Disney has FINALLY given us a real look at the next Disney Cruise Line ship… and I have to say, the Disney Believe is shaping up to be very interesting.
We now have our first look at the Grand Hall of the Disney Believe, the ship that is scheduled to set sail in late 2027.
And Disney has gone in a very different direction with the main space.
all photos Disney Parks
The Grand Hall will be inspired by Disney’s “Moana,” with a bronze cast statue of Moana, along with Pua and Heihei, as the centerpiece — gazing proudly toward new horizons.
Disney says the space will also draw on the idyllic South Pacific setting of the films, layered with artisanal Polynesian finishes that honor the cultural traditions of the region.
Just like the Disney Wish, the Disney Treasure and the Disney Destiny, the Grand Hall will be the central gathering space of the ship, themed to one beloved Disney story.
But that’s not all.
Disney has also revealed the character artwork for the outside of the ship.
And I LOVE this one…
Woody and Buzz Lightyear will be on the stern of the Disney Believe, working together to etch the ship’s name across the back of the vessel using giant yellow crayons.
And here’s the detail I really like — instead of the classic looped calligraphy we see on every other ship in the fleet, Woody and Buzz have gone for playful lettering that mimics the famous “Toy Story” block-style font.
I love this. Pixar has not been as much of a feature of Disney Cruise design as I have wanted – maybe this is the sign of something more on the ship related to Pixar.
And then there’s the bow, which will feature a delicate, hand-painted filigree of Tinker Bell, as she first appeared in the 1953 Walt Disney Animation Studios classic “Peter Pan.”
She will be flanked by the silhouettes of Peter, Wendy, Captain Hook and other characters from the film, flying amid the swirling design.
I admit that whilst I really thought Disney Believe was going to feature Tinker Bell in some way I was struggling to think how. And this is prefect.
All of this was announced at the Horizons: D23 Disney Experiences Showcase by Claire Weiss, Portfolio Executive Creative Director.
And this quote tells you everything about where Disney is going with this ship:
“This ship celebrates belief in magic, family, the power of nature, and belief in yourself. And all the stories we tell onboard will be tied together by the core Disney notion of believing in something fantastical.”
We also already know the Disney Believe will feature brand new one-of-a-kind venue concepts and entertainment experiences inspired by “Encanto,” “Frozen,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Moana” and “The Little Mermaid.”
And this is still only the beginning of the reveals.
Disney says we are going to be getting more behind-the-scenes looks as the ship is built at Meyer Werft Shipyard in Germany — including artist sketchpads and Broadway-style stage show rehearsals — so I am expecting a LOT more information over the coming months.
And honestly… I can’t wait to see what they do with this ship.
The Disney Wish, Treasure and Destiny all have very distinctive identities, so I am really curious to see whether the Believe manages to feel different again.
So what do you think of the Disney Believe so far?
Do you love the Moana-inspired Grand Hall? ?
And what do you think about Woody and Buzz on the back of the ship? ?
Disney has definitely given us something to talk about!
Read the full Disney Believe update here
Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando. In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 60 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 250,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.