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Disney Reveals Its Big Dream
October 30, 2009
By William Ng
Disney Cruise Line has disclosed details about its new cruise ship, Disney Dream, now under construction and scheduled to set sail in January 2011. The ship will take incentives and meetings to new heights, the company claims, embracing innovation, quality entertainment, and immersive experiences.
Disney Dream will introduce features such as “Virtual Portholes” for inside staterooms, a sophisticated lounge where the sun sets over the skyline of a different world-famous city each night, and a water coaster that will send guests racing over and above the ship’s upper decks. The vessel, which will blend Art Deco style with “Disney whimsy,” is 40 percent larger than Disney’s current ships. The company expects that the lighthearted environment will suit incentive participants and their families, but there will be serious venues for meetings.
George Aguel, senior vice president for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, says the Dream will be able to host even larger groups than the ones its ships have been accommodating for more than a decade under Disney Cruise Line. “Beyond the ability to host even larger groups, it will enable us to surprise and delight attendees in ways that only Disney can,” he says of the Dream.
Virtual Portholes for Inside Staterooms
These will be displays in inside staterooms that provide real-time views outside the ship using high-definition cameras on the exterior of the Dream. Guests may glimpse Disney characters such as Peach (the starfish from Finding Nemo) or Mickey Mouse pop up in the Virtual Porthole from time to time.
The ship will also feature the AquaDuck water coaster that will sweep incentive guests on a high-speed flume ride featuring twists, turns, drops, uphill acceleration, and river rapids—all the while traversing the upper decks of the ship. AquaDuck stretches 765 feet in length and spans four ship decks in height. A translucent “swing out” loop that extends from the side of the ship will allow riders to look down to the ocean 150 feet below.
Meanwhile, at night, an entertainment area called the District will have five bars, clubs, and lounges that will also double as group venues. They will complement the group spaces on decks 5 and 14. The 16,000-square-foot, double-deck Senses Spa & Salon, located in the forward section of the ship, is also an expected highlight.
It will have 17 private treatment rooms, spa villas with indoor treatment rooms, and private outdoor verandahs, plus Rainforest, a special section of the spa offering steam, heat, and hydrotherapy. Rainforest will have two whirlpool hot tubs and ocean views. There will also be an oceanview gym and fitness center.
The signature restaurant will be Palo, serving northern Italian cuisine amid ocean views, custom art, furnishings with warm wood tones, and an interior color palate of red, green, and gold jewel tones.
Disney Dream will alternate three-, four-, and five-night cruises from Port Canaveral, FL, to Nassau in the Bahamas and Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island. During the summer months, the ship will alternate four- and five-night itineraries. The schedule also includes five-night holiday cruises during Christmas and New Year, with two stops at Castaway Cay.
In preparation for the Dream, Castaway Cay will undergo several enhancements, including the addition of new private beach cabanas, a new floating platform with slides, and an expanded beach. Expansion efforts are under way at Port Canaveral to accommodate the larger ship, as well, including enlargements to the Disney terminal building and a new multilevel parking structure.
The ship’s maiden voyage is slated for Jan. 26, 2011. Group bookings begin Nov. 9. For more, visit Disney Meetings.
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