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The Disney Treasure is the new favorite ship in the DCL fleet. It’s likely to be a fan favorite for Walt Disney World and Disneyland fans. This review covers its strengths and weaknesses.
The Disney Wish, the Treasure’s predecessor, is the least favorite by the reviewer. The Disney Wish garnered strong opinions, likely being a favorite for some and the least favorite for others.
To compare, a Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Wish was booked right before a media preview sailing on the Disney Treasure. The two back-to-back cruises highlighted the huge difference between the two ships.
On paper, the ships are very similar, both being Wish-class ships with identical size and layout. However, the design choices make a big difference.
Many of the negatives of the Disney Wish are present on the Disney Treasure, including the layout, AquaMouse, adult areas, and focus. If the Wish’s layout was disliked, the same will likely be felt about the Treasure.
These negatives are significant, but the focus will be on what the Disney Treasure does well. Although the layout might be unchanged and wayfinding unimproved, cruises are generally longer, allowing more time to get familiar.
It is impressive how the Disney Treasure overcomes the layout issues and becomes the new favorite thanks to these highlights:
Grand Hall
The Grand Hall on the Disney Wish was criticized for lacking detail and style, feeling superficial and not regal in the true sense.
The Disney Treasure’s Grand Hall shares the same structure as the Wish, but it has an Agrabah theme with a distinct style, unlike the bland Wish design. This bold choice gives the Grand Hall a singular voice.
A life-size bronze statue of Aladdin, Jasmine, and Magic Carpet is centered in the Grand Hall, surrounded by details inspired by the movie and its theme of adventure and treasure.
The carpet design incorporates elements of Jasmine’s courtyard, animals like Abu, and other details. Mosaics are also featured and are carried over into other areas of the ship.
The Agrabah theme might not be for everyone, but it clearly distinguishes the Disney Treasure from the Wish. This is clear from the moment you step foot into the Grand Hall.
Plaza de Coco
Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure was loved. Plaza de Coco offers fierce competition, and many consider it better.
Plaza de Coco is immersive, like stepping into the world of Coco. It includes a recreation of the Rivera’s Ofrenda and the Plaza de Santa Cecilia. The setting is textured, moody, and atmospheric, especially at night.
Recommending to seek a second seating if cruising during times of the year that have earlier sunsets is given.
Plaza de Coco is set three years after the movie, and this is evident in seeing its evolution. The long hallway leading to the main dining room tells more of the story.
On 7-night cruises, Plaza de Coco has 2 distinct nights of live entertainment with the most popular Coco and Mexican songs.
The second dinner show features Miguel and his great-great-grandparents celebrating Dia de los Muertos. This celebration of life is well executed, showing its importance.
The food was the only disappointment at Plaza de Coco. The meals were bland and mild, despite the rave reviews.
Periscope Pub
Periscope Pub is a hidden gem on the Disney Treasure. It’s inspired by 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
The bar features submarine-styled interiors and a glass ceiling. It has effects, props, and easter eggs, making it more immersive.
It is a calming, serene, and subtle environment. It’s great both for relaxing and watching football. It can also be a nice work environment to sit with a laptop.
All the lounges are an upgrade on the Disney Treasure compared to the Disney Wish. Scat Cat Lounge is sophisticated, Skipper Society is an upgrade over the Bayou, Sarabi is superior to Luna, HeiHei Cafe is elegant, and Jade Cricket Café is also a nice calming spot on the ship.
Tale of Moana
Tale of Moana is the best Broadway-style stage show on any Disney Cruise Line ship and one of the highlights of the Disney Treasure.
Going into the show without spoilers is recommended so the audience can be surprised by the moments of awe. The story is a retelling of Moana with some changes.
The songs from the film are presented, with “Shiny” being a scene stealer. The story is generally faithful to the original story, though some scenes and characters are omitted.
The casting is excellent. The exception is the “different direction” taken with Maui, which didn’t work with the performer. Despite this, the production was still amazing and a 10/10.
Tale of Moana surpasses other DCL stage shows that include Beauty and the Beast, Tangled, Frozen, and The Little Mermaid on The Wish. The Disney Treasure has the best lineup of Broadway-style shows in the fleet.
Coriander and Sage
Coriander and Sage are original characters created for the Disney Treasure. They are nomadic adventurers who bring wonder, comedy, heart, and emotion. They are storytellers like those in One Thousand and One Nights.
They have family-friendly shows in the Grand Hall but also have the “Choose Wisely” interactive show in Sarabi with Indiana Jones influence.
Coriander and Sage are the heart of the Disney Treasure. They tie together the ship’s themes and provide an enjoyable end to the voyage.
They’re streetmosphere-style entertainers that do a lot. With their trunks full of props, they give a participatory style of entertainment. Some may remember their adventures more than anything else on board. It is feared they’ll be budget cut due to being so small, which would be a great disappointment.
The Little Things
The Disney Treasure gets the little things right with more effort than the Wish. The budget seems to have been spent more wisely on this ship.
The Wish felt tedious. The artwork on the Wish seemed to focus more on making a statement than on incorporating magic and whimsy. The art on the Treasures felt like gorgeous Tiki Room concept art.
The Little Mermaid show on the wish was not very good. As compared to the The Tale of Moana on the Treasure the Wish show, it falls flat.
Despite identical bones (and cloned spaces), the Disney Treasure improved on all of the changes made. Each change was for the better.
Giving the designers a second chance resulted in learning from mistakes and putting forward much better ideas. There’s more detail, better stylistic choices, and the ship has been improved for the better.
The thoughtfulness of the design makes for a cohesive product and experience. The Disney Wish is a thematic mashup. The Disney Treasure is far superior to its predecessor for Disney theme park fans.
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of the Disney Treasure? If you have sailed, how does it compare to the legacy ships or the Disney Wish? What are your thoughts on the style, lounges, restaurants, and entertainment? Does this review have you excited to book a cruise on this ship, or are you awaiting more fan feedback/deals? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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