Disney: Adventure, Heritage and Families

Disney: Adventure, Heritage and Families

What sets Disney Cruise Line apart is the fact that it is an entertainment company first and then an experienced business that is also in the cruise business, according to Sharon Siskie, senior vice president and general manager.

“Entertainment is a big component,” she told Cruise Industry News aboard the Disney Treasure. “We have a big commitment to bringing stories to life.

“When it relates to the individual ships, we have a little bit of a different story to tell aboard all of them,” she added.

The bottom line, according to Siskie, is that guests will have a Disney-quality cruise experience.

“While we focus on some level of differentiation between each ship with new shows and new spaces, we also focus on the elements that are consistent and constant across the fleet.”

With Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar stories and characters onboard, thinking about Disney over time, people still love the traditional classics, Siskie added, referring to the “Fab Five” that includes Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.

“For the younger audiences, the new characters may be more relevant and we have diversity within the ranks of the characters. All of our characters have a special place and role to play in the mosaic of the character interactions and experiences that we have.”

The ships are designed with families in mind with staterooms that have split bathrooms and plenty of storage space. But everyone in a family should feel it is designed just for them, Siskie said.

“When you think about it, we are designed with kids in mind, but if I am a mom, I should feel it is designed for me too.”

She explained how the family market can be geographically dispersed, it can be within the U.S. and out of Florida ports, or on a global scale, and the very definition of families can be different. There can be multigenerational families, with grandparents bringing kids and grandkids. Or there can be couples without kids who are also families just defined a little bit differently.

“It goes back to the point of spaces that they feel are designed just for them,” she added.

“It is more a mindset than a demographic. If you have a passion for creativity and fun and enjoy fantasies getting away from the real world, you may just want a touch of that. It is like when you step into the Grand Hall (atrium aboard the Disney Treasure), you feel like you have stepped into a very unique kind of immersive space and experience.

“When you overlay the service and the details with the design and the approach to how we deliver it with our crew, it is a combination of all these factors that sets us apart.

“And how we can contribute to the greater Disney company in terms of the experiences we deliver and really be what we call a brand deposit, that’s what we try to do,” she said.

“We know how to run this business and we know how to run it very well, and the economics are very strong.”

Growing the cruise line makes a lot of sense for Disney, Siskie said.

“First of all, we have more demand than we have supply today, and by a pretty wide margin. We know there is a lot of interest in Disney’s cruises. So that allows us to think about expanding the footprint for Disney experiences globally.”

With seven more ships coming, she admitted there are many decisions to be made about future deployment.

Jordin Sparks Records Signature Song for the Disney Treasure

Jordin Sparks Records Signature Song for the Disney Treasure

Singer-songwriter Jordin Sparks recorded a new song dedicated to Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Disney Treasure, according to a press release.

Released on streaming platforms on March 1, “Live the Adventure” sets the tone for a new era of Disney Cruise Line vacations as the ship enters the final stages of construction. 

The tune features lyrical and instrumental nods to Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Aladdin” and blends Sparks’ signature pop stylings with Agrabah-inspired sounds. 

  “For me, this is a really cool moment,” Sparks said. “I’ve been wanting to do something like this for so long. I’m very excited that [“Live the Adventure”] is going to be part of the Disney repertoire, and that it’s going to be an original with my vocals on it.” 

This is the first time Disney Cruise Line has released a signature song for one of its ships.  

“I really like ‘Live the Adventure’ because it’s happy – it automatically makes you feel like it’s going to be a great day,” added Sparks. “It’s saying we can discover the treasure of what the day is going to bring.” 

 “The ability to work with Jordin Sparks is amazing,” said John Dennis, executive creative director, Walt Disney Imagineering. “She has been a terrific partner, and her vocal style is perfect for ‘Live the Adventure’.”

Set to launch in December, the Disney Treasure will debut experiences such as Plaza de Coco, a new theatrical dining experience themed to the Pixar film; Haunted Mansion Parlor, the first-ever bar inspired by the Disney Parks attraction; and “Disney The Tale of Moana,” the world’s first stage adaptation of the animated movie. 

Disney Cruise Line has acquired the partially completed ship Global Dream

Disney Cruise Line has acquired the partially completed ship Global Dream

The ex-Global Dream will be remodelled and imaginered to fit the Disney Cruise theming.

Disney Cruise Line has acquired the partially completed ship Global Dream, which was left unfinished following the failure of Genting Hong Kong, the former owner of Crystal Cruises.

The ship will be renamed with certain features reimagined under the Walt Disney brand and is expected to sail to new destinations in 2025 from the US.

"Our cruise ships give us the unique opportunity to bring Disney magic to fans no matter where they are, and the addition of this ship will make a Disney Cruise Line vacation accessible to more families than ever before," said Josh D’Amaro, chair of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.

 

The new ship will feature Disney experiences along with entertainment and dining options, and the exterior will be adorned in the Mickey Mouse-inspired colours of the fleet, complete with signature red funnels.

 

The 208,000-gross-tonne ship is expected to be among the first in the cruise industry to be powered by green methanol, one of the lowest-emission fuels available.

 

Disney expects the passenger capacity to be approximately 6,000 with around 2,300 crew members.

 

More details about the maiden voyage, itineraries and onboard experiences will be announced later.

Disney Cruise Line Reveals Entertainment Onboard New Wish

Disney Cruise Line Reveals Entertainment Onboard New Wish

Disney Cruise Line has revealed what entertainment will be available aboard the Disney Wish, which will set sail this July.

According to a press release, the ship has been expertly designed to deliver “endless fun” for the whole family.

“Family is at the heart of everything we do,” said Laura Cabo, portfolio creative executive, Walt Disney Imagineering. “When we set out to design the next generation of Disney cruise ships, we wanted to provide families with more opportunities than ever to make lasting memories together and to experience Disney storytelling in completely new ways. Whether it’s a new take on a guest-favourite experience, like our signature sweets shop, or an immersive show in the first-of-its-kind venue like Luna and Hero Zone, there will be no shortage of family fun aboard the Disney Wish.”

Inside Out: Joyful Sweets is a dessert shop inspired by the Pixar film, Inside Out. Inside guests will find handmade gelato, ice cream, candy and novelty treats for purchase. The brightly coloured shop is designed to resemble the control centre inside 11-year-old Riley’s mind where her emotions guide her through everyday life. It will feature sculpted figures of the film’s five main characters and glowing Memory Orb light fixtures.

According to the press release, the shop will offer nearly 40 flavours of gelato and ice cream, with daily handcrafted gelato specials in “decadent combinations” like peanut butter pretzel and white chocolate raspberry. Whipped cream, fruit compotes and sauces will be freshly made in-house.

Signature treats inspired by the film will include colourful cupcakes that evoke the five emotions — Joy (lemon), Sadness (blueberry), Disgust (pistachio), Anger (red velvet) and Fear (bubble gum) — and chocolate Memory Orbs filled with sweet candy remembrances. Speciality macarons and cake pops will join the assortment of handcrafted truffles, designer cookies, brownies and candy offerings.

Olaf’s Royal Picnic will allow guests to join their favourite “Frozen” characters for a summertime picnic in Arendelle during an entertainment experience specially designed for families with children ages 3 to 12. At Olaf’s Royal Picnic, guests will interact with Olaf, Anna, Elsa and Kristoff and watch live musical performances of songs like “Let It Go,” “Fixer Upper” and “In Summer.”

Guests who have booked a Disney Wish cruise may reserve Olaf's Royal Picnic before their sailing for an additional fee.

Disney Cruise Line said that it has combined “innovative design and technology” to create entertainment venues such as Grand Hall, Luna and Hero Zone aboard the Disney Wish. These environments will come to life with storytelling and interactive shows.

The fairytale castle-inspired Grand Hall will evolve from a gathering space into a theatre through built-in special effects and the first-ever atrium stage on a Disney ship.

Luna is a brand-new entertainment hub, outfitted with a two-story LED screen wall, stage and bar. It will offer a variety of live shows for families, such as “Villains Game Night,” “Disney Songbook” and the interactive experience called “Disney Uncharted Adventure.”

Hero Zone is a futuristic sports arena offering highly produced show experiences and free-play sports.

Families will be able to embark on an adventure with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse aboard the first-ever Disney attraction at sea; enjoy a royal celebration during a theatrical dining experience with “Frozen” friends; team up with the Avengers on a Marvel cinematic dining adventure; enjoy a Star Wars experience onboard a Disney ship, as well as an original, Broadway-style theatrical production of “The Little Mermaid.”

The Disney Wish will sail its maiden voyage on July 14, followed by a season of three- and four-night cruises to Nassau, Bahamas, and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, from Port Canaveral, Florida.

Disney Fantasy Returns to Service

The Disney Fantasy is now back in action, having sailed on Saturday from Port Canaveral, and becoming the second Disney Cruise Line ship to resume service in North America.

Following the Disney Dream, which returned to guest operations on August 9, the 2,500-guest vessel is offering a series of short cruises to the Bahamas. The four-night voyages include one day at sea and two stops at Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island destination.

According to Disney Cruise Line, Castaway Cay is consistently rated by its guests as their favourite port of call.

Located on a 1,000-acre island, the destination features one-of-a-kind areas and activities for every member of the family, according to Disney, while celebrating its natural beauties – which include crystal-clear turquoise waters, powdery white-sand beaches, palm trees and lush landscapes.

After the initial Bahamas sailings, the Disney Fantasy is resuming seven-night and longer voyages on October 9. Sailing from Port Canaveral, the itineraries feature stops in Mexico, The Bahamas and more.

Currently the newest ship in Disney’s fleet, the Disney Fantasy entered in service in 2012. Christened by the singer Mariah Carey, the vessel was built in Germany by the Meyer Werft shipyard.

Among Fantasy’s highlights is the AquaDuck, a 765-foot long, twisting-and-turning suspended water coaster; and the Animator's Palate, a dining room that comes alive with scenes from Disney movies with characters such as Mickey Mouse, Jiminy Cricket, Cinderella and Snow White.

For the adults, the vessel features Europa – and entertainment district of high-energy, sophisticated clubs and lounges.

With the Disney Fantasy, three of the four Disney Cruise Line vessels are now back in action.

On July 15, Disney Magic was the first ship to resume revenue operations for the brand, with a series of domestic “staycations” in the United Kingdom. The vessel is now wrapping up the local season before returning to the United States.

Beginning on October 28, the Disney Magic will be based in Miami, offering four- and five-night sailings to The Bahamas and Mexico.

While the Disney Dream continues offering short cruises from Port Canaveral through December, the Disney Wonder is set to welcome guests back on October 1. The vessel is resuming operations on the West Coast, sailing three- and four-night cruises from San Diego.

Disney Reveals AquaMouse For Disney Wish, Snow at Sea

Disney Cruise Line has announced AquaMouse, the first-ever Disney attraction at sea, which will debut on the Disney Wish next summer. 

Disney previously revealed “Scuba Scramble” — inspired by “The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse” animated shorts — which will immerse guests in an underwater adventure with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse through show scenes and special effects, and now has more news, including two brand-new original animated adventures to experience during a water ride onboard the ship. 

The second show is “Swiss Meltdown,” where Mickey and Minnie will invite guests on a mountain sledging excursion that will go awry. When the sun comes out and the snow begins to melt, passengers will be off on a frantic dash to the mountaintop while trying to avoid obstacles like avalanches, leaky rock walls and waterfalls.

The story is inspired by one of the Emmy Award-winning “Mickey Mouse” shorts, “Yodelberg,” and composer Christopher Willis adapted his iconic score from the episode for the attraction.

There are many fun Disney easter eggs to catch during a ride on AquaMouse, such as an appearance by the abominable snowman from the Disneyland attraction Matterhorn Bobsleds. One of my favourite details is that Chip and Dale are hiding in each show, hitchhiking their way to Disney’s private island of Castaway Cay, according to the company.

ADULT VACCINATIONS NEEDED FOR DISNEY UK CRUISES

Adults wishing to sail onboard Disney Cruise Line’s Magic at Sea UK itineraries must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, the line has confirmed.

Bookings for the summer voyages - departing from Southampton, Liverpool, Newcastle and Tilbury - went on general sale Friday (30 April).

 

The line’s Disney Magic will sail mostly two and three-night voyages, as well as some four-night cruises, featuring “a treasure trove of activities” involving Mickey and Minnie Mouse and characters from Frozen and Marvel.

 

In an update to its protocols, Disney said it would implement “multiple layers of health and safety measures” including “full Covid-19 vaccination” for adults, Covid testing, health screenings, face coverings, reduced guest capacity, physical distancing and enhanced cleaning.

Disney Cruise Line president Thomas Mazloum said: “Our teams are bringing tremendous ingenuity and fun to these new cruises, tailoring them with care to the times we are living in, yet filling them with everything you’d expect from Disney, from great service and entertainment to immersive dining experiences and magic for the whole family."

 

The line announced on Thursday (29 April) that its newest ship, Disney Wish, will feature an onboard water ride which will “bring to life the adventures of ‘The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse’ animated shorts like never before".

 

The 4,000-guest vessel will launch in June 2022 with a season of three and four-night cruises to Nassau, Bahamas and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, from Port Canaveral.

Walt Disney Company Clears Latest Safe Reopening Hurdle

PHOTO: Disney Security team saluting the American flag in Town Square at Magic Kingdom Park. (photo courtesy of Walt Disney World News)

The Walt Disney Company announced Thursday it had reached an agreement with its employee union on a new set of health and safety guidelines to protect workers from coronavirus.

According to Reuters.com, Disney and the Service Trades Council Union (STCU) agreed to a series of new preventative measures designed to safeguard employees, including social distancing practices, increased cleaning and mandatory masks for workers and guests.

The STCU represents around 43,000 workers at Disney World in Orlando.

Company officials recently announced Disney Springs would reopen on May 20 with a limited number of shops and restaurants open and altered hours of operation to control crowd size.

While the agreement with its employee union and the reopening of Disney Springs are positive steps, no date for opening Disney World back up to the public has been revealed. Earlier this week, though, the company’s official website began accepting hotel reservations for July.

Disney started closing theme parks in Asia, France and the United States in late January as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, a move that cost the company more than $1 billion between January and March.

In addition, Disney was forced to furlough around 120,000 employees, but positive signs from the reopening of Shanghai Disneyland this week has the theme park industry cautiously optimistic for the near future.

Disney World is planning a phased reopening with enhanced safety measures, but there is no set date for any official reopening.

 Disney Magic arrives in Liverpool

Disney Magic cruise ship in Liverpool

It’s here! The spectacular Disney Magic cruise ship has arrived in Liverpool.

The visit is the luxury liner’s maiden voyage to the city - and it has brought some of Disney’s best known names with it.

The stunning vessel entered the Mersey this morning carrying 2,700 guests and an incredible 950 cast and crew members.

Packed with Disney characters - from princesses to super heroes - the cruise ship showcases the famous film-maker’s magical history.

Guests on board can enjoy Disney inspired dining, theatre, leisure and entertainment designed for children of all ages (and their big kid parents!).

Weighing 84,000 tonnes it boasts 10 different restaurants, five pools and two nightclubs.

You can even meet Disney royalty on board- from introducing yourself to Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty to playing in a giant recreation of Toy Story Andy’s bedroom.

Today’s visit to Liverpool is one of only a handful of UK stops being made by the 12 night which started in Florida.

And while Merseyside’s biggest Disney fans may not be able to taste the experience today fear not - it returns next month.

And on when it does, on June 12, a host of events will celebrate its arrival.

There will be an outdoor cinema that will show Frozen, Finding Nemo, Toy Story and Mary Poppins in full.

A bandstand in front of the Cunard Building will play host to live music, with the Royal Marines Bands playing a Disney medley and performances from opera singer Danielle Thomas and Liverpool’s Ukulele Orchestra.

Youngsters will also be battling it out to be named Liverpool’s Young Town Crier.

A ‘magic garden’ event will run at Pier Head, themed with potting sheds, toadstools, giant flowers and fairy houses.

And, at around 10.15pm, a firework display will signal the moment the vessel leaves for Dublin.

Disney Cruise Line seeks further growth

Disney Cruise Line seeks further growth

Disney Cruise Line will continue to look for growth opportunities, says company president, Karl Holz. By David Mott

The 17-year-old cruise line’s four-ship fleet came in two tranches – Disney Magic and Disney Wonder in the late 1990s, as the initial ships, augmented more than a decade later by the larger Disney Dream in 2011 and Disney Fantasy a year later. Karl Holz says the launch of the two larger ships “transformed our cruise business in many ways. Simply put, we further expanded the blueprint for family cruising.” Both the newer ships have a passenger count of 4,000 against 2,700 for each of the first two vessels. The latest ships, at 130,000gt, are classed as large resort ships because of the self-containment of their facilities.

“We have noticed continuing popularity among our passengers since Disney emerged in the cruise industry in 1998,” says Holz. “With this expansion we have more opportunity to surprise and delight with an ever-increasing list of ports of call around the world.” These include a return to New York in autumn 2016, where Disney Magic will operate a series of cruises and a first-ever British Isles cruise with calls in England, Scotland and Ireland as well as in France.

For a family entertainer like Disney, where the focus is every bit as much on the children as it is on the adults, safety and the environment have a particular resonance and the cruise line is no exception. “We focus our environmental efforts on utilising new technology, increasing fuel efficiency, minimising waste and promoting conservation. We comply with and sometimes exceed all international environmental regulations,” says Holz.

To boost fuel efficiency, Disney claims it is the first cruise line to use an innovative hull coating on its ships which is both 100% non-toxic as well as reducing surface resistance in open water. “In addition, all Disney ships have dedicated environmental officers who are responsible for compliance and are ranked among the most senior leaders onboard.”

Much has been said over the years about the position of people without children on a Disney vessel and this is a subject Holz tackles. “What I can tell you is that there is that there is something for everyone on Disney ships, which all include areas created exclusively for adults. They also have the options of spas, nightclubs and lounges, as well as adult-exclusive dining and pools.” In addition, there is an adult beach at Serenity Bay at Disney’s private island in Florida, Castaway Cay.



Asked how Disney has been able to transpose its stories to shipboard life, Holz says this has been achieved by the extensive use of new technology. “Our team of ‘imagineers’ is always working to bring to life Disney stories for our passengers. 

We have a portfolio of characters and intellectual property and are always looking to anticipate industry trends and plan strategically to deliver entertainment on our ships. As a member of the cruise industry we are always looking to identify trends alongside our competitors and to innovate.” Indeed, Disney’s use of technology has enabled it to become one of a growing number of lines which give passengers in interior cabins a real-time view of the ocean thanks to high-definition cameras positioned outside the ship.

With ships relying so heavily on shipboard attractions, a constant programme of technical updating is obviously important. Holz says: “Reinvesting in our ships, also to meet increased business, is part of the Disney heritage and over the years we have made many changes to upgrade our vessels. In 2013 the Disney Magic spent six weeks in drydock in an operation which made a wonderful ship even better.” The work involved the ‘reimagination’ of the whole upper deck. This autumn Disney Dream will dock in Freeport, Bahamas, when spaces throughout the vessel will be transformed. This work will include the addition of two interactive youth areas, one with a Star Wars theme and another slanted towards Disney Infinity.

In keeping with the international nature of its business, Disney Cruise Line, headquartered in both London and Florida, positions its ships in North America and Europe. In May this year, Disney Magic started sailing the Baltic and the Norwegian fjords out of Copenhagen. That done, she switched to Dover in the UK for two Baltic sailings and a repositioning voyage to Barcelona for two Mediterranean cruises before returning to Miami in the autumn.

Disney Wonder sailed Alaska out of Vancouver this summer before going to Hawaii for two cruises, followed by a return to San Diego for trips to Mexico. Throughout this year, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy will operate out of Port Canaveral to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Early in 2016 Disney Magic will carry out her maiden British Isles cruise as well as calling at ports in northern Europe, the Greek islands and the Mediterranean. Disney Wonder will reposition from Galveston to San Juan for a southern Caribbean itinerary including, for the first time, the French island of Martinique.

In common with a number of companies operating ocean cruises, Disney has just gone into the river cruising business. But in Disney’s case this is quite separate from the ocean cruise line and river itineraries are operated by Adventures of Disney in conjunction with AmaWaterways. From next year, sailings along the Danube will be operated using AmaViola. There was an initial programme of five sailings and another two have just been added. Passengers will be able to visit eight destinations in four countries: Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary.

So growth is certainly on the cards for the operator, but (for now) this does not imply any new additions to the fleet, says Holz. “At this time we do not have any further details to share on building new ships,” he concludes.

Disney revises Mediterranean voyage

Disney Cruise Line altered a Mediterranean cruise next summer to eliminate port calls in Greece, Turkey and Malta.

The 12-night cruise on the Disney Magic is scheduled to depart Barcelona on Aug. 1.  Its original itinerary included Athens as well as Mykonos in Greece, Kusadasi in Turkey and Valletta in Malta.

Other cruise lines have scrapped calls to the Greek island of Lesbos because of the refugee crisis and Turkey because of security concerns.

Disney has revised the itinerary almost completely, leaving only one port, Civitavecchia, from the original lineup. The cruise will now call in Olbia, Sardinia; Civitavecchia, Naples and Livorno, Italy; Palermo, Sicily; Villefranche-sur-Mer and Cannes, France; and Palma de Mallorca.

In a letter to travel agents, Disney said, “We realize this is a considerable change from the previously published itinerary and hope you and your client understand our desire to only provide the best possible experiences to our guests."

Customers have been given a choice of a refund, a change of sailings, or a $1,000 onboard credit if they stick with their original booking.

Disney Cruise Line’s enviable kid clout

By Tom Stieghorst

Almost without exception, you can tell which cruise lines are serious about attracting families by whether there are animated characters prowling the pool deck.

Whether it is Smurfs, Cinderella, Kung-Fu Panda or SpongeBob SquarePants, they generally signify which lines have a year-round business attracting kids and which don’t.

Some lines make no claim to providing characters or attracting children, including Oceania Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises and, soon, Viking Ocean Cruises.  Others don’t do a lot of family business during the school year, often because of longer itineraries.

Of the lines that do provide characters, one stands above the rest. Disney Cruise Line’s advantage is almost unfair, its roster of characters so deep and historic, that if characters are a primary consideration, it has to be tops on the list.

And the line isn’t content to rest on its laurels. Its animation factory just keeps turning out the hits.

On Sunday night, Disney took home an Oscar for its movie “Big Hero 6,” featuring Marvel Comics superheroes, who are also present on Disney Cruise Line ships. That comes on top of last year’s Oscar for “Frozen,” the top-grossing animated movie of all time.

“Big Hero 6” topped DreamWorks Studios’ entrant in the Oscars derby, “How To Train Your Dragon 2.” DreamWorks characters such as Shrek are exclusive to Royal Caribbean International ships.

Of course, popular films emerge from other studios besides Disney. The DreamWorks stable includes notable franchises such as Kung Fu Panda and Madagascar. 

But Disney’s four ships have so many characters to pick from. This summer it will feature characters from “Frozen” on cruises to Norway and Iceland. Next year it will have “Star Wars Day at Sea” on eight selected sailings, featuring characters from the Star Wars movies.

The ownership of Disney Cruise Line by entertainment powerhouse Walt Disney Co., of course, gives it access to these properties. And it kind of puts the success of the cruise industry in perspective. When you ask which cruise company has the biggest investor value, it isn’t Carnival Corp, valued at $34 billion. It is Walt Disney, valued at $178 billion. 

Disney Cruise Line Fun Facts!

Disney Cruise Line Fun Facts!

- The Disney ships are painted in Mickey Mouse-inspired colors – black hull, white superstructure, yellow trim and two giant red funnels, each with the Disney Cruise Line Mickey Mouse logo.

- Disney Cruise Line was the first cruise line to have yellow lifeboats, instead of the traditional regulation orange. Disney was granted special permission from the U.S. Coast Guard to paint the lifeboats yellow, to keep with the special color theming of the ship.

- The Disney Magic was built in two halves… one hundred miles apart! Part of the ship was constructed in Ancona, Italy then towed 100 miles to meet the stern in Marghera (just outside Venice) to be perfectly joined and welded together.

- Disney Cruise Line ships use the iconic first seven notes of the “When You Wish Upon a Star” song melody as their horn signals.

- Disney ships are the only cruise ships to have four captains – the ship’s captain, Captain Mickey, Captain Hook and Captain Jack Sparrow.

- Measuring 964 feet in length, the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder are each longer than Main Street U.S.A at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.

- The anchor on the Disney Magic weighs 28,200 pounds – about the same as three full-grown elephants. Each ship weighs 90 million pounds.

- Taking place every cruise onboard the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, the “Pirates IN the Caribbean” deck party features the only fireworks display at sea.

Guest Experience
- Seventy-five percent of staterooms on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder are outside, ocean view cabins. Of those, nearly half offer a private verandah.

- In a cruise industry first, most staterooms on Disney Cruise Line ships feature a split “bath-and-a-half” design, providing families the added convenience of a sink and tub/shower in one room and a sink and toilet in a separate room.

- Onboard each Disney Cruise Line ship, there are about 950 crew members representing more than 60 different nationalities. That is approximately one crew member for every three guests.

- Disney Cruise Line was named the top large cruise ship experience by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine in the ninth annual "Reader's Cruise Poll." In fact, Disney Cruise Line has won more than 50 different awards and accolades since launching in 1998.

Dining
- On an average seven-night Disney Cruise Line voyage, the following food items are consumed:
• Beef – 5,000 pounds
• Chicken – 10,000 pounds
• Salmon – 1,200 pounds
• Shrimp – 1,300 pounds
• Lobster Tail – 1,000 pounds
• Melon – 12,800 pounds
• Pineapple – 3,300 pounds
• Individual Eggs – 71,500
• Coffee – 57,820 cups
• Soda – 3,125 gallons
• Beer – 12,385 bottles/cans
• Wine and Champagne – 2,700 bottles

- In a single day, each Disney Cruise Line ship uses:
• 10,000 forks
• 5,000 cloth napkins
• 800 tablecloths

- Disney Cruise Line dining room Cast members represent, on average, 60 different nationalities.

- The décor and food of the Palo restaurant are inspired by Italy, the birthplace of both the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder.

- Palo takes its name from the poles that line the canals of Venice. Palo’s extensive reserve wine list features selections that hail from some of the most mature vineyards in the world and highlight some of the greatest Super Tuscans like Sassicaia, Ornellaia and Tignanello.

Onboard Features
- The Disney Magic interior is in the art deco style, characterized by geometric designs and bold, solid colors. The interior on the Disney Wonder is in the art nouveau style, which is characterized by organic influences and curved patterns.

- A bronze statue of Helmsman Mickey adorns the lobby of the Disney Magic and was inspired by the famous “Man at the Wheel” statue in Gloucester, Mass. On the Disney Wonder, a bronze statue of Ariel from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” graces the lobby.

- The main atrium chandeliers on both the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder are each one-of-a-kind commissioned pieces created by celebrated glass artist Dale Chihuly. To meet cruise line safety standards, Chihuly worked within a new medium and fashioned the vibrant chandeliers out of acrylic plastic.

- The décor of the Buena Vista Theatre on both the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder was designed to emulate the elegant movie houses of the 1920s and 1930s, the period when Walt Disney was producing the first Mickey Mouse animated films.

- The main showplace for entertainment onboard Disney Cruise Line ships, the Walt Disney Theatre spans three decks and can seat 977 guests.

- A leader in family entertainment, Disney is the only cruise line to feature first run films from the Walt Disney Pictures film banners, with movies premiering exclusively at sea on the same day that they are released in US theaters. Disney Cruise Line is also the industry leader in onboard enhanced digital entertainment with advanced Disney Digital 3-D technology in all shipboard theaters.

- With ships purpose built for family cruising, both the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder boast nearly an entire deck of space dedicated to age-specific children's activities.

- Don’t worry about getting a chill! The swimming pools on Disney ships are heated when the water temperature drops below 75 degrees.

- A room with a view! 73% of staterooms onboard Disney ships have ocean views. Of those outside facing rooms, 60% boast private verandahs.

- Stay connected, even at sea! Disney ships feature Wi-Fi service in staterooms and public spaces, allowing guests to surf the web at sea from their wireless-ready personal laptop computers.

Castaway Cay

- Castaway Cay is the only private island in the cruise industry where the ship docks alongside so guests do not have to tender to land.

- Visitors to Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, can catch a glimpse of the ghost ship Flying Dutchman – the actual, full-size studio prop from the Disney film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest moored in the waters just offshore.

- Guests can mail a special souvenir message to family and friends back home by using the Castaway Cay Post Office. All postcards, letters and packages shipped from the island display an exclusive Castaway Cay postmark.

- Water is procured in Port Canaveral and delivered to Castaway Cay by the ships to an 80,000 gallon fresh water storage tank on the island.

- Feels like home? Approximately 60 Disney Cruise Line crew members live and work full-time on Castaway Cay.

Environmental Programs
- Each Disney ship has an onboard Environmental Officer dedicated to overseeing all environmental systems and procedures, along with shipboard recycling, waste minimization and water reclamation efforts.

- While cruising, Disney ships can convert sea water to fresh water for use onboard. An onboard desalinization plant produces nearly 500,000 gallons of fresh water every day.

- Disney Cruise Line made history by being the first cruise line to utilize an innovative hull coating that is both 100 percent non-toxic and effective in increasing fuel efficiency. The coating helps reduce the ships’ surface resistance in the water, decreasing the need for propulsion power as the ship glides through the sea.

- On Castaway Cay, an innovative recycling program repurposes used cooking oil from the ships’ galleys and combines it with diesel fuel to power machinery on the island. The program reduces waste and carbon dioxide emissions, saving up to 8,000 gallons of traditional fuel each year.

- Shipboard recycling systems help divert more than 405 tons of aluminum, plastics, paper and non-traditional recyclables from conventional waste streams each year. That's the equivalent of over 27 school buses or 12 humpback whales.

- Researchers at Castaway Cay are helping to restore the health of coral reefs through a unique research project transplanting native sea urchins in The Bahamas. The urchins help to control harmful algae levels that can choke out corals, and the project is providing vital research for rebuilding coral reef systems that serve as homes for tropical fish and marine life.

Disney plans Star Wars and Marvel attractions for theme parks

By Michelle Baran

On the heels of announcing the date for the next Star Wars movie — Dec. 18, 2015 — and that it would begin developing a Marvel-themed series for Netflix, executives at the Walt Disney Co. said that its two most recently acquired franchises will eventually have a greater presence at the company’s theme parks.

“Both of today's announcements underscore the value of two of our major acquisitions, Marvel and Lucasfilm,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call on Thursday.

“As you know, over the last several years, we've made a number of major acquisitions and capital investments to drive growth and create shareholder value. Now that some on those investments have been completed and the acquisitions are fully integrated, their positive impact is clear in our results, especially in parks and resorts.”

Iger said that the Disneyland Resort in California had record attendance, revenue and profitability during Cars Land’s first full year of operation at Disney’s California Adventure. It was an example of how the Pixar franchise enhanced the parks experience.

As for integrating the newer franchises, Hong Kong Disneyland will become home to the company’s first Marvel themed attraction, the Iron Man Experience, in late 2016.

Disney’s Parks and Resorts division continues to be a strong and growing segment of the company’s business. Revenue for the fourth quarter, which ended on Sept. 28, increased 8% to $3.7 billion, and segment operating income increased 15% to $571 million. For the year, Parks and Resorts revenue grew 9% to $14.1 billion and segment operating income increased 17% to $2.2 billion.

Walt Disney World set attendance records for the year, assisted by the Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland expansion, which will be fully completed in 2014. Disney has also begun construction on an Avatar-themed area at the Animal Kingdom park in Florida, and is continuing to work on a full rollout of the MyMagic+ program.

The Tokyo Disney Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland also had record attendance this year.

The Walt Disney Co.’s fourth-quarter revenue grew 7% to $11.6 billion, and net income grew 12% to $1.4 billion.

Full-year revenue increased 7% to $45 billion, and full-year net income increased 8% to $6.1 billion.