Disney Illusion Island is a 2D side-scrolling platformer with a Metroidvania-like game structure. After choosing one of four characters – Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck or Goofy – players travel through areas using an expanding map of the Monoth island. Despite presenting different animations, the characters play the same. Players can walk and jump, and, as they progress, the characters obtain more platforming abilities like double jumping, wall jumping, ground-pounding and swinging. The game lacks any direct combat mechanic, so players have to avoid attacks from enemies encountered throughout the journey. The game sometimes has areas where players engage in boss fights, during which they have to avoid attacks, press buttons or perform other platforming activities in order to indirectly harm the boss. Getting hit makes players lose one life (represented as a heart), and losing all their lives makes them return to the last mailbox that they passed through (functioning as a checkpoint). Each player can adjust the number of lives given at the beginning of a checkpoint and can also choose to activate invincibility mode. The game offers a local co-op multiplayer mode, enabling players to hug others to restore both their lives and drop ropes to help other players climb obstacles. Collectibles in the game include Glimts, small balls of light that unlock concept game art and the island's lore; Tokuns, which display character art and backstories; hidden Mickey shapes in the background, which show photos of Mickey and his friends; and Mickey memorabilia, which reference previous Mickey cartoons