Disney Cruise Line celebrates every holiday in nautical fashion, and the 4th of July is no exception. From characters in special costumes to a festively themed Independence Day menu, let’s look at some of the holiday happenings on DCL. These photos are from a 5-night Bahamian cruise with two stops at Castaway Cay.
Disney Characters in Patriotic Costumes
That’s right. The characters on Disney Cruise Line celebrate the 4th of July in style. The Fab 5 (plus Chip and Dale) are all dressed up for the occasion. You can find them in designated meeting spots or simply roaming about the ships. Be sure to check your DCL Navigator for times and locations.
Independence Day Musical Stage Show in the Atrium
Mickey and friends perform a special stage show for guests in the Atrium Lobby. This show lasts about 15 to 20 minutes, so not too long. For a great viewing location, I recommend one deck above the atrium floor. On the Disney Dream, the Atrium is on Deck 3, so I went to Deck 4 (near Vista Cafe) to enjoy the show.
The show opened with the Cast of the Walt Disney Theatre performing The Star-Spangled Banner. Please note, that I am not a professional videographer. I shot these videos on my cell phone, with no stabilizing equipment – pretty sure my thumb makes an appearance in one of them. These were taken for my own memories, and I am happy to share them here.
Then Mickey and Friends joined in the celebration.
Fireworks at Sea
One of the most thrilling events on any Disney Cruise Line vacation is experiencing fireworks in the middle of the ocean. Since this was a 5-night sailing on the Disney Dream, we were lucky enough to see fireworks two times!
The Pirates in the Caribbean celebrations were on one of the Castaway Cay days, and the 4th of July festivities were on our final night of the cruise.
There was a short and adorable stage show where Mickey and Pals all made appearances. Then it was time for the fireworks at sea (part 2)!
Ready for the show… and just like in the Atrium, I like to watch the shows from one deck up. In this case, this meant finding a nice spot on Deck 12, right above the pool deck stage.
Disney Cruise Line’s Fourth of July Menu
What is a holiday without food? Just like on regular evenings, you will dine in whichever restaurant location is on your dining rotation. Guests have their choice to order from the traditional menu offered in the dining room – since it was the last night of our cruise, it was the “See Ya Real Soon” menu – or you can select from the special holiday menu. This one was a small menu, and I will be honest, I tried the Classic Independence Platter and was less than enthused. Maybe it is because I grew up on the Southern staples of fried chicken and ribs prepared by grandmas and pit masters. I am pretty sure the “fried” chicken was oven-fried. If you like a holiday cookout, stick with the fare at Cookies on Castaway Cay, and just order from the regular menu on the 4th of July.
I can’t wait to see what the Disney Wish has in store for her guests on this special holiday. Have you ever experienced the 4th of July (or any holiday) at sea? What was your favorite part? The shows? The music? The characters in costume?
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