What We Didn’t Love About the Disney Wish with Young Kids
I’ll be the first to say it: our first Disney Cruise Line sailing on the Wish was magical. The ship is stunning, the service is unmatched, and our daughters still talk about it like it was a dream come true. But traveling with preschoolers is never without its quirks—and there were definitely a few things that didn’t quite work for us.
If you’re considering the Wish with little ones, here’s the honest side of our experience.
Limited Kid-Friendly Spaces Outside the Clubs
Disney does a phenomenal job with entertainment—character meet-and-greets, Broadway-style shows, deck parties—but what we found ourselves wishing for was something a little more…simple. An indoor (or outdoor) playground would have been perfect.
On sea days, if you weren’t at the pool or watching a movie, there weren’t many options where our kids could just be kids. Instead, we made our own fun:
“Follow the 4-Year-Old” became a family game. Our daughter loved exploring the ship, running up ten flights of stairs just to see the artwork or peek at new spaces. It kept her entertained, but it wasn’t exactly relaxing for us!
Kids Club Didn’t Quite Fit Our Crew
One of the biggest selling points for families is the Oceaneer Club, Disney’s supervised kids’ program. And while it’s wonderfully themed and very safe, it wasn’t a hit with our girls.
The main issue? Once inside, the kids were grouped with a counselor and didn’t have the freedom to freely explore the space. At 3.5 and 4.5 years old, ours didn’t love being “assigned” instead of roaming, so their interest faded quickly. I completely understand why Disney structures it this way—safety and security are top priorities—but it meant we didn’t get the “kids begging to go back” experience that some families rave about.
Gaps in the Schedule for Little Ones
There are always character greetings happening on the Wish (and if that’s your thing, you’ll be thrilled). But when our girls weren’t in the mood to stand in line for another photo, it sometimes felt like our only other choices were the pool or a movie. Neither of those filled an entire afternoon for us, especially since our kids were a little too young to sit through long films.
I wasn’t expecting to be entertained every moment, but I did miss having a few more low-key, kid-focused activities outside of the scheduled shows.
Hard-to-Find Water Stations
Another small but frustrating detail: the lack of accessible water stations. We brought refillable bottles to stay hydrated, but keeping them full was harder than it needed to be. The only places we consistently found water were on the pool deck or in Marceline Market. That meant remembering to top off whenever we happened to be in those areas—or trekking back when we realized the kids were thirsty.
Not a dealbreaker, but definitely something to plan for if your family relies on water bottles throughout the day.
The Bottom Line
None of these things ruined our trip—in fact, we had a wonderful time. But if you’re sailing the Wish with preschoolers, it’s worth knowing what the rhythm of the ship feels like.
Our takeaway? Be ready to make your own fun in between the big Disney moments. Pack some bubbles, let your kids lead the way, and embrace the ship as a giant, very magical playground (even if it means trekking up ten decks—or retracing your steps for water refills).
