The Disney Dream Added to Cruise Line
Ship Sails to Bahamas and Castaway Cay, Features New Innovations
Oct 31, 2009
Disney Cruise Line (DCL) released details about the Disney Dream at a special New York City preview on Oct. 29, 2009. The event was also broadcast live via webcast and hosted by David Duffy, Disney Cruise Line’s creative director, and Rachel Quinn, who is slated to become Disney’s Dream’s cruise director. Disney Dream departs from Port Canaveral on trips to Nassau, Bahamas and Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island.
Disney Dream is the newest addition to the Disney Cruise Line, which established itself in the family cruise market in 1998 with the Disney Magic ship, followed by Disney Wonder in 1999. Like the Magic and Wonder, the Disney Dream is designed specifically for family vacations, with special areas constructed to appeal to different age groups as well as experiences designed for the whole family.
Media Event Featured Speeches by Bob Iger, Disney President, and Jay Rasulo
The Disney media event featured brief speeches by Disney executives promoting the Dream’s immersive and technological features. Bog Iger, The Walt Disney Company’s President and CEO, focused on how the Disney Dream epitomizes the “Disney Difference” in offering unique family vacation experiences with “the classic Disney characters and their wonderful stories in interactive and imaginative new ways.”
Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, echoed Iger’s comments. “There’s literally something for everyone aboard the Disney Dream,” Rasulu stated, “thanks to Disney’s hallmark fusion of imagination and technology.” Rasulo then provided a preview of the Disney Dream’s key features. More details were provided in a follow-up webcast that highlighted these elements of the ship’s design.
Disney Dream’s Aquaduck Water Coaster
The centerpiece of the Disney Dream ship is the AquaDuck Water Coaster, which combines a high-speed flume ride with a roller coaster. Its design highlights include a translucent tube that travels 765 feet and provides a four-deck drop into a lazy river. There are also several pools.
Disney Dream’s Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab for Children
Disney Dream features two children’s areas, the Oceaneer Club (ages 3 - 10, especially ages 3 - 7) and the Oceaneer Lab (ages 3 - 10, especially ages 8 - 10). The areas encourage imaginative play and interactive technology. Computer stations are in both spaces, which are made up of several smaller areas. Spaces are inspired by Disney and Pixar movies, including Tinkerbell’s Pixie Hollow series, Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., and Finding Nemo.
Disney Dream’s Lounges for Tweens and Teens
Edge is a lounge for tweens (ages 11 - 13) that, in addition to computer stations, offers karaoke and green-screen technology. Vibe is a teen-only lounge (ages 14 - 17) that includes a coffee shop, dance floor, computers and video games, and an outdoor sundeck.
Disney Dream’s Adult Options
There are five new distinct venues – the District Lounge, the Metro Pub, Pink, Skyline, and Evolution – for adults. Skyline is particularly innovative, showing skylines that change to represent different cities, including Hong Kong, Paris, and New York. Luxury lovers can also try Senses Spa & Salon, with 17 private rooms and two private treatment villas.
Disney Dream’s Dining Options Include Rotational Dining and Palo
Disney Dream's dining uses DCL's rotational dining concept in its family restaurants. In rotational dining both families and their servers visit different restaurants for dinner, a strategy encouraging experimentation while providing personalized service. The Disney Dream's three themed restaurants are:
- Animator's Palate, featuring the magic of animation;
- Royal Palace, a princess-themed venue; and
- Enchanted Garden, a casual eatery whose environment magically transforms from day to night.
Adults may also eat at Palo, a quiet and intimate venue offering upscale Northern Italian cuisine.
Disney Dream’s Theatres
In addition to character greetings, ranging from Mickey Mouse to Stitch to Crush, the Disney Dream also has two show venues. The Walt Disney Theatre houses Broadway-style live shows, while the Buena Vista Theatre plays first-run as well as 3-D movies.
Disney Dream’s Staterooms
The Disney Dream offers 1250 rooms, 90 percent of which have an ocean view. Inner staterooms are equipped with virtual portholes showing live-feed views from four cameras. Occasionally Disney characters will magically appear in them. Additional storage is available through raised bedframes, and feature 100% Egyptian cotton bedding designed with hidden Disney elements.
Disney Cruise Line takes family on a new voyage with its new technology. The Disney Dream’s maiden voyage will be Jan. 26, 2011, and booking for the ship begins Nov. 6, 2009. The ship take three-, four-, and five-day cruises and will stop at Castaway Cay, which is itself being renovated and expanded. Disney Cruise Line will continue to expand with the Fantasy, a ship scheduled to begin sailing in 2012.
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