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 Wonder has a slew of entertaining options for those on board.
What makes the entertainment on Disney’s Wonder 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 Pixar, to Pirates of the Caribbean, to the Fab Five, the Wonder 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, Wonder’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.
Pixar Pals Party
The Pixar Pals Party is exclusive to Disney Wonder cruises to Alaska and features beloved Pixar films. This party is in place of Pirate Night and is a “magical musical celebration” that takes place in the grand atrium, where characters show off their best dance moves, like the Super Hero Shuffle.
You can also meet the Pixar characters following their performance, including:
- Toy Story‘s Woody and Jessie
- Ratatouille‘s Remy and Emile
- Inside Out‘s Joy from Inside Out
- Up‘s Russell and Dug from Up
- The Incredibles‘ Mr. Incredible and Mrs. Incredible
- Monsters, Inc.‘s Boo and Sully
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 Entertainment on Disney’s Wonder
You can also watch Broadway-caliber shows on Disney’s Wonder in the Walt Disney Theatre (Deck 4, Forward).
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 Wonder:
Frozen, A Musical Spectacular
The show is based on the first Frozen and tells Anna’s and Elsa’s full-length story. You’ll see a variety of musical numbers, elaborate costumes, and stunning special effects with help from talented individuals, including many who have won Tony Awards.
As for the music, you’ll hear:
- “For the First Time in Forever”
- “Let It Go”
- “Love Is an Open Door”
- “In Summer”
- “Fixer Upper”
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.
The Golden Mickeys
Mickey and friends give this tribute to Disney movies by putting a twist on a Hollywood-style awards show that teaches others that we are all winners. There’s even a red carpet pre-show for guests to walk.
Songs from Tarzan, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mulan, The Lion King, Tangled, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, and more will be performed.
Movies & Theaters
There are two theaters on board the Wonder 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.
Azure
Found on Deck 3, Azure offers family-friendly activities during the day and turns into an adult-exclusive club at night.
During the day, families can enjoy activities. But, at night, adults can grab drinks for an additional fee at the bar (there are even signature drinks offered) and hop on the dance floor. There are also sparkling alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees, and dessert wines offered.
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.
Holiday Cruises
There are multiple holiday-themed Wonder cruises and events celebrating Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. They include:
- Halloween on the High Seas
- Thanksgiving at Sea
- Very Merrytime Cruises
- New Year’s Eve
Stay tuned for guides on each of these special holiday events.