135: Disney Wish 101: Everything You Need to Know Before Your Cruise

Listen On: Spotify | Amazon Music | Apple Podcast

The Ultimate Disney Wish Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before You Sail

Your girl is about to become an expert on the Disney Wish. Why? Because the Disney Wish was the very first Disney Cruise Line ship I ever sailed on when I turned 40, and now I am heading back on it twice in November. One of those trips will give me the chance to experience a Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Wish, and then we already have another Disney Wish cruise booked for October next year, which means I will eventually get to experience this ship during spooky season too.

What makes the Disney Wish especially interesting for me is that it will eventually be the ship I have experienced in almost every way I could cruise. I've sailed it with my family, I'll be sailing it without my family, and we will also get to experience it as more of a couples trip. Since we started sailing with Disney Cruise Line, I have realized that the experience can feel completely different depending on who you're traveling with.

So for Episode 134 of the Well, Hello Magic podcast, I wanted to really dive into the Disney Wish and give you a complete Disney Wish guide. If you're planning your first Disney cruise, already have a Disney Wish cruise booked, or you're trying to decide if the Wish is the right Disney Cruise Line ship for your family, we're going to cover A LOT.

We're talking about how I choose a Disney cruise, the best place to stay on the Disney Wish, Forward versus Aft, Disney Wish stateroom themes, what is on each deck, the kids clubs, dining, adult spaces, pools, how the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app works, when you can book cruise activities and the difference between your activity booking window and Online Check-In.

Basically, let's talk about everything I wish someone had explained to me before my first Disney cruise.

Before You Pick a Disney Cruise Ship, Pick Your Itinerary

I know this is technically a Disney Wish guide, but before we even talk about the ship, I need to start with the biggest thing I have learned about booking Disney Cruise Line: do not choose your cruise based only on the ship.

It is SO easy to do.

Disney announces a beautiful new ship and suddenly you're thinking, "I have to sail on that ship." Maybe you want the Disney Treasure because of all the experiences you've seen online. Maybe you're excited about the Disney Destiny. Maybe you've always wanted to sail on the Disney Wonder.

I get it.

But the first thing I think you should look at is the itinerary.

Where do you actually want to go? What time of year are you traveling? What is the weather usually like at that destination during that time of year? What ports are important to you? Is there a seasonal experience you're specifically trying to see?

For example, we really want to do an Alaska cruise. For that trip, I care much more about finding the right Alaska itinerary during the right part of the summer than I do about picking a specific Disney ship. The same thing applies to Canada. If I'm booking a Canadian cruise because I want to see the fall foliage, I'm going to look at when the leaves are usually at their peak and work backward from there.

Even the Bahamas and Caribbean deserve some thought because you have hurricane season and different weather patterns throughout the year.

The ship is important, but remember that the ship is taking you somewhere.

I really don't think you can go wrong with any Disney Cruise Line ship. They are simply different experiences.

And if you're someone who looks at everything I just said and thinks, "Jessica, absolutely not. I don't want to research any of this," then get yourself a travel advisor. I would specifically look for someone who actually cruises regularly because planning Disney Cruise Line is different from planning Walt Disney World. You have different stateroom categories, booking windows, rotational dining, Port Adventures and all kinds of little things that make more sense when someone has actually experienced them.

How I Think About the Disney Cruise Line Ships

This is absolutely not an official Disney classification, but this is how I categorize the Disney Cruise Line fleet in my head.

I think of the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy as my Disneyland ships.

Then I think of the newer generation, beginning with the Disney Wish, as my Walt Disney World ships.

Stay with me because I swear this makes sense.

The older ships feel like classic Disney to me. They're beautiful and elegant, you still have Disney characters and incredible Broadway-style entertainment, but they also feel more like traditional maritime cruising. When we sailed on the Disney Dream, I loved that feeling. There is something very classic Disney about it.

Then Disney built the Wish.

The Disney Wish feels more like Walt Disney World because Disney started turning up the immersive entertainment. You have theatrical dining experiences, elaborate kids clubs, more Disney intellectual property incorporated into the spaces, AquaMouse, a Grand Hall that actually becomes part of the entertainment and so many little Disney details everywhere.

The Wish was the first ship in this newer class and you can almost see Disney testing what this new generation of Disney Cruise Line could become.

Neither experience is better.

They're just different.

And our goal is eventually to sail every Disney Cruise Line ship, so ask me again in five years and I will probably have even more opinions.

Disney Wish Facts: How Big Is the Ship?

Let's get some basic Disney Wish facts out of the way.

The Disney Wish was the fifth ship to join the Disney Cruise Line fleet and began sailing in 2022. The ship has 1,254 staterooms and can accommodate approximately 4,000 passengers. It is 1,119 feet long, which sounds impressive but also means absolutely nothing to my brain.

So here's the measurement I actually understand: the Disney Wish is about three and a half football fields long.

That is a big ship.

Interestingly, the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy can also accommodate around 4,000 passengers. The Wish is only slightly longer than those ships, but it has considerably more gross tonnage. And because I know someone is going to ask, gross tonnage isn't literally how much the ship weighs. It's essentially a measurement related to the ship's enclosed internal volume.

Again, the football fields are easier for me.

The Disney Wish has 15 numbered decks, but please do not look at "15 decks" and panic. You don't need to memorize 15 floors before you get onboard.

The easiest way I remember the Disney Wish layout is this: the lower decks are where a lot of your dining, entertainment and younger kids activities happen. The middle decks are heavily made up of staterooms. The upper decks are where you're going to find pools, casual food, recreation, teens and adult spaces.

If you remember that basic formula, you've already made the Disney Wish much easier to navigate.

Forward, Midship and Aft on the Disney Wish

Before you choose a Disney Wish stateroom, you need to know three words: Forward, Midship and Aft.

Forward is the front of the ship, toward the bow. Midship is exactly what it sounds like, the middle of the ship. Aft is the back of the ship, toward the stern.

Our family tends to stay Midship, and we're probably going to keep doing it for a while.

There are a couple of reasons for that. First, you're centrally located, which I find incredibly convenient. Second, if you're worried about motion sickness, being closer to the middle of the ship and on a lower or middle deck generally means you're going to experience less noticeable movement than you would high up and toward the ends of the ship.

I pack every possible motion sickness strategy because I refuse to let seasickness take me down on vacation, but thankfully we have done really well so far.

We also intentionally choose rooms near an elevator and staircase.

You might assume that would be noisy, but we haven't found it to be a problem. What I love is being able to walk out of our room and immediately have access to both the stairs and elevators. Sometimes taking the stairs is faster, and sometimes I look at those stairs and decide Disney has already made me walk enough that day.

There are advantages to staying Aft or Forward too. You can sometimes find larger or extended verandahs in certain locations, and depending on what your family plans to do most often, being near a particular part of the ship may actually be more convenient.

There isn't one universally "best" Disney Wish stateroom location. There's a best location for your family.

If motion sickness is your biggest concern, I would start with Midship and avoid going unnecessarily high. If your priority is being near the pools and upper-deck activities, you may love a higher deck. If you're traveling with older kids who will constantly be going to Vibe and the recreation areas, being higher might make your life easier.

How to Navigate the Disney Wish Without Getting Completely Lost

One of the things that takes a minute when you first get on a cruise ship is figuring out which direction you're going.

And when the ship is more than 1,100 feet long, going the wrong direction can turn into quite a walk.

I use the Grand Hall as my home base on the Disney Wish. If I can find the Grand Hall, I can usually reset myself and figure out where everything else is.

There are also little design cues throughout Disney ships that can help you orient yourself, and the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app has complete deck plans when your brain officially gives up.

My biggest advice is not to try to memorize the entire Disney Wish on embarkation day. Learn where YOUR stateroom is. Know your deck. Know whether you're Forward, Midship or Aft. Know which staircase or elevator area is closest to your room.

Once you know those things, the rest starts falling into place.

The Theme of the Disney Wish: Enchantment

Before we start walking through the decks, we have to talk about the overall theme of the Disney Wish because once you understand it, so many of the design choices make more sense.

The theme of the Disney Wish is enchantment.

Captain Minnie Mouse is incorporated into the artwork on the bow of the ship, while Rapunzel and Pascal are the signature characters you'll find on the stern. Rapunzel is hanging from her hair while helping decorate the back of the ship, which is such a cute detail.

Then you walk into the Grand Hall and Cinderella becomes the centerpiece of the ship.

Even the stateroom themes continue this idea of wishing, dreaming, transformation and adventure.

The Disney Wish isn't just called "Wish" because Disney thought it sounded cute. That theme carries through the entire ship.

Deck 2: Disney's Oceaneer Club Is Incredible

If you're cruising on the Disney Wish with younger kids, you need to know Deck 2 because this is where you'll find Disney's Oceaneer Club.

And honestly, Disney went a little crazy with this kids club.

In the best possible way.

Kids can check in near the Grand Hall and actually take a slide down into Oceaneer Club. A literal slide.

Adults, unfortunately, do not get to live their best lives and take the slide. We use the stairs.

One of my biggest Disney Cruise Line tips for parents is to visit Oceaneer Club during Open House, preferably when you first board.

Even if your child swears they are not going.

Register them anyway.

My youngest daughter is what I call a friend hunter on vacation. She will identify another child, decide that they are now best friends and suddenly those two children have plans for the remainder of the trip.

On one of our cruises she met a girl whose parents were convinced their daughter would never go into the kids club. Then she met my daughter. Suddenly they were both going and staying until late at night because now they had each other.

This is why I say register your kids and walk through the club with them.

If they eventually decide to go, the first time they enter won't be into this enormous unfamiliar space by themselves.

The Disney Wish Oceaneer Club has several themed areas. Marvel Super Hero Academy lets kids interact with Marvel technology and superhero-inspired programming. Star Wars: Cargo Bay is filled with creatures and interactive Star Wars details. Fairytale Hall has adorable spaces inspired by Disney princess stories, including Rapunzel, Belle, Anna and Elsa.

Then there is the Walt Disney Imagineering Lab, which is probably just as exciting for Disney adults during Open House as it is for some of the kids. There are nods to attraction design and Imagineering throughout the space, and my older kids appreciate that kind of thing much more now.

Also on Deck 2 is "it's a small world" nursery, which provides care for the littlest cruisers for an additional charge. Nursery time requires reservations, so if you know you're going to want a Palo dinner, spa appointment or just a little adult time, this is something to look at during your advance booking window.

Deck 3: The Grand Hall and the Heart of the Disney Wish

Deck 3 is the heart of the Disney Wish.

This is where you'll find the Grand Hall, and it is beautiful.

The entire space feels like Cinderella's castle at sea. Cinderella is the signature centerpiece, but don't just look at Cinderella and keep walking. Look around her and underneath her dress because you'll find Jaq and Gus, with Lucifer lurking nearby. There is also a glass slipper detail near the staircase and so many Cinderella references worked into the architecture and design.

The huge chandelier, the lighting and the entire color palette reinforce that enchantment theme.

This is also where the Wish has its nighttime Grand Hall moment, often referred to as its "Kiss Goodnight." I love these little Disney moments because they're not necessarily the things you book months in advance or build an entire vacation around. They're just little pieces of Disney storytelling that happen around you.

Deck 3 is also home to 1923, one of the three rotational dining restaurants on the Disney Wish. The restaurant is named after the year The Walt Disney Company was founded and is divided into two dining rooms, Walt Disney and Roy Disney.

If you're a Disney history or animation person, actually LOOK at the restaurant instead of just sitting down and immediately opening the menu. You'll find sketches, animation artwork, models and Disney artifacts throughout the space.

This is also the type of restaurant that makes me want to coordinate my outfit with dinner. Give me something black and white, classic or animation-inspired and I am happy.

You'll also find The Bayou on Deck 3, a beautiful Princess and the Frog-inspired lounge. This is not Tiana's Place. It's a lounge where you can grab a drink, listen to live entertainment and take in all the little Tiana and New Orleans-inspired details.

Nightingale's is another lounge on this deck, inspired by Cinderella and "Sing Sweet Nightingale," and Star Wars fans have Hyperspace Lounge, where the windows make it appear as though you're traveling through different parts of the Star Wars galaxy.

There is also plenty of shopping in this area of the ship.

And let me save you from making the same mistake I apparently need to make repeatedly: do not wait until the last night to do all your shopping.

The shops have restrictions on when they can operate while the ship is in port. If you see something you know you want, just buy it.

We both know you're going back for it anyway.

Deck 4: Entertainment, Movies and Worlds of Marvel

When I think about Deck 4 on the Disney Wish, I think entertainment.

This is where you'll find Worlds of Marvel, another of the Wish's rotational dining experiences. Because this restaurant includes entertainment, we like requesting a table with a good view of the action. It is always a request and never guaranteed, but you can ask.

Deck 4 is also where you'll access the Walt Disney Theatre, home to Disney Cruise Line's Broadway-style productions.

The Wish also has two cinemas, Never Land Cinema and Wonderland Cinema, so check your Navigator app for movie times during your cruise. One of the fun parts of Disney Cruise Line is being able to catch Disney movies at sea, including current releases depending on what's playing during your sailing.

You'll also find Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Hook's Barbery and Untangled Salon on this deck.

Our family loves Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, and the cruise experience feels different from doing it inside Walt Disney World. If this is high on your child's list, I would absolutely put it near the top of your advance-booking priorities.

Hook's Barbery is another fun space because it isn't just haircuts and shaves. My husband did a bourbon tasting there and LOVED it. Disney being Disney, there was storytelling incorporated into the tasting and the history of the bourbons.

I did not attend because you could not pay me enough to sit around drinking bourbon, but he was thrilled.

Then there is Luna, a two-story entertainment venue spanning Decks 4 and 5.

My husband basically lived there because Luna hosts bingo.

That man LOVES bingo.

So if you need to find him on a Disney cruise, start there.

Deck 5: Arendelle, Edge and Senses Spa

Deck 5 gives us our third rotational dining restaurant, Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure.

This is another theatrical dining experience, so once again, if seeing the entertainment well matters to your family, it doesn't hurt to make a seating request.

This deck is also home to Edge, Disney's tween club.

The kids club experience changes so much as your children get older. At this age, it becomes less about "I want to do this scheduled activity" and more about "I met six kids and now we're apparently a pack."

Let your tween explore Edge early because those cruise friendships can become a huge part of their vacation.

You'll also find Keg & Compass, the Wish's nautical-themed pub. This is where we ended up watching football because apparently even when I put my family in the middle of the ocean, sports still find us.

Deck 5 is also where you'll find Senses Spa & Salon, and I am personally making it a mission to spend more time there on an upcoming cruise because apparently I have not been prioritizing myself properly.

Disney Wish Staterooms: What Deck Should You Stay On?

Once you get above Deck 5, you enter the part of the Disney Wish that is much more heavily dedicated to staterooms.

Disney Wish staterooms come in the familiar major categories of Inside, Oceanview, Verandah and Concierge accommodations, with different subcategories within those.

For our family, we need connecting staterooms because we're a family of six and the standard Disney Wish staterooms top out at five guests depending on category. Disney currently lists its Deluxe Family Oceanview and Deluxe Family Oceanview with Verandah accommodations as sleeping up to five.

We typically choose connecting rooms that sleep three or four each rather than trying to cram ourselves into the largest standard room possible.

And this is where the Disney Wish does something I LOVE.

The rooms have Disney themes.

What Are the Disney Wish Stateroom Themes?

Disney has now officially published the theme groupings for the Disney Wish stateroom hallways, and there are several different stories represented throughout the ship.

On Decks 2, 6 and 7, your stateroom can be themed to Cinderella or Frozen.

On Decks 8 and 9, the themes are The Princess and the Frog or Sleeping Beauty.

On Decks 10 and 11, you'll find Moana or The Little Mermaid.

The Concierge accommodations incorporate Tangled theming, while Disney also uses Sleeping Beauty and Moana for specialty suites.

And these aren't just generic rooms where Disney stuck one picture over the bed.

The hallways themselves change.

Disney created different carpet patterns, artwork, lighting and even different decorative hooks outside the stateroom doors, which Disney calls Wish Extenders. Cinderella and Frozen areas use a pumpkin carriage-style hook. Sleeping Beauty and Princess and the Frog areas incorporate an owl. The Little Mermaid and Moana areas use a shell, while the Concierge areas incorporate the sun symbol from Tangled.

This is the kind of ridiculous Disney detail that I love.

Your exact room theme isn't normally something you're selecting from a dropdown when you book. You're selecting a stateroom category and room number.

If having a specific character theme matters to you, research your room number.

There are third-party Disney Wish cabin databases online, and you can also search YouTube because room tours almost always include the stateroom number. I would also ask Disney Cruise Line about your room if you're trying to confirm a particular theme.

I would absolutely do this if I were taking my daughter and niece together because they LOVE Frozen. If I could get them a Frozen room, I would.

Another thing we have experienced with connecting rooms is that the rooms can have different themes. So if you're a larger family like ours, you may actually get two different Disney stories between your connecting staterooms.

Deck 11: Pools, Marceline Market and Quick-Service Food

Once you reach Deck 11, we are back in family vacation mode.

This is one of the decks where your family is going to spend a LOT of time during a Disney Wish cruise.

Marceline Market is the Wish's buffet-style casual dining location and is particularly useful for breakfast and lunch. The restaurant is named for Marceline, Missouri, where Walt Disney spent part of his childhood.

I always love this connection because my husband is from Kansas City, and we've visited some of the places connected to Walt's Missouri history.

Here is my practical large-family Marceline Market advice: find your table first.

There are six of us. I am not sending six people into a buffet and hoping we all somehow emerge at the same moment and magically locate a table together.

One person stays. Everyone else gets food. Then we switch.

Save yourself.

Deck 11 is also where you'll find Mickey & Friends Festival of Foods, which is one of my favorite concepts for families because everybody can get something different. You've got options like pizza, barbecue, burgers and Mexican-inspired food without everyone having to agree on one restaurant.

Then there is Inside Out: Joyful Sweets, which is adorable and dangerous to my wallet. This is where you're getting specialty gelato, cakes and treats. Remember that the specialty items here cost extra even though you're standing on a deck surrounded by included food.

You'll also find Dory's Forget-Me-Knots, which is perfect for those moments when you get to the pool and realize you forgot something.

And, of course, Deck 11 is where you're getting into the pools and that classic Disney Cruise Line experience of watching Disney movies outside on Funnel Vision.

If you have younger kids who aren't disappearing into Oceaneer Club all day, you are going to spend plenty of time up here.

Deck 12: Toy Story, Vibe, Hero Zone and Adult Dining

Deck 12 is one of those Disney Wish decks that somehow serves toddlers, teenagers and adults who want a very expensive dinner all at once.

You've got the Toy Story Splash Zone, which is especially important for families traveling with children who aren't potty trained. Disney Cruise Line does not allow children wearing swim diapers in the regular pools, so make sure you understand that before your trip. The splash areas are where those littlest cruisers can safely play.

Then we move from toddlers to teenagers because Vibe, the teen club, is also on Deck 12.

My oldest was in that magical age range on our last cruise where he could experience both Edge and Vibe, and he ended up gravitating toward Vibe. I think so much of this comes down to who your child meets onboard.

There is also The Hideaway, another flexible hangout space, and Hero Zone, which is one of the spaces I'm most excited for my kids to really use.

Hero Zone is an indoor recreation area with sports, games and special programming. On our previous sailing there were inflatables and different activities happening in there, and I love that Disney has a major indoor physical activity space because weather happens.

And then, because apparently Deck 12 needed to contain every demographic possible, this is also where you'll find some of the Wish's adult dining experiences.

Palo Steakhouse is adults only and requires an additional charge. I still need to experience Palo brunch, and it is absolutely on my list.

Then there is Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement, the Wish's most elevated adult dining experience, along with The Rose, the beautiful lounge that completes this little Beauty and the Beast-inspired adult dining district.

So Deck 12 basically says: drop the kids somewhere appropriate for their age and go eat something fancy.