Disney Dream vs Disney Wish

The Disney Dream was built in 2011. Disney Dream's exterior has a old-school steam boat feel while the interior leans into the Art Deco styling. Outside the ship, you'll see Sorcerer Mickey painting the name on the stern. It's 11 years older than the Wish, which was built in 2022. The Disney Wish is inspired by stories of wish fulfilment. You'll enter the ship through the Grand Hall which is themed after a castle with a large statue of Cinderella and a display of her glass slipper. Outside the ship, you'll see Rapunzel painting the name on the stern.

Comparison Overview

• Ship Size
• Number of Passengers
• Food and Restaurants
• Bars and Drinks
• Pools and Hot Tubs
• Ship Features and Activities
• Cruise Costs
• Onboard Costs

Ship Size

The Dream is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 1,115 feet long and 121 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 3.1 football fields, as wide as 2.3 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 14-story building. Compared to the Disney Wish, the Dream is 10% smaller in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

Disney Dream holds 38% fewer passengers than the Wish based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, or what we call the "Space Ratio," the Dream has more space per person compared to the Wish. This means that you might have a bit more space to yourself on the ship, although there still could be some crowded areas like buffets, pools, etc.

Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.

The Dream has 10 different dining options like Palo, Royal Palace, and Cabanas. Of those options, 6 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 4 options have an additional fee.

The Wish has the same number of dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Palo Steakhouse, 1923, and Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure. 5 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 5 have an additional fee.

The Disney Dream has about the same number of dining options as the Disney Wish.

If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Dream might be a better choice then the Wish. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.

Restaurants on Disney Dream & Wish

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.

There are also plenty of bars available on these ships. Alcohol is not included in the base price of this cruise ship. To see if you would save money with a drink package, try our Drink Package Calculator.

Pools and Hot Tubs

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Disney Dream has a total of 3 pools and 3 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 1 of the hot tubs are adults only.

Disney Wish has more pools than the Dream and the same number of hot tubs. There are more exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Wish. If you don't mind paying for exclusive access to areas in order to have less crowds, this might be a better choice.

Ship Features and Activities

Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. You might up paying more while on board the Dream. Only 77% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare. On the Wish, 83% of the activities are included at no additional cost.

Cruise Costs

Disney is a premium cruise line. Premium cruise lines typically offer upscale food, accommodations, and service. These typically cost about $150 - $400 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. Typically newer ships cost more, so a cruise on Disney Dream will likely be cheaper than on Disney Wish.

Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Disney ship.

With Disney Cruises, soda is included for meals, but will have an extra cost at bars and throughout the day. While no drink packages are available, you can preorder bottles of wine or beer at a discount.

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