The Horizons Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event was filled with news and announcements. I thought I’d break down the information into smaller chunks. Use the search feature at the top here on Disney Over 50, or check the hashtags at the bottom for Horizon Showcase. You don’t want to miss anything!
Disney Cruise Line continues to expand. More information was shared about the newest ship, The Disney Believe! Here are the details, from Disney Parks Blog.
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Calling all dreamers and doers, Disney Cruise Line fans and future voyagers, welcome to the official Disney Believe Ship’s Log.
Setting sail in late 2027, the Disney Believe promises new one-of-a-kind venue concepts and entertainment experiences that will be shaped by some of Disney’s most beloved stories, including Disney Animation’s Encanto, Frozen, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Moana and The Little Mermaid.
Here on the Disney Parks Blog, you’re invited to virtually step inside the building dock at Meyer Werft Shipyard, peer at the sketchpads of Disney artists, attend Broadway-style stage show rehearsals, and access rare, behind-the-scenes moments as teams across Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney Imagineering, and Disney Live Entertainment work to bring the Disney Believe to life.
We can’t wait to share more about this exciting new chapter for the Disney Cruise Line fleet. Be sure to bookmark this page and follow along @DisneyCruiseLine and @DisneyParks social channels for updates about the Disney Believe.
First Look: Disney Believe Grand Hall and More D23 Announcements| Aug. 15, 2026
Claire Weiss, Portfolio Executive Creative Director, took to the D23 stage today to spotlight new details about the Disney Believe during the event’s highly anticipated Horizons: D23 Disney Experiences Showcase. The announcement included a first look at plans for the ship’s Grand Hall and distinct exterior artwork, including character sculpture models for the ship’s stern and artwork that will be embossed on its bow.
Like its sister ships – the Disney Wish, the Disney Treasure and the Disney Destiny – the Disney Believe’s Grand Hall will serve as a central gathering space for guests, themed to a beloved Disney story. Onboard the Disney Believe, the Grand Hall will be infused with the optimistic spirit of exploration from Disney Animation’s Moana films.
A bronze cast statue of Moana, accompanied by her faithful companions Pua and Heihei, will be a focal point inside the venue, gazing proudly toward new horizons. The never-before-seen rendering also hinted at influences from the film’s idyllic South Pacific setting, which will be layered with artisanal Polynesian finishes that honor the cultural traditions of the region.
The whimsical details designed for the Disney Believe’s exterior hull were also unveiled. Following a well-established Disney Cruise Line tradition, each new build, including the Disney Believe, features its own unique character artwork, adding nostalgic touches of Disney magic to every ship.
A new rendering showcased larger-than-life sculptures of Woody and Buzz Lightyear hitching a ride on the Disney Believe’s stern. The dependable duo from Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story films will appear working together to etch the ship’s name across the back of the vessel with large yellow crayons. In place of the classic looped calligraphy seen stamped across the Disney Cruise Line fleet, Woody and Buzz will opt for playful lettering that mimics the franchise’s famous block-style font.
D23 attendees and livestream viewers also learned that the Disney Believe’s bow will be decorated with a delicate, hand-painted filigree of Tinker Bell as she first appeared in the Walt Disney Animation Studios 1953 classic Peter Pan.”The spunky fairy will be flanked by the silhouettes of Peter, Wendy, Captain Hook, and other characters from the film flying amid the swirling design.
“This ship celebrates belief in magic, family, the power of nature, and belief in yourself,” Claire told the audience. “And all the stories we tell onboard will be tied together by the core Disney notion of believing in something fantastical.”