Our First Disney Cruise on the Disney Wish: A Magical Family Adventure

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to take your first Disney Cruise, I can tell you that our first experience on the Disney Wish was one we will never forget.

This was our family’s first Disney Cruise, and I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. We were traveling with our 5-year-old daughter, who is absolutely obsessed with princesses, Frozen, and Bluey, and our 12-year-old son, who is on the autism spectrum and can sometimes become overwhelmed by loud noises, large crowds, and a lot of stimulation.

Because of that, I wasn’t sure how he would do on a cruise ship with so many people, activities, music, and things happening all around us. I wanted him to have an amazing vacation, but I also knew we might need to make adjustments along the way.

That ended up being an important part of our experience.

I was excited, nervous, and probably overthinking everything before we even got on the ship. But once we stepped onboard, that Disney magic started immediately.

Day One

Getting to Port: The Adventure Begins

Before the cruise, one thing I definitely recommend is getting your luggage tags ready. When you pull up to the port, the porters can take your checked luggage right from your car.

Just make sure you keep the important things with you.

We kept our passports and IDs, cruise documents, medications, valuables, and anything we might need right away in our carry-on bags.

Then came security and check-in. I expected the process to feel similar to going through airport security, but honestly, it felt much easier than TSA. Once we got through everything, we were ready to board.

And then we saw it.

The Disney Wish.

Seeing the ship for the first time was one of those moments where you realize, Okay, this is actually happening.

Fish Extenders, Pixie Dusting and Decorating Our Door

One of the fun things I learned about Disney Cruises before we went was the whole Fish Extender and Pixie Dusting tradition.

If you’ve never heard of it, a Fish Extender is essentially a hanging organizer that goes outside your stateroom door. Families can participate in organized gift exchanges with other cruisers.

Pixie Dusting is similar in that guests can surprise other families with small gifts or Disney-themed goodies.

Neither is an official Disney Cruise Line program, so if you’re interested, you generally find groups online or through cruise communities before your sailing.

We also decorated our cabin door, which made finding our room much easier and added another fun personal touch to the trip.

The Kids Clubs Were a Huge Hit

One of the things I really wanted to see was what the kids’ clubs were like.

My daughter absolutely loved them.

She went several times during the cruise, and I have to admit, it was nice knowing she was somewhere safe and having fun while Mom and Dad could enjoy some time together.

If you’re traveling with kids, don’t be afraid to use the kids’ clubs. They are there for a reason, and your children may have just as much fun there as they do with you.

The Muster Drill

Of course, there are a few things you have to take care of before the fun can really begin.

The muster drill is mandatory and is where you learn what to do in an emergency and where your family’s assembly station is located.

It doesn’t take very long, but make sure everyone in your party knows where they need to go.

Then it was time for something much more exciting.

The Sail Away Celebration

The Sail Away Celebration was when it really hit us: we were on a Disney Cruise.

There was music, dancing, Disney characters, and so much excitement happening around us.

My daughter loved it.

My son, because he is on the autism spectrum, became overwhelmed by the noise and the crowd.

This was one of the moments when the Cast Members really helped us.

When they saw that he was becoming overwhelmed, they allowed him to go into an accessible area where other guests with disabilities were gathered. It was still part of the celebration, but it was a little less crowded and gave him some space from the biggest part of the crowd.

That small adjustment made a big difference.

As a mom, I really appreciated that the Cast Members understood he didn’t necessarily need to leave the celebration completely. He just needed a space that was a little less overwhelming.

If you’re cruising with a child with special needs, I would definitely keep this in mind: don’t be afraid to ask the Cast Members for help.

They were very understanding and helped us find an option that worked for our son while still allowing him to be part of the experience.

Once he was comfortable, we were able to enjoy the celebration, and it really made the cruise feel official.

Night One: Worlds of Marvel

Our first dinner was at Worlds of Marvel, and it was so much more than just dinner.

The experience included Avengers: Quantum Encounter, an interactive Avengers adventure featuring Ant-Man and the Wasp.

The audience actually gets involved in the mission, and Spider-Man makes an appearance as well.

The kids loved it, and honestly, so did the adults.

It was a fun way to begin our first night onboard.

Getting to Know Our Dining Team

Disney Cruise Line uses rotational dining, which means you rotate through different restaurants while your dining team follows you.

This ended up being one of my favorite parts of the cruise.

By the second night, our servers already remembered what we liked to drink.

Our servers were from Indonesia and Colombia, and they were incredibly kind and wonderful with our family. One of them even entertained us with magic tricks and puzzles.

Another thing I didn’t realize before cruising was that you can order more than one appetizer, entrée, or dessert. If you want to try something else, you can.

One night I had the grilled grain-fed sirloin steak, while my husband started with the potato soup.

The kids got their desserts first. My daughter had a Mickey Ice Cream Bar, and my son had a cupcake.

Meanwhile, Mom and Dad were sitting there wondering, “What about us?”

Eventually our desserts arrived, and all was right in the world.

Day Two

Day Two was a big day for my daughter because we had several special Disney experiences planned.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

One of the experiences I was most excited about for my daughter was the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

She got to choose her princess dress, and of course, she picked Cinderella.

She changed into her dress and then sat in the styling chair while they worked their magic. She got her hairstyle, makeup, and all the finishing touches.

She also received some fun goodies, including a bag and princess accessories.

Watching her look in the mirror afterward was absolutely priceless.

For a little girl who loves princesses, this was one of those memories I know she will remember for a long time.

Royal Gathering

Another big moment for my daughter was the Royal Gathering.

She got to meet several princesses, including Cinderella, Tiana, Moana, and Belle.

If your child loves princesses, this is something you’ll want to plan ahead for because these experiences can fill up.

My daughter was in princess heaven.

And Then Came Bluey

Because apparently princesses weren’t enough, we also had to find Bluey.

My daughter was so excited.

Character appearances can vary, so make sure you keep an eye on the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app for schedules. Having the app was extremely helpful because we didn’t want to accidentally miss something she had been waiting all day to see.

Food Everywhere

Let’s talk about food.

Because if you’re worried about going hungry on a Disney Cruise, you really don’t need to be.

We had Marceline Market, which is a buffet-style restaurant with plenty of choices. There are also handwashing stations, which I really appreciated, especially when traveling with kids.

Then there’s the Festival of Foods near the pool, with options such as Daisy’s Pizza Pies, Donald’s Cantina, Goofy’s Grill, Mickey’s Smokestack Barbecue, and Sweet Minnie’s Ice Cream.

There is food everywhere, and yes, we took advantage of it.

Olaf’s Royal Picnic

This was another special experience for my daughter.

We did Olaf’s Royal Picnic, and here’s something I didn’t realize at first: Olaf’s Royal Picnic is held inside Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure.

So you’re actually inside the Frozen-themed Arendelle restaurant for the experience.

This is an extra-cost experience, but for a Frozen-loving child, it was absolutely worth it for us.

My daughter got to meet Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf.

There was food, entertainment, and fun Frozen-themed keepsakes.

She was a little shy at first, but you could tell she was completely thrilled to be there.

We also received fun goodies, including a bag, picnic blanket, a troll doll, and a coloring book. The exact items can vary, so don’t be surprised if the package changes.

For a child who loves Frozen, this was definitely one of the highlights of the cruise.

Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure

We also had dinner at Arendelle.

I’ll be honest: I wasn’t sure how much I was going to like the Nordic-inspired menu.

But I ended up really enjoying it.

I had the Arendelle Kjottkake, which is braised meatballs.

My husband had the Garlic & Thyme Roasted Beef Rib-Eye.

My daughter had pasta, and my son went with chicken nuggets and fries.

That’s another thing I love about Disney. The kids don’t have to eat something adventurous just because the adults are. There are plenty of options.

For dessert, I had a fruit-based dessert, while my husband and daughter had Mickey Ice Cream Bars.

The Little Mermaid

We also saw The Little Mermaid show.

If your kids love Ariel, they’re going to enjoy this one.

It has the classic story, music, dancing, costumes, sets, and special effects.

My daughter loved watching it, and it was another one of those moments when I was happy we were doing a Disney Cruise. There was always something happening.

Castaway Cay

Then came one of the biggest highlights of the cruise: Castaway Cay.

We started with breakfast at Marceline Market before heading off the ship.

Once again, the handwashing stations were everywhere, which was nice before everyone headed out for the day.

Before leaving the ship, make sure you have whatever identification Disney requires for your family.

Once we got onto the island, there was some walking and transportation involved, but it was easy enough to get around.

And the water was beautiful.

It was clear and comfortable, and we could even see fish swimming nearby.

There were activities for the kids, places to play, and plenty of opportunities to simply relax.

There is also Serenity Bay, the adults-only area for guests 18 and older.

We didn’t eat at Cookie’s BBQ, but it is one of the food options available on Castaway Cay.

I did have a virgin piña colada. It was an additional purchase, but it made for a refreshing treat during the day.

Eventually, it was time to head back to the ship.

You go through security again, and you’ll need your identification to get back onboard.

Dinner at 1923

Back on the ship, we had dinner at 1923, and this restaurant was beautiful.

The atmosphere is inspired by the golden age of animation and the history of Walt Disney Animation Studios.

There was artwork and décor throughout the restaurant, giving it a completely different feeling from the other dining experiences.

I had the roasted Roma tomato soup and seared Verlasso salmon.

My husband had the filet mignon.

We finished dinner with ice cream sundaes.

Aladdin

Another show we watched was Aladdin.

This was probably one of my favorite shows onboard.

The cast was fantastic, and the Genie was definitely a favorite.

The music, costumes, comedy, and energy made it feel like we were watching a Broadway-style production right on the ship.

My kids enjoyed it, and I found myself completely caught up in it too.

And Then It Was Time to Go Home

Sadly, all good things come to an end.

For disembarkation, we chose Self-Assist Disembarkation.

That means you keep your luggage with you rather than putting it outside your room the night before.

For us, this worked really well.

We were up around 6:00 a.m., and on our sailing we were able to start getting off around 7:15 a.m. once the ship was cleared.

We rolled our luggage off ourselves, and once we got downstairs, a porter helped us get everything to the car.

And just like that, our first Disney Cruise was over.

Final Thoughts

Our first Disney Wish cruise was such a special experience for our family.

My daughter got to meet princesses, Bluey, Olaf, Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff. She got her Cinderella makeover, spent time in the kids’ club, enjoyed the shows, and basically lived her best Disney life.

My son, who is on the autism spectrum, had moments when the noise and crowds became overwhelming. Having Cast Members recognize that he needed a little more space and help him use the accessible area with other guests with disabilities made a huge difference.

And Mom and Dad?

We got to enjoy great food, watch amazing shows, explore the ship, relax, and make memories with our kids.

That is what I loved most about the Disney Wish.

It didn’t feel like we had to choose between having a great vacation and making sure our kids were comfortable. There were options, and when we needed to make adjustments, we were able to.

A Few Things I Would Recommend

Keep passports and IDs, medications, valuables, and important documents in your carry-on.

Get your luggage tags ready before you arrive at the port.

Don’t be afraid to use the kids’ clubs.

Download and use the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.

Plan ahead for specialty experiences such as Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and character gatherings.

If your child becomes overwhelmed, talk to a Cast Member and let them know what your child needs. They were wonderful about helping our son find a less crowded accessible area where he could still be part of the Sail Away experience.

Take advantage of the food. You can order multiple courses and try different things.

If you’re interested in Fish Extenders or Pixie Dusting, look into the cruise groups ahead of time.

If you’re going to Castaway Cay, remember the identification you’ll need to get off and back onto the ship.

If you want to get off the ship quickly at the end, consider Self-Assist Disembarkation if you’re comfortable handling your own luggage.

And most importantly, don’t feel like you have to do everything.

There is so much happening on a Disney Cruise that it’s impossible to experience every single thing.

Pick the things that matter most to your family, slow down when you need to, and enjoy the moments.

Because at the end of the cruise, it’s not the perfect schedule you’re going to remember.

It’s your daughter’s face when she sees Cinderella.

It’s your son being able to enjoy the Sail Away celebration in a space that worked better for him.

It’s watching your kids experience something completely new.

And it’s looking around at your family and realizing:

We just made a Disney memory we’re going to talk about for years.