In just one week, we’ll be setting sail aboard the Disney Destiny, and to say the excitement is building would be a massive understatement.
This isn’t just another cruise countdown for us. This sailing feels especially exciting because so many of our agents will be onboard, along with much of our social team, management, and of course, the one who founded Academy Travel, Lisa Federico. That alone would make this trip feel special, but when you add in the fact that we’ll be experiencing one of Disney’s most highly anticipated new ships together, the hype is very, very real.
The Disney Destiny already feels like it’s going to bring a bold new energy to the fleet, and we cannot wait to finally step onboard, see it all in person, and share the experience along the way.
Why This Sailing Feels So Special to Us
There’s something really fun about a cruise countdown when you know you’re not just sailing, you’re sailing with your people.
This voyage feels extra exciting because it’s more than just a ship preview. It’s a chance for our team to experience the Disney Destiny together, explore everything it offers firsthand, and bring that energy back to the families and travelers we help every day.
Having so many of our agents on board means this sailing is going to be full of shared moments, fresh perspectives, and so much excitement as we all discover the ship together. Add in our social team and management, and this already feels like one of those trips we’ll be talking about long after we’re back on land.
And honestly? There’s just something especially fun about getting to experience a brand-new Disney ship with a group that truly gets the magic.
The Disney Destiny Has Such a Bold, Exciting Vibe
One of the biggest reasons we’re so excited about the Disney Destiny is that this ship feels like it’s bringing a completely different kind of energy.
From everything Disney has revealed so far, the Disney Destiny leans into a powerful heroes-and-villains theme, blending beloved Disney, Pixar, and Marvel stories into spaces that already sound incredibly immersive. Disney is highlighting a dramatic Grand Hall, a villain-inspired AquaMouse experience, and several lounges and entertainment spaces themed around iconic characters and stories.
That makes this ship feel like more than just “new.” It feels cinematic, detailed, and full of personality — which is exactly the kind of thing Disney Cruise Line does so well.
Some of our team have sailed on the Destiny already, but for the rest of us who haven’t, you already know we are absolutely ready to obsess over every detail.
We Cannot Wait to See the Grand Hall in Person
Every Disney ship has that one “wow” space that sets the tone the second you step onboard, and we have a feeling the Grand Hall is going to be exactly that on the Disney Destiny.
This is the kind of space that creates first impressions, and we already know we’ll be taking it all in the second we board. It’s one thing to see concept art and previews online, it’s another thing entirely to walk into a brand-new ship and experience that atmosphere for yourself.
We’re fully expecting that first onboard moment to be one of the biggest highlights of the whole sailing.
The Dining Might Be One of the Biggest Stars of the Ship
Let’s be honest: one of the best parts of any Disney cruise is the food and dining experience, and the Disney Destiny sounds like it’s bringing some seriously exciting options to the table.
One of the biggest standouts for us is Pride Lands: Feast of The Lion King, which is being featured as one of the ship’s rotational dining experiences. The Disney Destiny is also set to include favorites like Worlds of Marvel and 1923, creating a lineup that is already packed with storytelling and atmosphere.
That combination alone has us excited because Disney dining is never just about the meal — it’s about the full experience.
We already know this is going to be one of the biggest categories we’ll be paying attention to onboard, because people always want to know:
- What’s worth ordering?
- Which dining room is the most fun?
- What feels the most immersive?
- And what’s actually worth the hype?
Trust us — we will be reporting back.
The Adult Spaces Look So Good
One thing we’re especially excited to experience as a group on the Disney Destiny is the ship’s adults-only and elevated lounge spaces.
Disney is spotlighting several standout venues onboard, including the Haunted Mansion Parlor, The Sanctum, De Vil’s, The Rose, Palo Steakhouse, and Enchanté. The Haunted Mansion Parlor is described by Disney as a first-of-its-kind adults-only lounge, while The Sanctum is themed around Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange.
And honestly? This lineup sounds incredible.
These are exactly the kinds of spaces that help show how Disney Cruise Line really balances family fun with grown-up escapes. Whether it’s a themed cocktail, a beautifully designed lounge, or just that feeling of finding your favorite onboard hangout, we already know this part of the ship is going to be a major talking point.
This is also one of the areas we’re most excited to capture and share, because it’s such a huge part of what makes a Disney cruise appealing for adults, couples, and parents too.
There’s So Much for Families to Be Excited About
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Disney cruise without an incredible lineup of family fun — and the Disney Destiny sounds packed with it. As a mom to an almost 2-year-old, I am beyond excited to watch my daughter experience it all.
Disney is promoting an all-new AquaMouse water coaster adventure themed around Disney villains, along with Hero Zone, Toy Story Splash Zone, family pools and water play areas, and even two onboard cinemas: Wonderland Cinema and Never Land Cinema. The ship is also set to feature the Haunted Mansion Happy Hunt, an interactive scavenger hunt experience for guests using DisneyBand+.
That’s the kind of lineup that makes this ship feel like it’s going to deliver for all ages.
As much as we love the lounges, dining, and design details, we’re just as excited to see how the Disney Destiny feels for families — because that’s such a huge part of what makes Disney Cruise Line so special in the first place.
And if you’re the kind of traveler who wants to know what’s actually worth prioritizing onboard, this is one of the biggest things we’ll be paying attention to.
We’re Also So Curious to See the Staterooms
A gorgeous ship is one thing — but the stateroom experience is what can really shape how a cruise feels once you settle in. Stay tuned because we have a surprise as to where exactly we will be staying.
Disney says the Disney Destiny staterooms are designed with families in mind, with features like split bathrooms in many rooms, under-bed storage, pull-down beds, and Disney storytelling touches throughout. Disney is also highlighting a range of accommodations, from inside rooms to verandah staterooms and larger concierge suites.
We already know stateroom tours are one of the things people always want to see most, so this is definitely going to be one of the areas we focus on while onboard.
Because yes, we all want to know the important things:
- How does the room feel?
- Is there enough storage?
- Is it family-friendly?
- And does it feel worth it?
We’ll be paying close attention.
What We’ll Be Sharing From Onboard
One of the things we’re most excited about is being able to bring all of this to life for you in real time.
Since so many of our agents and team members will be sailing, we’re going to have such a fun opportunity to share different perspectives and experiences from around the ship. That means you can expect a lot of coverage, a lot of excitement, and a lot of Disney Destiny content coming your way both while we sail and beyond.
We’ll be sharing things like:
- ship tours and first impressions
- stateroom walkthroughs
- concierge level experience
- dining experiences
- adult lounge highlights
- family-friendly must-dos
- onboard details and hidden gems
- what surprised us most
- what we’d prioritize again
In other words: if you’re Disney Destiny-curious, we’ve got you.
One Week Out — and We Are So Ready
At this point, the countdown is officially on.
In just one week, we’ll be stepping aboard the Disney Destiny and experiencing it all for ourselves — and we genuinely cannot wait. Between the incredible ship, the brand-new spaces, the immersive dining, the family fun, and the fact that we’ll be sharing it all with such an amazing group from our team, this sailing already feels incredibly special.
This is the kind of trip that brings together excitement, discovery, and that unmistakable Disney feeling — and we are so ready for it.
The Disney Destiny, we’re coming for you.
