The Disney Destiny is the newest jewel in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, and she delivers an experience unlike any other ship at sea. With design elements rooted in the epic themes of heroes and villains, the Destiny leans into rich storytelling, dramatic theming and a sense of adventure woven into every corner of the vessel.
I had the tremendous privilege of being onboard the very first sailing – the Christening Cruise – and experiencing the ship in her debut moments. Experiencing every space firsthand allows me to guide my clients with true insight and expertise, sharing honest recommendations, insider details and thoughtful planning designed to make your family’s time onboard just as magical as mine.
The Disney Destiny sails Bahamian and Caribbean itineraries year round from Fort Lauderdale in her inaugural season, making it easier than ever to set sail on an unforgettable adventure.
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Family Places and Fun Spaces
Today concludes my five-part series on the Disney Destiny, and I wanted to wrap things up with a peek into the incredible spaces where families will laugh, play and make memories that will last a lifetime. Disney Cruise Line has been my extended family’s very favorite vacation experience – truly nothing compares. We started cruising with a six-month-old in tow, navigated many years with busy school-aged boys, and most recently sailed with a young adult. Through every season, Disney has remained pure joy. There is always something for everyone, and we keep coming back time and time again!
The Disney Destiny continues that legacy beautifully with thoughtfully designed spaces for every age and interest. From jaw-dropping interactive kids’ clubs to teen hideouts, family-friendly activities and quiet spots to unwind together, this ship was built with families in mind. Whether you’re chasing adventure with little ones, savoring time with teens or planning multigenerational travel, the Destiny brings families together in the most magical ways.
Let’s Set Sail Deck Party
The Disney Destiny kicks off each voyage with an electrifying deck party that sets the tone for the hero-vs-villain storytelling woven throughout the ship. Just when the energy reaches its peak, Electro appears to stir up some trouble… until Spider-Man swings in from high above the funnel to save the day, sending the crowd into cheers. With the conflict resolved, our cruise storytellers step in to help us “find our destiny,” and then beloved Disney friends join the celebration – Mickey, Minnie and the whole gang, plus Mirabel and Bruno, Tiana, Moana, Rapunzel and Flynn Rider.
It’s a magical introduction to your vacation as confetti fills the air and the ship’s horn bellows the iconic opening line of When You Wish Upon a Star. Captain Minnie welcomes everyone aboard, the music soars, and the deck transforms into a full-on party. And as the celebration comes to an end, you know the fun is just beginning… the adventure is officially underway.
Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party
One night on each Destiny cruise is set aside for all things pirates! Don your most swashbuckling garb for the festivities! Hosted by Captain Redd, Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party features live music, stunts, special effects and a big surprise appearance. The entire event wraps up with fireworks at sea!
Pool Decks
The Disney Destiny makes a big splash with an expansive pool district designed for families to spread out, cool off and soak up the sunshine with sweeping views of the sea. Located on Decks 11 and 12 midship, the pool area offers more space than ever before, with multiple pools of varying sizes and depths thoughtfully tiered across several levels. The result is a relaxed, open layout where everyone can find the perfect spot – whether that’s toes in the water, stretched out on a lounger or perched on the edge watching the action.
The Destiny’s pool deck features playful theming aligned with the ship’s heroes-and-villains storytelling, with colorful touches and nods to favorite characters woven throughout. Quick and casual dining options are plentiful, making it easy to grab lunch or snacks without missing a minute of pool time. It’s also a prime place to enjoy live entertainment or catch Disney movies and games on the giant FunnelVision screen towering overhead.
Whether you’re cooling off between adventures, refueling between rides or settling in for a movie under the sun, the pool deck is the heartbeat of daytime fun on the Disney Destiny – and a space your family will return to again and again throughout your voyage.
Children have a tub-full of fun in the Toy Story Splash Zone, a water playground where Woody, Buzz and friends are adorably reimagined as larger-than-life rubber bath toys that move and spray water at kids’ whim. This bathtub-themed splash zone features two toddler-sized slides and pop jets, geysers and bubblers galore.
The AquaMouse
On this sailing, you’ll find yourself immersed on Aquamouse’s new Villains Mountain storyline, where Mickey and Minnie face off against classic Disney villains like the Queen of Hearts, Scar and Chernabog. The ride begins with a dramatic scene, plunging you into a suspenseful moment, and then finally breaks away into joyful chaos as Mickey’s silly song idea takes over and everything turns into a splash-filled celebration.
The ride itself is so well done. You climb in your double-raft, the conveyor belt pulls you up past show-scenes, and then you’re launched out into twisting tubes that hang over the ocean. For families, AquaMouse hits that perfect sweet spot: it’s exciting without being terrifying, immersive without being too themed for younger riders, and memorable without feeling like a thrill-ride only for teens. It becomes a shared memory… that moment you all ride together, grin big, and say, “We just did that!”
Hero Zone
Introducing a completely new category of active family play to the Disney Cruise Line portfolio, Hero Zone is a futuristic sports arena where physical activity blends with imagination, offering highly produced show experiences in addition to free-play sports. My boys are going to LOVE this spot!
Families can test their strength, speed and stamina during the Incredi-Games, a high-energy game show featuring an elaborate obstacle course of over-the-top physical challenges, each inspired by the dynamic characters of Pixar’s “The Incredibles.”
Now with more fanfare than ever before, the guest-favorite Disney Cruise Line experience Jack-Jack’s Incredible Diaper Dash offers terrific tots the chance to compete for the coveted title of Diaper Dash Champion as they speed-crawl across a 20-foot track amid the cheers (and chuckles) of family, friends and adoring fans.
What’s more, when Hero Zone isn’t all decked out in super hero gear, it is also a free-play sports hub where Guests can enjoy some friendly competition with basketball, soccer and a variety of table-top games, including Ping-Pong, air hockey, foosball and shuffleboard.
Broadway Style Shows
A hallmark of any Disney Cruise Line vacation is the unparalleled roster of Broadway-style spectaculars staged in the gorgeous Walt Disney Theatre. It never ceases to amaze me how Disney can take beloved stories we’ve watched for years and elevate them into something that feels brand new at sea. You will absolutely treasure the opportunity to see Disney characters and music brought to life in such an intimate, emotional way. On the Disney Destiny, three phenomenal productions anchor the entertainment lineup, and each one is worth planning your evening around!
Seas the Adventure is the perfect kickoff to your voyage. This joyful musical stars Captain Minnie and Goofy, who sets out to discover what it really means to be ready for adventure. Along the way, he’s guided by Disney friends like Moana, Tiana, Elsa and Hercules. It’s uplifting, funny, a little sentimental, and exactly the right tone to launch a magical week.
Frozen – A Musical Spectacular retells Anna and Elsa’s story with breathtaking costumes, stunning vocals and effects that gave everyone goosebumps. Even if you think you’ve seen Frozen a thousand times (guilty!), this production feels fresh and powerful. It’s a showstopper.
And saving the best for last… Hercules – A Hero’s Journey, exclusive to the Destiny. This was our runaway favorite. The Muses bring the house down, Herc’s story is woven beautifully for stage, and the whole production is funny, bold and wildly high-energy. We all left saying, “That was a SHOW.”
Whether you’re sailing with young kids, teens, friends or even adults-only, don’t skip the shows. They are Broadway-caliber and included for every guest – something no other vacation experience can match.
First Run Movies
The Wonderland and Never Land Cinemas are intimate screening rooms that provide guests more options than ever to watch classic and first-run films from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and more.
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
I am thrilled to share a special first look at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique on the Disney Destiny! This magical experience provides pixie-dusted makeovers for kids ages 3 to 12, complete with hairstyling, makeup, costumes and accessories. The venue features beautiful wood detailing, chandeliers with candle lights and design elements inspired by Cinderella.
Character Meet & Greets
One of my favorite parts of a Disney Cruise are the characters!! They are so much more accessible to guests than in the parks and meeting them couldn’t be easier. Times are posted in 15 minute increments and you just show up and are guaranteed to meet them!
And, finally, the only pre-booked character meet is Royal Gathering. You can also meet these princesses at other times during the cruise, but it is a nice snag if you can get a spot to see them all at once.
Saga
Just off the Grand Hall, on decks four and five, you’ll find Saga – the central hub for daytime family fun and adult-exclusive evening entertainment aboard the Disney Destiny. This vibrant, two-story venue is absolutely stunning in person, and its design takes subtle cues from Wakandan architecture, beautifully tying into the Black Panther inspiration echoed throughout the Grand Hall.
Saga feels like the ship’s living room. It’s a place where families gather, laugh, compete, sing and make memories together. It’s outfitted with a massive two-story LED screen wall, a full stage and a bar, making it an incredibly dynamic space that transforms from day to night.
Throughout the voyage, Saga hosts an ever-changing lineup of interactive shows and events. A few favorites:
Villains Game Night
A clever and laugh-out-loud game show where guests race to answer Disney trivia questions while being roasted by the most infamous Disney villains. Cruella, Gaston, Hades, Maleficent and more appear on screen to heckle and taunt contestants. SO much fun!
Disney Songbook
A karaoke-style singing showdown where the spotlight shines on you! Each performance is filmed and projected onto the big LED wall. Even if you don’t sing, it’s wildly entertaining to watch and cheer for fellow cruisers.
Silent Disco
One of my personal favorites, and an absolute must-do for 18+ only. Grab a headset, choose your channel and dance the night away with your crew. There is nothing more joyful than an entire room singing three different songs at once. It totally counts as cardio!
Triton’s
Just down the hall, Triton’s is a smaller, more intimate lounge with a wonderful rotation of casual activities throughout the afternoon and into the evening. Think trivia, crafts, meetups and more. It’s a great space to settle in with a drink, relax after a busy day in port, and enjoy something low-key without ever feeling crowded.
Castaway Cay
Most voyages on the Destiny visit one or both private islands! Our first voyage took us to Castaway Cay. Cruisers enjoy balmy tropical weather and world-class recreation on a Bahamian oasis with signature Disney hospitality. After disembarking on Castaway Cay, you can obtain beach towels and use your convenient Key to the World cards for retail transactions on the island. Everything needed for the perfect beach getaway is here – from lounge chairs and beach umbrellas to tasty food and family-friendly entertainment.
Let’s Set Sail
As a Premier Level Advisor with Glass Slipper Concierge, I am recognized for providing the highest level of customer service, experience and knowledge in the industry. I use my personal connections and firsthand expertise to craft bespoke vacations for the most discerning clients. On top of that, travel is expensive and I know how to get the best value for your time and money. Most aspects of planning a family vacation look different and now, more than ever, it is crucial to have the most current, up to date information based on personal experience to plan your vacation!
My family are platinum level cruisers on Disney Cruise Line, having sailed on the most magical ships at sea NINETEEN times. Not only that, but you can count on my recent and personal experience sailing two to three times a year. I’ve experienced every stateroom type available, from the inside to a concierge suite across every ship in the fleet. And, I’ve dined in the restaurants, enjoyed the port adventures and done it all so I can best advise YOU!
I offer concierge travel planning for Walt Disney World® Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland® Resort, Adventures by Disney®, Aulani, National Geographic Expeditions, Universal Orlando, Sea World and other delightful destinations around the globe! Let’s go there!
