Disney entertainment, even on the Disney Cruise Line, is magical. From character meet and greets, to parties on deck, to live shows, to nightclubs, the Disney Magic has a slew of entertaining options for those on board.
What makes the entertainment on the Disney Magic even better is that most of it is included in the price of your cruise.
Let’s take a look at all of the ways you can stay entertained during your cruise.
In this article
Character Meet & Greets
You can meet a variety of characters once you’re on board. Character locations and times can vary so we recommended that you check your Personal Navigator (a summary of your activities delivered daily to your stateroom) or the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app for the current lineup.
There is also a digital board in the Lobby Atrium with information.
Characters are subject to change, but these are the ones you are most likely to see:
- Mickey Mouse
- Minnie Mouse
- Donald Duck
- Daisy Duck
- Chip ‘n Dale
- Goofy
- Pluto
- Cinderella
- Jake
- Doc McStuffins
- Sofia the First
- Queen Elsa (reservation required)
- Princess Anna (reservation required)
Here are the locations where characters gather:
- Lobby Atrium
- Gangway
- Disney’s Oceaneer Lab
- Disney’s Oceaneer Club
- Deck 4, Midship
- Deck 4, Balcony
- Goofy’s Pool Stage
Some of these are only photos locations, meaning autographs aren’t allowed due to time constraints.
There are opportunities to have professional vacation photographers take your photo with the characters, but you’ll need to purchase a photo package beforehand.
Goodbye Party With Characters
The night before guests disembark, they can say goodbye to characters with the ‘Til We Meet Again Party held in the Atrium Lobby.
Frozen Meet and Greet
You can meet Anna and Elsa, but you’ll need tickets to do so. You can make reservations online at My Cruise Activities within your advance booking window or you can visit Guest Services when on board.
Princess Gathering
Princess appearances vary based on schedule and ship, but they could include Belle, Aurora, Rapunzel, Tiana, Ariel, Cinderella, and Snow White.
When meeting Disney Princesses, you’ll need a reservation. You can book a time slot at My Cruise Activities within your advance booking window or you can visit Guest Services when on board.
Character Reservations
Guests can attend every ticketed character event, including the Princess Gathering and the Frozen Meet and Greet once per cruise.
Once your cruise is paid in full, you can make reservations online within your advance booking window, which is determined by your Castaway Club membership level:
- First-Time Guests: 75 days prior to sail date
- Silver Castaway Club Member: 90 days prior to sail date
- Gold Castaway Club Member: 105 days prior to sail date
- Concierge Guests and Platinum Castaway Club Member: 120 days prior to sail date
Deck Parties
Ain’t no party like a Disney Cruise Line deck party. There are several deck parties that take place on select sailings. From Frozen, to Pirates of the Caribbean, to the Fab Five, the Magic has some exciting deck events that will make your time even more enjoyable.
Frozen Deck Party
It’s important to note that the Frozen Deck Party only occurs on select 7-night sailings, so that’s something to keep in mind when booking.
For an entire day, Magic’s atrium will be transformed into a winter wonderland with beloved Frozen characters and activities. Here are the activities to expect throughout the day:
- Meet Anna, Elsa, and Olaf
- “Anna’s Chocolate Chase” scavenger hunt and receive a special surprise when finished
- Create snow and ice like Elsa during a fun activity
- Learn Oaken’s Maypole Swirl and Twirl, a traditional Scandinavian folk dance, spinning ribbons into a spectacle of colors
You can even partake in a Dinner and a Deck Party on the upper decks. A show, “Freezing the Night Away With Anna, Elsa and Friends,” will follow the Nordic-inspired meal.
Pirate Night
On select itineraries, you can channel your inner pirate during Pirate Night. The evening includes:
- A pirate-themed dinner in one of the Main Dining restaurants. Each guests will get a party bandana, dine on dishes like Jolly Rogers Barbecue Rib Salad or Pirates Gold-en Pot Stickers.
- A “Pirates in the Caribbean” show on the pool deck, along with dancing with Disney Characters and interactive games. There are also fireworks during the show, weather permitting, of course.
- There’s even a fun family game show in the afternoon.
Mickey’s Sail-A-Wave Party!… A Bon Voyage Celebration
Mickey’s Sail-A-Wave Party! takes place on Deck 9 and features Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, and Donald. Along with the Fab Five, you can celebrate the first day of your cruise as you get ready to depart.
Two hosts and a DJ also join the party, where they encourage guests to dance and leave their worries behind. The Cruise Director also hosts a countdown to the horn blast as the ship pulls away from port.
Live Shows & Entertainment on Disney’s Magic
You can also watch Broadway-caliber shows on Magic in the Walt Disney Theatre on Deck 4.
There are two live productions each evening, taking dining schedules into consideration. For example, if you’re going to the first seating for dinner, then you should go to the second performance.
Here are the three shows available on Magic:
Tangled — The Musical
You can see the light and with Tangled — The Musical. The beloved characters and storyline comes to life in this Broadway-like production.
In addition to the film’s popular songs, there are three brand-new tracks courtesy of the Oscar-winning Alan Menken and Grammy winner Glen Slater (they also created the Tangled soundtrack). The new songs are titled “Flower of Gold,” “Wanted Man,” and “When the Princes Returns.”
Disney Dreams — An Enchanted Classic
A little girl named Anna Marie tells this story about the power of dreams and her journey to believe in herself with help from Disney characters, including Mickey, Minnie, The Blue Fairy, Peter Pan, and Tinker Bell.
You can also expect the following films to be showcased: Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Cinderella, and Aladdin.
Twice Charmed — An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story
This musical stage production tells the story of Cinderella, but there’s a twist. The show picks up where the film ended and shows what if Cinderella didn’t get her happy ending after never even having the chance to slip on the glass slipper. There’s even a wicked Fairy Godfather Franco DiFortunato.
Twice Charmed features eight songs, including six original and two favorites, “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” and “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes.”
Movies & Theaters
There are two theaters on board the Magic for guests to enjoy live stage shows and movies.
Buena Vista Theatre
On Deck 5, you can watch movies in the Buena Vista Theatre, including Blockbusters, Disney classics, and 3D movies. There are showtimes throughout the day to accommodate everyone’s schedules.
Walt Disney Theatre
In addition to live musicals, you can also watch movies at the Walt Disney Theatre. Check out 3D films and even Disney movie premieres. Regarding the latter, this allows guests to attend a film’s nationwide opening at the same time it debuts onshore.
Nightclubs & Lounges
There are several nightclubs and lounges on board that offer a variety of activities during the day (some even for families) and others that are strictly adult-exclusive, specifically at nighttime.
Beverage Tastings
Beverage tastings are adult-exclusive and offer samplings of select beverages. The informative seminars vary based on the ship and itinerary.
You should check the daily onboard activities for times and location. Additional fees also apply. You can make reservations online through the Planning Center or any time during your cruise.
Tastings include: Amari, whiskey, beer, bourbon, champagne, chocolate and liquor, cognac, martini, mojito and caipirinha, rum, stem-to-stern wine, and tequila and margarita.
D Lounge
D Lounge can be found on Deck 4 and is available for everyone, including kids. Singing, dancing, games, trivia, karaoke, and live entertainment are all featured.
Even at night D Lounge transforms into a family-friendly nightclub. There’s also a full bar with both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Fathoms
On Deck 3, you can find Fathoms. Strictly for adults, they can sing karaoke, drink cocktails, dance, enter a game show, enjoy a comedy show, or watch live music. There’s a full bar with signature beverages, along with specialty coffees, that you can enjoy for an additional price.
Promenade Lounge
Also on Deck 3, you can find Promenade Lounge, which is for both adults and families.
There’s a full-service bar (adult drinks cost extra), appetizers, recreation, live entertainment, TVs, Margaritas & Daiquiris Nights, and a toddler play area. You can even enjoy complimentary small bites and snacks in the afternoon and evenings.
During the day, families can partake in:
- Playhouse Disney Dance Party: A singing spectacular featuring popular Playhouse Disney songs
- Pop Decades Dance: Cast Members take play music from the years
- Pirate Scavenger Maps: If you plan on visiting Castaway Cay, you can get your pirate map for a scavenger hunt in the lounge
- Wildcats Bingo: You can play bingo and win cash prizes, along with special giveaways
- Pirate Trivia Quest: Guests of all ages can play trivia and win prizes
The lounge also has a Connect@Sea desk, where guests can use the internet. There are a variety of internet data packages that range in price. You don’t pay by the minute, but just pay for the data you use. There’s also a family plan, where everyone can share a single package and multiple devices can use the same package at the same time.
Themed & Holiday Cruises
There are multiple holiday-inspired and themed-Magic cruises, including:
- Marvel Day at Sea
- Halloween on the High Seas
- Thanksgiving at Sea
- Very Merrytime Cruises
- New Year’s Eve
Stay tuned for guides on each of these special events.