Setting Sail on the Disney Wish

Day 1: Embarking on Adventure

After two jam-packed days at Universal, you’d think we’d be ready for a rest — but instead, we traded Hogwarts for high seas and boarded the Disney Wish for a cruise none of us will ever forget.

The morning was crisp, the Florida sun only barely warming the air as we made our way to Port Canaveral. Despite the size of our crew, embarkation was surprisingly smooth, and before we knew it, we were stepping aboard the Disney Wish—a truly spectacular ship. The moment we stepped aboard, the ship felt like something out of a fairytale — grand staircases, sparkling chandeliers, and Disney magic in every corner

A Chilly First Splash & A Sweet First Bite

Naturally, the first thing we did? Secure deck chairs and then immediately brave the AquaMouse in freezing temperatures. The water was shockingly cold, but there was no turning back. Landon needed a buddy for his second ride, so I took one for the team. Funny enough, once you’re already frozen, the water actually feels warmer the second time. Pro tip.

After drying off (and thawing out), we made our way to our first meal at Marceline Market. It was a perfect welcome to cruise dining—fresh, delicious, and abundant. The standout? The chocolate mousse dessert. We quickly realized this would become a regular stop.

Sail Away Party & The Start of a Tradition

Next up was the Sail Away Party—an electric, high-energy kickoff complete with music, dancing, and, of course, Mickey and friends leading the fun. Some of us (okay, most of us) ended up dancing on stage, and that was the moment we knew: this was going to be an unforgettable trip.

But the real first-day tradition? Collecting charms from the jewelry shop. We quickly discovered that they wanted guests to sit through a presentation to get the bracelet, but we found a hack—they’ll just give you the bracelet on the last day! So, we made it our daily mission to stop in and grab a new charm.

Door Décor & Fish Extenders: The Crafting Payoff

Now we headed to floor 7 to check out our staterooms and decorate our doors. The girls’ “Tangled”-themed door was an undeniable showstopper, (Halle and I had so much fun designing it one weekend) while the boys’ “Cars” theme came in at a close second. Everywhere you looked, there was creativity and Disney magic.

Then, there were the Fish Extenders—my Winter Crafting Season masterpiece. I had spent weeks designing and creating them for everyone, and seeing them in action made it all worth it. But my true crowning achievement? The 3D-printed, interchangeable Mickey ears. The printer had been running non-stop for a month to get them done in time, and they turned out amazing! (I’ll do a separate blog post to properly show them off.)

Dinner & A Show

Before we knew it, it was time for the show! It was “Disney Seas the Adventure,” featuring Captain Minnie. Gwen was very pleased to see that Minnie had finally been given some pants. 

The first night’s dinner was at the Worlds of Marvel restaurant, where we were treated to interactive Marvel moments throughout the meal. Finn and Cy were absolutely thrilled to fist bump Spider-Man. It was a fun introduction to our rotational dining. We also got to sing Happy Birthday to Leo a few days early.

Karaoke Night: A Legendary Performance

After dinner, we headed to family karaoke, where Gwen, Halle, and Mave stole the show with “What Is This Feeling” from Wicked. Their energy, their comedic timing—it was perfection.

And just when we thought it couldn’t get better, Blake and Josh surprised us by signing up for “Mr. Brightside.” The entire crowd sang and danced along, turning the performance into an unexpected highlight of the night.