Disney Cruise Line revealed the upper deck fun in the sun and water areas planned for the launch of the Disney Wish during the Once Upon a Disney Wish grand reveal prevention. Disney Cruise Line will take fun in the sun to the next level on the Disney Wish with the debut of AquaMouse, a brand-new family water attraction that will bring to life the adventures of “The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse” animated shorts like never before. Additionally, three uniquely themed districts will offer fun water features, quick and casual dining options, and dedicated space for families, children and adults to relax and soak up the sun.
“Disney Cruise Line has pioneered many industry firsts through the years, including the first onboard water coaster and the first and only fireworks at sea,” said Danny Handke, senior creative director, Walt Disney Imagineering. “For the Disney Wish, we wanted to continue that tradition of innovation in a big way. With AquaMouse, we’re combining theme park thrills, iconic Disney animation and the magic of ocean cruising to create a one-of-a-kind water attraction unlike anything we’ve done before.”
AquaMouse – The First Disney Attraction at Sea
Families will be immersed in “The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse” animated shorts aboard AquaMouse, the first-ever Disney attraction at sea. Complete with show scenes, lighting and special effects, and splashtacular surprises, this first-of-its-kind water ride will send guests on a fun family adventure through 760 feet of winding tubes suspended high above the upper decks.
As the story goes, Mickey and Minnie are starting their very own seaside excursion company — aptly named “Port Misadventures” — on board the Disney Wish, and adventuresome cruisers will join them on an undersea excursion to Mermaid Lagoon that will inevitably (and hilariously) go awry.
The journey will begin when guests board their two-seater ride vehicles and ascend into a magical tunnel that will teleport them into the cartoon world of “Scuba Scramble,” a new animated short that plays out through oversized virtual portholes. Along the way, they’ll encounter curious sea creatures, familiar Disney friends and more than 60 water effects that bring the subaquatic hijinks to life – all perfectly synched to an original musical score by Emmy-nominated composer Christopher Willis (“The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse”).
At the height of the show, guests will blast out of the tunnel and embark on a wild water ride around the upper decks. First, they’ll zip into the forward funnel through an enclosed tube surrounded by dazzling lighting effects, followed by a quick dash through a dark tunnel that opens up to reveal breathtaking views of the ocean.
They’ll then jet up and down a series of speed blasters as they are propelled toward the grand finale: a soaring loop over the edge of the ship, with clear views down to the deep blue sea. With that, they’ll splash down for a sendoff message from Mickey and Minnie – another successful tour in the books!
Fun in the Sun for the Whole Family
In addition to AquaMouse, families will have more pools, more deck space and more dining than ever before in an expansive pool district themed to Mickey and friends.
Located on decks 11 and 12 midship, this area will include six pools of various sizes and depths, spaciously staggered among tiered decks and surrounded by lounge chairs to provide families with space to stretch out and soak up the sunshine. Throughout the day, guests will enjoy a variety of poolside entertainment on Funnel Vision, a jumbo LED display that screens Disney movies, TV shows, live sporting events and more. For guests seeking a laid-back environment, another family pool will be available on deck 14 forward.
The Disney Wish will feature brand-new food and beverage offerings on the upper decks, including relaxed indoor dining and a fresh take on quick and casual fare with a festive character twist. More details on these experiences will be released at a later date.
A Whimsical Water Wonderland for Kids
Little ones will go to “swim”-finity and beyond in a new Toy Story-themed waterplay district designed especially for families with toddlers and young children.
Children will have a tub-full of fun in the Toy Story Splash Zone, a fantastical water playground where Woody, Buzz and friends will be adorably reimagined as larger-than-life rubber bath toys that move and spray water at kids’ whim. Inspired by the Disney and Pixar short “Partysaurus Rex,” this bathtub-themed splash zone will combine the Old West of Woody’s Roundup with the intergalactic world of Buzz Lightyear, featuring two toddler-sized slides and pop jets, geysers and bubblers galore.
To complete the splish-splashing antics, everyone in the family will enjoy a trip down Slide-a-saurus Rex – a double-looping waterslide that sends guests plunging “down the drain” with the rest of the toys when the metaphorical bathtub overflows.
Other features of this playful pool district will include Trixie’s Falls — a six-inch-deep wading pool with a small fountain and waterfall — and Wheezy’s Freezies, a smoothie bar serving up refreshing fruit blends for the perfect cool-down treat.
Sun-Drenched Serenity for Adults
At Quiet Cove, guests ages 18 and older will find a secluded adults-only district dedicated to lounging, sipping and soaking. Set away from the bustle of family activities, this relaxing refuge at the back of the ship will offer breathtaking panoramic views of the ocean from a luxurious infinity pool.
While kids are hanging out with Disney characters in the coolest kids’ clubs at sea, parents will be able to enjoy some much-needed “me time” with an escape to Quiet Cove. Here, they’ll take a dip in the pool, unwind in a whirlpool spa, relax in a chaise lounge and indulge in a cool beverage from Cove Bar – an open-air watering hole offering beer, wine and cocktails.
A Disney Cruise Line guest favorite, Cove Cafe is a chic poolside lounge that will offer gourmet coffees, teas, specialty drinks and treats throughout the day. For the Disney Wish, the sophisticated yet casual spot will get a fresh new look that reflects the Oceania-inspired artistry of Disney’s “Moana.”
The Quiet Cove pool and hot tubs are one of our favorite places to hang out on the Fantasy. Very disappointed in the new much smaller, much less versatile and shadeless design. Since the Dream class the adult pool keeps getting smaller.
Liking the new location for QC. Aft, with a view over the wake. Moving it back to the very stern will make the CM’s job easier as it will no longer be a thru-route to the forward stairs/elevators.
I love the view from the quiet cove pool but it feels like a sunburn just looking at it 🙁
Looks classy, but more like a theme park at sea instead of what they “imagined” for their stated cruise ideology.
I like the new location of the adult area… and the corresponding move of Senses Spa and the Gym to Deck 5 – which will probably make using the equipment in the Gym a bit more “stable”
Hope the ship is better than the video. Hard to believe that Disney could produce something so boring.
Aqua Mouse–if I wanted that kind of ride experience, I would visit one of the parks. If they are trying to compete with a new and up coming generation, they lose out to Royal Caribbean and even Carnival. So many other comments I could make—for instance who wants to be at QC melting in the sun and breathing in the diesel (excuse me, LNG) and the ashes that fall in the back of the ship—without a cabin steward to clean them up which they have to do each day if you have one of those infamous (aft) extended verandahs. Not to mention that the QC pools keep getting smaller and smaller. Guess they are trying to capture the middle generation; forgetting that parents take their children on DCL to see them play and be happy meeting their favorite Disney character. Many times it is the parents of the parents (read grand-parents) who are paying the fare and still have a nostalgic idea of what the name Disney represents. If they go too far from that basic formula, people will find other cruises for a lot less money. Perhaps they have forgotten what Walt said—never forget it all began with a mouse.
I love it! I think it is beautiful. I really like more pools and having them separate. I think the kids clubs, and restaurants look amazing too and the rooms are absolutely stunning. The idea of a water ride really appeals to me. I wasn’t a huge fan of the water slides on the other ships (admittedly, never went on them..just watched the kids & hubby do it). But I would absolutely go on this one. As parents to 4 kids, we have never been to the QC as we tend to spend all our time as a family but I understand why some are unhappy about that area. The adult only bars and restaurants though seem like a ton of fun. Star Wars themed bar….sign me up. Maybe many grandparents pay for trips, but we don’t have that experience personally, so I cannot comment on what grandparents would like to see, however, as a parent, I love it and cannot wait to have a sailing on the Wish. The slide down to the kids club is such a fun idea too. When my kids were younger they would have loved that. We have many happy memories of the other ships. We go to Disney parks for the characters and excitement and rides. Although characters are a part of our memories on board the ships the best part for us on the ships is relaxing as a family with the Disney magic. I don’t think that we need to always have the same basic formula. There are other ships to choose from in the Disney Line for that. I absolutely feel this ship is a nice complement to the relaxing side of cruising and my princess obsessed daughter was in awe over the room designs. Overall, I give it a huge thumbs up but I might be alone in my thinking.
PS: I have to say that 1923 really gave me Carthay Circle vibes! (Which is my favorite restaurant at Disneyland. It’s a little Brown Derby-ish too. Love it!)
LNG is the cleanest-burning fuel available. LNG produces 20% less carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions than diesel and the combustion does not emit soot, dust or fumes…so there will be no ashes on the extended cabins. All the cabins look beautiful, the Hyper Space Lounge looks Great (especially if the drinks are like Oga’s Cantina in DHS!), and the new restaurants look like fun – I especially can’t wait to eat in the ‘1923’ restaurant. I think kids of all ages will love riding the Aqua Mouse – a ‘real’ Disney Ride on a Cruise. Sounds like you’ll be on RCCL or Carnival while we’re exploring The Wish!
Thanks for the well wishes DD. I hope you have a great time on the Wish! One of the best things about DCL is our fellow passengers:)