Travel + Leisure went behind the scenes with Walt Disney Imagineers to learn more about the spaces and experiences on board the Disney Wish.
When the Disney Wish sails its maiden voyage this summer, it will give new meaning to Disney Cruise Line’s long-standing tradition of creating magical vacations at sea. Disney has already shared quite a few exciting details about the magic that awaits on board, and Travel + Leisure recently got a behind-the-scenes look from the Walt Disney Imagineers who are making this “wish” come true. Here’s what we learned about the Disney Wish.
Disney began telling enchanting animated stories nearly 100 years ago. And since Disneyland’s grand opening in 1955, they’ve been challenging themselves to find new and creative ways to take those classic stories from the big screen and bring them to life.
For the Disney Wish, Walt Disney Imagineers are doing just that in never-before-seen ways, while also keeping the ship’s theme of enchantment front of mind. “Enchantment is about unlocking the wonder in everything we do and experience,” Laura Cabo, portfolio creative executive at Walt Disney Imagineering, said in a press release.
This theme of enchantment means classic Disney stories like “Cinderella” and “Beauty and the Beast” – as well as newer additions to the Disney portfolio from Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars – will be told on a more sophisticated level.
This extends from the Marvel and Frozen-themed dining experiences that blend upscale yet approachable menus with interactive storytelling, to the elegant, understated concierge staterooms and suites themed to “Moana,” “Sleeping Beauty,” and, “Tangled,” and the magical moments you’ll experience during the cruise that will make you feel like a character in your favorite Disney stories.
Speaking of becoming a part of the story, Disney revealed an immersive, interactive game called Disney Uncharted Adventure that will set you on a quest through the Disney universe, meeting beloved characters along the way.
Disney Uncharted Adventure utilizes the Play Disney Parks app (make sure you download it before your trip!) to turn your mobile device into a magical spyglass that you’ll use at various locations around the ship to complete a series of missions.
Unlike many mobile games, you won’t be looking at your phone the whole time you play. “While guests will need a mobile device to play, this isn’t a traditional mobile gaming experience,” said Davey Feder, software product manager at Walt Disney Imagineering. “This is a heads-up, active experience that can be played with family and friends. The magic will happen all around the ship. The spyglass is not where the adventure takes place — it’s just the tool that brings the ship to life, opening portals into new worlds and allowing guests to interact with them.”
As you visit each stop, you’ll quickly discover the Disney Wish holds a hidden layer of magic that can bring the ship to life. Using your spyglass as a controller, digital menu boards and showtime displays transform into multidimensional digital games. Even pieces of art and chandeliers come to life with the magic your spyglass holds.
Without spoiling the whole story, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to assist Captains Mickey and Minnie in finding pieces of the wishing star, which has been shattered and scattered across the sky by one of those slimy Disney villains. Each mission will take you to familiar Disney worlds like New Orleans from “The Princess and the Frog,” Montunui from “Moana,” and Neverland from “Peter Pan.”
You can choose to complete all of the missions or just a few, and you can start and stop your quest anytime (like when that afternoon ice cream craving hits). Whether or not you find every piece of the wishing star, the entire ship will be invited to attend a live grand finale event with a climactic battle that (fingers crossed) ends with the wishing star being restored to its rightful place in the night sky, thus ensuring a “happily ever after” for the Disney universe.
Source: Travel + Leisure
