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First look: We got early access to Disney Cruise Line's first new ship in 10 years

June 29, 2022
26 min read
Disney Wish General
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As Mickey Mouse would say, "Oh boy!"

For the first time in a decade, Disney Cruise Line is debuting a new ship, and — as we saw during an exclusive sneak peek on Tuesday — it's truly spectacular.

Christened Wednesday at Port Canaveral in Florida, 2,500-passenger Disney Wish (4,000 at total occupancy) offers everything from a "Star Wars"-themed bar and a waterslide that features animation to a revamped kids club and interactive "Frozen"- and Marvel-themed restaurants.

The aft of a docked cruise ship, tied up and floating on teal water
Disney Wish docked at private island Castaway Cay, Bahamas. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)

As you can see in our first-look array of Disney Wish photos below, it's a vessel heavy on technology, as well as magic.

Scroll down for TPG's exclusive Disney Wish first look in photos. We'll be posting lots more live from the ship over the next four days as Disney holds a preview event for the media in advance of the ship's first sailings with paying passengers next month.

Welcome

When you first board Disney Wish, you'll be welcomed by cast members (Disney's term for crew and other employees) with a booming announcement as you step into the Grand Hall. It's a sweeping three-deck Cinderella-themed atrium with a stage area, balconies and bejeweled staircases. There's also a bronze sculpture of Cinderella herself and a chandelier that was constructed to look like an upside-down version of her twirling dress.

The Grand Hall on Disney Cruise Line's Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
Cinderella greets passengers in the Grand Hall on Disney Cruise Line's Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
A statue in the Grand hall on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
The Grand Hall on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
(Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)

Bars

Disney isn't just for kids. In that vein, there are plenty of bars for adults to grab a drink. But this is Disney, after all, so you should fully expect that many libations will come with a bit of fanfare -- and a price tag to match.

Perhaps the most anticipated watering hole on the vessel is the Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge. The premise is that you're on a luxury ride between galaxies; every few minutes, the screen behind the bar jumps to a different location at hyperspeed.

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The Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge on Disney Cruise Line's Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
The Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
A cocktail at the Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)

Another great bar that's worth a visit is The Bayou. With its New Orleans vibe, it's an obvious tie-in to "The Princess and the Frog," boasting earthy tones and a ceiling overflowing with flowers. Rumor has it that you can also find beignets at this outpost.

The Bayou Bar on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
The Bayou Bar on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
The Nightingale bar on Disney Wish is loosely based on Cinderella. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
A photo of a coffee bar with the top of a specialty coffee in the lower left-hand corner covered with cinnamon in the shape ofo the Disney Cruise Line logo
One several coffee bars on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)

Kids club

Disney Cruise Line's Oceaneer Club is for kids aged 3 to 12. There's also the Small World Nursery for little ones aged 6 months to 3 years. Offerings include a nursery area with cribs; Mickey & Minnie Captain's Deck, a nautically themed playground; an Imagineering Lab for creative activities; Star Wars Cargo Bay, a "Star Wars"-themed play area; and other spaces that feature Princesses, Marvel superheroes and more.

Nursery on Disney Wish (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
The Mickey & Minnie Captain's Deck playroom on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
A colorful kids play area with a slide and climbing structures
The Mickey & Minnie Captain's Deck on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
The Oceaneer Club Imagineering Lab on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
The Star Wars: Cargo Bay kids area on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
The Star Wars: Cargo Bay kids area on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)

Kids can reach the Oceaneer Club in one of several ways, but usually their preferred method is the slide, located in the Grand Hall. (Don't worry, parents. There are stairs for you.)

Slide from the Grand Hall into the Oceaneer Club kids area.
Slide from the Grand Hall into the Oceaneer Club kids area. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
Stairs from the Oceaneer Club to the Grand Hall on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)

For tweens and teens, there are Edge and Vibe, where the 11-14 and 14-17 crowds can chill with video games, coffee and mocktail bars and a less organized "come and go as you please" setup. Vibe is equipped with a side room that can be separated for use by 18- to 20-year olds who are too old for the kids club but too young to hang out at adult bars.

Part of the Edge tween club on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
Part of the Edge tween club on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
Part of the Vibe teen club on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
Part of the Vibe teen club on Disney Wish. This area can be closed off for use by 18- to 20-year-olds when there's a need. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)

Dining

Dining is always a production on a Disney Cruise -- and that's a good thing. Disney Wish offers three new main dining room concepts, including 1923, an ode to old Hollywood and the golden age of animation; Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure, which celebrates Anna and Kristoff's upcoming nuptials; and World of Marvel, where diners find themselves and their ship shrunken by Ant-Man after a Quantum Core mishap.

A dining room table set with a white tablecloth and place settings surrounded by orange and green chairs
The 1923 main dining room on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
Plates in the 1923 dining room on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
Mickey waffles during breakfast in the 1923 restaurant on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
The "Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Experience" restaurant on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
The "Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure" restaurant on Disney Wish.
The "Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure" restaurant on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
The "Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure" restaurant on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
A sign outside of the "Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Experience" restaurant congratulating Anna and Kristoff on their engagement. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
An Else bust at Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
The "Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure" restaurant on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
The entrance to the Worlds of Marvel dining room on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
The "Worlds of Marvel" dining room on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
A low shot of a dining room table with purple and red lighting effects
The "Worlds of Marvel" dining room on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
Bao buns at the "Worlds of Marvel" dining room on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
Gnocchi at the "Worlds of Marvel" dining room on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
Paul Rudd reprises his role as Ant-Man during dinner in the "Worlds of Marvel" dining room on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
Enchante, Disney Wish's most upscale dining option, which serves French fare. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
Stone crab with langostine gel at Enchante on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
One of seven courses on the "Passion" menu at Disney Wish's upscale French eatery, Enchante. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
A honeycomb course as part of the "Passion" menu at Enchante, Disney Wish's most expensive restaurant. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
Squab with foie gras, the main course on the "Passion" menu at French restaurant Enchant on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
The Marceline Market buffet on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
Crew serve lunch at the Marceline Market buffet on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
Don't miss the seafood station at Marceline Market, Disney Wish's buffet venue. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
Lunch offerings at Mickey's Smokestack Barbecue on Disney Wish.
Lunch offerings at Mickey's Smokestack Barbecue on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)

Attractions and public spaces

On Disney Wish, the main pool deck features four tiered pools. There's also a splash area for kids.

Tiered pools on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
Children's Toy Story Splash Zone on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)

Another one of Disney Wish's highlights is the AquaMouse water slide. Billed as the line's first at-sea attraction, it's a combination of watery fun and animation that both kids and adults will love.

The AquaMouse water slide attraction on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
The AquaMouse water slide attraction on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
The AquaMouse water slide attraction on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)

For anyone who needs some relaxation after a day riding AquaMouse, Senses Spa offers a complete menu of spa treatments. For the first time, the space also has an outdoor area with loungers and hot tubs.

The Senses Spa on Disney Cruise Line's Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
The Senses Spa on Disney Cruise Line's Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
The ice room in the Senses Spa on Disney Cruise Line's Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
The outdoor area at Senses Spa on Disney Cruise Line's Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
The outdoor area at Senses Spa on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)

Entertainment is everywhere on Disney Wish. With that in mind, there are several theaters and lounges that house everything from major Broadway-caliber productions and game shows to trivia and movies.

The main theater on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
A secondary theater on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
The Triton Lounge on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)

For a sweet treat, including gelato, macarons and more, check out Joyful Sweets, near the pool deck.

Joyful Sweets on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)

Feeling like you need a refresh? Captain Hook now has his very own barbershop for the fellas, and women can head to the Untangled Salon to be coiffed and manicured. For kids, the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is the place to be. Parents, be warned: makeovers for your minis don't come cheap.

Hook's barbershop on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
The UnTangled Salon on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
Dresses available at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)

A new feature for Disney Cruise Line, the Hero Zone is a multipurpose space that serves as Disney Wish's basketball court and a venue for a new inflatable play area that's set up at select times on each sailing. It also hosts Jack Jack's Incredible Diaper Dash, where parents enter the littlest cruisers into an adorable race.

The Hero Zone on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)

Although Disney Wish offers mainly short voyages, anyone needing to do laundry on the ship can take advantage of onboard launderettes, like this one located on Deck 8.

Fairytale Fresh Laundry on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)

For more adult respite, seek out the Quiet Cove, which offers pool, hot tub, lounge and bar areas just for grownups. The super-luxe ambiance will leave you feeling refreshed for sure.

Part of the Quiet Cove adult retreat area on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
Part of the Quiet Cove adult retreat area on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)

Cabins

This balcony cabin sleeps two, but there are several options for families that sleep up to five, as well as connecting cabins that make it easy for larger families or groups to travel together.

A balcony cabin on Disney Cruise Line's Disney Wish.
A balcony cabin on Disney Cruise Line's Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
Balcony cabin bathroom on Disney Wish.
The bathroom of a balcony cabin on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
Balcony cabin on Disney Wish.
A balcony cabin on Disney Wish. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)

Disney Wish is replete with suite options, including Concierge Suites and two-deck options like the Aurora Suite and the Tower Suite. The first has access to a dedicated Concierge Lounge, while the the last has three bedrooms and 3.5 baths and is built into the vessel's fake funnel. The Tower Suite is the most expensive accommodation on the ship, running several thousand dollars per night.

The Concierge Lounge on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
The Aurora Suite on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
One of the bedrooms in the Aurora Suite on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
One of the bathrooms in the Aurora Suite on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
The balcony and hot tub in the Aurora Suite on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
The living room of the Tower Suite on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
A view of a suite including a king-sized bed, a vanity and a bathroom in the distance
The master bedroom in the Tower Suite on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
A second bedroom in the Tower Suite on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
One of the 3.5 bathrooms in the Tower Suite on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
The toiletry setup in one of the bathrooms in the Tower Suite on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
The bunk room in the Tower Suite on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
The bathroom in the Tower Suite's bunk room on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)

Activities

Disney Wish has taken Disney Cruise Line's Midship Detective Agency to a whole new level with Uncharted Adventure, a high-tech cell phone-based interactive game that takes participants around the ship in search of clues. It's not quite ready yet, but a demo was set up for us by a team of Imagineers during the preview sailing.

Uncharted Adventure, an interactive, high-tech, cell phone-based game, takes passengers around the ship. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
Passengers try their hand at Uncharted Adventure, an interactive game on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)

Miscellaneous

A life ring on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
A Figaro mosaic on Disney Cruise Line's Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
A Remy wall sculpture welcomes visitors to Marceline Market, Disney Wish's buffet. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
One of the funnels on Disney Cruise Line's Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
A piece of faux stained-glass art, reminiscent of "Beauty and the Beast" on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
A security dog in mouse ears at Port Canaveral, just before embarkation on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
Goofy, Chip, Dale and Pluto dancing on stage during the Disney Wish christening at Port Canaveral. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
Donald and Daisy Duck between appearances on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
Pluto and Goofy in an elevator bank between appearances on Disney wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
Passengers crowding the pool deck under fireworks on a Disney Cruise Line ship
Fireworks on pirate night on board Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
A rose and mirror give "Beauty and the Beast" vibes outside the entrance to Palo, an upscale adults-only steakhouse on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)
Jiminy Cricket poses on the bar at the Wishing Star cafe on Disney Wish. (Photo by Ashley Kosciolek/The Points Guy)

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
  • LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
  • Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
  • With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
  • Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
  • Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
  • Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
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