The Disney Believe reveal is finally here, and we have not stopped grinning since. Disney Cruise Line took over the Walt Disney Theatre aboard the Disney Wish this afternoon to show off its next ship, and between a bronze Moana in the Grand Hall, the world’s first Encanto stage show and a two-story suite tucked inside a funnel, we are already mentally packing. So we sat down and narrowed it to the 13 things we are most excited for.
Quick essentials first: the Disney Believe sets sail on its maiden voyage on Dec. 18, 2027, from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, with 4- and 5-night sailings to the Bahamas and the Caribbean that visit Disney Castaway Cay, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point or both. General bookings open Oct. 19, 2026. And if you read our Disney Believe scavenger hunt clue roundup this morning, you will see a lot of those hints just paid off. Opening Cruise Director Trent Hitchcock told the players every clue was intentional, and he was not kidding.
And how fun is it that Buzz Lightyear and Woody, crayons in hand, will be doodling around the gold Disney Believe lettering on the stern? We already know where our first ship photo is happening.
1. The World’s First Encanto Stage Show on the Disney Believe
This is the big one for us. The Disney Believe will debut the very first stage adaptation of Encanto, exclusively in its Walt Disney Theatre, following Mirabel on her quest to save her family and their magical home, with Lin-Manuel Miranda’s songs from the film. Susan Egan introduced a video message from Lin-Manuel Miranda, and performers sang a medley that included “Dos Oruguitas.”
Why we are so excited: Encanto has never had a home on a Disney ship, and Disney says the show draws on diverse Colombian cultures with vibrant costumes and traditional dance styles. And yes, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” and “Surface Pressure” are both in. We were rooting for Encanto after all those arepa and Madrigal trivia questions, so this one feels personal. Welcome to the Family Madrigal, indeed.
2. Dinner With Oaken and His Cousins
Oaken’s Table: A Frozen Family Feast is a brand-new Disney Believe family restaurant that tells an untold chapter of the Frozen story. Guests find Oaken and his cousins in a Scandinavian summerhaus courtyard tucked deep in a forest, with reimagined takes on Frozen songs during dinner and special appearances from Anna and Kristoff.
Why we are so excited: Oaken has always been a scene-stealer, and the scavenger hunt literally had players trading “ice” at Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post and Sauna. A Frozen family band at dinner? Hoo hoo! Big summer blowout, count us in.
3. A Moana Grand Hall With the Heart of Te Fiti Hidden Inside
The Disney Believe Grand Hall centers on a bronze statue of Moana with Pua and Heihei, surrounded by ocean-hued carpet in bioluminescent colors, a ceiling scattered with constellations and railings inspired by the designs on Moana’s skirt.
Why we are so excited: the chandelier. It is modeled after the movement of the ocean and hides the heart of Te Fiti inside, so you know we will be standing under it trying to spot it. Remember the Heart of Te Fiti trivia question and Pua the towel animal? Those were not random.
4. Skygazers, Where Time Stands Still
Skygazers is an observatory-themed Disney Believe pub filled with astronomical instruments, celestial maps and nods to the classic Disney characters who wished upon stars. It will pour craft brews and specialty cocktails, serve light bites and even show live sports.
Why we are so excited: the poster art has Disney characters drawn as constellations around an astrolabe, and we already want it framed. Plus, Jiminy Cricket made an appearance at the reveal, right after a scavenger hunt constellation spelled out his name. We love it when the clues connect.
5. The Wishing Well and Its Snow White Storybook
The Wishing Well takes you into the storybook world of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs with three spaces: a bar with a stained glass piece modeled after the castle windows, a courtyard seating area under a canopy of white blossoms and red apples, and a performance area with hand-carved wood framing that nods to the Seven Dwarfs’ cottage.
Why we are so excited: Snow White finally gets a big moment at sea, and that Evil Queen apple drink from the scavenger hunt makes so much sense now. Disney also teased that the Magic Mirror may turn up somewhere else on board, so the hunt is on.
6. Sea Notes, Ariel’s Iridescent Piano Lounge
Just off the Grand Hall, Sea Notes is an iridescent piano lounge inspired by Ariel’s grotto from The Little Mermaid, with a pearlescent piano at its center and both cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks. Performers sang “Under the Sea” during the reveal.
Why we are so excited: we called a mermaid moment after Ariel’s porthole puzzle and that seashell drink, and a pearlescent piano is even better than we imagined. Between Sea Notes, the Wishing Well and Skygazers, we see a very fun evening lounge crawl in our future.
7. Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde Cracking a Case at Gazelle
Gazelle is the Disney Believe’s Zootopia-inspired entertainment hub, with trivia, games and character encounters for families during the day, then adults-only entertainment, silent discos and variety acts at night.
Why we are so excited: for the first time on Disney Cruise Line, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde will star in a brand-new family show where guests use their detective skills to help the duo solve their latest case. Their surprise appearance during the scavenger hunt suddenly makes a lot more sense. Try everything, right?
8. The Believe Tower Suite
Exclusive to this ship, the Believe Tower Suite is nearly 2,000 square feet over two stories, sleeps eight, has two main bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms, and sits in the forward funnel with floor-to-ceiling windows over the top decks and the open horizon.
Why we are so excited: it is inspired by Magic Kingdom Park, with each room modeled after a different themed land, fireworks- and balloon-inspired light fixtures and an art piece of Cinderella Castle. A Magic Kingdom suite on a cruise ship is peak Disney Addict, and we will be over here dreaming about it.
9. The Royal Reef and Royal Rose Suites
The four royal suites come in two new themes. The Royal Reef Suites, inspired by The Little Mermaid, bring in oceanic teal and coral pink, scalloped shell edges, pearlescent and driftwood finishes and effervescent lighting. The Royal Rose Suites lean into Beauty and the Beast with a French palace feel and a rose motif throughout.
Why we are so excited: the details. One Royal Rose bedroom gets Belle’s gold and blue, while the other goes deep sapphire as a nod to the Beast. We honestly cannot pick a favorite.
10. Papercut Staterooms, Neverland Concierge and a Wonderland Lounge
Disney Believe staterooms get all-new papercut-style artwork inspired by Moana, Coco, Inside Out and The Lion King. In concierge, rooms are themed to Neverland from Peter Pan, or to Toy Story in seven special oceanview rooms above the bridge with floor-to-ceiling views. Concierge guests also get a Concierge Lounge themed to the surreal world of Alice in Wonderland and a private sun deck.
Why we are so excited: pixie dust and Captain Hook were both in the trivia, and Simba was in the “five dreamers” word search, so seeing Neverland rooms and The Lion King art made us cheer. Practical bonus: about 70 percent of staterooms will have a verandah, and there are more than 450 connecting doors for bigger families.
11. Our Disney Believe Snack Crawl
Inside Out: Joyful Sweets is coming back with Anxiety, Envy and the “Sense of Self” from Inside Out 2 joining Joy and Sadness, plus nearly 20 flavors of gelato and ice cream, daily handcrafted gelato specials and signature sweets.
Then there are two brand-new cafés. Café Kakamora is named after those piratical coconut creatures from Moana and draws inspiration from Motunui, while Big Hero Sips is a warm, inviting coffee shop inspired by San Fransokyo. Both serve coffee, tea and specialty drinks. Up top, the Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods adds a Believe-exclusive stall, Pluto’s Pita Platters, with a Mediterranean-inspired menu of kebabs and pitas plus an assortment of garnishes and dips.
Why we are so excited: Baymax and the Kakamora were both in the trivia, and now we get coffee with them. Envy at the sweet shop is also a little too relatable.
12. Tangled: The Musical With a Brand-New Look
Tangled: The Musical, the hit show from the Disney Magic, is coming aboard with a reimagined set design and special effects. Susan Egan, godparent of the Disney Destiny, sang “When Will My Life Begin?” during the reveal.
Why we are so excited: Rapunzel and Pascal kicked off a scavenger hunt morning in Fairytale Hall and the Healing Incantation showed up in the trivia, so we had a feeling. The reimagined sets and effects mean even fans who have seen it on the Disney Magic get something new.
13. Mike Wazowski Guarding the Kids Club
Disney’s Oceaneer Club gets a brand-new Monsters, Inc. entrance exclusive to the Disney Believe, complete with “Caution: 2319” tape and a figure of Mike Wazowski holding his laugh canister. Inside, kids ages 3 to 10 can explore Marvel Super Hero Academy, Fairytale Hall, Star Wars: Cargo Bay, the Walt Disney Imagineering Lab and Mickey and Minnie’s Captain’s Deck.
Why we are so excited: the dreaded 2319 was a trivia answer, and now it is caution tape. Little cruisers also get a Toy Story-themed water area with a splash zone, wading pool, family waterslide and smoothie bar.
Favorites We Are Happy to See Coming Back
Disney is also bringing back plenty of fan favorites from across the fleet:
- 1923, with more than 1,000 drawings, props and animation tools from the Walt Disney Archives
- Worlds of Marvel, serving up “Marvel Celebration of Heroes: Groot Remix” with Rocket and Groot
- Haunted Mansion Parlor, with a brand-new selection of ghoulish delights
- “Disney Seas the Adventure” in the Walt Disney Theatre
- AquaMouse, the 760-foot attraction at sea, with Mickey and Minnie on “Swiss Meltdown” and “Sing a Silly Song”
- Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party with a live rock band and fireworks at sea
- Hook’s Barbery (with its “hidden” bar), Quiet Cove, Senses Spa, Palo Steakhouse, Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement and The Rose for the grown-ups
Up front, Tinker Bell is on the bow, and performers celebrated Tink with “You Can Fly.” The Disney Believe will be the fourth Wish-class ship, joining the Disney Wish, Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny, as the fleet grows to 13 ships by late 2030.
When You Can Book the Disney Believe
General bookings open Oct. 19, 2026, and you can keep an eye on the Disney Believe page on the Disney Cruise Line website for more details. Our first stops are already planned: the Grand Hall to hunt for the heart of Te Fiti, then straight to Encanto. What are you most excited for on the Disney Believe? Tell us, we want to compare notes!
Let our friends at Get Away Today help you book your next Disney Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.
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