Why Disney’s NEW Cruise Ship May Make You Rethink Your Disney World Trip

The Disney Wish is the newest cruise ship being added to Disney Cruise Line’s fleet, and it will first set sail this summer!

The Disney Wish ©Disney

This new ship has a TON to offer, but will it be better than a trip to Walt Disney World? We’re sure many of you have considered taking a Disney Cruise vs. going to Disney World, but this new ship might just sway your decision! Let’s break down why the Disney Wish might have you jumping ship (ha-ha) for a Disney cruise instead spending your vacation solely on land.

It’s More Relaxing

First, let’s just break down why cruises might be a better option for you than a trip to the theme parks anyway — to many people, they’re more relaxing in general. Cruises are pretty much all-inclusive, which means a lot less planning and thinking for you. You also don’t have to worry about being on a constant schedule, rope dropping activities (like you would in Disney World!), or buying extra things to maximize your time like Disney Genie+.

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You really don’t need as much knowledge going into vacation on a cruise ship as you do when you go to Disney World. Especially now, when it can feel like you need an advanced degree in Disney Studies just to make the most of your vacation! Cruises are more of a go-with-the-flow experience, and you don’t have to worry about waking up at 6AM and then sprinting to Tower of Terror at park open to beat the crowds.

Disney Cruise

Also, cruises will usually have far less crowds than Disney World! The crowds at Disney World can be unpredictable, whereas on a cruise ship, you know there are actually very strict capacity limits (boats are only so big!). Oh, and another positive? No blazing, non-stop Florida heat like there is in Disney World. Sure, you’re sailing somewhere tropical, but there is a breeze on the ocean!

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Another great benefit of cruises is that adults can take breaks from their kids pretty easily, and adults without kids can visit areas that are open exclusively to adults, like spas, adult-only pools, and lounges. On the Disney Wish, there are several kids clubs where kids can go to hang out while adults go and relax. With everything from a nursery to clubs for older teenagers, there is a spot for your kids no matter what age!

Senses Spa

The Disney Wish also has things like a spa and an adults-only pool at Quiet Cove. And, there are dining experiences and bars and lounges that are only open to adults. So, there are some great kid-free areas for adults to relax or take a break!

Click here to learn more about the adults-only dining and lounges on the Disney Wish!

Everything is in One Place

On a cruise ship, everything is right there on the ship, whereas in Disney World, you have to take multiple different kinds of transportation to get to and from the parks, your hotel, and shopping areas like Disney Springs. And, the Disney Wish has a TON of stuff aboard the ship to appeal to almost every kind of Disney fan!

The Bayou ©Disney

There is a little bit of everything on the Disney Wish, including things themed to various Disney properties. You have Marvel themed experiences, like the first Marvel Dining Adventure, Star Wars fun like the Hyperspace (adults only) Lounge, and visits from your classic Disney characters like Mickey and friends.

©Disney

Pixar is also prominently featured on the ship, with places like the Hero Zone, where you can find an Incredibles themed obstacle course. Outside, there is a Toy Story Splash Zone for the kiddos, and there is even an Inside Out themed candy shop on the ship called Inside Out: Joyful Sweets for you to enjoy!

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Oh, and you can’t forget about the Disney Princesses, of course! Aboard the ship you’ll find a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique (something you cannot experience in Disney World at the moment), as well as some adult-exclusive Beauty and the Beast dining experiences and even a lounge themed to Cinderella.

Nightingale’s ©Disney

No matter what part of the Disney universe you like the best, you’re bound to find something that you love!

Click here to learn more about EVERYTHING on the Disney Wish!

New Entertainment Offerings

The Disney Wish will offer some exclusive entertainment options that you can’t find anywhere else! Sure, Disney World does have entertainment and short stage shows, but the cruise ships take it to another level with full theatrical performances.

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The two NEW shows coming to the Disney Wish are Seas the Adventure! and The Little Mermaid. Seas the Adventure! is an original musical starring Minnie Mouse as Captain Minnie for the very first time! Minnie will hand things over to Goofy and he’ll go on a journey to discover his own inner captain, coming across a ton of Disney and Pixar friends along the way.

©Disney

The Little Mermaid is a story most of us already know pretty well, but this new show will be a brand new adaptation with an entirely new, reimagined script and score, featuring thejourney of a young woman learning to value the power of her own voice.” This show will be a modern-day retelling of The Little Mermaid with new special effects, innovative design, and puppetry.

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Plus, the Disney Wish will have things like the first ever atrium stage as well as a special event space called Luna that will be used for entertainment.

Click here to learn more about the entertainment aboard the Disney Wish!

One-of-a-kind Experiences

We’ve already mentioned some of the unique experiences on the Disney Wish, but there are even MORE things exclusive to the ship that you might not want to miss out on! First up are the special dining experiences, like Arendelle – A Frozen Dining Adventure. This is the first EVER Frozen dining experience and will feature Frozen characters performing LIVE in a  dining room designed as the Arendelle Castle’s Grand Ballroom!

The upcoming Frozen dining experience on the Disney Wish! ©Disney

There is also ANOTHER Frozen dining experience aboard the ship — Olaf’s Royal Picnic! This is for families with children ages 3 to 12. Guests will get to interact with Olaf, Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff while listening to live musical performances of Frozen songs. Oh, and delicious treats are included, of course!

Olaf in Hollywood Studios

There will also be a Marvel dining experience called Avengers: Quantum Encounter. This is the first ever Marvel dining adventure and it will let guests “play an interactive role in an action-packed Avengers mission that unfolds around them,” making this an immersive experience. The dining experience will feature Ant-Man and The Wasp, speaking to passengers on behalf of the Avengers!

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Not only are there exclusive dining experiences on board, but there is also the FIRST Disney attraction at SEA! The AquaMouse is a “wild water ride” that loops around the upper deck of the ship, but this is NOT your average water slide, folks. This attraction will take guests into the world of animated Mickey Mouse shorts and you’ll get to see the story play out on screens throughout the ride!

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And, there are unique experiences like the Disney Uncharted Adventure, which is a new game that will take guests on a journey through the worlds of several iconic Disney and Pixar characters. The game is for families to play together while on the ship, and let’s them explore areas they may not visit otherwise!

©Disney

Passengers can actually use the game to help Captain Mickey and Captain Minnie by using their magical spyglass to navigate the ship to uncharted regions to find the Wishing Star!

Click here to learn more about Disney Uncharted Adventure!

So, do you think the Disney Wish sounds like a better vacation than going to Walt Disney World? They both have their pros and cons, and of course, a lot of this depends on personal preference, so it’s best to take into consideration what you know you and your group will enjoy the best when it comes to vacation. Either way, you’re sure to find some Disney fun! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news, info, and updates.

Click here to learn more about the Disney Wish! 


Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. 

Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you — they’ve literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They’re DFB’s recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!)

So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you 🙂

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Will you be booking a trip on the Disney Wish or do you prefer Disney World vacations? Tell us in the comments!

The post Why Disney’s NEW Cruise Ship May Make You Rethink Your Disney World Trip first appeared on the disney food blog.