Whether you're a fan of Disney, an avid cruiser or are just looking for a unique travel experience, Disney cruises are known for bringing stories to life and creating unforgettable experiences. As the fifth and largest ship in the Disney fleet, the Wish is known for its top-quality entertainment and immersive activities for a fun-filled sailing.
I recently sailed on the Disney Wish with my family of four (including two kids). I've visited Walt Disney World with kids over a dozen of times and have sailed on a variety of cruise lines, but this was my first time sailing on a Disney ship. Besides experiencing the cruise firsthand, I was also able to take tours onboard and meet with the Disney Cruise Line team to learn more about the ship and its offerings. I also spoke with other passengers to hear their experiences and takeaways.
So is the Disney Wish worth booking? Ahead, I'm breaking down everything you need to know to decide whether sailing on the Disney Wish is the right vacation for you. And if you've already decided that it is, this insight includes plenty of tips to make it a successful trip, including what I learned and what I wish I knew before I sailed.
An overview
The Disney Wish is fairly new; it first set sail in 2022. It's the largest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, holds 4,000 passengers and has 1,254 staterooms. It's also the first ship in its class, meaning the newer models to come in the near future are going to be similar in layout. The ship departs from Port Canaveral (the closest port to Walt Disney World; it's about an hour away from the theme parks) and sails in the Bahamas, with itineraries that are typically between 3-4 days long.
My biggest takeaway from sailing on the Wish was just how much it offers — and the fact that it offers something for everyone. On past cruises, I sometimes felt like I had to search for things to do in order to fill up my day, but on the Disney Wish it felt like there was always something fun and exciting happening. From themed restaurants and bars to unique attractions at sea to live entertainment, character meet & greets and much more, I was amazed by how much my family was able to do in just one day. The Wish also stood out for incorporating a wide-range of Disney franchises, including Star Wars, Pixar and Marvel.
Ship details & highlights
Disney decor
As a lifelong Disney fan, one of the thing I loved most about the ship was its attention to detail. From the outside you can see a Rapunzel figure that appears to be painting the Disney Wish emblem on the back of the vessel, but the inside is filled with hidden touches that are fun to look for.
The Grand Hall (i.e., the main atrium) makes it feel like you're inside a castle when you first walk onto the ship. Not only is there a statue of Cinderella, but the chandelier is designed as an upside-down version of her gown. There are also subtle nods to Cinderella in the rug, light fixtures and more.
Even the art onboard has lesser-known details that were fun to learn about, often with a unique story behind it. I highly recommend signing up for the hour-long walking tour of the ship if you're a Disney fan, art fan or would just like to learn more about the hidden gems.
Pool Deck
While the Grand Hall is the main hub indoors, the pool deck is main hub outdoors. It's made up of six small pools named after Mickey and friends. The focal point is a giant screen called Funnel Vision, which shows Disney movies throughout the day. This space is also home to entertainment, including a sail away party as the ship embarks and live shows during Pirate Night. Behind the screen, there's a Toy Story-themed splash area for young kids ages 6 and under and a family-friendly water slide called Slide-a-saurus Rex.
The coolest part of the pool deck area is AquaMouse, Disney's first-ever attraction at sea. You sit on a two-seater inflatable and head into a tunnel with animated scenes from The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse. It then turns into a water ride, including a clear tunnel slide that extends over the side of the ship. Though AquaMouse is known to have lengthy waits throughout the sailings, we found there to be certain times of the day when there was little to no wait. For instance, the mornings of port days when other passengers have headed ashore and around dinnertime.
Adult-only areas
Just above the pool deck is quieter area of the ship for guests 18 and over. Here you'll find the Quiet Cove Pool, Signals pool bar and Cove Café. This area is located at the back of the ship, giving excellent views when the cruise is docked in the Bahamas. There are also some adult-only bars located throughout the ship.
Indoor venues
One of the things that stood out most compared to other cruises I've been on was how many indoor spaces there were onboard the Wish. We'll explore these spaces when going over entertainment and activities, but from a top level, there's a show theater, movie theaters, sports complex, kids' club for each age group, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, salon, barbor shop, spa, fitness center and more.
Laundry room
Whether or not to do laundry on vacation is highly debatable, but to me, access to a self-service laundry room was one of my favorite aspects of the ship. We combined the vacation with time at Walt Disney World, so knowing that I could do laundry onboard (without having to pay the high costs of sending out for the laundry service) made packing much less stressful. And because I paid with my room pass (it's $3 per machine), I got alerts on my phone via the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App when the washing machine and dryer cycles were finished. This room even has ironing boards, which is a perk given that you can't bring irons or steamers on board. Called Fairytale Fresh Laundry, this space is located on Deck 8 Forward (i.e. the front).
A note on crowds
One thing to keep in mind is that compared to other cruise lines I've sailed on, I noticed more crowds on the Wish than on other ships. It wasn't constant, but it may be helpful to plan around lines at certain times and locations. For instance, there were often lines to get onto the elevators (located at the front and back of the ship) so my family and I opted to take the stairs as much as possible. There were also lines to get into dining reservations, though they did move quickly. It was sometimes difficult to find a good viewing spot for the outdoor shows on the pool deck, so you should go earlier if you want a good view (just like you would for a show at Walt Disney World).
That being said, the overall vibe of the crowds felt fun, casual and spirited compared to other cruise lines. Guests decorate their doors with magnets and participate in "pixie dusting" (the term guests use to randomly surprise each other with small trinkets and gifts). We experienced rain when we were visiting Castaway Cay (Disney's private island in the Bahamas) and as I rode the tram back to the ship from the beach, other passengers were cheering on guests who were walking through the downpour. This camaraderie felt like a perk of choosing a Disney vacation.
Staterooms
There are 1,254 staterooms onboard the Wish. 90% of them face outside the ship, while 10% are interior. Here are the main room types:
My family of four stayed in a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah. On other cruises that we had previously sailed on as a family, we had opted for larger family rooms with more space. I admit that I was a little nervous about the four of us sharing this stateroom; however, I was pleasantly surprised and found this to be the most functional stateroom we've ever stayed in. Here's what I specifically loved about our room:
Dining
The restaurants for dinner were next-level fantastic when considering service, food and theming, though the breakfast and lunch offerings weren't quite as good as other cruise lines I've sailed with. This comes down to more crowds and less variety during the day. Still, as a whole, I thought the Wish dining was excellent. Here are more details on the dining experiences that are included in the cost of the cruise (except for alcohol and a few other optional add-ons).
Dining rooms
One of the most unique (and exciting!) aspects of this cruise was the rotational dining for dinner. You dine at each of the three themed restaurants, but your waitstaff follows you so that you have the same servers each evening. This means they get to know you and your preferences — and they can have any special requests ready for you each night. For instance, my daughter ordered chocolate milk the first night, and there was chocolate milk waiting for her each night thereafter.
There are three themed restaurants: 1923 (inspired by the golden age of animation when The Walt Disney Company was founded), Worlds of Marvel (a super hero-themed venue with an interactive show) and Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure (a celebration of Queen Anna and Kristoff's engagement, with characters and live performances from the Frozen movies). Each of these restaurants have a themed menu based on the venue, and of course, there's a kids' menu at each. Because we sailed on a 4-night cruise, everyone repeated a dining room twice, but the second time was with the Pirate Night theming and menu.
There are two dinner seatings that you can request when you book. We opted for the earlier dining time and went to dinner around 5:45-6:00 pm. This was an ideal time for us our family to eat dinner, but we did feel a bit rushed to get ready after a jam-packed day of activities, so there's certainly an appeal to eating at the later time, around 8:00-8:30pm. Each dinner was about an hour-and-a-half long, but didn't feel too long (even with kids) given the multiple courses and interactive components.
Quick-service
The buffet on the ship is called Marceline Market (named after Walt Disney's home town) and is similar to other cruise lines in the sense that it offers a variety of stations. Most items are served to you from the stations (instead of helping yourself), which I appreciated from a cleanliness standpoint. It's only opened for breakfast and lunch.
The Wish also has a food court area called Mickey & Friends Festival of Foods, which is located right near the pool deck. Its offerings include grill food, pizza, barbecue, Mexican fare and ice cream. Because the buffet closes after lunch, this is the only place to pick up food during a few hours in the afternoon and we experienced long lines during a late lunch.
Room service
My family typically ordered room service for breakfast; you leave your order on your cabin's door handle the night before and select a 30-minute window for delivery. We also ordered it a couple of times during the day and it arrived fairly quickly (within around 20 minutes). Insider tip: It's not on the menu, but you can order a Mickey ice cream bar to your room with room service. There's no extra charge, but you can leave a tip for delivery.
Additional dining options
There are a variety of venues throughout the ship that cost extra. Although they're not included in the price of the ship, some are definitely worth visiting — for coffee, cocktails, desserts and more — depending on your preferences.
- Cafés: I'm personally a fan of iced coffee drinks, so I opted to buy my morning brew rather than go for hot coffee from room service. Our preferred spot was the Cove Café, located on the adult-only deck, where I got cold brew to go in the morning and latte with Disney designs later in the day. (To be honest, the latte art was a huge highlight of my trip!) Other options include The Wishing Star Café (inspired by Pinnochio) and The Enchanted Sword Café (inspired by The Sword in the Stone), which are both located in more common areas of the ship.
- Bars & lounges: There are a variety of bars and lounges to choose from throughout the ship. Standouts (in my opinion) include Nightingale (an adults-only piano bar with hand-crafted cocktails inspired by Cinderella's “Sing Sweet Nightingale"), Bayou (a stunning, kid-friendly lounge inspired by Princess and the Frog with delicious beignets) and Hyperspace Lounge (an adults-only Star Wars-themed spot with immersive details).
- Desserts: Regardless of whether you want extra sweet treats, it's worth a visit to Inside Out: Joyful Sweets. There are life-size figurines of the Inside Out characters and a display of memory spheres from the movie that make for great photos. Plus, the dessert offerings — including gelato, cupcakes and more — are both photo worthy and decadent.
- Adult-only restaurants: My husband I dined at Palo, an Italian steakhouse inspired by Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast. The brunch was fantastic — even the focaccia bread — and we enjoyed having an adult-only meal while our children enjoyed the kids' club. Another adult-only option is Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement for French-inspired cuisine.
Kids' clubs
Disney Wish had — by far — the best kids' clubs I've seen. They're broken up into four age groups, and I was able to take a tour of all four with cruise staff. My kids were both in the 3-10 age group and couldn't get enough of the club. This meant my husband and I could enjoy some of the adult-only spaces throughout the ship while my kids were (literally) having the times of their lives.
One thing to note is that we often experienced a line at the kids' club, and once had to wait twenty minutes to pick up our kids around 8:15 p.m. So keep in mind that you should buffer in some pick-up time if you're on a schedule, especially around dinner and showtimes. Also, make sure to leave time to register your child on the first day (you can even start this process during online check-in before you sail). You can attend open houses during select times, where you're able to explore the clubs with your children. Here's a breakdown of each of the four clubs:
"It's a Small World" Nursery (Babies & Toddlers)
This space is designed for ages 6 months to 3 years old. It has mats for playing, tables for crafts, cribs for naps and more. From a decor standpoint, this was one of my favorite spaces in the ship, with characters from Disney movies designed into their home countries.
Oceaneer Club (Kids)
This is the biggest kids' space on the ship for ages 3-10. It's made up of a series of themed rooms with different activities happening in each. The club uses bands (or kids can bring their own MagicBand+), which lets staff know what room a child is in at any given time. Disney characters join in on the fun, giving kids more face time than typical meet & greets. These events are for kids only and scheduled times can be found in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App during your sailing. Here's a look inside to show what makes this space so special.
Slide Entrance
Kids can get checked in through a desk at the club level, or they can get checked in one story above and take a slide down into the club. There are fully automatic handwashing stations immediately upon entering, which kids got a kick out of.
Walt Disney Imagineering Lab
This space shows what went into making favorite attractions at Disney theme parks, and it allows kids be Imagineers by creating their own projects.
Build-Your-Own Virtual Rides
In the Ride Studio, kids can design their own roller coaster (inspired by Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain or Matterhorn Bobsleds), then ride it virtually in a capsule.
Fairytale Hall
Children can make art projects in Rapunzel's Art Studio, read books and relax in Belle's Library and play an interactive Frozen-themed video game in Anna and Elsa’s Sommerhus.
Marvel's Super Hero Academy
Here's where they can select a superhero suit with powers, then see the suites brought life in a tech game called "Avengers: Mission Training."
Star Wars: Cargo Bay
This intergalactic-themed room includes a variety of exotic creatures from the franchise and has kids partake in special assignments using augmented reality.
Mickey and Minnie Captain’s Deck
Designed for the younger ages in this club, this is a nautical-themed room with climbing and crawling structures as well as interactive elements, including a screen and wheel that lets kids feel like they're steering the ship.
Pixar-Themed Bathrooms
While this isn't a play space, it's still a hit. Each stall is themed with a Pixar character, and the room contains a row of the kid-favorite hand-washing stations.
Edge (Tweens)
The next kids' club level is for 11-14 year olds. This place is designed just for tweens: It has an urban loft vibe with big screens and gaming areas. There's a good mix of free play with structured activities.
Vibe (Teens)
Offering older teens their own space, Vibe is for 14-17 year olds. It also looks like a loft, but includes retro vibes and amazing views from floor-to-ceiling windows. This space offers screens for movies, games like foosball and plenty of space to hang out.
Entertainment & activities
Live shows
Disney Wish evenings are designed to be dinner and a show, meaning you're scheduled to see Broadway-style shows in the main theater either before or after your dinner reservation. The three shows include "Disney Seas the Adventure" (which combines favorite songs and characters from a variety of Disney classics), "The Little Mermaid" (which is a modern take on the original story) and "Aladdin" (which has special effects and a comical Genie).
Theme nights & parties
When the cruise sails away on the first day, there's a show on the pool deck with classic Disney characters. You can view it from the pool deck or the deck directly above, which overlooks the space. I tend to skip sail away parties on other cruise lines, but was told this one is a can't miss, and it turned out to be true. This party was a great way to kick off the excitement for the rest of the cruise. It does get crowded, so try to arrive 15 minutes early if you'd like a good viewing spot.
On Pirate Night, mosts guests dress up in pirate-themed gear. Some people go all out with costumes, while others are more subtle. (My family brought pirate accessories and parrot shoulder props to wear.) There were two shows during our sailing's Pirate Night: "Pirates in the Caribbean" was held earlier in the evening and includes favorite Disney characters. Pirate's Rockin' Parlay Pater was held later at night with a pirate-themed rock band and fireworks. This was another highlight of my trip; seeing fireworks at sea is not something you'll find on other cruise lines.
Movies
There are two movie theaters onboard: The Wonderland Theater (inspired by Alice in Wonderland) and The Neverland Theater (inspired by Peter Pan). Both of these show popular Disney movies throughout the day, including movies only in theaters at the time. You can also access a range of Disney movies from your stateroom.
Onboard activities
Like other cruises, you can find a schedule of big events and low-key activities happening throughout the cruise. My daughter participated in a door hanger decorating activity on the first day and liked being able to hang it in our stateroom for the rest of the cruise. We also heard from other passengers that Bingo was a hit. One thing to note is that unlike most major cruise lines, Disney does not have casinos on its ships.
The Wish also offers a simple yet special goodnight activity called a Kiss Goodnight. Located in the Grand Hall, guests will hear a song and see the lights twinkle. During our sailing, guests could watch a Kiss Goodnight at 7:30 p.m., 10 p.m., 11 p.m. and 12 a.m., offering multiple opportunities to experience this popular winding-down moment.
Recreation center
The Wish has its own indoor sports complex called the Hero Zone, which is unique because many ships only have outdoor areas for sports. You can play basketball, pingpong, corn hole and other games most of the time. This space is also used for the Incredi-Games, an inflatable obstacle course that is typically only set up once during the cruise. It's designed for two people at a time (one on each side), meaning you can make it a friendly competition. Note that you'll need socks to enter this course.
Character Meet & Greets
The ability to meet characters on board is a huge draw for families, especially those with young kids. You can check when the characters will be available for scheduled meet & greets on the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App. Most of these meet & greets take place in the Grand Hall area and have lines (especially popular characters like Mickey, Minnie and friends), so be prepared to wait up to 20-30 minutes to take photos.
There's also an event called the Royal Gathering, where you can make a reservation to meet several princesses at once in the Grand Hall. These reservations are made in advance and book up quickly. During our sailing, we met Rapunzel, Tiana, Belle, Moana and Cinderella, but the specific princess are subject to change.
Beyond that, we interacted with Captain Hook and Captain Jack Sparrow when we walked off the ship at Castaway Cay, Disney's private island. We also saw Spiderman at the Marvel-themed dinner and Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Oaken at the Frozen-themed dinner, though these interactions are more brief.
Shopping & retail
There are several stores onboard that are opened when the ship is at sea. We browsed the jewelry stores and Mickey's Mainsail for souvenirs, which had a good amount of items for those looking to take home a souvenir tied to the cruise. That being said, my kids preferred to save their souvenir purchase for a store at Walt Disney World, which offers a bigger variety of products.
Kids can visit Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, a store and salon combo that transforms them into princesses, knights or sea captains. (There's also an option for a pirate makeover on Pirate Night.) This experience is known to fill up fast, so make sure to book in advance; though you can certainly try once you're in board in case there are any cancellations.
Spa & fitness
Senses Spa offers massages, facials and other treatments. There's also a salon called Untangled Salon (inspired by Rapunzel), where services include hair styling, manicures, pedicures and more. Lastly, there's Hooks Barbery (inspired by Captain Hook's headquarters) for grooming services, including shavings and haircuts. There's even a hidden bar for speakeasy-style whiskey tastings. I personally didn't visit the spa or salon during our sailing, but my husband had a shave and said it was a great experience.
The fitness center is an adult-only space with views overlooking the water. It seems on par with other cruise lines, including workout equipment, weight machines and group fitness classes. You can also opt for personal training sessions.
Cruise itineraries
Disney Wish offers sailings ranging from 3-4 nights long, leaving from Port Canaveral and sailing to the Bahamas. The stops can include Nassau, Bahamas; Disney Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. We sailed on a 4-night cruise and stopped in Nassau, Bahamas and Castaway Cay. I've typically taken week-long cruises with several stops, but found the 4-day length to be a perfect amount for this cruise (plus we spent some time in Orlando during our trip). My family and I didn't disembark at Nassau, Bahamas; I've been there several times and wanted to experience more onboard the ship, but we did explore Castaway Cay.
Disney Castaway Cay
When it comes to cruising, I'm a big fan of the cruise line private islands because the convenience: It's easy to get around and get back to the ship in a timely matter without having to worry about all of the logistics. This held true to Castaway Cay; we played at the beach, had lunch at Cookie's Too BBQ (a buffet that's included with your cruise package), rode Pelican's Plunge (a large water slide) and much more.
One thing to keep in mind if you visit: We couldn't find any open chairs on the beach when we arrived. This had never happened to me on other private islands, but chairs did eventually open up after lunch time. If you plan to spend a lot of time on the beach, it's worth getting there early to secure a spot.
Getting there, embarkation and disembarkation
Port Canaveral is located about an hour away from Orlando and Walt Disney World Resort. My family rented a car and parked in the lot at Port Canaveral, but there are also rental car locations near the port with shuttles that can get you to the ship terminal after you drop off the car. It's also easy to book bus transfers to and from Orlando airport and Walt Disney World resorts through the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App.
Embarkation and disembarkation were surprisingly smooth with no hiccups or issues to report. Just keep in mind: There was a long line when we pulled up to drop off our luggage and there was a long line to disembark the ship on the final morning. These lines moved steadily and did not put a damper in our overall cruise experience. Another tip: Cast members handed out Disney Wish wands to kids in the Grand Hall when you enter, so make sure to keep an eye out for these.
Pricing
The cost will vary based on the date and room type, but you can expect the price to start around $1,000 a person. I checked sailings for 2025 to include two adults and two kids, and found that Ocenview rooms for a 4-day cruise ranged from starting at $4,600 to over $8,000 depending on the dates. While Disney cruises certainly aren't cheap, the price covers a lot, including top-notch dining, Broadway-style live shows, one-of-a-kind activities and much more.
How it compares to other Disney cruises
There are four other cruises in the Disney fleet: Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. While there are a lot of similarities overall (like having exceptional kids' clubs, unique dining experiences and character meet & greets), the ships vary based on dining venues, entertainment, activities and theming. However, the biggest differentiator between the Disney Wish and most other Disney cruises is the itinerary. Disney cruises sail from all over the world (ports of call include locations in Florida, Texas, California, Australia and Europe). The Disney Wish currently sales from Port Canaveral to the Caribbean, so it's ideal for looking to combine it with a trip to Walt Disney World.
The Disney Wish won't be the newest for long: The Disney Treasure will be setting sail in late 2024. The Treasure is in the same class as Wish, meaning the ship layout is similar. However, the Treasure's theme is "adventure" and its itineraries will be 7-nights long in the Caribbean. Disney Cruise Line also recently announced it will be adding four new ships to its fleet, including the Disney Destiny, which is another in the same class as Wish but will have a heroes and villains theme, as well as additional ships sailing in Asia.
We had a chance to meet with the hotel director, Alberto, and cruise director, Christaan, during our sailing. When asked what they thought made the Disney Wish different from other cruises, they highlighted aspects like the fireworks — currently it's the only Disney ship that has the fireworks show synchronized to the music — and the indoor spaces, allowing for more flexibility with activities.
Bottom line: Is the Disney Wish worth it?
Yes; at least, my family thinks so! I've sailed on a wide range of cruises and found that the Disney experience was unlike any other. The main highlights that made it so exceptional were the top-notch kids' clubs, unique dining experiences and spot-on theming throughout. I also appreciated that the shorter itinerary allowed us to stack on time in Orlando to our trip.
That being said, the Disney Wish is not for everyone. If you're a fan of the Disney parks but have never cruised before, it's important to consider what a cruise entails. There are a few aspects I heard first-time cruisers complain about on the Wish, but are normal aspects for cruising — like smaller pools, not being able to visit the stores when the ship was in port and having to put their luggage out the night before debarkation if they didn't want to carry it themselves.
I found that the Disney Wish was especially great for families, including extended families. There was truly something for everyone, covering different age groups, Disney franchises and activity preferences. All in all, this is one of the best vacations my family has ever experienced.
Meet Your Disney Wish Guide
Lexie Sachs is the executive director of strategy and operations at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she oversees travel content ranging from the best luggage to Good Housekeeping’s Family Travel Awards. Lexie has been on nine cruise ships from a range of cruise lines (including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival and Disney) and has sailed through Alaska, the U.S. East coast, the Caribbean, Bermuda, South America and Europe. She recently sailed on the Disney Wish with her husband and two daughters.
Lexie Sachs (she/her) is the executive director of strategy and operations at the Good Housekeeping Institute and a lead reviewer of products in the bedding, travel, lifestyle, home furnishings and apparel spaces. She has over 15 years of experience in the consumer products industry and a degree in fiber science from Cornell University. Lexie serves as an expert source both within Good Housekeeping and other media outlets, regularly appearing on national broadcast TV segments. Prior to joining GH in 2013, Lexie worked in merchandising and product development in the fashion and home industries.
