Disney Cruise Line in a Jiffy: What is the Walt Disney Theater?

The Walt Disney Theatre is the center of entertainment on Disney Cruise Line ships, bringing Broadway-style shows to the high seas. This state-of-the-art venue is featured across the fleet, including the Magic, Wonder, Dream, Fantasy, Wish, and the upcoming Treasure and Destiny.

Seating between 977 and 1,340 guests (depending on the ship), the theatre is designed with excellent sight lines and acoustics. The seats are arranged in a gentle slope, ensuring a good view from virtually any spot. The Magic and Wonder have a single-level auditorium, with the entrance on Deck 4. The other ships have both an orchestra and balcony level, with entrances on Decks 3 and 4. Snacks and drinks are allowed into the theater. You can purchase refreshments just outside the entrance at the Preludes snack stand.

The theatre hosts a variety of events throughout each cruise:

• Broadway-style musical productions featuring Disney characters and stories
• First-run Disney movies, often premiering at sea the same day as on land
• Variety acts, including comedians and magicians
• Welcome aboard and farewell shows

Additionally, some staterooms may have their muster drill conducted in the Walt Disney theater.

To find out what’s playing during your cruise, check your Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. Shows are usually performed twice nightly to accommodate different dinner seating times. If you have the early dinner seating, you’ll see the later show. If you have the late dinner seating, you’ll see the early show. There may also be matinee performances during some sailings.

There are no reservations required to see shows in the Walt Disney Theater, nor are tickets required. The shows presented here are included with price of your cruise.

Pro tip: Arrive early for popular shows to get the best seats, especially for evening performances of the headline musicals.

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.