Disney Cruise Line’s Wish-class ships each anchor their entertainment lineup around a flagship Broadway-style production. The Walt Disney Theater venue onboard each ship is world-class, the budgets are enormous, and the expectations are sky-high from seasoned cruisers and first-timers alike. So how do the three shows actually stack up? Here’s an honest, firsthand look from someone who has sailed all three.
#3 The Little Mermaid on the Disney Wish
Verdict: We’ve all been under the sea before. ★★☆☆☆
Ariel’s story is one of Disney’s most beloved. It’s a certified classic with an iconic Alan Menken score that basically lives rent-free in everyone’s head. On paper, bringing The Little Mermaid to the Walt Disney Theater at sea should be a home run. However, I feel it’s the most underwhelming use of the stage of any Disney cruise ship.
The production feels like it never quite figured out what it wanted to be. The set backgrounds and art style leave a lot to be desired, and the costumes and props have a hand-crafted look of a high-school production. While that’s not entirely a knock, there’s charm in practical creativity; but there’s a gap when Disney is billing this as a Broadway-caliber production in the same breath as the shows on the Treasure and Destiny.
Here’s the thing: we have seen this story told well many times. The dark ride at Magic Kingdom and Disney California Adventure, the decades-long live stage show (and it’s reimagining) at Disney’s Hollywood Studios… but the Wish version doesn’t raise the bar anymore. The “wow” moments that define the other Wish-class productions aren’t here. This gets points for fun puppetry and trying to do something a little more unique. It’s okay enough to watch and decide for yourself, of course, and the music is hard to ruin, but it’s tough to swallow the idea that this is meant to be the Wish’s headline show when it feels like an afterthought.
Have you seen it and loved it? Genuinely, please, change my mind. The bar for these ships is set so high by what’s on the Treasure and Destiny that this one never had a real shot at the title.
#2 Hercules on the Disney Destiny
Verdict: The Muses deserve their own headlining show. ★★★☆☆
Disney wanted to top themselves after the jaw-dropping Te Fiti puppet moment on the Treasure went viral among DCL superfans (more on that below), Imagineers came back swinging with more puppets, more spectacle, more of everything.
Let’s start with what works magnificently: the Muses. Performed in full Motown style, they are an absolute force. There is genuine chemistry, vocal power and fun every second they’re on stage. They elevated scenes that were already working or those that might have dragged on their own.
Seeing Hades in a live production is a real treat. He’s one of Disney’s great villains getting the theatrical moment he deserves, and you find yourself marveling at the fact that you’re watching it all unfold inside the Walt Disney Theater on a ship. Pain and Panic thankfully made the final cut, and provide comedic relief.
The puppetry problem: the multi-headed Hydra are cool, but the Titans are… less cool. They are constructed and moved in a way that requires Hercules to battle them in near-slow-motion to match their pace, the fight scenes land as accidental comedy rather than heroic climax. The Titans move like oversized Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots (and are more than a little reminiscent of the clunky Hulk as seen in Avengers Campus).
The pacing issues are where Hercules really loses ground against Moana. There’s a “falling in love” song just before “I Won’t Say I’m in Love” which brings the show to a halt. Then the final act rushes through everything: Hercules rescuing Megara happens so quickly and in such a disjointed way that the emotional payoff doesn’t land. For a show about a hero earning his place among the gods, the ending should feel a bit more triumphant.
Hercules is still worth seeing, it’s a genuinely fun hour+, and the Muses alone make it memorable. There are also plenty of other reasons to sail the Destiny. But as a complete theatrical experience, it doesn’t quite top what’s waiting on the Treasure…
#1 The Tale of Moana on the Disney Treasure
Verdict: Book the cruise for this. Seriously. ★★★★½
There is a moment in The Tale of Moana when the Te Kā/Te Fiti puppet appears on stage and begins its transformation. It is, without exaggeration, one of the most impressive theatrical achievements you will see on a cruise ship, or really in many land-based venues even.
The staging for The Tale of Moana is fantastic. There are several “wow” moments featuring practical effects and classic stagecraft. They use many special effects without leaning too much on projection technology, but it’s still utilized when it’s most effective in expanding the stage.
The full cast work well together during their island community numbers. “Shiny” has been reworked from the film’s version but it’s even better. There’s also a baby Moana puppet that delights everyone in the room.
My one note for improvement: someone needs to find a way to get HeiHei and Pua into this show! Even as tiny walking puppets making their way across the stage. Their absence is the only thing missing from an otherwise complete production. Yet, it’s still tough to beat this one out. While there are certain elements that could be better (always, right?), the music and songs are performed really well, and the climax of the show with Te Kā/Te Fit’s transformation is simply amazing to see play out onstage. It has a much better flow than any of the other shows onboard DCL.
Overall, The Tale of Moana is reason enough to book a cruise aboard the Disney Treasure (plus many other reasons, if you need them). It’s a great reminder of what Disney is capable of doing on stage, and will easily be the highlight of your Disney cruise vacation.
Pro Tip: Both Moana and Hercules are among the most popular shows in DCL history! The evening performances fill up fast with crowded lines snaking their way back to the ship’s shops and lounges. Check your Navigator app for matinee showings during your sailing, and get in line at least 30 minutes before showtime. You’re on vacation. Don’t spend it stressing at the back of a queue.
Once you’ve narrowed down which ship will be the bigger hit with your family, contact Dreams Unlimited Travel to plan the Disney cruise of your dreams!
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