AquaMouse Review

A good ride that suffers from a veeeery slow start

Available on: Disney Wish, Disney Treasure

Aqua = water.

Mouse = …a rat? A rodent?

So there you have it, friends. We have a ride that’s all about getting soaked next to a mouse! And not just any mouse, by the way! We’re talking about the big Mouse himself, Mr. Mickey Mouse, who has come to the Disney Wish in style and brought the AquaMouse with him. The AquaMouse is essentially a waterslide featuring lots of visuals and special effects, reminiscent of a traditional ride you might find at Magic Kingdom. It’s similar to the AquaDuck (that exists on the Disney Dream and Fantasy), although it ends up being shorter at around 3 minutes.

AquaMouse looks pretty cool. It tries some new things, but I don’t think it gets everything right. For almost two full minutes, you slowly move through the waterslide, watching a little story before the actual slide begins. The rest of the ride takes you through an indoor dark tunnel, then a short outdoor section with a view of the top deck and the ocean, and then it ends. It almost feels like two rides into one, with one being a small pre-show featuring Mickey & friends and then a second part that is a very brief and standard waterslide.

What we like about AquaMouse

The best thing about AquaMouse is its charm. I love how it uses digital screens along the sides and inside the tube to tell a story. The visuals feature Mickey, Minnie, and friends in the same style as Hollywood Studios’ Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, which looks awesome. The characters are expressive, and kids are captivated by the cartoon as the excitement builds before the main drop.

Another cool feature is that the storyline changes and is chosen randomly between two different cartoons. This means that you might get a new cartoon and scenes if you ride AquaMouse twice, which is definitely welcome.

Okay, one final great thing about this ride: you don’t need to climb a huge set of stairs to reach it! The long initial tunnel section actually serves as the ascent to the drop. This is especially cool for those with limited mobility.

What we don’t like about AquaMouse

Well, the positive aspects of AquaMouse seem to end there. My main issue with the ride is that it spends too much time as a long tunnel with cartoons playing. For about 70% of the ride, you slowly move through the tunnel, with screens on both sides and a few cartoons trying to set up a story.

You know what would be cool? I’d probably enjoy it more if the cartoons were part of the queue, like in a theme park attraction at Walt Disney World. Sure, space on a cruise ship is limited, but it would be great if the cartoons were shorter or if the time spent in that long starting section were reduced. It’s also disappointing that the visual effects are confined to the first section; there are no more screens during the slide after the main drop. I understand that adding screens there might be problematic or dangerous, but I wish there was something more unique to enhance the experience.

The actual waterslide portions are also very brief. You have a short indoor, dark section, followed by a quick outdoor segment through a transparent tunnel where you can see the ocean. However, it all ends pretty fast. I wish it lasted longer and that the story continued with screens and special effects while you’re going down the slides.

AquaMouse also has long wait times. It’s common to wait 30-40 minutes for your turn if you arrive in the afternoon. A good tip is to visit early in the day or right after embarkation. Additionally, AquaMouse occasionally breaks down and may be out of service for a few hours for maintenance, which can be a letdown.

So, who wins between AquaDuck and AquaMouse? I’d give the edge to AquaDuck. It’s longer, has more outdoor sections, and is overall a more exciting ride. However, if you're onboard the Disney Wish, be sure to visit AquaMouse at least once.

AquaMouse FAQ

Will Kids enjoy AquaMouse?

Sure! Kids will love it, especially those around 5-8 years old. The charming cartoons are likely to capture their attention as they ride up the conveyor belt inside their rafts. The drop is gentle and doesn’t go very fast, which is great for many families and young children. Teenagers, however, might find it a bit dull, especially during the slow initial section, and they might feel that the ride lacks excitement.

Is there a height requirement for AquaMouse?

Yes. Riders need to be at least 42 inches tall to ride AquaMouse with an adult. Solo riders must be at least 7 years old and 54 inches or taller.

Is AquaMouse free to ride?

Yes, AquaMouse is free and included in your cruise fare.

Does AquaMouse get too crowded?

Yes, AquaMouse can get crowded, especially on sea days. Your best bet to avoid long lines is to ride it just after embarkation, as well as early in the morning or late in the afternoon.