Bookings for the new Disney Dream open today. Of course we expect great, magical, innovative things from Disney, but still, we were bowled over by their recent announcement about the cool stuff planned for the Disney Dream when she debuts in January 2011. Like her two sisters, the Dream’s design blends elegant Art Deco motifs with fun Disney whimsy. Mix in a bunch of mind-blowing new features and the ship’s a winner before she even sets sail.
Here are the highlights:
- AquaDuck Water Coaster - Disney debuts a cruise-industry first: a shipboard water coaster called the AquaDuck/ This high-speed flume ride has twists, turns, drops, uphill acceleration and river rapids – all while traversing the upper decks of the ship. AquaDuck stretches 765 feet in length – more than two and a half times the length of a football field – and spans four decks in height. Guests slide 13 feet over the side of the ship in a translucent swing-out loop allowing them to look down on the ocean 150 feet below. Experience coaster-like thrills as high-powered water jets push passengers upwards and forwards at 20 feet per second. AquaDuck continues through the forward funnel, encounters a 335 foot stretch of river rapids and splashes down to an end on Deck 12.
- A Virtual Porthole for Inside Staterooms. All inside cabins aboard the Disney Dream will have a virtual porthole that offers guests a real-time view outside the ship. High-definition cameras placed on the exterior of the ship feed live video to each virtual porthole. Of course, expect some animation to be a part of the scene ala Peach the Starfish from the Disney*Pixar hit film “Finding Nemo” or Mickey Mouse.
- A Magical Oasis for Children. Nearly an entire deck is dedicated to youth areas, with two main spaces for children ages three to 10. Both venues feature interactive animation via 103-inch plasma screens, so kids can joke, chat and play with characters such as Crush, the sea turtle from “Finding Nemo” and Stitch, the alien from “Lilo and Stitch.”
- Disney’s Oceaneer Club invites children to play among larger-than-life characters from Disney*Pixar’s “Toy Story” in Andy’s Room; explore the Laugh Floor with lovable monsters Mike and Sully from “Monsters, Inc.;” dive under the sea with Nemo and friends; or visit Tinker Bell’s fairy forest.
- In Disney’s Oceaneer Lab children can pretend they’re embarking on a great seafaring adventure in a room filled with maps, maritime instruments and swashbuckling artifacts; and try their hand at animation, become a pop star, or navigate ships through digital seas.
- Chill-Out Zones for Tweens and Teens. Located inside the forward funnel is Edge, a lounge just for tweens ages 11 to 13. Hi-tech entertainment ranges from making and staring in photo postcards to video karaoke using green-screen technology.
- Vibe is a trendy indoor/outdoor space for the 14 to 17 set. A “teen-only” swipe card provides access to the nearly 9,000-square-foot club. Teens can create and edit videos, play computer games, access the onboard social media application or try their hand at spinning and mixing dance tracks. Teens have their own private outdoor deck area with chaise lounges for sunbathing, two wading pools, misters and pop jets for cooling off, and deck games like ping-pong and foosball.
- Rotational Dining. Just as aboard her two older sisters, the Dream features innovative rotational dining between three different restaurants for dinner. Servers accompany diners, offering friendly, familiar, personalized service each night. The rotational dining restaurants include Animator’s Palate, a signature Disney restaurant featuring Disney animation;Royal Palace, an elegant restaurant inspired by the classic Disney films “Cinderella,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Sleeping Beauty;” and Enchanted Garden, a casual venue inspired by the gardens of Versailles and featuring a dining environment that magically transforms from day to night.
- Just for Adults. Of course it’s not just the kids who will have a great time aboard the Disney Dream, adults will get pampered too. The District is a nighttime entertainment area with five sophisticated venues, each with its own unique design, look, feel, and theme. Senses Spa & Salon offers its brand of bliss in 17 private treatment rooms; spa villas with indoor treatment rooms and private outdoor verandahs; and Rainforest, a special section of the spa where guests can enjoy the relaxing and restorative benefits of steam, heat and hydrotherapy. Palo is an intimate adults-only restaurant featuring ocean views and soothing sounds of a pianist.
The Disney Dream will sail alternating three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. During summer months, the ship will alternate four- and five-night itineraries with two stops at Castaway Cay.
