deck 12, and the views were incredible.

6. Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge   

I couldn’t wait to experience Disney Wish’s Star Wars -themed bar at sea, and the immersive experience lived up to the hype for me. Yes, there’s a $5,000 drink on the menu, but this venue is so much more. The lounge is designed to feel like a lavish starcruiser where guests can sip creative intergalactic concoctions while enjoying the panoramic vistas of galaxies far, far away. I was completely mesmerized watching the action-packed encounters and stunning views of places like Endor and Tatooine. The viewport’s scenes blur as the ship periodically “jumps” to a new location via hyperspace, and it’s hard to get bored.

The highly themed cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks here are great. Some of our favorites included the zero-proof Temple Twist, The Golden One from the Moons of Endor, Berken’s Flow, and The Chancellor — complete with an added bubble of cinnamon smoke.

Pro Tip: This sought-after experience is currently limited to 45 minutes. Guests can make reservations using the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app on embarkation day once they are on board. Families can access the lounge during the day, but the space converts to adults-only at 9 p.m.

7. Disney Wish ’s Rotational Dining

Disney Wish offers three rotational specialty quality dining venues for guests, including the first and only Frozen and Marvel-inspired restaurants at sea. No surcharges are involved, and your wait staff moves dining rooms with you each night.

Worlds Of Marvel

Worlds of Marvel is an interactive cinematic delight featuring Avengers: Quantum Encounter starring Ant-Man and the Wasp. The dining experience is filled with mission-intensive storytelling, Marvel-inspired menu items, and character appearances that will keep both adults and kids engaged. Each table has a quantum core, and we had fun interacting with it to help save the day.

Pro Tip: It’s great to attend the Marvel Super Hero Academy open house to get the backstory for the Worlds of Marvel cinematic entertainment show. 

Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure

Celebrate the engagement of Queen Anna and Kristoff at Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure . This entertaining dinner theater-type experience stars favorite characters from Disney’s blockbuster hit Frozen . Guests will enjoy the character interactions, live band, great food, and fantastic entertainers who bring the world of Frozen to life. The Nordic-style cuisine is excellent here, particularly the seafood.

Disney Wish ‘s third restaurant, 1923 , offers a classy entertainment-free dining experience where the food is the star of the show. One half of the restaurant is dedicated to Walt Disney and the other to Roy Disney.

8. Adults-Only Areas

The Disney Wish was designed to cater to adults sailing without children as well as parents and grandparents traveling with kids. As a result, there are plenty of adult-only spaces spread across multiple decks, and the cocktail lounges are superb. My favorites were The Rose, Nightingale’s, and The Bayou , a stunning magnolia-canopied lounge inspired by Disney Animation Studios’ film The Princess and the Frog .

Additional memorable adults-only spots on the Disney Wish include the Quiet Cove’s aft-facing infinity pool, the Moana- inspired Cove Café, and the Senses Spa’s Rainforest experience featuring a brand-new outdoor oasis. Purchase rainforest passes as far in advance as possible.

Pro Tip: There’s live jazz music in the evenings at The Bayou and live piano music at Nightingale’s. If you want to have more time for evening entertainment, it might be best to choose the early dinner seating.

9. Enchanting New Shows

Disney Cruise Line ’s entertainment is Broadway-caliber, and the Walt Disney Theatre’s immersive performances bring the magic to life. We saw previews of Disney The Little Mermaid and Disney Seas the Adventure , two brand-new shows making their debut on the Disney Wish . Both were outstanding. Guests will also be able to enjoy a reimagined adaptation of Disney’s Aladdin — A Musical Spectacular on future Disney Wish sailings.

Entertainment choices abound on the Disney Wish , including free first-run movie showings in the Never Land and Wonderland cinemas, shows and interactive features on the Grand Hall’s atrium stage, and programming in the new Luna entertainment hub. This wealth of indoor entertainment options will help keep families happy, even in inclement weather.

Pro Tip: Wheelchair-accessible seating is available in Disney Wish cinemas and the Walt Disney Theatre. Starting 30 minutes before show times, crew members are available at the Deck 3 entrance to the Walt Disney Theatre to assist guests to wheelchair-accessible seating.

10. Incredible, Interactive Games

Disney Uncharted Adventure

Disney Uncharted Adventure is a first-of-its-kind interactive game played through the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. We previewed this free immersive experience on our sailing, and it takes storytelling to a new level. Guests can create their own avatars then head out on themed quests throughout the ship. The multidimensional journey features augmented reality and special effects, unlocking hidden layers of magic around the ship. I loved being immersed in this adventure, and the technology is amazing.

Pro Tip: Disney Uncharted Adventure is a fantastic experience to play with family and friends. Families can play together by linking up to six mobile devices at once or team up by using just one or two devices at a time.

More action-packed games are available in Disney Wish’s Hero Zone sports arena. Don’t miss running through The Incredibles -themed inflatable obstacle course, which is featured in the ship’s Incredi-Games experience. It’s lots of fun, and it’s not just for kids. Time slots are pre-announced, so check the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app to see when the obstacle course will be available.

Nancy is founder of the Family Travel Network, launched in partnership with America Online. She serves on the Board of the Family Travel Association and is a consultant and frequent presenter at top travel industry conferences and events. Nancy is a member of the North American Travel Journalists Association and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association. She was honored with the Family Travel Association's Mike Janes Media Member Award in 2022.

Disney Wish Cruise Ship: Complete Guide and Review

Disney launched its fifth cruise ship in July 2022.  After a ten years with no new ships, expectations were high for the newest cruise ship in the Disney fleet.  In many ways, the Disney Wish cruise ship has completely smashed expectations; but there are a few areas where we feel that it may have fallen just a tiny bit short of its potential.

That said, we also know you want to have all the information to make your own decision and determine if it’s the right ship for you.  So, here we’ll present a complete guide to all the facts and figures of the Disney Wish.  We’ll also provide reviews of the ship and its venues. Whether you’re still planning your first Disney Cruise or are a Pearl-level Castaway Club member , there’s a lot to learn about the newest ship in the fleet!

Disney Wish Ship Overview

In many of the big categories, the Disney Wish is exactly like the other Disney Cruise ships. But once you start looking at smaller details, there are a lot of differences.

You still have four main types of passenger staterooms with lots of individual categories and subcategories.  But some of those individual categories include never-before-seen rooms like a Tower Suite that’s actually located inside one of the giant red funnels (smokestacks) on top of the ship.

There are still three main restaurants onboard for your nightly dinner rotation , but two of them feature live entertainment during your meal.

There’s still a gigantic kids club area that takes up almost an entire deck, but it’s much more intricately themed than prior offerings.

There’s still a waterslide-type ride onboard, but it adds some video animation effects to “plus up” the ride.

We’ll go in-depth below about each of these categories — and more — to help you get you bearings on the newest Disney Cruise Ship.

Let’s start with an overview and review by our favorite Disney YouTube channel, The Vacationeer:

How is the Wish Different from Other Disney Cruise Line Ships?

The Disney Magic and Disney Wonder are sister ships to one-another, meaning that they are more or less structurally identical to each other.  Similarly, the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy are sister ships.  As of 2023, the Disney Wish is distinct from all other Disney Cruise Line Ships.  Disney Wish is expected to eventually have two sister ships: the Disney Treasure is set to begin sailing in December 2024, and the Disney Destiny is expected to be completed sometime in 2025.  Separately, another Disney ship — the Disney Adventure — is also expected to join the fleet in 2025, but it will be different from all the others.

Now let’s look at some of the major elements of this fantastic new ship!

Disney Wish Staterooms

Let’s start by looking at where your own private quarters onboard the ship.  Your stateroom (passenger cabin) is the equivalent of your resort hotel room at sea, and this ship has plenty of them!

The Disney Wish has 1,254 staterooms.  Each of those staterooms falls into one of four primary types of rooms; each of those four types is further divided into multiple categories and subcategories.  Which category you choose will have a rather substantial impact on the cost of your cruise, so it’s wise to research ahead.

If you’ve never cruised before — or you’re just curious to see what the décor of these rooms is like — check out this general overview from The Vacationeer.

Here is a consolidated list of the room types offered onboard.  They are listed here generally from least expensive to most expensive, though there may be some price overlap among categories/subcategories.  (For a more in-depth look at each of these room types, see the descriptions and photos posted on our Disney Cruise Staterooms article).

Inside Staterooms on the Disney Wish

Inside Staterooms have no porthole window or balcony.

• 11C:   Deck 2
• 11B:   Decks 6, 7, 8
• 11A:   Decks 9, 10, 11
• 9D:   Decks 6, 7
• 9C:   Deck 8
• 9B:   Deck 2
• 9A:   Decks 7, 8

Oceanview Staterooms on the Disney Wish

Oceanview staterooms offer an outside view through a round porthole window which does not open.

• 8C:   Decks 6, 7
• 8B:   Decks 8, 9

Verandah Staterooms on the Disney Wish

Verandah staterooms offer private outside balcony which can be accessed through sliding glass doors.

• 7A:   Decks 6, 7, 8, 9
• 6B:   Decks 6, 7
• 6A:   Decks 8, 9
• 5C:  Decks 6, 7
• 5B:   Decks 8, 9
• 5A:   Deck 10
• 4E:   Decks 6, 9, 10
• 4C:   Decks 6, 7
• 4B:   Decks 8, 9
• 4A:   Decks 10, 11

Concierge Staterooms on the Disney Wish

Concierge staterooms offer extra personalized service , concierge staff, and access to an exclusive Concierge Lounge and sun deck.

• 3B:   Deck 11
• 3A:   Decks 12, 13
• 2B:   Decks 12, 13
• 2A:   Deck 12
• 1C:   Deck 10
• 1B:   Deck 13
• 1A:   Deck 14 (Wish Tower Suite)

Our Review of Disney Wish Staterooms

Our reviewers felt that the Disney Wish staterooms were generally a welcome evolution to the staterooms found onboard the Disney Dream and Fantasy.

The rooms struck a nice balance between being a simple “refresh” of the existing stateroom plans versus a more-radical “reimagining” of everything.  There was innovation to be found, but there was not necessarily any change just for the sake of changing.

With the same general features — but updated, fresher decor — they offered a bright retreat that never felt dark or enclosed.  There’s still plenty of room to stow luggage and belongings so you can truly “move in” for the length of your cruise.  Split bathrooms, which are crucial to the morning getting ready routing, remain as a standard feature in almost every category.

Some innovations came with slight drawbacks.  Compared to staterooms on earlier ships, we were happy to notice larger televisions — but with less of an ability to “articulate” them to face toward where you are sitting.  And there’s a new drawer-style refrigerator, which is perfectly fine for cans of soda, but may or may not be convenient for other items you’re chilling.

As far as cons go: the Disney Dream/Fantasy’s “magical portholes” (circular video screens with live video views of outside) sadly did not make their way to the Wish’s inside staterooms, which instead opt for giant mural-style artwork behind the bed.  And one could argue that perhaps just a bit of the “nautical” theme is gone from these stateroom versus those of the prior ships.  None of those is likely to bother you enough to make you rethink your voyage.

Ready to see all that the Disney Wish has to offer?  Get in touch with the Disney Cruise experts at  The Vacationeer .

As diamond-level Authorized Disney Vacation Planners , they book thousands of vacations every year and have agents who specialize in Disney Cruises.

Whether you need help picking a stateroom type or need help understanding what’s included in the price , their Disney Cruise experts can help you plan the perfect vacation.

There’s never any charge for their planning services, and your cruise won’t cost anything more than if you’d booked it yourself.   You might even find you save a bit thanks to The Vacationeer’s knowledge of the latest Disney travel deals (and plenty of other  money-saving tips and tricks ).

So what’re you waiting for?  Make your Disney Wish come true!

Disney Wish Dining and Lounges

Pretty much everybody knows that one of the biggest draws on any cruise ship is the food.  The Disney Wish is no exception, with three outstanding main dining restaurants, two elegant adult-only dining options, and plenty of places to grab a quick meal or a snack on the go.

Cruise Dining Tip: Thanks to the international crew and clientele of Disney Cruise Line, you’ll often find international fare onboard the cruise ships. One of the things I look forward to on every cruise is my daily breakfast; that’s because in addition to the usual bacon and eggs, I can enjoy things I can’t normally get stateside — like a hearty bowl of European muesli with dried fruits and nuts, or even an Asian-inspired breakfast fried rice and miso porridge. At dinner, I’ll eagerly try something new and maybe even a little scary because it doesn’t cost anything extra to try!  Occasionally my suspicions that I won’t like something are confirmed in no uncertain terms, but most of the time I find myself pleasantly surprised.  Turns out I absolutely love escargot — who knew?! Either way, I’ve tried something new and the worst possible outcome is one unpleasant bite that didn’t lighten my wallet by a single penny.  So go ahead… order the pâté and broaden those cultural and culinary horizons!  You might just surprise yourself with how sophisticated your palate can be!

Here’s a video overview of dining onboard the ship; below, we’ll investigate each restaurant more completely.

Rotational Dining Restaurants on the Disney Wish

Like all Disney Cruise Ships, the Disney Wish offers something called  rotational dining during the nightly dinner service — a Disney Cruise Line innovation.  Rotational dining doesn’t mean you’re sitting in a revolving restaurant.  Diners are pre-scheduled to visit a different restaurant on each night of the cruise on a schedule called a dining rotation.

You pick a dining time when you make your reservation, but otherwise there’s no need to pre-reserve your spot.  You’ll always be at (for example) table 29 during the 8:15PM seating on every night of the cruise, no matter which restaurant you’re scheduled to be in.  And you’ll have the same waitstaff for the duration of the cruise, so they’ll get to know you, bring you your favorite drinks right away, and remember how you like your steak cooked.

Dinner at these three restaurants is included in the cost of your cruise.

You may also have a chance to dine at one of these restaurants for breakfast or lunch at no additional cost, but note that the menu will vary and you won’t experience any of the “show” aspects noted in the descriptions below.

Here are the three rotational dining restaurants on the Disney Wish:

• Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure

One of the most eagerly-anticipated experiences onboard is Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure .  At this restaurant, you’re an honored guest of Queen Anna and Kristoff as they celebrate their engagement (right around the time that the movie Frozen 2 ends).

Of course you’ll find Norwegian-inspired cuisine and Frozen-themed items, such as the Frozen Fractals cocktail, Worth Melting For non-alcoholic specialty drink, Elsa’s Royal Baked Scallops, Sven’s Favorite Carrot Soup, Arendelle Kjottkake (meatballs), Queen Iduna’s Potato Lefse, and Norwegian Pancake Roulade for dessert.

But the real star of dinner is the live entertainment.  Thanks to a stage at the center of the dining room, you’ll enjoy a great view of live musical performances from Elsa and Olaf, along with other frozen friends.  Even Wandering Oaken wanders in.  And thanks to a little Disney magic, you’ll feel as if you’re right in the middle of the Aurora Borealis (northern lights)

Our Review of Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure

Our reviewers were blown away by their experience here and ranked it as the top must-see, must-do, do-not-miss-it offering onboard.  The menu offered a nice mix that’s sure to please both those who are more adventurous eaters and those who would rather stick to things they know and love.

The food is good enough, but this experience is all about the show.

Thanks to a theatre-in-the-round setup, there’s a good view from pretty much anywhere in the dining room.  Our reviewers were seated outside of the central ring of tables, but still had a good view (with the exception of an occasional person walking between the tables and the stage).

They felt it was much better than a traditional character meal , even for jaded adults.  Compared to, say, a Cinderella’s Royal Table (Magic Kingdom) or Restaurant Akershus (EPCOT), the quality of the character entertainment and interactions is in a class by itself.  The characters sing and lead interactive activities, but also take breaks from the show to stop by and visit your table.  Even Olaf wheels in on a serving cart to delight diners (somewhat reminiscent of the table visits Remy made at EPCOT’s Chefs de France many years ago).

• Worlds of Marvel

This super hero themed restaurant offers a worldly menu inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  Like the Arendelle restaurant, there’s a “dinner and a show” aspect to dining at Worlds of Marvel .  You’ll also get an up-close (and maybe too personal) demonstration of Super Hero technologies, with appearances by Ant-Man and the Wasp.  Fortunately everything turns out alright in time for dessert.

Sample menu items include the Widow’s Bite cocktail, Steamed Bao Buns, Cream of Porcini Mushroom Soup, Berbere Spiced Pork Chop, Ricotta Gnocchi, and Subatomic Sticky Date Pudding.

Our Review of Worlds of Marvel

If you’re familiar with the Animator’s Palate level of interactivity onboard other Disney Cruise Ships, you’ll have the same  general idea about Worlds of Marvel.  Indeed, the Disney Wish is the first Disney cruise ship  not to have an Animator’s Palate restaurant onboard — and Worlds of Marvel is likely the closest to that type of experience you’ll find.

Our reviewers enjoyed the (admittedly limited) interactive elements of the show; much like onboard Mission: Space at EPCOT or Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’ll find yourself tasked with pushing a few buttons on the Quantum Core device at your table to help solve a minor catastrophe.  You’ll have video visits from several characters in the Marvel Universe (yes, the original cast); you’ll also have a brief “walk-by” visit with Ant Man and the Wasp, but don’t expect any major character interactions here.

Our reviewers felt that overall the restaurant was a slight step down versus the Frozen-themed restaurant onboard.  The décor was impressive and the food was “just fine.”

This restaurant offers a dining experience steeped in the golden age of Hollywood.  Named after the year the Disney brothers founded their first studio, you’ll enjoy the flavors of California while surrounded by relics reminiscent of the early days of animation.  You’ll be seated in either the Walt Disney section or the Roy Disney section, but no matter which you’re assigned to, you’re in for a feast for the eyes and the stomach.

Sample menu items include Hyperion Four-Cheese Tri-Color Tortelloni, Pulled Guinea Hen Corn Chowder, Italian Flat Parsley and Rosemary-crusted Rack of Lamb, Moroccan-Spiced Roasted Kabocha & Butternut Squash, Churros Calientes, and Flourless Orange Almond Cake.

Our Review of 1923

Our reviewers felts that dining at 1923 was like dining in a Disney museum (and that’s not a bad thing).  It was a treat to dine surrounded by historic sketches, tickets, and artwork.  There were lots of nostalgic and historic vibes, with an Old Hollywood menu to match.

They felt the menu was perfectly fine, but conceded that nothing they ordered reached “must do again” status.  Our group also dined at 1923 once for breakfast (as an alternative to Marceline Market) and was pleased with the offerings during that meal period.

There’s no entertainment at this restaurant; that’s not unexpected on most Disney ships — but for the Wish, it’s an outlier as the only rotational dining restaurant without a show.  As such, our reviewers felt that this was the restaurant to skip if you’re on a shorter cruise and need to pick a night to experience Palo Steakhouse or Enchanté.

Adult-Exclusive Dining on the Disney Wish

The Disney Wish boasts two fine dining establishments that are offered solely to passengers age 18+.  These dining experiences are not included in the cost of your cruise, so expect to pay a bit more for these unique experiences.  Dress codes also apply, so be sure to pack something nice to wear!

Chef Arnaud Lallement, a three Michelin Star recipient , brings world class luxurious dining onboard the Disney Wish.  This is the premier dining experience onboard, and is priced accordingly.

Enchanté offers dinner service, along with a brunch service on select days of the cruise.  For dinner, enjoy a six-course prix-fixe offering, or select from à la carte items such as Caviar, Wild Halibut, or Maine Lobster.  Menu offerings are rather limited, with a focus on artisanal quality rather than broad quantity.

• Palo Steakhouse

Inspired by Beauty and the Beast ‘s Cogsworth, Palo Steakhouse is a bit different from the Palo restaurant that is already well-known onboard the four prior Disney cruise ships.  This version takes the Italian cuisine concept and elevates it into a steakhouse.

Sample menu items include an Antipasti, a 6oz Grilled Choice Angus Beef Tenderloin, and of course the famed Palo Chocolate Soufflé.  In addition to dinner, the beloved Palo Brunch is also offered here on select days of the cruise.

Our Review of Adult-Exclusive Dining on the Disney Wish

Our reviewers were somewhat limited in their ability to experience the actual cuisine onboard at these two restaurants during their christening, inaugural, and preview cruises.  They did, however, get a chance to tour the facilities and were impressed by the decor and ambiance.

A real bonus of these two restaurants is their outstanding views.  You’ll have a great chance to enjoy sweeping views of the ocean outside the windows while dining here, something that’s mostly missing in the three main restaruants.

Casual Dining on the Disney Wish Cruise Ship

There are plenty of places to enjoy a low-key breakfast, lunch, or dinner onboard the ship.

• Marceline Market

While you might be familiar with Cabanas on the previous four Disney Cruise Line ships, the large buffet-style restaurant on Disney Wish is called Marceline Market. The overall concept is the same — plenty of variety, already cooked, and ready to serve.  It’s great spot for breakfast or lunch — and even for dinner if you’re not thrilled with the menu at your assigned rotation restaurant.

One distinction versus Cabanas is that Marceline Market is set up a bit more like a farmer’s market in that there are individual “stalls” (stations) for different types of food rather than one long buffet line.  At some of these, you’ll serve yourself — at others, a crew member will dish up your food.

Marceline Market is the go-to spot for breakfast and lunch on the ship (though one of the rotational dining restaurants is usually also open for breakfast and lunch).  Almost everything here is included with the cost of your cruise, including sodas, juices, milk, tea, and traditional coffee.  If you want one of the specialty coffees or other premium drinks prepared at the restaurant’s “cafe,” you’ll need to pay separately for those.

At night, Marceline Market transforms into an alternative option for those not interested in dining at their assigned rotational dining restaurant (especially popular for folks who don’t want to observe a semi-formal or formal night on longer cruises).  During dinner, the restaurant provides a table service experience with entrees made to order (still included in the cost of your cruise).

Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods

Located on Deck 11 near the main pool complex is Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods. Here, you can grab a quick bite to eat without even drying off!  The hours are usually pretty generous, too, so if you miss regular lunch and dinner hours at the other restaurants you can still find food here most of the time.  But note that no breakfast items are served here.

This group of quick-service windows offers several unique options, such as Daisy’s Pizza Pies (pizza by the slice), Donald’s Cantina (tacos and burritos), Goofy’s Grill (burgers/dogs and chicken tenders), Mickey’s Smokestack Barbecue (brisket/chicken/pork), and Sweet Minnie’s Ice Cream (as many soft serve ice cream cones as you can handle!).

Like Marceline Market, most of the items here are included with the cost of your cruise.  But you’ll still find specialty drinks available for purchase.

Our Review of Casual Dining on the Disney Wish

Our reviewers appreciated the variety of food offered at Marceline, and also the fact that they had a wide selection of beverages that were included without having to buy an additional beverage package like on other cruise lines.  (While Disney Cruise does offer drink packages for alcoholic beverages , it’s not necessary to purchase one just for sodas, coffee, tea, or juice — those are all already included in the cost of the cruise) .  The generous hours and wide variety of food offered kept our reviewers returning day after day to Marceline Market.

Our reviewers appreciated the convenience of Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods and also found the setup to be “super cute.”  The tacos met with approval, and others in the group who tried the barbecue were happy with their meals, too.  Both of those cuisines are first-time appearances onboard a Disney ship, so we were happy to hear they were well-executed.  They also found it to be a handy spot to stop for a quick snack when everything else was closed.

Lounges, Bars, and Snacks on the Disney Wish

The number of bars and lounges onboard the Disney Wish are almost too numerous to list (though we do, indeed, attempt to do so in our deck-by-deck guide later on this page).  Here, we’ll point out a few of the highlights.

• Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge

For grown-ups wanting to get their Star Wars fix, Hyperspace Lounge is a great spot.  This adult-exclusive lounge features exotic drinks along with a starfield view out the window thanks to some video technology reminiscent of that used in Skyline onboard the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.  You might even notice a few familiar spaceships jetting by the windows, in between the hyperspace jumps.

Our review of Hyperspace Lounge

Our reviewers placed Hyperspace Lounge among their top three onboard experiences.

The lounge was a bit tough to get into, thanks in part to its small size and big popularity.  When our reviewers visited, there was no reservation system in place and instead it was necessary to wait one’s turn.  Most folks ended up waiting in a de facto overflow space at the nearby Bayou lounge, which was a bit of a thematic “break” from the outer space story.

As such, our reviewers recommended seeing it as early in your voyage as possible… it’s small enough (and highly-anticipated enough) that it might take a few tries to get in.  You definitely don’t wait until 9PM on the last night of your cruise.

Two of our reviewers had also experienced the Galactic Starcruiser on land at Walt Disney World, and couldn’t help but draw comparisons to that location’s Sublight Lounge .  They felt that the land offering was much better because there were fewer limitations (thanks to not being shoehorned into the available space on a ship).  Between the two, Sublight Lounge (on land) felt more real than Hyperspace Lounge (at sea).

Our reviewers noted that while the Hyperspace Lounge was impressive, you might not feel like you have to go back every night… many travelers will probably enjoy it as more of a one-off experience once on their cruise.

• Keg & Compass

Drink up at this Norwegian-inspired bar.  Keg & Compass is designed to feel like a viking ship, but with modern elements including TVs to catch up on the latest sports.  Enjoy three unique craft beers available exclusively onboard.

• Nightingale’s

Fine Wines, handcrafted cocktails, and a shimmering chandelier set the scene at this chill piano bar aboard the Disney Wish.  Your piano player might even know a few obscure Disney parks tunes if you ask politely enough.

The drinkware itself even adds to the theme of this lounge, which is inspired by Cinderella’s rendition of “Sing Sweet Nightingale” from the 1950 Disney classic movie.

Sip a cocktail in an elegant setting, replete with antique mirrors and floating rose petals.  This elegant, adult-exclusive lounge is reminiscent of the enchanted castle from Beauty and the Beast, and is the perfect prelude or postscript to a sophisticated meal at Enchanté or Palo Steakhouse.

New Orleans-inspired cocktails and refreshments are served up in this informal lounge inspired by the magical marsh Disney’s The Princess and the Frog . Among the magnolia blossoms and twinkling fireflies, you’ll find live musical performances and other events.

Room Service on Disney Wish

Many Guests are surprised to learn that Room Service is included at no additional charge on their Disney Cruise.  Almost everything on the room service menu — with the exception of a few items such as prepackaged candies or canned soft drinks — can be brought to your room at no additional charge.  Just don’t forget to tip the Crew Member who brings the food to your door.

You can typically pick from several different salads, soups, burgers, chicken tenders, sandwiches, and hot wings.  You’ll also typically find a couple of flatbreads and pasta selections.  For dessert, cookies and slices of cake/pie are the standard.  A classic DCL favorite item is the  All Hands on Deck , a cheese and fruit plate that is perfect for noshing on as you watch the ocean go by.

If you don’t mind shelling out just a bit of cash, you can add on wines, beer, sodas, specialty coffees, juices, and the like.

Our Review of Room Service on the Disney Wish

Room service on the Disney Wish (or any other Disney Cruise Ship, for that matter) is usually perfectly fine, but there’s very little chance that it’ll be the most memorable meal you have onboard.

Depending on how busy they are, you might have to wait a bit of time for your food; 20-30 minutes is a typical wait time, but it can be longer during traditional meal periods.

Because your food is making an extended trip from the kitchen to your stateroom in a cloche-covered plate — and because your plated meal might have to wait a bit for a runner to become available to bring it to you — some menu items such as french fries and hot wings might not be quite as crisp or warm as you’d like by the time they reach you.

The menu is surprisingly complete, but not necessarily the most exciting.  We’ve never had a bad meal from room service onboard Disney Cruise Line, but none of them have been particularly spectacular, either.  Consider it a somewhat utilitarian option to get food in your stomach without having to change from your bathrobe, and you’ll be set up for room service success.

Best Bets for Each Meal on the Disney Wish

Below we list each of the main meal periods onboard the ship, and your best options for each.

• Primary option: Marceline Market is where most of the ship goes for breakfast.  It offers generous hours, a very wide selection, and plenty of food so you don’t start your day hungry.  The downside of this location is that, well, it’s where most of the ship goes for breakfast.  It can feel a bit hectic at times and might even be a bit of a sensory overload that early in the day.
• Secondary option: One of the three rotational restaurants — typically 1923 — usually offers a table-service breakfast.  The menu is a bit more limited than at Marceline Market, but this can be a less-hectic option than joining the masses there.  You’ll be served at your table — no roaming around to fill your plate or find a table.  And let’s be honest — some mornings, you just need a little more quiet time before you brave all those people .
• Other options: You can opt for room service breakfast, but it’s not the best option.  Room service menu options for breakfast are extremely limited.  You won’t find any “hot breakfast” options — no eggs, bacon, sausage, oatmeal, etc.  You can get juices, coffees, pastries, cold cereals — and not much else.  Does room service breakfast have some merits?  Absolutely.  It’s delightful to have a croissant and a cup of coffee while sitting on your verandah balcony watching the sun rise — but in our view that’s sort of pre-gaming the “real” breakfast.  If you’re looking for a filling meal so you can start the day with a full tank, you’ll need to leave your room.
• Primary option:   Like at breakfast, Marceline Market wins lunch thanks to its wide variety.  You’ll find flavors from all around the world, including some you might not get to experience back home.  Iced jumbo shrimp and crab claws are a favorite item, along with freshly grilled meats and plenty of side items.  And the desserts are not to be missed.
• Secondary option: Should your idea of a perfect onboard experience include lounging by the pool all day, you’ll likely include plans to have lunch at Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods.  No need to dry off and head inside.  Just drip your way on over to the window, get your tacos or barbecue, and enjoy a quick meal.  The options are more limited than Marceline Market, but there’s still a surprising variety — great for families with a wide range of tastes.  It’s also a chance to give kids just a tiny bit of freedom (and feeling grown up) by having them go all on their own to the window to pick up their chicken tenders.  And the extended hours mean you can dine here even if you missed lunch hours at Marceline Market or get hungry before dinner time.
• Other options: Room Service is another good option for lunch, with the obvious caveat that if you’re waiting in your room for your meal, you can’t be out enjoying the ship.  But if you’re taking a midday break, it’s a decent choice.  Your menu options won’t be that exotic, but you can still get a filling meal that won’t cost you anything extra beyond a tip and maybe an optional add-on like candy or soda.
• Primary option: Your assigned rotational dining restaurant is  the place to be for dinner.  It’s the heartbeat of the Disney Cruise dining experience and your dedicated service team that follows you all voyage long can make it into something really special.  Don’t be shy… ask for two entrees.  Order three desserts. Calories don’t count on vacation!
• Secondary option: As an alternative to your pre-scheduled rotational dining restaurant, you might opt to enjoy Marceline Market.  The restaurant will be an entirely different experience than the buffet-style offerings that are the mainstay of breakfast and lunch. You’ll be seated at a table, and a server will present you a menu that features some of the most popular selections from other restaurants. This is typically a rather laid-back meal without quite as much hustle and bustle as the main dining rooms.
• Other options: Beyond the above two options, there are of course the adult-exclusive restaurants to pick from, though we’d hesitate to call them an “alternative” to your regularly-scheduled dinner; they’re a special experience in and of themselves.  Otherwise, you can always grab quick food from Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods up on the pool decks, or order room service.
• Primary option: For those off-schedule cravings, your best bet is Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods. The generous “drop in almost anytime” hours make it a great choice starting around lunch time and going into the later hours around dinner.  And, while it’s still all-you-can-eat, individual portions tend to be a bit more “snack sized,” meaning it’s easy to grab a relatively light bite to keep you going without spoiling your appetite for your next big meal.
• Secondary option: Room Service is the champ of anytime eating onboard, though you’ll certainly find a better variety at Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods.  With 24-hour operation, you’ll be able to order something from room service starting from the time you get onboard the ship all the way until around 1:30 AM on the very last morning of the cruise.  Whether you want a full meal, a midday snack, buffalo wings at 3AM, or just some cookies and milk at bedtime, it’s only a phone call away.

Most of your meals are included in the price of your cruise; but some specialty meals, alcohol, and the offerings at most bars and lounges cost extra.

Here’s a no-brainer tip on how to save money on those upcharge experiences — let somebody else pay for them!

Booking through a Disney Travel agent like The Vacationeer earns you an onboard credit that can be used to pay for drinks, specialty meals, and even spa activities and port adventures (shore excursions) .  Depending on the details of your cruise, this credit could be as much as $1,000 !

To get your free onboard credit (and free help planning your Disney Cruise), contact the Vacationeer today !

Disney Wish Pools and Water Slides

Perhaps the most-anticipated addition to water activities onboard the Disney Wish is the AquaMouse.  Following in the dripping-wet footsteps of the AquaDuck (Disney Dream & Fantasy) and the AquaDunk (Disney Magic), the AquaMouse is a waterslide-type attraction.

Guests board a small two-person raft.  That raft then slowly carries them up a lift hill, during which time video screens mounted on the wall show very brief animations, drawn in the style of the newer Mickey Mouse short cartoons.

We’ve seen a few different storylines in our rides onboard, including one taking place in an alpine ski village, and another during a scuba diving adventure.

Once you’ve enjoyed your lazy lift to the top of the ride, the lift hill ends and the raft takes off for a brief splashy downhill ride.

Our review of the AquaMouse

Our reviewers felt the AquaMouse was the logical “next step” following the AquaDuck onboard the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.

Disney has positioned the AquaMouse as its first ever “attraction at sea,” but it’s important to remember that the logistics of being onboard a cruise ship mean you shouldn’t expect a Pirates of the Caribbean caliber attraction.

Your ride consists of about 60 seconds of “story” (delivered via short video clips while your raft slowly climbs the lift hill), followed by about 35 seconds of riding down a tube of rushing water.  It’s still a perfectly enjoyable waterslide — just don’t hear the word “attraction” and expect audio-animatronics or an it’s a small world soundtrack.

The different storylines that are offered via the video clips help to add a bit of re-ride-ability to this relatively short attraction.  Without that change, most folks would likely ride it once and be on their way.

To some extent, the AquaMouse feels a bit like Imagineers are just starting to dip their toes into the concept of blending land-style attractions with waterslides — all while working within the limitations associated with operating onboard a functioning cruise ship.

We can’t wait to see the next one after they apply the lessons learned building this one.

Pools and Splash Pads

There’s no shortage of pools and water splash zones onboard; ten, to be exact!  Deck 11 is the home to most, though you’ll also find smaller ones scattered about elsewhere.  With multiple smaller pools rather than one or two giant pools, you’re more likely to find one that better fits the vibe you’re looking for… packed with kids so younger travelers can make new friends… secluded and adult-exclusive allowing for a more-relaxing experience… and everything in between.

Note that some pools may be unavailable during portions of the cruise so they can be covered and used as stages/viewing areas for live entertainment.

We offer a full list of every pool on board further down the page in our “deck-by-deck” section.  In the meantime, here are a couple of highlights.

• Toy Story Splash Zone

For little tykes eager to make a splash, Woody, Jessie, and friends present a perfect place.  Much like the fun Finding Nemo splash zones onboard the Disney Wish and Fantasy, young kids not quite ready for the pool can splash in fountains, whisk down slides, and safely bounce around a bit on the soft padded areas while cooling off.

Adults will appreciate this pool, sundeck, and bar that’s made just for them.  We all love our family time, but there’s nothing like a little getaway just for the grown-ups while the kids are spending time at the youth clubs.

Disney Wish Kids Clubs and Teen Clubs

The wide array of onboard youth activity clubs is a big reason why we named Disney Wish as the best Disney cruise ship for kids .  Kids who’ve sailed onboard a Disney Cruise before are no doubt still talking about the time they spent at the kids clubs onboard. In what seems to be a continuing theme of this article, the Disney Wish takes the concept to an entirely new level.  Let’s explore some of these dedicated spaces:

Disney’s Oceaneer Club

To access this exclusive space, kids age 3-10 literally slide down from the Grand Hall atrium into the check-in for the day.  Once they’re here, they can pick from several distinctly themed areas.

• Marvel Super Hero Academy

Children become young Avengers, training alongside their favorite Marvel Super Heroes.  Spider-Man, Black Panther, Ant-Man and The Wasp are regulars here as kids team up, select their super suit, and battle infamous villains of the Marvel Universe.

Star Wars: Cargo Bay

Home to the Star Wars Galactic Creature Keepers adventure, kids here will become intergalactic creature handlers, feeding lifelike, interactive creatures and encountering some of the most dangerous beings in the galaxy. Don’t worry, though — with the help of Rey and Chewbacca (and the Force), everything will turn out just fine.

Fairytale Hall

Fairytales come to life in this royal retreat.  Enjoy visits from the Disney Princesses while making royal crafts at Rapunzel’s art studio, acting out stories in Belle’s Library, and crating a bit of ice magic at Anna & Elsa’s Sommerhus.

Walt Disney Imagineering Lab

This is the place for hands-on learning and fun.  A highlight is the ability to design your own virtual roller coaster, then hop inside a simulator capsule to experience it.

Mickey and Minnie Captain’s Deck

The youngest Oceaneers will enjoy this nautically themed play space.  Enjoy pipe slides, ship’s wheels, activities and games, and even an occasional visit from Captains Mickey and Minnie.

Our Review of the Oceaneer Club onboard the Disney Wish

Our review crew had no doubt in their mind that kids would fall in love with these spaces — because the grown-ups fell in love with them, too!

Thanks to open houses throughout the voyage, our crew spent probably more time than they’d like to admit playing along with the intergalactic adventures and super hero battles.  The slide to the kids club entrance was a big hit, too.

With so many activities and character experiences in these dedicated spaces, there’s virtually no chance of the kids coming back to the room because they’re bored!

The spot for tweens aged 11-14, Edge is a New York City inspired loft-style hangout.

Teens aged 14-17 will enjoy Vibe, a laid-back space that features movies and games.

• The Hideaway

Older teens and young adults (age 18-20) have a space designed just for them onboard the Disney Wish — the first ever on a Disney cruise ship.  With a dance floor, DJ booth, and occasional karaoke contests, this space is a great “transition” space for those not quite ready to hit the adult clubs.

it’s a small world nursery!

Infants as young as six months old — up through toddlers just shy of their third birthday — are cared for in this secure nursery onboard.  Specially-trained counselors keep everyone fed, changed, happy, entertained, and ready for visits by Disney friends.  Fees apply.

Disney Wish Entertainment and Activities

Your Disney Cruise is only as lazy as you choose to make it — there’s always something going on, so no one will ever get bored onboard!

Broadway-Style Shows

Disney Cruises have long been known for their abundant live entertainment — and especially for the Broadway-style performances staged nightly in the Walt Disney Theatre.  There are three primary shows onboard the Disney Wish, two of which were made exclusively for the new ship .

Disney Seas the Adventure

Start your cruise out right with Disney Seas the Adventure, an embarkation celebration on the first night of your cruise (not to be confused with the sail-away party that happens earlier in the day).  This nighttime performance starts out innocently enough, as Captain Minnie hands the helm over to Goofy.

The ensuing journey features a fabulous musical voyage into favorite films such as Hercules , The Princess and the Frog , Finding Nemo , Moana ,  Frozen II , and Brave .  As the show reaches its crescendo, a cavalcade of Characters leads Guests out of the theatre and into the Grand Hall for an unforgettable sendoff — the ultimate “kiss goodnight.”

Disney’s The Little Mermaid

This one-of-a-kind theatrical adaptation of the beloved 1989 Disney animated film was created exclusively for the Disney Wish.  With innovative theatrical design, dazzling special effects, and artistic choreography, the all-new script and score goes beyond the film to find new ways to delight.

Guests of all ages will delight in seeing the innovative puppets — reminiscent of those which debuted in Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s Finding Nemo: The Musical and Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond! — which help bring favorite characters to life

Disney’s Aladdin — A Musical Spectacular

Already a favorite of those traveling onboard the Disney Fantasy cruise ship, Aladdin is also performed onboard the Disney Wish.  After all, how could you name a ship “Wish” and not have Genie represented?  Spectacular special effects and just a little magic from the lamp bring this timeless tale to the stage with music and comedy.

Pirates Rockin’ Parlay Party and Fireworks at Sea

Pirate Night holds a place of honor on many Disney Cruise itineraries, and the Disney Wish is no exception.  And once again, Disney Wish’s version seems to add just a little extra to the experience you find onboard the other ships.

The Disney Wish’s version of the pirate party features a rollicking rock-and-roll soundtrack of live music, remarkable stunts, special effects, and plenty of surprises.  The show is heralded by Captain Redd, descendant of the famous red-headed icon from the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. She and a band of head-banging buccaneers provide the soundtrack for an unforgettable night that includes Captain Jack Sparrow (you have heard of him?) and the industry-first fireworks display at sea.

Wonderland Cinema and Never Land Cinema

A Disney Cruise is a great way to catch up on the latest released from Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Lucasfilm.

Onboard most Disney ships, the Buena Vista Theatre is the place to go — but continuing with the bigger and better theme, Disney Wish is home to two movie theaters: Wonderland Cinema and Never Land Cinema.

There’s no need to buy a ticket — just find a seat and enjoy the show.  A nearby snack bar sells popcorn, candy, and soft drinks (for an additional charge).

Disney Uncharted Adventure

Following in the footsteps of onboard interactive experiences such as Midship Detective Agency (onboard the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy), Disney Uncharted Adventure is a new first-of-its kind experience that takes classic Disney storytelling to new heights.

The story goes that an unknown evil force has attacked the Wishing Star, splitting its magic into pieces that land in far-off realms. To bring back the Star’s powers, Captain Minnie needs Guests to help navigate the ship toward these uncharted worlds.

Guests onboard join Captain Minnie, Captain Mickey, and other favorite Disney Characters on a multidimensional search for the magic across storybook worlds.  You might spot Moana, Nemo, Princess Tiana, Peter Pan, and others through your “enchanted spyglass” (which looks suspiciously like your mobile device).  But don’t worry – you won’t be staring at your phone the entire time; rather, it’s a tool used to unlock magic all around the ship.  Just be sure you download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app before your cruise begins.

This versatile venue hosts action-packed physical challenges and game-show-style competitions, and is home to a sports court during other hours.  Check the onboard navigator app to see what’s happening each day!

Disney Wish Spa and Salons

There’s no shortage of places onboard to be pampered.  From spa treatments to salon stylings, you’ll be able to step out in high style on the high seas.

Senses Spa and Salon

Like the other Disney Ships, Disney Wish features a Senses spa onboard .   Unlike the other ships, this one is in a league of its own.  In addition to the expected spa and beauty treatments, you can relax and unwind in the Rainforest — an indoor area with heated lounges, fountains, an aromatherapy steam room, a dry sauna and a calming pool; and an exterior area featuring shade canopies and refreshing outdoor pools.

• Untangled Salon

Untangled Salon is the perfect place to let your hair down.  This high-end salon is inspired by Rapunzel from Disney’s Tangled , and offers a wide variety of hairstyling and other treatments.

Hook’s Barbery

Gents will enjoy getting a haircut, shave, or nail/skin treatment at Hook’s Barbery.  The upscale salon is inspired by Captain Hook’s private quarters aboard the Jolly Roger from Disney’s Peter Pan .  Guests 21 and older can also enjoy a hidden bar featuring the finest whiskies, bourbon, and rum — with drinks served during treatments and during select special events.

• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

Fear not, princesses in need of a magical makeover!  The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique has made its way to the Disney Wish.  Youngsters can enjoy the same royal treatment they receive on land at Walt Disney World resort, thanks to a few Fairy Godmother’s apprentices who’ve made their way to the ship.

Our Review of Spa and Salon Services Onboard the Disney Wish

Our reviewers were astounded by the experience provided by the facilities at Senses Spa and Salon onboard the Disney Wish.  The unique outdoor relaxation area sets it apart from the Senses Spas onboard any other Disney Ship.  It easily ranked as one of their top three experiences onboard, and our review crew couldn’t stop raving about it.

The Untangled Salon and Hook’s Barbery are somewhat unexpected additions to the cruise, but are nonetheless welcome.  Gentlemen will appreciate getting an old-fashioned shave (not to mention a cocktail) at Hook’s while the ladies are getting coiffed at Rapunzel’s place.  We expect that the appeal of these two locations may be somewhat limited to most travelers, though they’ll certainly be popular for those choosing to have a wedding ceremony onboard the ship.

Spa treatments and salon services cost extra, but you can offset the cost when you book through a professional Disney Travel Planner such as The Vacationeer .

The Vacationeer provides its clients with onboard credits of up to $1,000 to use toward spa/salon services and other purchases on the ship!  What’s more, there’s no charge to use their planning services , and they always make sure you get the best possible price for your cruise.

Free help planning your cruise and free funds to use while onboard — it’s win-win!

Disney Wish Itineraries and Home Port

Image © Disney

Disney Wish Home Port

For the foreseeable future, Disney Wish will sail from Port Canaveral , Florida — one of three Disney cruise departure ports in Florida and the closest port to Walt Disney World.

Disney Wish Itineraries for 2024 and 2025

For 2024  and 2025 Disney Wish is sailing on 3- and 4-night Bahamian cruises from Port Canaveral Florida. Most include a visit to Disney’s Castaway Cay and to Nassau, Bahamas.

Does this Disney ship do themed cruises?

Some sailings in Fall and Winter will be themed as Halloween on the High Seas or Very Merrytime Cruises .

Our Review of the Disney Wish Itineraries

As far as itineraries go, we’re somewhat torn as to whether these are a win or a loss.

If we’re being pragmatic about it, we recognize that these shorter Bahamian cruises have been a mainstay of Disney Cruise Line since its earliest days.  We also know that Port Canaveral, FL is Disney’s truest “home port,” with year-round departures that are within an hour’s drive or so from Disney World.

So it’s no surprise that they’d want to have the newest ship, with all its hype, right “next door” to Orlando so people can easily extend their Walt Disney World vacation by tacking on a short cruise.  It also allows Disney to tap into the huge “locals” market of Florida residents who seem to flock to the latest-and-greatest that Disney has to offer.

Let’s also not forget that Disney research recently showed that an astounding 40%+ of their passengers said they wouldn’t have even taken a cruise if Disney Cruise Line didn’t exist; so it obviously doesn’t seem to matter where the ship goes as long as Mickey’s onboard.

But on the other hand, the itineraries are honestly somewhat of a snooze compared to the exotic itineraries you can have on other Disney ships.  We know many frequent cruisers who don’t even get off the ship when it docks in Nassau.

Castaway Cay is a Guest favorite, but for repeat travelers, even it risks becoming a bit too “been there, done that.” Some savvy repeat cruisers use Castaway Cay day as their opportunity to experience onboard activities with lower crowd levels while everyone else is out on the island.  (It should be a good day to ride the AquaMouse with less of a wait).

We’d have loved to have seen some newer itineraries offered for this new ship, perhaps blending a mix of Bahamian and Caribbean nation ports together for a cruise that you can’t get on any other Disney Cruise ship at present.

We’re honestly more excited that using newer ships on these tried-and-true Bahamian/Caribbean routes will now free up the other ships to start doing different itineraries in the future.  For example, it was announced during September 2022’s D23 Expo that the Disney Wonder would begin offering at least some cruises in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific starting in late 2023.

Disney Wish Deck-by-Deck

Here’s a look at what’s located on each deck of the Disney Wish.

• Health Center
• Tender Lobbies (ship exit at ports of call)
• Fairy Tale Hall
• Mickey and Minnie’s Captain’s Deck
• Star Wars Cargo Bay
• Walt Disney Imagineering Lab
• Walt Disney Theatre (wheelchair accessible entrance)
• “it’s a small world” nursery
• Category 9B, 11C
• Grand Hall Stage
• Slide to Oceaneer Club Check-In
• Walt Disney Theatre (main entrance)
• 1923 (Roy Disney side, Walt Disney side)
• Enchanted Castle Jewels
• Once Upon a Time
• Public Restrooms
• Royal Regalia
• Treasures Untold
• Grand Hall (ship atrium lobby; ship entrance/exit on first/last day of cruise)
• Never Land Cinema
• Wonderland Cinema
• Walt Disney Theatre (balcony)
• Hook’s Barbery (also features barbershop services)
• Luna’s Libations
• Wishing Star Cafe
• Disney Vacation Club desk
• Guest Services desk
• Hook’s Barbery (also features drink service)
• Port Adventures desk
• Grand Hall (overlook)
• Shipside Promenade
• Luna (balcony)
• Enchanted Sword Cafe
• Triton Lounge
• Disney Vacation Planning desk
• Mickey’s Mainsail
• Senses Fitness
• Senses Spa Rainforest Room (indoor/outdoor)
• Service Animal Relief Area
• Shutters Portrait Studio
• Shipside Promenade (accessible only from deck 5 stairway)
• Category 4C
• Category 4E
• Category 5C
• Category 6B
• Category 7A
• Category 8C
• Category 9D
• Category 11B
• Category 9A
• Fairytale Fresh Laundry
• Category 4B
• Category 5B
• Category 6A
• Category 8B
• Category 9C
• Category 11A
• Category 1C
• Category 4A
• Category 5A
• Daisy’s Pool
• Funnel Vision
• Mickey’s Pool
• Minnie’s Pool
• Pluto’s Pool
• Inside Out: Joyful Sweets
• Marceline Market Cafe
• Daisy’s Pizza Pies
• Donald’s Cantina
• Goofy’s Grill
• Mickey’s Smokestack Barbecue
• Sweet Minnie’s Ice Cream
• Poolside bar (unnamed)
• The Lookout
• Dory’s Forget-Me-Knots
• Category 3B
• Donald’s Pool
• Goofy’s Pool
• Hero Zone (main entrance)
• Slide-a-saurus Rex
• Trixie’s Falls
• Concierge Lounge
• Wheezy’s Freezies
• Category 2A
• Category 2B
• Category 3A
• Hero Zone (balcony)
• Quiet Cove Pool (adults only)
• Quiet Cove Whirlpool (adults only)
• Concierge Sun Deck (Concierge Guests only)
• Sun Deck (adults only)
• Category 1B
• Chip ‘n Dale’s Pool
• Category 1A

Disney Wish Fact Sheet

Shipyard (ship’s birthplace).

Meyer Werft shipyard – Papenburg, Germany

Maiden voyage

July 14, 2022

Port Canaveral, Florida

Ship’s Registry

Approximately 144,000 gross tons

19.5 knots cruising speed

23 knots maximum speed

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Crew Members

Maximum capacity.

4,000 passengers

1,254 staterooms (includes 53 concierge staterooms and 23 concierge suites)

• 948 verandah staterooms (70%)
• 185 oceanview staterooms (20%)
• 121 inside staterooms (10%)

Environmental Considerations

Disney Cruise Line says The Disney Wish is estimated to be nearly 30 percent more fuel efficient and emit approximately 20 percent less greenhouse gases. DCL indicates it remains committed to investing in our current fleet by utilizing new technologies, increasing fuel efficiency, and minimizing waste, including the fleet-wide conversion in 2020 to ultra-low-sulfur fuel that exceeds international maritime regulations.

The Disney Wish’s use of Low-Emission Liquefied-Natural Gas (LNG) eliminates nearly all sulfur oxides and particulate matter emissions, reduces the emission of nitrogen oxide by approximately 37 percent, and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 20 percent compared to traditional diesel or marine fuel.

Excess heat from the engines is re-purposed to warm the super-cooled LNG so it can be used to power the ship. Cold energy from the LNG tanks is then recycled into the ship’s energy efficient air-conditioning systems. This interconnected system saves 200 tons of fuel per year.

A demand-based heating and cooling system onboard adapts in real time to deliver the ideal amount of temperature-controlled air throughout the ship while saving nearly 700 tons of fuel annually.

The hydrodynamic hull and propeller reduce the engine power needed to propel the ship, saving nearly 1,800 tons of fuel annually and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 6 percent.

The ship’s prototype installation of a 1-megawatt fuel cell (to provide additional emission-free energy for onboard systems) will be one of the largest in a marine environment and will help to better understand the feasibility of large-scale fuel cell installations onboard cruise and shipping vessels, potentially driving industry-wide adoption of the new tech.

Final Thoughts on the Disney Wish Cruise Ship

Disney is a cruise line that favors quality over quantity.  While other cruise lines might have dozens of ships with a new one showing up every couple of years, Disney takes its time and works to get it right.

We might have had to wait ten years for a new Disney Cruise ship, but the wait was certainly worth it.  The Disney Wish is in a class by itself, with some innovative design features and guest offerings not found anywhere else.

Are there a few things we’d like to have seen done differently?  Sure.  With ten years of waiting — not to mention all the years of extra anticipation once the ship was announced — expectations are bound to be sky high, and wishing begins to fill in the holes left by an absence of details.  But despite that, even those who are jaded to the point that they’re bored by the same old ports and the same old cruising are sure to find something here that will wow you.

Our reviewers found the Disney Wish to be the ultimate family cruise ship , cementing its spot at the top of our list of the best Disney Cruise Ships .

Then it’s time to contact The Vacationeer !

Get in touch with one of their travel agents for completely free assistance planning your vacation .  They’ll use their expertise to help you pick the best time to cruise and find the best stateroom to book at the best possible price.  They’ll even apply new discounts to your reservation as they become available!

Those benefits are just a few of the reasons to book your cruise with a Disney Travel agent , and The Vacationeer is among the best out there.

So don’t delay — call in the Disney Cruise Experts!  Call in The Vacationeer !

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Disney Wish Cruise Ship Ultimate Guide

Last Updated on May 18, 2021

Disney Wish setting sail in summer 2022, will be a celebration of Disney’s rich history. With the ship powered by liquidity natural gas, this is really set to be a cutting-edge ship with the latest in entertainment innovation. ‘Star Wars,’ ‘Frozen,’ superheroes and more with the magic of Disney at sea

Updated: 18 May 2021

Disney Wish from Disney Cruise Line is the 5th ship in Disney’s cruise fleet and is gearing up some of the most exciting dining and entertainment experiences available at sea.

CELEBRATION, Fla. (April 29, 2021)  — When the Disney Wish sets sail in summer 2022, families will discover a mesmerizing new world created especially for them: a celebration of Disney’s rich legacy of enchanting storytelling that brings to life the fantastical worlds and beloved characters at the heart of Disney, Pixar, Marvel and  Star Wars  adventures like never before. Families will embark on a splashtacular adventure with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse aboard the  first-ever Disney attraction at sea ; revel in a royal celebration during a  theatrical dining experience with “Frozen” friends ; team up with the Avengers on a  Marvel cinematic dining adventure ; and travel to a galaxy far, far away in a  first-of-its-kind  Star Wars  experience  onboard a Disney ship. “With the Disney Wish, we’re continuing our tradition of delivering the most magical and relaxing vacations at sea, combining legendary service and entertainment with imaginative storytelling and all the care you expect from a Disney vacation,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. “Our newest ship will celebrate everything that families love about sailing with us, from the incredible dining experiences and character interactions to dazzling shows and the crew’s thoughtful attention to detail. We can’t wait to welcome our guests aboard the Disney Wish as we expand the reach of our world-class fleet.” The Disney Wish will sail its maiden voyage — a five-night cruise to Nassau, Bahamas, and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay — on June 9, 2022, followed by an inaugural season of three- and four-night cruises to the same destinations from Port Canaveral, Florida. Bookings open to the general public on May 27, 2021. Disney

The Grand Hall is a fairytale-inspired tribute to the story of Cinderella, including a beautiful bronze statue of this beloved princess, stained glass embellishments in her signature colours and icons from the film in the carpeting, metalwork and light fixtures.

Disney Weddings

Weddings aboard the Disney Wish will begin June 20, 2022 with 3- and 4-night cruises to The Bahamas!

Space for casual dining, relaxation, and access to the AquaMouse as well exclusive adult-only areas, and an area for little ones called Splash Zone! inspired by the movie Toy Story.

Feature First Disney Attraction at Sea

Port misadventures excursion company.

SCUBA Scramble

Families will embark on a splashtacular adventure with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse aboard the first-ever Disney attraction at sea. With lighting, special effects, and show scenes from an original story SCUBA Scramble .

Disney’s Oceaneer Club

Disney’s Oceaneer Club on Disney Wish will have a secret entrance from the Grand Hall in the form of a slide for the kids inspired by Alice in Wonderland, kids will literally go “down the rabbit hole” on a twisting slide that lands directly and securely into the club according to Disney.

There is an entrance for adults to get there children back…a door. This is a kid exclusive club for ages 3 to 12.

Marvel Superhero Academy

Disney Wish will have many excellent immersive experiences for kids including the opportunity to train with superheroes such as Black Panther, Antman and the Wasp. Plus a unique hero suit experience. Spiderman will make appearances as well.

Creative World of Walt Disney Imagineering

Walt disney imagineering lab.

Kids vacationing on Disney Wish will explore what it takes to make the magic by exploring the creative world of Walt Disney Imagineering. From designing to testing their own roller coaster, and discover the secrets of world-renowned Disney Imagineers with hands-on activities and inventive experiments.

Fairytale Hall

Fairytale Hall is a royal themed experience with a trio of activity rooms in the Oceaneer Club.

Rapunzel’s Art Studio

Channel your inner artist.

Belle’s Library

Princes and princesses will have a royal opportunity to explore Belle’s library. Perhaps even read stories with belle.

Anna and Elsa’s Summer House

Perfect your Frozen powers.

Disney Wish – Family Dining

Arendelle – a frozen dining adventure.

A Frozen themed theatrical dining experience. Elsa, Anna, Olaf, and Kristoff will entertain guests with a musical presentation. The menu will feature cuisine with Nordic influences.

A restaurant inspired by Walt Disney’s legacy and nearly a century of Disney animation, named for the year Walt Disney Studios was founded (1923). The cuisine is inspired by a California Fusion of cultural flavours?

Worlds of Marvel – Marvel Cinematic Dining Experience

Worlds of Marvel looks like a very cool interactive dining experience.

Disney Wish Adult Exclusive Dining

Star wars – hyperspace lounge.

An immersive Star Wars lounge is coming to Disney Cruise Lines fleet the Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge.

Beauty and the Beast Inspired Adult Dining

The rose – lounge.

Cocktail bar.

PALO Steakhouse

Décor inspired by Cogsworth, with Italian dining flair in a modern steakhouse.

Enchanté Fine Dining

Elegant dining inspired by Lumiere, menu crafted by 3 Michelin starred, Chef Arnaud Lallement who also developed dishes for Remy on the Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream .

Walt Disney Theatre

The design of the theatre is inspired by the enchanted forest worlds of Disney’s Fantasia, and will host Disney Cruise Lines signature Broadway style shows.

Disney’s Aladdin a Musical Spectacular – Reimagined

A Disney Cruise Line fleet favorite.

Two Original Shows are also on the way… more to follow

Wonderland Cinema

Wonderland Cinema is inspired by the fantastical world of  “Alice in Wonderland,”  with nods to the otherworldly creatures and distinctive characters who inhabit the ever-curiouser Tulgey Wood. Disney Cruise Line

Never Land Cinema

Never Land Cinema is inspired by  Peter Pan ’s flight from London to Never Land, sweeping guests up in their own flight of fantasy and depicting iconic scenes such as Skull Rock and Mermaid Lagoon. Disney Cruise Line

Disney Wish Family Venues

A place for families to play together and connect.

Grand Hall Stage

Entertainment in the Atrium. Details coming later in the year…

Entertainment well transition from daytime family entertainment to elegant nighttime adult-exclusive entertainment. It will feature a celestial design inspired by the Disney/Pixar short “La Luna.”

Where imagination will meet active play. Details coming later in the year…

Disney Wish Adult Exclusive Relaxation

Retreat to the upper deck, where you will find an infinity pool.

Treatments and relaxation you would expect from the other ships in the Disney fleet.

Next level storybook-inspired staterooms with fresh new looks and custom artwork throughout and elegant detailing inspired by stories like Cinderella. Oceanview and verandah options you would expect are available on Disney Wish. Expanded premium accommodations will also be available. Also coming to the Disney Wish are seven Disney’s Little Mermaid cabins.

Take a look at how the accommodations on the #DisneyWish are being taken to the next level, including the first-ever Wish Tower Suite, a new look and feel for every stateroom and more! https://t.co/WI4gPnMGtp pic.twitter.com/VSuBt5cdy1 — Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) May 17, 2021

Below we have some concept art from Disney.

Inside Stateroom

Oceanview Stateroom

Verandah Stateroom

Royal Suites

Disney Wish will debut four royal suites two 2-story royal suites with spiral staircases that celebrate the gilded world of Disney Animation’s  “Sleeping Beauty” , and two concierge suites inspired by Disney’s animated movie Tangled . Premium accommodations aboard Disney Wish with amazing views and an exceptional price tag.

two Princess Aurora Royal Suites will boast a soft, dreamlike palette of soft blues and golds, shimmery metallics and white marble, and two Briar Rose Royal Suites evoke the dark wood tones and rich green hues of an enchanted forest.

Princess Aurora Royal Suites

Princess Aurora Royal Suites will boast a soft, dreamlike palette of soft blues and golds, shimmery metallic surfaces and white marble.

Briar Rose Royal Suites

Briar Rose Royal Suites evoke the dark wood tones and rich green hues of an enchanted forest.

Wish Tower Suite

There’s a suite in the Funnel of the Disney Wish!

It’s a Small World Nursery

For the littlest cruisers ages 6 months to 3 years, It’s a Small World Nursery will offer babysitting services in a whimsical environment inspired by the beloved Disney attraction of the same name, where colorful murals depict  Disney ,  Pixar  and  Marvel  characters reimagined as  “it’s a small world” Disney

Once Upon a Disney Wish Reveal Video

Disney Wish Reservations

Early booking for summer 2022 disney wish itineraries.

Castaway Club members and select Disney Guests are invited to book a cruise on the Disney Wish, before the general public—early booking begins May 17, 2021!

Disney Wish 2022 Itinerary

Disney is offering some exciting itinerary’s Check th e m Out .

Not So Final Thoughts

We are super excited and look forward to the release of more details. With so many exciting details release and forthcoming we look forward to making the Disney Wish our next Disney Cruise Line experience perhaps on the maiden voyage!

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June 7, 2023

Disney Wish Cruise Ship Vacation & Tips

We recently sailed the new Disney Wish cruise ship and I’m excited to share all about it!

We originally booked our cruise vacation back in 2020 on the Disney Dream ship. However, over the next few years, it would get rescheduled, rescheduled, and rescheduled again! During our last re-booking, our planner informed us that Disney’s NEW ship would be available for our new cruise date so we switched over to the Wish…and it was totally worth the wait.

Before I dive into everything, I first and foremost need to give a non-sponsored shout-out to our incredible Disney planner, Kim Ellison of Marvelous Mouse Travels . We had such an amazing experience working with her on our Disney park vacation that it was a no-brainer to use her again for our cruise. And my goodness — she was unbelievably helpful. The planning process was overwhelming to me and there are SO many steps, instructions, deadlines, and tricks you just wouldn’t know as a first-time Disney cruiser. We absolutely could not have pulled this vacation off without her help and guidance and I would highly recommend her to anyone who is planning a Disney cruise or park visit.

Alright, let’s get down to it…

Disney Wish Cruise Ship Overview

The Disney Wish is the fifth ship (and the largest) in Disney’s Cruise Line fleet and what we found most exciting was the inclusion of Marvel and Star Wars themes throughout the ship. Disney did an incredible job bringing these themes to life too and we were definitely impressed.

We took the 4-night cruise out of Port Canaveral (stopping in Nassau, Bahamas and Disney Castaway Cay) and that felt like the right amount of time for us. We probably could have made a 3-night cruise work, but there was so much to learn and navigate as first-time cruisers that we didn’t feel like we knew what we were doing until day 2 — and even then, there is an overwhelming amount of activities and experiences happening around the clock.

As I mentioned, this was our first family cruise so I cannot compare this ship to any others in the fleet. Additionally, there were a LOT of things we wish we could have done that we ran out of time for — mainly the adult things (spa, beverage tastings, excursions, dinner, etc.). If we were to do this again, I would definitely tackle our time on the ship a bit differently. I’ll elaborate on that in a sec.

Disney Wish Staterooms & service

We decided to spring for the Verandah stateroom which includes a private verandah, a queen-size bed, a pull-down bunk bed (the kids thought this was the most amazing thing ever), a sitting area with a convertible couch, and a split bathroom (hugely helpful). The verandah made this room worth every single penny. There is nothing more spectacular than waking up to a gorgeous ocean view.

I also want to mention how impeccable the service was throughout the entire ship. I mean WOW in every.single.area. Matt and I kept calling it a Ritz on water. The ship was well staffed with the happiest employees I’ve ever encountered. And all of them were available and happy to answer any question, point us in the right direction and provide helpful tips along the way.

Disney Wish Cruise Ship Dining

There are three rotational restaurants on the ship (you receive your restaurant rotation upon arrival), two adult-only restaurants, a buffet-style restaurant, a food court, and a dessert store.

At the time of booking, Kim secured the first seating of the night for us which happened at 5:30 pm each day. The second seating was around 8:30 pm. We decided on the first seating (which is the more popular seating) because we weren’t sure how exhausted the kids would be by dinnertime and it still allowed us time to see a show or do something after dinner if there was any energy left.

The Arendelle’s Frozen Dining Adventure and the Worlds of Marvel dining experiences were our favorite. Both were interactive and magical. I may or may not have shed some tears into my pasta during our Arendelle dinner. Seeing Caroline all dolled up in her princess gown and glued to the magic happening all around us was a moment I’ll remember forever. Her princess phase is quickly slipping away and I am so happy we squeezed this cruise in when we did.

The food at all of the restaurants was great and of course the service was truly exceptional. And if you want to order multiple entrees or desserts, no one is going to judge you.

I will say that not knowing our dining rotation until boarding made booking an adults-only dinner at Palo tricky. We were really lucky to get a dinner reservation at Palo when the booking window opened and had heard great things about it, so we decided to make our reservation for the last night on the ship. However, upon boarding we learned that our Marvel dinner was scheduled for our last night on the ship. We attempted to move things around but dining changes are pretty difficult to pull off due to wait lists, so we ended up canceling our Palo dinner so we didn’t miss the Marvel experience (which is really, really cool).

Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge

Before I move on from food and beverage, I wanted to share that visiting the Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge was absolutely a ship highlight for me. I am not a Star Wars fan at all, but this virtually-enhanced lounge is definitely something you will want to check out for the experience. With the push of a button, you magically enter through a “space door” into a galaxy far, far away. There is a short list of specialty cocktails which are all fascinating to watch come together. The drinks are served in unique cups (of course Matt ended up purchasing his glass because he absolutely cannot pass up a novelty cup) and most have some sort of interactive element (smoke, multiple colors, interesting garnishes, etc.). There is even a $5,000 cocktail on the menu (I confirmed that someone ordered it while we were on the ship too) and that it comes with high-end liquors, a private stateroom experience, tickets for a tour of George Lucas’s Skywalker Vineyard in California and a few other things. Wild.

Disney Wish Cruise Ship Activities & Experiences

In my opinion, there was an overwhelming amount of activities and experiences happening every 42 seconds around the clock. Each morning we browsed all the activities within the app and tried to map out our day based on what the kids wanted to do. Of course, Caroline and Thomas wanted to do different things throughout the day which made it challenging to get to everything and relax. In fact, I don’t think I would use the word “relaxing” at ALL when it came to this vacation.

In hindsight, I wish we would have let the kids pick 1-2 activities each day, carved out more time for kids club so Matt and I could spend time together, and skipped everything else. But no, I’m someone who must do ALL the fun things…and then pay for it later with cranky kids and exhausted parents.

But were the activities fun? Absolutely. And there really is something for everyone happening at all times — deck parties, live performances/music/entertainment everywhere, games and competitions, crafts, movie theaters (offering first-run films), the list goes on. Oh, and of course, the pool deck offers TONS of fun too with 10 pools, lots of water play areas, and two slides.

The Aqua Mouse Water Slide

Hands down, the AquaMouse slide was our kids’ favorite attraction on the ship. This high-speed water coaster wraps around the upper deck and features lots of fun twists and turns. And it is an absolute blast.

However…be prepared to wait 30-45 minutes for the 60-second ride.

Our kids found the slide to be worth the wait, however, I’ve got a few tips for you if you don’t want to spend a full day waiting in line to ride it again and again.

• Tip 1: Board the ship wearing your bathing suits under your clothes and head immediately to deck 11 to get in line. Most people will head straight to the buffets for lunch, and this was the shortest amount of time we stood in line the entire trip.
• Tip 2: Ride the water coaster at NIGHT! We planned to do this every single night after dinner and never ended up doing it because got distracted by other activities. However, we were told by the ride operators that the slide is open until 10 pm and has NO wait in the evening. You can experience more of the waterslide features (like fun lighting) at nighttime.
• Tip 3: Don’t get off the boat in Nassau and instead use this day to slide while it’s less crowded.

Disney Wish Cruise Ship Oceaneer Club

The Oceaneer Club is truly an amazing place for a wide age range of kids.

First, there are two ways to get into the club, with the most fun way being the SLIDE from deck 3. This was seriously SO cool and our kids were obsessed with checking in and then sliding down to the club. Once inside, there is no shortage of things to do — literally, there are a million themed rooms, all with different activities, experiences, character visits, special shows, and more.

And no surprise, the staff working in the club is amazing. They are so engaged with the kiddos from crafting, to games, to costumes, and more. Never a dull moment.

However, we definitely made a rookie mistake. The kids can request to be picked up at any time by asking a Counselor to send us a text. What we should have done was tell the kids we were dropping them off for “x amount of time” and headed straight to an adults-only activity to sit down and recharge. Instead, we took turns heading down to the kids club every 14 minutes to grab whichever kiddo was requesting to leave due to FOMO over activities happening outside of the club (usually the water slide). Next time we’ll definitely plan this out a lot better.

Disney’s Castaway Cay

Saved my favorite part for last — Castaway Cay (pronounced Castaway “Key”). OH MY GOSH, I could live here. From the moment we got off the boat I was completely blown away by Disney’s private island. The turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, colorful umbrellas and pristine landscaping…it is truly paradise.

While on the island, we took the kids snorkeling and it was seriously a BLAST. Disney has a dedicated “Snorkeling Lagoon” where you can spot lots of tropical fish, buried treasure and sunken statutes of some of your favorite characters. It was really, really cool. Thomas and Matt saw a ginormous stingray while Caroline and I made a scavenger hunt out of all the sunken statutes.

They served a BBQ lunch on the island which was great.

And of course, the 2,400-square-foot floating water playground was also awesome. This attraction offers two water slides – one is an enclosed corkscrew slide and the other is a 140-foot-long open slide into the ocean. Both are extremely FAST and FUN. Highly recommend!

This day went by way too fast and before we knew it we were being handed ice-cold towels as we boarded the ship.

And that was a wrap on our cruise highlights.

Disney Wish Cruise Ship Tips

My dear friend Lindsey who has recently been on two Disney cruises shared SO much helpful information with us throughout our planning process. With her permission, I’m sharing Lindsey’s incredible tips that for sure will help you if you’re planning a Disney cruise. Even though we weren’t able to use all the tips, I’m including them in the list!

Night before and arrival day

• We stayed at the Homewood Suites (like one mile or so from the port) the night before. It’s a nice hotel, full fitness center, zero entry pool with poolside bar. Has a shuttle to the port if you want to leave your car. Priced out, it’s cheaper to park at the port and pay for parking by the day.
• Get the earliest available boarding time they will give you when you register! The earlier you get on the boat, the faster you can get in line for things your kids will want to do right away, like the Aqua Duck and pools. You can also eat at the buffet-type restaurants right when you get on, which will save you from buying another meal in FL before you board.
• Print your boarding pass and carry it everywhere until you get on the ship. You will show it one million times. I recommend packing one folder with all these documents and carrying it around and guarding it with your life until you get in the stateroom, then lock it up in the safe.
• Pack a “day bag” to take on the ship with you since you’ll drop off your luggage when you arrive and it will take a few hours for you to be able to access your stateroom. I filled ours with all the swim supplies, change of clothes, etc. I would recommend boarding in your bathing suits with regular clothes over them to save time and avoid having to change on the ship.
• Once on the ship, visit Guest Services immediately to see if you can go ahead and sign up for any special character meet and greets, 5k on the island, any additional beverage tastings, etc. 

Activities (stuff you book ahead of time)

• Nassau Day : I highly recommend staying on the ship and scheduling activities and having free play this day. The ship will be WAY less crowded when people get off, and the kids will want to explore all of the fun stuff on the ship. 
• Castaway Cay : The best day!!! There is a TON of other stuff to do/see/rent – bikes, cabanas, all kinds of water equipment, etc. I have found that the time on CC absolutely flies by, so I wouldn’t overschedule. Snorkeling and maybe one other excursion if you want to try something new would be plenty. We’ve done the 5k twice, a guided fishing trip, and rented snorkel equipment for the family. They have sunken statues and fun Disney stuff at the bottom of the ocean over there and you can snorkel around with the kids to see it – so fun. They serve lunch on the island as well, and there is a Kids Club there. 
• Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique : A must for little girls. Order a new princess dress off Amazon and bring it with you to open on the ship and get dressed in for hair/makeup at BBB. This will save you approximately one million dollars and then you’ll only pay for the makeover. I would recommend making the appointment in the late afternoon so she gets to enjoy her look for dinner and doesn’t immediately jump right back into the pool afterward.
• Beverage Tastings : Super fun. We’ve done a bourbon, tequila, margarita, and a beer tasting. Highly recommend.
• Adults-Only Dinner : There will be nice adults-only restaurants on board – and you will pay extra for those. We preferred to do this on our last night on the ship, but it doesn’t matter. You will skip your regular dining assignment on whichever night you pick. 
• Dining Rotation : Regular dinner is on a rotation – they’ll assign that when you get on the boat – so you’ll know where you’re going every night. If you choose to do beverage tastings, I would just try to avoid scheduling them during your dinner seating because that will get tricky with having to feed the kids, too. 
• Spa : Book a hot stone massage and a facial for yourself. The massage is the best I have ever had and will change your life. I recommend booking on Nassau day or on the last day which is “at sea.” 
• Shows : You don’t have to sign up for these, but make sure you get the early dinner seating assignment so you can see the later shows. That means you eat around 5:30 or so and see the shows around 8:15 pm, and they can last until 9:45 or so. It gets late and the kids get tired. 

Ship stuff:

• Kids Club: No reservations required. Drop those kiddos off whenever you want and go live your best life on the adult side. They will love it! I would recommend hitting the Kids Club pretty shortly after you board the ship in order to introduce the kids to it and get them super hyped about it. One level of the ship is mostly all adult stuff – champagne bar, private pools, etc. Must do for when the kids are in Kids Club.
• Pirate Night: There is always a pirate night! Bring pirate-themed stuff for y’all to dress in – everyone does it and it’s fun. They will give you bandanas on the ship but lots of families dress up and bring fake swords, eye patches, etc. 
• Cash & Gratuities : Opt to pre-pay your gratuities as part of the final payment. So much easier. You do not need money on the ship at all. Everything gets charged to your room. 
• Last Day Luggage : DO pack your luggage the night before and let them take it rather than having to lug it to breakfast and then off the ship the next morning at the crack of dawn – so much easier on everyone. 

Packing stuff:

• Princess Dresses : Pack a princess dress for every day of the trip. Most of the little girls wear them around, especially to dinner, and the crew makes a HUGE fuss over them when they walk into restaurants dressed up. It’s adorable. 
• Pack a Sweater: There isn’t a formal night on the cruise, but people do generally dress more nicely for dinner. Bring a sweater or two, as it gets cold at night with the wind, especially if the kids want to do a night swim and watch movies on the big screen outside on the pool deck. 
• Backpack: Bring a small backpack to carry around the ship. Much easier than a purse or anything else.
• Water Bottles: Bring your own water bottles for poolside – so much easier than going back and forth to get cups of water all the time (especially on Castaway Cay).
• Beer/Wine: You can pack one bottle of wine/etc. and one six-pack of beer, or mix that up. Definitely do this and keep it in the room for when you’re getting ready, etc. If you plan to drink beer, I recommend going ahead and buying the beer/cooler package too. It’s cheaper across the board and you receive a cooler bag to carry around the ship to drink from at the shows, poolside, etc. 
• Fitness Center: The fitness center is super nice, if y’all want to pack workout clothes. 

Super comprehensive list of tips, right?! The ONLY thing I would add from our experience is to bring magnets for your room door which is magnetic! I had no idea EVERYONE decorates their door with themed magnets ! It was really fun to walk by all the rooms and check out everyone’s decorations.

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Cathy Carroll

Saturday 11th of November 2023

Thanks for this! Super helpful tips. It will be our first Disney cruise too. Lots to think about and plan. So Nassau is a bust? Nothing to do really on that island? Thanks again, and cheers 🥂

Monday 13th of November 2023

YAY! Make sure to get door magnets!!!!

As for Nassau, it's not that it's necessarily a bust (although I think some would say it's not worth getting off the boat), it's more about having less people on the boat so lines are shorter and you can tackle way more things that day!

John Schurz

Saturday 17th of June 2023

Great info. Thanks for sharing. Very helpful as we plan our DCL cruise.

Tuesday 28th of March 2023

We are first time cruisers ever and are super excited. Thank you for all your helpful tips! We truly appreciate it. Love all your outfits and dresses.

YAY!!! Have the BEST TIME!!!

Sarah Brooks

Wednesday 11th of January 2023

Would you mind sharing who your planner is?

Wednesday 31st of August 2022

Next time plan for brunch at Palo! That is our pick because then there is no worry about missing out on a dining room experience! And yes definitely plan for more time in the kids club. Thankfully our son loves it and we pretty much have to pry him out of there so we are able to have plenty of adult time as well. We love dropping him off after dinner and heading to one of the adult bars for a drink. It also enables us to spend time at the adult pool. Disney really does do a wonderful job with the adult only areas and experiences!

Tuesday 6th of September 2022

THIS IS BRILLIANT!!!!

Complete Guide to the Disney Wish Cruise Ship

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In the summer of 2022, Disney Cruise Line launched its long-awaited (ten years to be exact) fifth cruise ship, the Disney Wish. While it is Disney to its core, there are some differences between the Disney Wish and the other four cruise ships in the Disney fleet. Are you wondering if the Wish is the best fit for you? We have a complete guide to everything Disney Wish right here!

Overview of the Disney Wish Cruise Ship

Sailing 3- and 4-night cruises out of Port Canaveral, Disney Wish is the largest ship in the fleet.

Coming in at 144,000 gross tons, it is slightly larger than sister ships Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. It is the first of three ships in Disney Cruise Line’s Triton Class, with two more ships setting sail before 2026.

DCL’s Triton Class cruise ships will all have a correlating theme, and the Disney Wish’s theme is enchantment. Wishes do come true! Disney Wish has Rapunzel and Pascal at the stern and Cinderella in the Grand Hall. Storytelling is what the Disney Wish does best. There is something for everyone on this ship, with nods to princesses all the way to the Marvel and Star Wars universes.

There are a few “firsts” with the Disney Wish too. Most prominently, Captain Minnie is on the bow for the first time. Further, the Triton Class cruise ships are powered with a more environmentally friendly fuel, liquefied natural gas.

Of course, since it is currently the newest ship in the fleet, Disney Wish also comes with a hefty price tag. It is the most expensive ship on top of already pricey Disney Cruise Line fares .

Disney Wish Cruise Ship Staterooms

Like all DCL ships, there are four types of staterooms on Disney Wish. Guests can choose from inside staterooms, ocean view staterooms, verandah staterooms, and concierge staterooms. All the staterooms regardless of classification tell a story. You will see nods to many different Disney classics in each room, varying by deck.

All staterooms, with the exclusion of Concierge will have the same basic amenities:

• Premium plush Euro-top mattress
• 100% cotton linens and premium bath towels
• 43” flat screen TV with Disney on Demand and live channels
• Full length mirror
• USB and USB-C ports
• Mini refrigerator
• Mini in-room safe
• Control of your own AC
• Bath and shower products
• Beds on elevated frames to store luggage underneath
• Privacy curtain to separate sleeping from sitting area
• Desk and sitting area with couch

The type of stateroom you need depends on the type of vacation you are looking to have! Below, you have a breakdown of all the staterooms to find the best fit.

Inside Staterooms

The definition of an inside stateroom simply means there are no windows and no verandah. It is the smallest stateroom available but also the most inexpensive.

 If you are a no-frills traveler that just needs a place to sleep, this may be a great fit for you! If you have small children sleeping four people in an inside cabin might be fine, but it would be tight quarters with four adults.

• Sleeps 3 to 4 people depending on the category
• Located on Decks 2 and 6 through 11
• Approximately 169 square feet
• Consists of one queen bed, a convertible single sofa, and an upper pull down single bed if it is a room that sleeps 4
• No exterior view
• Full bathroom with vanity, sink, shower and tub with glass door

Oceanview Staterooms

Oceanview rooms are just as stated, rooms with an ocean view. There is a porthole window in your stateroom to catch the breathtaking views of the sea.

If you are looking to budget but are wanting a view, this is your best option. It’s slightly bigger than an inside stateroom and gives you a view of the ocean without the verandah price tag.

There are two types of oceanview staterooms, the deluxe oceanview stateroom and the deluxe family oceanview stateroom .

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom:

• Sleeps 3 to 4 people depending on category
• Located on Decks 2, 6, 7, and 8
• Approximately 218 square feet
• For categories 9A, 9B, and 9C, rooms consist of a queen bed, convertible single sofa, and a pull down bed
• For categories 9D, rooms consist of a queen bed and a sleeper sofa
• Large porthole window for viewing (slanted windows in category 9D)
• Full split bathroom with vanity, sink, shower and tub with glass door; half bathroom with vanity, sink, and toilet

Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom:

• Sleeps 4 to 5 people depending on category
• Located on Decks 6, 7, 8, and 9
• Approximately 237 square feet
• Consists of a queen bed, convertible single sofa, and one or two pull down beds, depending on category
• Large porthole view

Verandah Staterooms

The salty air is at your fingertips with a verandah stateroom. Equipped with a small table and 2 chairs, the verandah is the perfect way to watch the sunrise or sunset from the privacy of your own stateroom with endless opportunities for relaxation.

The verandahs are VERY safe with multiple safety locks and are pretty tough to open, so those with littles shouldn’t be worried about booking a verandah room. We always book verandahs and our two-year-old would never be able to get out unsupervised!

If your idea of vacation is full of relaxation, a verandah is for you. Are you all about activities and seeing the sights on vacation? If so, you might want to use the money you would spend on a verandah somewhere else.

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah:

• Sleeps 3 to 4
• Located on Decks 6 through 11
• Size: 243 sq. ft., including verandah
• Private verandah open air balcony with views of the ocean

Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah:

• Sleeps 4 to 5
• Size: Approximately 284 sq. ft., including verandah
• Room consists of queen bed, single convertible sofa, upper-berth single pull-down bed and single wall pull-down bed (for rooms that sleep 5)
• Private verandah open air balcony with views of the ocean (Category 4E has an oversized private verandah)

Concierge Staterooms

Concierge guests live the life of luxury in Family Oceanview with Verandah rooms, 1 bedroom suites, 2 bedroom suites, and the Wish Tower Suite. You pay a high price for concierge rooms, but there are some amenities that come with it.

• Upgraded linens
• Early check-in
• Early access to reservations such as Palo, Port Adventures, spa services, Enchante
• Priority tender in ports of call
• Concierge private lounge including internet, food and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), a sundeck, 2 whirlpools, cushioned lounge chairs, and wading pool

Disney Wish Cruise Ship Dining

There are ample food options on Disney Wish. There is something for everyone, from your pickiest eater to your adventurous foodie. Everything is included in your cruise, with the exception of the two adults-only restaurants.

There is a buffet, pool deck options, three main dining rooms, and two adults-only specialty restaurants (extra charge). This is your time to try something new!

Disney offers rotational dining for dinner. Guests will use their Navigator app to find out what restaurant they will attend each night. Your service team follows you to each restaurant, so you have the same service team every night. One of the main dining rooms will also be open for breakfast and lunch. Guests can check the Disney Navigator app for which restaurant and times.

Marceline Market

Marceline Market is the breakfast and lunch buffet located on Deck 11 aft. It is inspired by Walt Disney’s hometown, Marceline, Missouri. Currently, it is not open for dinner. Although, in the past Disney has used their buffet space as another table service dinner option.

There is a variety of food offerings from a kids’ corner featuring things like chicken tenders, fries, and mac and cheese to international specialty cuisines you may have never tried before.

Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods

Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods is a new addition to Disney Cruise Line and is only available on the Disney Wish (soon to be available on the Disney Treasure coming out December 2024).

It is located on the pool deck and consists of a variety of different quick service cuisines, themed after the new Mickey animated short films. These stalls are open from 10:45 am to 6 pm daily, with one station open later each day for guests who choose to not attend the main dining rooms.

The five uniquely themed stations are:

• Mickey’s Smokestack Barbeque – offerings include pulled pork, brisket, ribs, mac and cheese, collard greens, coleslaw, and more
• Daisy’s Pizza Pies – offerings include cheese pizza, pepperoni pizza, and a specialty pizza each day
• Goofy’s Grill – offerings include hot dogs, hamburgers, sausages, french fries, and more
• Donald’s Cantina – offerings include tacos, burritos, rice bowls with fillings from chicken, carnitas, beef, guacamole, and more
• Sweet Minnie’s Ice Cream – offerings include soft serve cups of cones of chocolate and vanilla ice cream and a rotating flavor each day

OUR FAVORITE: Donald’s Cantina! This was a family favorite for us, so much variety and the quality was fantastic!

Worlds of Marvel

World of Marvel is one of three main dining rooms. Guests will be immersed in the Marvel world and follow along with an interactive story with Ant-Man and the Wasp!

This is dinner and a show, as the screens take you along with the story. You even are part of the show as every table has a “Quantum Core” that you will be called to activate! Spiderman might even make an appearance.

The food menu pays nods to international cuisines around the Marvel Universe with diverse options.

OUR FAVORITES: White Cheddar Broccoli Soup, Golden Mystic Pasta, and the Sticky Date Pudding

Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure

In Arendelle, another main dining room, you will join Anna, Elsa, Olaf, and Kristoff on an adventure! Tables are set around a middle stage for a 360-degree view of the entertainment. There will be musicians playing your favorite Frozen songs and sing-a-longs that will tug on the hearts of all ages!

The food menu is inspired by Norwegian cuisine labeled as “flavors and ingredients from the Nordic region with a contemporary flair”.

OUR FAVORITES: Elsa’s Royal Baked Scallops, Arendelle Kjottkake, and the Norwegian Pancake

The last of the three main dining rooms is 1923. Here, you will be inspired by all things classic Disney. Named after the year the Walt Disney Company was founded, guests are immersed into the art of animation and classic Disney tales through time. There is no special entertainment at this restaurant.

The food menu is indulgent of classic California cuisine, taking nods from the fusion of cultures in California such as Asian, European, and classic American dishes.

OUR FAVORITES: Four-Cheese Tri Color Tortelloni, Filet Mignon, Hollywood Hills Hot Fudge Sundae

Palo Steakhouse

Palo Steakhouse is one of two upscale, adults-only dining venues on the Disney Wish cruise ship. While Palo is on every Disney Cruise Line ship, Palo Steakhouse is the evolution, combining Italian dining with a steakhouse vibe.

Its theme is centered around Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast. Here, guests can choose from Italian cuisine and high quality cuts of beef. There is also an extensive wine list with a Sommelier on site.

Palo is open for reservations only (which can be booked anywhere from 120 to 90 days in advance based on your sailing status with Disney) and is open for brunch and dinner. They offer a Prezzo Fisso menu for $50 per person with your choice of Antipasti, Insalata, Il Secondo, and Dolce from a limited menu, or a la carte style ordering.

We attended Palo for dinner, and it was superb.

OUR FAVORITE: Butternut Squash Agnolotti, Soft Potato Gnocchi, 6oz Japanese A5 Wagyu, Mushroom Risotto

Enchanté is the second upscale, adults-only dining venue on the Disney Wish. This venue replaces Remy, which is featured on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. It is an intimate and romantic setting inspired by Beauty and the Beast’s Lumiere.

Disney Cruise Line describes it as “A gourmet menu created with superior seasonal ingredients ensures dining at Enchanté is always an exceptional culinary affair. Selections are specially crafted by 3 Michelin-starred Chef Arnaud Lallement—of L’Assiette Champenoise, near Reims, France—who also created the menus for the celebrated Remy.”

Enchanté offers brunch, dinner, and a dessert experience. Like Palo, it is reservation only. Prices range from $60 per person for the dessert experience, $75 per person for brunch, and anywhere from $115-$195 for a variety of prix fixe dinner menus. Or there are a la carte options as well.

We didn’t get a chance to dine at Enchanté but are hoping to get a reservation next time!

Disney Wish Cruise Ship Bars and Lounges

There is no shortage of lounge spaces on Disney Wish , and we are giving you the inside scoop on them all!

Possibly the biggest difference between the Disney Wish and the four other Disney Cruise Line ships is the layout, with an immediate focus on the bars and lounges. They are much more spread out on the Wish and may not be as “adults only” as with previous ships. That said, we LOVED the new spaces as there is something for everyone.

Hyperspace Lounge

Hyperspace Lounge is the first Star Wars -themed lounge at sea! Guests immerse themselves in space travel between popular locations in the Star Wars universe. It uses the same technology as the Skyline Lounge on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, just different theming.

During the day, anyone can be in the lounge, but it does turn into adults-only after 9 pm. Hyperspace Lounge offers a variety of cocktails and brews exclusive to this lounge. It’s even home to the $5,000 Kaiburr Crystal! (Yes, it’s a real thing!)

The Hyperspace Lounge has had mixed reviews and is a very loud, small space. Don’t go into this venue comparing it to Oga’s Cantina at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, because you will be disappointed! If you are a casual Star Wars fan, you will enjoy this lounge. The more intense Star Wars fans may be wishing there was a little more. We are huge Star Wars fans and loved the lounge, but also went into it knowing it wouldn’t be the same as Oga’s. It’s all in the mindset!

OUR FAVORITE: Mustafarian Black Ale

The Bayou is one of my favorite spaces throughout the entire ship. Inspired by Disney’s Princess and the Frog, this beautiful venue offers not only just a space with a bar and some drinks, but it also features events like trivia, drawing classes, crafts, and live music throughout your cruise. Maybe the most important thing about this lounge is Mama Odie’s BEIGNETS! You can order beignets here for a nominal fee ($1.25 for one), and they are worth it!

This space, like many of the other lounges, allows kids during the day but becomes adult-only after 9 pm. The Bayou is located right off the Grand Hall and is open to the main walkway, so it does have much more foot traffic than other lounges.

OUR FAVORITE: Abita Amber Lager and the Smoked Fashioned

Inspired by Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Rose is a fully adults-only venue located near the dining venues, Palo and Enchante. The Rose offers panoramic views of the ocean and is a quiet, elegant space to grab a drink before your dinner reservation.

On our sailing, it didn’t usually open till 4 pm or 5 pm. So, if you want to check out the Rose, plan accordingly! We stopped in for a drink before our Palo reservation, but didn’t sample any specialty drinks. “The Rose” cocktail is an Instagram staple if you are into that!

Nightingales

Tucked away right off the Grand Hall, Nightingales is an adults-only piano bar inspired by Cinderella’s “Sweet, Sweet Nightingale”. It is home to live music, alcohol tasting and mixology classes, and stunning views.

Nightingales offers fine wines, high quality cocktails, and bubblies. You can even get a drink that comes in a bird glass! Unfortunately, you do have to give it back though. The main source of entertainment at Nightingales is live music, so if you are looking for a quiet place, you may want to look somewhere else.

Keg and Compass

Keg and Compass is Disney Wish’s twist on a sports pub. The comparison of lounges would be Pub 687 on the Disney Dream, Crown & Fin on the Disney Wonder, and O’ Gills Pub on the Disney Fantasy and Disney Magic.

This pub has the largest selection of draft beers on the ship, three of which are completely exclusive to Disney Wish. It does have a full bar menu, but the beers are the star of the show here. There’s also a food menu at an additional charge, a great option if you are looking to skip the main dining rooms. The menu features traditional pub food, such as chicken wings, fish and chips, and nachos.

Keg and Compass is home to trivia and other onboard entertainment. There are also TVs available to watch major sporting events.

OUR FAVORITE: Uncharted Lager

Luna Lounge

Luna is home to an ample amount of activities. This is where you are going to find bingo, family game shows, adult game shows, karaoke, and the silent disco party! This two-story space is versatile and showcases the likes of all ages.

This is also the home base of the Disney Uncharted Adventure game through the Disney Navigator App. Unfortunately, it was super glitchy for us and we weren’t able to complete it.

There is a walk-up bar here too, Luna’s Libations. And you can get popcorn here for a fee! 

Located off the Quiet Cove pool area, the Cove Cafe is an adults-only coffee lounge with a full bar. It offers coffee, tea, and a variety of cocktails. Cove Cafe is a fleetwide lounge, Disney Wish’s is a little different, of course!

The coffee options are extensive, ranging from a simple decaf to a fancy french press. The venue uses Twining’s Tea. If you get a hot coffee, they will even put a cute character stamp on your coffee for you, just ask!

OUR FAVORITE: Brew Fashioned

Of note, there are so many other small walk-up bars and coffee spots throughout the ship, but these are the “main attractions” on Disney Wish.

Disney Wish Cruise Ship Onboard Activities

There is no shortage of onboard activities on the Disney Wish. In fact, there is so much to do there’s a high chance you won’t be able to do everything offered! You aren’t going to find a casino or an ice skating rink on the Disney Wish cruise ship like you would on other cruise lines, but there’s plenty to keep you entertained.

Pool Deck Activities

There is fun to be had on the pool deck, that’s for sure! There are six pools, a body water slide, a Toy Story -themed splash pad for the little kids still in diapers, and the main attraction, the AquaMouse!

Six round pools laid out in a stadium-style setting make up the main pool deck. You can even lounge in one of the pools while you watch your favorite Disney movie on Funnel Vision, the large outdoor movie screen playing movies all day long! This is a different layout from the previous four ships, and we loved it! The result is the pools are less crowded and there is more space on the pool deck itself.

The Toy Story Splash Zone is a large, covered water play area for kids under 6, and diapered children are allowed! There are also two kid-sized slides here. We spent a lot of time with my son in this area, and he cried every time we left. This is for sure a hit with the kids!

The AquaMouse is the first Disney attraction at sea! Jump in a raft and follow Mickey and Minnie along a short story that shoots you out to 360-degree views of the ocean. It’s so fun!

Pro Tip: The lines can get long on sea days, I suggest either doing this first thing when it opens or on a port day.

Broadway Style Theater Shows

Each night of your cruise there will be a show in the Walt Disney Theatre. You can see The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and the Disney Wish’s original show, Seas the Adventure.

Disney’s Seas the Adventure is a 40-minute production that feels like a show you would see at a Disney theme park, complete with your favorite Disney characters and some live singing and dancing. 

Disney’s The Little Mermaid is a 60-minute, Broadway-style adaptation of the original film. Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular is very entertaining with plenty of Disney humor courtesy of the Genie.

While reservations are not required, we recommend you get to the shows early. They fill up quickly!

Pirate Night/Fireworks at Sea

One night of your cruise will also be a pirate night. You can dress up and get in on the action, joining the pirate fun! There are two pirate shows on Disney Wish, which is different from the rest of the fleet. There is a more kid-friendly show at 7:45 pm with Mickey and friends on the main pool deck stage. Then at 10 pm, the live pirate rock bands start!

This is also when they have the fireworks (weather permitting). Yes, Disney Cruise Line is also the only cruise line to have fireworks at sea!

Other Onboard Happenings

When it comes to onboard activities, there’s still more! Guests will find several character meet and greets that occur throughout the ship. These included photo-ops with Disney princesses, Captain Minnie and Mickey, and even Star Wars characters.

Additionally, there are two movie theaters, Wonderland and Never Land cinemas, showing first-run movies.

Not to mention, there are parties, game shows, live music around the ship, trivia, sing-a-longs, and plenty of other family-friendly activities.

Hero Zone is a sports area consisting of basketball courts, cornhole boards, ping pong, foosball, and more organized activities. This is also home to Jack Jack’s diaper dash, one of the funniest events at sea.

On Nassau day, Hero Zone becomes home to the Incredi-Games. This is an inflatable obstacle course where you will race for the fastest time. There is a height requirement, and you must have socks!

Bippity Boppity Boutique

Guests can make reservations at this enchanted salon located on all five ships for your little ones to transform into their favorite adventurers. They can choose from an assortment of packages, ranging from their favorite princesses, to a royal knight, Captain Mickey, or a pirate for pirate night! Packages range from $100-$450.

Children must be at least 3 years old to participate, and anyone under 12 years old must have a parent or guardian with them at all times. You must make reservations, and spots do fill up fast. So, this would be one of the first things I’d do when the booking window opens.

Senses Spa provides tranquility and luxury amenities for pampering and relaxation. There is also a full-service gym on property, so you can start your day with a workout before you indulge in all that cruise food!

Guests can get specialty salon treatments such as massages, body wraps, facials, aromatherapy, and so much more. They also offer manicures, pedicures, teeth whitening, hair styling, and men’s grooming.

There are showers, lockers, robes, changing rooms, and beauty products at your convenience around the spa.

The main focus of the Senses Spa seems to be the rainforest room. The rainforest room is offered on all five ships, but it does vary slightly on Disney Wish. (Do you see a trend here?)

The Rainforest Room consists of a steam and dry sauna, an ice room, heated loungers, aromatherapy showers, and swinging chairs. The Disney Wish even has an outdoor addition to the Rainforest Room, consisting of two hot tubs, swings, and loungers. It is an open-air adults-only escape that is perfect on a sea day.

They only sell a limited amount of rainforest room passes, and you cannot reserve them ahead of time. On the other ships, you can buy day passes for $79 per person, but we were told on our sailing that they were only selling full cruise passes for about $250 per person.

As much as we would have loved it, it was too steep of a price for us. If your main goal is to relax on this vacation with no obligations, by all means, get the rainforest room pass!

Disney Wish Kids Clubs

The star attraction on Disney Cruise Line ships is the kids’ clubs. Kids spaces are available for little ones from 6 months to 17 years old. These immersive spaces are impressive for all ages; even the adults are wishing they could hang out here!

For the kids who may be too shy to go alone, throughout your cruise, there will be open houses of all these kids zones! Parents can join their kids in using everything the kids clubs have to offer. Check your Navigator app for what times and spaces have open houses throughout the day.

It’s a Small World Nursery

The nursery is available for children ages 6 months to 3 years of age. The staff here will feed, change diapers, and put kids to sleep. The area has rocking chairs and cribs for sleep. Of note, they will feed your children snacks if you allow it, but no full meals will be given (unless it’s formula).

You do have to make reservations for the nursery. Guests can book reservations whenever your onboard booking window opens, and we have had great luck booking the nursery space same day as well. There is an additional charge of $9 per hour for one child and $8 per hour for additional children in the same family.

This is WELL worth it and a great way for mom and dad to have some adult time. We have used the nursery onboard multiple ships at varying ages and have only had great experiences. Our son has never gone to daycare, so we weren’t sure how he would do with the counselors, but he cried every time we had to take him out!

PRO TIP: Schedule nursery times around dinner. Dinner experiences can be lengthy, so if you know your child won’t sit still that long, ask your server to have your child’s food ready when you arrive for dinner and then take them to the nursery when they are done eating! Then, you can enjoy all dinner has to offer without interruption.

Disney’s Oceaneers Club

Children ages 3 to 12 can interact with characters, take their chance in Marvel’s Super Hero Academy, fight the first order in Star Wars Cargo Bay, read books in Fairytale Hall, and discover Disney Imagineers’ secrets in the Imagineering Lab.

This club does have organized activities throughout the cruise, but kids can also enjoy free play. There are no reservations for the Oceaneers Club, and kids can come and go as much as they please. Parents will have to check the children in and out, and it is a very secure system.

The biggest thing here is they MUST be potty trained and be completely bathroom independent. If not, they will have to go to the nursery.

Edge is a tween club for ages 11 to 14. The kids are able to check themselves in and out without an adult present. The space is open from 10 am to 1 am daily and offers TVs, video games, board games, movies, trivia, and a great deal of scheduled activities for even the most shy tween to get out of their comfort zone!

Vibe is a sacred space for the big kids. Ages 14 to 17 can relax in Vibe’s hangout spaces, take the perfect selfies with views of the ocean, take part in karaoke and dance parties, and so much more!

Vibe also features a coffee bar serving a wide selection of nonalcoholic beverages, including fruit smoothies and more.

Thoughts on the Disney Wish Cruise Ship

Overall, we love the newest Disney Cruise ship, Disney Wish. It offers great food, world-class entertainment, and most importantly, a relaxing vacation!

There is something for everyone on this ship. Although, we do hope that one day the cruise line will offer longer itineraries on Disney Wish because 3 or 4 days is just not enough!

Have you sailed on the Disney Wish cruise ship yet? What are some of your favorite aspects of the new Triton Class of ships? Leave us a comment below to share why you love sailing with Disney Cruise Line.

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Cyndal Benullo

Growing up an hour from Disney World, Cyndal has been visiting the parks for as long as she can remember. Her favorite parks are Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Currently, she is an HR/Marketing Manager by day, but visits the parks almost every weekend and enjoys making new Disney memories with her husband and son, Luke, named after Luke Skywalker of course.

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Don & Heidi

We are Don and Heidi, the husband and wife team behind Eat Sleep Disney and Eat Sleep Cruise. When we aren’t cruising the high seas, you’ll probably find us visiting a Disney theme park. With a shared passion for travel and creating unforgettable memories, we share our insider tips and expert advice to help you plan and execute your own magical Disney vacation. Meet the rest of the ESD team here .

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Disney Wish Cruise Ship

Disclosure: This Disney Wish cruise ship page contains affiliate links. Read  full Disclosure Policy .

Introducing the Disney Wish Cruise Ship

Disney Cruise Line has announced the newest cruise ship to join the existing fleet of DCL cruise ships will be called Disney Wish .

This is the most comprehensive guide to  Disney Wish Cruise Ship  information on the Internet.

Table of Contents

What is disney wish, when was the disney wish completed, when will the disney wish first set sail, what does the disney wish look like.

• What Disney character is the atrium for the Disney Wish?
• How big is Disney Wish?
• Where does Disney Wish sail?
• Who built the Disney Wish?
• How many staterooms will Disney Wish have?
• How is Disney Wish fueled?
• What is the Disney Wish itinerary?
• When can I book a trip on the Wish?

Disney Wish Facts & Trivia

Disney wish deck plans, disney wish dining, disney wish salon & barbery.

• Disney Wish Spa

Disney Wish Entertainment

Disney wish pools & water fun, disney wish shows, disney wish kids clubs, disney wish ports of call, when is the disney wish maiden voyage.

Disney Wish’s maiden voyage will be July 14, 2022.

It will be a special five-night sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida . It will include two days at sea, plus stops at Nassau (Bahamas) and Castaway Cay .

January 2022 was the original expected date of the maiden voyage of the Disney Wish cruise ship. Then, early June 2022 was the target for sailing after some delays at Meyer-Werft shipyard in Germany. Currently the Disney Wish is now scheduled to set sail in July 2022.

Disney Wish is the newest vessel in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. It joins its sister ships, Disney Fantasy , Disney Dream, Disney Magic, and Disney Wonder as the fifth Disney cruise ship. In 2016, Disney announced it would be building two new ships and then, one year later, one MORE ship was announced, bringing the planned total of new cruise ships to three. The Disney Wish is the first of those three new ocean vessels .

The Disney Wish was completed in 2022 and arrived in Port Canaveral, Florida, in June 2022.

Originally planned to be completed and delivered in late 2021, the global travel industry disruptions of 2020 delayed the original schedule for completion of the Disney Wish.

Disney then announced the Wish would sail in June 2022 but that was pushed back by 6 weeks due to construction delays at the shipyard.

The Disney Wish maiden voyage is taking place in July 2022.

Disney Wish as originally expected to make her inaugural sailing in January 2022. However, due to pandemic-related delays of the construction of ship, the maiden voyage of the Disney Wish is now scheduled for July 14, 2022.

On the bow of the ship, Captain Minnie Mouse is showcased.

The exterior of the ship features Rapunzel (from Tangled ) as she dangles from the stern.

The interior of the ship was originally expected to continue the tradition of the existing ships in sporting an Art Deco or Art Noveau style. Disney Imagineers stated they want the insides of Disney’s ships to reflect “the golden age of ocean cruising.”

The look of the atrium is something of a departure from Art Deco or Art Noveau.

The atrium is three-stories, with a bright and airy décor intended to reflect the “beauty of an enchanted fairytale.”

The Grand Hall is billed as Disney’s “Castle on the Sea”. When cruisers step foot on board the Wish, they are met with a full enchantment motif, built to conjure visions of a fairytale castle.

This video highlights the details behind the creative process of Disney Imagineers to create the Disney Wish.

Watch the video:

What Disney character is featured in the atrium of the Disney Wish?

A statue of Cinderella is featured in the Grand Hall (atrium) of the Disney Wish.

How big is the new Disney Wish cruise ship?

Disney Wish is just slightly larger than the Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream.

• Expected Staterooms: 1,254
• Tonnage: 140,000

Where will the Disney Wish cruise ship sail?

The Disney Wish has a home port of Port Canaveral, Florida.

Sailings include 3 and 4 night voyages to Nassau, Bahamas and Castaway Cay .

What is the Disney Wish Itinerary?

After the maiden voyage, there will be two types of sailings – 3 nights and 4 nights.

3-Night Disney Wish Itinerary

• Day 1 – Leave Port Canaveral, Florida
• Day 2 – Nassau, Bahamas
• Day 3 – Castaway Cay
• Day 4 – Return to Port Canaveral, Florida

4-Night Disney Wish Itinerary

• Day 4 – Day at Sea
• Day 5 – Return to Port Canaveral, Florida

Disney Wish Sailing Dates

• Disney Wish Itineraries for 2022
• Disney Wish Itineraries for 2023

When Will I Be Able to Book a Cruise on the Disney Wish?

Disney Wish cruises are available to book now.

First bookings were available to most people to book on May 27, 2021.

Opening Disney Wish Reservations 

The schedule for booking the earliest cruises was made available based on status with Disney Cruise Line:

• May 17, 2021 – Platinum Castaway Club Members with 25+ sailings completed
• May 18, 2021 – Platinum Castaway Club Members with 20+ sailings completed
• May 19, 2021 – Platinum Castaway Club Members with 15+ sailings completed
• May 20, 2021 – All Platinum Castaway Club Members
• May 24, 2021 – Gold Castaway Club Members
• May 25, 2021 – DVC Members & Adventures by Disney Adventure Insiders
• May 26, 2021 – Silver Castaway Club Members
• May 27, 2021 – Bookings open for all Guests

What does the Disney Wish chandelier look like?

Disney Wish has a three-story Grand Hall that is built to enchant guests. In the Grand Hall, you’ll find a statue of Cinderella, and a dazzling chandelier.

The chandelier is a centerpiece for special effects, dramatic show lighting, and shimmers and even showers pixie dust upon those that gaze upon it.

The chandelier is built to represent the movement that is witnessed in the movie Cinderella at the moment that Cinderella’s dress is transformed from drab attire into a glorious gown.

Who built the new Disney Wish?

Disney Cruise Line contracted with reputable German shipbuilding company Meyer Werft to build the three newest ship, including the Disney Wish. Meyer Werft were also the builders of Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream .

Meyer Werft officially turned the ship over to Disney Cruise Line on June 9, 2022, at which point the Wish set sail for Port Canaveral and arrived in port there before dawn on June 20, 2022.

How is the Disney Wish fueled?

The Wish is fueled by liquefied natural gas.

DCL has stated that LNG “is one of the cleanest-burning fuels available,” making the Disney Wish a more efficient and eco-friendly method of providing cruise vacations.

By moving to natural gas propulsion instead of oil-based fuel, cruise ships are able to reduce emissions of sulphur, nitrogen oxide and other chemicals.

How was the Disney Wish Revealed?

Disney Cruise Line gradually released information about their newest cruise ship over a period of years. When they finally introduced the ship, they previewed the design of the new Disney Wish ship with this video:

How many staterooms does the Disney Wish have?

Disney Wish has 1254 guest staterooms.

Disney Wish Staterooms

The Disney Wish has 1254 staterooms with the following stateroom types:

• Royal Suites

To learn all the details about Disney Wish accommodations, visit our Disney Wish Stateroom Guide .

• The Disney Wish has 14 decks
• Disney Wish has 1254 staterooms
• 70% of staterooms on Disney Wish have a verandah
• There are 451 staterooms with adjoining rooms for larger families
• Disney Wish weighs 144,000 gross tons
• The interior is decorated in art nouveau style, characterized by geometric designs and bold, solid colors
• Disney Wish’s Statue in the Grand Hall is Cinderella
• Disney was granted special permission by the U.S. Coast Guard to paint its lifeboats yellow – rather than the traditional regulation color of orange – to preserve the Mickey Mouse color palette of red, yellow and black
• Staterooms are 25% larger than the current industry average
• The stern (back end of the ship) features Rapunzel
• The bow (front end of the ship) features Minnie Mouse
• The ship will feature a Frozen-themed theatrical dining experience at a restaurant called Arendelle
• The Wish will showcase a Star Wars themed lounge for grown-ups

Disney Cruise Line provides detailed information about the 14 decks of the Disney Wish.

Click here to see an interactive rendering of the Disney Wish deck plans.

Want to see a full walkthrough of the Disney Wish? This video does a great job of showing most of the ship:

About Dining Options on Disney Wish

Like the other ships in the DCL fleet, the Disney Wish features “Rotational Dining.”

To mix up your dinner dining enjoyment, guests rotate between three main restaurants, offering a  unique dining experience  every night. Your server, assistant server and the rest of dinner staff will move with you.

Here are the Disney Wish restaurants that are part of the rotational dining:

Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure

Worlds of marvel.

Located at the stern of Deck 5 , Arendelle is a Frozen-themed restaurant! This restaurant serves up food from Arendelle.

Home to the royal family of Arendelle, a visit here immerses you in all things Frozen . A winter wonderland awaits at every turn as your journey takes you through thrilling scenes and adventures from Disney’s Academy Award-winning movie, “ Frozen .”

Following the events of Frozen 2 , The Frozen Dining Adventure is a continuation of the Frozen tale.

In a theatrical performance that unfolds while you eat, Anna and Kristoff are celebrating their engagement, and they have invited you to join them as the honored guest.

You can expect a number of musical numbers from Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Olaf, as well as hearty Norwegian-inspired cuisine . Made by Oaken himself!

Family artifacts and paintings, an Arendelle soldier’s suit of armor, the grandfather clock as from original film, busts of Anna and Elsa, and the lantern from Olaf’s Frozen Adventure adorn the walls of Arendelle. Furthermore, during the dinner, the gorgeous windows that look outward undergo a wonderful metamorphosis.

In this first-ever Worlds of Marvel cinematic dining adventure, guests play an active role in an Avengers mission, titled Avengers: Quantum Encounter that takes place all around them during their meal.

Cruisers will follow Ant-Man and The Wasp as they host a special presentation of impressive Avengers tech:

• Captain America’s shield
• Iron Man’s arc reactor
• Ant-Man’s Pym Particles

Guests are given a high-tech Quantum Core device that make objects grow and shrink. Throughout the meal, guests complete various missions by interacting with their surroundings, Ant-Man & The Wasp, Ms. Marvel, and fellow diners. There is even an unexpected visit from a villain and army that want to steal the quantum tech.

The dining hall itself is decorated with high-tech holographic models of Avengers iconic tools displayed on computerized displays on the walls.

Menus are inspired by Marvel Cinematic Universe locations such as African Wakanda, Avengers home base of New York City, and Sokovia of Eastern Europe.

This one-of-a-kind dining experience is located on Deck 4 of the Disney Wish.

WATCH THE OFFICIAL “AVENGERS: QUANTUM ENCOUNTER” TRAILER

Specially named after the year that The Walt Disney Company was founded, 1923 features a Hollywood Golden Era theme, serving California culturally relevant recipes. Also, it walks you through the history and changes that have taken place in Disney animation .

The decor showcases over 1000 props and drawings from 16 Disney movies, such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Fantasia, Cinderella, and The Little Mermaid.

Guests at 1923 experience refined cuisine inspired by the blend of cultural tastes prevalent throughout the Golden State and crafted with families in mind.

The menu reflects the region’s distinctive combination of Asian, European, and South American cuisines, with fresh fruit, wild honey, and earthy pistachios among the native delicacies.

All of this is, of course, accompanied by a superb range of world-renowned Napa Valley wines.

This restaurant can be found on Deck 3.

Premium Dining Experiences

Looking for an adult only meal? The Disney Wish offers premium dining experiences to elevate your tastebuds.

PALO Steakhouse

This is a signature Disney dining experience and it is available only for adults. Located on Deck 12 aft.

This is an evolution of the version of Palo that is found on other Disney ships. This elegant, adults-only restaurant takes a theme from the lovable pomp and circumstance of Cogsworth, the enchanted clock from Disney’s  Beauty and the Beast .

Cuisine features premium steaks and Italian recipes .

Reservations are required and there is a dress code as well, please  refer to our Disney Cruise packing list  for suggestions on what to wear.

Another premium dining experience, The Enchanté restaurant is billed as the most elegant dining experience on the Disney Wish.

Menu was created by three-Michelin starred Chef Arnaud Lallement.

Theme is built around Lumiere’s stately presences from Beauty and the Beast . Located on Deck 12.

Casual Dining on Disney Wish

Marceline market.

This is a quick-service experience that features 10 “food stalls”. It’s called “walk-up” dining, meant for casual dining throughout the day.

The name Marceline Market pays homage to Walt Disney’s early childhood hometown in Marceline, Missouri.

The food stalls are themed to match a popular Disney animated film like Zootopia or Alice in Wonderland. Will we be greeted by our favorite characters while we are dining??

Disney adds some credence to that rumor by saying:

This fun design twist presents favorite characters as honorary “shopkeepers,” offering a wide-ranging variety of freshly prepared cuisines for the whole family to enjoy, including American classics, international specialties, comfort foods, seafood, soups and salads, vegetarian and plant-based fare, baked goods, and desserts. – Disney Parks Blog

The menu will change regularly but will include the following types of cuisine:

• American classics
• International dishes
• Comfort food
• Seafood, soups, salads
• Vegetarian & plant-based choices
• Baked goods

Decorated as an industrial loft that has been converted into a food marketplace, each station will have a theme from a classic animated film, such as Ratatouille, Zootopia, Alice in Wonderland, Tangled, etc. A cafe-style beverage bar will be available as well.

Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods

Upper decks

Themed around Disney’s “Fab Five” characters, this series of eateries is themed as an oceanside boardwalk, providing quick bite options for those spending time on Disney Wish upper decks.

Open for lunch, snacks, and dinner, here are the five food stalls:

• Daisy’s Pizza Pies
• Donald’s Cantina
• Goofy’s Grill
• Mickey’s Smokestack Barbeque
• Sweet Minnie’s Ice Cream

Menus feature soft-serve ice cream, American classics, BBQ, and Mexican options.

Hosted under a shaded seating area, there is plenty of space to find a place to step away from the pool and sun for a treat.

Room Service

Brought to your stateroom

Disney Wish room service menu is expansive. The menu is almost completely free, with myriad options available at any time of the night or day.

Our favorite room service items are traditionally chocolate chip cookies and Mickey Mouse ice cream bars!

To get more advice about Disney Cruise room service, read tips 54-59 of my  101 Disney Cruise Tips .

Beverage Stations

Deck 11 (expected location)

The drinks here are FREE. Your options include water, soda, juices, coffee, tea, milk, fruit punch, lemonade, and hot cocoa.

The bars and lounges on board will charge you for sodas, but it is free here. Check out tip #48 on my  Disney Cruise Tips  to enjoy more free soda.

Nightingale’s

Piano bar inspired by Cinderella’s “Sing Sweet Nightingale”. Located adjacent to the Grand Hall and is thematically tied to the atrium decor.

Bayou Lounge

Inspired by The Princess and the Frog , this is an informal bar and lounge for adults. Cocktails, specialty coffees and beignets are offered. Live entertainment include musical performances.

The Rose is an idyllic setting for a pre-dinner aperitif or after-dinner cocktail. There are subtle nods to the film Beauty and the Beast throughout, with the theming dedicated to the fateful flower of the classic movie.

Keg & Compass

Pub decorated to resemble a late 1800’s Norwegian sailor’s map room. Porthole windows accentuate the oldtime maritime style. Live sports, news and major broadcast events are experienced here. Assortment of wines & cocktails are available, along with three custom craft brews.

Star Wars : Hyperspace Lounge

This adults-only lounge is a one-of-a-kind experience for Star Wars fan.

Passengers are able to order cocktails in a high-end luxury bar that is styled as a “yacht-class” spaceship from the Star Wars universe.

As you sip your drink, you gaze out portals to space that showcase different locales featured in Star Wars films and series , including Batuu, Endor, Coruscant, Tatooine and Mustafar.

As you look through the lounge’s prominent widescreen viewport, you have close-up encounters with the following starships from the Star Wars universe as you tour these locales:

• Corellian passenger transport
• Rogue -class fighter
• The  Millennium Falcon
• New Republic prison ship
• The  Razor Crest (from The Mandalorian )
• KGZ-54 Starcrane
• AA-C39 freighter
• Ghtroc 820 Transport
• Lantzant Hybrid Hauler
• Lancer pursuit craft
• Victor-wing fighter
• Dornean gunship
• Imperial arrestor cruiser
• Imperial Star Destroyer
• Imperial  Lambda -class shuttle
• Imperial  Delta -class shuttle
• Imperial TIE boarder
• Imperial TIE brute heavy fighter
• Imperial TIE fighter
• CR70 diplomatic cruiser
• Coruscant AA-9 passenger liner
• Coruscant transport freighter
• Corellian CR90 corvette
• Ibis freighter
• Nukoy freighter
• Marisas freighter
• Naboo N-1 starfighter
• Starspeeder 3000
• Traffic Ships
• Resistance bunkerbuster
• Mining guild freighter
• YT-2400 freighter
• Gozanti cruiser
• Nebulon-B frigate
• Tri-wing S-91X fighter
• Resistance cargo frigate
• Resistance MC85 Mon Calamari cruiser
• First Order TIE fighter
• Drovan freighter
• Razor assault ship
• Resistance X-wing fighter
• Resistance Y-wing fighter
• Resistance A-wing fighter
• Tuggs’ Grub food transport
• First Order Star Destroyer
• Traffic ships
• ZH-40 freighter

“Themed beverages” that are inspired by the films are served, and special “tastings” are also available in the Disney Wish Star Wars lounge.

Disney Parks website describes the lounge this way:

The venue’s sleek interior design and metallic detailing is inspired by lavish star cruisers similar to Dryden Vos’ ship in “Solo: A  Star Wars  Story.” While you sip your galactic concoctions, this space-faring voyage will transport you to iconic locations from the eras of the Republic, Empire and First Order, employing hyperspace jumps to travel from planet to planet while sensational scenes unfold just beyond the ship’s panoramic viewport at each stop. Ranging from serene vistas to action-packed encounters, the spectacles seen through this virtual “window” into the galaxy will feature famous space ships from the films and fan-favorite locales like Batuu, Tatooine, Mustafar and Coruscant. The experience will be amplified by surround-sound audio and a holotube that presents holographic models of nearby ships. Disney Parks Blog

Alcohol is served only to those over 21 years of age.

On other Disney ships, like the Fantasy , we love to tell people about this serene, out-of-the-way spot on Deck 13 that overlooks Quiet Cove Pool.

It’s adults only and you can get your hands on some gourmet coffee (additional charge), enjoy a pastry or surf the internet.

Wheezy’s Freezies

Located on the pool deck next to the Toy Story Splash Zone, this smoothie bar serves blended fruit drinks.

Untangled Salon

Adults hair salon, inspired by Tangled and Rapunzel. Colors are purple and gold with lanterns serving as light fixtures. Haircuts, nails, teeth whitening and skin treatments are among the services offered.

Hook’s Barbery

This a traditional men’s salon pays homage to a scene in Peter Pan where Smee shaves what he thinks is Captain Hook. Get shaves, skin & nail treatments, as well as haircuts and style.

Bonus : the establishment features a “hidden bar” – ask about their bourbons, rum, whisky, and other spirits when you go.

Disney Wish Spa Treatments

Senses spa & rainforest room.

Fitness center, private treatment rooms, and luxury spa treatments including facials, massages, and acupuncture.

Fitness center offers state of the art exercise equipment, dedicate space for cycling, yoga & aerobics.

The Rainforest Room is a sauna, steam room, and aromatherapy showers. Guests are given body scrubs, soothing scents, in a relaxing environment. Exclusive to the Disney Wish, Rainforest includes an ice lounge and an open-air oasis.

Walt Disney Theatre

Decks 3 & 4

Every evening on the Disney Wish, an exciting entertainment event is put on in the Walt Disney Theatre.

Guests get to witness performances that are truly Broadway-level in quality. Also frequenting the stage are musicians, jugglers, ventriloquists, hypnotists, or comedians.

Sometimes they put up a feature movie on a massive screen. The movie is usually a Disney-owned film that is new or due to theaters.

The Walt Disney Theatre is built to resemble a magical forest. Watch this video as Walt Disney Imagineers explain the development process of the Walt Disney Theatre:

Decks 4 & 5

This performance space is flexible enough to host parties, shows, and family games and entertainment during the day, while converting into an adults-only venue in the evening.

Luna lounge on Disney Wish #DisneyWish #DisneyCruise #WishChristening pic.twitter.com/LQWsoTDBlt — Dave Monk (@shipmonk) June 29, 2022

The Luna theater is set to look like a fairytale village and is two decks tall.

Featuring a LED screen wall that takes up two stories, along with a bar, stage, and plenty of seats, Luna should be a buzzy, oft-used place onboard.

Wonderland Cinema & Never Land Cinema

Two lux movie theaters to accommodate first-run feature films, using state of the art technology to play movies all day, every day.

Neverland Cinema is reminiscent of Peter Pan’s flight to Neverland with Tinker Bell and the Darling children.

Wonderland Cinema boasts an Alice in Wonderland theme.

Here’s a look inside Neverland Cinema, one of the movie theaters on the Disney Wish. pic.twitter.com/UDzpAqJpt8 — Ashley Carter (@AshleyLCarter1) June 30, 2022

We’ve been told that the  Grand Hall  will act as both a gathering place (aka traditional cruise ship atrium) with a fairytale theme, as well as a functional theatre. from a fairytale gathering space into an environmental theater through the magic of built-in special effects and the first-ever atrium stage on a Disney ship. Dedicated shows and interactive entertainment will come to life all around the hall, putting guests front and center as they play a special role in the magic.

Funnel Vision

Funnel Vision is a giant screen that shows Disney movies while you chill on Deck 12 or swim in the Disney Wish pools.

Called “Funnel Vision” because it is mounted onto the forward funnel of the ship. It’s a massive LED screen, totally state of the art.

It’s the first-ever Disney attraction at sea.

AquaMouse is a water raft ride that sends you through winding tubes that are perched well above the upper decks of the ship.

As guests ride, they see animated shorts, special effects, lighting and scenes from “The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse.”

The original story, titled “Scuba Scramble”, is set around Mickey’s ill-fated excursion company called “Port Misadventures”.

Watch this video for a POV of what it’s like to ride the AquaMouse:

Toy Story Splash Zone

Splash pad with a fun Toy Story  theme for kids ages 3 and under. Water spurts all over; coming up from the floor and jetting from replicas of characters from the Pixar short titled “ Partysaurus Rex “.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sams Disney Diary (@samsdisneydiary)

Characters such as Woody and Buzz Lightyear are re-imagined as enormous rubber bath toys. These characters move and spray water.

The space features a waterslide called Slide-a-saurus Rex , a wading pool called Trixie’s Falls , and close by is a smoothie bar called Wheezy’s Freezies .

Quiet Cove – Adult Pool

For ages 18 and up, the secluded Quiet Cove pool area is found at the very rear of the ship. It has been designed to cater to adults with an infinity pool, whirlpool spa, open-air bar, and poolside cafe.

This is one of our favorite areas on any Disney Cruise ship.

Aladdin – a Musical Spectacular

The classic songs and scenes of Disney’s adored  Aladdin  come to life on the stage in the Walt Disney Theatre on every  Disney Wish voyage.  

Seas the Adventures

With the guidance of Tinkerbell, Captain Minnie and an all-star ensemble of Disney and Pixar characters, Goofy discovers his inner captain in Seas the Adventure.

The program will feature characters from ‘Princess and the Frog,’ ‘Frozen 2,’ ‘Finding Nemo,’ ‘Moana,’ and other Disney movies, and will be one of the first live performances on board the Disney Wish.

Disney The Little Mermaid

Disney The Little Mermaid is a contemporary and imaginative retelling of the Walt Disney Animation Studios classic about a little girl discovering the power of her voice.

The production has spectacular special effects, cutting-edge theatrical design, artistic choreography, and a reworked narrative and soundtrack that will excite and astonish audiences of all ages.

Hero Zone: Incredibles Themed Games

The Hero Zone is a game show-style contest in which families compete in a futuristic sports venue against one another.

Inspired by the dynamic characters of Pixar’s “The Incredibles,” this highly interactive, imaginatively produced game show will dare families to take on an incredible obstacle course with over-the-top physical challenges themed to the powers of the Parr family heroes and their good friend Frozone.

Jack-Jack’s Incredible Diaper Dash!, a popular Disney Cruise Line attraction, is now housed in Hero Zone. This renowned contest allows fantastic tots the opportunity to compete for the prestigious status of Diaper Dash Champion as they speed-crawl around a 20-foot track amid the applause (and giggles) of family, friends, and loving fans, with more hoopla than ever before.

Watch this short video of an amazing comeback during Diaper Dash on one of our voyages:

When Hero Zone isn’t dressed up in superhero garb, it is a free-play sports center where guests play basketball, soccer, and a variety of table-top activities including Ping-Pong, air hockey, foosball, and shuffleboard.

Fireworks at Sea

Disney Cruise Line is famous for launching fireworks off the ship, quite frequently connected to a pirate theme .

The Disney Wish has its own fireworks spectacular show.

Watch this video of Disney fireworks show on the Disney Fantasy :

It’s a Small World Nursery

Childcare for your wee ones. You can leave kids ages 6 months to 3 years old at the nursery.

The Cast Members at the nursery are well-trained Disney counselors who will feed your child at the proper time, change diapers, and lead the kids in crafts, activities and games.

Additional charge and reservations suggested.

Disney’s Oceaneer Club

Deck 2 – for ages 3-12

Children ages 3-12 will love hanging out with Disney Characters each day.

With a secret entrance (a slide!) from the Grand Hall, kids can immerse themselves in incredible experiences.

Disney Wish Oceaneer Club features…

Marvel Super Hero Academy

It’s the Avengers headquarters! Your child becomes a new “recruit” and is trained to be a future superhero with personalized guidance by the likes of Black Panther, Ant-Man, the Wasp, and Spider-Man.

Young recruits participate in a hands-on training session with Ant-Man and The Wasp at Marvel Super Hero Academy, where they learn how to manufacture and test their own Pym Particles, the technology that allows heroes to shrink and expand items (and themselves). They join forces with Pym Technologies and Wakandan Design Group masterminds — including a special appearance by Black Panther — to stop Taskmaster’s nefarious scheme to hack into the academy’s system and steal the world’s most sophisticated hero technology.

Fairytale Hall

Three activity rooms! Anna & Elsa’s Sommerhaus, Belle’s Library, and Rapunzel’s Art Studio. Kids creativity reign overall here.

Kids enjoy the greatest day ever with Rapunzel and Flynn Rider as they embark on a treasure quest to retrieve the missing parts of the Snuggly Duckling sign when the center of Disney’s Oceaneer Club turns into the Snuggly Duckling pub from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Tangled.”

Children use their imaginations to write a bold, humorous, magical new narrative for their favorite book lover in Belle’s Library. Belle uses her wits and her magical mirror to assist decide the story’s characters, storyline, and ending.

The newest citizens of Arendelle join a special celebration of Queen Anna’s recent coronation at Anna and Elsa’s Sommerhus by acting out the history of how she became queen — taking on the roles and iconic movie moments of characters like Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff, Hans, and more — before the queen, her sister, and their snowman friend arrive to join in the fun.

Walt Disney Imagineering Lab

Your kids will become Disney Imagineers in training. Through hands-on activities, experiments, and just good old fashioned play, children can learn what it is like to design Disney theme park rides.

Star Wars: Cargo Bay

Star Wars: Cargo Bay will feature strange creatures and iconic figures from the Star Wars universe. This first-of-its-kind immersive experience will immerse children in the role of creature managers as they learn to control a naughty zoo of exotic animals from all across the galaxy, including a porg, Loth-cat, worrt, and more. Kids will utilize augmented reality-enabled datapads to follow and study the species on a series of special missions during the cruise. But there might be more to this endeavor than meets the eye: the new crew will be undertaking a critical operation to return Rey and Chewbacca, two hidden stowaways, to the Resistance.

Image: Disney Cruise Line

They’ll utilize augmented reality-enabled datapads to monitor and study the critters on a series of special tasks during the voyage. The new crew will be undertaking a vital operation to return Rey and Chewbacca, two hidden stowaways, to the Resistance.

The newly minted caregivers will be put to the test as they assist feed the lifelike animals and meet some of the galaxy’s most deadly monsters during the interactive “Star Wars: Creature Challenge” event. When things go wrong, they’ll have to rely on Rey and Chewbacca’s knowledge — and maybe the Force — to save the ship from sinking.

Mickey and Minnie Captain’s Deck

Mickey and Minnie Captain’s Deck is a nautical playground inspired by the colors, iconography, and enchantment of Disney Cruise Line, and is specifically developed for the youngest sailors at Disney’s Oceaneer Club. Pipe slides and crawl-throughs, ship’s wheels, “busy boxes” fashioned as ship controls, and plush life preserver seating spaces will be among the many maritime-themed physical and sensory games and activities available in this brand-new area.

When kids enter the space, they’ll spend time with Mickey and Minnie Mouse. The area will be accessible to young ones’ families for group play at various times throughout the trip, and toddlers from It’s a Small World Nursery will have special access to the club to explore, learn, and play with Mickey and Minnie.

“Minnie’s Captain Academy,” a high-energy training session for youngsters to exercise their bodies (via amusing games, dancing, and maritime “drills”) and their minds (through a series of tasks related to STEAM principles), will be the trademark event (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics). Captain Minnie will examine their accomplishments and formally appoint them as honorary captains!

Don’t be surprised if you barely see your kids during the cruise!

Deck 5, ages 11-14

This New York loft-themed hangout is perfect for the tweens and offers a space for them to watch movies, craft, play games and hang out with other kids their age (ages 11-14).

Tweens ages 11 to 14 will have a blast, meet new people, and play games. The club has comfy seating, nooks for solo gaming and movie viewing, and a soda bar.

The inside solarium area has a sunny overhead skylight effect, a carpet patterned with fresh grass and daisies, a back wall painting of a bright blue sky, and activities inspired by a colorful outside city park.

Graphic art exhibits called as “photo walls” are set up around Edge to allow tweens to take stylish, shareable vacation photos that will be the envy of their pals back home.

Teens 14-17 will have a blast at Vibe, whether it’s listening to music, dancing or competing with other teens to get the highest video game score. It’s a space of their own, themed like a Parisian loft…adults have to stay away and that’s how these teens like it. (Did I mention you might not see your kids that much?)

Teenage passengers will make new friends, watch movies, play games, and participate in fun activities designed specifically for them.

This stylish space features classic architectural elements like regal French columns and paneled walls covered with whimsical pop art murals and colorful graffiti, as well as a traditional French Morris column plastered with Disney-inspired travel posters, and is inspired by a Parisian artists’ loft.

With vivid neon signs and wacky pop art everywhere, the décor has an electrifying vintage touch, which is emphasized by a larger-than-life, brightly painted Mickey Mouse figure.

When you combine all of that with floor-to-ceiling windows that stare out over the ocean, you’ve got yourself a winner.

The Hideaway

The Disney Wish has a third hideaway for tweens and adolescents, The Hideaway, for the first time aboard a Disney cruise ship.

This cool new hangout provides an additional option for older kids and young adults to relax, sip a smoothie, listen to music, and more in a luxury environment replete with a dance floor and DJ booth – ideal for karaoke and dancing competitions.

A vivid color palette, retro-inspired design elements, a stylized “Hiya, friend” mural, and disco ball lighting is featured throughout the Hideaway.

This versatile space, located next to Vibe, may be opened to the teen club, locked off for tween events, or reserved exclusively for visitors aged 18 to 20.

Tweens and teenagers will have “llama” fun with personalized, counselor-led programming geared to engage their specific interests, such as a humorous new competition based on “The Emperor’s New Groove,” which is a fan favorite.

They’ll also have specific activities around the ship during special events conducted in Hero Zone, Luna, and other locations.

Want to know where the Disney Wish will be sailing in 2022 ?

Disney Wish Ports of Call 2022

Disney Fantasy is scheduled to visit the following destinations in 2022 :

• Port Canaveral, Florida
• Nassau, Bahamas
• Castaway Cay  (Disney’s Private Island)

Disney Wish Cruise Ship News

Here’s a Disney Wish update:

JUNE 29, 2022. Disney Wish was christened in Port Canaveral on June 29, 2022. Rather than have one “godmother” for the christening of the ship, as is the company tradition, it made children from Make-A-Wish Foundation the ship’s “godchildren”. Watch the christening ceremony:

JUNE 20, 2022. Disney Wish arrives in dock at Port Canaveral for the first time ever in the early dawn hours of Monday, June 20, 2022. Watch this video of her arrival:

MARCH 23, 2022. Good Morning America video shows current progress of the ship being built, while also announcing a Disney Wish giveaway.

FEBRUARY 11, 2022. Watch the Disney Wish Float Out of the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. DON’T MISS…the fireworks and music at the very end!

FEBRUARY 4, 2022. Disney Cruise Line announces the delay of the inaugural sailing to July 14, 2022, citing building delays at Meyer Werft shipyard.

JANUARY 22, 2022. A time-lapse depicting the installation of both azipods beneath the stern of the Disney Wish was posted by Walt Disney Imagineering.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Walt Disney Imagineering (@waltdisneyimagineering)

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021.  Disney Wish received its stripe at the Meyer-Werft. 

          View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Ursula & Stefan Meyer (@ems_dollart_media)

JUNE 25, 2021. First sections of AquaMouse installed on Disney Wish.

          View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Ursula & Stefan Meyer (@ems_dollart_media)

JUNE 17, 2021. Funnel arrives at Meyer-Werft.

MAY 8, 2021 . Front bow keel sections arrive at Meyer-Werft.

APRIL 29, 2021. DCL announces that reservations will be available to book cruises on the Disney Wish starting May 27, 2021.

APRIL 8, 2021. Meyer Werft laid the keel for Disney Wish in a German shipyard.

Disney Wishes Cruise Ship

Just a helpful note - the name of the ship is Disney Wish. It is not the Disney Wishes cruise ship as I've seen reported in other places 😉.

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Great coverage, keep it coming

Thanks Carl! Will do. There are some big announcements coming…even tomorrow.

I can’t wait for this! It’s going to be so awesome!

What all exciting things can you do on the Wish ?

I suspect there will be some magical touches that haven’t been added to the other ships yet. Can’t wait to find out.

This is all so great to know! I appreciate how thorough this article is.

Thanks Katie! Glad it was helpful.

This ship looks amazing! The kids are going to LOVE this!

And the grown-up kids too 🙂

Hope they announce when they will start taking reservations.

Yes…maybe even as early as tomorrow?

Cruising with Disney is a complete adventure with smiles, laughter and surprises! Each one we take is Magical! There is so much around you on the ship that has a deeper meaning! Disney pays attention to the small and large picture of a cruising experience. It is cruising luxury at your pace and style! Have a Magical Day!

100% Agree! Thanks Judith 🙂

Bad time. Hopefully you’ll do another at a time we working people can ser

I’ll share the highlights here on this page when I get them.

Bookings open in May 2021!

To get back to cruising!!!!

No doubt – that got me so excited!

The New Adult Only Sections. Especially the Star Wars Bar!…Can’t wait!

That looks incredible!

Wow! I’ve never been on a Disney cruise, but this looks seriously amazing! My kids would go crazy!

They (and you too) would absolutely love it!

Seriously, looks so magical!! Can’t wait & hope to take my family someday!

The time is coming quick enough. The June 2022 sailings will be here before we know it.

I have always wanted to go on a disney cruise with my kids! When everything lifts, it’s the first big trip I want to do! Your info and tips were super helpful!

Thanks Amy! Your family will love it 🙂

This looks so incredible! A Disney cruise is on our vacation bucket list, thanks so much for all the great info!

My kids are going to flip out over this ship!!!

Wow!! What an experience, my family would love this

The Best of the Disney Wish: A Guide To Enchantment

A complete guide to the Disney Wish would take us hours to write and hours for you to read. So we’re keeping it to the highlights: what Disney did best with their newest cruise ship and the must-see while on-board.

Having just completed an inaugural cruise on the Wish, everything is fresh in our minds and ready for sharing. We’re able to compare this new ship to the other 4 and tell you what Disney did right and what they are still missing.

Keep in mind that inaugural cruises can have some hiccups. While they weren’t as bad as the first sailing, there were still a few and we expect these to be worked out over the next few sailings.

Overall, the Disney Wish is the biggest step in the right direction that Disney has made when it comes to offerings on-board. We will highlight these throughout the articles as well as the places they still seem to be falling short.

Again, these are highlights; things we know you want to hear about without getting into t00 much detail (ie the hallway bathrooms new decor and quick flushes). We’ll let you work those out on your next sailing.

The Disney Wish is a fantastic ship and is well designed and built to accommodate the most guests of any Disney cruise ship. One of the biggest changes we noticed right away on-board is that the ship is split into 3rds with only 2 elevator locations instead of 3.

At first you’d think that would be a major downside but the way Disney located them and the fact that they added more elevators to each block, made things a lot easier for access and a quicker ride.

We loved that Disney move the entire kids section down to level 2 of the ship. It’s quiet and the Oceaneer Club as well as the nursery are right next to each other. It’s the perfect location for both parents and kids.

The pools on the Disney Wish have receive some major upgrades and additions. The most exciting part: there are way more pools on the Wish that any of their other ships. Everywhere you turn on the pool deck, there’s a pool. Or a spa. Or a splash pad. What Disney’s previous ships lacked is no longer on the Disney Wish.

The over-all layout of the ship is very easy to navigate. And the design is something to behold. Giant paintings and murals can be found all over. Nostalgia is everywhere.

The theme of the Disney Wish is “Enchantment” and Enchant they did. Walking into the grand hall on deck 3, you’ll be amazed by the marble flooring, the life-size statue of Cinderella and the crystal chandelier. It’s all about the enchanting details on this ship!

The dining is classic with its 3 main rotational venues, except the three on the Disney Wish are brand new and can’t be found anywhere else. While we loved the themes of each one, some were definitely better than others. More on this in a minute.

The over-all technology on-board the Disney Wish is a great improvement over the other 4 ships in the fleet. Again, there’s still room for improvement here but it’s a step forward.

Same goes for all the quick service dining locations. Definitely better than the other ships with some really great offerings but they still have a ways to go. More on this later.

Over-all the Disney Wish is the new standard for Disney cruising. Every ship that comes after the Wish should be as great or better. We think anyone who experience the Disney Wish will be very pleased with it.

Now let’s dive into some of the details and highlights of the ship.

Pools and Deck Entertainment

We mentioned the pools already. They are everywhere starting on deck 11 and work their way up to 12 and even the front of 13. The coolest addition is a massive pool right in front of the funnel vision screen. It’s really cool and holds a lot of guests. Speaking of funnel vision, the screens clarity is far superior than previous Disney ships.

As you work your way back from funnel vision and its pool, you’re going to run into a lot of lounger chairs. Perfect for anyone who wants to take in some sun and a flick.

The sides of deck 11 are still home to tables and chairs for ocean view dining. The quick service restaurants wrap around the front of deck 11 while the sweet shops and gift shops wrap around the back of 11.

As you run into the stairs heading up to deck 12 you’ll notice several medium-sized pools on both sides for kids and adults. And they feature waterfalls! Finally up on deck 12 you have access to the brand new Aquamouse waterslide attraction.

The Aquamouse is a one-of-a-kind slide that functions as a hybrid water slide and attraction. Guests load into a 2 person tube and are sent up a slow moving dark tube where they will be interacting with Mickey and the gang through high tech screens and water jets. It’s really quite fun and very cute for all ages.

But before you know it you’re taking the plunge down a dark tube and then around the ship at blazing speeds. Prepare to get wet!

The entire process is really simple and they seems to have gotten down how to move guests quick with this attraction. It can still demand a 30+ minute wait at times and does have its closures occasionally. We recommend getting there early morning or late evening during dinner and show time.

Wrapping around the back for deck 12 is The Cove. On the other Disney ships The Cove is mostly associated with an indoor bar and coffee hangout. While this is part of The Cove on the Disney Wish, there’s now so much more including one amazing infinity pool overlooking the back aft the ship.

There are also 2 lounger pool areas on either side of the infinity pool. The water in them is about 3 feet deep and then is bench seating around the entire thing. The coolest part is that the backs of the bench have water dripping down them to keep you cool. It’s a very unique design and perfect for anyone who wants to keep cool but not get soaking wet in a pool.

The Cover features an outdoor bar with tables and chairs as well as lounger chairs all the way around the back half of desk 12. And of course there is still a coffee bar inside for guests to enjoy expressos etc.

We were very pleased with the improvements here.

Moving to the front of the ship on deck 12, you’ll find the cutest and best kids splash pad Disney has ever done. Its theme? Toy Story and it’s full of all your favorite characters squirt water, and creating slides for the kiddos. It’s called the Toy Story Splash Zone and it is a much needed improvement in the toddler department when it comes to water activities.

Across from the Splash Zone is a Wheezies Slushies shop where guests can enjoy some frozen drinks.

Moving up to deck 13 is Trixie’s Pool (halfway up the stairs between 12 and 13) and then a bar and a smoking area. On deck 13 and towards the front is a pool for adults and kids to enjoy with plenty of loungers around.

Lastly deck 13 is home to the entrance of Slide-a-Saurus Rex, a kid-friendly slide that spirals down to deck 12. It’s really fun for kids!

Improvements we saw:

• The Splash Zone is significantly better for the little ones.
• There are way more pools on the Disney Wish which was badly needed.
• The Cove adults area is really, really nice and has some of the best pools on the ship.
• The funnel vision is crystal clear with plenty of loungers and seating.
• The Aquamouse is amazing. A combination of water slide and park attraction.
• The available loungers and seating for guests has improved drastically.

Improvements To Be Made:

• Disney’s smoking area on deck 13 is right above the kids splash zone, slide and pool. While we were there we would get some secondhand smoke depending on the wind. It’s super unfortunate that they put them so close together. They could have done a better job at this.
• Disney decks are notorious for burning guests feet. And we heard a lot of chatter about it. While it’s easy to say you should just wear flip flops or something, moving from one pool to the next is super annoying to do this with footwear. Disney needs to work on adding a reflective stain to keep the decks cooler.
• The Aquamouse seem to break fairly often. Hopefully this is just new ship jitters.

Ship Dining – Quick Service and Rotational

Dining is such a big part of what we do on cruise ships and we were hoping Disney would make some much needed improvement in this category. And for the most part, they did. Some big steps and some baby steps. Either way we’ll take them.

First off, rotational dining features 3 newly themed restaurants:

• Arendelle – A Frozen themed restaurant
• 1923 – A salute to Walt and Roy Disney
• Worlds of Marvel – A Marvel-ous dining experience

Arendelle Restaurant

By far the biggest improvement and the one we loved the most was Arendelle. The food was fantastic and a step-up from their usual sit down meals. Something we’ve felt has needed to happen for a while. We’ll let you taste if for yourself but we think you’ll enjoy it.

The best part about Arendelle is the live entertainment. From fantastic music to character meet-n-greets and jokes all around. The live band and singing was our favorite part. Lovely voices, great renditions of our favorite Frozen songs and some special time with Olaf.

1923 Restaurant

The 1923 restaurant is split into two different sections: Walt Disney and Roy Disney. While they have different names above them, they are both part of 1923 and feature the same menu and same style.

This throwback to Walt and Roy was a fantastic idea. And the theme does not disappoint with the entire restaurant covered in original art and pieces of classic Disney movies from the early years on. It’s essentially a museum that you could spend 45 minutes walking around in looking at everything.

And the menu is a throwback to the golden ear of Hollywood and the Golden State. This was our second favorite place to dine!

Worlds of MARVEL Restaurant

Of course Disney brought MARVEL to their newest ship, and in a big way! The restaurant features some seriously cool technology and a show that’s both humorous and entertaining. Nobody can do it like Paul Rudd can!

Ant Man and the Wasp our your hosts for the evening but receive a little help from Captain America, Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel. It’s interactive and very fun!

The only thing lacking here is the menu. It was…okay. Nothing great. It came in last on our list of sit-down restaurants.

Deck 11 Quick Service Venues

This may be the best improvement yet when it comes to dining on a Disney Cruise Ship. While the other ships in the fleet focus on hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken fingers, the Disney Wish has step up the game with Mickey’s Smokestack Barbecue, Donald’s Cantina, Daisy’s Pizza Pies, Goofy’s Grill and Sweet Minnie’s Ice Cream.

For the most part, a lot of the food is fresh, meaning, it’s being cooked in the back while being served in the front instead of the food sitting in warmers for 4 hours. We were actually impressed with the quality. Sweet Minnie’s Ice Cream is actually creamy and not full of small ice chunks. There are plenty of condiments for any of the food types you choose and the drink stations were half decent (still a little watery).

There could be improvements here and there but over-all, for what you’re getting and how quickly, it’s good.

Marceline Market

The new and improved buffet for Disney Cruise ships is finally here! And we were pleased with the set-up. The food choices are a huge improvement and the overall freshness of the food is much better than Cabanas.

The seating areas are much classier and you can enjoy your food inside or outside on the deck. Marceline Market is the new standard for Disney and we like it.

Palo and Enchanté

While Palo is essentially Palo from every other Disney Cruise ship, Enchanté is a whole other thing. This enchanting adult-only restaurant is filled with class and, well, enchantment. The menu is fantastic and so is the service. Adults should take a night to enjoy this exciting new restaurant.

• Arendelle and 1923 are amazing new additions for rotational dining including the entertainment and overall feel.
• The deck 11 quick service dining is a big improvement over the other cruise ships and we were impressed with its options and quality.
• Marceline Market is a big step forward when it comes to cruise buffets.
• Enchanté is a fantastic new adult-only restaurant that should be visited.

• Worlds of MARVEL needs a menu improvement and quickly.
• While we love the quick service options on deck 11, the freshness and taste could still be better.
• Marceline Market is making steps in the right direction though they could improve the freshness of the food as well as the waste.
• Palo should have become something new like Enchanté is. A new restaurant theme. Really anything.

Bars and Lounges

Aboard the Disney Wish, it’s not hard to find a bar or lounge to enjoy. In fact it seems like there is one at every turn. And not in a bad way. Most of them are just classic bars serving your basic drinks but a few of them definitely stand out.

Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge

Easily the coolest lounge onboard a Disney cruise ship and a must-experience. The Hyperspace Lounge takes guests from ship to space with the push of a button. Currently Disney is running a 45 minute experience instead as demand is high. This means that reservations are also required and should be made in advance. Guests will tour the galaxy, visiting some of their favorite destinations in the galaxy as well as making several jumps to light-speed.

A giant screen and some really cool props make this joint a must-do for any Star Wars fan or really any fan of drinking in really cool places.

The Bayou Lounge

Located right outside the Hyperspace Lounge, the Bayou is a fresh take on an old classic, featuring live Jazz music, a fantastic bar and some really great decor including Princess and the Frog decorations. Did we mention the vines hanging over-head? It all adds up to make one cool lounge to enjoy.

Nightingales Lounge

Now if you really want class, you’ll find it at Nightingales, Disney’s newest lounge and night club. Featuring a fantastic chandelier and grand piano, guests can enjoy an evening of live music and classy drinks in fancy glasses. You’ll be puttin’ on the ritz here!

We mentioned this place earlier as new and improved and that it is. Beside the addition of pools to The Cove, the outside bar and seating are fantastic for anyone who wants to enjoy a view, some shade or sun and some really great drinks.

Of course The Cover wouldn’t be the Cover without an inside lounge as well. Serving up some of the ships best coffee you can get, The Cove is a great place to sit, chat and think while enjoying something tasty.

Keg & Compass

Small and quaint but serving up some seriously great drinks, Keg & Compass was in pretty high demand come evening time. It’s a pub with a nordic twist on it; and some class. Sit or stand and enjoy some great conversation or take in a game.

A lounge designed for guests who are visiting Palo or Enchanté, The Rose is surround by antique mirrors and handing rose petals, inspired by Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. It’s in a class all its own.

• Lots more bars and lounges to be had with better theming and class.
• Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge is the most unique lounge any Disney cruise ship has ever seen.
• Water is more accessible at bars with glass coolers being placed for guests to get their own.

• Disney needs to get the Hyperspace Lounge under control so more guests can experience it. Reservations must be made!
• Drink menus at bars, particularly those around the pools, need to improve their temperance options.

Rooms and Suites

Everything on the Disney Wish is brand new right now some everything inside the rooms look amazing. We just hope they can keep it that way! From inside rooms to suites, this ship features some of the best looking designs inside and out.

We love the wood overlay that you you’ll find in the hallways and rooms. And the artwork is fantastic, especially behind the beds. While certain rooms still have the classic pull down bunk, several rooms feature a in-wall murphy bed which is much better than the pull-downs.

And yes, there are finally enough plugs, both USB and USB-C for all your electronics. And they are everywhere through-out the room. Rejoice!

The next big improvement in the rooms are the showers. The doors actually stay shut and move both inward and outward. And while they take a minute to figure out how to use, once you do you’ll thoroughly enjoy the pressure and the room. Big fans.

We also saw a lot of improvement when it comes to storage around the rooms. Tons of drawers and closets to use. Under the bed storage. Great lighting and switches for everything right by the bed. Even the phone was placed in a way to keep it out of sight so to say.

And then we have the suites. Lavish and wonderful. Filled with everything you would ever need and more. The two major players? The Wish Suite inside the front funnel and the Aurora Suite located on deck 13. Both are two stories, feature almost full kitchens, several rooms, dining and living and of course views that were mean’t to take your breath away.

• The addition of Murphy beds to several of the rooms.
• Showers are much better.
• Room overlay is beautiful.
• Room doors actually keep light out from the hallway!
• Each floor of rooms features a different theme which we loved.
• Tons of new tech including USB and USB-C ports.
• New suites that will blow you away.
• We’re still bummed that Disney hasn’t done anything about keeping fresh drinking water in their rooms for guests.
• Only one side of the bed has an outlet. The other side only has USB. Weird and inconvenient.

Entertainment and Shows

The Disney Wish features a brand new show never seen before on any other Disney Cruise ship called Seas the Adventure. It’s ridiculously cute and features all your favorite Disney characters, most especially Goofy. Also premiering on the Disney with is The Little Mermaid in all its broadway glory! Both shows were fantastic and are must-sees.

Of course no cruise can be complete without some kind of deck party. Right now the Wish is featuring a Pirate deck party with a live show and live rock band. And of course there are fireworks! Did we mention that the fireworks music is played live by the rock band? It’s something to behold!

Guests can also meet and greet with their favorite Disney characters aboard the ship. Look for them on deck 3 in the grand hall.

Remember how the sports courts on the Disney ships are up top and netted/fenced away? No longer! Disney finally moved the sports court inside! You heard right. You can finally play basketball, pingpong and foosball in AC. Thank the maker!

The courts are really cool and so the hangout area surrounding it. Two levels of fun for everyone!

Lastly, Disney now has two theaters that show films in them. The first is the Neverland Cinema and the second is the Wonderland Cinema. Both are very charming and can hold a decent amount of guests. The best part about having two theaters is that they can show two different films at the same time.

• We love live rock bands and we love that they play the fireworks music live!
• New shows in the Walt Disney Theater is always great and neither disappointed.
• Plenty of character to meet and get your photo with throughout the day.
• The firework show is…okay. They’ve done better and we hope they make the Wish’s better soon.
• Make the popcorn free Disney!

Clubs and Nursery

Deck 2 is where its all at when it comes to kids. The Disney Wish has dedicated this space for kids and it’s really, really cool. And cute! Murals span the walls between the “it’s a small world” nursery and the Oceaneer Club and they are so cool.

Speaking of so cool, the Oceaneer Club is exactly that! The new and improved kids club features several different areas for kids to enjoy including a Star Wars Cargo Bay, Walt Disney Imagineering Lab, Fairytale Hall, Mickey & Minnie’s Captain Deck and a Super Hero’s Academy.

Star Wars Cargo Bay

See and feel what it’s like to fly on a spaceship while you interact with characters and special cargo! The design of this place in incredible!

Walt Disney Imagineering Lab

Kids can become an Imagineer with hand-on activities and testing out new things like attractions. We’re jealous there isn’t a place like this for adults!

Fairytale Hall

Kids can craft floating lanterns at Rapunzel’s Art Studio, act out their favorite stories in Belle’s Library, and even create their own ice magic at Anna & Elsa’s Sommerhus!

Mickey & Minnie’s Captain Deck

A perfect place for the little ones to climb, slide and even steer their own ship with the help of Mickey and Minnie!

Super Hero’s Academy

Here kids can design their own super hero costumes and then train along with their favorite MARVEL super hero’s.

“it’s a small world” nursery

The cutes place in the ship is here! Infants looking for an escape from their parents will certainly find it here! Toys, books and beds are all at their disposal here! Did we mention it is super cute?!

• Everything about the Oceaneer Club is so great! It’s a kids paradise!
• The “small world” nursery is adorable and the perfect place for infants to hang-out.
• We also forgot to mention, kids can check-in to the Oceaneer Club on Deck 3 and take a slide down to deck 2!

• Make an area like this for the adults?

There’s a lot of shops including ship merchandise, jewelry, handbags and watches, as well as essentials like sunscreen, first aid/medicine and more. We don’t do a ton of this and funny enough, neither did a lot of of guests except at the merchandise shops. The jewelry shops were virtually empty. There’s probably better use for these spaces..

Spa and Services

Of course Senses Spa made its return to the ship and offers the same services you’ll find on the other Disney ships. The only difference is that their space and equipment is newer. Same goes for the gym space. It’s heavily used the first 1-2 days and then the crowds fall away.

Hook’s Barbery is new and offers haircuts and shaves separate from Senses Spa. The also offer nail and skin work as well as a hidden bar for drinks and whiskey tasting. The theme is really in here!

Lastly, Untangled Salon offers a variety of treatments including hairstyling, nails, skin work and facial treatments. It’s themed after Tangled and features her purple dress and floating lanterns.

We loved the Disney Wish, Disney’s newest cruise ship. It’s their new standard for sailing and can only see things getting better from here. While there are a lot of new things to enjoy and experience, there’s still the classic Disney ship feeling.

While it may be hard for us to jump back to the Fantasy, Dream , Magic or Wonder, we’ll always pick on ship based on the itinerary first. So we may be tempted to head straight back to the Wish for another magical sailing, we do want to explore other destinations first.

Of course if you haven’t been on the Disney Wish yet, you need to. You’ll be blown away by what they’ve done with it. It’s Enchantment theme is written all over the place and is very charming and welcoming.

Disney Cruise Line in general still has room for improvement, even with this ship. This will come in time we hope.

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Disney Wish Cruise Ship Guide to Attractions, Restaurants and Shows

A new Disney Cruise experience awaits! Disney Cruise Lines welcomed the 5th ship, the Disney Wish , which sailed her maiden voyage in 2022. Complete with new restaurants, the first attraction at sea, magical interactive spaces, and all your favorite Disney characters, here’s everything to know about Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Disney Wish!

• 1 Disney Cruise Line Disney Wish
• 2 Disney Wish Cruise Theme
• 3 Disney Wish Atrium Lobby
• 4 Disney Wish Cruise Spaces
• 5 Disney Wish Staterooms
• 6 Disney Wish Activities Onboard
• 7 Disney Wish Entertainment
• 8 Disney Wish Broadway Style Shows
• 9 Disney Wish Attractions
• 10 Disney Wish Entertainment Theaters
• 11 Disney Characters Onboard the Disney Wish
• 12 Family Dining at Disney Wish Restaurants 
• 13 Disney Wish Quick Service Restaurants
• 14 Disney Wish Rotational Dining Restaurants
• 15 Disney Wish Adult-Only Restaurants
• 16 Disney Wish Lounges and Night Clubs
• 17 Coffee Places on the Disney Wish
• 18 Disney Wish Shops
• 19 Disney Wish Activities for Kids
• 20 Disney Wish Activities for Tweens and Teens
• 21 Disney Wish Pools
• 22 Disney Wish Ports of Call
• 23 Is a Disney Cruise on the Disney Wish Worth It?

Disney Cruise Line Disney Wish

When was the Maiden Voyage of the Disney Wish?

The Disney Wish set sail with its Maiden voyage set for July 14, 2022. 

When was the Disney Wish Cruise Ship Christening?

The Disney Wish christening was held on June 29th, 2022 streamed live from Port Canaveral on a variety of Disney’s social media accounts at 11 AM EST. 

Who is the Godmother to the Disney Wish?

The Disney Wish debuts by honoring Godchildren, instead of a Godmother. Upon setting sail, Disney Wish honors all the Make-A-Wish as Godchildren of the Disney Wish. This is the first time in Disney Cruise history that children are recognized for this important role. Christening the ship and bestowing good fortune on the ship itself, and all who sail her. Read more about the Make-A-Wish Godchildren to the Disney Wish. 

What Character is on the Bow of the Disney Wish Cruise Ship?

While hardly seen when at the port, Captain Minnie can be found on the bow of the Disney Wish Cruise Ship. 

What Character is on the Stern of the Disney Wish Cruise Ship?

Rapunzel and Pascal from the Disney classic Tangled appear on the stern of the Disney Wish Cruise Ship. 

How Big is the Disney Wish Cruise Ship?

The Disney Wish is slightly larger than the Disney Fantasy and Dream ships, includes 14 decks, with room for 4000 passengers, and includes a variety of stateroom choices. 121 Inside Staterooms, 133 Outside Staterooms, 185 Ocean View Staterooms, and 948 Verandah Staterooms, including 21 suites. 

Is the Disney Wish Cruise Ship Environmentally Friendly?

This Disney Cruise Ship is powered by liquefied natural gas and is more environmentally friendly due to the use of this clean-burning fuel. 

Disney Wish Cruise Theme

The stern of the Disney Wish ship highlights a perfectly coiffed Rapunzel from Tangled and sidekick chameleon, Pascal playing around on the front of the boat as the ship’s mascot. Complete with gold lettering on the distinctive Navy of the Disney Cruise Line Fleet.  The entire theme of the ship revolves around “wishing” and features a golden Cinderella in the atrium. The atrium also features a grand chandelier, complete with a wishing star. Three levels will tower over the atrium, giving fantastic views to guests. We can’t wait to see what this will look like at Christmastime!

The Disney Wish features characters and stories centered on enchantment and wonder. Classic Disney masterpieces like Cinderella, and Beauty and the Beast join Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars for a fully magical experience. From the themed concierge-level staterooms, themed to Moana, Sleeping Beauty, and Tangled, to the elevated dining experiences featuring Marvel and Frozen. Disney magic will be around every corner on the Disney Wish Cruise Ship. 

Disney Wish Atrium Lobby

By far one of the largest Disney Cruise Ship lobbies, the Disney Wish features Cinderella as the lobby statue and a theme of enchantment. Complete with regal staircases and a stage, this space is used for the Disney Princess Royal Gathering Photo Ops onboard, as well as activities like the Kiss Goodnight, when the chandelier lights up with Cinderella’s Midnight wishes. 

Disney Wish Cruise Spaces

The Disney Wish Cruise ship is more than just a boat. It is a sailing wonderland of magical spaces to be explored. From the amazing lobby featuring Cinderella, with a hidden Jaq and Gus, playing under her skirt, to the elegance of the theaters, restaurants, and even hallways. There is so much to see onboard this Disney Wish cruise. 

The Grand Hall

The elegant atrium features a magical ballroom feel, featuring a floating lantern chandelier, light-wrapping staircases and balconies, and an all-over blue and gold color scheme. The area features Gothic, Baroque, and French Rococo influences lending a little more elegance and a lot more magic to the spaces. 

Where is Everything on the Disney Wish Cruise Ship?

One of the toughest parts of any Disney Cruise Vacation is taking the time to learn the ship. And on shorter excursions, like 3 or 4 days, it’s almost impossible to learn the layout and still have time to enjoy it. As such here is the layout of everything on the Disney Wish on each Deck, so you know where to go to eat, play and stay. 

Deck 1: Health Corridor, and Primarily for Disembarking at Port.  Deck 2: Oceaneer Club, including the Marvel, Star Wars Cargo Bay, and Imagineering Lab. It’s a Small World Nursery. Slide exit is on this floor. Walt Disney Theater ( Handicap Accessible Entrance) Main Deck 3: The Grand Hall, Guest Services, The Bayou Lounge, 1923 Restaurant, Shopping, Nightingales Lounge, Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge, Walt Disney Theater (Main Entrance), Preludes, Slide Entrance to Oceaneer Club Deck 4:   Worlds of Marvel Restaurant, Hook’s Barbery, Untangled Salon, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, The Wishing Star Cafe, Guest Services, Port Adventures, Walt Disney Theater Balcony Seating, Preludes, Luna Theater, Never Land Cinema, Wonderland Cinema Deck 5: Arendell Restaurant, Edge Tween Club, DVC Lounge, Shutters Portrait Studio, Mickey Mainsail Shopping, Enchanted Sword Cafe, Luna Theater Balcony, Senses Spa, and Fitness room. Decks 6-7: Staterooms Deck 8: Staterooms, Fairytale Fresh Laundry Decks 9-10: Staterooms Deck 11: Staterooms, Marceline Market, Inside Out: Joyful Sweets, Dory’s Forget-Me-Knots Shop, Pools, Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods, FunnelVision Deck 12: Concierge Level Staterooms, Concierge Lounge, Wheezy’s Freezies, Trixies Falls, Toy Story Splash Zone, Slide a Saurus Rex, Pools. Vibe Teen Club, The Hideaway, Hero Zone. The Rose Lounge, Palo Steakhouse, Enchante Deck 13: Concierge Level Staterooms, Concierge Private Sundeck, Hero Zone Balcony, Aquamouse, Adult Sun Deck, Quiet Cove Infinity Pool, Cove Cafe, Cove Bar.  Deck 14: Funnel Suite, Chip and Dale Pool, Currents Outdoor Bar

Disney Wish Cruise Ship Deck Plans

Courtesy of dclfan.com this is the most complete deck guide of the Disney Wish so far. 

Disney Wish Staterooms

There are 1254 staterooms on board the Disney Wish. And over 900 of these will be connecting staterooms, which is perfect for families. There are 4 royal suites and 7 additional suites. 

Staterooms on board the Disney Wish are storybook-inspired.  The rooms look modern, yet warm and inviting. Not only do these staterooms feature beautiful artwork from our favorite stories like Cinderella and Tangled; but they also have a luxurious feel, with upscale amenities and great features for families like extra storage.  For the first time ever, the Disney Wish also has two-story- yep you read that right -TWO STORY suites with a spiral staircase for the ultimate in luxury! There are only two of these suites, and we anticipate they’ll be quite expensive, but I mean look at that spiral staircase! Disney Cruise concierge experiences are upgraded as well!

Inside Staterooms 

Inside staterooms offer something called a Magical Porthole with real-time views of the water and waves outside. If you and your family are fine with a digital window, these rooms are the cheapest onboard, while still offering all the amenities of the outside staterooms. 

Oceanview Staterooms come with a variety of porthole options; Obstructed, Two Small Portholes, or One Large Porthole. The obstructed porthole room just means that there may be a pole or part of the ship in front of your oceanview window. If you’re not in your room a lot, or during daylight hours, this may not be an issue for you. Rooms with two small portholes are definitely adequate and offer a nice view of the water, while rooms with one large porthole have a window seat built-in. Perfect for gazing out the window. 

Verandah Rooms include a balcony with seating that overlooks the water and are a dream on cruises with a view but do cost significantly more. And may not be the best bet for families with small children. We did have a verandah for this trip to the Bahamas, but so much of what you see from your room is dependent upon which side of the boat your room is on, and which side of the port is prettiest. Check out the Disney Wish Verandah Room Tour for an inside look. 

Disney Cruise Room Host and Towel Friends

One of our favorite parts of any Disney Cruise is getting to know the Cast Members. And there are a few of whom you will see daily and who will truly be there for you the whole time! Your room host is one of those people. Room hosts tend to your room and learn your “schedule” so they can time room cleaning, and turn down service. They learn your names, leave chocolates and make you towel friends to greet you when you return to your cabin each evening. If we could take these folks home with us, we would. They are wonderful human beings there to make your life easier. Disney Cruise line typically has 1 cast member for every 2.5 passengers, there to help you however they can. 

Disney Wish Activities Onboard

As with all Disney Cruise Line Activities, you MUST have the Disney Cruise App on your phone so you can get access to the Disney Navigator. This section of the app allows you to do your favorite activities, be alerted of event times, and see what is happening across the boat each day of your cruise. The Disney Cruise App also shows you Restaurant Menus and Port Excursions. So it is a MUST-HAVE when onboard the ship. You can only get access to the Disney Navigator once you are onboard. At which point you Turn On Airplane Mode, and Connect to the Disney Cruise Line Guest Wi-Fi . Once that has been done you can open the Disney Cruise App and see your options. 

Disney Wish Entertainment

With some never-before-seen entertainment onboard, the Disney Wish includes new games, shows, and parties! Featuring three Broawdways Style shows you can see Aladdin, the Musical, The Little Mermaid , and Seas the Adventure . The Disney Wish also includes three movie theaters for first-run films and Disney classics. Plus, a special new interactive game called Uncharted Adventure. Keep reading to learn more. 

Disney Wish Sail Away Party

Get ready for the best Sail Away party you’ve ever attended. Complete with more Disney characters than you have ever seen! Joining Mickey and Friends are the Fairy Godmother, Disney princesses, and more, everything you could wish for. As part of the party, you hear original songs like First Wish and Set Sail on a Wish to help you get into the mood. All happening on Deck 11. So keep your eye on the funnel vision screen for fabulous backdrops to help tell the story as you sail away. 

Disney Wish Pirate Night

Featuring the deck show the Pirates Rockin Parlay Party, and a live ’80s hair band with a drummer named Bubbles, this is one you won’t want to miss. Anchored by Pirate Redd’s great-great-grandaughter, Captain Redd this show includes music like Yo Ho, We’re Not Gonna Take It, and Jumpin Jack Flash. All before the amazing Fireworks at Sea show. 

Disney Wish Broadway Style Shows

Featuring Broadway Style Shows, opposite your dinner hour, a Disney Cruise offers showstopping entertainment. With classics from Disney films, to original productions featuring the themes of magic, adventure, friendship, believing, and more, these are always a treat while onboard. 

Disney Wish Show Times

Shows on a Disney Cruise are opposite your dinner times, and happen at  at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m .  Be sure to keep an eye on the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app for scheduled showtimes once you arrive onboard. The Disney Wish has 3 Shows; Disney Seas the Adventure, The Little Mermaid and Aladdin. 

Disney Seas the Adventure

This new musical spectacular features Captain Minnie Mouse handing over the helm to Goofy, ready to take on the responsibility of captain! A musical story featuring Disney and Pixar friends and familiar soundtracks, ready to set sail, and help you bring out your own inner captain. This show takes place the first evening of your cruise and is located in the Walt Disney Theatre.

The Little Mermaid

This brand new stage show aboard the Disney Wish is a retelling of The Little Mermaid complete with iconic scenes and music from the beloved film. As a modern-day retelling, you can expect a whole new spin on the story you know. Musical numbers include “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl” and “Poor Unfortunate Souls.”

With stunning effects and a reimagined Agrabah Marketplace get ready to see interactive elements worthy of Broadway! Including zip lines and rigging! This classic tale can be seen onstage on the Disney Wish like never before, in this re-imagined telling. 

Disney Wish Attractions

This cruise has some exclusive Disney Wish Attractions that you won’t find on other Disney ships. The Uncharted Adventure Game on the Wish is an interactive game that uses your phone to interact with the ship, and results in some extra magic while on board. Pictures come to life, and things light up, and it all commences with a showdown against the Disney Villains in the Luna Lounge. Other Disney Wish Attractions include the Final Kiss Goodnight featuring Cinderella’s voice at Midnight and a light show in the Grand Hall. Or you can head to the AquaMouse! This waterslide includes a story as you whizz by on your raft and adds to the fun onboard. Check out all the Disney Wish Attractions below. 

Disney Unchartered Adventure 

Disney Unchartered Adventure gives guests onboard the Disney Wish a first-of-its-kind, interactive experience. Using the Disney Parks play app, augmented reality, physical props, and your phone, Disney Unchartered will take you on a Disney adventure that you’ve never seen before. Complete with interactive elements all over the ship that come alive when you play. With your phone becoming a spyglass, you can uncover treasures, awaken pieces of art and watch the chandeliers come to life. With Captain Mickey and Captain Minnie as your guide, this multi-day adventure can be played at your own pace and features adventures with Disney characters like Moana, Tiana, Tinkerbell, and more. Each mission takes you to new Disney worlds found in your favorite films, so this game can be different, every time you play it! 

Disney Unchartered Adventure offers both an introduction on the first night and a finale on the last night where guests can team up with other players to defeat an infamous Disney villain. We are big fans of Disney games, especially games onboard Disney cruise ships , and we can’t wait to see where this one takes us!

Wishing Ever After Show

The final party on the Disney Wish is called “Wishing Ever After”  and is part of the last evening’s events, shown twice that evening. With the final lighting of the Wishing Star on the chandelier in the Grand Hall, all the Disney characters visit one last time in the main lobby with families looking to get their last photos and last bit of magic onboard.  

Disney Wish Final Kiss Goodnight

Shown exactly at Midnight in the Grand Hall, guests can see a lighting display take place in the ceiling and on the elements that crawl up the walls and across the balconies, culminating at the chandelier. Set to the twinkle sounds, this display is a must-see as it’s exclusive to the Disney Wish, and honors Cinderella. 

The AquaMouse 

The Aqua Mouse is the first Disney attraction at sea! A 760-foot wild water ride will take you around the top deck of the Disney Wish.  The ride will feature Mickey and Minnie in “ Scuba Scramble” . They’ve just started their own Excursion Company, appropriately named Port Misadventures, and they’re inviting you along to Mermaid Lagoon! What could go wrong, right? With show scenes, lighting, special effects, and more, this water ride will take you to the animated world of Mickey Mouse shorts. With twists, turns, and beautiful ocean views, the Aqua Mouse ends by bringing you to a lazy river. Plus, there is even a second original story, “Swiss Meltdown” featuring more of Mickey and Minnie you can watch through the nine portholes you’ll pass in your tube. With different animations, music, and lighting, it feels like a whole new ride! 

Games, Trivia, Bingo, Tastings, and More

Just like all Disney Cruises, the Disney Wish features a variety of fun activities you can do throughout the day. Players of Bingo can tackle the Bingo cards almost daily for a chance to win prizes and money. Meanwhile, there are other activities all over the boat, including a variety of Disney Trivia events, Towel Friends Classes, the Villians game and more. But maybe making your own apple strudel sounds like a chore. Perhaps, just aim for a wine tasting instead. The liqueur-based activities are for an additional fee, but for the most part, activities are free! 

Hero Zone is a multipurpose recreation space where futuristic imagination meets active play and is a great place to connect with the whole family in this sports arena. At times filled with the bouncy house challenge, and at others, a basketball court, this space also has an upper deck filled with foosball tables, chairs, and a hidden room with ping pong tables. In fact, you even catch Oogie Boogie on the Disney Wish hosting a villainous bash in Hero Zone. Be sure to explore this space while onboard. 

Fireworks at Sea

And of course, no cruise entertainment would be complete without fireworks! Thankfully, this nighttime display is still on the list of things to look forward to! Complete with specially composed music by the Budapest Orchestra and live accompaniment as well. 

Disney Wish Entertainment Theaters

The grand hall stage.

As part of the new entertainment options onboard the Disney Wish, performers, characters, and friends will take over the Grand Hall. The Grand Hall Stage will serve as a fun entertainment space throughout the day and night featuring Disney characters. As part of the main lobby space, this stage showcased the game ” Whose Behind the Curtain,” where guests can guess which Disney character may be hidden. It also served as the location for character meet and greets, Lord Leopold’s and Lady Lillian’s storytelling, and live music. 

The Luna stage acts as the day-to-night hub for interactive shows. Showcasing family-friendly entertainment by day and a more upscale experience by night. Complete with a two-story screen, this is also where you can find Bingo and other large group activities on board. 

• “ Villains Game Night ” is a witty game show where guests will attempt to answer Disney trivia questions amid the jeers and sneers of nefarious Disney foes, including Cruella de Vil, Gaston, Hades, Maleficent and more, who will join on screen.
• “ Disney Songbook ” puts guests in the spotlight as they belt out Disney songs and showcase their star talent for a live camera crew, who will project each performance onto the big screen.

Walt Disney Theatre

The main theater is Walt Disney Theater featuring Disney Wish Broadway Shows. Because you can’t mention wishes and not mention Genie himself, the Disney Wish theatre is set to add a reimagined Broadway production of Aladdin. The Walt Disney Theatre onboard the Disney Wish Cruise Ship will also feature two new original productions; The Little Mermaid and Disney Seas Adventure. These Broadway shows are held in the Walt Disney theatre, whose design is inspired by a magical forest. 

Wonderland and Neverland Movie Theaters

With exquisite attention to detail, these theaters take on a character of their own. The Wonderland Theater features Cheshire Cat inspiration, while the Neverland theater is all about Tinkerbell. These theaters provide you with more options than ever to watch classic and first-run films from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and more. We always love the movie theaters onboard Disney Cruise, and these promise to be top-notch. 

FunnelVision

Another mainstay of any Disney Cruise is the ability to watch Disney movies ALL DAY LONG up on deck on the FunnelVision screen. On the Disney Treasure, FunnelVision can be found on Deck 11, alongside Mickey’s Festival of Foods, and drink stations. Disney films like Sleeping Beauty, Wreck-it Ralph, and Pirates of the Caribbean are all part of the lineup on the big screen. Simply grab a chair, and settle in. For the most part, films run all day, with the exception of party or event times, and are a great reason to take a break and relax. 

Disney Characters Onboard the Disney Wish

As with any Disney Cruise, you get the chance to not only see your favorite Disney characters in the deck shows but also meet them in the halls and at photo spots. Disney characters included on the Disney Wish were all the ones you would expect! Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto are all part of the fun. And princesses like Tiana, Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, and Mulan showed up too! If you’re sailing for Halloween on the High Seas, you can also meet the Sanderson Sisters; Minnie, Daisy, and Clarabelle during your sail. 

Family Dining at Disney Wish Restaurants 

Disney Cruise Line is known for its amazing dining experiences. Whether you’ve experienced the Tangled restaurant on the Disney Magic or been to one of their adult-only restaurants like Palo or Remy on the Disney Fantasy , then you know that guests on Disney Cruise ships are always in for a treat, quite literally. And, like anyone, we live for these elevated dining experiences available to cruisers on the Disney Wish and we are so excited to see these come to life!

Disney Wish Quick Service Restaurants

Marceline market.

Seasoned Disney Cruisers know that every Disney Cruise Ship currently has Cabanas onboard. That has changed with Disney’s newest cruise ship, the Disney Wish. Instead of Cabanas, the Disney Wish debuts Marceline Market. The style of dining will remain the same, with food stations available for breakfast and lunch and table service for dinner. The theming, however, will look much different than Cabanas. Themed after Main Street U.S.A. this dining option pays tribute to Walt’s small-town life as a child. 

Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods

As with all of the Disney Cruise ships, there is a casual or quick-service restaurants as well. The Disney Wish quick service options include a brand new set of restaurants perfect for grabbing a bit whenever you need it. And there is also ice cream of course! 

Our BIGGEST surprise regarding the Festival of Foods was the food quality. Absolutely fantastic! Freshly made pizzas, a taco bar, freshly grilled burgers, and vegetarian options too. Here’s what you can find at each marketplace in the Festival of Foods on the Disney Wish.  

• Mickey’s Smokestack Barbecue : Serving up freshly made barbecue this place had ribs, pork, and fries. 
• Donald’s Cantina: Think Chipotle, but better. This Taco bar offered a variety of meat and plant-based stuffings and toppings for tacos. A pretty long at this window, but worth the wait. 
• Daisy’s Pizza Pies : Freshly made pizzas including Margherita, Cheese, and Pepperoni. Very good. Wood-Fired. 
• Goofy’s Grill: A classic, this place includes burgers and fries and chicken sandwiches alongside everything you’d find at a cookout. 
• Sweet Minnie’s Ice Cream . The famous Disney Cruise ice cream is served to you by staff. You can grab a cone, a bowl in a variety of flavors. 

Disney Wish Rotational Dining Restaurants

One of Disney Cruise Line’s signature services is Rotational Dining on a Disney Cruise, which can sometimes get confusing. Guests can choose and are ultimately assigned a first or second seating. The First Seating is typically around 6:00 pm and the Second Seating is around 8:15 pm. Though these times can vary 15 minutes before or after this time. Once you know your seating, you’ll simply show up at the assigned restaurant at that time every night throughout your trip. Know that the evening showtimes are also at these times. So if you have a first seating assignment, your showtime will be later, and if you have a second seating your showtime will be earlier.

The restaurants included in the rotational dining on Disney Wish were 1923 , Arendelle, and Marvel. As traditional table-service restaurants, these meals here are included in your Disney Cruise Vacation Package. Gratuities for dinner service, however, are not. As such you will be charged gratuities at the end of your cruise. Note that any breakfast or lunch meal you have at these restaurants does not generate gratuities on your bill. Therefore, feel free to check these restaurants’ schedules throughout your cruise if you hope to have a table-service breakfast or lunch. 

Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure

For a premium dining experience and musical celebration, Arendelle, a Frozen Dining Adventure, is a restaurant featuring dinner and a show. This show features performances from Elsa, Anna, Olaf, and Kristoff. The menu includes elegant dishes with Nordic influences and is perfectly themed to the wonder of Frozen.

If classic Hollywood is a bit more your style, then you’re in luck. The Disney Wish debuts a new restaurant honoring where it all began, in 1923. This Disney Wish 1923 restaurant takes you back in time to the time period when Walt Disney Studios was founded. You are immersed in the early animation process via sketches and illustrations. 1923 features an elegant Hollywood-style menu inspired by a California fusion of cultural flavors.  There are two sides to the 1923 restaurant; the Walt Disney side and the Roy Disney side. Both sides are similar and open for breakfast as well as dinner. And if you’re up for it, it’s custom to put on your best 1920’s outfit to attend dinner here! The 1923 Restaurant is also on the newest cruise in the fleet, the Disney Treasure. 

Worlds of Marvel Restaurant Avengers: Quantum Encounter Dining Experience

For our fellow Marvel fans, finally, a Marvel-themed restaurant! Worlds of Marvel is the first-ever Marvel Cinematic dining adventure.  This dining experience will transport you to an interactive world where a mission unfolds around you. You can expect global cuisines inspired by your favorite heroes. Foods are inspired by African Wakanda, Eastern European Sokovia, and New York City. And don’t be surprised if you get recruited by the Avengers to help complete the mission to help prevent an attack by a large seagull. 

Disney Wish Adult-Only Restaurants

The Adult Restaurants on Disney Wish are all themed to Beauty and the Beast; The Rose Lounge, Palo and Enchante bring more beauty than a beast to the decor, and all feature an 18+ age requirement to enter. Guests may only book ONE dinner in advance for Palo. However, if your Palo night is the first night of your cruise, you are able to make a second reservation at either Palo or Enchante on another night of your cruise. Check out the Signature Dining Reservation Window based on your   Castaway Club Status.

Palo Steakhouse- Cogsworth Themed

This Adult Only signature restaurant onboard the Disney Wish is Palo. Offering a 270-degree oven view this restaurant has the best views on the ship. Featuring Northern Italian cuisine, this restaurant is considered a must-do for Disney Adult Cruisers at least once. Serving up a multi-course dinner, dessert, and champagne event, as well as a specialty brunch. Dinner at Palo is typically $70 per person for the prix fixe menu and $45 for brunch. Given the spectacular views, we recommend aiming for brunch or an early dinner hour so you can see all there is to see. Check out all the offerings available during your cruise at Palo Restaurant . 

The Disney Wish has a reimagined version of everyone’s favorite Adult-Only restaurant on the Disney Wish. Palo decor is inspired by Cogsworth and features Italian dining with a steakhouse atmosphere. Offering a steakhouse lineup of exquisite Italian dishes, steaks, Australian wagyu, and Japanese Kobe and Miyazaki beef. This restaurant serves the finest Italian wines and bold craft beers ­– The signature dessert at Palo is a fresh-to-order chocolate souffle, prepared with vanilla bean and chocolate sauces.

The last Beauty and the Beast-themed adult-only restaurant is Enchante. Enchante premiers an elegant experience with a menu created by 3 Michelin-star chefs, Arnaud Lallement. Ocean views and international cuisine are all part of this upscale dining experience. In addition to dinner, Enchante also offers brunch and dessert seating. 

• Champagne Brunch This Champagne brunch features a glass of bubbly and a French-inspired prix fixe meal—plus a decadent dessert.
• Just Desserts Indulge in a 5-course dessert menu served with coffee. This adults-only event features an in-depth discussion with Enchanté’s Executive Chef and Pastry Chef, who will discuss the history and evolution of each sweet selection.

Disney Wish Lounges and Night Clubs

A slew of Disney Lounges are available on the Disney Wish, each with its own theme and flavor. Featuring Disney Wish activities throughout the day, like trivia, bingo, crafts, and more, these spaces turn into Adult-Only ( 18+) areas at night. Offering up mixed drinks, and small plates for the taking. 

The Rose Lounge

For those who love a tale as old as time, the Disney Wish’s Rose Lounge has Beauty and the Beast-themed areas for adults. This champagne bar and lounge is at the entrance of Palo Steakhouse, which is a perfect place for a before or after-dinner cocktail. Elegance at its best, this lounge is perfect for the Beauty and the Beast fan. Or if you’re looking to get away for views of the ocean through the windows that surround this space. 

Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge 

Star Wars fans can meander into the Hyperspace Lounge, specifically for adults. With panoramic views of the galaxy and out-of-this-world concoctions, the Hyperspace Lounge provides views of Tatooine, Batuu, and much more through a 20-foot wide window into space. This lounge features a high shine and gold detail a la Canto Bight casino. There is a maximum capacity limit but guests can simply press the green button at the door to enter. Our favorite drinks here were the Tatooine, The Temple Twist, and the Golden One. Check out all the details on the Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge.

Keg & Compass

This pub recreates elements of adventure and romance on the high seas. Designed in the rustic style, this space takes its decor from a Norwegian sailor’s map and Norse seafaring communities of old. Live sports, news, and more will be shown here, among a bar filled with liquors, beers, and wines. 

Nightingale’s

Named after Cinderella’s cleaning song, Sing Sweet Nightingale , this piano bar is inspired by Cinderella! And will offer an extensive wine list, champagnes, and cocktails. Complete with all that glitters, this lounge will extend from the Grand Lobby and feature rose gold accents in the decor. Expect to find touches of Cinderella-inspired decor everywhere, even the carpet. This Disney Cruise Lounge is known for it’s “Ice Bubbles” drinks, and the live piano music you can enjoy throughout the cruise. 

Inspired by New Orleans and the Princess and the Frog, this lounge includes decor filled with magnolia blossoms, lily pads, and magical lighting that looks like fireflies. Centrally located, this place will offer cocktails, specialty coffees, signature beignets, and live music. Be sure to grab the signature drink “The Hurricane,” during your visit. Family activities like crafts and trivia take place here during the day, so be sure to grab some beignets to keep your energy up!

Triton Lounge 

Located on Deck 5, this lounge space is where you go for Disney Cruise activities, like cooking classes, tastings, and more. Note, this space is TINY! If you’re hoping to attend trivia or any group activity in Triton Lounge, we recommend getting there early to grab a seat. Many guests just stay from one activity to the next, so it’s not the best place to hold events that need larger seating spaces. 

Coffee Places on the Disney Wish

Thankfully, there is no shortage of coffee on the Disney Wish. Whether you’re looking for a quick cup of joe or something with a little more kick, here are the places to find Coffee on the Disney Wish Cruise Ship . 

Wishing Star Cafe

Located on Deck 4 between the Untangled Salon and Hook’s Barbery, the Wishing Star Cafe features a variety of espressos, coffee cocktails, and more. Themed to Jiminy Cricket, this cafe even has coffee art! So plan your morning lattes, and get your coffee punch card so you can work your way towards that free drink by the end of your cruise. 

Enchanted Sword Cafe

Themed to the Sword and the Stone, this coffee cafe is located on Deck 5 just off The Grand Hall and offers up enchanting cocktails and coffees. This cafe shares the same menu as Wishing Star Cafe. You can take a look at the coffee menus on the Disney Wish, for an inside look at what to expect.  This cafe tended to have much shorter lines than Wishing Star on our cruise, so be sure to check both locations if the lines are long. 

Found near the Quiet Cove infinity pool is the Cove Cafe. This adult-only coffee shop is themed to Moana and has a Polynesian flair that is sure to cheer up any morning on the deck. This place gets busy in the mornings, so plan for that if you’re adding this to your daily routine.  It can also only be accessed from the outside, so keep that in mind if you are sailing in inclement weather. 

The cafe inside Marceline Market is easy to miss if you don’t know where to look. We actually stumbled upon it by accident as its slightly hidden in plain sight. Located in between the two sides of Marceline Market, this cafe serves up specialty coffees as well as bar menu items like mimosas and cocktails. There is a seating area for the cafe here as well, but on our cruise, we noticed it was usually being used by people eating their meals, so it doesn’t have that cafe feel like some of the other coffee spots do. The cafe inside Marceline Market is currently only open during time periods when Marceline is open for breakfast and lunch, making it a less convenient option. 

Other Places to get Coffee on the Disney Wish

Aside from the 3 main coffee shops onboard the Disney Wish , you can also grab a morning latte at a couple of other places as well! The Bayou offers coffee drinks during the morning portion of their service, around noon. And The Lookout on deck 11 is equipped with a full coffee bar as well. This makes finding your caffeine fix an easy task. You can also get free coffee from both room service and the drink fountain station on deck 11. 

Disney Wish Shops

One of our favorite Disney Wish activities is shopping onboard, and these shops include all-new Disney Wish merchandise, alongside unique shopping experiences you can’t find anywhere else. 

The Joyful Sweets Sweet Shop

The Joyful Sweets Sweet Shop is inspired by Inside Out and features a variety of decadent desserts, and treats honoring all our emotions. You can create edible Memory Orbs of your very own, as you create new memories onboard. Also available at Joyful Sweets, you can grab 40 plus flavors of gelato and ice cream. And of course, you can count on cupcakes too, featuring the Pixar Inside Out characters. As the specialty shop onboard, this is similar to Sweet on You aboard the Disney Fantasy.  

Treasures Untold

One of these shops, Treasures Untold, will be your go-to destination for signature Disney Cruise Line collectibles, including our largest selection of Pandora Jewelry ever, plus limited-time Artist Spotlight collections and guest-favorite Dooney & Bourke handbags. Here you can find jewelry, perfumes, and high-end merchandise. 

Mickey’s Mainsail

This Disney Cruise Line mainstay gift shop is filled with Disney Cruise Line-themed souvenirs and gifts, plus even more, Disney Wish exclusives from Loungefly and other favorite brands. Plan to grab your Disney Cruise magnets, pins, mugs, and anything else you may need at Mickey’s Mainsail.

Dory’s Forget-Me-Knots

This shop is for everything you need but perhaps have forgotten! Dory’s Forget-Me-Knots will feature swimwear, water-play gear, and fun graphic tees inspired by favorite Disney stories. For a small shop, we were highly impressed here and wished we would have found it sooner. Complete with graphic tees to help commemorate your trip, you can’t find these items at Mickey’s Mainsail. Be sure to stop. And thanks to cast member Jackson for showing us around on our visit. 

Disney Wish Activities for Kids

Some of the most exciting news to come out of the Disney Wish is everything the ship will have for kids!

Disney Wish Kids Club Open House

Available once per cruise, Adults can explore these spaces onboard the ship at a designated time, found in the Disney Navigator section of the Disney Cruise App. If you’re hoping to check out these spaces, you only get one chance! 

“it’s a small world” nursery

If you need childcare on your cruise you can reserve time at the “It’s a small world” nursery. This care place is filled with activities and fun to keep your little one occupied and safe while you enjoy other things onboard. Read More about the Disney Cruise Nursery.

The Disney Oceaneer Club

The Disney Oceaneer Club has always been a great way for kids to learn and explore with Disney Cruise Cast members. And now, it’s getting an upgrade! The new Disney Oceaneer Club will have a secret entrance into the club for kids only! Kids can slide from the main lobby to their destination! Home to several areas, here is the lineup of what children can find in the Oceaneer Club on the Disney Wish Cruise Ship. 

Star Wars Cargo Bay

Get ready for a Star Wars Creature Challenge! This area gets kids in the action by teaching them to become creature handlers so they can learn to manage some mischievous animals from across the galaxy! Rey and Chewbacca assist in rescuing this ship from destruction. 

Marvel Super Hero Academy

Marvel Academy is also part of the kids club and will offer superhero training and more! Our favorite characters expected to be part of the action include Spider-Man, Black Panther, Ant-Man, and The Wasp. 

Walt Disney Imagineering Lab

The kids club on the Disney Wish will also feature an interactive lab that allows kids to see the world of Imagineers. Kids can even design and virtually ride their own roller coaster! Using elements of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain, and Matterhorn Bobsleds, kids can get up close and personal with their favorite rides for inspiration. When finished they can even take a virtual ride in a specially designed capsule that mimics the real ride! 

Fairytale Hall

And Fairytale Hall will feature Rapunzel’s Art Studio, Belle’s Library, and Anna and Elsa’s Summerhus. There is so much coming to the Disney Wish for kids, they’ll never want to leave! The kid’s clubs on Disney Cruise Line ships are always top-notch, and well worth the visit. Parents can tag along to see all the fun at any Open House throughout the cruise. 

Mickey and Minnie’s Captain’s Deck

This nautical playground includes Minnie’s Captain Academy, a signature experience where kids can learn about the skip, and take part in games, dances, and drills. Educational, this activity aligns with STEAM principles.

Disney Wish Activities for Tweens and Teens

The newest spaces to be revealed on the Disney Wish, are all about tweens and teens. With programming to add to the fun, activities, dance, and treats, here are all the things you can find on the Disney Wish. 

Edge | Ages 11-14

This tween space for 11-14-year-olds is inspired by a chic New York City Loft. This space lends to solo gaming and movie watching, and includes a soda bar! Let your tween chart their own destiny in this Disney Cruise Club for tweens. Edge offers up a place to watch movies, play games, get creative, and make new friends. Equipped with all the tech, TVs, and video games you need to have fun if your tween wants to take part.   Edge Hours are 10:00 am- 1:00 am. 

Vibe | Ages 14- 17

For teens ready to take it up a notch, this space is inspired by a Parisian artists’ loft and geared towards teens ages 14-17. Decorated with pop art, graffiti, and travel posters, this space is hangout-worthy and picture-ready for all your social media feeds. This lounge space for teens is perfect for hanging out, having fun, and even making smoothies.  Teens 14-17 will have plenty to do if they’re ready to make friends and take part. Vibe features a coffee bar, and a wide selection of nonalcoholic beverages to keep them going all day and offers counselors on hand to oversee the fun. Vibe Hours are 10:00 am- 1:00 am

The Hideaway

The newest space for tweens and teens, and young adults and exclusive to the Disney Wish, is The Hideaway. This space transforms spaces to offer teen hangouts, tween activities, and even a special space for 18-20 year-olds. The Hideaway includes a dance floor, a smoothie bar, and disco ball lights. Check out even more details on Disney Parks Blog. 

1820 Society | Ages 18-20

Rather underground, the 1820 Society offers young cruisers aged 18-20 the opportunity to get together for activities. While not heavily published and with no designated space, this group’s meet-ups are often available on the Disney Navigator App. Lead by a single cast member, activities like photo scavenger hunts, or meet-ups at the Lounges during the day are all on the menu for this group. Trivia, Karaoke, Games, and Silent Disco are also offered throughout the cruise to keep these young adults involved. If sailing to Castaway Cay the group also takes part in group activities like biking, and volleyball. Be on the lookout in the app for times to meet up, and check with a Cast Member once onboard for details on registering. 

Disney Wish Pools

No cruise would be complete without a plethora of pools aboard the ship! Consisting of multiple “pool districts” the Disney Wish boasts several pools throughout the boat for kids and adults. 

Quiet Cove Pool

Part of the Disney Adult Only Area, this pool is located at the back of the ship, alongside Cove Cafe, a Moana-inspired cafe. And features an infinity pool with spectacular views. 

Toy Story Pool

This pool for toddlers and small children includes a splash zone, a wading pool, and Slide a Saurus Rex Family Waterslide. 

Chip and Dale’s Pool

This secluded family pool on Deck 14 is the first of its kind and offers a less hectic family pool experience. Perfect for families looking to get away from the hustle and bustle while still enjoying amazing views from the highest point on the ship.  

Toy Story Splash Zone

A new Splash Zone themed to Toy Story will be a great spot for little ones to play and cool off. Featuring Buzz, Woody, and all our favorite Toy Story characters, this water play area faces the adult deck and Currents above. Perfect for lounging and letting the kids play while on board. 

Disney Wish Ports of Call

Where does the disney wish cruise ship sail.

For now, the Disney Wish will be sailing out of Port Canaveral to the Caribbean, with stops at Castaway Cay, and the Bahamas. You can check this link for the Disney Wish itineraries and prices ! And to find out more about these Disney Wish Locations.

Primarily sailing to the Bahamas, the Disney Wish offers 3 and 4-night itineraries that include Castaway Cay. The first cruise for many Disney Cruisers, the Bahamas is an easy destination to experience. It’s not too far, is a budget-friendly Disney Cruise, and doesn’t require much. Complete with a few beaches, and Bahamians selling their wares, there are a few things to do at Nassau. As a result of our fairly unorganized vacation to Nassau Bahamas, we have a few tips for a Disney Cruise to Nassau Bahamas. The big one is, to book the excursions. While this little port town offers up a couple of nearby sites, like shops, a pirate museum, and a beach, it’s still foreign enough for you to wonder why you got off the boat if you don’t know what you’re doing. Be sure to read up on our Disney Cruise to the Bahamas Review so you have a feel for what to expect. 

Castaway Cay

Castaway Cay is Disney’s Private Island, and luckily, is on the Disney Fantasy itinerary as a port of call for a whole day! By far one of our favorite stops on any Disney Cruise. With things like snorkeling, bike riding, and inner-tubing, there is plenty to do on your Castaway Cay day. You can also book excursion packages for boating, water bikes, and other special activities. Check out our Castaway Cay Guide to get an idea of everything you can do on the island. 

Is a Disney Cruise on the Disney Wish Worth It?

While we’re cheerleaders for any Disney Cruise, the Disney Wish itself is a little pricier and may or may not warrant your extra Disney dollars. On a Typical 4-night Cruise for 2 people to the Bahamas which includes a stop at Castaway Cay , here’s the average cost. 

• Inside Stateroom: Starting at $2243
• Oceanview Stateroom: Starting at $2507
• Verandah Stateroom: Starting at $2803
• Concierge-level Stateroom: Starting at $5843

For us, there are many pros to staying on the Disney Wish. To start, it’s a beautiful boat, with loads of amenities, activities and top-notch entertainment. Is it “better” than other Disney Cruise ships ? No, in fact we came away from our Disney Wish experience with an appreciation for the other boats a little bit more. We missed walking on a seamless Deck 4. And lamented the lack of cozy deck 5 seating and the specialty pastry case at the coffee shops. We didn’t love the looping “Disney Wish timepiece” that played on funnel vision and longed for the nonstop Disney movies we know and love. And even as avid stair walkers, we missed the convenience of the midship elevators.

For us, the Disney Wish is a magical experience, but it is not our favorite boat. But for those with kids who need nonstop entertainment, there is plenty of that here. Everyone will have a different opinion. But if you’re up against a Disney Cruise or a Disney Wish Cruise, know that all the ships are worth it. And if you’re saving your pennies, a Disney Cruise on any ship will do just fine. 

Disney Wish Cruise Ship Guide

There you have it. Everything you can find on Disney’s newest ship, the Disney Wish! From amazing dining to entertainment and new spaces, there is tons of fun to be had on this boat. We’re sharing even more details in our Top 10 Ways that the Disney Wish is Different from Other Disney Cruise Ships and our Disney Wish Cruise Ship Review . Hopefully, this helps you decide if this Disney boat is perfect ( or not) for your next vacation. 

Rochelle Mariah

Rochelle Mariah is a writer, designer and photographer with an MLIS in Information Science and a B.S. in Arch and Design. Determined to make Planning a DIY Disney Vacation easier she makes lots of lists and drinks lots of coffee. When not designing apparel at Polka Dot Pixie Shop, she's watching old movies and planning the holidays. She has been traveling to Disney destinations since 2010.

• Rochelle Mariah https://www.polkadotsandpixiedust.com/author/rochellemariah/ The Complete Walt Disney World Events Calendar for 2025
• Rochelle Mariah https://www.polkadotsandpixiedust.com/author/rochellemariah/ What Makes the Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge Special?
• Rochelle Mariah https://www.polkadotsandpixiedust.com/author/rochellemariah/ Summer House on the Lake Disney Springs Restaurant Review
• Rochelle Mariah https://www.polkadotsandpixiedust.com/author/rochellemariah/ Earth Month at Animal Kingdom Earth Day 2024

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Best of the Disney Wish Cruise Ship

More than the rest of the fleet, the Disney Wish is a ship of hits and misses, highs and lows. It does many things surprisingly well, and others confoundingly badly. In this “best of” list, we’ll take a look at the top 12 things we think the newest addition to the Disney Cruise Line fleet gets right.

It should go without saying, but this list is highly subjective. It’s more aptly an “our favorite things about the Disney Wish” list, but that doesn’t roll off the tongue in quite the same way. It’s also based on only one sailing–the Disney Wish Christening Cruise. As covered in our First Impressions of the Disney Wish , not everything was ready or presented during that media itinerary, so this list is undoubtedly incomplete.

Still, we felt it would be worth sharing our preliminary pros & cons or highlights & lowlights of the Disney Wish. We’ve already heard from several readers who are on the fence about whether to book the much more expensive Disney Wish, or stick to the cheaper legacy ships. Between this, our first impressions, and upcoming “Worst of the Disney Wish” list, we hope to help you make a semi-informed decision about which one is right for your family. With that in mind, let’s dig in to what the Disney Wish does right!

Avengers: Quantum Encounter at Worlds of Marvel – Described by Disney Cruise Line as the first-ever Marvel cinematic dining adventure where guests play an interactive role in an action-packed Avengers mission that unfolds around them, Worlds of Marvel will make both  this list and the worst of list. There are actually a few entries on this list that’ll also make that list, for reasons we’ll lay out in that subsequent post.

As for what makes Worlds of Marvel great, it’s the spectacle, humor, and blockbuster scale of the dining experience. While it doesn’t live up to its marketing, there is a certain larger than life quality to this rotational restaurant thanks to the booming soundtrack and appearances by so many super heroes. In the end, it’s age-defying wonder Paul Rudd who carries the entire production–it’d be a flop without him. So, if you’re one of the 17 people in America who doesn’t love Paul Rudd, this may not be for you.

Deck Design – This is going to be a divisive one, and another entry that’ll make both lists in some capacity. One thing we really like about the deck design of the Disney Wish is the way it breaks things up with tiers. Decks 11 and 12 have a half-dozen pools of various sizes and depths, staggered all around the upper decks and surrounded by lounge chairs.

On the plus side, it makes these areas more dynamic and pleasant. You’re not surrounded by a mass of humanity all crowding into one giant, flat area. This is one of the things I dislike most about cruising, and seldom used the normal pools on the other ships as a result. Despite more deck space, the Wish’s pools feel more intimate and enjoyable. From a practical perspective, this also makes viewing entertainment easier and closing any one of the pools for, ahem, “accidents” less impactful. The execution isn’t always perfect, but we like the ideas behind subdividing the deck space and pools.

The Little Mermaid – The caveat here is that we haven’t had the chance to see this stage show in finished or full form. With that said, even the unpolished, incomplete incarnation makes the list. The Little Mermaid theatrical production is a twist on the film, with contemporary storytellers and a reimagined script. Those buzzwords might have you worried it’s not the same timeless tale, but from what we saw, this “modern-day adaptation” mostly stays true to the spirit of the film, without many superfluous changes.

The performers are incredible, with Ariel delivering a powerful vocal performance and dancers breathing life into the music. “Under the Sea” is an absolute showstopper with puppeteers dialing the energy and excitement level up to 11. It’s like Finding Nemo: The Musical, but infused with an infectious joy–and even more adorable puppets.

Enchanté – The most luxurious dining experience on the Disney Wish, Enchanté features a gourmet menu crafted by Michelin three-star Chef Arnaud Lallement, who is also behind Remy on the Dream and Fantasy. It’s a given that the cuisine at Enchanté is exquisite–we had one of (if not the ) best meals of our lives here. It’s also a given that the service is superlative–the best servers were chosen from other DCL restaurants.

What surprised me is the atmosphere and design. We arrived at Enchanté for dinner at dusk, and its gold fixtures and lighting absolutely popped against the blue of the ocean and sky. I’m not normally one for gold embellishments, as they’re often overindulgent or downright tacky. Not the case here, as the glistening golds absolutely popped against the shimmering lights, and were nicely offset by the elegance of soft blues and lighter colors.

The end result is something upscale and elegant, but also calming and comforting. As much as we love Remy, I personally find it a tad stuffy and intimidating. That makes it slightly outside my comfort zone, whereas I felt perfectly relaxed at Enchanté. Totally a personal preference thing, but it is my ‘best of’ list. 😉

Interior Design – Mostly an extension of the previous entry about Enchanté, but there are a number of places throughout the Disney Wish with exceptional interior design and furnishings. This includes all of the specialty dining, the Bayou, Nightingale’s, the spa, retail, and other locations. (This is not across the board–look for a similar entry on the ‘worst of’ list.)

From my perspective, these merit inclusion on the list because they’re done in styles we haven’t seen much from Disney in recent years. There’s a lot of real elegance, upscale upholstery, and attention to detail in the finishings in some spots. Thankfully, Imagineering didn’t indulged its “repurposed warehouse” aesthetic for anything aboard the Wish.

Kids Clubs  – The reimagined Disney’s Oceaneer Club is fantastic. It’s really nothing new for adults to rave about the kids clubs, wishing there were spaces like this for us aboard Disney Cruise Line. I’m not going to rehash all of that familiar commentary–like these spaces on other ships, the Marvel Super Hero Academy and Fairytale Hall are very good.

However, it’s the Imagineering Lab and Star Wars Cargo Bay that are next level. All of these areas offer interactive fun, but the Imagineering Lab challenges in a way that’s educational and enjoyable–it’s like the best of Innoventions. (There are also some great attraction nods, like Figment and Mystic Manor models.)

Then there’s the Cargo Bay, which is easily the best Star Wars space aboard the ship. This cherry picks elements of the marketplace in Galaxy’s Edge and rooms in Galactic Starcruiser…and does a much better job with putting them to use in ways that are actually engaging. The whole area looks fantastic, but it’s not just superficial–it’s actually fun, too. (Disney should just put some tables and chairs down here at night–it would make a much better bar than its counterpart upstairs!)

Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party – Hot take: pirates are awesome, DCL Pirates Night is not. Okay, it’s not bad , but it is  tired.  It’s still good and a crowd-pleaser simply by virtue of having pirates (which, again, are awesome) but is old hat for a lot of Disney Cruise Line fans.

Featuring both Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Redd, a live band, stunts, and fireworks set to classic rock, Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party is an absolute blast. I’ve gotta applaud the choices DCL made here–both of the main characters are mired in faux controversies with various groups, and people with poor taste in music might not like classic rock. Personally, I love it all. The characters are great, the music is great, and obviously, the fireworks are great. Surprising as it might sound given those details, the Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party breathes fresh life into the Pirate Night concept.

Staterooms – No surprise here given how Walt Disney World has done a good job transforming its higher end hotel rooms in the last few years. The Disney Wish staterooms offer an array of little form and function improvements that, in aggregate, make them a lot nicer and more comfortable than their predecessors.

Everything from the movie art (which varies from deck to deck) to the lighting to the utilization of space is more thoughtful than the other four ships that came before. As with so much of the ship, it seems like DCL learned from what worked and didn’t in the past, and made incremental improvements on those bases. (We have received questions about storage space, but we had no issues with this whatsoever.)

Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods – Nothing caught me by surprise as much as the pool deck food court on the Disney Wish, which takes the concept of Flo’s V8 Cafe on the other ships and improves on it in every way. There are four distinct ordering bays–Mickey’s Smokestack Barbecue, Donald’s Cantina, Daisy’s Pizza Pies, Goofy’s Grill, and Sweet Minnie’s Ice Cream–and all are surprisingly good.

However, it’s the two newcomers–those for barbeque and Mexican cuisine–that really deliver. The latter was like Chipotle, while the former was on par with any of the best counter service BBQ at Walt Disney World. (Imagine if Regal Eagle were all you can eat.) We usually skip the pool deck food court fare because it’s slow-cooked under a heat lamp, but ended up eating at Mickey & Friends Festival of Foods a lot. It’s arguably better than the (underwhelming, in my opinion) Marceline Market.

Disney Seas the Adventure  – This is the other new theatrical production for the Disney Wish–the first day stage show in the Walt Disney Theatre. The premise of the production is that Captain Minnie Mouse hands over the helm to janitor Goofy, who has always dreamed of being captain. It’s billed as a “journey of discovery,” and there’s definitely some of that. But it’s mostly a montage show framed by a lot of goofiness.

There are two things going on here that we absolutely loved. First, that this stage show lets itself be a little silly. In recent years, Disney has leaned a bit too hard into tugging at your heartstrings and eliciting emotion via trauma. It’s effective, but I’ve had my fill of tragedy–I want to have a good time. Goofy is the perfect protagonist for that, and he provides several laugh out loud moments while the montage scenes still deliver plenty of emotion–and fantastic musical numbers.

Second, the song and movie choices really make this feel like “Happily Ever After: Goofy Edition.” For us, this was very reminiscent of the beloved Magic Kingdom nighttime spectacular that was taken away too soon and replaced by something inferior. I didn’t think Happily Ever After could possibly be any better…but perhaps bringing it back with Goofy as host would up the ante. This show isn’t quite on par with the Little Mermaid, but for the montage show, it’s fantastic, fresh, and fun. (Seriously, I cannot overstate how nice it is to have  joyous entertainment rather than tedious or taxing productions, which should be obvious.)

1923 – There’s a dynamic Disney duo behind all three rotational restaurants. While the other two leverage intellectual properties and the fictional Anna & Elsa and Ant-Man & Wasp, 1923 one highlights the real life Disney brothers. Named for the year they founded their eponymous company, 1923 is the more upscale of the rotational restaurant trio on the Disney Wish. Its dining rooms are steeped in old Hollywood glitz and glamour, with Art Deco-inspired flourishings and furniture, plus decor that pays homage to the company’s creative roots and offers a look at the evolution of Disney animation.

1923 is less an overt love letter to Walt Disney the person–which is what I was hoping for–and more a tribute to the animation process and work product. Think of it as a grown-up version of Animator’s Palate, without the interactivity. I love the way that there are two dining rooms–for Walt and Roy–and that there’s further subdivision within those to give it a cozy atmosphere. If you took out all of the display cases, it could pass as somewhere Walt, Roy, and the Old Men would’ve dined in Los Angeles. The style is totally different, but it evokes more or less the same mood as the Tam O’Shanter–and that’s a good thing.

Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure – When it comes to Frozen, I’m Switzerland. Totally neutral–don’t love or hate it. With that out of the way, Arendelle caught me by surprise and was one of my absolute favorite components of the cruise. The Nordic-inspired cuisine was exceptional, with a couple dishes that were particularly memorable. Although it’s one cavernous seating area due to the entertainment component, the design has tons of personality and depth, imbuing it with charm and warmth.

Of course, it’s the immersive live entertainment that everyone is there to see, and this was fantastic. I was a bit apprehensive about the “royal engagement party” premise, but that’s only a portion of the celebration. The cute Olaf character plus the princesses are the crowd-pleasers for families, but that that’s not what made this work for us.

More central to Arendelle are the local couple playing folky Norwegian renditions of Frozen songs, who essentially make most of the experience a relaxed meal with a live musicians. Then there’s Oaken, who steals the show with his “Hearty Party Planning Service… and Sauna” and comedic chops. We did not expect to love this as much as we did, but it was the highlight of the rotational dining for us.

Planning to set sail aboard one of the DCL ships? Read our comprehensive  Disney Cruise Line Guide   to prepare for your voyage, plus plan entertainment, activities & excursions, and learn what to expect from your Disney cruise! For personalized planning & recommendations,  click here to get a cruise quote from a no-fee Authorized Disney Vacation Planner . They can find you all of the current discounts, and help you plan the details of your cruise!

YOUR THOUGHTS

Any thoughts on our ‘best of’ list for the Disney Wish? Which of these spaces, restaurants, entertainment, or other things to do look most or least appealing to you? What else would you like to know about the Disney Wish? Think this ship will appeal to you, or will you stick with the first four? Do you plan on booking a cruise aboard this ship, or are you awaiting more reviews and info from the actual guest sailings? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions? Hearing feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Written by Tom Bricker

I am is the highest level of disagreement and can heartily not recommend a cruise on the Wish. Having enjoyed 11 DCL voyages prior to the Wish, I can without reservation not recommend it. The rotational dining was terrible in that if you are not a Marvel follower, the noise of the video that was playing everywhere was annoying to the dining experience. After the first 15 minutes you just tuned it out as background noise. Truely not inspiring or innovative like the Crush and Friends video adventure on the Fantacy where the tv characters actually carry on a conversation with you and your table guests one to one. Now that is incredible. The Frozen dining experience was even more disappointing. The dining area was so large That if you were not close to the center stage, you had great difficulty in seeing or hearing anything. Once again, a tune out of the story on stage because you could not see well, hear well or understand what was going on. If you are not an intimate Frozen fan, you have no idea. The enchanted garden dinner was far better than 1923… you at least got a show of the evening evolving in its fauna. At 1923 you got nothing but a dinner, no show, nothing unique. The pools were small and crowded, especially the adult pool area. Very disjointed, very crowded, you could not gather in the pool with other guests like on the other ships. Then there is the elevators, not enough, poorly placed on the ship, made it very difficult to find your way around. There are several hallways that lead to no where and the onboard directional signage. The food on the pool deck was iffy at best. Unless you love BBQ, and Disney is not know for its BBQ, the pool deck food left something to be improved upon. Almost the worst Hot Dogs you can buy with few condiment or topping choices…. Mustard, ketsup, Mayo. Why can’t we have the “Best Hot Dogs on the 7 Seas”, instead of an also ran. Disney can do much better. soft serve is soft serve, but how about some toppings, Jimmie’s, nuts, choc. sauce. The Walt Disney theater is small and not as ornate or as grand as the theaters on the 4 smaller ships too. The center atrium is a joke,,poorly designed/imagined with a small character stage. The open atrium with the elevator views are much more exciting in the smaller ships. I can only hope that the next 2 Wish size ships will be better imagined. The Wish does not meet or exceed the benchmark set by Disney when they launched into the cruise line business. Beware, be warned.

Gorgeous photos and a beautifully written post, as always! I must ask, is Sarah willing to share where her absolutely gorgeous dress is from? You both look so lovely in that photo!

I, too, am neutral on Frozen at best, and I have been similarly blown away by the Royal Storytellers of the Frozen Singalong. So I feel you!

Do we have any idea yet when the vaccine requirement will be lifted for children.

You must vaccinate your children!

So what is the must order dishes at the 3 rotational restaurants? Anything the two of you recommend we avoid?

You two are at the very end of this video! https://youtu.be/4viSboeKKQo

So happy you are doing these posts. Thank you! In addition to the “misses” post, I’m hoping you might include a summary of what’s “missing”. For example, it looks like no mini-golf and no adult club/theater. It also seems like the interactive art scavenger hunt has been replaced with something more akin to what they have in Universal’s Harry Potter. I’m curious to know what else is “missing”.

Just wanted to say that the photo of you and Sarah at Enchanté is beautiful!

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Essential Guide to the Disney Wish Staterooms

Posted on Published: 05/02/2023

Dinsey introduced its fifth ship in the fleet, the Disney Wish, in 2022. This ship is in a brand new class, the Triton class, with some major design differences from the Dream class and the Magic class of cruise ships. While the stateroom categories and general layouts will seem familiar to some guests, there are some distinct differences. Here’s our essential guide to the Disney Wish staterooms, which should help you make a decision on what to book.

Disclosure: I’ve been on one complimentary media preview cruise as well as two cruises at a discount as part of Disney Social Media Moms. The rest of my cruises were at my own cost. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links and a purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you.

Considering a cruise on one of the Disney Cruise Line ships? Our affiliate Get Away Today offers great service and can help you with booking any Disney Cruise. Visit them at this link to see options and book. Or you can call them at 877-510-2929.

I’ve had the opportunity to sail on the Disney Wish twice now, and have enjoyed it. The first sailing was a four-day cruise that was extended to six due to Hurricane Ian in the Caribbean, so I had plenty of time to thoroughly explore the ship.

The Disney Wish offers 1,254 staterooms (including 53 concierge staterooms and 23 concierge suites) and can accommodate up to 4,000 passengers (depending on stateroom occupancy) and 1,555 crew members. The number of concierge rooms on this ship surpasses the past ships, which can make booking some experiences a little more challenging if you don’t have this type of room.

While the Disney Wish is slightly larger in gross tonnage (GT) than the Dream class ships, the number of passengers is about the same. The restaurants, activities, and amenities on the Wish are different from the other ships, making it really fun to explore even if you are very familiar with the cruise line.

Types of Staterooms Rooms on the Disney Wish

The general types of staterooms on the Disney Wish are similar to the other ships. The most popular type of room is a verandah stateroom, which is how Disney refers to those rooms with balconies.

There are 1,254 staterooms, which include 53 concierge staterooms and 23 concierge suites. In this number, there are 1,133 outside staterooms (with 948 verandah staterooms and 185 oceanview staterooms), and 121 inside staterooms.

When booking your stateroom, you may find an option for GTY (or a guaranteed stateroom to be assigned). With this type of room, you’ll save some money, but won’t be able to choose your stateroom location. You will, however, be at least guaranteed a specific category of room.

Otherwise, you can choose your specific stateroom right when you book. It’s a good idea to take a look at the layout of the ship before you book so you’ll have a good idea of where to stay.

On this particular ship, there are only two elevator banks – with one in the aft and one in the forward. There are no midship elevators on the Disney Wish. Prices generally vary a bit based on location.

Accessible rooms are also available. You’ll want to choose a specific accessible stateroom when booking

Here are the various Disney Wish stateroom options:

Standard Inside Stateroom – these rooms can either sleep three or four. There’s a queen bed and a single convertible sofa. Those rooms that accommodate four also have an upper berth pull-down bed (making bunk beds over the sofa). As the name implies, these are interior rooms with no exterior views.

Oceanview Staterooms – these rooms do have a view, but not a verandah. Instead, you’ll have a porthole that you can look out of to see the ocean.

Within this category, there are regular staterooms as well as deluxe family staterooms. The deluxe family staterooms can sleep 4 to 5 – some of them have a pulldown Murphy bed in addition to the convertible sofa, upper berth pull-down, and queen bed. Be sure to confirm the configuration before you book.

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah – this is the most popular room type on the Disney Wish. It includes a queen bed, a convertible sofa, and an upper berth pull-down bed. These rooms have a verandah, which is a nice balcony where you can enjoy some time watching the ocean. Verandahs also add some extra space because you’ll be able to go outside right from your room.

If you need more room or have a family of five, there’s also a Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah. There are fewer of these but they are great because they also have the pull-down Murphy bed in addition to the other bedding options. I like these rooms for families with older kids because they may not want to sleep in the top bunk.

The Disney Wish also offers concierge staterooms. These rooms offer concierge benefits which include the following. These are great amenities but do come with an extra cost:

• Ability to book activities and premium dining in advance – 130 days before your set sail date
• A dedicated concierge to assist with booking activities
• Priority boarding at the port to save time with shorter lines
• Dedicated concierge sun deck (can be great on a hot day when lounge chairs are hard to come by)
• Access to the concierge lounge which offers food throughout the day as well as an open bar in the evening

Here are the types of concierge rooms: Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah – these rooms have 1 king bed, a convertible sofa (single), an upper-berth single pull-down bed, and a single pull-down Murphy bed. Note that while these rooms have upgraded touches, they are still staterooms and not a suite.

Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom – Some of these sleep four, while others sleep five. The rooms that sleep five have the same bed configuration as the Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah, and the ones that sleep four just don’t have the pull-down Murphy bed.

These rooms don’t have verandahs and instead have floor-to-ceiling windows that look out into the ocean.

Concierge 1-Bedroom Suite with Verandah – these rooms sleep five with one bedroom with a king bed and a separate living room area with a double convertible sofa and single wall pull-down bed. There are two full bathrooms in these rooms including one bathroom with double sinks. There’s also a wet bar with sodas and water as well as a walk-in closet.

Concierge 1-Bedroom Suite with Extended Verandah – these rooms are the same as the one above, but have a larger, extended verandah.

Concierge 1-Story Royal Suite with Verandah – there is one of these concierge suites, located on Deck 10. It offers two bedrooms, three bathrooms, a walk-in closet in each bedroom, a verandah with a hot tub, a wet bar with soda and water, a living area, and a dining area.

Concierge Wish Tower Suite – the most exciting stateroom on the Disney Wish is the one-of-a-kind Concierge Wish Tower Suite. This two-story, Moana-themed suite is located on decks 14 and 15 in the funnel. It has private elevator access.

The Tower Suite offers a two-story living area, a spiral staircase, two main bedrooms, a children’s room, a combo library/bedroom, four and a half bathrooms, two walk-in closets, a wet bar stocked with soda and water, and a dining area. It’s an extremely luxurious suite, and there is only one of them on board the Disney Wish.

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah

Most families will find that the Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah is the perfect combination of amenities and cost for their vacation. While it isn’t nearly as luxurious as the suites, this stateroom category is great for a family of three or four.

These rooms include the popular split bathroom that other Disney ships offer. While each of these bathrooms has a sink, one has a toilet and one has a shower. This is perfect for families because two people can be getting ready at the same time.

This room also includes a cooler (similar to a refrigerator), a television, lots of USB outlets and standard outlets, a hair dryer, a safe, a desk, and a closet. While I’d prefer standard drawers for clothes, the Disney Wish has more open shelves. You may want to bring packing cubes which can be a great way to keep your clothes organized.

FAQ about the Disney Wish Staterooms

Yes, unless you book a GTY stateroom, you’ll be able to choose the deck and location of your room. Some locations and decks may be a little more expensive than others.

It really depends. Most people like central locations, but there are no midship elevators on the Wish. Top decks are also popular, but you may want to be closer to the kids’ clubs.

There are connecting rooms available. You can see them on the deck plan when you book to make sure you are choosing connecting options. You can also ask your stateroom host to open the verandah, if you have one.

Yes, there are suites available within the concierge category, and some of these have a separate room.

If you aren’t going to spend too much time in the room, you can save money by getting one of the cheaper room types. However, I love having the ocean view, and enjoy spending time outside.

More  Disney Cruise Ships Resources: Click  to read more about the Disney Cruise Line ships including restaurants, tips, itineraries, activities, and more

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Disney Wish: Tips for Cruising from Port Canaveral

• July 10, 2023

Sailing on the Disney Wish? This ship has been making tropical vacation dreams come true since first setting sail in summer of 2022. Kids and kids at heart can delight in magical moments with immersive experiences like Disney Uncharted Adventure, an onboard quest for the whole family to solve by navigating the ship toward uncharted worlds. Cruisers are also encouraged to make a splash at AquaMouse, Disney’s first-ever attraction at sea, that combines a water coaster and animated short stories for a one-of-a-kind ride. If you have plans of cruising from Port Canaveral on the Wish, we have all the travel tips you need to make your vacation seamless before setting sail.

Tip #1: Fly Into the Orlando Airport (MCO)

When booking a flight for your Disney Wish cruise, it’s highly recommended to fly into the Orlando Airport (MCO) for numerous reasons. Even though this airport is located about 45 miles from the cruise terminals, it has the shortest travel time compared to other local airports due to its direct highway access. The Orlando Airport also offers cruisers the most variety in flights, as well as better hotel selections nearby, and more economical transportation options.

Bonus Tip: When flying in the same day as your cruise, be sure to pick a flight that lands before 11:30 AM to ensure you have enough time to get to the port.

Tip #2: Arrive a Day Before Your Disney Wish Cruise

With unexpected travel delays being so common, a simple flight issue or heavy traffic can put you at risk of missing your cruise when flying in on embarkation day. Arriving the day before setting sail can give you added peace of mind and a more stress-free vacation experience. That’s why Go Port’s Fly Snooze Cruise packages are so popular among Port Canaveral cruisers. You can choose from various brand-name hotel options, such as Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, La Quinta, and Best Western – with airport transportation and cruise transfers included in the package.

If you opt to fly into the Sanford Airport to utilize Allegiant Airlines’ flight savings or prefer the close proximity of the Melbourne Airport featuring Delta and American Airlines, you’ll be pleased to know that Go Port also offers select Fly Snooze Cruise packages for cruisers flying into these airports as well.

Tip #3: Book Pre-Arranged Cruise Transfers

Don’t wait until the last minute to figure out transportation for your Disney Wish cruise. Counting on ride-share services, taxis, or rental cars can be both pricey and unpredictable. On top of that, luggage space is limited with these options – typically leaving only enough room to accommodate a couple travelers and their belongings. Instead, use the most reliable and convenient way to travel between the Orlando Airport and Port Canaveral by booking pre-arranged shuttle transfers. With a company like Go Port , you can purchase the same transportation as your cruise line for just $29.99 per person, compared to Disney’s rate of $39.00. Plus, there is plenty of room for your suitcases, bags, strollers, and other mobility devices, with luggage assistance at your service to take care of it all. If you already booked a hotel stay, you can also reserve cruise transfers from select hotels near the Orlando Airport to Port Canaveral here .

Tip #4: Stay in a Hotel Near the Airport

Staying at a hotel near the Orlando Airport is the best option when cruising from Port Canaveral on Disney Wish. When you land, there’s no better feeling than relaxing in your room just minutes after a long flight. Saving the trip to the port for the morning of your cruise also allows you to avoid paying a premium to be near the terminals – meaning you can book a nicer hotel at a lower cost. Additionally, late flight arrivals have the convenience of Orlando restaurants being open late and plenty of shops close by to pick up any last-minute essentials.

Tip #5: Choose an Afternoon Return Flight

The Disney Wish starts disembarking around 7:00 AM and the process typically lasts until 10:00 AM. Once you exit the ship and depart your cruise terminal, the ride back to the airport takes about an hour, depending on traffic. The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority recommends arriving three hours before your scheduled departure. This means you’ll want to book your return flight in the afternoon to ensure you have enough time to disembark, get to the airport, and make it to your gate.

Tip #6: Disembark From Disney Wish Early

Disembarking early is key for a smooth departure from Port Canaveral. Disney offers an Express Walk-Off disembarkation option that allows cruisers to bring their own luggage off the ship in order to avoid long lines while exiting and beat heavy traffic when leaving the port. To debark from the Disney Wish early, you will keep all your luggage inside your stateroom instead of placing it outside your cabin on the last evening of your cruise. Guests choosing to use the Express Walk-Off are advised to be ready to debark as early as 7:00 AM, and be listening for announcements as to when the ship has been cleared by local authorities. Guests who opt for Express Walk-Off must be within their customs allowance and not owe any duty.

These Disney Wish travel tips for cruising from Port Canaveral are brought to you by Go Port — a one-stop shop for Port Canaveral cruisers, making travel arrangements ashore simpler than ever before. By partnering exclusively with brand-name hotels and reliable transportation providers, Go Port takes the guesswork out of booking hotel, transportation, and parking packages to complement your cruise. For any questions or booking inquiries please contact [email protected] with your travel request.  

Don’t forget to join our Disney Wish Facebook group to connect with fellow cruisers, ask questions, and share ship news! Become a member here .

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David Leadbeater

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We tried a $10,000 concierge suite on Disney Wish to find out if it was worth the extra cost

Disney Wish is Disney Cruise Line's newest, largest and undeniably fanciest ship. In the summer of 2022, Wish joined the fleet as Disney's fifth ship, and since then, I've become an unabashed fan. The beautiful, modern floating resort is so impressive that it can even win over non-cruisers .

I've been lucky enough to sail on Wish twice. During my first sailing, I was an invited guest of Disney on a media preview cruise and stayed in a stateroom with a veranda. More recently, I sailed as a paying passenger on a regularly scheduled sailing in a one-bedroom suite.

A suite is obviously more luxurious and spacious than a standard room, but arguably the best things about Disney Cruise Line 's version are the numerous concierge perks that come with it.

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On Wish, there is a concierge lounge, complete with a private sun deck and hot tubs. Plus, you'll enjoy complimentary evening cocktails, hot room service breakfast, access to earlier onboard and port activity reservation times, and a dedicated team that handles any needs or logistics that arise on your voyage, among other perks.

If you're considering a cruise on Disney Wish in a concierge-level cabin, here's a look at what you can expect — and when paying extra is and isn't worth the cost.

Disney Wish concierge basics

Concierge lounge access and services on Disney Wish are available to passengers with bookings in the Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom category and above.

Measuring 300 to 350 square feet, these entry-level concierge rooms include a private balcony (in some cases) and can sleep up to five people. While they are essentially standard cabins in terms of size, they have the added benefit of touches like a down duvet, a plush robe and slippers, a pillow menu and included Wi-Fi access, according to Disney.

The suites on the ship, ranging from the one-bedroom suite we booked to the over-the-top Tower Suite located in the ship's forward (fake) funnel, also come with concierge access and perks.

Concierge rooms are admittedly pretty pricey when compared to most standard cabins, and they typically sell out before the other room types.

For the least expensive three-night sailings on Disney Wish, expect to pay at least $3,700 for double occupancy or around $5,300 for two adults and two children in the same cabin.

However, it can easily cost more than double that price to sail in a concierge room during peak holiday dates, when the price of the suites quickly crosses the $10,000 mark for a family.

Disney Wish has roughly double the number of concierge cabins of the other Disney ships, with a total of 76 located across decks 11, 12 and 13. This increase in total number of concierge passengers comes with it its own list of pros and cons that I'll address shortly.

Related: 11 ways to save money on Disney Cruise Line

FOR NO COST ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR NEXT DISNEY CRUISE OR VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG'S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS .

Disney Wish concierge perks

The magic of the Disney concierge benefits starts well before you board. Most of these perks are the same regardless of which Disney ship you've booked, though how they play out varies a bit based on the ship and port(s).

Early booking for dining and activities

Starting 130 days before you sail, you can inform the concierge team of your booking preferences for things like onboard dining, spa treatments, port adventures and bookings at Castaway Cay. Then, 120 days before you set sail, that team does its best to secure the reservations you want.

That's an earlier booking window than other cruisers get. Typically, passengers can start booking activities 75 days out for first-time cruisers, 90 days for those with Silver Castaway Club status and 105 days for those with Gold Castaway Club status.

The early access period for concierge cruisers is the same window as those with Platinum Castaway Club status — the highest elite tier in Disney Cruise Line's loyalty program — receive. You don't earn this top-tier status until you've completed at least 10 sailings with Disney, so this head start on booking is a huge benefit for concierge room guests.

This early booking benefit can be the difference between getting that coveted brunch or dinner reservation at the adults-only restaurants, premium spa treatment time or a highly sought-after cabana on Castaway Cay, Disney's private island .

Early ship boarding — and a private lounge at Port Canaveral

Some concierge perks come when it's time to sail.

You get the earliest port arrival time, which often means you'll rub elbows with fewer people in the terminal and end up spending more time on the ship. We were able to arrive at the port starting a little before 10:30 a.m., which is an hour or two earlier than most passengers.

There were no crowds at all in the Port Canaveral terminal, which is Wish's home port, and we didn't have to wait in any measurable lines to have our documents or carry-on bags checked.

A sticker was put on our shirts to denote that we were concierge passengers to the staff, which literally opened doors for us.

By 10:40 a.m. we were in the private lounge reserved for those in concierge cabins and back-to-back cruisers who were enjoying a second consecutive sailing.

The lounge wasn't over-the-top nice but did have spots to sit, charge your phone and sip on a cold drink from the minifridge.

Shortly before 11:30 a.m., we found ourselves walking on board the still mostly empty ship.

Onboard welcome lunch

The pools and AquaMouse waterslide weren't yet open when we got onto the ship because it was so early in our sailing. However, I highly recommend using this extra time to head to those the minute they are available. Since we had just cruised on Wish a few weeks earlier, we decided instead to check out the Grand Hall and attend a leisurely concierge welcome lunch in the 1923 restaurant.

This was a good time to get to know the concierge team and ask them about essential tips, like making your booking for the Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge before the times are all snapped up. Minutes seriously matter on that one, so make the booking the moment you get on the ship's Wi-Fi and can access the Disney Cruise Line app.

We were also told that our suite should be ready by the time we were done with our meal of smoked salmon, empanadas, and the epic welcome aboard sundae with vanilla bean ice cream, pecan-caramel cupcake bites and butterscotch topping — and that proved correct.

Related: What it's like to eat in the 'Frozen' restaurant on Disney Wish

The concierge lounge

Now we're getting to the good stuff. Located on Deck 12 forward (Deck 13 for the sun deck), the concierge lounge is a showpiece of why you sail in this class of Disney Wish cabin in the first place.

This is where you will find the kind, knowledgeable, personal and gracious team of four concierge hosts. It's also where you can enjoy small plates of snacks throughout the day; access a fridge full of complimentary juice, water and soda; and visit the included bar in the evenings from 5 to 10 p.m.

This particular concierge lounge is massive when you factor in all the indoor space, the outdoor terrace and the entire sun deck.

We enjoyed the sailaway out of Port Canaveral from this deck and would visit each day for small plates of food that you don't usually find on other parts of the ship, such as sushi. We'd also come here to load up on bottled water and some sodas for the room and shore excursions.

Whatever you do, make sure you don't miss the evening happy hours in the lounge. You can get wine, beer, mixed drinks, cocktails and basically anything you can dream up at no extra charge to enjoy there or elsewhere on the ship. Our kids loved the mocktail strawberry daiquiris.

On the sun deck, there are two hot tubs and a small pool available exclusively for concierge guests. There's more than enough seating up here and even an unlimited Dole Whip smoothie machine, if you find yourself craving Disney's iconic treat. It sounds better than it tastes, but the odds are high that your kids will have fun with it.

Hot in-room meals for breakfast and from the restaurants

Everyone on Disney Cruise Line can order room service to their stateroom at virtually any time of day for free. However, in most staterooms, room service breakfast choices are limited to continental options such as cereals, doughnuts, pastries and fruit. In concierge suites, you can order hot room service options, too.

To place an order, fill out the order card the night before. The next day, you'll find yourself starting your day with pretty delicious menu items such as Mickey waffles, avocado toast and breakfast sandwiches, all in the comfort of your room.

At night, most stateroom guests can choose from room service basics such as chicken fingers, hamburgers and chicken wings. But in concierge accommodations, you can also have a meal from the sit-down restaurants brought to your room.

I'd love to say we tried that and show you some pictures of fancy food, but after several rich and involved meals, the chicken fingers and fries were all we wanted on the one night we dined in.

Related: 7 things that surprised me on Disney Wish

Early seating for evening shows

There are no assigned seats for the Broadway-caliber shows (think: "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin") on Disney Wish, but those who are staying in concierge rooms do have their first choice of seats, as you can meet one of the concierge hosts at a special entrance about five minutes before the other guests are let into the theater. This translates to getting your first pick of seats.

These first-come, first-served seats are not in a reserved section, so you do still need to get to the theater pretty early. You'll need to ask the hosts exactly what time they are meeting before the show, but if you want that front-and-center spot, it's a nice perk.

Free popcorn

While watching the evening shows or a movie — or really whenever you get a craving for a snack — you can get free popcorn with your concierge stateroom keycard. It's a small way that the concierge label makes everything feel a little bit easier.

Get walked off the ship at the end of the cruise

On our first Disney cruise , getting off the ship on the final morning was a total nightmare. There were epic queues for the over-stuffed elevators and a seemingly never-ending line to walk off the ship.

If you stay in a concierge accommodation, you don't have to deal with any of those headaches. At certain times in the morning — the final available time to do this on our recent cruise was around 8:15 a.m. — one of the hosts will let you get into a special elevator that quickly brings you down to the deck to disembark without a wait. It's a magical way to end the trip.

You're on your own for the regular line for clearing customs, but getting off the ship itself is a dream that you don't want to end.

Related: What it's like to eat at the Marvel restaurant on Disney Wish

Inside our 1-bedroom suite on Disney Wish

Like the rest of the ship, our one-bedroom suite was lovely, albeit a little plain in certain areas.

First, the highlights, of which there were many: The king-size bed was absolutely heavenly. Given how tight sleeping quarters can be on ships, it was a massive luxury to have such a large bed while on Wish.

The "Tangled"-themed mural on the wall in the bathroom was also breathtaking.

Frankly, the entire bathroom was divine and felt far more like what you'd find in a hotel than in a cruise cabin, thanks to its spacious layout.

Off the living room was another full bathroom that lacked a tub like the primary bathroom, but it still had a shower that was extremely generous in size, especially given it was the suite's secondary shower.

In the living room, there was a small Murphy bed that came out of an awkward divider between the dining and sitting areas. The couch also converted into a bed courtesy of the stateroom host each evening.

That made for a total of three sleeping spaces in this suite.

Disney Wish's layout was a bit different from what I'd found when staying in a one-bedroom suite on Disney Wonder , where suites have smaller single beds in the bedroom instead of the living room. That worked better for me at the time with younger kids, but I can see how Wish's arrangement may be ideal for those with older kids.

Either way, the primary bedroom area was mostly occupied by the bed, so there wasn't much room for anything other than a side table and a dresser.

Another key difference that I'm not sure was an improvement was the use of space between the primary bedroom and bathroom. On Disney Wonder, there was a desk there that was perfect for working, putting on makeup, or organizing and charging all your devices.

On Wish, that hall was instead used for storage, which was OK but a little awkward, especially because the doors were so tough to open that my 7-year-old couldn't always do it without help. Younger kids certainly wouldn't be able to access it on their own. If someone happens to pull out the keycard that allows the lights to come on inside — which happened to us during our cruise — heaven help you, as it is pitch black and almost creepy in there.

Other than the eye-catching light fixture, the dining area also felt a little uninspiring, given how grand the bathroom was. Some art on the walls, perhaps from "Tangled" to continue the theme, would have been nice.

That said, our private balcony was perfect for morning coffee and evening sunsets.

All-in-all, the one-bedroom suite was a lovely space that certainly benefited from the modern decor and bedding, but I'm not 100% convinced it is an overall better use of physical space than what you'll find on the older Disney ships. Still, my two kids, grandma and I were comfortable throughout our cruise.

Related: Disney Cruise Line's ships explained

Related: These are the best credit cards for booking a cruise

Is concierge level worth it on the new Disney Wish?

Now that you have a sense of the suite and what type of magic a concierge-level booking unlocks on Disney Wish, let's talk about when it is — and maybe isn't — worth the splurge.

When concierge level on Disney Wish is worth it

If you simply want to be in one of the ship's suites (and have the funds for it), then you're going to default to having concierge access and perks. You'll not only have more space in your cabin but also all the perks that come along with it.

For what it's worth, my favorite onboard suite is not the most expensive one in the funnel but rather the two-story "Sleeping Beauty"-inspired Royal Suite. Sure, it'll set you back at least $15,000 per sailing, but it's beautiful — to say the least.

Concierge level is also worth it if you want the best service that Disney Cruise Line has to offer.

For example, if you are only ever going to sail once, paying up for all the bells and whistles may be the way to go. That way, you can have someone on hand to magically handle all the logistics and requests and be available for any onboard questions and assistance.

On shorter cruises, like the three- and four-night options on Wish, the concierge can also help you maximize your time by letting you on as early as possible. Additionally, it's a fantastic category to book if you really enjoy lounges when you travel and plan to make the most of the ones on and off the ship.

On Wish specifically, you have the added benefit of the private sun deck with hot tubs. If you think you'll use those, then it's a real value-add.

And of course, when the price differential between the more standard cabins and concierge rooms is smaller — let's say $1,500 or so, it's obviously more worth it than when the price differential is thousands and thousands of dollars.

Finally, if you have hard-to-get reservation requests (like the perfect Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique time slot) and don't otherwise have Platinum Castaway Club status, which allows you to book it at the first available moment, then being in a concierge room increases your odds of snagging those valuable timeslots.

When concierge level on Disney Wish isn't worth it

As mentioned, if funds are not an issue and you want the best of the best, then great, book a concierge cabin on Disney Wish. We eagerly await the postcard you send us from your fabulous vacation.

However, for most of us with finite vacation budgets, there are trade-offs requiring us to maximize each decision. As a result, having concierge access on your first Wish sailing may not be the best use of money.

Having sailed both in and out of these accommodations on Wish, I found myself enjoying more of the ship itself when sailing without concierge access.

On your first Wish sailing, you already have three new-to-you restaurants to enjoy, which makes dining at the adults-only specialty restaurants less of a priority since doing so means you'll need to skip one of the included restaurants. If you don't eat in the adults-only spots, you don't need help getting those coveted bookings, meaning you'll get less out of the pricey concierge experience.

The on-deck food, like Marceline Market, is also worth visiting on your first Disney Wish cruise, but you may find it harder to work it in when you have access to the concierge lounge.

The same applies for drinks. Since drinks were included in the concierge lounge each evening, I felt silly going to the ship's fantastic bars, such as the Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge and The Rose, because of the out-of-pocket costs attached to those cocktails.

Even with concierge perks, you may also find yourself out of luck in getting some highly sought-after benefits. This happened to me with one perk I was really looking forward to: the hard-to-book cabanas on Castaway Cay.

Because there are more concierge cabins on Disney Wish than there are cabanas on Castaway Cay, you are not guaranteed the ability to rent one. Athough we requested one as soon as possible, we were not one of the lucky ones to snag a cabana.

If you decide to skip the extra expense of concierge level, that means you'll have more money to put toward the new offerings on board, such as cocktails with popsicles in tasty flavors in the adult-only pool area.

Bottom line

There's no question that sailing with concierge access on Disney Wish is a fantastic experience, but you probably could have guessed that. It improves an already low-stress vacation so it becomes an essentially stress-free getaway with magical moments at every turn. The concierge team can grant virtually every wish you could dream up.

Sipping evening cocktails on the private deck while sailing away into the sunset was simply phenomenal, and having a lounge to pop into for treats, drinks or reservation assistance was a convenience I could get used to.

However, magic comes at a cost.

Disney Cruise Line is already more expensive than most family-oriented cruise lines, and Disney Wish is the most expensive of the Disney ships. Add concierge access on top of that and, well, it's certainly not cheap. If you are going to have to take fewer trips over the course of a year or two to afford a concierge-level room on Disney Wish, then you're probably better off skipping it on your first sailing. After all, part of the fun of being on Disney Wish is checking out all the one-of-a-kind facilities you'll only find on this ship.

Related: Comparing Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Disney for a family cruise

Once you've tried all the restaurants, found your favorite bars and explored every corner of the ship, a concierge accommodation is absolutely worth considering — if you have the means to make it happen. The upgraded stateroom, concierge lounge and other perks provided with these rooms are a treat to experience while cruising.

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107 Disney Cruise Tips and Hacks You Have to Know Before You Sail 2024

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Who wants all the Disney cruise tips and secrets 2024 that you need to know?

After sailing on over 40 cruises I wanted to give this free list of Disney cruise tips to our readers.

So if you want the biggest and best collection of Disney Cruise Tips, Secrets and Hacks ever read on! 

Everything was updated in January 2024.

We started out thinking we would aim for 101 Disney cruise tips and secrets.

However, that just wasn’t quite enough.

So here is our collection of 107 Disney cruise tips to save you time and money so that you can have the very best experience at sea!

These Disney Cruise Tips are Updated for March 2023 Booking Your Disney Cruise

1. D ISNEY CRUISE TIPS TO SAVE MONEY

There are ways to save on your Disney cruise.

Whether you are sailing to Alaska, cruising the Caribbean and the Bahamas, or choosing an exotic European vacation, there are always ways to save.

Booking well in advance also gives you the best choice of staterooms.

If you want to know more about this here is our complete guide at How To Save Money on A Disney Cruise

2. Pick Your Disney Cruise Sailing Carefully

Some Disney Cruise itinerary sailings are more expensive than others. The usual rules of economics work here.

The more demand the higher the price. Usually, the repositioning cruises offer the best per night price for a Disney cruise.

The Disney Cruise Transatlantic sailings on that for 2024 are on the Disney Dream are usually one of the best values.

The most expensive Disney cruises? You probably guessed it. Holiday cruises, particularly the Christmas Disney cruises are usually the most expensive.

The Disney Mediterranean Cruises and Alaska Cruises are also higher priced – but worth it!

3. Disney Visa Has Perks

If you check in with your Disney Visa card you will be entitled to certain discounts.

Currently, this will give you:

• 10% off select Disney Cruise Merchandise when you spend $50
• 10% off a digital photo package
• 20% on certain spa treatments on port days
• 10% off a Castaway Cay Getaway Package.

We have written a guide for you with all the Disney cruise tips you need so that you get the very best deal.

How to Save Money on a Disney Cruise

4. Two Disney Cruise Staterooms May Be A Better Deal Than One

If you have a party of 5 you really need to consider if one stateroom or two will be the better deal.

Disney cruises are one of the very few cruise lines which have staterooms that accommodate up to 5 guests.

However, these Disney cruise staterooms are very popular and tend to be pricey.

You should consider if 2 staterooms would be the better deal.

If you have young children you might want to think about choosing connecting staterooms on your Disney Cruise.

There are plenty of options available, particularly on the newer Disney Dream and Fantasy ships and of course the Disney Wish .

5. Book A Disney Cruise Onboard

This is one of the best Disney cruise tips to save money.

It will work once you are sailing on your first and any future Disney cruises.

The best deal is to book when you are onboard.

You will receive a 10% discount on the current brochure prices.

Unfortunately, a placeholder no longer offers any onboard credit.

Don’t know which Disney cruise you want to sail on next?

You can book what is called a Disney Cruise Place Holder and decide at a later date which one you want to sail on.

You have two years to sail on a Disney cruise from the date you booked your placeholder.

Join My Disney Cruise Group for Exclusive Tips and Disney Cruise Giveaways

6. Look Out For Special Disney Cruise Sailings

Love Pixar movies? You will want to check out the Pixar Days at Sea.

Other themed cruises include Marvel Days at Sea and of course the Halloween on the High Seas , Christmas, and New Year Cruises.

7. It’s All Included on a Disney Cruise

Once you are onboard almost everything is included.

Your accommodation, food, and entertainment are all included in the price that you have paid to sail.

Yes, you can pay extra for things on board, but you don’t have to.

Here is our guide to What is Included on a Disney Cruise and What You Pay Extra For

8. Disney Cruise Gratuities Explained

Gratuities for your dining servers and stateroom host will be automatically added to your onboard account.

However, you can adjust them however, you want.

Service onboard a Disney cruise is excellent.

Guests do get confused about Disney Cruise tips and how to pay, but it’s really very easy.

Here is a Guide to Tipping on a Disney Cruise to help you know what to expect.

Check-In For Your Disney Cruise Online

Remember to check in online for your cruise as soon as you can.

9. Use Your Disney Cruise Personalizer

Once you have completed your Disney Cruise online check-in you will have access to booking onboard events and cruise excursions on the Disney Cruise Personalizer.

The  time that you can check in depends upon whether you have cruised with Disney before, and if so, what level of Castaway Club member you are.

This can be anything between 75 and 123 days before your cruise.

Platinum members and Concierge guests get priority so you may find that some things are booked before you get the chance.

A classic illustration of this is the Cabanas on Castaway Cay .

There are limited numbers and are usually snagged by Concierge and Pearl guests at one minute past midnight on the day online check-in opens for them.

Castaway Cay Cabanas are the hottest ticket on a Disney cruise and are very difficult to get unless you are a Concierge or Pearl Castaway Cay guest.

10. You Must Prepare for Embarkation Before You Sail

Things have changed quite a bit since Covid – but Disney makes things as easy and as safe as possible for all Guests.

Disney Cruise Line DOES NOT Guests to be vaccinated or tested for COVID-19.

DCL does continue to strongly recommend that guests are vaccinated and that they test before embarking on a cruise ship.

Requirements can change so the best place to go for this information is always:

Disney Cruise Line Know Before You Go

11. Book Tickets Online for Character Greetings

Most character greetings are just announced every day in your Personal Navigator and you get in line to see your favorites.

The Disney Princess Gathering is a separately ticketed event and you must have this to attend the meet and greet.

If you want to see your favorites your best chance is to get tickets online in the Cruise Personalizer.

If you don’t get them online go straight to Guest Services when you board to see if there are any still available.

Note that right now the Anna and Elsa Frozen Meet and Greet is not scheduled on any of the Disney Ships.

12. Book Special Dining Online

If you want to book one of the adult dining experiences you can book one experience in each restaurant online.

If you book for the first night at Remy or Palo you can now also book a second night online. Remy, in particular, gets booked up so always try and book in advance.

If there is nothing available, you can still try and book as soon as you get on your cruise.

The Navigator will tell you where the restaurant Cast Members are on the ship to help you make a reservation.

Wine tastings and other special events are now offered online as well. Make sure that you log into your Disney Cruise Personalizer as soon as you can so that you can book the events that you want.

Remember though that there are usually spaces still available on the ship.

So visit Guest Services as soon as you get on board.

13. Sign Up The Young Ones for The Kid’s Clubs

See that long line at the cruise port over in the corner? That is for the grown-ups who did not sign up their children online for the kid’s clubs.

You can save a lot of time waiting in line if you just fill out the simple form online.

Then you can skip the lines and go straight to the place where they will be given their wristbands.

Disney Cruise Ship Kids Clubs – What to Expect

14. Book Port Adventures in Advance

You will be visiting some amazing ports so you will want to think about which Disney Port Adventures you want to book.

Your online Cruise Personalizer has details of them all. You can book before you sail.

We always suggest that you book excursions via Disney. You can book independently and you will probably save money.

However, if you book with Disney you can be sure that they have the Disney seal of approval. Most importantly if you are late back from a Disney Port Adventure the ship will wait for you.

If you go independently you could be waving goodbye to your floating home from the dock.

We have seen it happen.

Don’t let it be you.

D ISNEY CRUISE PACKING TIPS

15. disney cruise packing 101.

One of the great things about a cruise is that you are not restricted to how much luggage you can take on board.

If you are driving to the cruise port this makes things easy.

Take as much as you want!

However, if you are arriving by plane you will still have to navigate their increasingly ungenerous baggage allowances.

Things to Take on a Cruise: 50 Must-Have Items to Pack

16. Pack a Carry On

Your luggage will arrive in your Disney cruise stateroom sometime in the afternoon and early evening.

If there is anything that you need as soon as you board, make sure that you have packed it in a carry-on bag.

This should definitely include your cruise and identification documents, and any medication that you need.

I also tend to pack swimsuits.

It is also a great time to experience the Aqua Duck if you are on the Disney Fantasy or Dream. Or the AquaMouse on the Wish.

17. Prepare For the Unexpected

No one wants to talk about this subject, but here we go.

Seasickness.

It happens.

The Disney cruise ships are very stable, but sometimes you may not find it possible to get your sea legs.

We have sailed in very challenging seas but never encountered a problem.

However, just in case you will find our guide How Not To Get Sick on a Disney Cruise useful.

18. Tell Your Credit Card Company Your Plans

Unfortunately, credit card fraud is very common these days. So your credit card company will pick up on any unusual activity.

They can and often will stop your card if they detect anything strange.

My card was canceled when I tried to charge $10 in Grand Cayman!

Fortunately, I had a backup card.

For more details check out Things Not To Forget on Your Disney Cruise

19. Arriving at the Port

If you are sailing from Port Canaveral here is a guide to getting to the Port from Orlando International Airport. 

20. Arrive the Day Before Your Cruise

Sometimes flights are delayed. We strongly recommend that if you possibly can, make sure you arrive at least within easy driving distance to the port the day before.

There are plenty of hotels at each Disney cruise port including Port Canaveral.

If you ignore most of the rest of this article just listen to this Disney Cruise Tip as it is one that can make a huge difference.

Don’t leave things to chance and be stressed about making it on time to your cruise.

Nothing could be worse than not making it on time and watching the ship sail away into the sunset without you.

21. Get a Call from Mickey or Minnie

This is another great feature of your Cruise Personalizer. You can schedule a call with Mickey or Minnie! You can schedule the date, and time and choose if you want Minnie or Mickey.

It’s another way Disney cruise lines make things that bit extra special.

22. Download the Disney Cruise Navigator App

You can do this any time you want, but make sure you do it before you get on board.

On the cruise ship, it shows you what is happening every day.

Before you cruise it gives you a countdown of how many more days, hours and minutes there are before you board!

The Navigator App also lets you send texts free of charge to members of your stateroom and anyone else who authorizes you to do this.

This is so much better than the Wave Phones you get in each stateroom. Make sure that all family members get the App before they board.

If you have an iPhone then iMessage works on the ship.

23. There May Be a Disney Cruise Stateroom Upgrade

Want to upgrade your Disney cruise stateroom? You can always ask at check-in if there are any upgrades available.

Sometimes, but not always, you can get an upgrade at a reduced cost. It always pays to ask just in case! You can then decide if the upgrade you are offered is worth the extra cost.

Never rely on a Disney Cruise upgrade though.

They are increasingly unlikely as Disney cruise ships are so popular and are often fully booked.

24. It’s A Key To The World

When you check in you will be given your stateroom key which is your Key To The World Card.

This allows you to charge all expenses to your room key.

You can limit the charging privileges of others in your stateroom.

You don’t have to give your 8-year-old the power to buy what he wants in the store!

B OARDING THE DISNEY SHIP

Finally, the time has come to get on the Disney ship.

All that anticipation and preparation.

Now the day has arrived!

27 Do’s and Don’ts For Your First Day On A Disney Cruise Ship

25. Wait For Your Boarding Number

When you check in at the terminal you will be given a card with a boarding number for your party.

Don’t ever think that you can board earlier than your group. You will be stopped!

26. Stop for A Photo

There are always photographers stationed along the gangway to take your embarkation photo.

Stop if you want or pass it by if you really can’t wait the extra few minutes to board!

We recommend you are not camera shy.

There are many photo opportunities on the ship, but the embarkation photo is one of our favorites.

Here is a Complete Guide to Disney Cruise Photo Packages.

27. Give The Disney Cast Members Your Name

When you board the Disney Ship you will be asked for your family name.

Make sure that you give it to them as you have a special surprise welcome!

28. Go To Disney Cruise Guest Services

If you need to book any specially ticketed events, such as Beverage Tastings.

You may still be able to pick up tickets.

29. Start Eating!

The food offerings start as soon as you board. You can head up to the pool deck to experience the buffet.

If you want a slightly less crowded space one of the restaurants will also offer a buffet selection or waiter service option.

It won’t be as huge a choice as the pool deck, but fewer people head here so you may get a more relaxing start to the cruise.

Guide to Disney Cruise Food

30. Make Sure You Do the Drill

Muster drills have changed a lot in recent times.

But you still have to comply with the instructions and attend your muster station. This is about safety and it is important.

Don’t be late for your drill. It inconveniences a lot of other guests and Cast Members.

31. Put Your Phone in Airplane Mode

One of the most expensive mistakes that you can make on any cruise is not checking your cell phone coverage.

You can end up with a very hefty bill if you use your cell phone onboard. This applies to calls, text, and data.

You could just put your phone in your room safe and not connect.

However, if you want to use the Navigator App we suggest that you simply put your phone into airplane mode.

32. Take Advantage of Free Wi-Fi

If you use your own cell phone provider data provision you will be paying a fortune.

All the Disney ships, except the Wonder, have new internet packages. The Disney Wonder will get the upgrade in October 2023.

Here is a Guide to Disney Cruise Internet Packages.

33. Enjoy the Sail Away Party

Disney knows how to put on a show and the Sail Away Party is no exception. Head on out to the pool deck for a very high-energy party.

You can also watch the port disappear into the distance by going up onto the deck above the pool deck.

Or if you have a balcony stateroom why not enjoy the Drink of the Day in your own private haven?

34. Take a Tour of the Spa

This is a great opportunity to see the Disney Rainforest and the Spa treatment rooms to plan what you would like to do in the spa.

There is always a free-to-enter spa raffle on the first day.

You may as well enter as you may win a free spa treatment or a discount.

D ISNEY CRUISE STATEROOMS

35. Not All Disney Cruise Staterooms are Created Equal

Disney cruise lines have some of the largest and the best staterooms in the industry. Your choices range from an inside stateroom right up to the magnificent Walt Disney Suite.

Your choice mostly depends upon your budget, but even within the same category, there are some staterooms that are a better choice than others.

Here is our video which shows the smallest of the Disney cruise staterooms which is a Standard Inside Stateroom.

This is the only stateroom category that does not have a split bath.

Read our Disney Cruise Staterooms to Avoid to help you decide.

36. Disney Cruise Staterooms Have Split Bathrooms

Another unique thing about Disney cruises is the “split bathroom” concept. This is ideal for families.

What does it mean? There are 2 bathroom spaces in most of the Disney cruise staterooms.

One has a toilet and a sink. The other has a bath, shower, and sink. Each has plenty of storage space.

The split bathroom idea cuts down waiting time in the morning when everyone is trying to get ready for breakfast!

37. Disney Stateroom Door Decoration is Encouraged

Walk along the corridors of your Disney cruise ship and you will see some spectacular door decorations. Your imagination is the only limit to just how creative you can get.

The doors and walls in your Disney cruise stateroom are magnetic.

Decorations are available to buy, or get creative and make your own!

Just make sure that you do not cause any damage to the stateroom – use magnets, not tape.

You don’t want a nasty shock on your final account if you are fined for damaging the wall!

You might want to check out What Not To Do in Your Disney Stateroom

38.  There is Plenty of Storage

Disney cruise staterooms are very well-designed.

There is plenty of storage space for all your clothes and travel gear.

We always unpack as soon as we arrive so that we have everything to hand.

An invaluable packing item is these Packing Cubes make everything really easy.

You can keep items together. No more searching for socks or swimming stuff. Keep them all organized and you can then just transfer them to a draw in your stateroom.

All the Disney ships now have beds that provide enough space to store your suitcases underneath. You can unpack and forget about them for the rest of the cruise.

39. Yes You Can Do Laundry on a Disney Cruise

No one really wants to do laundry on vacation, but sometimes it just becomes a necessity.

There are several self-service laundries on all of the Disney ships. We always take our own laundry pods of detergent, but it is available onboard.

40. Interactive Television Choices

Of course, all Disney cruise staterooms have a television.

However, if you are sailing on the Disney Fantasy or the Dream you will have a much bigger choice of what to watch in your stateroom than if you sail on the Wonder or the Magic.

The newer ships of the Fantasy, Dream and Wish have on-demand television.

You have a huge choice of Disney movies and television to watch on demand. So if you really want to watch “Peter Pan”, “Toy Story” and “Mary Poppins” in your stateroom you can.

The stage shows from the Walt Disney Theatre are also shown on the television and repeated, so if you miss a show you can watch it in your stateroom.

41. Save a Hotel Key

It is a good idea to hang on to that old hotel room key. The reason? To make the lights work in the stateroom you have to put a credit card-sized card in the slow by the door.

You are supposed to use your Key To The World for this. However, we prefer not to as you are more likely to forget to take it with you and get locked out of your room.

42. Disney Invented Rotational Dining

Disney cruise lines are known for their innovative ideas. One of the very best is the concept of Rotational Dining.

What is this?

On each Disney cruise ship, there are 3 main dining restaurants.

All have their own very unique theme. Each night you will visit a different restaurant.

When you rotate between restaurants your servers will come with you!

This has a wonderful advantage in that your servers get to know you.

The Disney cruise servers are amazing and go out of their way to make sure that you enjoy the dining experience.

Your servers will get to know your likes and dislikes. They will even cut up your child’s food for them! Nothing is too much trouble for them.

For more information on how this works, you can see our Disney Cruise Rotational Dining Guide

43. Can’t Decide What To Choose on the Menu?

Overwhelmed by the great choices on the Disney cruise restaurant menus? No problem. You can order a couple of options and no one will mind.

If you want the salmon and the steak go ahead.

Two desserts?

Just be aware that your waistline may not forgive you for it!

44. Want Something Not on the Disney Cruise Menu?

Your Disney servers want you to have the best experience possible and will do everything they can to accommodate you.

If you enjoyed a particular dish one evening make sure that they know. If you give them at least 24 hours’ notice they may be able to get it for you again.

Just be considerate.

They will make it happen if they can.

So if you want that same entree or dessert every night just let them know.

45. Don’t Skip Animator’s Palate

Each ship has three rotational dining restaurants. They are all a little different from each other, apart from Animator’s Palate which is on all of the Disney ships.

Your first night in Animator’s Palate has a very special show for you. Be sure not to miss it.

46. The Disney Cruise Drinks are Free – Sort Of

Well, not all of the drinks are free, but you could sail on the whole Disney cruise without spending anything extra on beverages.

You just have to know which are free.

There is free soda from the dispensers on the pool deck which is available 24/7.

Soda, regular coffee, tea, iced tea, and milk are available for free in the dining rooms.

Your waiters will learn your preferences and bring them to your table to have them waiting for you for dinner.

Of course, there are many tempting drinks that are not free.

All alcoholic beverages and cocktails are charged for.

You may be tempted by the drink of the day. There is always an alcoholic and a non-alcoholic drink of the day available at a reduced price.

For the complete guide check out:

Disney Cruise Line – Are The Drinks Really Free?

47. Sometimes There Are Free Cocktails

Yes, you read it right.

On the formal evening of the Captain’s Dinner, there is a welcome reception with wait staff offering cocktails and wine.

The Ship’s Officers including the Captain will be there to greet you.

If you attend a Disney Vacation Club sales presentation it is used to be they gave out free cocktails. However, it is now many years since I have seen this.

In the last few presentations, I have been to they have only given out free bottled water.

You used to get a very nice gift when you attended but recently we have not seen this.

The presentation is fun and there is no sales pressure. You may be tempted though, so do your calculations carefully before you sign up!

There is usually a free draw to enter to win an onboard credit.

Also, you will probably be offered an onboard credit to attend a one-on-one sales consultation.

48. Have a Celebration?

Always tell your servers if you have a celebration such as a birthday or an anniversary. They will arrange something special for you.

49. Endless Disney Cruise Ice Cream

Self-service ice cream is available for free on the pool decks of every Disney ship.

Why not make your own float with the free soda and ice cream?

50. Didn’t Finish That Bottle of Wine?

If you want to enjoy wine at dinner, but don’t think you can finish the bottle, Disney has a solution.

Your server will save your wine for you and the next day it will be waiting at your table for you.

Is The Disney Cruise Wine Package Worth The Cost?

51. Breakfast and Lunch are Not Just A Buffet

Every Disney ship has an amazing breakfast and lunch buffet served up on the pool deck.

However, what some people don’t realize is that there is a sit-down breakfast and lunch served in one of the restaurants every day.

52. Disney Cruise Special Dietary Needs? No Problem

Disney cruise lines are incredible at catering to any special dietary need you may have. We have sailed with family members who need vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets.

Just tell your waiters or mention your dietary needs at the buffet or specialty restaurants.

You can also register this in your Cruise Personalizer before you board. Disney cruise lines will do everything they can to help you.

Disney Cruise chefs are more than willing to create special meals for you.

53. Breakfast is with Character

If you are sailing on a Disney cruise which is 7 nights or longer, you will have the opportunity to have a character breakfast. This is included in the cost of your cruise.

As anyone who has been to Disney World or Disneyland will know, this is a huge benefit!

Character breakfasts usually cost $40 and up per person on land. On your Disney cruise, it is included in the cost of your fare.

You do have to plan ahead for the Disney cruise character breakfast . You need a ticket and places are limited. You need to log in to your Cruise Personalizer as soon as you can, to book tickets.

There may be some available from Guest Services. Go as soon as you board the ship. They are limited and you do not want to be disappointed.

Note that this service is currently suspended

D ISNEY CRUISE ROOM SERVICE

54. disney cruise room service is free.

Room service on a Disney cruise is free.

There are some items that are charged for such as alcohol and soda, but most of it is free of charge.

Just remember to tip the crew member who delivers your food.

Make sure that you have some $1 bills handy.

However, if you forget, no problem.

You can add a tip to the receipt that you will have to sign.

55. Not Everything is on the Room Service Menu

There are some items that are not on the menu but are available from room service.

One of the most popular items which are not shown on the menu is the Mickey Mouse Ice Cream Bar.

Cake of the Day is on the menu, but the secret items are Dessert of the Day and Pie of the Day.

Obviously, these change every day, so we have a tradition of making sure we order these on sea days.

Disney Cruise Room Service Menu

56. Breakfast in Bed is On The House

Breakfast in bed can seem like an extravagant indulgence. However, on a Disney cruise, you can indulge as many times as you like.

It is all part of the service. Just fill out your breakfast selections on the card in your stateroom and put it on your door prior to 3 am the night before.

Then wake up to your breakfast choices delivered to your room.

The best way to enjoy breakfast is on your verandah. One of the best times we ever had on a Disney cruise was sitting on our verandah eating breakfast whilst going through the Panama Canal locks.

57. Milk and Cookies in the Evening

Yes, we know that you will probably have consumed more food than you want to admit by the evening.

However, there really is nothing quite like ordering milk and cookies before bedtime.

58. Order Coffee at Night

No, we are not suggesting that you get your caffeine fix just before bedtime.

However, if you order a carafe of coffee just before you go to bed at night it will still be warm enough in the morning for you to enjoy.

This means you won’t have to be disturbed by room service early in the morning, but you will be able to stumble out of bed and have your first cup of coffee when you wake up.

59. D ISNEY CRUISE FOR KIDS

A Disney cruise is for all ages. You just know that the kids are going to have a blast with all of the features on board for them.

60. It’s A Small World Nursery

Disney cruise lines are one of only a few cruise lines that offer a babysitting service for the under 3s.

Starting aged 6 months and going all the way up to the age of 3 the It’s a Small World Nursery will care for the youngest cruisers on the ship.

There is an additional charge and you do have to book in advance. You can do this online in the Cruise Personalizer.

The charge is $9 per hour for your first child and $8 per hour for the second and any additional children. in your family.

61. The Oceaneer’s Club and Lab is Paradise for Kids

Your kids probably won’t want to leave the kid’s clubs. The Oceaneer’s Club and Lab are for children aged 3 to 12.

Who wouldn’t want to meet Spiderman or pilot the Millennium Falcon? There are lots of organized activities or they can just play with their new friends.

62. The Edge is the Place to be for Tweens

The 11 to 14-year-old set can often be the most difficult to please. Fortunately, on a Disney cruise, they have The Edge.

If you have an 11-year-old they have the choice of either being in The Edge or the Oceaneer’s Club.

63. The Vibe is the Place Teens Want to Be

Wondering what your teens are going to do on the Disney cruise ships?

The answer is to spend a whole lot of time in Vibe. Particularly if you are sailing on the Disney Dream or the Disney Fantasy.

The newer shops have a fabulous outdoor area for the teens which includes hot tubs and a sun deck.

64. Chill Spa is Open for Teens

Most spas are for the over-18s only. However, Disney has recognized that sometimes teens want to be pampered in the spa.

Check out the Chill Spa which is exclusively for the 13 to 18-year-old set.

D ISNEY CRUISE POOL DECK

65. ride the aquaduck.

One of the best features of Disney Fantasy and the Dream is the AquaDuck. A water coaster at sea!

The Wish has the AquaMouse.

This is a lot of fun for all the family, but of course, the wait times can be long.

To get your best chance of riding with almost no lines on embarkation day or wait until night time.

Most people are either watching the show or eating dinner in the evening so the lines are short.

66. The Disney Cruise Pools are Fun

All of the Disney ships have two pools on the family pool deck.

The first is a toddler pool and the second is the family pool. Don’t expect to get any real swimming done in these pools!

The family pool is small and on sea days tends to be crowded.

67. Relax on a Pool Lounger

There are plenty of pool loungers around the pool and up on the deck.

Be considerate of others and do not reserve a lounger by putting a towel or your belongings on it.

Just not cool.

68. Towels are Provided

There is no need to bring your own pool towels on board or take towels from your stateroom.

There are plenty of pool towels up on the deck.

69. Catch a Movie on Disney Funnel Vision

One of the best features of the Disney cruise pool deck is Funnel Vision.

Disney movies are played all day and evening.

It’s fun to splash around in the pool and watch a Disney movie.

At night relax on a pool lounger and snag one of the blankets and watch a Disney movie.

D ISNEY CRUISE TIPS FOR ADULTS

Many people think that a Disney cruise is centered around the kids, but really this is just not true.

Sure there is plenty going on for the younger members of the group, but there are so many things for the adults to enjoy too.

70. Disney Dining for Adults

Disney has some of the best dining at sea.

All of the ships have dining which caters to the over-18s only.

Every Disney ship has Palo, which is an Italian-themed restaurant. Disney’s Palo offers dinner every night of the cruise and brunch on select days.

I think that the very best value is Palo brunch .

With a charge of just $45, you can eat your way through a huge selection of hot entree items.

Note that the buffet is currently not available at Palo Brunch but you can order all you like from the menu.

Remy is available on Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream.

Widely recognized as one of the best culinary experiences at sea, Remy is named after the lead character in the Pixar movie Ratatouille.

Dinner is available every night. The Champagne Brunch and the Dessert Experience are offered on select days.

Yes, it is pricey at $95 per person for dinner, and $200 if you want the wine pairing.

Enchante is the fine dining restaurant on Disney Wish.

71. Indulge at the Disney Cruise Spa

If you want to experience the ultimate in relaxation you can book a Disney spa treatment. There are lots of options offered including treatments for couples.

You can book ahead of your sailing to get the best reservation times.

Appointments do book up, so if you have something specific in mind, book online before you sail.

Remember though that all spa treatments will have an 18% gratuity automatically added.

72. The Disney Cruise Rainforest Room is Pure Luxury

Every Disney Ship has a Rainforest Room in the spa.

This is truly the place to be if you want to indulge in some luxurious downtime and relaxation.

The Wish has the largest Rainforest Room. It is also the only one which is open to the outdoors from above.

The Disney Dream and the Fantasy still have probably the very best Rainforest rooms on the Disney ships.

Each has two steam rooms, a dry sauna, and scented showers with multiple different programs.

A fabulous feature is the heated hot stone loungers with views of the ocean.

You can even relax in one of the two hot tubs which overlook the ocean.

The Disney Wonder and the Magic also have the Rainforest Room, but it is not quite so luxurious.

They have saunas, steam rooms, heated loungers, and showers. It’s a nice space but not as great as on the larger ships.

Why The Disney Cruise Rainforest Room is Worth It

73. Adult-Only Pools on Disney Cruises

There is plenty of space reserved for the over-18s only on the Disney ships.

This includes adult pools and hot tubs.

74. Bars and Lounges on the Disney Ships

There are plenty of options of places to enjoy a drink or two on all of the Disney ships.

One of our favorites is the Ooh La La bar on the Disney Fantasy. Guests can choose from an extensive champagne menu.

The French boudoir decor is completely over the top, but it’s a lot of fun.

Guide to Bars on the Disney Wonder

75. Disney Cruise Lines Alcohol Policy

Disney cruise lines have a very generous policy about how much of your own beer and wine you can bring on board. Many cruise lines do not let you bring anything at all.

However, on a Disney cruise, you can bring up to 2 bottles of wine or 6 bottles of beer per adult.

You can drink the wine in your stateroom and there is no charge.

However, if you want to enjoy the wine you brought to the restaurant there will be a $25 corkage charge.

76. Disney Cruise Wine Packages Can Save You Money

If you enjoy drinking wine on a Disney cruise the Wine Package may be the thing for you.

The Wine Package allows you to pre-purchase either a Classic or a Premium Package.

You choose the number of days from 3 to 7 nights. Each night you can pick a bottle from the Classic or Premium Wine list.

Prices start at $95 for a 3-night package.

The more nights you have, the cheaper the per-bottle price works out to be.

If you don’t finish the bottle that evening it will be stored for you and you can drink it later.

You can see more details at Disney Cruise Wine Package

77. Pick Up A Coffee Card

You can get free drip coffee on the pool deck or in the restaurants.

However, it isn’t the best coffee you have ever tasted.

If you enjoy a decent cup of specialty coffee you can pay extra for your drink of choice.

Ask for a coffee card. Each time you buy a drink you will get a stamp. When you have 5 stamps your 6th drink will be free.

It used to be that you could save these and use on your next cruise. However, now the card states that they are not to be used on a future cruise.

Time will tell whether or not the servers still allow it, but don’t bet on this trick still working.

Use your free coffee entitlement before your current cruise ends.

78. The Cove Cafe is a Must

One of our favorite areas on the Disney cruise is the Cove Cafe. It is a great place to sit and read a book and enjoy a coffee or something a little stronger.

There is a small selection of books and magazines, but bring your own as the selection really is small.

Cove Cafe is a very tempting place to pick up some snacks.

Check out the croissants in the morning. We challenge you to resist the selection of cakes and desserts in the display cabinet.

It is all included so you can indulge!

E NTERTAINMENT ON A DISNEY CRUISE

79. check your disney cruise navigator often.

The Navigator is where you will find out what’s happening on board the ship every day. The paper Navigator is now only delivered to your stateroom every night if you request this from your Room Steward.

If you want a paper Navigator you can pick one up at Guest Services. Or you can use the Disney Navigator App on your phone. Remember to download it before you get on board.

80. The Disney Cruise Shows are Amazing

This really can’t be overstated.

You will be amazed at just how good the shows are on the Disney cruise.

They are Broadway quality and you should definitely make time to see as many shows as you can.

There are two performances every evening. You can see the early one if you have late seating and the late one if you are dining at 5.45 pm.

81. Take Your Seats Early

All shows are performed in the Walt Disney Theatre. There really isn’t a bad seat in the house, but there are some which are better than others.

We like to be about five or six rows back in the middle.

However, if you do not arrive early the front level of seats is likely to be gone.

We prefer anything in the middle over the ones on the sides, even if it is quite far back.

Saving seats for others is really bad form.

Don’t do it.

82. Each Disney Ship Has Different Shows

Each ship has a different selection of shows, although there is some overlap with certain shows being staged on more than one of the Disney cruise ships.

On the nights when the big stage productions are not scheduled, there will usually be another entertainer such as a magician or a juggler.

Many of these entertainers have been performing with Disney cruise lines for many years and they are generally very good.

83. There May Be A Show For The Adults

Not everything is family-friendly! Often there is a late-night version of one of the entertainer’s acts such as a comedian or a magician.

Treat yourself and let the kids go to the kid’s clubs while you enjoy a night out.

84. Go to the Movies!

The Disney cruise movie theatres show new releases and classic movies.

Each of the Disney ships has at least one. Disney Wish has two!

85. Skip The Popcorn

Outside the Walt Disney Theatre and the Buena Vista Theatre, you will be tempted by the smell of popcorn and the lure of specialty drinks.

These items are not included.

If you want to take a drink into the show with you stop on the pool deck to get your drinks for free. You can even bring some snacks in with you if you want – that is if you aren’t already full from the buffet!

86. There is Something for Everyone

Every day there are lots of events scheduled.

Want to learn how to draw Mickey Mouse, make that dessert you just enjoyed in the restaurants or enjoy a wine-tasting event?

Most things on board are included, but you will have to pay extra for wine-tasting events.

87. The Art of the Theme Tour is Not to be Missed

This adults-only tour of the ship is well worth joining.

It is free and will take you on a tour whilst showing you some of the design secrets of the Disney ships.

There is so much attention to detail on the Disney ships and it is nice to hear some of the behind-the-scenes stories.

D ISNEY CASTAWAY CAY

One of the highlights of a Disney Caribbean or Bahamian cruise is a port stop at Castaway Cay.

Disney cruise line has its own fabulous private island in the Bahamas. Here are some Disney cruise tips to make the most of your visit to Castaway Cay.

Disney Castaway Cay – The Ultimate Guide

88. Send a Special Post Card

Castaway Cay has its own post office. If you want to send a card with a very special stamp just stop at the post office. It is on your left just after you get off the ship.

89. There are Trams to Get You Around Castaway Cay

You can easily walk to the beaches, but there are plenty of trams to get you there if you want to save energy. We usually walk to the beach if it isn’t too hot, but we always take the tram back.

90. Pick Your Perfect Beach

The most popular beach is the Family Beach on Castaway Cay .

However, there is a beach reserved solely for the over-18s. Make your way to Serenity Bay if you want some peace and quiet.

Disney Castaway Cay Excursions and Activities

91. No Need to Get Back on the Ship to Eat

There is plenty of food on Castaway Cay. While it isn’t the finest food you will eat on your Disney cruise, the barbecue is perfectly fine. There is something about eating good barbecue food on the beach that makes it so much fun.

However, make sure that you have eaten breakfast. The barbecues are only open for lunch.

92. Special Dietary Needs on Castaway Cay

If you have special dietary requirements make sure that you let your waiters know on the ship. They will make sure that it is waiting for you at the barbecue.

93. Join in the Castaway Cay 5K Run

A very popular event on Castaway Cay is the 5K run. It is free of charge and ages 10 and up can take part.

You don’t have to sign up anymore.

Make sure that you get an early start though – it can get very hot on the island!

94. Try Something New

You can spend the day on one of the beaches, or you can try one of the Castaway Cay Port Adventures.

These range from snorkeling to parasailing, and kayaking to getting up close and personal with a stingray. You can book these ahead of time on your Cruise Personalizer, or when you get on the ship.

95. The Quest for a Castaway Cay Cabana

One of the most difficult reservations to get on a Disney cruise is a Castaway Cay Cabana.

Even though prices start at $399 this is one of the most sought-after things on a Disney cruise.

You can book them in your Cruise Personalizer, but as there are only 21 cabanas available, they sell out in minutes.

You really need to either be a Concierge guest or a Pearl Castaway Cay member to be in with a chance.

You can try your luck when you board the ship by putting your name on the waitlist.

You could get very lucky and someone may cancel. It happens, but just don’t bet on it!

96. Take Your Time

People tend to get back on the ship in the early afternoon.

Whilst we always recommend getting back on board in good time, you can wait until shortly before all aboard time on Castaway Cay.

This gives you maximum time on the island.

97. Be Safe

It is important always to wear sunscreen. Sunburn is never a good thing and it can ruin your vacation.

The combination of the sun sea and the perfect island can sometimes make you forget to keep reapplying sunscreen.

Just be careful.

We have written a Complete Guide to Castaway Cay where you will find lots more tips and ideas.

M EET THE DISNEY CHARACTERS

A Disney cruise is a great place to get to meet a huge variety of Disney characters.

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of the experience.

98. Check Your Navigator

There are lots of character appearances every day. The schedule will be posted in your Navigator every day. You can plan who you want to meet.

99. The Character Attendant is Your Friend

All Disney characters have an attendant to keep them organized and safe. If you have any questions always ask the attendant.

They can help with questions like when the next appearance will be and what costume the character will be wearing. They will also take pictures of you with your own camera.

100. Arrive Early

We think that it is much easier to meet characters on a Disney cruise than it is at the parks. However, you should still be prepared for a wait.

The characters often spend more time with guests than they would in the parks.

Usually, if you arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled appearance you will be towards the front half of the line.

101. Bring An Autograph Book

Make sure that you bring something for the characters to sign.

We have heard recently that Marvel characters will not sign anything which has been signed by a Disney or Pixar character, so you may need to bring separate books if you are swapping universes!

102. Look Around You

Often the best character sightings are ones that you don’t expect. We remember seeing Chip and Dale up on deck during the Panama Canal cruise.

Or sometimes you see characters in the hallways walking to the meet and greet.

103. Meeting the Princesses

You can never guarantee which Princesses will be on board, but they will definitely be available for a meet and greet.

Usually, you will see Tiana, Cinderella, and Belle. However, don’t guarantee to your 4-year-old they will see a specific Princess as they may not be on board.

There is always a Disney Princess ticketed event. You can sign up in your Cruise Personalizer or at Guest Services. Tickets are limited and go quickly. This is not an essential event as you will see them at other times.

104. Anna and Elsa are Different

Anna and Elsa are rather more difficult to find. The only way to see them is to get tickets for the meet and greet. You will not see them out and about on the ship.

Note this is temporarily suspended

105. Tea With A Disney Princess

The best way to have time with the Princesses is by booking the Disney Cruise Royal Court Royal Tea .

This amazing opportunity to meet the Disney Princesses includes plenty of time to meet your favorites whilst enjoying a traditional High Tea.

You will have to book ahead and be prepared to blow the budget. This experience is designed for those aged 3 to 12 and costs $210 per child and $69 per adult.

The children will walk away with some nice gifts and some great memories – but obviously, the cost takes some thinking about.

106. This Doesn’t Work Anymore

You might read online that if you take a shirt or picture frame and some markers to Guest Services it will magically be returned to your stateroom having been signed by the character.

Unfortunately, it seems as though too many people got to know about this Disney cruise tip, so they had to stop doing it.

107. Characters on Castaway Cay

Some of the characters make it out onto Castaway Cay (although you will never see a Princess on the island).

One of the coolest characters is Captain Jack Sparrow who will often make an appearance out on Serenity Bay.

Do you have any Disney cruise tips that you want to share? We are cruising again soon and will be adding to this list of Disney cruise tips!

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Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando.  In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.

Thursday 18th of April 2024

You tip on the Edge Club is no longer accurate. An 11 or 12 year old does not have the choice any longer, they are forced to go to Edge. :(

Disney Cruise Line Suspends All Sailings for March 2020 - EverythingMouse Guide To Disney

Friday 13th of March 2020

[…] Best Disney Cruise Tips […]

Monday 3rd of December 2018

Great tips! I will definitely be making lots of note from this post to go towards my Disney cruise. Thanks for so many gems ?

Friday 30th of November 2018

Wow! What a list of tips and tricks! Thanks for sharing!

Such a comprehensive list!!

101 Disney Cruise Tips & Tricks

This post contains affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here .

Ready for your Disney Cruise? Cruising is definitely a different kind of vacation than any other you will take, and Disney Cruises can have some differences than other cruises you might be familiar with. If this is your first ever cruise or your first cruise Disney Cruise, these Disney Cruise tips & tricks will help you with everything you need to know. We’ve got tips about packing, boarding the ship, eating, enjoying the entertainment, and more so you can have best possible cruise experience!

There’s TONS here (and honestly more I probably could have added!), so read through it and then keep it saved to refer back to as you get ready for your cruise! I’ve done my best to break it up into section that will correspond with the stages of your cruise: planning and preparing, being on your cruise, and leaving your cruise.

Tips & Tricks for Booking Your Disney Cruise

1. book your cruise early.

Disney Cruise prices don’t tend to fluctuate. The earliest prices you can get are often going to be the best prices you can get (unless you get a great last minute deal). Prices generally only continue to go up as the cruise gets closer. Some cruises also sell out!

Also, understand how pricing works. Cruises during high-demand times (like summer and holidays) will be more expensive. Cruises on newer ships (like the Wish ) will also be more expensive.

2. Use a travel agent to book your cruise.

Travel agents are free to use and can get you the best deal. While there aren’t often big discounts for Disney Cruises, many of them do offer onboard credit, giving you money to spend on the ship.

3. Check-in online as soon as you can.

This will give you best options for port arrival times, excursions, exclusive dining reservations, and more.

4. Be prepared with documents for your online check-in.

You will need things like pictures of everyone in your party, passports, and possibly more. Gather and upload as much as you can before your actually online check-in time to cut down on the stress.

5. Book the earliest port arrival time you can.

You want to maximize the time you get to spend on your Disney Cruise! Booking an earlier port arrival time will allow you to get on the ship and start having fun hours before the ship actually leaves. You’ll be able to select your port arrival time once you check in online.

6. Download the Disney Cruise Line App.

Well before your cruise, download the app. It won’t do much before you leave, but once you link your reservation you’ll get a fun countdown. Plus, then you’ll have it all ready once you board the ship when you will REALLY need it.

7. Book everything you can online ahead of time!

Shore excursions, kids club reservations (if needed), spa appointments, specialty dining—many of these things will get booked up quickly, so book things early as much as you can. If you can’t book something ahead of time, visit Guest Services as soon as you board the ship.

8. Join a fish extender group before your cruise.

A fish extender is an pouch extension you place on the fish outside your door (a hook where Disney places your mail). You can join a fish extender group for your particular sailing on Facebook ahead of time, and then throughout the cruise you will exchange gifts with other people on your sailing by leaving the gifts in the fish extenders. This isn’t an official Disney activity, but instead a cruise tradition that fans have started, and many people love participating in it.

Tips & Tricks for Disney Cruise Packing

9. use the luggage tags provided by disney..

When you arrive at port, you will hand your bags over and then be able to board without the hassle of the luggage. But make sure you have the luggage tags Disney sent you on your bags so they know where the bags go!

10. Pack a separate embarkation carry-on bag.

Include essential documents, medications, and swimsuits (if you want to hit the pool soon after boarding). Pack anything you might need until early evening, because sometimes your regular bags will take a few hours to appear in your stateroom.

11. Don’t worry about beach packing towels.

Disney provides towels both on the pool deck and at Castaway Cay.

12. Don’t worry about packing bath products.

You won’t need to pack shampoo, conditioner, body wash, or body lotion (unless you have something super special you can’t live without). Disney provides great products in each stateroom, so no need to have it taking up space in your luggage.

13. Pack sunscreen!

You will absolutely need it. Reef safe sunscreen is always best to get in the ocean with. Our favorite is this Sun Bum spray , the Sun Bum face stick , and this COOLA scalp spray . (PS — all of these products smell so good which is the best part!)

14. Bring seasickness meds.

Be prepared if you are worried about seasickness. Bring medicine or anything else you might need. But also know that Disney ships have high-tech stabilizers and they do their best to make it a smooth ride.

15. Bring a jacket!

Even in the Caribbean it can get breezy and cool at night, and you might find some of the restaurants or theaters a little chilly too.

16. Bring an excursion bag.

Pack a small and easy-to-carry bag that you can take with you onto Castaway Cay or any other ports and excursions. You can include things like sunscreen, water, essential medications, your Key to the World card (your room key), ID, and anything else you might need off the ship.

17. Pack a lanyard.

Many people pack lanyards to keep their ID and Key to the World (room key) card on. This makes it easy to grab on your way out the door and easy to keep up with.

18. Pack a reusable water bottle.

Even though cups of water are free on your cruise, bottles of water aren’t and they can add up fast.

19. Pack your alcohol!

Drinks on a Disney Cruise can be pricey, so if you know you are going to want some, you can bring some with you. Each guest 21 years or older can bring two unopened bottles of wine or champagne or six beers in their carry-on luggage.

20. Use packing cubes!

Honestly, this is great advice for any trip, but packing cubes can help you fit more into your bag, keep everything organized, and are super easy to unpack into the drawers in your stateroom. I love these packing cubes and use them on every trip I go on.

21. Use a good packing list.

Use a packing list to make sure you’ve remembered everything! See this post for all our Disney Cruise packing tips .

Tips & Tricks for Boarding Your Disney Cruise

22. fly in the day before your cruise.

You definitely don’t want to be stressing about flight delays on the same day you have a cruise to board!

23. Don’t get to the port too early.

Ideally, you’ve booked the earliest time you can for arriving at port. But don’t arrive too much earlier than that or they may turn you away or you’ll just have to sit around and wait.

24. Get your WiFi up and running for the Disney Cruise app.

When you board the ship there will be cast members in place to instruct you on using the app. Note that you have to pay for extra WiFi, but the app is always free to use. The app will only work when you connected to the Disney Cruise ship WiFi.

25. Start figuring out the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app early.

You can use the app to see the schedule for each day, your dining rotation, chat with members of your party, and more.

26. Guest Services can help you with special bookings.

If there are special activities you were unable to book before your cruise or if you want to try to get a specialty dining reservation, head to guest services when you get on the ship and see if they can help you. Sometimes there are reservations available that hadn’t been available online.

27. Rent the baby gear you need.

If you need baby gear like a pack n’ play or a stroller, you can rent them for free at Guest Services. These are on a first-come, first-serve basis though, so do this as soon as possible once you get on the ship!

28. Head to lunch!

When you board the ship, head to lunch. While many people head to the buffet at Cabanas (or Marceline Market on the Wish), you can also eat at one of the sit-down restaurants that is offering lunch.

29. Get your muster drill done.

Recently, Disney has changed the way their muster drill works. Instead of everyone gathering at their station at once, you just have to go and check in at your station using the app during your first few hours on board. Go ahead and get it done so then you’re free to have fun!

30. Check out the Kid’s Clubs!

Your first afternoon on board, all of the kid’s clubs should be having open houses. This means you can go explore the space with your child and get all checked in with a cast member so that drop off is easy once you’re ready to actually use the kid’s club. (Pro Tip: Even if you don’t have kids, stop by just to use their awesome hand washing stations!)

31. You can go to the pool as soon as you get on the ship!

If you’ve packed your swimsuit in your carry on bag (or worn it under your clothes) you can head straight to the pool when you get on board and hopefully find it less crowded than it will be later.

32. Remember that your room may not be ready right away.

Rooms tend to be ready mid-afternoon, so you may not have access to your room as soon as you board. (Remember, they JUST had an entire cruise get OFF the ship that same morning!)

33. Your luggage may take some time to show up in your room.

Usually luggage will show up in the afternoon, but sometimes it can be into the evening. So be prepared with the things you will need in your carry-on bag.

34. The ship will feel like a maze when you first get on.

But don’t worry because soon you’ll get the hang of it. There are maps and signs to help you know your way, and spend some time on this first day just wondering around the ship getting the lay of the land (or uh…ship).

Tips & Tricks for Your Disney Cruise Stateroom

35. decorate your door with custom magnets.

This is a fun Disney Cruise tradition, and there are lots of small shops online that sell these magnets. We also love our door decorations because it makes it easier for us to find our room.

36. Pack a magnetic hook.

The doors in your state room are metal, so magnetized hooks are helpful for keeping things like lanyards, purses, etc.

37. Don’t use an over-the-door shoe organizer.

Disney has begun asking guests not to use these because they can damage the door.

38. Unpack your suitcase.

You can store empty luggage under the bed. Cruise staterooms are too small to have open suitcases lying around!

39. Disney Cruise rooms have TWO bathrooms.

This is one of my favorite features about the rooms. There is one bathroom with a sink and shower/tub, and one bathroom with a sink and toilet. This makes sharing a bathroom with family members in a small space much more manageable.

40. Your stateroom host will prepare kid’s beds.

If you have kids and need to use the fold-out beds, your stateroom host will pull them down for you each night and make them up for you each morning.

41. Get to know your state room host!

They are so kind and are there to help your experience in your stateroom be the best it can be.

Tips & Tricks for Disney Cruise Dining

42. you will be assigned restaurants on a rotating basis for dinner..

This is known as rotational dining, and you don’t want to miss it! They are truly special dining experiences. You can find your dining rotation on your Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.

Looking for more dining info? These might help:

• Complete Guide to Disney Magic Restaurants + Dining
• Complete Guide to Disney Wish Restaurants + Dining

43. Your rotational dining is included in the cost of your cruise.

The only thing you may have to pay for at a standard dinner is if you order an alcoholic drink.

44. There are two different dinner seating times.

Most families with young kids prefer to be assigned the earlier dinner seating, while families with older kids or parties traveling with just adults tend to book the later dinner seating.

45. Guest Services can change your dinner time if you need to.

If you need to change your dinner seating time for some reason, talk to Guest Services about it as soon as you board the ship.

46. Your waiters will move restaurants with you each night.

This means they will really get to know you and your preferences. Maybe when you enter they’ll already have drinks out if you get the same thing every night, or if you have a special dietary need they will always be prepared for that.

47. Get to know your waiters too!

We love talking to ours and getting to know where they are from, how long they’ve been working on Disney Cruises, and just chatting! Getting to know the cast members on board really makes the cruise experience even more special.

48. You can order more than one item.

If more than one appetizer, dessert, or even entrée sounds good to you, remember that you are allowed to order more than one!

49. Quick service options are available for breakfast and lunch.

There are dining options available on the pool deck and in either Cabanas or Marceline Market (on the Wish). These are included in the price of your cruise, and are likely where you will want to grab lunch. (Although you can also choose a table service restaurant for either meal as well.)

50. Room service is included in the price of your cruise!

So take advantage for any meal or for late night snacks! Be prepared to tip though.

51. Order Mickey Premium Bars through room service!

Room service is the only place you’ll be able to find Disney’s popular ice cream treat. And truly there is nothing better than sitting on your verandah with a Mickey Premium Bar!

52. If you want to book premium-adults only dining, do so early!

Each ship has at least one adults-only dining experience. These are an additional charge. Most of them offer options for both brunch and dinner. Each ship has a version of Palo. The Dream and Fantasy also have Remy, and the Wish has Enchanté.

53. You’ll have to pay for specialty coffee.

If you want something other than the standard coffee at the restaurants, there is a coffee bar in the adults only area of the ship. The coffee here is an extra charge, but you can save money if you grab one of their coffee cards. Buy 5 drinks and the 6th is free.

Tips & Tricks for the Disney Cruise Kids Clubs

54. there are kid’s clubs for all ages.

It’s a Small World Nursery is for children under 3, The Oceaneer’s Club and Lab is for kids ages 3-12, The Edge is for kids 11-14, and The Vibe is for teens ages 14-17. Each club has age appropriate activities and special events that occur throughout the day.

55. It’s a Small World Nursery is an additional charge.

It is $9 per hour for your first child, and $8 per hour for each additional child.

56. It’s a Small World Nursery needs to be booked ahead of time.

While the other kid’s clubs allow kids to stop in whenever they want, the nursery will need to be reserved ahead of time.

57. The Oceaneer’s Club will lock your child’s Magic Band on.

Your child will need a Magic Band for their time in the Oceaneer’s Club (you will be given one), and the cast members will lock it on while they are in there, which is a great safety measure. If they don’t want to wear the Magic Band for the whole cruise, you can use small scissors or ask a cast member for help cutting it off. Then it will just get relocked each time your child comes into the club.

58. Kids in The Edge and The Vibe are free to come and go as they please.

Tweens and teens do not have to be checked in and out by an adult. However, if you have a child in an overlap age (11 or 12) who can participate in both The Edge and The Oceaneer’s Club, you will need to check them in and out of the Oceaneer’s Club still but not The Edge.

59. Scuttle’s Cove is the kid’s club on Castaway Cay.

Kids that would normally go to the Oceaneer’s Club on the ship can be checked into Scuttle’s Cove on Castaway Cay, so parents can enjoy some of the adults only areas and some kid-free beach time. Just remember to bring their Magic Band onto the island!

60. Teens can go to Teen Hideout.

There is a Teen Hideout on Castaway Cay for teens ages 14-17.

Looking for a vacation book? You might like these books set on cruise ships !

Tips & Tricks for Disney Cruise Activities, Entertainment, & Shopping

61. check your disney cruise line navigator app each day..

You’ll be able to see what going on during the day on the ship and what activities you might want to participate in. You can favorite the activities and it will create an itinerary for you.

62. Disney Cruises will have activities going on ALL THE TIME (and they often repeat).

So don’t worry if you miss something. Usually for games/trivia/etc. the event will happen more than once during the cruise.

63. Your dining time will be opposite your nighttime entertainment time.

This means if you have the early dining you can go to the late show and if you have the late dining you can go to the early show.

64. Pack your own snacks!

If you think you are going to want to snacks during shows and movies, you can bring your own. The snacks outside the theaters are not included in the price of your cruise, so you would have to buy them separately. I also think it is helpful to have some granola bars or similar snacks with you, because while food on the ship is plentiful sometimes a snack that isn’t a cookie can be harder to find.

65. Shop early!

If there are certain items you want, pick them up early. Generally, merchandise does not get restocked during the cruise, so what they have at the beginning of the cruise is what they will have for the whole cruise.

66. The shops will not always be open!

Usually, they can only be open when the ship is at sea, so plan your shopping times accordingly.

67. Be prepared for Pirate Night!

Pirate Night is a beloved tradition on Disney Cruises! You can bring you own pirate attire to wear, and you’ll find special menus at dinner, characters dressed in pirate outfits, and special nighttime entertainment. Don’t have pirate attire? No worries! On our cruise everyone got a pirate bandanna to wear at dinner.

68. Don’t miss the fireworks!

Disney’s fireworks at sea are truly magical. (And fun fact: Disney Cruise Line fireworks are made from biodegradable materials so they are environmentally friendly!)

Tips & Tricks for Disney Cruise Characters

69. characters are out all the time on disney cruises..

This makes it really easy to meet them. Just walk through the atrium at various points during the day and you will see so many different characters. Generally the times they are out will show up in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app, but you may find some surprise characters too.

70. Some character meet and greets may require a reservation.

This is usually for things like princess meet and greets. These aren’t an additional charge, but you will still need to book your spot, and you should be able to do so through the app or with Guest Services.

71. There are also character experiences you can pay for.

Some cruises offer special character experiences, like a character meal or a princess tea, for an additional cost.

72. Some of your dining rotations will include a character element/show.

Some of the dinner restaurants will include a special show with characters. For example, Rapunzel, Flynn, and the ruffians show up at Rapunzel’s Royal Table on the Disney Magic. On the Disney Wish, Frozen characters perform at Arendelle. And of course the shows at Animator’s Palate are always a favorite!

Tips & Tricks for the Disney Cruise Pool Deck

73. towels are provided on the pool deck..

So there is no need to bring your own towels!

74. The pools will have lines to get in when it is crowded.

The lifeguards will let a certain number of people in, let them be in for a certain time, and then have them get out so the next group can get in.

75. Try to ride the popular water slides during less popular times.

Later afternoon and evening or when the ship is docked are great times to try for the slides.

76. Hit the pool either early or later.

If you want a spot by the pool, plan to be out early in the morning. But you can also sometimes wait until later in the day! We found the pool a lot less crowded in the afternoon than in the morning! I think a lot of families have kids eager to get to the pool and by the afternoon they are ready to move on to something else or head in for nap time.

77. There are several dining options available on each ship’s pool deck.

All pool deck dining is included in the price of your cruise. You’ll find things like pizza, burgers, shawarma, and BBQ depending on what ship you are on. There is also a drink station on the pool deck.

78. The pool deck can get hot in the sun!

We had to make sure to walk in the shade on the pool deck on the Disney Magic because the areas exposed to the sun got so hot. So be prepared!

Tips & Tricks for Castaway Cay

79. make sure you have your id and your room key when you leave the ship.

You will need them both to get off and get back on the ship at Castaway Cay and at any port.

80. Towels are provided.

Be sure to grab them as you exit the ship.

81. Walk to the beach from the ship.

If you walk along the path instead of taking the tram you’ll have a chance to see characters along your way! Then you can take the tram back in the afternoon when you are tired.

82. Get off the ship early and find a spot to camp out during the day.

It’s best to find your spot before it gets too crowded. We like to find chairs near the water structure where we think the kids will play the most.

83. Take advantage of the bike riding and the snorkeling.

These were some of our favorite experiences on Castaway Cay! You will have to pay to rent bikes and snorkeling gear. (For more on what do on Castaway Cay, see our Guide to Castaway Cay .)

84. You can send a postcard from Castaway Cay.

If you want to send a postcard from Castaway Cay, you can stop by the post office. You will need cash to pay for it though!

85. Lunch is served at Cookies and Cookies Too.

You’ll find a big buffet with all kinds of options and it is included in your cruise price. You’ll also find soft serve ice cream here (but it’s only open during lunch hours).

Tips & Tricks for Gratuities and Other Expenses

86. some things are not included in the price of your cruise..

While so many of your experiences and most of your dining is included in the price of your cruise, some things are not: port excursions, alcoholic drinks and specialty beverages, spa treatments, specialty dining experiences, and gratuities/tips.

87. Always pack some dollar bills.

You can use these for tips for bag porters, room service, and specialty beverages.

88. Disney will walk you through the gratuities process.

At the end of your cruise, you will find information about gratuities in your stateroom. Disney Cruise Line automatically calculates gratuities for you and charges you for them. There are slips of paper with the tip amount included that you can hand to your servers and stateroom hosts to personally thank them.

89. You can add to the standard tip amounts.

If you would like to add to the standard tip amount Disney calculates, you can visit Guest Services and they will add the additional tip and print new slips for you to hand your servers and statement host.

Tips & Tricks for Disembarkation Day

90. get your pictures at shutters before disembarkation day..

BEFORE disembarkation day, make sure you stop by Shutters to view your photos and decide on any photos you want to buy. This is best done the afternoon of your last cruise day.

91. Put your luggage out in the hallway the night before for Disney to transport off the ship.

The night before your disembarkation day, have your luggage out in the hallway by around 10 p.m. with the luggage tags you are given. This way, Disney will take your bags off the ship for you and have them waiting for you at the port the next day.

92. Pack a carry-on bag for disembarkation day.

Keep a carry-on bag with your clothes for the next day, necessary toiletries and medication. Also don’t forget shoes for the next day!

93. You will be assigned a breakfast restaurant and time.

It will be early, so be prepared. It will also be the same restaurant where you had dinner on your last night. You’ll still have your same servers, but the menu will be more limited than it is for the rest of the cruise.

94. You can also have breakfast at the ship’s buffet.

If you don’t want to dine at your assigned location, Cabana’s (or Marceline Market) is usually open with a limited breakfast buffet.

95. You will be able to leave the ship when your luggage tag group is announced.

Watch the screens around the ship to know what luggage tags have been announced. Each tag is printed with a recognizable character, so they are easy to remember.

96. If you do not have your bags out in the hallway the night before, you will be responsible for taking them off the ship.

Note that you will have to take them with you to breakfast, because once you leave the stateroom for breakfast you are “checked out” of your room so they can begin preparing it for the guests that will board later that day. (Generally you have to out of your stateroom by at least 8:00 a.m.)

Miscellaneous Disney Cruise Tips & Tricks

97. you are not allowed to bring an iron..

There is a laundry center on each ship where you can do laundry and find irons to use.

98. You are NOT allowed to bring extension cords or power strips.

We found that there are plenty of plugs in each stateroom though.

99. Internet is available on the ship but it is very expensive for not very much.

Honestly, one reason we love cruising is that it is a way to really disconnect! But remember that the WiFi will always work for you Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.

100. The Senses Salon & Spa is not run by Disney Cruise Line.

Rather it is a third party vendor. If you have an issue with the spa, you will need to contact them about it directly. Also, be prepared for them to try to sell you products.

101. Book your next cruise while on board!

If your put down a $250 deposit for your next cruise, you can save 10%. You don’t even have to have a specific sailing date, just put down a fully refundable deposit for any future sailing, and it can be applied when you book. The sailing must take place within two years though.

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Disney Unveils Magical New Details About the Wish Cruise Ship

Travel + Leisure went behind the scenes with Walt Disney Imagineers to learn more about the spaces and experiences on board the Disney Wish .

When the Disney Wish sails its maiden voyage this summer, it will give new meaning to Disney Cruise Line's long-standing tradition of creating magical vacations at sea. Disney has already shared quite a few exciting details about the magic that awaits on board, and Travel + Leisure recently got a behind-the-scenes look from the Walt Disney Imagineers who are making this "wish" come true. Here's what we learned about the Disney Wish .

Every Space and Experience on the Ship Is Rooted in Disney Storytelling

Disney began telling enchanting animated stories nearly 100 years ago. And since Disneyland's grand opening in 1955, they've been challenging themselves to find new and creative ways to take those classic stories from the big screen and bring them to life.

For the Disney Wish , Walt Disney Imagineers are doing just that in never-before-seen ways, while also keeping the ship's theme of enchantment front of mind. "Enchantment is about unlocking the wonder in everything we do and experience," Laura Cabo, portfolio creative executive at Walt Disney Imagineering, said in a press release.

This theme of enchantment means classic Disney stories like "Cinderella" and "Beauty and the Beast" – as well as newer additions to the Disney portfolio from Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars – will be told on a more sophisticated level.

This extends from the Marvel and Frozen -themed dining experiences that blend upscale yet approachable menus with interactive storytelling, to the elegant, understated concierge staterooms and suites themed to "Moana," "Sleeping Beauty," and, "Tangled," and the magical moments you'll experience during the cruise that will make you feel like a character in your favorite Disney stories.

Imagineers Created an All-new Interactive Game for the Disney Wish

Speaking of becoming a part of the story, Disney revealed an immersive, interactive game called Disney Uncharted Adventure that will set you on a quest through the Disney universe, meeting beloved characters along the way.

Disney Uncharted Adventure utilizes the Play Disney Parks app (make sure you download it before your trip!) to turn your mobile device into a magical spyglass that you'll use at various locations around the ship to complete a series of missions.

Unlike many mobile games, you won't be looking at your phone the whole time you play. "While guests will need a mobile device to play, this isn't a traditional mobile gaming experience," said Davey Feder, software product manager at Walt Disney Imagineering. "This is a heads-up, active experience that can be played with family and friends. The magic will happen all around the ship. The spyglass is not where the adventure takes place — it's just the tool that brings the ship to life, opening portals into new worlds and allowing guests to interact with them."

As you visit each stop, you'll quickly discover the Disney Wish holds a hidden layer of magic that can bring the ship to life. Using your spyglass as a controller, digital menu boards and showtime displays transform into multidimensional digital games. Even pieces of art and chandeliers come to life with the magic your spyglass holds.

Without spoiling the whole story, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to assist Captains Mickey and Minnie in finding pieces of the wishing star, which has been shattered and scattered across the sky by one of those slimy Disney villains. Each mission will take you to familiar Disney worlds like New Orleans from "The Princess and the Frog," Montunui from "Moana," and Neverland from "Peter Pan."

You can choose to complete all of the missions or just a few, and you can start and stop your quest anytime (like when that afternoon ice cream craving hits). Whether or not you find every piece of the wishing star, the entire ship will be invited to attend a live grand finale event with a climactic battle that (fingers crossed) ends with the wishing star being restored to its rightful place in the night sky, thus ensuring a "happily ever after" for the Disney universe.

Disney Cruise Line's First Attraction at Sea Will Tell Two Original Stories

Disney has already given fans a peek at the AquaMouse, but Imagineers let us in on a secret that adds another "splash" of fun to the water attraction. In addition to the "Scuba Scramble" storyline that was previously announced, Imagineers unveiled a second original story called "Swiss Meltdown."

Both stories are done in the style of the current "The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse" animated shorts and are told mostly through a series of nine portholes along the conveyor belt that carries your raft to the top of the attraction before you come sliding down.

Where "Scuba Scramble" takes you on an undersea adventure, "Swiss Meltdown" finds you racing to the top of the Matterhorn for a sledding excursion before the sun melts all of the snow. Not only are the animations and music different, the lighting and water effects change, as well.

With the addition of a second storyline and the collection of Easter eggs the Imagineers pointed out (we'll give you one: keep an eye out for Chip 'n' Dale cooking up a plan to get to Castaway Cay in both shows), the AquaMouse has a major re-rideability factor.

The Star Wars : Hyperspace Lounge Will Be Disney Cruise Line's First Adults-only Star Wars Experience

It's also already been revealed that adults will have the opportunity to visit a galaxy far, far away at the Star Wars : Hyperspace Lounge , but Travel + Leisure got a closer look at the venue, including the "window" that will transport guests to various locales in the Star Wars universe.

In keeping with the ship's upscale theming, the Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge has a high-end feel. With its high shine, gold details, sleek, custom-made furnishings, and the satisfying airlock "swoosh" you'll hear when the entry door opens, it's much more Canto Bight casino than Mos Eisley cantina. And if you've never heard of either of those, you don't have to be a Star Wars expert to sip on out-of-this-world libations as you peer out the 20-foot-wide window into space.

We were able to experience a few hyperspace jumps to well-known Star Wars planets and spotted a few familiar ships along with others the Imagineers had to point out to us (yes, we gasped when they mentioned the Star Tours speeder on Coruscant). If you're as excited about this as Reylo shippers were in the final act of "The Rise of Skywalker," Imagineers assured us the scenery will change every 7 to 10 minutes, ensuring you should see most, if not all, locations over the course of an evening.

Disney Developed Brand New Technology For the Marvel Cinematic Dining Experience

Marvel fans lost their collective minds when Disney released a teaser video showing how the Pym-powered Quantum Cores on each table at the Worlds of Marvel "Avengers: Quantum Encounter" experience can cause a cupcake to shrink and grow with the push of a button. We got to see the tech in action — and it's just as much fun as it looks.

Your own personal Quantum Core does more than make teeny-tiny treats. You'll use it throughout the evening to assist Ant-Man and The Wasp when their Avengers technology showcase goes awry, thanks to an all-too-familiar Marvel villain. Ant-Man and the Wasp will enlist Captain America, Captain Marvel, and, of course, you, to save the day. Most of the action will play out via video screens and special effects, but, of course, Ant-Man and The Wasp will make an appearance, live and in person.

Danny Handke, senior creative director at Walt Disney Imagineering, said in a press release, "We're doing something that's never been done before in a restaurant, developing an exclusive Avengers adventure that will immerse our guests in the action through sophisticated technology and innovative storytelling. It's the perfect complement to the incredible menu of story-driven dining aboard the Disney Wish ."

Don't worry about the hijinks interrupting your meal — most of the show takes place before and after dinner service. Film footage and explanatory Avengers tech graphics will play in the background while you dine on dishes inspired by some of the real and fictional locales seen in Marvel films.

The Oceaneer Club Is Meant for Kids, But We Want To Hang Out There, Too

Disney Cruise Line offers programming for kids of all ages, but the Disney Oceaneer Club for kids ages 3 to 12 is the spot that has us wishing we could rejoin the school-age set. Three unique spaces have already been announced, with two others to be revealed at a later date.

At Marvel Super Hero Academy, kids can train to become the next generation of Marvel heroes. They'll start by designing a Marvel-inspired super hero suit that will appear before their eyes on a mannequin. Then it's time for "Avengers: Mission Training," a gesture-based game where they can test their suit's powers. The activities do loosely tie-in with the "Avengers: Quantum Encounter" dining experience, so this is a great activity for kids to try out before they visit Worlds of Marvel.

Next door at Fairytale Hall, kids can participate in the favorite pastimes of popular Disney princesses. Choose from arts and crafts with Rapunzel, storytime with Belle, or play in the "virtual" snow with Anna and Elsa in a series of gesture based games.

Kids can also visit the Walt Disney Imagineering Lab and learn what it really takes to be an Imagineer by working through the entire creative process. We were most excited to learn more about the Ride Studio, where kids can design and build their own roller coaster based on elements of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain, or the Matterhorn Bobsleds. When their creation is complete, they can take it for a virtual spin in a specially designed capsule that mimics a real on-ride experience.

The Disney Wish will set sail on its maiden voyage to Nassau, Bahamas and Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, on July 14, 2022, and reservations are available now for sailings through the end of 2022.

FinanceBuzz

15 Money-Saving Tips Disney Employees Wish You Knew

Posted: March 2, 2024 | Last updated: March 8, 2024

Disney can feel like the most magical place on earth, but that magic puts some serious stress on the wallet. 

One day in Disney World can get pricey, and for families hoping to visit all four parks in Florida — Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios — or both parks in California — Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park — planning the trip can feel like a burden, both financially and logistically.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to step up your travel game  and use specific services to your advantage to create the ultimate Disney dream vacation.

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Pack the basics

You’re bound to need a few things if you plan to spend the whole day in Disney, especially if you’re traveling with family. 

Arriving prepared — with a reusable water bottle, small snacks like granola bars or fruit, ponchos, and maybe even a change of socks — can help guests  keep more money in their wallets .

Disney visitors are permitted to bring most types of nonalcoholic beverages and snack items into the parks.

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Check if you have discounts

If you belong to certain organizations, you might be entitled to discounts on Disney-related purchases. People who have AAA may be able to get discounted rates at Disney hotels (and other hotels in the area) as well as vacation packages and complimentary services.

Also, look into whether you can use credit card rewards for purchases related to the vacation.

Know where to find the freebies

Disney has a few spots where guests can get their hands on some freebies.

For example, in Epcot, Club Cool allows guests to try free samples of Coca-Cola products from around the world — a great option if you’re feeling a little thirsty but don’t want to splurge on a drink at one of the counter service spots or souvenir shops.

Use your Costco membership

You may be surprised to find out that your Costco membership can do more than just help you keep more in your wallet, even if you think you're using every genius Costco hack .

Costco can get you discounts when you purchase cars, insurance, and yes, even Disney vacations. Check out Costco Travel for Disney packages to help you save on tickets and accommodations when you book your next trip.

Consider other airports

Those traveling to Disney by plane may be able to save some money on the trip by crunching numbers at different airports. Orlando International Airport may be the closest to Disney World, but Orlando Sanford Airport is also nearby.

And if you are planning to explore other parts of Florida, you might want to fly into a city such as Tampa or Jacksonville if the fare is cheaper. Then, you can drive to Disney later.

Expanding your airport search could lead to hundreds in savings, especially if you live in an area where you have the option to fly out of a few different airports.

Purchase Disney gift cards

Paying for purchases with Disney gift cards is a great way to avoid carrying cash or whipping out your debit card a bunch of times while visiting the parks. 

Gift cards can be used in many places in the parks and can be purchased online or at certain retailers. You may even be able to score an extra discount on the gift cards if you buy at a retailer like Target and pay with a store card.

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Consider a Disney dining plan

Disney offers a few different dining plan options. Some include quick-service meals while others include sit-down table service or even dinner shows.

Getting a dining plan might be a cheaper option than paying for food throughout the day when visiting the parks. Guests also get an included drink with every meal and can take it to go.

Get free water from counter service spots

If you forget to bring a reusable water bottle, or simply can’t fit it in your bag, there is another way to avoid paying for pricey water bottles. 

Most quick-service spots throughout the parks give away free cups of tap water. It’s also a great way to cut back on overall meal prices.

Stay at a cheaper hotel

While staying on-site at Disney World is fun, you can save a lot of money by instead making an off-site hotel your home base during your trip.

If staying on-site is one of your must-haves, consider the Disney value resorts. Disney separates its Disney Resort hotels into three categories, including value, moderate, and deluxe. 

The value resorts, such as Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Pop Century, or one of the All-Star resorts, are typically less expensive, but you’re still on-site and get the additional Disney benefits.

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Plan around crowds

Disney parks are popular vacation destinations year-round, but there are certain times throughout the year when they are particularly popular — and crowded.

Periods when kids are out of school, like the summer or over Christmas or spring break, tend to get a lot of traffic. So, visitors who wish to avoid big crowds may want to schedule their trip for another time.

Disney also provides a calendar of events at the parks on its website so visitors can avoid things like festivals that may draw larger crowds.

Consider renting a stroller beforehand

If you’re bringing young children who may need a stroller for long days in the parks, renting one before actually getting into Disney might save you some money.

There are other companies around Orlando that may offer cheaper rates on stroller rentals. You are also permitted to bring your own stroller into the parks, although there are limits on how big the strollers can be.

Order from the kids menu

Paying for meals throughout the day in the parks can get pricey fast, but options on the kids menus do tend to be a bit cheaper at Disney’s restaurants.

So, if you don’t have a huge appetite or don’t want to get weighed down by eating a large meal during your Disney days, ordering from the kids menu is a great way to save a few bucks per meal.

Consider an annual pass

Those who visit Disney often may want to consider getting an annual pass. Some passes are only available to Florida residents or Disney Vacation Club members, but the Incredi-Pass is available to everyone and costs $1,449 plus tax for the year.

If you plan to visit the parks at least a dozen times throughout the year, the Incredi-Pass could be a great tool to help when budgeting for your Disney vacation, especially because the annual passes come with other benefits.

Use ride shares apps to get around

While Disney hotels — and many other hotels in the area — offer free shuttles to the parks, paying to get around to other spots in the area can get pricey for guests who don’t bring cars with them on vacation.

Before asking your hotel to call a taxi for you, look into how much the ride would cost on rideshare apps like Uber or Lyft, as they may be significantly cheaper.

Be smart about souvenirs

If you buy every souvenir at Disney World, you’ll go broke in a matter of hours. Do yourself a favor and buy Mickey Mouse ears and other souvenirs ahead of time at your local Target or Walmart.

Not only will they be cheaper than inside the parks, but you can also make a game of leaving them for your kids to find during your trip.

Bottom line

The best tips for making the most out of a Disney vacation really depend on your goals. If you’re looking to book the most cost-effective trip possible, things like researching the best travel credit cards and avoiding big purchases while in the parks are important. 

Remember to consider ways to boost your bank account  to offset the vacation costs, or find the right time of year to plan your trip.

For example, if you’re hoping to avoid major crowds and long lines, planning a trip during a less popular time of year and taking advantage of Disney services — like the Disney Genie app, which can let you know wait times for rides, among many other things — should be a priority.

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10 things I wish tourists knew before visiting Greece, from a local

• I'm from Athens, and I've seen plenty of tourists make mistakes while traveling to Greece .
• Pace yourself if you're planning on staying out at the bars and clubs all night.
• It's worth it to do some research on smaller islands and local cuisine before your trip.

Thanks to its ancient ruins, picturesque beaches, and incredible food, Greece is one of the top tourist destinations. In 2023, over 32 million people visited.

I was born in Athens and currently split my years living between the US and Greece , so I've spent plenty of time in the beautiful European country.

Here are 10 things I think tourists should know before visiting.

There’s so much more to see in Greece than the popular islands.

It seems like everyone visits Mykonos, Santorini, and maybe Paros, but Greece has over 220 inhabitable islands. Plus, most of them are more budget-friendly than the popular spots.

I recommend looking into places like Kimolos, Astypalaia, Paxoi (also known as Paxos and Paxi), or Folegandros.

The Greek mainland is also beautiful. There's a lot to see there, from UNESCO sites at Delphi and Meteora and the turquoise waters of the Peloponnese to the stunning mountains and villages of Epirus.

Athens is more than the Acropolis.

Athens has great nightlife , restaurants, museums, and cool neighborhoods like Plaka, Exarcheia, Psyrri, and Pangrati.

Tourists who just swing by to check the Acropolis off their list are missing out. I've always found it to be one of the liveliest cities in the world.

You don’t need to tip 20%.

Greek servers generally rely on hourly wages, so there isn't the same tipping culture as the US .

I normally just round up the bill or leave a couple of Euros on the table as a tip — unless I had exceptional service or dined at a more formal (and tourist-oriented) restaurant.

Pace yourself when drinking alcohol.

A lot of travelers take advantage of Greece's lax attitude toward alcohol restrictions. Coupled with the fact that Greek bars and clubs close pretty late (like 4 a.m. late), some tourists get sloppy.

Locals usually intersperse drinks with food and water so they can last the whole night, and I recommend tourists do the same.

Slow down and take Sundays off.

Greeks have a pretty relaxed relationship with time — people often arrive late and stores may open half an hour after they said they would.

Service in Greece can seem slow to people from more fast-paced places, especially on the quieter islands . A lot of stores and supermarkets are also closed on Sundays, even in Athens.

I know this can be annoying at times, but I recommend just enjoying the slower pace of life.

Don’t try to visit too many islands on one trip.

So many people ask me if they can fit four or five islands into a seven-day trip, and I never recommend it. Take your time and enjoy each destination for at least a couple of days.

Half the joy of the Greek islands is getting to destress. If you're hopping from ferry to ferry and running around to cover the highlights, you'll miss out on the best parts of the country.

Be sensitive about natural disasters.

I never thought I'd have to say this, but I have seen multiple tourists in the last few years posting about how "pretty" the skies or sunsets are thanks to the glow from raging wildfires .

At a time when a lot of Greek people are wondering if their houses are still standing or their loved ones have gotten to safety, it's a pretty insensitive thing to do.

Don't skip out on experiencing a traditional taverna.

Athens and other popular Greek destinations now have a lot of upscale restaurants with cuisines from all over the world. But make sure to eat in a traditional taverna at least once.

A taverna is a casual restaurant with family-style dining. Diners can spend hours in them chatting with friends while sharing food paired with some great wine or ouzo (a Greek aperitif).

Greek food is more than just gyros.

Well-known dishes like gyros and souvlaki are truly delicious, but Greek cuisine is so much more than that.

For example, a lot of Greeks start their day with a tiropita (cheese pie) and freddo coffee. Each region also has local specialties that I recommend inquiring about.

In tavernas, popular menu items include calamari, octopus, all kinds of fish, grilled and fried cheeses (like saganaki and halloumi), and side dishes like fava.

Learn a few local words.

Most younger Greek people understand English, but you may run into problems communicating with older people — especially in more rural areas.

Even if a local person can understand you, I think it's nice to learn a few simple words and phrases like "good morning," "thank you," and "how are you?"

It's nice when tourists make a little bit of an effort.

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