DCL's Big Announcement Next Week

Just received this announcement in my email from DCL.

Seems next Monday in NYC a BIG announcement is coming from the Disney Cruise Line. Speculation is that it will announce either the rumored 2010 Baltic Cruises in the summer for the Disney Magic. Possibly the name of 1 or both of the new ships. We also may see some art work of the interiors for the first time. I will be at work at 12:30 but I'm usually on break at that time so I will try and get online to find out what new magic Disney is bringing to us.

The Disney Cruise Line Terminal

One of the things that set DCL apart from the other cruise lines in Port Canaveral is the fact that Disney is the only one with its own dedicated terminal. The other cruise lines can all use the others terminals. Disney's is for the Wonder and Magic only. From the minute you arrive at the beautiful terminal you know its special. From the mickey heads on the exterior of the building to the characters along the building exterior. Once inside and through security and up the escalator and you arrive at a gorgeous terminal. Terrazzo flooring, a high wave like ceiling, TVs by the seating area showing Disney cartoons to the excited buzz of guests knowing they will soon be onboard, the terminal really sets you up for the Magical voyage ahead.

The check in desks are to your left, the seating area to the right. The tables in the front are manned by Cast Members who will help you fill out any forms you have left to fill out. Bahamas Immigration forms etc.
Straight ahead you can see the ship through the windows. You can go outside onto the balcony and see the ship. To the right of the windows is the check in area for Child Activities and to the left through the Mickey head is the hallway that leads to the ship.
The ship model in the terminal
The seating area for you to wait in until boarding. Artwork, DCL photos and Disney cartoons play to help you through the waiting until it is time to board.
One more view of the beautiful ship model.

The Pools of the Disney Cruise Line-Mickey's Pool

Today we look at the Mickey Pool on board the Disney Cruise Line. This pool located at the back of the ship in between the Aft funnel and Beach Blanket Buffet/Topsiders is for the kids only. The right ear of the pool is reserved for non potty trained guests. Swim Diapers are a must.

The water slide that Mikey's giant hand is holding up is also reserved for the little ones between the ages of 4 and 14 and between 32 and 64 inches tall. The water in the main part of the pool(Mickey's Face) itself is 18 inches deep. In the Mickey Pool area is located the Deck 9 drink station where you can get free soda(Coke Products), hot tea, hot chocolate, milk and coffee all day. Pluto's doghouse is located under the waterslide. Pluto's offers up Burgers, Hot Dogs, Chicken Fingers, Chicken Sandwiches and Tacos. Also on the opposite side is Goofy's Galley which serves Paninis, wraps and fresh fruit and off to the left of Goofy's is the self serve ice cream station.

The Pools of Disney Cruise Line-Goofy Family Pool

Here are 3 photos of the Goofy Pool. This is the family pool and also where deck parties are held. A big cover slides over the pool to make it into a dance floor. You will also notice the Arielview TV attached to the back of the forward funnel. During the cruise they show Movies, Sports Events, in the morning they show Playhouse Disney shows from Disney Channel. They also do trivia and Walt quotes and Bridge and Galley Tours on the big screen during the cruise.

The pool and 2 hot tubs are in this area as well as Pinocchios Pizzeria.
The Goofy Pool at night. After the Pirates IN the Caribbean deck party they show Pirates of the Caribbean on the big screen. It is a unique feeling watching a movie on cruise ship in the middle of a dark ocean with the stars overhead.
Also notice the stage under the Ariel TV. That is where the characters are for the Adventures Away sail a away party. Bands are also frequently in this area. My last cruise in March they also had an ice sculpture demonstration.

Magical vistas on a Disney Cruise

Sometimes the magic of a cruise is in simple things like Sunsets or looking out your porthole and finding a rainbow at sea. Enjoy these pics.

Took this one afternoon on a sea day, heading to Grand Cayman. I had gone back to my stateroom to grab some more sunscreen when I look out the window and a rainbow was out in the middle of the ocean.
This rainbow greeted us as we returned to the ship after a day at Castaway Cay.
Same rainbow as above on Castaway Cay. I liked taking this pic with the life preserver in the corner since I think the words on the preserver describe my feeling when I took this pic.
A Key West sunset. I had early dining on that cruise and was in Animators Pallete that night and everyone kept peeking at their watches to make sure they were outside at sunset to capture the amazing colors that you can only see in Key West. We all lierally slurped up dessert and ran out the hallway and out the door onto deck 4 just as the sun was setting.

1 last sunset photo from Key West Florida.

How I like to relive the magic of The Disney Cruise Line

Besides books on the Disney Cruise Line another way I like to keep the magic and wonder of a DCL vacation going is by decorating the walls with Merchandise and keepsakes from the ships.

These items are things I have bought over the years and they are all hanging or sitting by my desk in my office so that even on a dreary day I just have to look up or off to the side at home and there is a reminder of the Disney Cruise Line.

This was a purchase with purchase Pirates in the Caribbean litho that I had signed by Capt Thord. And of course I have one of my many Castaway Club flags hanging off the pic.
Here are 3 of my favorite items all together on my DVD case.

This is the old propellor clock that used to be in the staterooms. It is by Howard Miller Clock Co. so you can find this is some stores around.

This is the new clock in the staterooms. This one is done by Disney as it has a cruise line logo under the clock hands. It also has an alarm that plays When You Wish Upon A Star. This can be purchased onboard both the Wonder and Magic for $46.00

The ship model that is sold onboard

The cruise line map showing all the ports of call for the Disney Cruise Line. The bottom left corner is a Castaway Club Return Cruiser Magnet.

Inside the book. The Disney Magic, Launching of a Dream

Yesterdays post about different books I like to read to relive the cruise experience brought some feedback. Mostly it was about the book Disney Magic, Launching the dream. So I took a few photos of the inside of the book, to show you all what it looks like.

The book and all photos are copyrighted by Disney Enterprises Inc.

This book is available through Walt Disney World Mail Order at

407-363-6200. The SKU is 400-144-18690 and it costs $14.95

The mural from behind the Guest Relations desk
The nautical alphabet found on deck 5
Alot of great pics from the building of the Disney Magic in Italy
Also alot of concept art like these pages for Palo. Including fabric designs and color palletes

My favorite books to relive the Magic of a DCL Vacation

Here are some of my favorite DCL books that I have on my bookshelf at home. These books all help me to relive the cruise experience. Most of these are older versions of books you can get currently. Having been as many times as I have I don't really have a need to get updated versions all the time. If you are looking for these I know the Birnbaum official guide and the passporter DCL book are available at most bookstores. The Disney Magic Launching of a dream is available through WDW Mail Order and the Stateroom book I got off of EBay a few years ago, so you might have luck with it on there.

This book is the older version of what is currently in the staterooms onboard the Magic and Wonder. This book has maps, shore excursions, ads for different retialers in the different ports of call and ship information. This book was updated a couple years ago so Disney sent the older versions to Disney shops like MouseSurplus where you could buy them. I got this copy off of Ebay for like 5 bucks a couple years ago.

This book, Disney Magic the Launching of a dream is a fantastic look at the making of the Disney Magic with lots of concept art, photos from the shipyard in Italy as the Magic was being built as well as a lot of the art work and Walt Disney photos from around the ship. I love this book. If anyone is interested in purchasing this book you can purchase it through WDW Mail Order at 407-363-6200. The SKU is 400-144-18690 and it costs $14.95

The Passporter guides are widely recognized as the authority on DCL and WDW as well. The book is so informative and well written as you read through it you can almost feel the waves and smell the sea air. This book is great. I got my copy off of EBay.

Finally, the Birnbaum official guide to DCL. Most people don't like this book as they say it basically gives you the company line since it is published by Hyperion which is a division of the Walt Disney Co. I like this book as well as it gives you an overview of the official website as well as all the shore excursions and has lots of color photos from the ship and Castaway. This book is available at all bookstores as well as online sites like Amazon.com

I will post some pics of the insides of a few of these books in the near future.

WOW

You know sometimes you take photos that just seem normal and then after you get them developed or you really look at them you see things that makes the picture a WOW.

I intended for this pic of the Atrium Chandelier on the Disney Magic to simply be a picture of the chandelier nothing more. But after I looked at this and saw the light from the portholes glowing up towards the chandelier even I have to say WOW...=)

The Billboards of Route 66 on the Disney Wonder

To continue my theme for the day, here are more photos from Route 66, the Adult nightclub area onboard the Disney Wonder.

This set of pictures features the billboards and signs on the walls which remind me of the billboards and old travel postcards you see in old magazines and old travel brochures.

My favorite sign is the first picture below. Look at the TV and you will notice Uncle Walt himself.

A stroll down Route 66 on the Disney Wonder

One of my favorite themed areas on both ships is the Nightclub District.

The Disney Wonder's is themed to Route 66, otherwise know as the Mother Road.

If you have seen Disney-Pixars Cars you will know about Route 66.

Below are some pictures of the area starting with the signs you see when you enter the area from the Atrium.

I love the way the themeing is done for this area. The carpet is a map of Route 66. The walls are adorned with old billboards like you might have seen along the highway and the posts are done to look like telephone poles. The walls and ceiling are adorned with clouds and desert rock work to tie this whole area together. This truly is one of the best examples of how good Disney is at telling a story through themeing.