Disney Dream: Taking Family Cruises to New Heights

It wasn't so long ago when a colleague and I joked that the next new ship attraction would be a ferris wheel or a roller coaster. We weren't too off the mark as Disney Cruise Line has announced that their new Disney Dream will feature a first-of-its kind water coaster that sends guests racing above the upper decks of the ship. Other out-of-the-boat features include an animated turtle that engages children in conversation about life in the ocean and a sophisticated lounge where the sun sets over the skyline of a different world famous city each night. When the Disney Dream debuts in early 2011, the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet will bring to life these innovations and more.

Disney Dream will take family cruising to all-new heights, embracing the spirit of innovation, magical family entertainment, and immersive experiences that have made Disney Cruise Line the favored cruise of choice for families since 1998. Disney Cruise Line revolutionized the family segment of the cruise industry with its purpose-built ships designed just for kids (of all ages) and, with Disney Dream setting sail on Jan. 26, 2011, preparations are underway to expand the one-of-a-kind family experience, utilizing technology to enhance the world-class entertainment and legendary guest services onboard. From stem to stern, Disney Dream will offer a cruise experience that caters to the preferences of the whole family.

Disney Dream will feature a remarkable interior design to provide guests with a warm and welcoming feel throughout. The ship's design offers a perfect blend of elegant Art Deco style and fun-filled Disney whimsy. Distinctly Disney features aboard the Disney Dream include:

AquaDuck Water Coaster. . .
Disney Cruise Line debuts a cruise-industry first: a shipboard water coaster ... AquaDuck! (pictured above). Guests aboard the Disney Dream will get swept away on an exhilarating high-speed flume ride featuring 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
-- Guests experience coaster-like thrills as high-powered water jets push them 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. . .
Disney Cruise Line introduces another stateroom innovation with all inside staterooms on the Disney Dream featuring a Virtual Porthole that provides guests with a real-time view outside the ship. High-definition cameras placed on the exterior of the ship feed live video to each Virtual Porthole. As guests observe the impressive outside views, they may glimpse a magical surprise: animated characters such as Peach the starfish from the Disney-Pixar hit film "Finding Nemo," or Mickey Mouse may pop by the Virtual Porthole.

A Magical Oasis for Children. . .
Only on a Disney Cruise Line ship can children become immersed in their favorite Disney stories with the help of caring counselors, beloved Disney characters, and a sprinkling of pixie dust. The celebration of children's creativity rises to a new level on Disney Dream with nearly an entire deck of youth spaces designed to inspire, entertain, and unlock the imagination of children. There are two main spaces for children ages three to 10.

At Disney's Oceaneer Club, children can:
-- 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

At Disney's Oceaneer Lab, children feel as though they are embarking on a great seafaring adventure in a room filled with maps, maritime instruments and swashbuckling artifacts. Children can try their hand at animation, become a pop star, or navigate ships through digital seas. Both venues offer magical interactions with the animated characters such as Crush, the sea turtle from the Disney-Pixar motion picture "Finding Nemo" and Stitch, the mischievous alien from "Lilo and Stitch." The characters chat, play, and joke with children in live, unrehearsed conversations from their digital undersea and intergalactic environments via 103-inch plasma screens.

Chill-Out Zones for Tweens and Teens. . .
Located inside the forward funnel is Edge, the lounge just for tweens (ages 11 to 13). This tween pad is filled with a multitude of hi-tech entertainment including the ability to create and star in photo postcards and video karaoke using green-screen technology.

Teens have their own exclusive club aboard Disney Dream with Vibe, a trendy and inviting indoor/outdoor space created especially for guests ages 14 to 17. 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 such as ping-pong and foosball.

Personal Touches with Rotational Dining. . .
Disney Cruise Line continues its innovative rotational dining concept onboard Disney Dream with elaborately themed restaurants, distinctly Disney touches, and world-class cuisine to create a magical dining experience. Throughout the cruise, guests "rotate" through three different restaurants for dinner, with their servers accompanying them, providing guests with friendly, familiar, personalized service each night. The rotational dining restaurants include:
-- Animator's Palate, a signature Disney Cruise Line restaurant that brings the magic of Disney animation into the dining room for a unique experience that will captivate the entire family.
-- 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."
-- Enchanted Garden, a whimsical, casual restaurant inspired by the gardens of Versailles and featuring a dining environment that magically transforms from day to night.

Just for Adults. . .
While children are having the time of their lives in the elaborately themed youth areas aboard Disney Dream, adults can look forward to incomparable indulgences and relaxation with exclusive areas and offerings designed exclusively for them.
-- Adults can escape into The District, a nighttime entertainment area on Disney Dream with five unique venues. This playground for grownups features sophisticated lounges, each with its own unique design, look, feel, and palate-pleasing delights.
-- Senses Spa & Salon offers adult tranquility with 17 private treatment rooms, lavish spa villas with indoor treatment rooms and private outdoor verandahs, and Rainforest, a special section of the spa offering the benefits of steam, heat, and hydrotherapy to relax the mind and body.
-- At Palo, adults find epicurean excellence and an unforgettable dinner experience at sea. Every seat offers beautiful ocean vistas while a pianist softly serenades diners in an intimate restaurant setting.

Disney Dream is scheduled to depart on its maiden voyage Jan. 26, 2011, and will sail alternating 3- and 4-night cruises to the Bahamas and Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. During summer months, the ship will alternate 4- and 5-night itineraries with two stops at Castaway Cay. Guests can book a Disney Dream cruise beginning Nov. 9, 2009. To learn more, visit DisneyCruise.com, call Disney Cruise Line at 888/DCL-2500, or contact your travel agent.