As my wife and I raised our two daughters, Disney played a big role in their lives. My girls sailed on every Disney cruise ship, visited numerous Disney theme parks, watched favorite Disney films on repeat, and took comfort with Disney character friends as snuggly bedtime stuffed animals. Now that we’re empty nesters, and our young adult daughters are making their own way in the world, it was this nostalgic recollection of past Disney joy that got me on board the line’s newest ship, Disney Destiny.
I was invited by Disney Cruise Line to experience a preview sailing of the Disney Destiny, and my daughter Maggie jumped at the opportunity to take a break from grad school and join me. We flew from our separate homes in New York and Massachusetts to meet up in Ft. Lauderdale and board the Disney Destiny in Port Everglades.
Maggie’s direct flight from Boston was smooth sailing, whereas my connecting flights were ensnarled in a morass of delays and cancellations. When I walked onto the ship with moments to spare before departure, I went straight to our stateroom, opened the door, and was greeted with cheers and hugs from my daughter. It was our Destiny to sail together, and a little bit of Disney magic came together to make it happen.
As we got our bearings navigating the ship, we noticed the hero and villain theme throughout. The forward elevator bay featured Maleficent in her malevolent dragon form, while an eager and courageous Sorcerer Mickey served as counterpoint near the aft elevators. A mosaic of Black Panther flanked by the powerful Dora Milaje warrior women lined the walls surrounding the grand hall. And The Incredibles adorned our stateroom walls. This short cruise would be a hero’s journey for sure.
We headed to the top deck for sustenance and grabbed a burrito bowl from Donald’s Cantina at Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods. Afterwards, we collected our Death Certificates with an adult beverage in the Haunted Mansion Parlor, and began to relax and unwind after a long day(s) of travel. When it was time for the sail-away party on the top deck, Spider-man made a quick appearance, and we all waved good-bye to Ft. Lauderdale. Already the well-known sights of Disney friends and nods to favorite theme park attractions helped put us at ease from the stress of travel.
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Onboard the Disney Destiny
My family enjoys DCL’s dinner-and-a-show routine. There are elaborate, immersive venues onboard the Disney Destiny, such as the Worlds of Marvel cinematic dining experience, Pride Lines: Feast of the Lion King dinner theater, and the Broadway-style shows “Disney’s Hercules” and “Frozen: A Musical Spectacular.”
Yet where did we end up spending most of our time? Playing trivia, watching live game shows, and making crafts. With all the theming and techno-wizardry onboard, Maggie was just as impressed with the giant-sized box of brand-new markers available for adult crafts in the Cask & Cannon pirate-themed bar. What I found was that the familiarity and comfort of Disney Cruise Line permitted us to disconnect from the outside world and connect with each other. We allowed ourselves time to play games, and the resulting fun and laughter carried over to other spaces.
I struck up a conversation with Chewbacca and Rey in the Star Wars: Cargo Bay during an open house of the Oceaneer’s Club kids’ area. I wished Chewie a “Happy Life Day,” and when Rey asked if I could sing the Life Day song, I sung until Chewie broke out laughing. Later, Maggie challenged me to a race on the inflatable Incredi-Games obstacle course in the Hero Zone. I accepted, and we both laughed hysterically throughout the course until we were out of breath by the time we slid down the final slide.
After dinner at Pride Lands and watching “Hercules” on stage, we had just enough time to change into our pirate garb and head topside for Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party followed by fireworks. Yes, Disney Cruise Line created conditions and spaces that allowed us to cast our seriousness aside and simply enjoy each other’s company.
On the final night, my daughter and I dined at Palo Steakhouse, one of the adults-only premium dining venues on board (available for an extra charge). We chose the four-course fixed price meal (for $55 each) and had a leisurely dinner that stretched somewhere between 90 minutes to two hours. Because of our relaxation and attachment we made throughout the cruise, we were able to have an in-depth conversation and meal as two adults. Maggie filled me in on the intricacies of her graduate school thesis, and we connected in a way we had not done before. After we finished our chocolate soufflé, we headed back to the Grand Hall for one last character-filled farewell show.
The Disney Destiny immerses families in the epic tales of heroes and villains and good vs. evil that fill the familiar stories from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and more. During our short voyage, we fully enjoyed playing in those worlds and shedding our more serious natures. The spaces, characters, and people on board the Disney Destiny created the proper conditions for our family to reconnect.
