By Priscilla Nowitzky, a Marvelous Mouse Travels travel agent
Pirate Night is one of those Disney Wish experiences you'll definitely want to know about before you sail!
As a travel agent, I love getting the opportunity to experience the vacations I help plan firsthand, and on my recent 3-night Disney Wish sailing, that included Pirate Night! There was a lot packed into the evening, from pirate activities and characters dressed for the occasion to two completely different deck parties and fireworks at sea. I even ended the night with a pirate-themed movie under the stars.
Here's what to expect and a few things I wish I'd known before my own Pirate Night!
Pirate Night is Disney Cruise Line's pirate-themed celebration offered on select sailings, bringing a little swashbuckling fun to the Disney Wish!
Throughout the day and evening, you'll find pirate-themed activities, entertainment and characters around the ship. Guests get in on the fun too, whether that's wearing a simple bandana or going all out with a full pirate costume.
The exact activities and times can vary by sailing, so check the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app once onboard for your schedule.
On a 3-night Wish sailing, like the one I sailed, you'll experience each of the ship's three rotational dining restaurants once, so there isn't a separate Pirate Night dinner menu.
On a 4-night Wish sailing, you have an additional night onboard, which allows for a special Pirate Night menu in your rotational dining restaurant.
You don't have to make a separate dinner reservation either way. You'll simply follow your assigned rotational dining schedule.
So if you're booked on a 3-night Wish sailing and can't find that Pirate Night dinner you've read about online, you're not missing anything! This is also one of those little differences a travel agent can help with before you sail.
Keep an eye on the Navigator app throughout the day because the deck parties aren't the only Pirate Night fun.
Depending on your sailing, you may find pirate-themed games, trivia, activities and character appearances around the ship. It's also a great opportunity for pictures with Disney characters dressed in their pirate gear!
I recommend looking through the schedule earlier in the day and favoriting anything you really want to do. Captain Jack Sparrow was only meeting earlier in the evening on my sailing and didn't come back out later in the night. So if he's a priority for you, make sure you catch him early!
There is SO much happening on the Wish that it's easy to miss something if you don't know it's there.
Whatever you want!
Dressing up is completely optional. You'll see guests who don't dress up at all, others who keep it simple with a bandana or pirate hat, and some who go all out with full pirate costumes.
Here's a fun little Disney touch I loved: when I returned to my stateroom the afternoon of Pirate Night, my stateroom attendant had left pirate bandanas!
So if you forget yours, you may have one waiting for you in your stateroom. I'd still bring your own if dressing up is important to you since things can vary by sailing.
If you want to pack something without taking up much room, an eyepatch, striped shirt, pirate hat or matching family shirts are all easy options.
And wear comfortable shoes! You'll be doing plenty of walking, standing and possibly dancing before the night is over.
One thing I didn't realize before sailing was that the Disney Wish has two separate Pirate Night deck parties, and they're completely different experiences.
If you can fit both into your evening, I would!
Mickey & Minnie's Pirates in the Caribbean is the more family-focused party, featuring Mickey, Minnie and their friends dressed in their pirate outfits.
There's music, dancing and plenty of Disney fun. It's especially great for families with younger kids, but you definitely don't need little ones to enjoy it — adults can have just as much fun seeing Mickey and friends take on Pirate Night!
Later in the evening, Pirate's Rockin' Parlay Party brings a completely different energy to the upper deck.
This is a live pirate rock-and-roll show with music, dancing and a pirate crew taking over the stage. You'll also want to keep an eye out for Captain Jack Sparrow!
This party leads into one of the biggest highlights of the night...
Yes, Disney Cruise Line does fireworks at sea, and seeing them from the upper deck of the Wish is pretty amazing.
You're surrounded by the ocean, it's dark, and then fireworks start lighting up the sky over the water. There is no other experience like it! If you want a good view of Pirate's Rockin' Parlay Party and the fireworks, make sure to head upstairs a little early.
As with any outdoor entertainment at sea, weather and sailing conditions can affect the schedule.
The fireworks weren't the end of Pirate Night on my sailing!
After the party and fireworks, I stayed on the pool deck for a pirate-themed movie under the stars on Funnel Vision.
I loved this part. After all the energy of the deck party and fireworks, I could stay outside and wind down with a movie on the giant screen.
Before heading back to your stateroom, take one more look at the Navigator app to see what's happening next.
My biggest tip is to check the Navigator app early. Your sailing's schedule can vary, so favorite anything you don't want to miss.
I'd also try to see both deck parties since they're separate shows and offer completely different experiences.
Don't feel like you need to pack an elaborate pirate costume. You can keep it as simple as you want and still join in on the fun.
For Pirate's Rockin' Parlay Party, give yourself a little extra time to find a spot, especially if having a good view of the stage and fireworks is important to your family.
I'd also plan for a later night if you want to experience the parties, fireworks and movie. And take the pictures! Pirate Night gives you plenty of opportunities for some really fun cruise photos.
Yes! Pirate Night entertainment, including the deck parties and fireworks, is included with your Disney cruise. You don't need to purchase a separate event ticket to experience it.
And for me, it was absolutely worth making time for!
You can participate as much or as little as you want, there's very little you need to plan ahead, and it's a great example of the entertainment that's already built into your Disney Cruise Line vacation.
Ending the evening with fireworks over the ocean followed by a pirate movie under the stars was a pretty great way to finish the night!
There are so many little details that go into planning a Disney cruise, and Pirate Night is a perfect example. Knowing what to expect, what your specific sailing includes and even which activities are worth making time for can make your vacation that much easier.
Working with a travel agent can help take some of the guesswork out of planning. From choosing the right ship, itinerary and stateroom to understanding rotational dining and what to expect once you're onboard, having someone to help with those details can make a big difference.
As a travel agent who has actually sailed on the Disney Wish, I can also share firsthand experiences and tips that you may not find just by looking at dates and prices online.
Ready to experience Pirate Night for yourself? A Marvelous Mouse Travels agent can help you find the right Disney Cruise Line vacation for your family and help with all the details along the way.
Marvelous Mouse Travels would love to help you start planning!
