The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Don’t let expectations get in the way of fun
A trip on Disney’s newest cruise ship reminded me of an important lesson about travel and entertainment: Don’t let your expectations prevent you from having a good time.
The Disney Cruise Line’s new, 4,000-passenger Disney Wish welcomes its first guests in Florida this month, but Disney invited several hundred reporters onboard for a media preview at the end of June. I was looking forward to three much-hyped new experiences on the ship: the Aquamouse water coaster, which Disney called its “first attraction at sea”; an all-new Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge; and a Marvelthemed interactive dinner show called “Avengers: Quantum Encounter.”
None of the three delivered what I expected.
The Aquamouse promised show scenes not found on the Aquaduck water coasters aboard other Disney cruise ships. But the new show tunnel on this coaster’s lift hill looked more like — in the words of one reader — a “CT scan tube.” The tube included some basic screens showing clips from a new Mickey Mouse cartoon, but otherwise this was pretty much the same ride as the Aquaduck.
Which is great. Once I let go of my expectation for a more immersive attraction experience, I loved getting soaked on the launches and taking in the amazing views from the ride’s clear tunnels atop the ship.
Fans online have been dragging the Wish’s Hyperspace Lounge for its lackluster theming, inspired by a lounge in “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” the lowestgrossing live-action “Star Wars” film. It’s also a tiny space, forcing many passengers to wait for a seat. But while waiting, I fell in love with The Bayou, a “The Princess and the Frog”-themed lounge just outside the Hyperspace Lounge entrance. It’s a delightful space, adorned with magnolia blossoms and serving fun drinks and bites.
The promised interactivity in the Marvel show turned out to be pressing a button on a “glow with the show”-style “quantum core” centerpiece at each table. But the show, presented on screens throughout the restaurant, offered funny bits with Paul Rudd’s Ant-man, followed by a thrilling new live-action Avengers battle, all set on the ship.
After my top three experience did not go as planned, I braced myself to endure the Wish’s new “Frozen”-themed dinner show, hoping that having to hear the umpteenth performance of “Let It Go” would not spoil my appetite too much. But “Arendelle — A Frozen Dining Adventure” turned out to be my favorite thing on the trip. Designed to look like a hallway and banquet room in Arendelle Castle — complete with views of the sea — the space hosts a musical engagement dinner for Anna and Kristoff, to which we all are invited. The best part? Elsa does not sing “Let It Go” — Kristoff and Oaken do, in a hilarious and endearing “bachelor party” scene.
Lesson learned. Sure, do the research in advance to find what destinations interest you. But when you get there, be willing to set aside your expectations and allow yourself to experience the place and the moment for what they are. That flexibility might be what is needed for your vacation “wish” to come true.