Ariel and the Genie to the Rescue!
This review was written by one of our amazing travel advisors, Christine Cummins! You can check out her travel advisor page by following this link. She's also active on social media - take a look at her Instagram right here!
When compared to other cruise lines, Disney Cruise Line is often lauded as “the best in the biz” at their Live Entertainment. As a professional theatre kid, I clearly needed to investigate this claim. You know, for science. To do so, I recently went on my FIRST EVER cruise on the Disney Wish, and let me tell you I can definitely see what all the hype is about.
On this 4 night itinerary, there was a different show each night at the Walt Disney Theatre (except on Pirate Night) with performances starting at 6:00p and 8:30p. Every show was introduced by the amazing cruise director, which I thought was a fun touch. A few hot tips/ things to keep in mind regarding the shows:
- You are allowed to bring any outside drinks you may have purchased into the theatre with you (I highly recommend getting a beer at the Keg and Compass and bringing it in with you)
- You are NOT allowed to save seats for other people in your party who haven’t arrived yet
- I DEFINITELY recommend trying to get there at least 10 minutes before to get a good seat. They fill up much faster than you would think
But enough yammering on, let’s dive into my ranking of the three theatre shows featured onboard the Disney Wish!
The Bronze Medal
Disney Seas the Adventure
Read the Full Review Here!
Disney Seas the Adventure kicked off Night 1 on our cruise itinerary and acted as a “Welcome show” of sorts. With a run time of 30 minutes and many mentions of “Beginning your journey” and “all of the memories that lie ahead” it was clear they understood that you were 1) excited to start your vacation and 2) had spent a long time getting onboard and settled on the ship and didn't need to sit through a full hour long show.
In this musical, we follow Goofy on a zany adventure across the seas where we meet different characters from all over the Disney Sphere. While a fun and entertaining 30 minutes, it wasn’t anything mind blowing compared to the other shows on board. The technical elements were a bit lacking and I wasn’t as big of a fan of the way they integrated all of the characters. Even though it was the first show of the cruise, it was the last show in my heart.
So who is this show for? Kids mostly! It's short to fit their attention span and a light hearted journey through all of the songs they know and love.
The Silver Medal
Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular
Read the Full Review Here!
Middle of the road is the best way I can describe Aladdin- A Musical Spectacular. While it was the last show on the itinerary, I can’t quite say that they saved the best for last.
Unlike The Little Mermaid, the plot changes they made to the original story were not quite as welcome (No Abu??? Are you kidding me??). This whole production really just felt like “The Genie Show” with most of the scenes centered around showcasing the Actor playing the Genie’s comedy and improv skills. Which don’t get me wrong, they were hilarious and super entertaining. However, any scene or musical number where the Genie wasn’t present felt lackluster and truthfully like an afterthought.
It was an entertaining and technically spectacular production, as the big numbers had OVER THE TOP costumes and set pieces. Plus, seeing the mechanism for the flying carpet was incredibly cool. However, the plot and show itself left me wanting a little bit more.
But you know who’s going to love it anyway?? KIDS AND TEENS as most of Genie’s jokes fell into what I’m going to call “topical meme humor”.
The Gold Medal
The Little Mermaid
Read the Full Review Here!
The first place prize for best show on the Disney Wish goes to… The Little Mermaid! Running on the second night of our itinerary, this was a welcome improvement from Disney Seas the Adventure. It was a longer show and clearly a lot more thought went into its production development.
It features some updates to the story that I highly enjoyed and had some truly spectacular set pieces that added a grandiose energy to the story. Of course, all of the songs were a blast and a half to watch with the many puppets and ensemble members filling the stage. Not to mention, an incredible rigging system for Ursula’s growth at the end.
Honestly, I think this show can be enjoyed by anyone! Kids will love seeing Ariel on stage, adults will be thoroughly entertained by the production, and theatre nerds will be having the time of their lives.
Conclusion
The shows are an amazing part of the Disney Cruise experience. However, if you don’t want to see a show EVERY night of your trip, I hope this little guide helps you pick the ones that you want to prioritize seeing!
Ever wanted to work with us? Send us a message on vacationlab.io/join and let's talk! Best of all, clicking the link is completely free - no dues or fees from us, ever!
