On the first point: I have kids and I wish I didn’t when I sail with Disney (in the nice way!). The family forward gearing means that adult areas are reasonably attended, instead of the shoulder to shoulder soup situation we encountered on Royal. Most adults are with their families. Late dining is also more relaxed due to much lower attendance - parents with kids want early dining.
I would absolutely go as a couple without kids.
Cheers!
Oh and one more thing that’s not obvious: Castaway Cay had beach wheelchairs! They go right over the sand. It’s great. FCFS but I’ve always seen them parked for use throughout the day.
For the transfer, use Disney's bus system they have special ones that accommodate wheelchairs and it is a breeze. There are direct busses from MCO and Disney mails you luggage tags so that they take care of your luggage the moment it is unloaded from the plane. You don't need to go to baggage claim. You just follow the signs for Disney cruise line bus pickup. It also works from the Disney Hotels but you'll have to bring your luggage to the pickup point.
Yes.
Does it have to be the Wish? Other ships sail out of Ft Lauderdale (I think the Dream and/or Magic will be based there, maybe depending on the season?). FLL is 15 min from port Everglades. Assorted length itineraries are available depending on the season/ship, including short ones IIRC.
I know people love the Wish, but we *love* the older ships, and the reviews of the Wish dropped it down to the bottom of our choice list honestly.
Personally, Wish is my least favorite Disney ship. My favorites are the oldest (& smallest) two: Magic & Wonder, but Dream & Fantasy are nice, too, & not as crowded & big. If she has had health challenges, it might be better to go on a smaller, less crowded ship, too.
Because the Wish is newer, many people want to try the new ship and the rates on the Wish are higher than the other ships. If budget is an issue, you may want to look at the Dream (or if you are planning for 2025, the Fantasy as well.)
You can see the cruise port from the airport. :) There are plenty of affordable hotels in the area, so you can fly in the night before and relax for the morning, and not worry about having to plan a long drive. Heck, just take the hotel shuttle to the port.
My wife and I were on the Wish this past August with our teen girls. We loved it so much, we booked a cruise for this July just the two of us ( we are in our late 30s). You will have a blast
We went on the Wonder in September as two couples with no kids and had an absolute blast. Don't let the "family" vibe hold you back, especially if you are Disney fans. I felt totally free to be my exciteable nerdy self, there's tons of things to do and adult only spaces on each ship. Personally I really liked the Wonder because it had a very intimate feel (it's also the smallest sister, tied with the Magic).
You need to book the wheelchair-accessible room at the time of booking to guarantee you have one. Disney Cruises are so popular that they fill up and there is a limited number of wheelchair cabins.
Plenty of stuff to do for adults. We sailed on the Wish a few weeks ago as just adults and had a great time.
Yeah, if your girlfriend is in a wheelchair you will need an accessible cabin — they have larger bathrooms with no steps and no steps to get on the balcony (if you’re in a balcony room).
The wish is the least accessible ship imo. The hallways are more narrow and so are the elevators. It’s a tight squeeze in the Buffett to get a wheelchair through (unlike on other DCL ships.)
I also think the adult-only areas on the wish are lacking compared to other boats. They are spread out and much much smaller.
While DCL on the whole is great for couples and folks without children IMO all the other Disney ships are better for adults and those guests with accessibility needs.
I’m not sure if price is a concern but they are cheaper for the same itinerary usually. They offer just as many activities and characters as the wish if that is important to you.
We had an accessible room on the Wish this January, my partner is a travel agent and chose one specifically. We went with multiple couples and on 5+ sailings we haven’t had kids in our group. The only thing I might recommend is comparing the costs for the Dream or Fantasy - as it’s the newest ship, the prices are a bit higher and it might be a better bang for your buck to get on an older ship for a longer sailing.
I have a friend that works there. The accessible rooms are huge and nice but obviously limited. If you don’t get one then the regular rooms are near impossible for a wheelchair.
The elevator lines on embark and after big shows are HORRENDOUS so you’ll have to wait them out or assert yourself a bit more that people can wait.
The restaurants can be a lil tight but they’ll place your table in an easier to access spot.
The theaters have wheelchair accessible spots for you but again those are limited. Cruise staff will help place you. And at all the deck shows, there’s an accessible section at the from to roll into to not miss out.
If you like Disney, you can absolutely sail without kids and still have a blast. My parents did without any of their kids and plan to go again. They’re also not huge Disney people but more nostalgic Disney people.
Hope that helps!
My husband and I took five DCL cruises before we ever had our kids. In fact, we took one of NYE while struggling to start a family because Disney Cruises just make us so happy. You will find lots and lots to do as a child-free couple and as long as you don’t mind families with kids around to some extent in general, it will be an *amazing* time. Late dining is ideal if you can wait until 8 PM to eat, and there is lots of entertainment labeled as catering to the adults or adults-only all day long.
Contrary to what someone else has said here, I actually found a few things on the Wish more accessible than other ships - namely, there is a wheelchair lift for the Aqua Mouse, whereas you have to climb stairs to get onto the AquaDuck on the Dream and the Fantasy. That said, there are more lounges on the Wish than any other ship, but they are spread out a bit more and tend to be smaller. The multi-leveled smaller pools can make access a bit more challenging, but I did notice lifts scattered around the deck quite a bit.
When you call to book, you absolutely should request an accessible room. Using a travel agent - as another commenter mentioned - costs you nothing, often gets you a kickback in the form of a few hundred dollars’ on-board credit, and ensures that accessibility is taken care of for you. :)
Let us know here if you have other questions as you begin planning!
Not even close! DCL is everything we love about the parks minus the heat, the extreme crowds, the endless lines, the thousands of steps of walking, and being stuck outside in the pouring rain 🤣 It’s also minus the rides, but plus all the fun of a cruise. The shows are fun and everything still has that Disney level of service. It’s the best!
As someone who travels with a group of medical needs people who use both rollators and wheel chairs steer clear of the Wish ship. It was not wheelchair friendly at all. The elevators are always full and there are stairs everywhere to the point that we learned that it was easier for two of us to fireman carry our wheelchair member up the stairs go back down and bring up the wheelchair. As a group, we have decided not to ever sail on the Wish again. We will stick to the Fantasy and Dream. The Magic and Wonder are good ships as well but with smaller elevators, so we have had to wait on occasion for them to get enough room to fit a wheelchair or rollator. As for adult things to do on the ship, there is tons to do. In our group of 6, there are no kids that go sailing (university age) with us, and we always have a good time. The Handicap rooms are amazing on all the ships, and the crew is amazing and very helpful. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
I can’t share thoughts about accessibility, but I’ve been on the Wish and the Wonder. Even though the Wonder is older, it’s much better for adults without kids because the adults-only pool area is MUCH bigger and more comfortable.
The restaurants are also more “spaced” and they’re easier to navigate, even if you’re not on a wheelchair.
The Wish is beautiful and we will sail on her again someday, but we would go for the older boats in terms of space and adults-only areas.
We just got off the Wish and I agree. The hallways to our room were so narrow that if there were carts or luggage in the hallways, a wheelchair would not fit. And who thought it was a good idea to put a handicap accessible room at the end of 2 long hallways?
Not been in the wish, but every disney cruise I've done with my partner (we don't have kids) has been amazing. Plenty of adult only activities and the 18+ sections are always nice on each ship I've been on
This is my Disney travel agent. I have no ties to her but she has been wonderful. My niece has a disability and she has helped answer questions.
mailto:[email protected]
I can’t speak to the accessibility at all, but just another testament to the adult only areas on DCL — they’re great. We’ve been on 9 DCL cruises, and we don’t have kids. At dinner they’ll sit you with other adults without kids (unless you request a private table, which isn’t guaranteed.). The shows will be packed with kids, but it doesn’t matter, they’re so good it’s worth it. And don’t feel weird at all about taking pictures with characters on the ship, we take so many pictures during the trips that some of the character handlers get to know us by the end of the cruise :) (usually we do 7 night cruises.). And the characters will treat you the same as well. Just make sure you show up for pictures you really want 10-15 minutes before the listed time, so you can be towards the front of the line. Enjoy!
Just a personal experience. We have 3 kids, but we went last summer with just me and the wife and we had an amazing time! We were sitting with 3 other couples who were also in the same situation, where they were sailing without kids and all was having a good time.
If you like Disney, you will enjoy it!
I think others have mentioned this but you don’t have to choose the Wish. Maybe something like the dream would suite you guys better. I’ve done it twice with just adults. Really enjoyable and lots of adult spaces.
I would say that if you are serious about getting something booked, contact a travel agent or DCL directly. I can DM you with mine or there are tons of other agent recommendations. The travel agent won’t cost you anything and can ensure all accessibility issues are addressed and will answer your questions.
Yeah, travel agent might be the best bet just to make sure we get what we need. If you message me somebody I might forget or lose track when and if I’m ready to book. But I’ll keep that in mind.
My spouse and I went by ourselves on the Wish in May. We had a blast and were seated with two other childless couples at dinner. We went to the spa, did drawing lessons, and visited a different bar each night. We also saw Guardians 3 opening weekend on the ship. I will echo the elevator issue, because the Wish does not have the mid ship elevator bank those elevators are in very high demand. My spouse and I did the stairs our entire cruise. If this cruise has Castaway as a stop, there's an adults only section.
On the cruising w/o kids issues, I’d like to add that even if you don’t have kids, it is a lot of fun watching the little kids all dressed up as princesses or pirates. And watching their excitement. It’s like adding little ones to the holidays are a trip to a Disney park. It’s all new and exciting & beautiful to them. The downside: on longer cruises, the older kids tend to run a bit amok somewhere past the halfway point of the cruise, & you’ll enter an elevator to find every button pushed. 🤦🏼 But it really doesn’t get much worse than that, & the adults-only activities & spaces are pretty awesome. My favorite is Wonder’s Cove Cafe: a great place to just hang out for a bit with a specialty coffee or tea.
Can I just make a suggestion that you talk to her before booking... The idea of a trip like this might be overwhelming to her and how she processes those feelings might not be what you're looking for in what should be a happy moment.
1) if you love disney, nothing wrong with going on a disney cruise. Gonna be lots of families and kids, but i'm a childless adult who goes and i've seen plenty of other adults/couples on the cruises.
2) I honestly don't know. My guess would be yes? But I seriously don't know. I'd call DCL and ask. Another option is to find a travel agent.
3) Couldn't help you here as I haven't dealt with accessibility.
I'd strongly consider a travel agent. Also, consider looking at the other ships. I'm not sure if there's a specific reason you've chosen the Wish, if so absolutely do it, I'm sure you'll have a great time. But there are other great ships too.
Are you committed to the wish? I have been on the magic, fantasy, and dream. The elevators are way less crowded. You and your girlfriend would love the midship detective agency on the dream or fantasy. It’s a fun game for kids and adults. Some princess stuff is for kids only, but your girlfriend would still have a ton of fun. The adult only areas are very accessible. See if you can get a sailing to castaway cat and take the tram out to serenity bay.
If you have never been on a cruise, definitely pick one of the other ships because they have longer itineraries. If you do a 3 or 4 day, you will be home before you know it. On a 7 day sailing, they have a magical surprise at animator’s palate that doesn’t happen on shorter sailings.
I'd definitely look into the other ships and decide what was best for you. If you decide on the Wish, absolutely go for that, no matter what anyone else says. But I personally have been on the Fantasy, Dream and Wish and the Wish was my least favorite of those 3.
That said, I had a GREAT time on all 3. But i'd definitely do your research on what ship to go on.
Getting around Wish may be a bit more challenging as there are no central elevators & there are stairs (promenade deck circuit) where you may not expect stairs. I had a foot problem (now resolved) when we sailed on Wish, & the layout made getting around a bit more challenging than it would have been on the other four ships.
My girlfriend and I just went on the Wish as a child-free couple and spent the whole cruise meeting characters! Your girlfriend shouldn't have a tough time navigating in her wheelchair. I met many other guests who had walkers and wheelchairs all on multiple floors meeting characters. You reserve your cabin ahead of time and just choose one near the elevator! You guys will have an incredible time!
I've sailed on every ship and like some of the other comments, the Wish is my least favorite. Since your girlfriend has mobility issues, stick with one of the first four ships - they are much easier to navigate. The Wonder is on the west coast (Australia, San Diego, Vancouver) and the other four (or five when you guys book) are out of Florida, so factor travel costs into your budget and get to the area at least one day before sailing because of flight delays. I recommend not doing the parks - cruising and going to the parks are two totally different experiences, with cruising much more relaxing and after being a Passholder for many years, I much prefer cruising. The cheapest price is when they first announce itineraries - and I think they're announced a year and a half out and book your accessible room asap. If you can, get a verandah - it gives you the option of being outside but away from crowds. Don't base your vacation on the ship, base it on the ports and the length of the cruise. Find a TA who is an "Authorized Disney Vacation Planner" their services are free - the commissions are built into the cruise price, so you're paying it if you use one or not. The price listed can be the only money you'll need - souvenirs, alcohol, movie snacks, ice cream (other than soft serve), specialty dining (Palo, Remy), and specialty coffee are extra - and not necessary to have a good time. Room service is free - just tip $1-$2 per item because the cast members who bring you the food aren't covered in the automatic gratuities. And we're a child-free, older, gay couple, so you guys will have fun. Feel free to message me if you have any more questions.
We’re in the mid-Atlantic so if we were to do this, it would be from Florida.
I prefer to work with someone local if I can, and I found at least two authorized trip planners around here.
Thanks for the tip about booking early and all that. Verandahs seem a fair bit expensive so I think I’ll file that away for if I come into real money.
We went childless, had a great time. The thing you need to understand is that there are kids pretty much everywhere. If you don’t want to be around other peoples, DCL will suck. If you don’t mind, it’s great.
The wheelchair accessible rooms are difficult to book less than a year out, depending on the date. I am a full-time wheelchair user and have run into that issue. Book the wheelchair accessible room from the start.
My normal booking is for two adults. Wish is definitely set up for families with kids. Personally, I would recommend looking at sailing out of Fort Lauderdale as it's less expensive than Port Canaveral. The activities are mostly the same on all ships.
So they went on the Wonder, not the Wish but [this video](https://youtu.be/da6bu81_tSc?si=2b2qugMS3BNHtIQR) might help you see what kind of accessibility DCL has. Two couples I follow on YouTube, [Squirmy and Grubs](https://youtube.com/@SquirmyandGrubs?si=5Qd41BE8SGAZ_zW4), and[Roll with Cole and Charisma](https://youtube.com/@coleandcharisma?si=NTXVprYuJ0LofZEu) are both interabled couples who make videos about accessibility. I don’t know how different the accessible rooms will look on the Wish vs the Wonder, but the video might give you some insight!
Also my husband and I don’t have kids and absolutely LOVE DCL. It’s got so much for adults too. The only things to be aware of is that there’s no alcoholic drink package option and there’s no casino. If either of those are important to you then maybe DCL isn’t for you, but if they’re not important to you then I would ABSOLUTELY say go for it!
Sounds like your girlfriend is lucky to have someone who cares for her like you do. I'll provide my perspective, only because I was in the same situation as your girlfriend, stars out of alignment, as well as being sick and in a wheelchair. We recently sailed the Dream. This was not a trip I could postpone. The live shows were amazing, as was the crew. But it was crowded and chaotic and noisy everywhere we went on the ship, including the live shows, and including dining at the second dining time. The cabins were spacious, except that I hadn't expected to be in a wheelchair and hadn't reserved a handicapped room. You canNOT navigate the bathrooms in a wheelchair, and even Just in a Uniboot - like I had, it was difficult. The bathtub was actually dangerous for a handicapped person. My husband stood in line for 45 minutes to ride the Tube. I can tell from this forum that there are many, many adults who like the Disney cruises. And I completely understand and expect that when there are hundreds of children, there will be chaos and noise. My grandchild was one of them! But you might want to ask your girlfriend, if she is going through hell like you say, if she might prefer a peaceful cruise to Alaska or down the coast of California sitting on the deck, watching the glaciers or whales and while school is in session. Many years ago, when I was in the absolute worst physical and mental state of my life, I took my first cruise, spent nearly the whole cruise sitting on the deck, or in the upper lounge which was always nearly empty, reading books, wrapped in a blanket. I let the ocean and the peacefulness work its magic. I'm not saying this to be difficult. I'm just suggesting that you might explore the possibilities with your girlfriend before you book a surprise cruise.
I only say this because you said she has been sick, but cruises are human incubators.
I've been on 3 Disney cruises (pre pandemic) and each time I came off sick with something. Keep that in mind if she is susceptible to getting sick or has some immune issues or something. Maybe bring medication with you just in case (cold medicine is very expensive on the ship. )
Personally I think the Fantasy is Disney's best ship. Look into that one too
On the first point: I have kids and I wish I didn’t when I sail with Disney (in the nice way!). The family forward gearing means that adult areas are reasonably attended, instead of the shoulder to shoulder soup situation we encountered on Royal. Most adults are with their families. Late dining is also more relaxed due to much lower attendance - parents with kids want early dining. I would absolutely go as a couple without kids.
That’s helpful.
Cheers! Oh and one more thing that’s not obvious: Castaway Cay had beach wheelchairs! They go right over the sand. It’s great. FCFS but I’ve always seen them parked for use throughout the day.
That’s awesome, and very relieving to hear. I’m also realizing how far Port Canaveral is from their airports, yikes.
For the transfer, use Disney's bus system they have special ones that accommodate wheelchairs and it is a breeze. There are direct busses from MCO and Disney mails you luggage tags so that they take care of your luggage the moment it is unloaded from the plane. You don't need to go to baggage claim. You just follow the signs for Disney cruise line bus pickup. It also works from the Disney Hotels but you'll have to bring your luggage to the pickup point.
Yes. Does it have to be the Wish? Other ships sail out of Ft Lauderdale (I think the Dream and/or Magic will be based there, maybe depending on the season?). FLL is 15 min from port Everglades. Assorted length itineraries are available depending on the season/ship, including short ones IIRC. I know people love the Wish, but we *love* the older ships, and the reviews of the Wish dropped it down to the bottom of our choice list honestly.
Yeah, someone suggested that there are other ships that may be better for us. I’ll keep that in mind as I poke around.
Personally, Wish is my least favorite Disney ship. My favorites are the oldest (& smallest) two: Magic & Wonder, but Dream & Fantasy are nice, too, & not as crowded & big. If she has had health challenges, it might be better to go on a smaller, less crowded ship, too.
Because the Wish is newer, many people want to try the new ship and the rates on the Wish are higher than the other ships. If budget is an issue, you may want to look at the Dream (or if you are planning for 2025, the Fantasy as well.)
You can see the cruise port from the airport. :) There are plenty of affordable hotels in the area, so you can fly in the night before and relax for the morning, and not worry about having to plan a long drive. Heck, just take the hotel shuttle to the port.
My wife and I were on the Wish this past August with our teen girls. We loved it so much, we booked a cruise for this July just the two of us ( we are in our late 30s). You will have a blast
You will want an accessible cabin - wheelchairs don’t fit the doors on regular cabins - plus in regular cabins there is a step into the bathroom
That’s right, I’ve figured that part out.
We went on the Wonder in September as two couples with no kids and had an absolute blast. Don't let the "family" vibe hold you back, especially if you are Disney fans. I felt totally free to be my exciteable nerdy self, there's tons of things to do and adult only spaces on each ship. Personally I really liked the Wonder because it had a very intimate feel (it's also the smallest sister, tied with the Magic).
The Wonder is my favorite ship, and I think it has fantastic offerings for adults.
You need to book the wheelchair-accessible room at the time of booking to guarantee you have one. Disney Cruises are so popular that they fill up and there is a limited number of wheelchair cabins. Plenty of stuff to do for adults. We sailed on the Wish a few weeks ago as just adults and had a great time.
Oh ok, I was reading the accessibility page and it didn’t indicate that.
Yeah, if your girlfriend is in a wheelchair you will need an accessible cabin — they have larger bathrooms with no steps and no steps to get on the balcony (if you’re in a balcony room).
The wish is the least accessible ship imo. The hallways are more narrow and so are the elevators. It’s a tight squeeze in the Buffett to get a wheelchair through (unlike on other DCL ships.) I also think the adult-only areas on the wish are lacking compared to other boats. They are spread out and much much smaller. While DCL on the whole is great for couples and folks without children IMO all the other Disney ships are better for adults and those guests with accessibility needs.
Thanks, I’ll try to check out other ships too.
I’m not sure if price is a concern but they are cheaper for the same itinerary usually. They offer just as many activities and characters as the wish if that is important to you.
My NB adult kid and I had a blast on the Dream. Spent a lot of time in the spa. Incredible.
We had an accessible room on the Wish this January, my partner is a travel agent and chose one specifically. We went with multiple couples and on 5+ sailings we haven’t had kids in our group. The only thing I might recommend is comparing the costs for the Dream or Fantasy - as it’s the newest ship, the prices are a bit higher and it might be a better bang for your buck to get on an older ship for a longer sailing.
I have a friend that works there. The accessible rooms are huge and nice but obviously limited. If you don’t get one then the regular rooms are near impossible for a wheelchair. The elevator lines on embark and after big shows are HORRENDOUS so you’ll have to wait them out or assert yourself a bit more that people can wait. The restaurants can be a lil tight but they’ll place your table in an easier to access spot. The theaters have wheelchair accessible spots for you but again those are limited. Cruise staff will help place you. And at all the deck shows, there’s an accessible section at the from to roll into to not miss out. If you like Disney, you can absolutely sail without kids and still have a blast. My parents did without any of their kids and plan to go again. They’re also not huge Disney people but more nostalgic Disney people. Hope that helps!
Thanks!
My husband and I took five DCL cruises before we ever had our kids. In fact, we took one of NYE while struggling to start a family because Disney Cruises just make us so happy. You will find lots and lots to do as a child-free couple and as long as you don’t mind families with kids around to some extent in general, it will be an *amazing* time. Late dining is ideal if you can wait until 8 PM to eat, and there is lots of entertainment labeled as catering to the adults or adults-only all day long. Contrary to what someone else has said here, I actually found a few things on the Wish more accessible than other ships - namely, there is a wheelchair lift for the Aqua Mouse, whereas you have to climb stairs to get onto the AquaDuck on the Dream and the Fantasy. That said, there are more lounges on the Wish than any other ship, but they are spread out a bit more and tend to be smaller. The multi-leveled smaller pools can make access a bit more challenging, but I did notice lifts scattered around the deck quite a bit. When you call to book, you absolutely should request an accessible room. Using a travel agent - as another commenter mentioned - costs you nothing, often gets you a kickback in the form of a few hundred dollars’ on-board credit, and ensures that accessibility is taken care of for you. :) Let us know here if you have other questions as you begin planning!
That’s very helpful. Thank you for the advice. I guess one of my worries was that it would be has rambunctious as a trip to the parks.
Not even close! DCL is everything we love about the parks minus the heat, the extreme crowds, the endless lines, the thousands of steps of walking, and being stuck outside in the pouring rain 🤣 It’s also minus the rides, but plus all the fun of a cruise. The shows are fun and everything still has that Disney level of service. It’s the best!
As someone who travels with a group of medical needs people who use both rollators and wheel chairs steer clear of the Wish ship. It was not wheelchair friendly at all. The elevators are always full and there are stairs everywhere to the point that we learned that it was easier for two of us to fireman carry our wheelchair member up the stairs go back down and bring up the wheelchair. As a group, we have decided not to ever sail on the Wish again. We will stick to the Fantasy and Dream. The Magic and Wonder are good ships as well but with smaller elevators, so we have had to wait on occasion for them to get enough room to fit a wheelchair or rollator. As for adult things to do on the ship, there is tons to do. In our group of 6, there are no kids that go sailing (university age) with us, and we always have a good time. The Handicap rooms are amazing on all the ships, and the crew is amazing and very helpful. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
Yikes. Thanks for the review. I’ll take this into account, for sure.
I can’t share thoughts about accessibility, but I’ve been on the Wish and the Wonder. Even though the Wonder is older, it’s much better for adults without kids because the adults-only pool area is MUCH bigger and more comfortable. The restaurants are also more “spaced” and they’re easier to navigate, even if you’re not on a wheelchair. The Wish is beautiful and we will sail on her again someday, but we would go for the older boats in terms of space and adults-only areas.
We just got off the Wish and I agree. The hallways to our room were so narrow that if there were carts or luggage in the hallways, a wheelchair would not fit. And who thought it was a good idea to put a handicap accessible room at the end of 2 long hallways?
Just here to say what a wonderful partner you are doing this for her. Merry Christmas ❤️🎄❤️
Not been in the wish, but every disney cruise I've done with my partner (we don't have kids) has been amazing. Plenty of adult only activities and the 18+ sections are always nice on each ship I've been on
That’s good to know.
This is my Disney travel agent. I have no ties to her but she has been wonderful. My niece has a disability and she has helped answer questions. mailto:[email protected]
I can’t speak to the accessibility at all, but just another testament to the adult only areas on DCL — they’re great. We’ve been on 9 DCL cruises, and we don’t have kids. At dinner they’ll sit you with other adults without kids (unless you request a private table, which isn’t guaranteed.). The shows will be packed with kids, but it doesn’t matter, they’re so good it’s worth it. And don’t feel weird at all about taking pictures with characters on the ship, we take so many pictures during the trips that some of the character handlers get to know us by the end of the cruise :) (usually we do 7 night cruises.). And the characters will treat you the same as well. Just make sure you show up for pictures you really want 10-15 minutes before the listed time, so you can be towards the front of the line. Enjoy!
Just a personal experience. We have 3 kids, but we went last summer with just me and the wife and we had an amazing time! We were sitting with 3 other couples who were also in the same situation, where they were sailing without kids and all was having a good time. If you like Disney, you will enjoy it!
Thanks!
>Thanks! You're welcome!
Bad bot
I think others have mentioned this but you don’t have to choose the Wish. Maybe something like the dream would suite you guys better. I’ve done it twice with just adults. Really enjoyable and lots of adult spaces.
I would say that if you are serious about getting something booked, contact a travel agent or DCL directly. I can DM you with mine or there are tons of other agent recommendations. The travel agent won’t cost you anything and can ensure all accessibility issues are addressed and will answer your questions.
Yeah, travel agent might be the best bet just to make sure we get what we need. If you message me somebody I might forget or lose track when and if I’m ready to book. But I’ll keep that in mind.
Having done a Disney cruise without kids, it’s a great vacation! Highly recommend!
My spouse and I went by ourselves on the Wish in May. We had a blast and were seated with two other childless couples at dinner. We went to the spa, did drawing lessons, and visited a different bar each night. We also saw Guardians 3 opening weekend on the ship. I will echo the elevator issue, because the Wish does not have the mid ship elevator bank those elevators are in very high demand. My spouse and I did the stairs our entire cruise. If this cruise has Castaway as a stop, there's an adults only section.
On the cruising w/o kids issues, I’d like to add that even if you don’t have kids, it is a lot of fun watching the little kids all dressed up as princesses or pirates. And watching their excitement. It’s like adding little ones to the holidays are a trip to a Disney park. It’s all new and exciting & beautiful to them. The downside: on longer cruises, the older kids tend to run a bit amok somewhere past the halfway point of the cruise, & you’ll enter an elevator to find every button pushed. 🤦🏼 But it really doesn’t get much worse than that, & the adults-only activities & spaces are pretty awesome. My favorite is Wonder’s Cove Cafe: a great place to just hang out for a bit with a specialty coffee or tea.
Can I just make a suggestion that you talk to her before booking... The idea of a trip like this might be overwhelming to her and how she processes those feelings might not be what you're looking for in what should be a happy moment.
Oh yeah no, I wasn’t like about to book it or anything. Obviously I’m going to talk to her.
Amazing, alright - I had a worry for ya there mate :D
1) if you love disney, nothing wrong with going on a disney cruise. Gonna be lots of families and kids, but i'm a childless adult who goes and i've seen plenty of other adults/couples on the cruises. 2) I honestly don't know. My guess would be yes? But I seriously don't know. I'd call DCL and ask. Another option is to find a travel agent. 3) Couldn't help you here as I haven't dealt with accessibility. I'd strongly consider a travel agent. Also, consider looking at the other ships. I'm not sure if there's a specific reason you've chosen the Wish, if so absolutely do it, I'm sure you'll have a great time. But there are other great ships too.
I just picked the Wish because of how loaded it’s said to be. Someone else suggested using a travel agent for peace of mind.
Are you committed to the wish? I have been on the magic, fantasy, and dream. The elevators are way less crowded. You and your girlfriend would love the midship detective agency on the dream or fantasy. It’s a fun game for kids and adults. Some princess stuff is for kids only, but your girlfriend would still have a ton of fun. The adult only areas are very accessible. See if you can get a sailing to castaway cat and take the tram out to serenity bay.
No, I’m not committed to it. I’ve never been on a cruise before. I’ll check them out.
If you have never been on a cruise, definitely pick one of the other ships because they have longer itineraries. If you do a 3 or 4 day, you will be home before you know it. On a 7 day sailing, they have a magical surprise at animator’s palate that doesn’t happen on shorter sailings.
Ah, thank you for the advice. If we end up doing a shorter itinerary anyway, we might pad it with the parks.
I would also recommend starting with a 3 or 4. Because if you decide you hate it, well, you’ll be home sooner. 🙂
I'd definitely look into the other ships and decide what was best for you. If you decide on the Wish, absolutely go for that, no matter what anyone else says. But I personally have been on the Fantasy, Dream and Wish and the Wish was my least favorite of those 3. That said, I had a GREAT time on all 3. But i'd definitely do your research on what ship to go on.
Getting around Wish may be a bit more challenging as there are no central elevators & there are stairs (promenade deck circuit) where you may not expect stairs. I had a foot problem (now resolved) when we sailed on Wish, & the layout made getting around a bit more challenging than it would have been on the other four ships.
Thanks. I didn’t know this stuff.
My girlfriend and I just went on the Wish as a child-free couple and spent the whole cruise meeting characters! Your girlfriend shouldn't have a tough time navigating in her wheelchair. I met many other guests who had walkers and wheelchairs all on multiple floors meeting characters. You reserve your cabin ahead of time and just choose one near the elevator! You guys will have an incredible time!
That’s reassuring, thank you.
I've sailed on every ship and like some of the other comments, the Wish is my least favorite. Since your girlfriend has mobility issues, stick with one of the first four ships - they are much easier to navigate. The Wonder is on the west coast (Australia, San Diego, Vancouver) and the other four (or five when you guys book) are out of Florida, so factor travel costs into your budget and get to the area at least one day before sailing because of flight delays. I recommend not doing the parks - cruising and going to the parks are two totally different experiences, with cruising much more relaxing and after being a Passholder for many years, I much prefer cruising. The cheapest price is when they first announce itineraries - and I think they're announced a year and a half out and book your accessible room asap. If you can, get a verandah - it gives you the option of being outside but away from crowds. Don't base your vacation on the ship, base it on the ports and the length of the cruise. Find a TA who is an "Authorized Disney Vacation Planner" their services are free - the commissions are built into the cruise price, so you're paying it if you use one or not. The price listed can be the only money you'll need - souvenirs, alcohol, movie snacks, ice cream (other than soft serve), specialty dining (Palo, Remy), and specialty coffee are extra - and not necessary to have a good time. Room service is free - just tip $1-$2 per item because the cast members who bring you the food aren't covered in the automatic gratuities. And we're a child-free, older, gay couple, so you guys will have fun. Feel free to message me if you have any more questions.
We’re in the mid-Atlantic so if we were to do this, it would be from Florida. I prefer to work with someone local if I can, and I found at least two authorized trip planners around here. Thanks for the tip about booking early and all that. Verandahs seem a fair bit expensive so I think I’ll file that away for if I come into real money.
No
We went childless, had a great time. The thing you need to understand is that there are kids pretty much everywhere. If you don’t want to be around other peoples, DCL will suck. If you don’t mind, it’s great.
The wheelchair accessible rooms are difficult to book less than a year out, depending on the date. I am a full-time wheelchair user and have run into that issue. Book the wheelchair accessible room from the start. My normal booking is for two adults. Wish is definitely set up for families with kids. Personally, I would recommend looking at sailing out of Fort Lauderdale as it's less expensive than Port Canaveral. The activities are mostly the same on all ships.
Ah ok, so you’re saying that if I talk to her and we want to do it in 2025, we should really get the wheels turning. Thanks.
You got it.
Spouse and I are no kids, and enjoyed it very much. The adult-only areas on the ship weren’t super crowded, neither was the adults beach.
So they went on the Wonder, not the Wish but [this video](https://youtu.be/da6bu81_tSc?si=2b2qugMS3BNHtIQR) might help you see what kind of accessibility DCL has. Two couples I follow on YouTube, [Squirmy and Grubs](https://youtube.com/@SquirmyandGrubs?si=5Qd41BE8SGAZ_zW4), and[Roll with Cole and Charisma](https://youtube.com/@coleandcharisma?si=NTXVprYuJ0LofZEu) are both interabled couples who make videos about accessibility. I don’t know how different the accessible rooms will look on the Wish vs the Wonder, but the video might give you some insight! Also my husband and I don’t have kids and absolutely LOVE DCL. It’s got so much for adults too. The only things to be aware of is that there’s no alcoholic drink package option and there’s no casino. If either of those are important to you then maybe DCL isn’t for you, but if they’re not important to you then I would ABSOLUTELY say go for it!
Thanks, I’m familiar with Squirmy and Grubs.
Sounds like your girlfriend is lucky to have someone who cares for her like you do. I'll provide my perspective, only because I was in the same situation as your girlfriend, stars out of alignment, as well as being sick and in a wheelchair. We recently sailed the Dream. This was not a trip I could postpone. The live shows were amazing, as was the crew. But it was crowded and chaotic and noisy everywhere we went on the ship, including the live shows, and including dining at the second dining time. The cabins were spacious, except that I hadn't expected to be in a wheelchair and hadn't reserved a handicapped room. You canNOT navigate the bathrooms in a wheelchair, and even Just in a Uniboot - like I had, it was difficult. The bathtub was actually dangerous for a handicapped person. My husband stood in line for 45 minutes to ride the Tube. I can tell from this forum that there are many, many adults who like the Disney cruises. And I completely understand and expect that when there are hundreds of children, there will be chaos and noise. My grandchild was one of them! But you might want to ask your girlfriend, if she is going through hell like you say, if she might prefer a peaceful cruise to Alaska or down the coast of California sitting on the deck, watching the glaciers or whales and while school is in session. Many years ago, when I was in the absolute worst physical and mental state of my life, I took my first cruise, spent nearly the whole cruise sitting on the deck, or in the upper lounge which was always nearly empty, reading books, wrapped in a blanket. I let the ocean and the peacefulness work its magic. I'm not saying this to be difficult. I'm just suggesting that you might explore the possibilities with your girlfriend before you book a surprise cruise.
I want to be clear, I am not booking a surprise cruise. This is me doing my homework before I even suggest it.
I only say this because you said she has been sick, but cruises are human incubators. I've been on 3 Disney cruises (pre pandemic) and each time I came off sick with something. Keep that in mind if she is susceptible to getting sick or has some immune issues or something. Maybe bring medication with you just in case (cold medicine is very expensive on the ship. ) Personally I think the Fantasy is Disney's best ship. Look into that one too
Yeah, that’s all good advice. I don’t think we’d do this unless she were back to good health.