What to Expect from Disney Cruise Line’s New Ship, Disney Wish
by Daniel McCarthy /When the Disney Wish debuts in summer 2022 it will be Disney’s fifth ship in the fleet, following Magic, Wonder, Dream, and Fantasy. It is the first, of three, in a new class of ships for Disney called the Triton class.
The ship will pull more Disney characters and movies into the guest experience than ever before, with a Frozen theme theatrical dining experience, a Marvel cinematic dining adventure, and a first-of-its kind Star Wars experience onboard.
The theming starts with a Wish Upon A Star motif built around the ship that will bring guests into the world of Disney stories, including storybook-inspired staterooms and the line’s signature Walt Disney Theatre, and spreads through the ship, from staterooms to dining rooms.
Here’s what guests can expect:
Staterooms
Wish will sail with 1,254 staterooms, most of which offer an ocean view, including 877 (70%) with a verandah. The ship will also offer 451 connecting doors that can create a shared accommodation for larger families.
Wish will also make Disney “firsts” in its staterooms—the ship will include double the number of premium concierge staterooms and suites, along with the first-ever stateroom above the bridge for any Disney ship. That suite includes a sundeck, a dedicated concierge, and more.
For other premium options, Disney has also included four royal suites that can accommodate up to six guests along with a pair of two-story sites that feature a spiral staircase and a two-deck-high stained-glass frieze.
Recreation onboard
The ship will debut with the first-ever Disney attraction at sea called AquaMouse. Complete with show scenes, lighting, and special effects, the water ride will zig, zag, and zoom through 760 feet of winding tubes suspended high above the upper decks.
Elsewhere, Disney promises that Wish will give families more pools, more deck space, and more dining than ever before in a Mickey-themed pool deck. The ship will feature six pools, in addition to AquaMouse, each spaced on its top-tiered decks.
One will be a Toy-Story themed district targeted at families with younger children that includes a splash zone, wading pool, family waterslide, and smoothie bar.
Another will be Quiet Cove, an adults-only are with a dedicated lounging area away from the ship’s family activities.
Disney is also bringing back its signature kids and teens clubs, including the Oceaneer club, which caters to those between 3 and 12-years-old; Edge, which does the same with those between 11 and 14; and Vibe, for those between 14 and 17.
The clubs are getting updated for Wish with Marvel Super Hero Academy, a “high-tech Adventures headquarters” that lets guests train to be the next generation or superheroes; Fairytale Hall, a trio of activity rooms; and the Wild Disney Imagineering Lab, a first-of-its kind opportunity that will allow kids to get hands-on with Imagineering activities.
Wish will also debut with Disney Uncharted Adventure, a first-of-its-kind interactive experience into the worlds of iconic Disney and Pixar characters.
Guests will be in charge of their own adventure, choosing when and how to play. Some guests may not complete every quest but can still enjoy the finale event; others may choose to play again and again, only to discover new surprises and rewards each time. Families can play together on up to six devices at once or team up on only one or two devices at a time.
Using the Play Disney Parks app — and with some help from their guides, Captain Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse — guests will use their mobile devices as an enchanted spyglass, a tool that allows them to magically set sail for the worlds of Moana, Tiana, Peter Pan, Nemo and more.
Dining
One of the most exciting details of the ship is three new dining concepts that will serve the same purpose as the three on previous Disney ships—guests will be rotated each night of their sailing to new venues, with their wait staff rotating with them.
In line with the ship’s theme of enchantment, a royal celebration will be held during a theatrical dining experience with “Frozen” friends. Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure is Disney’s first “Frozen”-themed theatrical dining experience that will bring the world of Arendelle to life through immersive live entertainment — featuring favorite characters like Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf — and infused with Nordic influences.
Guests can also team up with the Avengers on a Marvel cinematic dining adventure. Worlds of Marvel is “the first-ever Marvel cinematic dining adventure,” where guests will play an interactive role in an action-packed Avengers mission that unfolds around them, according to Disney, with a menu inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
1923, named for the year The Walt Disney Company was founded, will pay homage to the golden age of animation and with dishes inspired by California’s unique fusion of cultural flavors.
Adult experiences
Aside from Quiet Cove, Disney has also earmarked a number of onboard spaces exclusively for adults.
One is the Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge, a high-end, immersive bar for adults only every evening that offers interactive tasting experiences and cocktails inspired by the film franchise.
Another is Palo Steakhouse, an evolution of the eatery on previous Disney ships that allows guests to enjoy a cuisine that Disney describes as authentic-Italian-meets-modern-steakhouse.
There’s also Enchante, the highest-end eatery on board, which will welcome guests to a meal crafted by three-Michelin-starred Chef Arnaud Lallement.
The Rose, a chic lounge located at the entrance of both Palo and Enchante, will also invite guests for a pre-dinner cocktail.
Itineraries
The ship will debut with a five-night sailing out of Port Canaveral to Nassau, Bahamas, and Castaway Cay on June 9, 2022, followed by a season of three- and four-night cruises to the same destinations.