Yes, the Disney demographic is definitely different.
Short history lesson: For decades, beginning in the late 19th century and continuing through WWII, the big ships were basically for transportation. Rich people sailed on big liners like the Lusitania, Mauritania, Olympic, Queen Mary, Rex, and Normandy to get places, usually from one side of the Atlantic to the other. The westward journeys especially put immigrants in the lower class areas, not far from the bags of mail and other cargo.
Then in the 50s and 60s, the vacation cruise industry took off, full of people making roundtrips to vacation ports, and it was mostly filled with Cunard type old and rich people until the 1970s. That's when the Love Boat and commercials with Kathie Lee Gifford showed how much fun young partiers could have onboard. Carnival was at the forefront of this party demographic having a Vegas time at see. This was where Disney found the industry when the Magic and Wonder were launched, and everything changed yet again.
Of course, the rest of the industry followed a bit, with kids areas, teen leaders, and waterslides. Innovations were copied between different lines, but the basics remain:
1. Cunard still requires evening gowns and tuxes in elegant atmospheres.
2. Carnival (which I believe actually owns Cunard) appeals to the partiers who want to have wild times on the cheap.
3. Disney appeals to kids and young families.
4. Princess does not want the riff raff, and is perfectly happy with grey haired passengers.
5. Norwegian seems to like the "don't bother me I'm on vacation doing my own thing" set.
6. Royal Caribbean is into the thrill set and teens, with climbing walls and ziplines.
7. Holland America still likes its older set, and has the biggest shipboard morgues in the industry.
The trick: Know your demographic, and fill your boats as profitably as possible with them. Disney surely doesn't see the Carnival ships in port and covet their passengers. Disney is perfectly happy filling their ships with people who are willing to pay three times as much for a kid friendly atmosphere where drinks are in moderation, people keep their clothes on, and almost everyone is sound asleep by midnight. Yeah, ziplines might be a nice touch for older kids and adventurous adults, but the Aquaduck, Vibe, Edge, and sportier port adventures will keep everyone happy enough for now. Honestly, as long as Disney has the highest cabin occupancy rate in the industry, and very healthy profit margins, they're absolutely fine with the other lines catering to their respective demographics.
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