5 ‘Must-Dos’ aboard the Disney Adventure

With a home port of Singapore and a design that’s unique from every other ship in the fleet, The Disney Adventure is the largest ship in the entire Disney Cruise Line armada, and, just like its sister theme park in Orlando, uses the “blessing of size” to offer a wide variety of areas to explore.

1. Get Your Hero On

In a previous article, I broke down the most deeply themed part of the ship’s offerings, San Fransokyo Street, but that’s not the only area on the ship where you can immerse yourself in the world of Marvel.

Marvel Landing is the most unique themed area on any Disney Ship, as it’s the only one with actual attractions: Groot Galaxy Spin, a play on the classic Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction (but with a Guardians of the Galaxy twist); Pym Quantum Racers, an Autopia-type driving attraction with embiggened toy cars; and Ironcycle Test Run, a powered roller coaster that traverses the entire upper deck. During my voyage, we were only able to experience Groot Galaxy Spin and Quantum Racers, both of which were fun. Riding them while looking out over the ocean only added to the excitement.

Marvel Landing is also home to the Infinity Pool (pun most definitely intended), an infinity pool offering breathtaking ocean views from high atop deck 18, and the Infinity Bar, a lounge that serves hot dogs with toppings inspired by Asian flavors.

One notable difference between the Adventure and other Disney Cruise ships is that there are no “Adult Only” areas; however, in my opinion, the Infinity pool area is secluded and quiet, so it will most likely end up becoming a de facto adult area (at least unofficially).

2. Go on a Culinary Adventure

One way the Disney Adventure sets itself apart from the other ships in the DCL fleet is through its food. While some of the old standbys remain, such as Palo, Adventure introduces bold new concepts to the Disney Cruise Line Experience, especially in its onboard quick-service offerings.

Instead of the traditional flavors you might find at Mickey & Friends Festival of Foods, like Mexican, BBQ, and Pizza, the Disney Adventure has its own quick-service locations in the two large “canyons” of the ship (Disney Imagination Garden and Disney Discovery Reef).

In Imagination Garden, Gramma Tala’s Kitchen offers flavors from the Pacific and Asia, while across the way, Mowgli’s Eatery serves Indian cuisine; in Discovery Reef, you can eat like an Avenger at Cosmic Kebabs or enjoy American comfort food with a Hawaiian twist at Stitch’s Ohana Grill.

For those looking for a more exclusive dining experience, the Disney Adventure is the only ship where you can find Mike & Sulley’s Flavors of Asia, modeled after Harryhausen’s restaurant from the Disney-Pixar classic Monsters, Inc.

This upscale eatery offers four distinct dining options—a full-service Japanese steakhouse, a lively Teppanyaki room, Omakase-style dining, and an outdoor sushi-sashimi experience. During our trip, we had the pleasure of dining at the steakhouse portion of this venue, and it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had at sea.

3. See a Show (or Four)

Disney Cruise Line has always been known for its entertainment offerings, and the Disney Adventure is no different, with shows ranging from Broadway-style theatrical wonders to Marvel-ous stunt spectaculars.

At the Garden Stage, guests can meet Mickey Mouse’s Teddy Bear, Duffy, and all his friends, as they enjoy a day together in Duffy and The Friend Ship, an adorable show that brings the beloved characters from the Asian Disney Parks to life.

Guests can also get their hearts pumping and their muscles moving with Hiro and Baymax from Big Hero 6 at the Baymax Super Exercise Expo.

During Avengers Assemble! Guests come face-to-face with Iron Man, Spider-Man, Black Panther, and more, as they face off against the villainous Red Skull and Loki.

Disney is also the only cruise line in the world to offer fireworks at sea, and while the Disney Adventure is no exception, it does look a little different. The traditional Disney Cruise Line Pirate Night doesn’t exist on this vessel; however, guests are treated to The Lion King: Celebration in the Sky, a dazzling display set to music from the Walt Disney Studios animated classic, featuring narration by Bollywood legend Shah Rukh Khan.

At the Walt Disney Theater, guests can experience Remember, where Wall-E enlists the help of his favorite Disney songs and moments to restore his beloved EVE’s memories in a Broadway-style musical extravaganza. As an aside here, I must take a moment to say that the Wall-E portions of this show are absolutely incredible, and are honestly something that must be seen to be believed.

4. Cool Off

When traveling to Singapore, one of the most important things to remember is that it is HOT and HUMID. So finding a place to cool off is one of the most important things you can do, and luckily, Adventure has some incredible places to beat the heat.

Earlier in this list, I talked about the Infinity Pool in Marvel Landing, but it’s not the only unofficial adult pool on the ship. Wayfinder Bay, a wading pool located at the back of the ship, doubles as a performance venue for live shows like Moana: Call of the Sea, a musical retelling of Moana, told by a captivating ensemble of ocean storytellers, accompanied by music, movement, and puppetry.

However, when that show isn’t going on, the area offers ample seating, and the adjacent lounge makes this the perfect place for adults to relax, especially when the ship’s resident DJ is doing an outdoor set, creating a cool “Dayclub” type atmosphere that I’ve never seen on a Disney ship.

For the kids, Toy Story Place offers four places to splash and play: the Sunnyside Family Pool, Woody and Jessie’s Wild Slides, the Flying Saucer Splash Zone (themed to Pizza Planet!), and the Toy Story Splash Pad. The family can also refuel with a slice from the Pizza Planet poolside quick-service restaurant or a soft-serve ice cream from Wheezy’s Freezies.

5. Vacation YOUR Way

Whether you’re a “get up and go” kind of cruiser or a “grab a book and soak up the sun” type, the Disney Adventure has so many activities, experiences, and surprises that it’s impossible not to find a way to enjoy yourself.

Stay tuned to Attractions Magazine for more information, first looks, and videos from the Disney Adventure.