By the Numbers: Disney Cruise Line’s New Ship, Disney Wish

After a pandemic pause, the 2022 new cruise ship season has picked up steam as of late, with a number of new ships debuting to much fanfare, and even more to come in the second half of the year.

One of those new ships, Disney Wish, was christened last week, at a ceremony in Port Canaveral, Fla. 

Consumers will get their chance to get onboard when the ship kicks off its inaugural season on July 14, a series of Bahamian cruises from that port. TMR was part of the media who got to preview Wish, which is the first new ship from Disney Cruise Line in a decade, last week.

Here are just some of the many highlights onboard:

2 – The number of movie theatres onboard, the most ever for a Disney Cruise Line ship—the Wonderland Cinema and the Never Land Cinema. Both are themed for their namesakes (Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan) and will offer a schedule of movies throughout the day, including some new releases (Lightyear was playing during last week’s sailing).

Both theatres can hold about 80 people and a concession stand in the space between the two on Deck 4 called Luna’s Libations offers popcorn, sodas, beer, and more to moviegoers.

Wish also includes The Walt Disney Theater, the ship’s home for live stage shows, including a new, highly-anticipated production of Little Mermaid.

3 – The number of “main” dining rooms part of Disney Wish’s rotational dining program, one of the trademarks of sailing on a Disney Cruise Line ship. Each restaurant includes its own unique theme and menu, with tablemates and servers rotating with their guests each night.

Three new restaurants are included on Wish:

• Arendelle, a Frozen-themed eatery that includes a stage show with characters from the movie franchise that picks up where Frozen 2 leaves off. Guests eating at Arendelle can choose from a menu of Scandinavian-inspired dishes.
• Worlds of Marvel, a Marvel-themed restaurant that includes an interactive digital show, mixed with character greetings, from Ant-man and the Wasp. The menu here includes dishes that pay homage to Marvel’s iconic worlds, including Black Panther’s African Wakanda, and the Avenger’s home base of New York City.
• 1923, a restaurant named for the year The Walt Disney Company was founded with a menu inspired by California, including a blend of Asia, European, and South American influences.

Wish also includes two specialty restaurants that guests can reserve during their sailing—Palo Steakhouse, a Disney Cruise Line signature, and Enchante by Chef Arnaud Lallement.

6 – The number of years that the Disney team worked on Wish, including time managing the project through the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

6 – The number of pools specifically for families on Wish. The two largest ones are the Mickey Pool and Minnie Pool on Deck 11, which are both surrounded by deck chairs in the sun and shade. Other pools include The Daisy Pool and Pluto Pool, two shallow pools, and the Donald  Pool and Goofy Pool, the deepest of the six at 4 inches.

Outside of the pools, there is a separate themed Toy Story Splash Zone and the adults-only Quiet Cove that includes the first-ever infinity pool on a Disney Cruise Line ship. That area includes its own outdoor bar and indoor care, called Cove Café.

760 – The length, in feet, of Aquamouse, a waterslide that Disney is calling “the first-ever” Disney attraction at sea. The ride invites guests to board a 2-seater float and immerse themselves in one of two Mickey storylines (Scuba Scramble and Swiss Meltdown) as they traverse winding tubes, 65 different water nozzles, and nine different show scenes.

1,250 – The number of guest staterooms on Wish, ranging from 169 sq. ft. inside staterooms to 218 sq. ft. deluxe oceanview rooms to concierge-level rooms and suites and more. While the sizes and amenities range across the categories, one thing that does not change is Disney’s ability to pull storytelling into every aspect of a vacation, including bringing murals from beloved movies into each room onboard.

One of the highlights of Wish is a 1,966 sq. ft., 2-story Concierge Wish Tower Suite, the first-ever Disney cruise line stateroom sitting in one of the ship’s funnels. That stateroom includes two main bedrooms, plus another room (the library) that can be converted into a third bedroom, plus a separate children’s room. It also includes 4.5 bathrooms, a grand spiral staircase, an open dining salon, a pantry, and a walk-in closet in both main bedrooms.

Another highlight is the two-story Royal Suite with Verandah, an-almost 1,800 sq. ft. offering that includes a verandah with its own whirlpool tub, patio furniture, deck lighting, and childproof locks. That suite sleeps 6 in two main bedrooms and a queen convertible sofa in the living room.

4,000 - the guest capacity of Disney Wish, similar to previous Disney ships in its Dream class (Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream). 

5,000 – The cost, in dollars, of the most expensive cocktail onboard, Kaiburr Crystal at the ship’s Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge, an elevated cocktail lounge. The cost gets you more than just a cocktail, according to Disney Dining, you’ll also get Star Wars merchandise, a bottle of wine, and a visit to Skywalker Ranch, a movie ranch and workplace of George Lucas.

The Hyperspace Lounge, which welcomes guests of all ages during the day, is one of several adults-only lounges onboard when evening comes. While Disney has long been the pinnacle of family entertainment and vacations, Disney Wish continues to offer experiences that cater to those who may be children-at-heart but adults in age.

Aside from Hyperspace Lounge, Wish also offers The Bayou, one of the ship’s main lounges inspired by The Princess and The Frog; Nightingale’s, a piano bar that serves Instagram-worth bubble cocktails; Keg & Compass, a nautical-themed pub serving a menu of beers, including some only offered on Wish, and pub-food; and The Rose Lounge, an elegant deck-12 lounge that offers panoramic views through floor-to-ceiling windows.

1.2 million – The number of sq. ft. on the whole ship, according to senior creative director Danny Hanke. The ship, the first in Disney’s Triton class of cruise ships, is the largest by far of any previous Disney ship, with more than double the passenger capacity of Disney’s original ship, Magic, which debuted in 1998.