Disney Cruise Line in a Jiffy: What is the AquaDunk?

Almost every Disney Cruise Line ship has a clear waterslide that brings guests out over the side of the ship. Depending on which ship you’re on, these slides are the AquaDunk, AquaDuck, or AquaMouse. The Disney Magic thrill slide is the AquaDunk, a body slide with a 48″ height limit, and it might be the most thrilling of the three versions of over-the-side waterslides!

Unlike the headliner slides on other ships, the AquaDunk is a body slide; you don’t ride on a raft. And the AquaDunk launch is unique for Disney’s waterslides. You’ll climb the steps in the Magic’s forward funnel and step into the loading pod. Then the floor literally drops out from under you, and you fall into the slide for your three-story race to the splashdown on Deck 9.

Although the AquaDunk might be the most thrilling of Disney’s over-the-side waterslides, it wasn’t the first. The AquaDunk was retrofitted on the Magic in 2013, three years after the launch of the Disney Dream. And when the Wonder had a similar retrofit in 2016, an AquaDunk wasn’t part of it. So the Disney Magic is the first and only ship to have the AquaDunk, and it’s also the only version of the slide that sticks to one side of the ship instead of circling the pool deck.

The Wonder does have a twisty multi-story body slide, the Twist ‘n’ Spout, with a much lower height 38″ requirement. But it isn’t transparent and doesn’t stretch out over the side of the ship. The Magic also has a Twist ‘n’ Spout, giving it two waterslides where the Wonder only has one.

Like all slides of this type, guests should be in good health and free from back or neck conditions to ride. Loose items such as phones or sunglasses aren’t allowed; there are open cubbies nearby where items can be left during your ride. And clothing with zippers, buckles, rivets, or other exposed metal is also prohibited, as it can damage the slide. Snorkels or swim masks aren’t allowed, but Coast Guard personal flotation devices, including water wings, are allowed.

As you might imagine, the AquaDunk is pretty popular, and at times there’s a hefty wait to ride. Check the Navigator app for operating hours, and for the shortest line, aim to ride

• Early in the morning when it first opens
• When the ship is in port
• During dinner and the evening show times
• When the weather isn’t great, but it’s still warm enough to ride

Disney Cruise Line in a Jiffy is for first-time Disney cruisers looking to learn about the DCL experience. Got a Disney Cruise Line term that you want to see explained? Suggest it in the comments below!