REVIEW - Making the Wish: Disney's Newest Cruise Ship

Making the Disney Wish: A Magical, Corporate Hug You’ll Absolutely Fall For

I recently watched the National Geographic special on Disney+  Making the Wish: Disney's Newest Cruise Ship, a behind-the-scenes special all about the creation of the newest addition to the Disney Cruise Line fleet. And listen… I fully expected this to be a 45-minute commercial disguised as a documentary. You know, like the video equivalent of a sales rep smiling at you just a little too hard.

And guess what? It’s not really that at all. But it is absolutely delightful.

A Floating Theme Park, But Make It Emotional

The special follows Disney Imagineers as they build the Wish - aka the “floating palace of IP synergy.” We’re talking restaurants themed to worlds you already love, attractions designed to make your wallet loosen on instinct and tech so advanced I’m convinced at least one Imagineer has a direct line to Merlin.

But the show leans heavily into the emotional side: the creative meetings, the early sketches, the “oh look, here’s someone crying because they nailed the perfect shade of Cinderella blue.” And honestly? Same. I cry when my DoorDash order comes on time, so I’m not judging anyone here.

The Imagineers: Real-Life Wizards With Better PowerPoints

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to have a job where you can say things like, “What if we make an entire Frozen dinner show… on a boat?” and your boss responds, “Great, build a prototype,” this is your Super Bowl.

The Imagineers walk us through designing immersive dining, themed staterooms, the AquaMouse attraction (yes, a waterslide with a plot), and the emotional logistics of making a thousand-foot-long cruise ship feel like a hug.

There’s something wildly charming about watching adults talk about Mickey-shaped details with the seriousness of NASA engineers. And honestly? Thank God someone does. Because the world desperately needs whimsy. And also because Disney charges approximately “your firstborn” for a cruise, so I’d like to think that money is going toward people deliberating over the curvature of a doorknob so every single guest is thrust into this magical floating palace. 

The Footage Will Make You Google Cruise Prices Immediately

The special includes gorgeous shots of the Wish at sea, lit up like your childhood memories and your adult debt combined. Every surface sparkles. Every room looks like it smells like cinnamon rolls and fiscal responsibility.

There are glimpses of the entertainment offerings, character moments and enough Disney nostalgia to make you call your mom and apologize for every meltdown you had in line for Space Mountain.

Even if you’ve never taken a Disney cruise - and even if your bank account is currently whispering, “Please be serious” - this will make you want to. Seriously, I don't even do cruises & I'm contemplating hopping on the Disney Wish.

Is It a Documentary or a Commercial? Yes.

Making The Wish: Disney's Newest Cruise Ship (also called, Making the Disney Wish) is absolutely a piece of promotional content. But it’s also earnest, carefully made, and legitimately interesting if you love the creative process behind theme parks, cruise ships or storytelling.

Disney knows exactly what they’re doing: showing you all the heart, talent, and pixie dust going into the Wish, so you start thinking, “Well… maybe I should go have dinner with Elsa on the high seas.”

And you know what?

It really friggin works. In fact, it works so well I’m mildly offended.

Final Verdict

Making the Disney Wish is charming, polished and guaranteed to poke you right in the childhood. It’s half documentary, half vacation brochure, and 100% effective.

Watch it if:

•You love Disney.

•You love Imagineering documentaries.

•You love the idea of seeing how the magic sausage gets made.

•You’ve ever said, “Maybe I’ll just browse cruise prices” and promptly regretted it.

Skip it if:

•You’re allergic to joy.

•You can’t handle another piece of Disney content making you want to spend money.

•You’re still emotionally recovering from Encanto. (Understandable.)

Rating: 5 out of 5 Mickey-shaped reasons I suddenly want to be on a ship right now.