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Disney Cruise Line News - (5/6/13) Disney has released a fun new video featurette all about the new AquaDunk slide being added to the Disney Magic in October 2013.

    (4/29/13) The official word from the Disney Cruise Line this week is that the Disney Magic will soon undergo a massive facelift and re-launch with several all-new features. Disney Magic will enter dry-dock for this refurbishment between September 7th, 2013 until October 10th, 2013 in Spain. The grand atrium lobby will become a three-level elegant art deco scene with all new colors with the existing Helmsman Mickey statue getting a refurbishment as well.
    Disney’s Oceaneer Club (kids 3-12) is getting all new themes inside like as Marvel’s Avengers Academy, making this Marvel’s first themed installation at sea. Kids will be transported to a high-tech command post used by The Avengers featuring a suit of Iron Man armor and Thor’s Hammer. Next door is Andy’s Room, a new multi-level play area stocked with Andy’s favorite toys from Toy Story featuring a larger-than-life Mr. Potato Head, Hamm the piggy bank and a Slinky Dog slide. Next to this is Pixie Hollow, the enchanted land of Tinker Bells and her fairy friends in an enchanted forest setting. Kids can play in the costume closet or work on their Tinker skills while crafting arts sitting on mushroom and acorn stools. Finally, kids can also enjoy Mickey Mouse Club, another new children’s area where they can play games and make art and crafts, along with a visit to Goof Gears, an oversized play area full of wacky, magnetic spinning gears. There is also a special place for tiny travelers aged 3-months to 3 years called It’s A Small World Nursery.
    On the upper decks those seeking something a little wilder will notice a stunning new feature atop the ship… the AquaDunk, a three story tall body slide attached to one of the stacks that starts you off by loading you inside an aquapod with a trap-door launch down the slide, into a clear translucent tube that will extend 20 feet over the side of the ship before circling back for your splashdown finale. Nearby is the new AquaLab, an interactive 1,800 sqft water playground along with the Twist n’ Spout waterslide. Kids under three can play in the Nephews’ Splash Zone area.
    New dining experience will be coming online as well. The Animator’s Palate will be updated with all new animation walls with larger HD screens and a new Drawn to Magic experience.  A new restaurant featuring the energy of Rio de Janeiro will open called Carioca’s, themed after Jose Carioca the parrot from Three Caballeros. Fun by day, elegant by night. Cabanas is another new dining experience featuring a variety of food and beverage stations during the day and a table-service experience at night, all with an Australian themed Finding Nemo inspired theme. (This replaces the former Topsider Buffet, which will also result in a larger space after the renovation). The Magic’s popular adult restaurant, Palo, will also receive a makeover as well.
    New evening entertainment is also on the way as the adult extertainment area After Hours opens up, replacing the former Beat Street area, with a new lineup of club venues for dancing, comedy and variety shows. Fathoms night club is a celebration of the seas with an atmosphere that will evolve as the night goes on. Keys is a more relaxed piano bar and lounge area and O’Gills is a Irish Pub and Sports Bar that will feature live televised events.
    ALSO, the Disney Cruise Line has announced several ‘New Port Adventures’ for 2013 Mediterranean Sailings that will include: Venice (Italy), Athens (Greence), Greek Isles, Turkey, Croatia’s Dalmation Coast and Rome (Italy). Watch for details to appear on the official Disney Cruise Line website later this year.
    (3/12/13) The Consumerist has posted an interesting article about a mishap that took place not long ago on the Disney Wonder. While a lot of time parents want to take cruises to get away from their kids for a little private vacation, the Disney Cruise Line has let it be known that they are equipped and willing to take good care of your kids while on board, so why not bring them along… right?  Well… that’s the way it supposed to work.
    But as a parent… I know children… and they can be damn sneaky with Ninja level stealth skills when they want to, often with the ability to vanish at will. That is pretty much what happened, when a 3 year old left with Disney’s on-board childcare snuck off to a quiet corner somewhere to take a nap and left the parents in a panic for the 45 minutes they were unable to find him anywhere on the ship.
    I know what your thinking… surely the Disney Cruise Line uses those RFID wristbands on children so they can track them down and find them anywhere on the ship. Your right… they do. Unfortunately in this case, when they punched up the kids wristband in the system it responded that the wristband was “UNREADABLE”. Anyway… give the article a read as it explains the experience these parents went through for 45 minutes on the Disney Wonder.
    I can sympathize… but I know Children… and they are sneaky and not to be trusted. 
    (2/13/13) The Disney Cruise Line has announced some new ports and itineraries are on the way for 2014. From May to August 2014 the Disney Magic will conduct 4, 5, 7, 9 and 12 night cruises in the Mediterranean, with new stops in the Greek Isles and Sicily. Speaking of Italy, in 2014 select cruises in the European area will use Venice as a homeport.
    For a limited time the Disney Magic will also homeport in Puerto Rico for a series of 7 Night cruises to the Southern Caribbean with stops at Antigua, St. Lucia, Grenada, Barbados and St. Kitts. These voyages will depart on 9/20, 9/27, 10/4 and 10/11.
    For those seeking the opposite climate the Disney Wonder will sail from Vancouver, Canada to Alaska for Summer 2014 with a series of 7-night cruises as well as a special 9-night cruise starting on May 24.
    (12/14/12) Screamscape sources report to us that it will be the Disney Magic making Mediterranean run in 2013. I’m told that the run will depart out of Barcelona and also stop at the ports of Niece (France), Florence, Rome and Naples (Italy) during the voyage.
    (12/13/12) While I don’t know which vessel will be making the journey, I’m hearing that one of the Disney Cruise Line ships will head across the Atlantic for a tour of select Mediterranean destinations to include stops at Barcelona (Spain), Venice (Italy), the Greek Isles and Croatia.
    (12/5/12) Fans of the Disney Cruise Line will be happy to know that the early 2014 Itineraries for the fleet has been announced, and reservations can be made for these 2014 cruises starting on December 6th.
    In 2014 all four of the ships will be setting sail for Florida based ports so you should be able to pick the ship you want for the cruise dates you want on the typical Caribbean routes. The Disney Magic and Disney Dream will be covering the 3 & 4 night Bahama runs while the Disney Fantasy will be making the 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean runs, all from the main Port Canaveral terminal, a short 45 minute drive from Walt Disney World.
    The Disney Wonder will be running out of Port Miami for the first time, making 4 and 5 night tours to the Bahamas and 5-night Caribbean trips with visits to Castaway Bay, Nassau, Key West, Cozumel and Grand Cayman.
    (10/31/12) Want to see what it’s like to have a Hurricane pass near your cruise ship? Check out this video shot on-board the Disney Fantasy a few days ago as Hurricane Sandy passed nearby, tossing the ship around back and forth.

    (10/19/12) Congrats to the Disney Cruise Line for being named as the #1 Cruise Line by Conde Nast Travelers 2012 Reader’s Choice Awards.
    (5/25/12) For those wondering what the latest word was about Nelson, who is now perhaps the most famous Disney Cruise Line employee, DCL officials have confirmed that the iPhone has been recovered and that the employee (no name give) has been placed on ‘administrative leave and restricted him from guest areas while we investigate.” So in other words… I think our friend Nelson may be visiting the Captain’s Brig. From what I understand, all cruise ships, even the Disney ones, have a Brig in case of emergencies. (As well as a Morgue, but that’s a story for another day...)
    Too bad they took the iPhone from him, I’d love to see a picture of what the Disney Wonder’s Brig looks like.
    (5/23/12) In what may be the best story of the day, a woman who took a cruise on the Disney Wonder in April had her iPhone stolen. However, due to the iCloud service, all the photos taken with the phone… even those after it was stolen, have begun to be automatically posted to her Facebook account this week. In a moment of brilliance, Katy McCaffrey put 20 of these photos into a public gallery labeled “Stolen iPhone Adventure” where we get several clear pictures of Nelson, the Disney Cruise Line CM who ended up in possession with Katy’s iPhone, Nelson’s pregnant girlfriend, as well as his fellow CM friends on board the Disney Wonder. She also contacted the Disney Cruise Line and has forwarded them all the photos as well.
    I have a feeling that our friend Nelson may be in for a world of hurt… unless he walks the plank before the Disney Wonder comes into it’s next port. Stay tuned… I don’t think this is the end of the story by a long shot.

AULANI Enhancements - (11/27/12) Want to see what Aulani is like? Take a little tour of Disney’s Hawaiian fantasy getaway resort with the latest update at Westcoaster.  If you ever get the chance to visit, I’m told that a stay at Aulani is a must do for any fan of themed entertainment, as Disney has really hit the ball out of the park with this project in almost every way.
    (8/31/12) The Disney Parks Blog goes over some new changes and additions on the way to Aulani, including new water play areas.
    (7/30/12) Disney has confirmed that an expansion is on the way to the Aulani Resort in Hawaii that will have new water features added to the Waikolohe Valley pool area, two new quick service food locations and the popular Starlit Hui show will move to the larger lawn location to accommodate more guests. Construction work will begin this September.

Future Cruise Line Expansion - (4/12/13) - According to a rumor posted to ChipandCo, the Disney Cruise Line may be ready to make a big announcement at a Disney press event scheduled for April 25-26. If the rumors are true, Disney may announce that they will expand the fleet by adding two medium sized vessels, smaller than the Disney Fantasy & Dream but bigger than the Disney Magic / Wonder. These two new ships could go into service as early as 2015 and 2016.  - UPDATE---They did not announce any new ships, just a major refurbishment of the Disney Magic.
    (5/13/12) Keep in mind that there is only talk at this point, but I’ve heard that the Disney Cruise Line may be checking into the feasibility of adding two more vessels to their fleet in the future. This does not mean they have approved anything… only that they are doing their homework about the possible costs and construction timetables involved IF they were to approve two new ships, as well as studying their internal numbers over the next 12 months (occupancy / profits, etc) as the company has time to digest their last expansion. If the rooms on the existing four-vessel fleet are still selling out and the cost is right, perhaps we’ll see more ships added in about 3-5 years.