Japan's First Disney Cruise Line Ship Disney Imagination: What's Confirmed and What's Teased

Oriental Land Company and Disney have revealed in 2 different announcements in 24 hours that Disney Imagination is the name of Japan's first Disney cruise ship, scheduled to sail from Tokyo in spring 2029. Ariel, Sebastian and other characters from The Little Mermaid will feature on its stern, there will be a 1300 seat theatre, adult and child areas and 30 eating and drinking venues.

This ship is the first Disney Cruise ship to have a different operating arrangement from the rest of the existing fleet. Commissioned by Oriental Land, the company behind Tokyo Disney Resort, the cruise will operate under Disney licence the same as Tokyo Disney Resort.

For UK holidaymakers considering 2029 trips and beyond, this cruise could offer the opportunity to combine a Disney Cruise with a visit to Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea. With teasers of what’s to come on this boat it could be one to watch.

What’s The Disney Imagination; How Is She Different?

The Disney Imagination is a Wish Class ship, which is going to be themed by creativity and the optimism of the imagination. Being built by Meyer Werft for Disney Cruise Line and operated by Oriental Land Company she is an interesting addition to the Disney Cruise Line fleet because she will be the first boat to not be operated exclusively by Disney Cruise Line. The difference between announcement details also highlighted that difference, with Disney concentrating on the visual details and Oriental Land Company focusing on what will be onboard and would be an operational consideration. Once she sets sail operations will be handed over to Oriental Land Company.

Here’s a round-up of the announcement of the key details about this ship so far:

Disney Parks Are Teasing More About Disney Imagination’s Theming?

As with previous announcements, including the recently unveiled details about the Disney Believe, Disney Parks is taking to socials to share clues about the theming of the Disney Imagination.

The Oriental Land Company is reported to be investing 330 billion yen, which is around £1,574,100,000 GBP, in the cruise ship. Construction’s taking place at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, (the shipyard currently building Disney Believe, which also built Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Wish, Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny).

Several characters in the announcement already inspire venues on other Disney ships, so let’s look at how they compare.

Theming That Could Come To The Imagination: A Wish Class Ships Comparison

The clues dropped by Disney Parks may well hint at the theming they will add to the onboard venues. Taking the films as they appear in the reel one-by-one, here’s a comparison with what’s already themed to these films on Disney’s other Wish Class ships. These are our predictions of the themed experiences that could be coming to the Imagination based on Disney’s reel and current Wish Class Ship theming:

1: Belle / Beauty and the Beast

• Disney Wish: Belle's Library in Fairytale Hall; dining; film artwork in 1923

• Disney Treasure: Beauty and the Beast stage show; Belle's Library; dining

• Disney Destiny: Belle's Library; dining

• Disney Believe: will have Royal Rose Suites inspired by Belle and Beast

Belle opening the Beast's castle door could hint at an immersive Beauty and the Beast setting aboard Imagination: all four sister ships have Beauty and the Beast theming, so it is highly likely that the Imagination will continue that trend. Plus, The Beauty and the Beast ride in Disney Tokyo Resort is world-famous, so it would only be fitting that something on the boat is themed to Beauty and The Beast.

2: Snow White

• Disney Wish: features Snow White displays in 1923

• Disney Destiny brings the Evil Queen into AquaMouse

• Disney Believe: is getting the Wishing Well lounge

Snow White opening the door to the cottage could suggest Snow White cottage theming is coming to an area of the ship.

3: Fantasia

• Disney Wish: Film artwork and displays in 1923

• Disney Destiny: Fantasia-inspired concierge accommodation; Chernabog appears in AquaMouse.

Less of a feature, but featuring Mickey Mouse on the first Disney Cruise Line ship feels essential in my mind.

4: Toy Story

• Disney Wish: Buzz / Toy Story Toy Story Splash Zone, Slide-a-saurus Rex family slide and Wheezy's Freezies.

• Disney Treasure: Toy Story Splash Zone, family slide and Wheezy's Freezies.

• Disney Destiny: Toy Story Splash Zone, family slide and Wheezy's Freezies.

• Disney Believe: Toy Story splash zone, wading pool, family slide and smoothie bar; seven Toy Story-themed ocean-view rooms; Toy Story displays in 1923.

Like Beauty and the Beast, Toy Story theming is featured on all four Wish-class ships. Tokyo Disney Resort also has a Toy Story themed hotel, so it is likely that Toy Story theming will feature on the Disney Imagination.

5: Dumbo

• Disney Wish: A Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride-vehicle model/display in the Walt Disney Imagineering Lab.

Only The Disney Wish currently features Dumbo theming, but as Dumbo was in the reel it is possible it will feature on the Imagination.

6: Zootropolis

• Disney Treasure: Jumbeaux's Sweets, with Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde

• Disney Believe: announced Gazelle entertainment centre with Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde

7: Frozen

• Disney Wish: A Frozen Dining Adventure; Anna & Elsa's Sommerhus in Fairytale Hall; Olaf's Royal Picnic; Frozen-themed staterooms and corridor artwork; film displays in 1923.

• Disney Treasure: Anna & Elsa's Sommerhus; Elsa appears in Disney Seas the Adventure.

• Disney Destiny: Frozen, A Musical Spectacular stage show; Anna & Elsa's Sommerhus; Elsa appears in Disney Seas the Adventure.

• Disney Believe: Oaken's Table: A Frozen Family Feast dining experience

8: Tangled

• Disney Wish: Untangled Salon; Rapunzel's Art Studio in Fairytale Hall; Tangled-themed concierge accommodation and corridors; film displays in 1923.

• Disney Treasure: Untangled Salon; Rapunzel's Art Studio.

• Disney Destiny: Untangled Salon; Rapunzel's Art Studio.

• Disney Believe: Tangled: The Musical, with reimagined sets and special effects.

9: The Little Mermaid

• Disney Wish: Disney The Little Mermaid stage show; Little Mermaid-themed staterooms and corridors; film displays in 1923.

• Disney Believe: Sea Notes piano lounge inspired by Ariel's grotto; Royal Reef Suites.

10: Aristocats

• Disney Wish: Marie appears in the artwork inside the "it's a small world" nursery.

• Disney Treasure: Scat Cat Lounge is The Aristocats theme.

What do you think the theming could be on the Disney Imagination? We’re excited to find out and as always will let you know when the news drops.

Magic In A Minute

A new Disney Cruise ship, the Disney Imagination is coming to Tokyo in Spring 2029, and in our opinion it’s really putting Japan on the possible Disney holiday list, especially if you’re looking for both a Disney Cruise experience and a Disney parks experience.