By: Heather Evenson, a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent
What is there for kids on the Disney Wish? We should rephrase that as, “What ISN’T there for kids on the Disney Wish???” If you’re looking for a family friendly environment, with amazing options of activities, food, and areas dedicated for kids, you have found your ship! As a travel agent, I recently experienced a three-night cruise aboard The Disney Wish, and let me share with you some of my favorite options for kids of all ages!
Water Activities
Let’s start off by mentioning that there are SO many options for water activities both onboard and at Castaway Cay! In addition to many pools spread throughout the ship, there is an adorable splash zone themed to the Toy Story short, “Partysaurus Rex”. (It’s one of our favorites, and if you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to watch!) The area includes sprayers, a couple of smaller slides for the little ones, and also a larger double loop water slide as well. You’ll also find AquaMouse aboard this ship, which is an elevated attraction, and a mix of a tubed waterslide and rollercoaster. There are animated Mickey Mouse shorts that play throughout the ride and it is an absolute blast! Kids must be 42 inches to ride, and 48 inches to ride on their own. Don’t forget that the water activities continue once you’re off the ship and have arrived at Castaway Cay! There’s a splash pad for younger kids, several water slides with play structures, and you can also relax beachside, while the kids swim and play in the ocean/sand. There are also options to swim with sting rays, or snorkel to find amazing Disney themed hidden treasure below the surface! Overall, if you’re looking for water activities for the kids, this cruise checks that box!
Characters, Shows & Themed Events
I was blown away by the amount of characters that we saw while on our cruise! Below is the list of characters we spotted throughout our stay:
There were three theatre shows available to all guests during our trip, and we attended all of them. The first night was “Disney Seas the Adventure”, which is an adorable show in which Goofy takes over navigating the ship, and a montage of Disney favorites follows. It was such a great show and an amazing end to our first night aboard the Disney Wish. The second night was “Disney The Little Mermaid”, and our final night, we saw “Disney’s Aladdin, A Musical Spectacular”. Both shows gave a modern-day spin to the beloved classic stories, and were out of this world! They are literally Broadway level types of performances, and I HIGHLY recommend. Don’t forget to stop by the concessions stand on your way in to grab some popcorn (Disney Cruise Line exclusive popcorn buckets!) or treats to enjoy during the show!
We were lucky to experience Pirate Night during our cruise, which was so much fun! Characters like Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy all transform into pirates as well, with some of the most adorable costumes. You can bring your own attire, or there are even some options like pirate themed Mickey ears to purchase onboard. The best part of Pirate Night was attending the “Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party” deck party that night. You’ll definitely want to watch it in it’s entirety as there’s a special guest (spoiler: Captain Jack Sparrow) and the show ends with FIREWORKS!!! Watching fireworks over the water at night was such an amazing thing to experience!
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
It wouldn’t be Disney without the option for kids to get a full-blown makeover into one of their favorite Disney characters. There is a full service Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique onboard, that kids will LOVE! Options include being transformed into one of the Disney princesses, a Royal Knight, or even Captain Mickey or Minnie, which are exclusive options aboard the Disney Cruise Line. There is even a Pirate package available on Pirate Party Nights, which the kids will LOVE!
Dining and Treats
The dining is top notch when accommodating kids. Not only are there plenty of kid options like Mickey waffles, chicken nuggets, and quesadillas (just to name a few), but the restaurants will keep your kids entertained while enjoying an amazing meal as well! Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure is like stepping into the setting of the Frozen classics. Not only is it themed to feel as if you’re entering Arendelle and dining in the castle, but there are stage performances, and the characters then visit your table. Another out of this world dining experience that the kids will love, is Worlds of Marvel. This one was actually my favorite, as it almost feels more like an attraction than a dinner. This interactive experience will keep kids entertained throughout the meal, and even see a special guest after dessert.
No Disney vacation is complete without some Disney treats! There are endless options throughout the ship. You can get a Dole Whip at Wheezy’s Freezies, soft service ice cream cones, or even order a Mickey bar to your room via room service! My personal favorite sweet spot on the ship was Inside Out: Joyful Sweets. This is the cutest sweet shop I have ever seen! Themed to the movie, “Inside Out”, you can see Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, while choosing between gelato, chocolate “Memory Orbs”, cupcakes, cake pops, cookies, and MORE! Definitely check it out, as there’s nothing quite like it!
Kids Clubs & Hero Zone
Last, but certainly not least, let’s talk about Kids Clubs! I mean, this is the sole reason some decide to go on Disney Cruise, right?? (wink wink) There are literally options for all ages, ranging from 6 months, all the way to 17 years old. There’s a nursery themed to “it’s a small world” for ages 6 months to 3 years and Oceaneer Club for ages 3-12. In Oceaneer Club, you’ll find spaces themed to Marvel, Imagineering, Star Wars, and Fairy tales, just to name a few. Have some of the older kids that think they’re too old for the kids clubs? Don’t worry, there are options for them as well. Ages 11-14 can experience Edge, which is a New York City themed hangout, and ages 14-17 can hang out at the Vibe, where they can watch movies or play games. There are literally options for all ages, and kids will be begging to get back to the kids club!
I was BLOWN away when I walked into the Hero Zone! This is basically a kids club that families can enjoy together! There’s basketball, ping pong, air hockey, and shuffleboard just to name a few. BUT, the Incredi-Course is a takes it to the next level and is a MUST DO. It’s a giant bounce house type obstacle course that you can experience! Go at your own pace, or race someone else, and see how quickly you can make it through!
Overall, when you’re looking for experiences for the kids, The Wish has it all! If you’re interested in booking a Disney vacation with an experienced travel agent, please reach out!
