Disney Believe Reveal Day Is Here, and Here's Everything We Know Before the Livestream
Disney Cruise Line shows off its next ship today at 4:30 p.m. Eastern, and the opening cruise director, a keel coin with Tinker Bell and a floated out gigablock are already part of the story.
It's reveal day for the Disney Believe. Disney Cruise Line is pulling back the curtain on its next ship today, Wednesday, October 7, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern, with a livestream that is promised to cover the homeport, itineraries, new venues and entertainment.
The ship is set to sail in late 2027, and Disney has been dropping milestones in the run up. We now know who will lead the fun onboard, how construction is going in Germany, and what the Grand Hall and the outside of the ship will look like. Here is the full rundown before the big moment.
How to Watch the Disney Believe Reveal
The livestream starts at 4:30 p.m. Eastern today on the Disney Parks social channels. You can tune in on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok by heading to @DisneyParks.
The action will be happening live onboard the Disney Wish. Guests sailing the October 5 to 9 itinerary have been told to expect some magical extras during their trip in celebration of the reveal.
Past ship reveals from Disney Cruise Line have come as a firehose of announcements, especially for the Disney Wish. That means today could be a big one for dining, shows, lounges, pools and staterooms, all of which fans are hoping to see.
Booking dates have not been announced yet. Many fans expect them to land around the reveal, but that is only an expectation until Disney says so.
Meet the Opening Cruise Director
Disney also announced that Trent Hitchcock will be the opening cruise director for the Disney Believe when it takes its maiden voyage next year. He has been with Disney Cruise Line for nearly 20 years and has been a cruise director for 10 of them.
Trent was part of the opening team for the Disney Destiny. He has worked on every ship in the fleet except the Disney Adventure, and he joked that his ship bingo card is almost full.
On every Disney Cruise Line ship, the cruise director oversees entertainment, youth activities and recreation. Trent will lead a team of more than 200 crew members, making sure guests of all ages have plenty to do, from deck parties and fireworks at sea to port adventures and the signature Broadway style shows.
He says the best part of the job is the pride of leading an entertainment operation he believes in, and seeing guests enjoy the storytelling, especially when you watch it through your own kids' eyes.
Prep is already underway. Trent says conversations about entertainment usually begin around a year out. Next year he will head to Papenburg, Germany, where the ship is being built at the Meyer Werft Shipyard, and he will stay with the Believe for its maiden voyage and its inaugural season.
This will be the first time he is so closely involved from the very beginning, and he can't wait to see the ship in person. He also called it an honor to be the opening cruise director for the ship that closes the Wish class.
Construction Is Moving Fast in Germany
The Disney Believe is taking shape at Meyer Werft in Papenburg. In mid-September, its first gigablock floated out of the shipyard, a big step for a ship expected in 2027.
If you are wondering what a gigablock is, think of building a cruise ship like putting together a giant 3D puzzle. Shipbuilders construct huge sections, complete with walls, plumbing and wiring, and then weld them together. These sections can weigh over 31,000 tons.
That first piece is the midship, home to familiar spaces like the Grand Hall. The forward section comes next, followed by the aft. Construction on the second gigablock is already underway.
The shipyard in Papenburg is also where other cruise ships are built. Here are the Aidanova at dusk and the Aida Cosma at Meyer Werft.
A Tinker Bell Coin Under the Keel
The ship has also reached its keel laying ceremony. It is a maritime custom that goes back to ancient Greece and Rome, in which a specially made coin is placed, temporarily, under the keel. The tradition is said to bring good fortune to the ship and its future crew.
The custom minted coin shows a portrait of Tinker Bell, matching the artwork that will soon decorate the bow. It is a sweet fit for a ship named Believe, with a sprinkle of faith, trust and pixie dust.
What Disney Has Already Shown
The big theme for the Believe is belief in yourself, belief in your dreams and the promise of what's possible. Disney has confirmed that Encanto, Frozen, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Moana and The Little Mermaid will help shape the venues and entertainment onboard.
At the D23 showcase, Disney gave us a first look at the Grand Hall and the outside of the ship. Like the Disney Wish, the Disney Treasure and the Disney Destiny, the Believe will have a Grand Hall as its central gathering space, themed to a beloved story. This one will draw on the Moana films.
A bronze cast statue of Moana, with Pua and Heihei at her side, will be the focal point, gazing toward new horizons. The rendering also hinted at the South Pacific setting, layered with artisanal Polynesian finishes that honor the traditions of the region.
Then there is the exterior, because every new Disney Cruise Line ship gets its own character artwork. Woody and Buzz Lightyear will sit on the stern as large sculptures, using giant yellow crayons to write the ship's name. Instead of the usual looped calligraphy, the lettering will copy the blocky Toy Story font.
On the bow, Tinker Bell will appear in a hand painted filigree inspired by her original look in Peter Pan. Peter, Wendy, Captain Hook and other characters are part of the design too.
What We're Hoping to See Today
None of this is confirmed, but we have some guesses. Moana at the center of the Grand Hall makes us think she could show up across the ship in character appearances, entertainment, activities and maybe dining. Maybe the arrival experience will even play with the idea of heading toward a new horizon.
We also wonder if Tinker Bell and Peter Pan will have some presence inside the ship. It could be a character experience, a kids' activity or a whole new space. Toy Story could do the same thing, and several other Pixar favorites would not surprise us either.
Frozen is one of the stories Disney has specifically teased, which makes us think it could be more than a simple character appearance. Fans are also hoping the Grand Hall gets the same level of care as the Disney Treasure, which leans heavily on an Aladdin influence, with a Polynesian twist.
We will find out soon. Disney is also promising updates on the Ship's Log on the Disney Parks Blog, so keep checking back as the Believe gets closer to its first voyage.
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