Experience Disney Hercules, a breathtaking Broadway-style retelling of the Walt Disney Animation Studios film, crafted exclusively for the Disney Destiny. This show brings the ship’s heroes and villains theme to life with epic battles, heroic moments, and Hercules’ clash with the Underworld Titans, powered by cutting-edge exoskeleton technology.

The Disney Destiny, the seventh ship in Disney Cruise Line’s fleet, sets sail in November 2025. Themed around heroes and villains, it features the iconic Walt Disney Theater, where Disney Hercules will captivate audiences with vibrant musical numbers, innovative puppetry, and advanced technology, reenergizing the classic animated tale for the stage.

The Walt Disney Theater is the heart of the Disney Destiny, delivering nightly performances that weave Disney characters and stories into unforgettable experiences. Unlike its Wish-class counterparts, the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure, the Destiny elevates storytelling with unparalleled technology, ensuring every performance is a masterpiece.

Creating Disney Hercules has been a three-year journey, with a dedicated team of performers, choreographers, and musicians perfecting the show. The production will debut during the Disney Destiny’s maiden voyage on November 20, 2025, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Disney Cruise Line’s Theater Mastery

In July 2025, the Disney Hercules cast rehearsed at Disney Cruise Line’s state-of-the-art studios in Toronto, Canada. Scenes like “One Last Hope,” featuring Philoctetes training Hercules alongside Pegasus, highlight the show’s Broadway-caliber production, set to debut exclusively on the Disney Destiny in November 2025.

“We take pride in creating theater that introduces this art form to many for the first time,” says Jenny Weinbloom, Vice President of Live Entertainment at Disney Signature Experiences. “Our shows are thoughtfully designed to resonate with everyone.”

Disney Cruise Line attracts families and a growing number of adults seeking nostalgia, mirroring trends seen at Disney Parks. This diverse audience inspires the creation of immersive, inclusive performances.

Why Hercules Shines on Disney Destiny

Disney Hercules embodies the heroes and villains theme with stunning puppetry, bringing mythological creatures like the multi-headed Hydra to life. This Broadway-style production, exclusive to the Disney Destiny, draws from Disney’s Renaissance era and Alan Menken’s timeless score.

“Hercules is having a moment,” says Weinbloom. “Its incredible music and story, combined with nostalgia, make it the perfect centerpiece for the Walt Disney Theater.”

While sharing the same story as the West End production, Disney Destiny’s version is uniquely reimagined for the stage, stripping the animation to its core and rebuilding it with theatrical flair.

Technology Elevates Disney Hercules

Debuting in November 2025, Disney Hercules introduces Disney’s patented exoskeleton technology, creating larger-than-life characters like the 9-foot Earth Titan and 13-foot Frost Titan. These Exo-frame puppets, developed with Walt Disney Imagineering, feature performers inside, a technique tested with an Incredible Hulk figure at Disneyland Resort.

Disney Hercules isn’t new to Disney Cruise Line. From 1998 to 2008, Hercules: The Muse-ical entertained audiences on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. However, the Disney Destiny’s advanced Walt Disney Theater, part of the Wish-class fleet, enables storytelling innovations impossible in earlier productions.

“The Destiny’s theater is larger and more advanced than those on older ships,” explains Weinbloom. “This scale and technology unlock new creative possibilities.”

The Toronto rehearsal facility mirrors the ship’s stage, with dedicated spaces for stunts and flying rigs, ensuring seamless preparation. “The facility transformed our approach,” says producer Arin Dale. “Testing in a replica space refined our vision.”

Disney Hercules aims to immerse guests in a journey from zero to hero, battling Titans and Hydras, with storytelling at its core.