Disney Wonder

This is Mickey’s personal choice for traveling around the globe

The Disney Wonder is one of Mickey Mouse’s most unique ships, but perhaps for reasons different from what you might expect. It features Disney’s most diverse itineraries, taking guests from the warm, beautiful shores of Australia to whale-watching adventures in Alaska. It also showcases some of Disney’s best stage productions in Frozen: A Musical Spectacular and an amazing restaurant in Tiana’s Place, which offers excellent food and a really cool jazzy atmosphere.

While the Disney Wonder might feel a bit dated in some aspects (after all, it first launched back in 1999), it still exudes a timeless, classy charm and offers plenty of surprises that make it a favorite among guests.

What we like about the Disney Wonder

The main thing to love about the Disney Wonder is the huge amount of different itineraries it has to offer. While some of Disney’s newest ships like the Wish and the Treasure focus exclusively on the Bahamas and the Caribbean, the old timer Disney Wonder loves to take passengers to Alaska, Auckland, Sydney, San Diego and Hawaii.

This is by far the most unique Disney ship when it comes to fun and diverse itineraries. Each destination truly feels unique when you travel with Mickey Mouse. So, if you are traveling to Alaska, for example, expect Disney characters to appear dressed in their Winter clothes, like Minnie above in that very stylish fur coat. In fact, Alaska trips onboard the Disney Wonder often rank as passengers favorite ever cruises, with lots of people on forums like Cruise Critic and Reddit praising the service and the overall experience.

The Disney Wonder may be more than two decades old, but it still offers some fantastic stage shows for guests to enjoy. The three productions onboard are Frozen: A Musical Spectacular, Disney Dreams, and The Golden Mickeys. Frozen stands out as one of the best shows on Disney Cruise Line, blending impressive puppeteering, storytelling, and live performances of your favorite songs. Yes, Let it Go is included.

There are also three rotational dining restaurants included in your fare: Tiana’s Place, Animator’s Palate and Triton’s. Tiana’s Place is definitely the best one onboard, and sometimes even features live jazz music and Tiana strolling through the dining room, singing and waving to the crowd. The food here is also considered pretty good, and a step above the other two options.

What we don’t like about the Disney Wonder

There is one simple thing that counts against the Disney Wonder and, well, counts against every single one of us: time. The Disney Wonder is over two decades old, having debuted back in 1999 as the second-ever Disney Cruise Line ship. Some design elements feel a bit dated. For instance, the bars are primarily concentrated in a single area of the ship. This older design is also noticeable in certain restaurants, such as Animator’s Palate, which lacks the Turtle Talk with Crush experience featured on newer ships like the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.

You also won’t find any groundbreaking bars or standout entertainment options like the AquaMouse water coaster aboard the Disney Wish. While the service on the Disney Wonder remains exceptional and its Kid’s Club is among the best on Disney Cruise Line, don’t expect features like a Star Wars-themed bar or massive waterslides and pools.

That said, I do recommend the Disney Wonder. Like all Disney ships, it’s not the most budget-friendly option, but it’s sure to create great memories that will last a lifetime. The Disney Wonder is an excellent choice if you’re planning to visit Alaska and equally fantastic if you’re in Australia and looking for a unique cruise experience with Mickey Mouse.