The Disney Wish is the newest cruise ship that has been added to Disney Cruise Line’s fleet!

We sailed on the ship in 2022 and shared details about EVERYTHING it has to offer. From all kinds of restaurants to unique experiences for all kinds of fans, there’s a lot to explore. But is it 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 of 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+.

You really don’t need as much knowledge going into a 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.

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!

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!

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!

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.

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!

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

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 also offers 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.

The two NEW shows on 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 hands 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.

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 the “journey 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.

Entertainment availability can change, so be sure to check and see what’s available during your trip.

Plus, the Disney Wish has things like the first-ever atrium stage as well as a special event space called Luna that is 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 features Frozen characters performing LIVE in a  dining room designed as the Arendelle Castle’s Grand Ballroom!

There is also ANOTHER Frozen dining experience that has been announced for 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!

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

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 takes guests into the world of animated Mickey Mouse shorts and you get to see the story play out on screens throughout the ride!

And, there are unique experiences like the Disney Uncharted Adventure, which is a new game that takes 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 lets them explore areas they may not visit otherwise!

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!

As we mentioned at the top of this post, we went on the Wish and shared our FULL reviews of the restaurants, attraction at sea, and more.

Click here to see our page with links to ALL of our reviews and information