Disney Cruise Line Reveals Entertainment Onboard New Wish

Disney Cruise Line has revealed what entertainment will be available aboard the Disney Wish, which will set sail this July.

According to a press release, the ship has been expertly designed to deliver “endless fun” for the whole family.

“Family is at the heart of everything we do,” said Laura Cabo, portfolio creative executive, Walt Disney Imagineering. “When we set out to design the next generation of Disney cruise ships, we wanted to provide families with more opportunities than ever to make lasting memories together and to experience Disney storytelling in completely new ways. Whether it’s a new take on a guest-favourite experience, like our signature sweets shop, or an immersive show in the first-of-its-kind venue like Luna and Hero Zone, there will be no shortage of family fun aboard the Disney Wish.”

Inside Out: Joyful Sweets is a dessert shop inspired by the Pixar film, Inside Out. Inside guests will find handmade gelato, ice cream, candy and novelty treats for purchase. The brightly coloured shop is designed to resemble the control centre inside 11-year-old Riley’s mind where her emotions guide her through everyday life. It will feature sculpted figures of the film’s five main characters and glowing Memory Orb light fixtures.

According to the press release, the shop will offer nearly 40 flavours of gelato and ice cream, with daily handcrafted gelato specials in “decadent combinations” like peanut butter pretzel and white chocolate raspberry. Whipped cream, fruit compotes and sauces will be freshly made in-house.

Signature treats inspired by the film will include colourful cupcakes that evoke the five emotions — Joy (lemon), Sadness (blueberry), Disgust (pistachio), Anger (red velvet) and Fear (bubble gum) — and chocolate Memory Orbs filled with sweet candy remembrances. Speciality macarons and cake pops will join the assortment of handcrafted truffles, designer cookies, brownies and candy offerings.

Olaf’s Royal Picnic will allow guests to join their favourite “Frozen” characters for a summertime picnic in Arendelle during an entertainment experience specially designed for families with children ages 3 to 12. At Olaf’s Royal Picnic, guests will interact with Olaf, Anna, Elsa and Kristoff and watch live musical performances of songs like “Let It Go,” “Fixer Upper” and “In Summer.”

Guests who have booked a Disney Wish cruise may reserve Olaf’s Royal Picnic before their sailing for an additional fee.

Disney Cruise Line said that it has combined “innovative design and technology” to create entertainment venues such as Grand Hall, Luna and Hero Zone aboard the Disney Wish. These environments will come to life with storytelling and interactive shows.

The fairytale castle-inspired Grand Hall will evolve from a gathering space into a theatre through built-in special effects and the first-ever atrium stage on a Disney ship.

Luna is a brand-new entertainment hub, outfitted with a two-story LED screen wall, stage and bar. It will offer a variety of live shows for families, such as “Villains Game Night,” “Disney Songbook” and the interactive experience called “Disney Uncharted Adventure.”

Hero Zone is a futuristic sports arena offering highly produced show experiences and free-play sports.

Families will be able to embark on an adventure with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse aboard the first-ever Disney attraction at sea; enjoy a royal celebration during a theatrical dining experience with “Frozen” friends; team up with the Avengers on a Marvel cinematic dining adventure; enjoy a Star Wars experience onboard a Disney ship, as well as an original, Broadway-style theatrical production of “The Little Mermaid.”

The Disney Wish will sail its maiden voyage on July 14, followed by a season of three- and four-night cruises to Nassau, Bahamas, and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, from Port Canaveral, Florida.

Countdown to the launch of Disney Fantasy

Countdown to the launch of Disney Fantasy

By Donna Tunney
The six-month countdown to the launch of Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Fantasy is about to begin. The 4,000-passenger ship sails its inaugural cruise March 31 roundtrip from Port Canaveral, with port calls at Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Costa Maya and Castaway Cay.

The final piece of Disney’s fourth ship was put into place a few weeks ago at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany, when builders added a 265-ton portion of the vessel’s bow.

Designed to reflect the glamour of the golden age of cruising during the 1930s, the Disney Fantasy is seen as a “thematic extension of the Disney Cruise Line fleet,” said the line. The ship, it added, will feature “the same attention to detail Disney is known for, while introducing new and immersive, one-of-a-kind venues and experiences.”

The atmosphere will be decidedly art nouveau, Disney said, “where elegance and sophistication mingle with Disney storytelling and whimsy.”

The Fantasy, of course, sports the line’s signature bronze statue in the atrium lobby. On this ship, it’s Mademoiselle Minnie Mouse, dressed in 1920s fashion and with steamer luggage at her side.

On the Disney Dream, it’s Admiral Donald who welcomes passengers in the lobby. On the Disney Magic, it’s Helmsman Mickey, and on the Disney Wonder it’s Ariel, from the classic animated Disney film “The Little Mermaid.”

Minnie Mouse statue on the Disney FantasyFollowing its launch cruise, the Disney Fantasy will be based at Port Canaveral, along with the Disney Dream, and operate seven-night Caribbean itineraries. The Dream will sail three-, four- and five-night cruises to the Bahamas.

In a much-publicized deployment, Disney set its sights on New York in 2012. Beginning May 25, the Disney Magic will sail a total of 20 cruises from New York, including eight-night cruises to the Bahamas, five-night cruises to New England and Canada and two-night weekend getaways.

The Bahamas cruises will include a day at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay; Nassau, Bahamas; and Port Canaveral, with an opportunity to visit the nearby Walt Disney World Resort.

Nine five-night cruises up the New England coast will call at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Saint John, New Brunswick.

Other new homeport destinations for Disney in 2012 include Galveston and Seattle.

From May 28 through early September, the Disney Wonder will sail 14 seven-night cruises from Seattle to Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska; and Victoria, British Columbia.

And from Galveston, the Disney Magic will sail 12 seven-night cruises to the Western Caribbean starting Sept. 22. Calls will be made to Grand Cayman and Mexico’s Costa Maya and Cozumel.

The Mexican Riviera and the Pacific coast also are on Disney Cruise Line’s schedule next year.

The Disney Wonder will operate seven-night Mexican Riviera cruises from Los Angeles throughout winter, spring and fall. It also will sail four seven-night Pacific Coast cruises from Los Angeles, in September and October, calling at San Francisco, San Diego and Ensenada, Mexico.

Hawaii is proving to be a winning destination for Disney. The line last week announced that demand for its one scheduled Hawaii cruise, from Los Angeles, has been so great that it added a second itinerary.

The original 15-night Hawaiian itinerary, which includes nine days at sea, departs April 29. The additional sailing, 14 nights with eight days at sea, departs Oct. 14.