A new Disney Cruise Line chapter is taking shape—and this one has Moana at the helm, Woody and Buzz on the stern, and Tinker Bell fluttering across the bow.
Disney Cruise Line has shared an early look at the Disney Believe, which is scheduled to begin sailing in late 2027. The line also revealed a few tantalizing details about three all-new ships due to join the fleet in 2029. Consider the treasure map officially unfolded.
Disney Believe Is Ready to Follow the Horizon
As the fourth ship in the Wish class, joining the Disney Wish, Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny, the Disney Believe will bring new venue concepts and entertainment experiences inspired by beloved Disney stories. Disney Animation’s Encanto, Frozen, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Moana and The Little Mermaid are all set to help shape the voyage.
Claire Weiss, Portfolio Executive Creative Director, shared the first details during the Horizons: A Carousel of Progress Disney Experiences Showcase at D23. Along with the ship’s Grand Hall, the presentation unveiled plans for the Disney Believe’s distinctive stern sculpture and bow artwork.
A Grand Hall With a Little Wayfinding Spirit
Every Wish-class ship has a story at the heart of its Grand Hall, the central gathering space onboard. For the Disney Believe, that story is Moana.
The venue will draw on the films’ optimistic spirit of exploration, with a bronze-cast statue of Moana joined by Pua and Heihei as its centerpiece. The trio will gaze toward new horizons—naturally—while the surroundings layer in influences from the South Pacific setting and artisanal Polynesian finishes that honor the region’s cultural traditions.
Woody, Buzz and a Sprinkle of Pixie Dust
The Disney Believe’s exterior is getting character treatment from two very different corners of Disney storytelling.
On the stern, larger-than-life sculptures of Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story films will appear to etch the ship’s name across the vessel with oversized yellow crayons. Rather than the fleet’s familiar looped calligraphy, the Disney Believe name will use playful block lettering inspired by the franchise’s recognizable font. It is, quite literally, a name written in crayon.
At the bow, hand-painted filigree will showcase Tinker Bell as she appeared in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 1953 classic Peter Pan. Peter, Wendy, Captain Hook and other characters from the film will appear as silhouettes flying through the swirling design beside her.
Three More Ships Are Waiting in the Wings
The Disney Believe is only part of Disney Cruise Line’s expansion. Disney announced at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa in 2024 that its fleet will grow to 13 ships in the coming years.
After the Disney Believe arrives in 2027, three ships in an entirely new class are scheduled to debut in 2029. Specific ship details remain tucked away for now, but Disney Cruise Line has confirmed that this new class will sit between the line’s classic ships and its newer vessels in size: bigger than the Disney Wonder, but smaller than the Disney Wish.
A New Size Means New Possibilities
That middle-ground size gives Disney Cruise Line more flexibility for future itineraries, experiences and destinations around the globe. It also creates room for the line to reach new audiences as its fleet grows.
For now, the Disney Believe is the next ship to watch—bringing belief in magic, family, nature and oneself into a voyage built around Disney storytelling. The horizon has plenty of room left.
