Heroes, Villains, and the Disney Destiny

This is your Destiny.

Really, it is. If you’re a fan of heroes and villains, if adventuring on the high seas gives you a thrill, if you breathe Disney magic and lose yourself in a good story, then you may just find the Disney Destiny sailing straight into your future.

The Disney Destiny has all of the hallmarks of what we know and love from Disney, from the deep theming to those thoughtful touches that make you pause and smile. But there’s also something more: the surprise-and-delight moments, the shared energy, and the immersive character encounters that truly give this ship her namesake. She’s something special. One might even say she’s burdened with glorious purpose.

The Stateroom’s a Marvel

If you’ve been on a Disney ship before, you know the details love to show off. Even just by walking down the hallways toward my stateroom, I found myself slowing down to catch little things: the Pegasus silhouettes glowing in the hallway lights, the surprisingly bright and uplifting colors, and even the whimsical door hooks added charming touches to each stateroom; no detail was overlooked. 

Once I entered our stateroom, a Deluxe Oceanview with Verandah, I was taken aback at how spacious it felt. Even though I traveled with several friends (each of us seemingly in competition to pack the largest suitcase), there was somehow still space for all of our bags to slip away after we got settled. The split bathroom made getting ready a breeze, and the verandah was perfect for late-night stargazing, early-morning coffee, or watching Castaway Cay float into view. 

As a 90s kid, I couldn’t get enough of the Mulan-inspired headboard and accompanying art around our stateroom (and our friends in a neighboring stateroom were lucky enough to have Hercules!). The finishing touches in our space were so beautiful it was hard to pull myself away, but I knew I had to since my Navigator app showed a lineup of characters and experiences unlike anything I’d seen before. Destiny was calling.

Quite the Character

The Disney Cruise Line Navigator app feels a little bit like a magic wand, showing me all of the exciting entertainment and character offerings onboard. With just a tap to “heart” my favorite activities, I mapped out a perfect mix of heroes, villains, and chaos. 

The meet-and-greet character experiences (especially Maleficent!) created dramatic moments for anyone walking through the Grand Hall. Dr. Facilier was so convincing, my heart raced and I was genuinely nervous to shake his hand (if you’ve seen the movie, you know). But more than just meet-and-greets, there were true character experiences on board. 

Without giving too much away, try to attend as many as you can. And even more, line up early! From Dr. Facilier’s Parlor to Cruella de Vil’s show in the piano lounge to Loki’s surprising moment with T’Challa in Celebration of a King, these interactions have stayed with me long after leaving the ship. And if you wander the Grand Hall at the right moment, you may even stumble into a teenage superhero known for his spider-like abilities…

There are also various shows that are absolutely worth attending. With Great Power: A Marvel Comedy Show (18+) is a must-do, for secret reasons. Cruella hosts a Wretched Runway and invites guests to strut in full, fabulous, dalmatian-spotted glory. While I didn’t experience it myself, I heard it’s also worth stopping by Cask & Cannon on Pirate night, as it sometimes attracts a certain swaggering captain. 

This ship doesn’t just give you things to do, it invites you into the story. You can choose to be the hero, the villain, or a mischievous blend of both. By the end of the sailing, I felt less like I was watching the magic and more like I was part of it.

Foodies, Assemble!

I’m going to admit something to you: I’m a coffee snob. More than any other treat or little luxury, I love a great cup of coffee, and bonus points if it comes with a printed character on top. 

On the Disney Destiny, there are several places where I could (and did!) grab a specialty coffee. The Quiet Cove, an adults-only area onboard, features Cove Café which is a perfect spot to relax and unwind. Café Megara is a walk-up coffee shop on Deck 4, laden with lavender and gold, with touches of Pegasus in the wallpaper and the Muses on the backs of the chairs. But my favorite was Café Merida on Deck 5, with its rich hues of green and red, moody plaids, and tapestry art that could tempt even a non-coffee drinker to stop by “just to look.” I don’t want to tell you how much money I spent on the salted caramel coconut lattes, but I can tell you I regret exactly none of them.

For those who appreciate beverages of a stronger variety, De Vil’s Piano Lounge is a wickedly good option, darling. My travel party loved the Perfectly Wretched drink, which is fruit-forward with a hint of elderflower, and the I Live for Furs, a deliciously tart drink with an edible dalmatian wafer. But as someone who appreciates a thoughtfully crafted mocktail or zero-proof potion, I couldn’t get enough of the smoky Fearless Sir Galahad. Other lounges include The Sanctum (centrally located and buzzing with music and energy), the pirate pub Cask & Cannon, and of course, The Haunted Mansion Parlor. Anyone who’s passionate about creative storytelling, deep theming, or classic Disney attractions will lose their heads over this one! This ghoulishly delightful lounge was often the busiest, but we skipped one of the nighttime shows we had seen before in lieu of a casual evening here and were rewarded with plenty of space to enjoy ourselves.

But the dining – oh, the dining. I already knew I would love 1923, having had the privilege of experiencing this on the Disney Wish. It was no surprise that I would be captivated by Worlds of Marvel, as someone who frequently nerds out to the Avengers. But my heart (and my stomach, and my ears) was not prepared for the culinary and musical delights of Pride Lands: Feast of The Lion King. The food was exceptional, the performers were passionate, and I absolutely was that person who stood and applauded at the end of this meal. 

Setting the Stage

Here’s the truth: You can board the Disney Destiny knowing absolutely nothing about Marvel legends or Disney villains and still have the time of your life! Disney does what Disney does best, creating atmospheres so immersive, you can’t help but get swept up in the story. The magic is around every corner, whether you know a character’s backstory of puppies or mischief or tarot cards or not.

But for me? I wanted to brush up on these characters and their lore ahead of time so I could soak in every inch of the ship, get lost in the stories, and pick up on the little details that were begging to be noticed. So I refreshed myself in the very best way I know how: movie marathons.

Before boarding and walking into the Grand Hall, I watched Black Panther. To get ready for The Sanctum’s mystical libations, I revisited Doctor Strange. To guard my spirit from Dr. Facilier, I watched The Princess and the Frog. For Cask & Cannon, I sauntered through Pirates of the Caribbean. To sink into the culinary and musical delights of Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King, it was The Lion King (and Lion King 2, and the Broadway production, and…) To tap into my villain era, it was Sleeping Beauty and Maleficent. 

And for Disney Hercules? Well… you already know. Bless my soul, I went into this show expecting to like it (90s kid and all), but I was not prepared for how much I would think about it once I left the Walt Disney Theater. The Muses delivered harmonies so rich they practically lifted me out of my seat, and the casting was absolute perfection from start to finish. I walked out of that theater thinking I would sail on the Destiny again just to see this one more time.

For the heroes, the villains, and the mischievous among us: the Disney Destiny is calling. And trust me, you’re going to want to answer.

Ready to set sail? Whether you’re dreaming of stepping into your hero era, embracing your inner villain, or simply indulging in all the magic this incredible new ship has to offer, Be Our Guest Vacations would love to help you plan your own Disney Destiny adventure. Reach out today and let’s start crafting a voyage worthy of its own story.