24 hours into sailing: Here are 7 ways the brand-new Disney Wish has surprised me
Editor’s note: TPG writer Summer Hull sailed on Disney Wish on a free trip provided by Disney Cruise Line. The opinions expressed below are entirely hers and weren’t subject to review by the line.
One of these things is not like the other.
Disney Wish just joined Disney Cruise Line's fleet as its fifth ship and the line's first new ship in a decade. While the first four ships — Magic, Dream, Wonder and Fantasy — are certainly unique in their own ways, they are clearly closely related sisters.
But not Wish.
Disney Wish looks similar to its sisters on the outside, with Disney's traditional red funnels and black, white and gold paint job, but in many ways, the ship is a very different experience on the inside.
Though I've sailed multiple times with Disney Cruise Line on the first four ships, Disney Wish has already surprised me in a few ways, even though I'm only one day into the christening voyage. Some of these are small differences, while others are much larger shifts.
Here are seven ways Disney Wish has surprised me.
Disney Wish feels like a modern hotel ... or a castle
The first four Disney ships have a timeless, bold, nautical feel. Lots of navy blue, red and white are in play on those ships.
That theme makes you feel like you're on a classic ocean liner, which is cool, but Disney chose to go in a new direction with Wish. It is refreshingly fun to see something noticeably different in the fleet.
Related: A first look at photos aboard the Disney Wish
Disney Wish also leans into shades of blue, but it accents the color with pinks, golds, greens and other lighter, modern tones.
It feels more in line with the way Disney is now designing its higher-end hotels — like the Grand Floridian — than its first four cruise ships.
I'd describe the vibe on board Disney Wish as new hotel meets cruise ship, with a splash of castle.
It's beautiful, different and a whole lot of fun.
The food is really good
Don't get me wrong; I'm happy enough with the food on the first four Disney ships, but I'm a lot happier with the food on Disney Wish. I don't know why it's better, but four meals in, I can say that it is.
It's not just the restaurants showcasing better cuisine. The on-deck food near the pools is several notches above the pool-adjacent food on the other ships. I actively sought out a second on-deck meal on this sailing, whereas on past Disney cruises, I only eat by the pool when absolutely necessary for a meal of chicken fingers and fries.
I had the same reaction to lunch in 1923. It was a better midday meal than lunches I've eaten on other Disney ships in the past.
The dinner in Arendelle, the Frozen-themed restaurant, was also substantially better than I expected. I thought the show would be the star of the evening, but the salmon, veggies and other sides were just as strong.
Related: What it's like on a Disney Cruise
You don't have to touch the elevator buttons
This is small but definitely different.
To request the elevator, you just hover your finger over the button and the floor is "magically" selected.
In my experience, this does lead to some accidental floors being selected when kids get close to the buttons, but it's still sort of ... magical. Oh -- and there are no midship elevators, so that's a bit of a surprise, too.
The best adult drink involves a popsicle
Yes, there's a $5,000 Star Wars drink on Disney Wish, but I'm guessing that's not a real menu option for most. The best drink most cruisers can afford is one with a popsicle.
In the adults-only area of the ship, you'll find four popsicle-based drinks: Strawberry Basil, Berry Mojito, Cucumber Honey Dew or Mango Tajin. Each is served with a glass of accompanying liquid, such as Black Cherry White Claw, Moet or Topo Chico.
These are called Pop-Spritz and cost $15 each. Having sampled the Berry Mojito, Cucumber Honey Dew and Strawberry Basil options, I can affirm they are all outstanding and absolutely worth the trip to the back of the ship in the adult area.
The AquaMouse is mostly like the AquaDuck
These can't all be positive surprises (though most unquestionably are). But so far the "first Disney attraction at sea," AquaMouse, isn't as different from the existing AquaDuck water slide on Disney Dream and Fantasy as I would have hoped.
It's a lot of fun — but it's not that different from the others.
It was having operational trouble today, so I'm happy to be proven wrong if some key elements were down on this preview. But while the cute Mickey cartoons going up the ramp were fun to see, I'm not sure that differentiates it enough from AquaDuck to warrant being treated as an "attraction" when the others aren't.
The spa will take your breath away
Honestly, many parts of the ship took my breath away, but the spa is several notches above what you'll find on other Disney Cruise Line ships.
The large outdoor area and the indoor rainforest area could keep you relaxed and happy for hours. The ice room, the swings with the warm water for your feet and the heated loungers are just as nice as you'd find anywhere.
A pass to the Rainforest Room is priced at $166 for the duration of this cruise, but space allowing, you can visit it as many times as you want over the course of the sailing.
I actually wanted to be in one of the many pools
This is where the reality of our media preview sailing, with its likely lower capacity and fewer kids, could be influencing my opinion. But that doesn't tell the whole story about the pools being more inviting on Wish.
Disney Wish offers more pools than its sisters — including several I actually want to spend time in.
The infinity pool on the back of the ship feels modern and inviting for the 18+ contingent.
Even on the main part of the pool deck, there are layers of family pools, some of which actually go all the way up to my chin and are fun to jump in to cool off.
Bottom line
Disney Wish is decidedly Disney with a princess makeover area for the little ones (including a Captain Minnie outfit!), Disney movies in the theaters, onboard characters and two all-new restaurants that double as immersive Disney entertainment.
But it's the type of Disney where you can round a corner, leave the characters behind and suddenly be in a modern, gorgeous space with fabulous cocktails and an elegant vibe.
It's beautiful, and there's no question I will want to sail again as soon as possible. Three nights isn't nearly enough to explore all it has to offer, especially when it's so different from the line's other ships.
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.