Disney Dream’s Spectacles Take Cruise Ship Family Entertainment to New Heights

Talk about elevating cruise ship entertainment to new heights: A little mermaid soars over the stage in a stunning aerial ballet … Pirates rappel from atop the ship’s funnel during a swashbuckling adventure … The evening sky lights up with a dazzling spectacle of sound and color. When the Disney Dream sets sail in January 2011, Disney Cruise Line is more than just raising the bar with entertainment designed to charm and bedazzle the entire family. Guests will delight to some of the most elaborate original musicals presented at sea, over-the-top deck parties and, bursting above it all, the largest fireworks spectacular aboard a cruise ship.

It’s Show Time!
Every night is show time at Walt Disney Theatre, an elegant, 1,340-seat entertainment palace that is at once classic and ultra-modern. Spanning three decks with orchestra and balcony seating, the theater is resplendent with art deco styling recalling luxurious show places of a bygone time. At the same time, it is equipped with theatrical technology that makes it one of the most advanced venues on land or sea, allowing producers to bring original productions and Disney stories to life in a whole new way. The lineup of musicals presented at Walt Disney Theatre includes:

“Disney’s Believe”
Headlining the musical repertoire is “Disney’s Believe,” an original stage spectacular premiering aboard the Disney Dream. Combining a heartfelt story with a captivating musical score, the lavish production tells the story of a workaholic father who, through the power of Disney magic, reconnects with his daughter and learns a valuable lesson about what is important in life (scene pictured above). More than 20 of Disney’s most beloved characters take the stage during “Disney’s Believe,” including Cinderella, Peter Pan, Mary Poppins and Belle from “Beauty and The Beast.”

‘The Golden Mickeys’: A Timeless Tribute
“The Golden Mickeys,” an award-style show celebrating the musical heritage of Disney animated films, is a Disney Cruise Line guest favorite. On the Disney Dream, the show gets an extra sprinkle of glitz and glamour with new production numbers including an aerial ballet featuring Ariel from “The Little Mermaid” and a romantic duet performed by Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, lead characters of Disney’s newest animated feature, “Tangled.”

‘Villains Tonight!’
The malevolent world of the Disney villains takes a comical spin in “Villains Tonight!,” the first full-scale musical production dedicated to the Disney villains. The show is a fun-filled musical comedy starring Hades (“Hercules”), who embarks on a quest filled with wacky antics and amusing musical numbers to bring evil back into the Underworld. “Villains Tonight!” features a “Who’s Who” of Disney “baddies,” including Ursula (“The Little Mermaid”), the Evil Queen (“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”), Captain Hook (“Peter Pan”) and Scar (“The Lion King”).

Party on Deck
The Disney Dream transforms into a pirate ship with two new events brimming with buccaneer fun and a new fireworks spectacular. The evening kicks off with “Mickey’s Pirates IN the Caribbean,” a family-friendly interactive show featuring the famous Disney characters. Then, a special appearance by Captain Jack Sparrow, from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, kicks off “Club Pirate,” a high-tech, open-air dance party on the upper decks of the ship. Guests unleash their inner pirate and dance their boots off during this family-friendly and electrifying bash featuring stunning visuals and special effects.

Fireworks at Sea
The only cruise line to feature fireworks at sea, Disney Cruise Line ups the entertainment ante and lights up the sky with the largest fireworks extravaganza presented aboard a cruise ship. The skies above the Disney Dream explode with brilliant colors during “Buccaneer Blast!” With more “bang” than ever before, the pyrotechnic spectacular is choreographed to a dramatic score featuring songs from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, Peter Pan and the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at the Disney theme parks.

Illustration Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line