A passenger who has sailed on Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship has described the experience as a “hot mess,” pointing to a string of operational issues that overshadowed otherwise polished entertainment and service.
In a Reddit post, user BurntRice123 recounted their March 30 to April 2 trip aboard the Disney Adventure, a vessel that represents a major expansion for the company.
While praising the onboard staff—who were often left as “bearers of bad news” when issues arose—as well as performances, the original poster (OP) claimed the voyage was “plagued with problems.”
The OP described multiple breakdowns in organization, from running out of celebration buttons shortly after boarding to confusion around dining arrangements.
They also claimed they had been unaware they would share a table with another family until they were already seated, calling the situation "really awkward" and avoidable with clearer communication.
Morning routines appeared especially strained, with the OP reporting long breakfast lines with no staff directing guests to open tables, leading to disorder as diners bypassed queues.
Similar confusion occurred at the children’s club, where two additional service counters went unused because guests had been told they existed.
The cruise app, used to book onboard activities, was also described as unreliable, with the OP writing, “If Disney wants to shoehorn all guests onto its app to book experiences, they need to ensure that the app's booking functionality is not buggy.”
Some complaints centered on specific attractions and amenities. The ship’s pool was described as "filthy," with areas periodically closed to “let the water rest.”
A roller coaster attraction operated on limited hours, raising questions about availability on a short sailing.
The final day brought further confusion. Passengers were directed to a restaurant for disembarkation breakfast, only to find it closed upon arrival.
Conflicting announcements left guests uncertain about when to leave the ship. The OP's 4-year-old was reportedly removed in the middle of playing a game as staff shut down attractions for disembarkation, leaving dozens of passengers waiting without clear instructions.
"This trip has tarnished the Disney brand name for me and has eroded my trust in the Disney company," the OP wrote. "I will surely think twice before paying top dollar 'because it is Disney.'"
The Disney Adventure ship itself has drawn attention for its unconventional design and ambitious scope.
According to Scott Gustin’s Substack review, “The Disney Adventure is a bold experiment that works far more often than it fails,” though he added that “a few operational issues still need work,” reflecting early growing pains reported by some passengers.
The Adventure, converted from a previously unfinished vessel, represents a departure from traditional Disney ships.
Gustin noted in his review that “this is not a traditional Disney cruise ship,” pointing to layout differences and evolving operations as part of the learning curve.
Disney Cruise Line promotes its onboard offerings as structured and family-friendly. On its official site, the company describes “rotational dining” and “age-specific activities” designed to create a seamless experience for guests.
Reddit users flocked to the comments to weigh in, with several suggesting that some issues are typical of cruise travel.
One wrote, “Frankly, and I hope you hear this with kindness: cruising in general, and Disney cruising specifically, isn’t perfect,” adding, “Debarkation day is ALWAYS a mess. You have 6,000 people all needing to be shepherded off the ship quickly.”
Another commenter added, "I’ve only been on one cruise myself, and most of the items you listed are also present on the other ships. Not a result of it being the Adventure and a mess because it’s new."
The OP later acknowledged the ship may improve over time: “I think it's just cause it's starting out. I am sure in a few months to a year, it will be better operating and working.”
Newsweek has reached out to BurntRice123 and Disney Adventure for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case.
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