Disney Cruise Line Backlash: Guests Expose Shocking Service Failures, “Multiple Piles of Vomit”

Since its debut in 1998 with the Disney Magic, Disney Cruise Line has consistently set itself apart from competitors by blending luxury hospitality with immersive, themed entertainment.

The fleet quickly expanded with the Disney Wonder, Dream, and Fantasy, followed by the Wish in 2022. Last year, the Disney Treasure joined the lineup, with Disney Destiny and Disney Adventure set to launch later in 2025. Future expansions include a partnership with The Oriental Land Company, bringing additional ships to Tokyo, Japan.

Despite the company’s strong reputation, recent reports suggest that one vessel, the Disney Fantasy, may not be meeting the usual high standards. A dissatisfied guest recently shared their experience on Reddit, detailing several concerns about their trip.

The post cited multiple issues with dining service, including extended wait times, cold food, and inattentive staff. Plates were allegedly left uncleared, drinks were missing or unfilled, and the guest’s table was consistently served last.

Most alarming was the claim to have “witnessed someone throwing up multiple times, saw multiple piles of vomit and some sat and weren’t cleaned.”

While Disney Cruise Line generally receives high praise from travelers, this guest’s experience resonated with others who had encountered similar service issues aboard the Fantasy.

“We had a similar experience on the Fantasy, but complained on board and it improved,” wrote one user. “The food was fine, service wasn’t great. I do think there was a high number of sick crew on our sailing that impacted things though.”

Another complained that they experienced “exceedingly long waits, cold food, some food never showed up and gross amounts of sick kids that required entire tables to be flipped/sanitized/re-served.” They added, “We were told protocol is to strip the table, change the chairs and give everyone a new plate of food… But they can’t ask a guest (even if they are actively sick) to leave. They do notify the nurse/doctor on board to have them come evaluate the guest back in their room.”

But not all feedback was negative.

Several guests countered these claims, sharing their own recent experiences aboard the Disney Fantasy, which they described as overwhelmingly positive. One traveler who sailed in late January reported excellent service, hot food, and attentive staff who had drinks ready before seating.

Another, who was on the same cruise, echoed this sentiment, stating that their group was served promptly and efficiently each night.

Despite these mixed reviews, the Disney Fantasy continues to offer many of the signature experiences that have defined Disney Cruise Line, from themed dining venues like Royal Court, Enchanted Garden, and Animator’s Palate to Broadway-style productions of Aladdin (1992) and Frozen (2013).

With such a wide range of guest experiences, it remains to be seen whether these complaints reflect a larger trend or isolated incidents.

Have you sailed on the Disney Fantasy recently?