If you’ve read my past blog posts about the Disney Wish, you’ll know that I didn’t know what I was heading into! This was done purposefully, so I could experience the ship for the first time, live, in person, and as present as possible! I had the luxury of doing this as I set sail on the pre-inaugural sailing. If I didn’t get the opportunity to go, I’d soak up every video and photo I could find online until I was able to board! I am so lucky that I was invited on the pre-inaugural sailing and was able to experience the Wish in this way! I’ll preface my top 5 by saying, 3 nights was NOT enough time and I can’t wait to go back and have some more time to really immerse myself and focus more on my family than work!
In no particular order….my top 5 favorite things about the Disney Wish!
The Atrium One of the only things I had seen in advance, was the Atrium…but the photos just didn’t do it justice! I expected it to look like the other ships with different colors and decor but it was so much more magical than I was expecting. It was seriously ethereal! It gave such an amazing first impression as to what was to come!
The Food
I have always been a big fan of the food Disney offers on the ships but the variety the Wish offered was out of this world! Besides having some really amazing, interactive, and immersive experiences, I honestly enjoyed the new variety of quick service options on the pool deck! Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods which includes Mickey’s Smokestack Barbecue, Donald’s Cantina, Daisy’s Pizza Pies, Goofy’s Grill and Sweet Minnie’s Ice Cream! The tacos from Donald’s Cantina were my favorite…maybe tied with Daisy’s Pizza! SO GOOD!
The Pools
While I miss the location of the adult pool, I honestly loved the layout of the rest of the pools and slides onboard (you can read more about the pools here). The pools being different depths, and being scattered around with great views of Funnel Vision, made the pool deck less chaotic and loud!
The Lounges
It seemed everywhere we turned there was a bar or lounge! This ship had an incredible number of spaces dedicated to adults but also the theming was amazing! My favorite spot on the ship, hands down, was Nightingale’s Piano Bar! This small space is inspired by the song lyrics from Cinderella, Sing, Sweet Nightingale. The drinks were incredible, and the piano player was amazingly talented! We definitely stopped by this lounge more than once!
A little sampling of the entertainment from Nightingale’s!
The Details
One of my favorite features about the ship is the attention to the smallest detail. From the design of the hallway carpets to the lighting and beyond, there is so much attention to the smallest details! It’s hard to put into words so you’ll just have to experience it for yourself!
Tiny railing detail at the BayouA door for every “character”I love the way the light bounced off the walls!What a sweet sleeping place for the babies!A Sweet Nightengale CocktailI definitely need more time to return to the Rose!What a fun way to head to the Kids Clubs!
We are so excited to announce that Disney Cruise Line Fall 2023 itineraries are HERE! With five ships to choose from, and a wide variety of destinations, Disney Cruise Line offers something for everyone! Plus don’t forget the return of the Halloween on the High Seas sailings and Very Merrytime Cruises!
Caribbean- Enjoy 5, 6 and 7-night sailings from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, San Juan and New York!
Bahamas-Enjoy 3, 4 and 5 night sailings from San Juan, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Port Canaveral!
The Caribbean and Bahamian Sailings enjoy stops at Disney’s own private Island, Castaway Cay!
West Coasters!! Disney returns with Baja and Mexican Riveria sailings for 2, 3, 4 5 and 7 nights!
East Coasters…looking for a tropical getaway without the flights. Departing from New York, Disney Cruise Line will once again offer 4, 5 and 6 night Bermuda sailings. Select sailings will also head up the coast for 4 nights to Canada!
Looking for a bigger adventure? How about a 14-night sailing through the Panama Canal?
I’ll admit it…I’m not a fan of sneak peeks. Upon finding out that I was going to be sailing on the pre-inaugural Disney Wish sailing, I tried avoiding as many spoilers and sneak peeks as I could! I have a serious love/hate relationship with the internet and really wanted to experience the Wish for the first time, with my own two eyes (and ears)! As much as I tried to avoid this, there were a FEW things I heard about in advance…one of which was that Disney Cruise Line had changed up the layout of the pool deck. Much like a lot of things to do with Disney, this was met with disappointment and complaints…before most people even set sail! I set out to keep an open mind and let me say…I’m glad I did!
On the previous 4 Disney Cruise ships, the layout was very similar. There was an adult-only pool located forward, with 1-2 additional pools located Aft. These spaces were specifically laid out based on ages with a pool or splash area for toddlers, a family pool and the adult only. These spaces felt purposeful and separate which always seemed to work well!
Goofy Pool aboard the Disney MagicDonald and Mickey Family Pool aboard the Disney Fantasy
For the Disney Wish, the approach and aesthetic was completely changed…and I’ll be the first to admit, that I loved it! The layout involves size smaller pools in the main family area of the pool deck. The wonderful thing is that for deck parties, only TWO of these pools need to be covered up. The rest of these pools are located in a tiered, stadium approach which was awesome for watching movies on Funnel Vision!
Here you can see 5 of the pools! The top two are the deepest with a depth of 4’6″. The middle row was more shallow at a depth of around 2′ deep with a cascading waterfall. The lowest two pools are the largest of the two, and the two are covered up during parties. These separate pools made for a much calmer experience than what I’ve seen before aboard a Disney Cruise…and we aren’t even done yet!
On Deck 14 you’ll find a quiet pool, with a shallow depth of 2′ but with gorgeous views, tons of deck chairs, and manned by a lifeguard! Have kiddos with sensory issues? This is the perfect spot for a little R&R!
On Deck 11, you’ll find the Toy Story Splash Zone, perfect for the little ones that aren’t ready to swim yet.
You’ll also find another splash pool, Trixie’s Falls as well as Slide-a-Saurus-Rex, for anyone 38″ or taller!
Looking for a more thrilling waterslide? For those 42″ or taller, be sure to check out the AquaMouse…and because I don’t love spoilers, I won’t share anymore about this AMAZING attraction at sea!
And don’t worry… Disney has NOT forgotten the adults! The Quiet Cove has moved to Deck 13! On the way to the Quiet cover, you’ll find a variety of chairs, loungers, and sunbeds! Plus a Whirlpool!
Located Deck 13 aft, you’ll find 2 tiled seating areas with gently cascading water and a shallow pool. With amazing views of the ocean, we found this spot to be perfectly tucked away.
Nestled in between these areas is Disney Cruise Lines first infinity pool. We found this area a bit crowded but as this wasn’t an official sailing and was overrun with adults, we’ll save our judgement for next time!
Plus you’ll find a bar, more seating and just around the corner, the Cove Cafe for delectable coffee drinks (and sadly no treats…which we hope Disney rectifies asap)!
Overall we really enjoyed the layout of the pools aboard the Disney Wish. This ship goes above and beyond with the finer details and there truly is something for everyone!
Ok, maybe not ALL the steaks…but I did try the main rotational dining steak options each night aboard my 3-night cruise vacation…and I’m here to tell you which was the best!! I’m a sucker for a great steak and potatoes meal! Disney Cruise line has so many great options and I was excited to see what the Wish had in store!
Let’s start with last place! I had high hopes for this steak and while it was very delicious, it did end up in last place for a reason! Out of all the restaurants, I was looking forward to 1923 the most!! To start we had purchased a 3-night wine package for roughly $100. Since this was our last night we opted for a bottle of Prosecco. I selected the Pulled Guinea Hen Corn Chowder and it was delicious! Each night it was so hard to not pick too many options and feel stuffed when we left, so this night I kept things simple. After soup, I had my last steak of the vacation, the 1923 Peppered Filet Mignon. It was described as “buttered long green beans, smoked bacon, crushed fingerling potato hash, pink pepper cafe au lait (gluten free)“. I realize that the word peppered was in the description, and while this filet was cooked PERFECTLY, it was just a bit too peppery for my liking. For full transparency, I was really being nit-picky at this point because they were all delicious. The sides were delicious ( I could have used MORE green beans)!
I can’t wait to write up more about Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure because it was hands down my favorite of the three dining room experiences! But today we are just talking about steak! Before my steak, I did opt for two appetizers: Jarlsberg Cheese and Rosemary Ham Tart – Gala apple, williams pear compote and the Troll Valley Baby Field Greens – vanilla, apricots, brioche croutons, candied walnuts, lingonberry dressing, and both were incredibly delicious!
Tonight’s steak was the Garlic & Thyme Roasted Beef Rib-Eye – double-baked potato, buttered broccoli, sweet honey-roasted carrots, cabernet jus (gluten free). This was so tender and flavorful and the double-baked potato was so delicious!! I really loved everything about this meal! The Ribe Eye was cooked perfectly with the best sauce, and the veggies were just right! The lighting in this restaurant was SO blue so the tone is off but rest assured…it was so good!
Ok and number 1…hands down my FAVORITE steak of the entire trip, was from Worlds of Marvel. This restaurant wasn’t my favorite but that’s partly because I’m not a HUGE Marvel Fan. I can see the appeal and kids and grownups alike will really enjoy this fun, interactive experience. I started off with my favorite kind of salad… an Iceberg Wedge with Candied pecans, smoked bacon lardons, black and globe radish, maytag blue cheese (be sure to ask for more dressing). We also shared the Steamed Bao Buns – seared ginger orange pork belly, toasted sesame seeds, pickled daikon, spring onions, mirin soy honey glaze (there was just ONE bun so sharing was tough). Our server also surprised us with the Lamb Shawarma Salad as my tablemate had considered it for an appetizer but it was an entree. Let me tell you…we talked about this the ENTIRE trip. It was to die for! It included slow-roasted cumin spiced pulled lamb leg in mini pitas, with iceberg, endive, romaine lettuce, surnac onions, vine tomatoes, pickled red cabbage, roasted chickpeas, cucumber and lemon yogurt dressing…
Luckily I wasn’t stuffed as all the portions so far were on the smaller side which I preferred! It allowed us to taste a little of everything! On to what you are waiting for…my favorite steak of the trip!! The Delmonico Rib-Eye Steak with Black Truffle Butter – whipped yukon gold potatoes, green asparagus, cabernet reduction (gluten free). I will have dreams about the Black Truffle butter. It was to DIE for!! Hands down the best thing I ate!!
So that concludes how I tried every steak on the Disney Wish (kind of)…but there is more to come! This ship was such an incredible experience and I can’t wait to share even more!
While many people think of Mexico and the Bahamas as cruise destinations, a Disney Cruise vacation can take you so many more places! With a 5th ship joining the fleet this summer, you have a wide variety of cruise destinations and lengths!
Bahamas Are you new to cruising and just want to try it out? 3, 4, and 5-night sailings to the Bahamas are a great way to do that! With stops in Nassau and Disney’s Private Island, Castaway Cay, it’s a great option to dip your toe in the water, so to speak!
Caribbean (Western and Eastern) Conveniently leaving from several Florida ports as well as Texas and Puerto Rico, these sailings are offered in a variety of lengths to both Eastern and Western Caribbean destinations.
–Eastern Caribbean– Typical ports include the Virgin Islands, Tortola, and Puerto Rico -Western Caribbean- Typical ports include Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica
These cruises also will include a stop at Disney’s Private Island, Castaway Cay!!
Southern Caribbean Looking for a traditional Caribbean cruise with some ports you may not have been to before? Check out these Southern Caribbean cruises with destinations including Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, and Curacao!
These cruises also will include a stop at Disney’s Private Island, Castaway Cay!!
Europe (Northern Europe, British Isles, Norwegian Fjords and the Mediterranean) Have you always dreamt of visiting Europe but are a little nervous about explaining on your own or have so many places you want to visit you don’t know how you’d squeeze it into one trip? A European cruise is a perfect option! You’ll visit a variety of destinations all while returning to your own bed aboard the cruise each night! -Northern European sailings range from 4-12 nights including stops in Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands -Norwegian Fjords sailings are the ultimate Norwegian voyage roundtrip from Dover, England -Explore the Mediterranean with stops in Italy, Croatia, and Greece for 5 all the way up to 12 nights!
Bermuda Are you located on the East Coast and looking for a vacation without flights? Check out these 5, 7, and 8-night sailings from New York City! Not only will you be sailing to the incredible island of Bermuda, but you’ll have gorgeous views in and out of New York! We found Bermuda to be a wonderful, family-friendly destination and by far one of our favorite cruise ports!
Alaska One of my favorite cruises ever is the sailings from Vancouver to Alaska!! You can sail 5, 7, or even 9-nights to this amazing destination! These cruises hug the coastline and we found minimal movement on the ship, making it easier on those of us that suffer from motion sickness! While we experienced this sailing as adults only, now that our kids are a little older, we can’t wait to return!
Canada Is seeing the New England fall colors on your bucket list? This fall take a coastal trip from New York to Nova Scotia on this 6-night Halloween on the High Seas sailing! Currently, there is just ONE date available this October!
Baja While the Wonder is calling California its home base, you can set sail on 3, 4, 5, and 7-night sailings exploring the Baja Peninsula! If you are traveling from outside of California, why not add a trip to Disneyland while you are there?
Panama Canal In the past, each year as the Disney Wonder sets sail for Alaska, she traveled through the Panama Canal! Currently, the Disney Wonder is calling the West Coast home and there are no plans for a return through the canal.
Pacific Coast These 4-night cruises sail up and down the West Coast on their way from San Diego to Vancouver. Keep in mind these are one-way trips so plan your airfare accordingly!
Transatlantic Looking for a longer cruise? Transatlantic sailings are currently set for 12 and 13 nights! Set sail from Dover England on the Magic’s return westbound to New York with stops in France, Spain, and Bermuda! If you are considering heading Eastbound aboard the Magic to Europe, you’ll enjoy 13 nights with stops in Spain and Portugal!
Hawai’i On these amazing cruises, you’ll set sail to all 4 of Hawai’i’s islands! While there are no cruises scheduled to Hawai’i currently, keep an eye out for more sailings in the future!
A Disney Cruise Line vacation is like no other! I often share with my clients that it’s like the best parts of Walt Disney World, but kicked up a notch, in the most relaxing way possible! What keeps us coming back is the amazing guest service, incredible food, character interactions and beautiful destinations! We also know that a Disney Cruise vacation is often somewhere guests are looking to save money! We’ve put together a few ways you can save, plus a few special deals! If you are interested in any of these deals (or others) just hit reply to this email or click the link below!!
WAYS TO SAVE #1 – Book Early! The key to snagging the best room and the lowest price is to book early, especially if your dates are not flexible! By booking early you’ll lock in the lower rate and your travel planner can work with you on setting up a payment schedule! You can pay biweekly, monthly, semi-monthly or whenever you want to pay off a portion of your cruise!
#2 – Target Red Card discount If you are using a Target Red Card debit card, you’ll save 5% off Disney Gift Cards! Disney Gift cards can be used to both pay off your cruise as well as onboard for things like the spa, adult dining, souvenirs and more!
#3 – Travel Off-Season This one more surprising to people than you’d think!If you can avoid major holidays (like Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas) and school breaks, you may notice a significant difference in price!
#4 – Look for last minute deals If your schedule is a bit flexible, look for IGT/OGT/VGT options! These are called guarantee rooms and are often at a deep discount. You will have to pay in full and they are non-refundable but typically the travel dates are close enough that guests are comfortable with that. You also won’t be assigned a stateroom until typically about a week prior to your sale date. You are guaranteed to get a room in the category you booked OR HIGHER!!
#5 – Use a Travel Planner A travel planner can guide you to the best dates and staterooms for your budget. Don’t spend hours checking a variety of websites, travel dates and staterooms when an expert will do it for you! AND if you book with Living With The Magic Vacations in the month of June, you will be eligible for a special on-board credit!
BONUS: If you are a Florida resident, military personnel or Canadian resident, ask about special discounts!
Check out these awesome deals! Plus don’t forget about our OnBoard Credit offers this month!!
Halloween on the High Seas! Oct 29 – Nov 3, 2022 Ship: Disney Dream $880.50 per person
Eastern Caribbean Cruise Oct 1-8, 2022 Ship: Disney Fantasy $1,167 per person
Western Caribbean Cruise January 19-23, 2023 Ship: Disney Magic $649per person
All rates based on double occupancy. Ask about rates for 4 or 5 in a cabin. Full payment is required at the time of booking for all Guests and is non-refundable. The stateroom offer cannot be combined with any other discounted or promotional offer.
