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If you find a magic lamp while looking for the perfect family vacation, use your three wishes for something else because one has already been granted.
The new and perfectly named Disney Wish has arrived, and chances are it’s everything you’ve wished for in a cruise ship — short of winning a free cabin. An instant classic, the fifth and largest ship in the fleet is also the first of three new “Triton Class” ships that Disney Cruise Line has on order for delivery over the next few years.
The ultimate floating family resort, the 4,000-passenger Disney Wish just started making three- and four-night roundtrips from Central Florida’s Port Canaveral to the Bahamas. (The five-night inaugural cruise that embarks on Thursday, July 14 is a one-off.)
On the West Coast, for those who’d rather stay closer to home, the 23-year-old Disney Wonder sprinkles Tinkerbell’s pixie dust on weeklong cruises to Alaska from Vancouver (through mid-September this year and next year from May to September) and three- to five-night sails to the Mexican Riviera from San Diego (September to May).
The beauty of a Disney cruise is that unlike most things that claim to be for all ages, this actually is. Yes, Disney Cruise Line “made a concerted choice in 1998 to create a cruise experience tailored specifically to families,” according to its marketing director, Jennifer Haile-Tinn. But that doesn’t mean Disney’s seafaring subsidiary doesn’t also appeal to those without human tax deductions or did at one time. Three-quarters of the passengers an average Disney cruise are adults, and many don’t have or bring offspring. A large portion of this demographic is made up of Mickey Mouse-obsessed, so-called “Disney Adults” who take their love of all things Walt to the high seas. It’s not that they want to be like Peter Pan by never growing up; rather, they choose not to lose their inner child, bless their fully grown hearts. And what better brand to enable this lifestyle than Disney?
Taking that thought one step further, what better ship to immerse yourself in this subculture than Disney Wish, a ship with more bells and whistles than the steam-powered locomotives of the Disneyland Railroad? It’s even got an adults-only outdoor spa retreat with a rainforest, for gosh sakes.
Fleet firsts
A boatload of new and improved special features makes the ship worthy of Mickey’s catchphrase of “Oh, boy!” And the beloved mouse would have said that often on the recent ceremonial christening cruise had he not been muted as many Disney characters are when making public appearances.
One of the coolest debuts on Disney Wish is also the wettest. AquaMouse, billed as the company’s “first attraction at sea,” takes AquaDuck, on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, to another level. No mere water slide, AquaMouse has the look and feel of a theme park attraction. An entry complete with wait time sign and queue welcomes riders wearing swimwear and smiles as they plop into a two-person inflatable boat. As they slowly ascend along a conveyer belt, one of two storylines plays out on simulated portholes on both sides that display clips from cartoon shorts featuring an imperiled Mickey and Minnie. “Swiss Meltdown” and “Scuba Scramble” are shown on alternating days, and while both pay respects to classic Disney animation, a California-grown Easter egg comes with the former. Spoiler alert: It’s the identical loop of the yodeling music heard on the Matterhorn ride at Disneyland, confirmed Disney Imagineer Diego Parras. Once at the summit, riders enjoy 760 feet of twisting tubular thrills that don’t get them drenched, but wet enough before Chip and Dale bid farewell near the end.
The “Star Wars”-themed Hyperspace Lounge, another fleet first, is where passengers are poured potent potables with a splash of Disney Imagineering. Oga’s Cantina it ain’t; a more high-end watering hole this is, where civilized patrons are offered breathing room and a wide oval “window” with views of passing starships, planets and other spacey surprises. George Lucas’ disciples will appreciate the clever bar menu, and others will simply find the Batuuan Harvest Brew and Mustafarian Black Ale quite tasty. Those beverages cost a measly $10, but if you want to go to the Dark Side of your travel budget, try the $5,000 Kaiburr Crystal. May the Force, and an understanding partner, be with you if you do.
From a galaxy far, far away to Norway, a “Frozen”-themed main dining room is another fleet first. “Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure” extends the icy tales from the two animated movies in a dinner theater-in-the-round format. In between courses of traditional Nordic and modern American dishes, live-action characters and one audio-animatronic Olaf sing, dance and, in the snowman’s case, get carted around.
Being invited guests to Anna and Kristoff’s engagement party lends for a perfect setting for this immersive experience, and the wonderful music from the “Frozen” franchise is icing on the, using the Norwegian word, kake. The only nit was a waiter who interrupted Elsa’s showstopping tune to get my dessert order. When he did it a second time a minute later, instead of being upset, I took Elsa’s advice to — you guessed it — let it go.
Worlds of Marvel, like Arendelle, is an elaborately decorated restaurant that’s part of Disney’s popular “rotational dining” system in which guests can enjoy each of the three themed dining venues while on board. Your dining room servers rotate with you and your party, providing you don’t do dinner elsewhere. The format lends familiarity and a guarantee that your Arnold Palmer, ice water with lemon or whatever your favorite bevvy is there upon being seated.
Live-action heroes make an appearance during dessert, but the show is mostly on LED screens popping with special effects and characters from the franchise. Paul Rudd steals the show as Scott Lang, aka Ant-Man. The production is called “Miracles from Molecules,” which is another delightful nod to vintage Disneyland; that’s the name of a song once used as part of the Adventures Thru Inner Space ride in Anaheim.
The steamed bao buns appetizer with seared ginger orange pork belly is a favorite, while the chicken tenders off the kid’s menu, a dish that Scott Lang tells diners “will change your life,” fails to live up to the hype. Metamorphic is the Pym Doughnut Sundae, however, and how can it not be with premium ice cream, a pecan brownie, caramel fudge sauce, a chocolate-glazed donut and whipped cream?
Rounding out the main dining rooms is 1923, named for the year that Walt and Roy Disney founded their company. The most upscale of the 694-seat main dining rooms has no shows, but there’s still plenty to see; the gorgeous two-sided restaurant is chock full of artifacts from some of Disney’s most beloved animated classics. The décor is Golden Age of Hollywood-meets-“Great Gatsby,” and the menu is California cuisine. Try the Alameda porcini spiced ahi tuna appetizer, and if you’re into the namesake spice, the “1923 Peppered Filet Mignon” will please all but vegetarians.
Still hungry?
The two specialty restaurants on Disney Wish are exquisite, both firmly in the top 5 of upcharging eateries this critical cruiser has patronized. It’s beauty and the feast at the “Beauty and the Beast”-inspired, adults-exclusive Enchanté and Palo Steakhouse that make every dish a work of art.
French-inspired Enchanté features a mesmerizing menu from Michelin-starred Chef Arnaud Lallement, who international foodies may recognize as the genius behind L’Assiette Champenoise restaurant in Reims, France. Culinary perfection doesn’t come cheap. The two prix fixe menus — “Collection” and “Passion” — are priced at $195 and $125 per person, respectively. Another $140 and $115 get you paired champagnes and wines, also respectively. Too dear? Then go à la carte with such winners as the Maine lobster, from a recipe of Chef’s father ($65), langoustines ($50) and soil-grown tomatoes ($25). Save room for the velvety Louis XV ($19), the best chocolate dessert on the ship. The most popular dish at neighboring Palo Steakhouse is the Japanese A5 wagyu strip loin ($45).
The corridor that leads to Enchanté and Palo Steakhouse has a stylish lounge called The Rose, and, yes, true to the beastly story based on Stockholm syndrome, there’s a red bloom under glass at the entryway. The signature libations made there are as pretty as Belle herself.
Also worthy of note is the Marceline Market Buffet, named for Walt Disney’s early childhood hometown in Missouri, and a homey all-you-can-eatery it is with only scant references to the brand. As Disney imagineer Danny Handke said on the preview cruise, “It’s not so Disney in your face.” There’s plenty of that at the eclectic Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods near the main pool. The brisket, pork ribs, pulled pork, smoked chicken and side of macaroni and cheese at Mickey’s Smokestack Barbecue rival the top-notch noshes at Guy Fieri’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse found on Carnival Fun Ships.
It’s showtime!
With itineraries of just three and four nights, a cruise on Disney Wish will likely include two production shows in the regal 1,274-seat Walt Disney Theatre. The welcome show, “Disney Seas the Adventure,” features the most Disney characters this frequent park hopper has ever seen at one time. The sea-set story that centers on Goofy assuming the wheel for Captain Minnie is a bit wonky, but the dream-like fantasy that ensues is a vehicle for Disney songs to be performed with no logical thread. It works. Another premiere on Wish is the Broadway-style “Disney’s The Little Mermaid,” based on the 1989 animated feature that many consider the studio’s cartoon comeback. The third production show in the ship’s repertoire is a cruise line favorite, “Disney’s Aladdin — A Musical Spectacular.” It’s a version of what was staged in Disney California Adventure’s Hyperion Theater from 2003 to 2016.
Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party is a new swashbuckling stage-setter for the fleet’s signature fireworks display that happens once every cruise. Watching bursting aerial shells choreographed to a gut-busting rendition of “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)” is so awesomely Disney, and how cool that the hostess is Captain Redd, a sassy descendent of the pilfering red-headed rogue from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.
Short and sweet are the daytime and nighttime light shows in the fairytale castle-inspired Grand Hall that on Disney Wish replaces a third staircase with a chandelier-adorned stage and meeting area. While they’re not worth rearranging your schedule around, these morsels of magic are sigh-inducing as the hall is filled with the beautiful “So This is Love” tune from “Cinderella.” The show right before midnight, “Glass Slipper Kiss Goodnight,” becomes an enchanting, illuminated lullaby for little ones who need their sleep for what is hopefully not debarkation day.
As expected, Disney Wish excels in kids’ programming. Children 3 through 12 get to enjoy a reimagined Oceaneers Club that can be accessed by a slide that goes down an entire deck. The area makes good use of Disney’s acquired assets with the activity-rich Marvel Super Hero Academy and Star Wars: Cargo Bay. Tweens ages 11-14 have their own hangout called Edge, while Vibe is exclusive to the 14-17 set. Those activities are all included, bringing great value with a Disney cruise. For just $9 an hour, small fry 6 months to 3 years are in good hands at the It’s a Small World Nursery.
Rooms with (and without) a view
Fares on Disney Wish start at $875 per person, double occupancy, for an inside cabin on a three-night Bahamian cruise to Nassau and Disney’s private destination, Castaway Cay. These are some of the nicest and most spacious inside cabins, too, with 169 square feet and a comfortable queen-size bed complete with Frette 300-thread count 100% cotton linens.
What’s that? Only 1,000-thread count Italian linens will do? Then by all means book the most luxurious unit on the ship: the two-story, 1,966-square-foot Concierge Wish Tower Suite. Nestled inside one of the ship’s funnels, which are operationally obsolete thanks to modern technology, the posh penthouse has four bedrooms, four and one-half bathrooms, and sleeps up to eight pampered guests. The sweet suite is decorated in Early Moana, and while the theme is understated, the cost isn’t. The lowest price found through a Disney Cruise Line agent was $29,505.44 for a three-night sail in mid-September. The unit does come with upgraded Bulgari toiletries, so bring an extra suitcase — score!
While there’s only one Tower Suite and 121 inside cabins, the ship has a range of lodging that should fit most needs and budgets. About 70% of the ship’s 1,254 staterooms have a veranda, another 20% are ocean view and the remainder are sans window. But with so much to see, do and eat on a Disney cruise, how much time will you spend in your cabin anyway?
Whether you’re wishing to sail on Wish, wondering about going on Wonder, dreaming about the Dream … we’ll stop there … more information is available by calling 800-951-3532 or visiting disneycruise.disney.go.com.
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