Disney has revealed considerably more about its next cruise ship, and somewhere between an Ariel-inspired piano lounge and a new Encanto stage show, it has managed to get my attention. The Disney Believe announcements on 7 October, followed by a food and drink preview on 8 October, give us a much clearer idea of what will be waiting on board when the ship launches next year.
There is plenty here for anyone who loves Disney’s animated films, although what interests me most is how those stories will translate into places you can actually spend time in. A beautifully designed lounge can be just as tempting as a headline attraction, particularly when The Little Mermaid is involved.
An Ariel-inspired piano lounge? Disney has my attention
Sea Notes will take inspiration from Ariel’s grotto, with a pearlescent piano at its centre and an iridescent interior just off the Grand Hall. Expect music, cocktails and alcohol-free drinks in a setting inspired by The Little Mermaid.
Of everything announced, this is probably the place I would head to first. There is something particularly appealing about taking the atmosphere of Ariel’s underwater collection and turning it into somewhere to sit with a drink, rather than simply filling a room with recognisable characters.
Disney’s subsequent menu preview adds a little more temptation. The Sea Salt Martini combines vodka, cucumber and salted coconut sea foam, while Under the Seaweed offers an alcohol-free alternative. Both are presented in a seashell-inspired glass, which feels entirely appropriate for a venue where collecting things is practically part of the theme.
Snow White gets a lounge of her own
Wishing Well draws on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, combining a castle-inspired bar, a courtyard seating area beneath blossoms and apples, and a performance space referencing the dwarfs’ cottage.
This is another announcement that appeals to me because of the possibilities within the setting. Snow White’s world has such a distinctive visual identity, and the concept suggests somewhere that could feel intimate and atmospheric.
The drinks have their own theatrical touch. Disney has previewed The Peddler’s Disguise, a blend including apple, elderflower and vanilla, served in a glass that changes colour when filled. Evidently, accepting a suspicious apple-based offering remains part of the experience.
Encanto becomes the headline stage show
The biggest entertainment announcement is Disney Encanto, which Disney describes as the film’s first stage adaptation. Exclusive to the Believe, it will follow Mirabel’s story and feature songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s soundtrack, with Colombian cultural influences reflected in the costumes, scenery and choreography.
It will be joined by Tangled: The Musical, arriving from Disney Magic with updated sets and special effects, and Disney Seas the Adventure.
I am particularly interested to see how Casita translates to the stage. A house with a personality of its own gives the creative team plenty to work with, and there is potential for the scenery to become as much a character as the people performing in front of it. Having Tangled in the same theatre line-up makes the overall package even more appealing.
Elsewhere, Gazelle, inspired by Zootopia, will host family activities during the day and adult entertainment at night. A new interactive family show will also invite guests to help Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde solve a case.
Frozen returns to dinner, with Oaken hosting
Oaken’s Table: A Frozen Family Feast introduces a restaurant set in a Scandinavian summerhouse courtyard. Oaken and his family will host a musical meal featuring reworked Frozen songs and appearances from Anna and Kristoff.
Returning restaurants 1923 and Worlds of Marvel will also be aboard, as will Haunted Mansion Parlor.
I can understand wanting a completely different film to have its moment whenever Disney announces a new ship. Equally, Oaken is an entertaining choice of host, and the success of this restaurant will come down to how well the setting, food and performance work together.
As for Haunted Mansion Parlor, my enthusiasm for another visit with the happy haunts is unlikely to require much persuasion.
Moana sets the scene, while the suites aim rather higher
The Moana-inspired Grand Hall was first revealed at D23 in August, so it is not entirely new to this week’s announcements. A statue of Moana with Pua and Heihei will anchor the space, while ocean colours, starry details and a flowing chandelier carry the theme through the room. The chandelier will even conceal the heart of Te Fiti.
It feels like a natural choice for a ship, and I like the idea of the ocean influencing the architecture rather than remaining something you only admire through the windows.
Other additions include Big Hero Sips, a Big Hero 6-inspired café; Café Kakamora, drawing on Moana; and Skygazers, an observatory-themed pub. At the considerably more extravagant end of the accommodation options, the Believe Tower Suite will sleep eight across two storeys, with rooms inspired by different lands of Magic Kingdom. Royal suites will also take their cues from The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast.
I suspect the Tower Suite will be firmly in my “admire the photographs” category, but I am certainly curious to see how those park references come together.
When will Disney Believe set sail?
Disney Believe’s maiden voyage is scheduled for 18 December 2027, departing from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The fourth Wish-class ship will offer four- and five-night Bahamas and Caribbean cruises, with itineraries visiting one or both of Disney’s island destinations, Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. General bookings open on 19 October 2026.
For UK travellers, that makes this a Florida departure to factor into a wider holiday, rather than a sailing from Southampton.
What appeals to me about the Believe is the prospect of moving between very different Disney worlds over the course of an evening: a theatrical dinner, a musical and then a drink somewhere beautifully themed. The finished spaces and performances still have to deliver on that promise, but Sea Notes alone has already given me a reason to keep watching.
Leave a Reply