The Disney Wish
We are beyond excited for all that’s coming to Disney Cruise Line’s new ship, the Disney Wish!
Disney Cruise Line has been sharing little informational teasers for the past few months, but the details shared on April 29, 2021 have blown all the other videos out of the water. Check it out here:
The Disney Parks blog did a great job of summarizing all the information here. What a lot to digest!
Something Amazing for Children of All Ages
From the tiniest tots to the most “experienced child” on board, everyone will find an area of the ship that is seemingly designed just for them. Parents of children aged 6 months to 3 years will delight in the babysitting services provided by “it’s a small world” Nursery. Perfect for Date Night!
Children between the ages of 3 and 12 will spend their days engrossed in Disney’s Oceaneer Club activities. These will take place in Marvel Super Hero Academy, Fairytale Hall, and (my personal favorite) the Walt Disney Imagineering Lab. From the moment these kids descend into the Oceaneer Club via the slide from the Grand Hall, they will be the envy of the entire family.
Tweens and teens will be too cool for school in the Edge (ages 11 to 14) or the Vibe (ages 14 to 17). Both are trendy hangouts focused around the preferred activities of the two different age groups. I seem to remember “avoiding adults” as a favorite activity at that point in my life, and the Edge and the Vibe certainly deliver!
There are two narrow sweet spots that I always reference when families ask about the “right” age to take their children on a Disney Cruise Line voyage, and this will hold true on the Disney Wish as well. With parental permission, 11- and 12-year-olds can participate in the activities taking place in both the Oceaneer Club and the Edge. And 14-year-olds have access to both the Edge and the Vibe. Even the child voted most likely to say “I’m bored” will always find something to do when they are in these two magical age groups!
But enough about the kids. Odds are very good they aren’t the ones paying for the cruise! So what’s in it for parents, grandparents, and those infamous childless millennials? As it turns out, plenty! First of all, the Disney Cruise Line tradition of maintaining adult-exclusive spaces onboard will continue with the Wish. These spaces range from the Quiet Cove infinity pool, bar, and cafe to Senses Spa and Senses Fitness. However, the Star Wars fans among us might never venture out to see these locations since the Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge will take them on a tour of the galaxy while enjoying custom beverages inspired by the saga. (I’m just hopeful my husband will venture out long enough to join us for a meal or two.)
Speaking of Meals…
Just like the other ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, rotational dining will be employed. This means Guests will experience three different restaurants over the course of their voyage while being attended to by the same servers each night. These restaurants include 1923, an elegant celebration of the year The Walt Disney Company was founded. However, Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure is sure to be a much bigger hit amongst a certain population of kiddos (and several of their parents as well). And a dining experience called Worlds of Marvel will provide even more adventurous entertainment while you eat.
Remember those adults-only areas? Well, onboard dining isn’t always geared for children of all ages. Two restaurants and one lounge will be exclusively for those over the age of 18. Palo Steakhouse is a new Cogsworth-inspired twist on the Palo concept we’ve enjoyed on earlier ships. Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement is a Lumiere-inspired venue featuring a gourmet menu crafted by a three-Michelin-starred chef. And The Rose is a cocktail lounge that’s also inspired by — you guessed it — Beauty and the Beast.
Let Them Entertain You
Entertainment is what Disney does best, and being at sea does not change this one bit. The Wish will offer its passengers a wide variety ranging from Broadway-caliber stage shows such as Aladdin to deck parties and movies to themed physical activity. I’m particularly curious about Luna, an entertainment hub for families by day that will transition into an adult-exclusive venue at night.
Fun in the Sun
Not all of the entertainment is indoors, however. Disney Wish will feature more pools and deck space than the other ships in the fleet. Fans of the Dream-class AquaDuck will be just as curious as I am about the new AquaMouse. The Disney Parks Blog refers to it as the first-ever Disney attraction at sea. At first glance, it looks like a water coaster married with a traditional dark ride featuring “The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse” animated shorts. What a concept! A Toy Story-themed area will provide water play fun for younger children and includes a family waterslide.
At the End of the Day
After all of that fun, Guests will be ready for the quiet, peaceful sanctuary of their stateroom or suite. Most staterooms will offer an ocean view, with many of them also including a verandah. That’s usually my favorite part of the stateroom, but the photos of the luxurious bedding are making me reconsider that. In light of some of my more recent cruises, I am especially eager to learn more about the concierge experience onboard, and I’m drooling over the images of the two-story royal suite. Amazing!
I’m in! When and Where Will We Sail?
Disney Wish will take over the 3- and 4-night Bahamian itineraries previously offered by the Disney Dream. These depart from Port Canaveral in Florida and stop in Nassau and Disney Castaway Cay in the Bahamas, with 4-night itineraries having an extra day at sea. The first two cruises of the season will be a 5-night Maiden Voyage on June 9, 2022 followed by an exclusive 3-night Disney Vacation Club Member Cruise on June 14, 2022. DVC Members will need to call Member Services to book this itinerary, and at least one Guest per stateroom must purchase the voyage using DVC points. The typical pattern of 4-night itineraries followed by 3-night itineraries will begin with the 4-night Bahamian Cruise on June 20, 2022. When the booking window opens in May 2021, we will be able to reserve cruises for sail dates between June 9 and September 30, 2022.
For the first time (in forever), the booking dates will be divided into seven different groups. The chart below will help you determine your booking eligibility date:
| Booking Date | Castaway Club and Other Disney Membership Levels |
|---|---|
| May 17, 2021 | Platinum Castaway Club members with 25+ completed sailings and Golden Oak residents |
| May 18, 2021 | Platinum Castaway Club members with 20+ completed sailings |
| May 19, 2021 | Platinum Castaway Club members with 15+ completed sailings |
| May 20, 2021 | All Platinum Castaway Club members with 10+ completed sailings |
| May 24, 2021 | All Gold Castaway Club members with 5+ completed sailings |
| May 25, 2021 | Disney Vacation Club Members and Adventures by Disney Adventure Insiders |
| May 26, 2021 | All Silver Castaway Club members with 1+ completed sailing(s) |
| May 27, 2021 | All Guests |
The Bottom Line
While I realize the reveal video was just a drop in the bucket of all there is to learn about the Disney Wish, it certainly makes me want to experience the ship for myself. If you feel the same way, please message us prior to your specific booking window in order to have the best odds of securing the sail date you desire. The inaugural season will be in high demand, and staterooms will fill up quickly.