Disney Wonder
The second ship in Disney Cruise Line’s fleet, Disney Wonder was launched in 1999, a year after Disney Magic, and together they elevated the idea of what it meant to cruise with kids. For many passengers, the happiest surprise is that Disney really is, as they say, in the details. These ships are not floating theme parks but rather elegant throwbacks to the golden age of cruising. While the prices are higher than other family cruises, the service and food quality are higher, too.
Disney Wonder underwent a face-lift in 2016 that left it looking brand new. The Oceaneer kids club (for ages 3 to 12) was transformed, adding areas dedicated to Marvel Super Hero Academy, "Frozen," "Disney Junior," and "Toy Story" — in addition to craft rooms and other play areas. Each room has displays for interactive games, and the characters themselves visit on a regular basis. (Captain America, for example, teaches the kids about the heroic act of sticking up for others who need help.) The nursery also got a refresh, the tween club moved to an entirely new space, and a splash park for little ones (called Dory's Reef) was added.
In the Walt Disney Theater, a production of "Frozen" was added, complete with snow that floats down from the ceiling of the theater.
Dining-wise, the refresh installed Tiana's Place, an ode to New Orleans, with jazz, the gorgeous Disney princess herself, beaded necklaces for everyone, and menu items such as fish with jambalaya, a bananas Foster sundae, and beignets. Kids march around the room behind Tiana, dancing under parasols to the live band. A 2019 refurbishment added the adjacent French Quarter Lounge, which offers family-friendly live music and New Orleans-themed specialty drinks.
Grown-ups and teens also benefited from both updates. Disney Wonder’s adults-only area, known as After Hours, was redone in 2016 with the addition of Crown & Fin Pub, a British-style bar with TV screens that air key football games during the season. In 2019, both the Cove Café coffee bar and the Signals Bar got a new look, as did the Vibe teen hang-out space.