Entertainment takes center stage at Disney Wish

Disney is preparing to introduce its new cruise ship to the masses.

The Disney Wish, the fifth ship in the company’s fleet, is scheduled to make her maiden voyage from Port Canaveral, Florida, on July 14.

At 1,119 feet long, the Wish is a bit larger than previous Disney ships, and the company is using the new, larger ship to do something a little different.

Family-friendly Disney Cruise Line trappings—themed dinners, characters, live shows, and unlimited sundaes—can be found aboard Wish. But at the center is entertainment.

Nearly every aspect of what’s offered on the ship is based on that concept, according to Disney Imagineers tasked with populating the Wish with things to keep passengers entertained.

The first glimpse of how much focus has been put on entertainment occurs the moment passengers arrive on the ship.

In the atrium, here called the Grand Hall, there is a stage where different experiences can take place. An experience called First Wish involves real characters and actors called fairy tale players who greet passengers as they arrive.

“As soon as you step on board, you’re immersed in a story,” said Denise Case, creative director of entertainment for Disney Cruise Line.

There is also a game show called “Who’s Behind That Curtain” that takes place in the space.

“We treat this space like an environmental theater, in the sense that we bring it to life in many different ways with different levels of engagement,” Case said.

Many places on the ship have been given some sort of “entertainment” element. The Bayou, a lounge inspired by Disney’s animated film, “The Princess and the Frog,” serves cocktails, specialty coffees and specialty fritters. But it also features a stage area that can host a variety of activities throughout the day, including a meet and greet with Tiana.

A new space exclusive to Wish is Luna, where families can gather for game shows like the new Villains Game Night, trivia, and musical acts. The two-story venue has a stage with a video wall and a bar in the back. At night, it will also feature entertainment for adults only.

The element of entertainment can also be found in the design of the ship. The ship’s deck has several tiered pools, but the area has also been redesigned to host shows like the sailing party, “Sail with a Wish” and the pirate deck party, which now has a rock and roll twist with a band live playing through the fireworks.

Even the restaurants offered on Wish have more entertainment. Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure features a stage in the center of the restaurant. Passengers will not only enjoy a menu of Nordic-inspired dishes, but will also be part of a story that unfolds around them as guests at Queen Anna and Kristoff’s engagement party.

Passengers will also be part of a story in the Worlds of Marvel restaurant, featuring the interactive dining experience, Avengers: Quantum Encounter.

“Entertainment is in the DNA of Disney, and it’s absolutely something that has to be around every corner,” said Ed Whitlow, director of talent and artistic casting for Disney Cruise Line. “It’s great to see places with some stage element.”