Children and adults alike were brimming with excitement this afternoon as they prepared to cruise into the world of Disney.
All 83,000 tonnes of The Disney Wonder cruise ship docked in Auckland's Queens Wharf this morning, ready to welcome nearly 3000 passengers aboard for departure later today.
People of all ages donned the famous Mickey Mouse ears and their favourite Disney outfits, becoming some of the first people in New Zealand to experience the unique four-day cruise.
Joanna Xia was so excited she woke up at 3am to secure tickets for her family when they went on sale.
“My friend in America called me and told me to wake up because it's opening, so I called more friends and by 5am the whole website had cracked,” she said.
"Especially as it's the first cruise in New Zealand and Australia, we really don't need to travel to the United States or Canada."
The Prasad family said bringing Disney to New Zealand was a more cost-effective way for them to experience Disney.
"If we were somewhere else we'd have to pay extra airfares to go to a different country, we probably would have had to think twice."
The Barbosa family said this feels like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
"We grow up watching the movies and the classical ones, we've shown to our kids and they enjoy them as well, so it's kind of a dream come true."
Eight-year-old Sara is most excited to meet the princesses, while four-year-old Cadu chose Mickey Mouse.
"I can't wait to meet Tiana, Jasmine, just all of them," Sara said.
At 300 meters long, the boat boasts something for everyone across 11 decks including Broadway-style shows, themed dining, character encounters and fireworks at sea.
For those who may have missed the boat this time, Disney confirmed the cruise will return to the shores of Australia and New Zealand from October 2024 through to February 2025.
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