After 13 years, one Disney Cruise Line ship is undergoing some major updates.
Launched in 1996 as a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, Disney Cruise Line has grown into a major player in the family cruise market. Its first ship, Disney Magic, debuted in 1998, followed by Disney Wonder the next year. Today, the fleet consists of six equally magical ships, with even more vessels on the way in the near future.
The Disney Fantasy entered service in 2012 as the fourth ship in the fleet and a sister vessel to the Disney Dream. Built to carry up to 4,000 passengers, the ship offers a mix of Broadway-style shows, character appearances, themed dining, and the popular AquaDuck water coaster.
Disney Cruise Line Unveils Changes For the Disney Fantasy
Later this year, the ship is set to undergo some big changes.
According to the Disney Cruise Line Instagram, the Disney Fantasy is set to debut “fantastic upgrades” this fall.
The ship is set to introduce a new funnel suite inspired by Sorcerer Mickey from Fantasia (1940). Concept art reveals a richly themed main seating area, while a featured photo shows a statue of Mickey in his iconic sorcerer’s attire, set to be a centerpiece of the suite’s interior design.
Another new addition coming to the Disney Fantasy is Ramone’s Cantina, a quick-service venue set to serve poolside tacos and bowls. The eatery draws inspiration from the Cars (2006) character and mirrors a similar location already found on the Disney Dream as part of Flo’s Café.
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Additional enhancements debuting this fall include a new concierge lounge themed after Disney’s Hercules (1997), continuing a design approach first introduced on the Disney Dream. The lounge is expected to blend luxury with mythological flair. Meanwhile, Edge—the tween club—will be relocated to Deck 5 and outfitted with updated features aimed at creating a more dynamic and engaging space.
Disney hasn’t announced the exact dates for these upgrades. However, it seems safe to assume that these enhancements will take place during the Disney Fantasy’s dry dock period, which was revised earlier this year, leading to the cancellation of several sailings between October 20 and November 12, 2025.
The ship has notably been hit by complaints recently over its dining service, including extended wait times, cold food, and inattentive staff. 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.”
Additional Changes Heading to DCL Ships
As Disney seeks to upgrade one of its older ships, yet another new ship is set to join the fleet in November.
The Disney Destiny embarks on its maiden voyage on November 20, 2025, when it will showcase a range of Marvel Cinematic Universe characters through themed spaces and experiences. Highlights include the Worlds of Marvel restaurant, offering a Guardians of the Galaxy dinner show, and a lounge modeled after Doctor Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum.
Its lobby is themed to Wakanda and anchored by a Black Panther statue, Spider-Man adorns the ship’s stern, while the Destiny Tower Suite draws design inspiration from Iron Man.
Other additions include Pride Lands: Feast of The Lion King, a first-of-its-kind musical dining experience, and the sophisticated dining destination 1923.
