A Disney Destiny cruise will be unique within the growing Disney Cruise Line. Unlike the line’s newest ship, Disney Wish, where the theme is Cinderella-inspired beauty and light everywhere you turn, Disney Destiny, which sails in 2025, also has an interesting “darker” side.
As all good storytellers know, for a character to rise above and become a hero, an opposing force must help get them there. That duality of good and bad, light and dark, and hero and villain is present in virtually every great Disney story … and in its next new ship.
To that end, Disney’s Destiny is embracing not only the heroes of the stories, but also the villains who helped create them. You’ll find those darker, more complex characters throughout the ship, including some new spaces inspired and dedicated just to them.
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Disney Cruise Line is dedicating three days this week to Disney Destiny announcements, with bookings expected to begin in the coming months. On Tuesday, Rekha shared details about Disney Destiny’s all-new “Lion King”-themed dining experience, the ship’s home port (Port Everglades), its cabins and more.
But be prepared, because Wednesday’s announcement is all about the villain-inspired locations and characters you’ll find when the ship sets sail in late 2025.
Related: How to Save Money Booking a Disney Cruise
An all-new villain-themed lounge
When it sets sail next year, Disney’s Destiny will have two brand new lounges celebrating some of our favorite villainous characters you love to “hate” — and a “happy” bad guy-themed haunt you’ll find too. Disney Treasure when it sails in December 2024.
De Ville’s Piano Lounge
Brand new for Disney Cruise Line on Disney’s Destiny will be De Vil’s Piano Lounge, themed in red, white, black and the infamous Cruella de Vil.
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Sometimes, on a big ship, location is everything, and Disney shares that one side of De Ville will be open to the Grand Hall, making it super easy to pop in before or after doing almost anything else on the ship — like Drop your kids off at the Oceaneer Club.
Leaning only towards Cruella’s signature colors (and spots), this adults-only lounge will also feature a glamorous Hollywood Regency style that you’d expect from a place this villain would visit.
Inside the lounge, you can expect moody tunes (from a spotted piano!), on-trend cocktails, wine and martinis. After all, Cruella’s downfall was, at least in part, her discovery of style, so you shouldn’t expect anything less in her lounge.
Barrels and cannons
Yo ho, yo ho, it’s a new pirate-themed watering hole for us!
In addition to the usual beverage lineup, this “Pirates of the Caribbean”-themed pub will feature an extensive rum menu, including some rare and vintage rum selections. The menu will also include beer options that were developed just for this location (and served straight from the barrel), so you can have something unique to enjoy while you watch sports and more on the pub’s TV.
Haunted Mansion Parlor
In keeping with the ship’s dual theme where both light and dark exist in harmony, expect the return of the Haunted Mansion Parlor and its “Happy Haunts.” The haunted parlor will make its debut on Disney Treasures later this year and then “materialize” again on Disney Destiny in 2025.
The space replaces the “Star Wars”-themed bar, Hyperspace Lounge, found only on Disney’s Wish.
This lounge brings the magic, humor and style of the classic Haunted Mansion attraction to Disney Parks but does so in the setting of a first-class drawing room from the golden age of classic ocean liners.
Don’t be surprised if some of the classic characters from the Haunted Mansion attraction, along with some of their new beach friends, come out to socialize while you enjoy their parlor and its disgusting drinks.
RELATED: Everything We Know About Disney Treasures
New ways to interact with villains on board
It’s not all about photos and encounters with Mickey and the beautiful princesses on Disney’s Destiny.
Also climbing on board will be characters with more complicated pasts. Think Maleficent, Hades, Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, Oogie Boogie, Captain Jack Sparrow, Bruno, and my personal favorite, Loki.
Cruisers will also have new ways to interact with these characters, such as in (interrupted) trivia events and even dance parties in Oogie Boogie’s shipboard lair.
The villain Aquamouse enters the storyline
The 760-foot on-deck water ride, Aquamouse, will be aboard Disney’s Destiny, as will Disney Wish and Disney Treasure. This time, however, it will feature a fourth new show with villains from the Disney animation archive and a soundtrack written just for Disney Cruise Line.
In the new “Sing a Silly Song” story, Mickey and Minnie will travel to the top of Villain Mountain, where you may encounter such infamous favorites as the Queen of Hearts (“Alice in Wonderland”), Scar (“The Lion King”) and Chernabog (“Fantasia”).
Bottom line
Five ships currently sail guests everywhere from the Mediterranean to Alaska, and four more are actively en route, according to Disney Cruise Line. Fast expansion mode. However, it’s not just “copy-paste” pressing as it grows from vessel to vessel. Instead, so far, the line has been doing a great job of giving each ship some unique opportunities and niches all its own, such as leaning toward not just heroes but villains on this upcoming new ship.
Stay tuned on Thursday, as Disney announces more information about Disney’s Destiny and some of the ways it will be its own experience.
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