Disney Cruise Line in a Jiffy: What is the Sports Deck?

Whether you’re a sports enthusiast or just looking for some active fun, Disney Cruise Line’s Sports Decks offer an unstructured way to build movement into your DCL voyage. On Disney’s Magic, Wonder, Dream, and Fantasy ships, the Sports Decks are open-air recreational areas located on the upper decks. Most activities are open to all passengers at no additional cost. On the Wish (and soon to be on the Treasure and Destiny), the Sports Deck takes the form of the indoor Hero Zone.

On the Sports Decks, you’ll find a variety of activities:

• Basketball court
• Foosball tables
• Ping pong tables
• Mini-golf course (on the Dream and Fantasy)
• Sports simulators (on the Dream and Fantasy). There is a fee to use the sport simulators.
• Inflatable obstacle course (on the Wish and newer ships)

The centerpiece for all DCL sports decks is the basketball court, which can also be used for volleyball, soccer, or other games. I’ve often seen yoga classes conducted on the basketball court. For those who prefer less intense activities, table-based offer an opportunity for friendly competition.

It’s worth noting that playing sports on a moving ship can be an adventure in itself. The gentle (or sometimes not-so-gentle) rocking of the ship adds an extra challenge to your game, making for some hilarious and memorable moments. We encourage you to make your family rules for dealing with wind or rolling seas.

At the newer ships’ Hero Zone, the sport space is indoors, so wind is not an issue, but the motion of the ship may still be a factor.

The outdoor sports decks are often available for open play on a first-come-first-served basis, but be sure to check the Personal Navigator app to see if there are planned activities. The Hero Zone is more often reserved for supervised activities, but you can still find open play times. Again, check the app while you’re onboard.

Disney Cruise Line in a Jiffy is an offshoot of our “Disney in a Minute” posts. Both are bite-sized nuggets of information that can better help you understand a Disney term or planning topic, but here we’ll be focused on all things Disney Cruise Line (DCL). Have a question about a DCL term that is unfamiliar to you? Suggest it here for an upcoming segment.