Cruise Spotlight
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Disney Fantasy vs Disney Wish
The Disney Fantasy was built in 2012. Disney Fantasy's exterior has a old-school steam boat feel while the interior leans into the Art Nouveau styling. Outside the ship, you'll see Dumbo painting the name on the stern. It's 10 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 Fantasy 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 Fantasy is 10% smaller in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
Disney Fantasy 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 Fantasy 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.
| Disney Fantasy | Disney Wish | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Dream | Wish |
| Gross Tonnage | 130,000 | 144,000 |
| Length | 1,115 | 1,119 |
| Beam/Width | 121 | 128 |
| Passenger Decks | 14 | 15 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 2,500 | 4,000 |
| Crew | 1,458 | 1,555 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 1.7 | 2.6 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 52 | 36 |
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 Fantasy has ten different dining options like Palo, Remy, and Cabanas. Of those options, six are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other four options have an additional fee.
The Wish has the same number of dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Worlds of Marvel, Palo Steakhouse, and Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure. five of these restaurants are complementary and the other five have an additional fee.
The Disney Fantasy has about the same number of dining options as the Disney Wish.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Fantasy 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 Fantasy & Wish
| Disney Fantasy | Disney Wish | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1923 | ✗ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Animator's Palate | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure | ✗ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Cabanas | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| Enchante by Chef Arnaud Lallement | ✗ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Enchanted Garden | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| Enchanted Sword Cafe | ✗ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Eye Scream Treats | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| Flo's Cafe | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| Inside Out: Joyful Sweets | ✗ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Marceline Market | ✗ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods | ✗ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Palo | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| Palo Steakhouse | ✗ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Preludes | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| Remy | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| Royal Court | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| Sweet on You | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| Wishing Star Cafe | ✗ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Worlds of Marvel | ✗ | ✓ | Learn More |
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 Disney Fantasy has a total of 3 pools and 3 hot tubs.
Disney Wish has more pools than the Fantasy 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.
Tired of loud kids and splashing? One of the pools and one of the hot tubs are adults only on Fantasy.| Disney Fantasy | Disney Wish | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 3 | 8 |
| Pools - General Access | 2 | 6 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | 1 |
| Pools - Exclusive | 1 | |
| Total Hot Tubs | 3 | 3 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 2 | |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 1 | 1 |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 2 |
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 Fantasy. 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.
| Disney Fantasy | Disney Wish | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Only Relaxation Area | ✓ | ✓ |
| Basketball | ✓ | ✓ |
| Character experiences | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kid's Play Area | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mini golf | ✓ | ✗ |
| Movie Theater | ✓ | ✓ |
| Salon | ✓ | ✓ |
| Shows - Broadway play | ✓ | ✓ |
| Shows - musical review | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Splash park | ✓ | ✗ |
| Virtual Sports Simulator | ✓ | ✗ |
| Water Coaster | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water slides | ✗ | ✓ |
| Learn more | Learn more |
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 Fantasy 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.
| Disney | |
|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $14.50 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 18% |
| Soda Price | Included |
| Domestic Beer Price | $6.50 |
| Drink Package Price | No drink package available |
| Internet Plan | $12 - $36 per device per day |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | |
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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