13 Things That Surprised Us About the Disney Adventure Cruise
The Disney Adventure is the newest cruise ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, and it’s genuinely exciting to have sailed on something brand new.
If you’re planning a sailing on the Disney Adventure, there are a few things that aren’t obvious before you board. From standout experiences to the small quirks that shape your time on board, these are the surprises that are actually worth knowing before you go.
See also: Our full review and first impressions of the Disney Adventure
The ship is massive (but managable)
Yes, this feels like a no-brainer given that it’s been widely touted as Disney’s biggest-ever cruise ship. On our first day, we felt overwhelmed physically and sensorially. (The giant step count attests to this). Yet there’s a logic to it all, very much akin to the parks. For instance, the Town Square — with its Snow White statue, Spellbound bar and Enchanted Summer Restaurant — is akin to Fantasyland. Once you work this out, and start to navigate the lifts and escalators (yes, escalators!), getting around is easier than you’d expect.
There’s no atrium entrance or welcome announcement
One of the things that makes you feel at home on a Disney cruise is stepping into the atrium and being welcomed by name over the speakers. In contrast, no grand atrium reveal and no welcome aboard announcement. In fact, due to the complex boarding of such a large ship, you don’t step into an atrium at all! Instead, you board next to a stairwell and lift lobby on Deck 7.
The food variety is next-level
There are certainly staples Disney cruisers love to return to, but you’ll want to branch out beyond ‘drawer’ burgers and tenders — because the food is that good. As vegetarians, we often get left with the ‘other’ options on many cruise ships. Here we have Mowgli’s Eatery (Indian), Gramma Tala’s Kitchen (Pacific and Asian), Cosmic Kebabs (Middle Eastern), Pizza Planet and Stitch’s Ohana Grill (which has an Impossible Burger). That’s before we even get into the rotational dining and paid options.
There’s no dedicated adults-only area
Whether you’re cruising with kids or just as adult fans of Disney, the Quiet Cove, After Hours, The District or The Rose offer some much-needed chill. The Disney Adventure does not have an adults-only area. It has recently started offering some adults-only events (e.g. trivia, karaoke) in D-Lounge or specific bars, but no adults-only space. We (and many others) have suggested the Infinity Bar in the aft as a perfect spot for this.
You can’t compare it to other ships: think of it as a theme park
We went in with the mindset of having been on the Disney Wonder, Royal Caribbean, Virgin Voyages and a P&O Cruise. It’s hard to compare the Disney Adventure to any of these. Approach it like a theme park: explore it land by land, prioritise your favourites and must-sees. Find time to take a break and have a sit. Once we switched off the comparison mode, we enjoyed it for what it was: something legitimate different for Disney.
San Fransokyo Street is some of the finest Imagineering we’ve seen
From the overlapping audio of ‘subway’ crowds to the cacophony of street signs and Easter eggs, you can see the Imagineering pride in this area of the ship. There’s included arcade games, the interactive Hiro Training Zone game, a bar, multiple cinemas and the Vibe and Edge clubs are cleverly ‘hidden’ as shops along the street.
Our pro-tip? Wake up early and head down to the interactive Hiro Training Zone: it’s like Tron meets a Holodeck, and it’s open 24/7.
Some rides are hard to get on
This one shouldn’t come as too much as a surprise for anybody who has been to a Disney park. Yet the flagship for the Disney Adventure is the Ironcycle Test Run, Disney’s first rollercoaster at sea. It relies on a booking system that opens around midday and if you aren’t on it immediately, it books out. In fact, we failed to get a booking even after getting through to the ‘select time’ screen on multiple occasions. We really hope that Disney finds a more equitable way to get sailors on this ride.
There are lots of characters just wandering around
The booking system for Ironcycle is also used for character meet-and-greets, and these also fill up quickly. To our surprise, we still managed to run into and have extended encounters with many characters throughout the cruise. Minnie, Donald and Pluto were seen out on deck and ready to play. We chatted with Ariel in a lift lobby for five minutes. Some of Duffy’s friends stepped out of an elevator to say hi.
Magic Bands aren’t compatible
After our first trip, we bought ourselves Magic Bands. Mostly because wearing lanyards feels too much like being back in the office. At the Marina Bay port, where we would normally expect them to get activated, the staff member had no idea what they were. It wasn’t until we stepped on board that a cast member told us that Magic Bands aren’t used on the Disney Adventure. It’s not a deal-breaker, but we were genuinely surprised Disney’s newest ships didn’t use the tech.
The muster drill is still in-person
Disney Cruise Line is one of the last to not switch to a digital safety check-in, or at least hybrid version. You stand (or, if you’re lucky, sit) in your muster station until every person has turned up, watch the safety demonstration and leave. What was surprising is that they’ve kept with this method on a ship this size, even though that means herding us cats into dozens of spaces — and getting us all out again without causing chaos. Bottlenecks abound.
The fireworks feel more premium than you might expect
New to the ship is the Lion King Celebration in the Sky show, narrated by Shah Rukh Khan. Still fireworks at heart, but the songs and theming gives it a bit more punch. For a real upgrade, book the Dazzle and Delight package (around SG$50): reserved viewing, bubbly, desserts, and a pin. It’s a quick, easy way to feel like you’ve wandered into Concierge.
There are plenty of shows, but no theme nights (yet)
Once again, the ship is the destination—and there’s no shortage of entertainment, from Seas the Adventure and Remember to Avengers Assemble, Moana: Call of the Seas, and more. What surprised us is what’s missing. On 3- and 4-night sailings, there’s currently no Pirate Night, Pixar Day at Sea, or Star Wars Day at Sea—and no sign (yet) of seasonal favourites like Halloween on the High Seas or Very Merrytime. That may change over time, but for now, the focus is firmly on onboard shows rather than themed cruise days.
There’s a kettle in the room
We cannot tell you how important this was to us. On other Disney Cruise ships, hot tea, coffee and sodas are usually available up on the pool deck. These are scattered throughout the ship as well. But the addition of a Bacha kettle — designed for both tea and coffee — alongside some premium TWG Teas in the room was bliss. We could have a leisurely cuppa first thing in the morning before wandering up to the Pixar Market Restaurant for breakfast, or retreat for a late-day cuppa when all the walking got too much.
Tips for your first Disney Adventure Cruise
- Phone/visit Guest Services on boarding day to book Dazzle and Delight fireworks experience.
- Bookings for Ironcycle Test Run open at 12:00PM daily (if running) and book out in minutes. If it says 'unavailable', the slots are gone.
- Deck 7 just outside of TWG Tea/Bacha Coffee is a great spot for surprise character visits.
- Places to sit in the shade are at a premium.
- Get up early to get almost unlimited runs on the San Fransokyo Street games.
Have you been on the Disney Adventure yet? Are you planning on going? We’d love to hear from you over at Instagram. Don’t forget to check out our review and first impressions of the Disney Adventure from its inaugural sailing season. We’ve already booked a second sailing, so be sure to check back here for more.
