Disney Cruise Line has revealed what passengers can expect aboard its newest ship, Disney Believe, including the first-ever stage adaptation of Encanto, a new Frozen restaurant, and several venues inspired by classic Disney movies.
The details were announced on October 7, 2026, during a special livestream ahead of the ship’s debut in December 2027. The new vessel will be the fourth Wish-class ship, following Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, and Disney Destiny.
While it will share several familiar features with its sister ships, Disney has confirmed a number of experiences exclusive to Disney Believe.
Here’s what’s coming onboard.
Disney Believe Will Feature the First Encanto Stage Musical
One of the biggest announcements is the debut of Disney Encanto, the first stage adaptation of the popular animated movie. The show will be performed exclusively aboard Disney Believe in the Walt Disney Theatre, following Mirabel as she tries to save her family and their magical home.
The production will draw heavily from Colombian culture, incorporating traditional dance, detailed costumes, and elaborate scenery. Fans can also expect familiar songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, including “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” and “Surface Pressure.”
But Encanto won’t be the only Broadway-style production onboard.
Disney is bringing back Tangled: The Musical, previously performed aboard Disney Magic. This version will feature redesigned scenery and special effects created for the new ship.
Disney Seas the Adventure, which brings together characters and music from several Disney and Pixar films, will complete the theater lineup.
Elsewhere, passengers will find Gazelle, a new two-level entertainment venue inspired by Zootopia. Located across Decks 4 and 5, the venue will host family activities during the day, including trivia, games, and interactive character encounters.
At night, Gazelle will become an adults-only space, with silent discos, variety acts, and other entertainment.
Disney is also introducing a new Zootopia family show starring Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. Guests will be invited to help the pair investigate a mystery and solve their latest case. It will be the first time the two characters have starred in their own show aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship.
Other returning entertainment will include Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party, featuring a live rock band and Disney’s fireworks at sea.
Passengers will also have access to Hero Zone, an indoor sports arena offering games and family competitions, along with Disney Uncharted Adventure, an interactive experience where guests use their mobile devices to complete challenges around the ship.
For something quieter, the Wonderland and Never Land Cinemas will show Disney films, including new releases.
A New Frozen Dining Experience Is Coming Aboard
Disney is also introducing an original restaurant called Oaken’s Table: A Frozen Family Feast. Rather than recreating a scene from the movies, the restaurant will tell a new story featuring Oaken, the friendly shopkeeper from Frozen, and his family.
Guests will dine in a Scandinavian-style summerhouse courtyard surrounded by a forest setting. Anna and Kristoff will make appearances during the meal, while Oaken’s cousins perform new arrangements of songs from the Frozen soundtracks.
The restaurant will be part of Disney’s rotational dining system, which allows passengers to experience different themed restaurants throughout their cruise.
Two restaurants already familiar to Wish-class passengers will return. 1923 will celebrate Disney’s animation history with more than 1,000 pieces from the Walt Disney Archives, while Worlds of Marvel will feature Marvel Celebration of Heroes: Groot Remix, starring Rocket and Groot.
There are several smaller food and drink additions, too.
Big Hero Sips will be a café inspired by Big Hero 6, while Café Kakamora will take its design from Moana. Both will serve coffee, tea, and specialty beverages.
The upper decks will also feature Pluto’s Pita Platters, a new casual dining outlet serving Mediterranean-inspired dishes, including kebabs and pitas.
And for anyone with a sweet tooth, Inside Out: Joyful Sweets will include characters from Inside Out 2, along with nearly 20 flavors of gelato and ice cream. Guests will also find daily handcrafted gelato specials and a selection of signature sweets.
Unlike the ship’s included dining options, treats from Inside Out: Joyful Sweets will be available for an additional charge.
New Lounges Take Inspiration From Disney Classics
Disney isn’t leaving adults out of the new ship’s design. Several lounges will make their debut aboard Disney Believe, with themes drawn from movies including The Little Mermaid and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Sea Notes will be a piano lounge inspired by Ariel’s grotto, featuring a pearlescent piano designed to look like one of the treasures in her collection. Guests will be able to listen to live music while enjoying cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks.
Wishing Well, meanwhile, will take its inspiration from Snow White. The lounge will resemble a castle courtyard, with white blossoms, red apples, stained-glass details, and furnishings influenced by Snow White’s famous dress.
It will offer live entertainment and activities throughout each sailing.
Another new venue, Skygazers, will be designed as an astronomer’s observatory, complete with bookshelves, star charts, and astronomical instruments. Unlike the other lounges, Skygazers will also show live sports, alongside a menu of craft beers, cocktails, and light bites.
Disney is bringing back the Haunted Mansion Parlor from its other ships, although Disney Believe will have its own exclusive cocktail and mocktail menu.
Returning adults-only options will include Palo Steakhouse, Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement, and Quiet Cove, which features an infinity pool and whirlpools.
Moana, Monsters, Inc. and a Two-Story Suite
The ship’s main gathering space, the Grand Hall, will take its inspiration from Moana. A statue of Moana, accompanied by Pua and Heihei, will sit at the center of the room.
The surrounding design will reflect the ocean, including a carpet with glowing sea-inspired colors and a chandelier designed to resemble moving water.
Disney says the ship’s overall theme is “promise and possibility,” with stories about characters who believe in themselves, their families, and their dreams. That theme will also appear on the outside of the ship, with Tinker Bell featured on the bow and large sculptures of Woody and Buzz Lightyear on the stern.
Families traveling with children will find another new feature at Disney’s Oceaneer Club. The kids’ club will have a Monsters, Inc.-themed entrance, complete with the movie’s “Caution: 2319” warning and a figure of Mike Wazowski holding his laugh canister.
Children will still be able to enter the club using a slide, as they can on other Wish-class ships.
Inside Disney’s Oceaneer Club, children ages 3 to 10 will find five themed areas, including Marvel Super Hero Academy, Star Wars: Cargo Bay, and the Walt Disney Imagineering Lab.
There will also be an It’s a Small World Nursery for children ages six months to three years old, while older kids can spend time at Edge for ages 11 to 13 and Vibe for ages 14 to 17. The Hideaway will provide another space for older children, featuring a dance floor and DJ booth.
Other returning family features include seven swimming pools across the upper decks and the 760-foot AquaMouse water attraction. AquaMouse will feature two animated adventures starring Mickey and Minnie Mouse: Swiss Meltdown and Sing a Silly Song.
Younger children will also have a Toy Story-themed water area, complete with a splash zone, wading pool, family waterslide, and smoothie bar.
Disney has also revealed more about the ship’s accommodations. Around 70% of staterooms will have private verandahs, while more than 450 connecting doors will make it easier for families and larger groups to book adjoining cabins.
Concierge guests will have access to an Alice in Wonderland-themed lounge and a private sun deck. Meanwhile, the ship’s royal suites will draw inspiration from The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast.
Seven special oceanview concierge rooms will also feature Toy Story artwork and floor-to-ceiling windows.
But perhaps the most unusual accommodation will be the Believe Tower Suite.
Located inside the ship’s forward funnel, the two-story suite will measure nearly 2,000 square feet and sleep up to eight guests. It will feature two main bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms, and large windows overlooking the upper decks and ocean.
Unlike the Tower Suites on other Wish-class ships, this one will take its inspiration from Magic Kingdom, with rooms themed around different areas of the park and artwork featuring Cinderella Castle.
Suggested read: Disney Cruise Line Reveals Disney Believe Designs and a Completely New Class of Ships
Construction Is Already Underway
While Disney has only just revealed many of the ship’s onboard experiences, construction of Disney Believe is already well underway at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.
The ship reached an important milestone on September 29, 2026, with its keel-laying ceremony, a longstanding maritime tradition marking a major stage in construction.
As part of the ceremony, a specially designed coin featuring Tinker Bell was placed beneath the keel for good luck. The character will also appear on the ship’s bow when it enters service.
The first large section of the ship, known as a gigablock, was floated out of the shipyard’s building dock in September, while work on the second section is now underway.
Disney has also confirmed that Trent Hitchcock will serve as Disney Believe‘s opening cruise director.
Hitchcock has worked with Disney Cruise Line for nearly 20 years and has spent around a decade as a cruise director. He previously served on the opening team for Disney Destiny.
He will oversee the ship’s entertainment, recreation, and youth activities when passengers begin boarding in 2027.
When Disney Believe Will Sail and How to Book
Disney Believe is scheduled to depart on its maiden voyage on December 18, 2027, from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The ship will operate four- and five-night cruises to the Caribbean and The Bahamas, with itineraries visiting one or both of Disney’s private destinations: Disney Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
General bookings will open on October 19, 2026, but returning Disney Cruise Line passengers may be able to secure their cabins earlier.
Pearl Castaway Club members will get first access on October 12, followed by Platinum members on October 13, Gold members on October 14, and Silver members on October 15. Eligible Disney Vacation Club members and Adventures by Disney Adventure Insiders will also have early booking access.
Booking windows open at 8 a.m. Eastern Time.
With the entertainment, restaurants, and sailing plans now confirmed, passengers have a much clearer idea of what Disney’s next ship will offer. Disney Cruise Line currently operates eight ships, with Disney Believe set to become its ninth in 2027 as the company works toward expanding its fleet to 13 ships by late 2030.
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