Disney Cruise Line Archives - On the Go in MCO

Disney Cruise Line News Recap – A Look Back At The Disney Parks Blog Meet-Up

The Disney Parks Blog hosted its first Disney Cruise Line Meet-Up, and we were the first to learn about new entertainment coming to Disney Cruise Line and to have the chance to talk with the creative team that develops the onboard entertainment in an hour long presentation that was full of surprises.

To start off our time together Michael Roddy, Disney Cruise Line Show Director, gave us an idea of some of the things you would find during Star Wars Day at Sea.

Star Wars Day at Sea will be available only aboard the Disney Fantasy on select Western Caribbean sailings, January through April in 2016, and will mark the first official appearance of the heroes and villains of Star Wars aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship

Star WarsDay at Sea will take place during cruises departing on the following dates:

January 9
January 23
February 6
February 20
March 5
March 19
April 2
April 16

The Star Wars Day at Sea will feature a full day of Star Wars celebrations, including:

Deck party celebration with special Meet and Greet opportunities with your favorite Star Wars Characters
Special Star Wars Day at Sea Fireworks set tot he John Williams Star Wars Music
Additional Meet-and-greets with favorite Star Wars Characters
Star Wars-themed activities for younglings of all ages
Out-of-this-world food and beverage offerings
Exclusive merchandise (while supplies last)
The only at-sea screenings of Episode VII
And more

It’s important to keep in mind that Star Wars Day at Sea is a one-day extravaganza during your cruise. For the rest of your voyage, you’ll enjoy the itinerary of dining, entertainment, and more that you will find during a Disney Cruise Line sailing.

For those who will be sailing on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder this Summer to Europe and Alaska, we were treated to a peek at what the ‘Frozen Day of Fun’ will entail.

The daytime festivities on-board will include:

Meet and greet opportunities with Queen Elsa, Princess Anna and, for the first time Olaf the Snowman!

You can take part in Anna’s Chase For the Chocolate, which is a seafaring scaventger hunt with a sweet surprise finish.

Do You Want To Build A Snowman? Wield the incredible powers of Queen Elsa to create snow and ice in this fun and frosty activity.

The Maypole Swirl and Twirl Gather around the Scandinavian maypole to learn a traditional folk dance with colorful ribbons. Circle around the pole and be amazed as the dancers’ ribbons braid together into a magnificently interwoven pattern.

Special Frozen -Themed Dining Enjoy this hand-crafted menu of traditional Nordic fare created just for the party—along with special dishes inspired by the movie Frozen—in a spectacular feast fit for a royal appetite!

There are also going to be special adventures ashore created exclusively for Disney Cruise Line that will immerse guests in the splendor and charm of Norway, with the help of Anna and Elsa, in an enchanting storybook village.

The production of Disney Dreams … An Enchanted Classic will also have a new Frozen addition, as Anna, Elsa and Olaf join the line up of beloved Disney characters who together teach a young girl the power of her dreams. Brand-new scenes featuring “Frozen” characters include renditions of three popular songs: “Let it Go,” “For the First Time in Forever” and “In Summer.”

Then this cool day at sea will end by Freezing the Night Away With Anna, Elsa and Friends. This family-friendly interactive deck party will have special decorations, tons of dancing, and appearances from Elsa and Kristoff along with virtual visits from Sven, Olaf, and the trolls.

Disney Cruise Line’s private Island, Castaway Cay, will also be getting a Frozen addition when the new Summertime Freeze opens offering non-alcoholic frozen drinks in souvenir cups such as “Olaf’s Flurry Freeze,” “Sven’s Carrot Delight” and “Warm Hugs.” Summertime Freeze will be located near the Pelican Point tram stop by Castaway Cay Family Beach.

The final presentation during the Disney Parks Blog Disney Cruise Line Meet-Up was the most exciting, because it was a look at Tangled: The Musical which will be replacing Villains Tonight! On the Disney Magic on November 11, 2015 sailing.

“Tangled: The Musical” will immerse you in Rapunzel’s fairytale world through lavish production numbers and spellbinding music. The show will stay true to the storyline from the hit feature film—with a few special twists to create a live staged production—featuring favorite characters like Rapunzel, Flynn Rider, the villainous Mother Gothel, and Maximus the police horse.” Jonathan Frontado from the Disney Parks Blog.

What is really, really exciting is that the show will include three new songs created for this show by Academy Award-winning composer Alan Menken and Grammy Award-winning lyricist Glenn Slater.

We were also the first to see an image from “I See The Light” scene, and how the lanterns will envelop the audience.

The Broadway-acclaimed Production team that Disney Cruise Line has put together for Tangled: The Musical is amazing, and I am seriously excited to hear more about Tangled: The Musical in the future!

At the conclusion of the presentations and Q&A session, there were specialty Disney Cruise Line desserts served and we were able to meet and greet with Stormtroopers, Rapunzel & Flynn Rider, and Queen Elsa, Princess Anna, & Olaf.

I have had the lovely opportunity to attend several Disney Parks Blog Meet-Ups over the years, and if you are interested in attending them all you need to do is keep an eye on their Blog and Twitter for details.

The Disney Parks Blog Meet-Ups are held throughout the year, and open to all readers through a sign-up process until capacity is reached.

Tips And Tricks: Packing For A #CoolestSummer Walt Disney World Vacation

The reservations have been made and the flights are booked for the #CoolestSummer at Walt Disney World. Advance Dining Reservations, you ask? I’ve got that covered as well. I am still contemplating our FastPass+ selections, but for now, my mind is focused on something else…packing!

I’m not talking about just any kind of packing. I’m talking about packing for a family of 5 for a duration of 15 nights. What’s more? Our nephew is joining us for part of it, and we are staying at two Walt Disney World Resorts before embarking on one very magical voyage on Disney Cruise Line.

We have done this before, so it’s not my first (Frontierland) Hoedown! The task is still a daunting one. Lucky for us, we are Disney Vacation Club Members. That means one very important thing, a game changer actually. Can you say “washing machine?!” Don’t worry, this is not an ad for Disney Vacation Club. We just happen to be members and couldn’t live without the washing facilities in our room. But you may want to keep in mind that you can also find washing facilities at all of the Walt Disney World Resorts, and depending on the size of your travel party and your length of stay you may just find that little tidbit of information useful.

Ok, back to packing! I always begin by making a list. I can’t live without my lists. As a matter of fact, I am KNOWN for my list making abilities. LOL! But seriously, never underestimate the importance of a good list.

Packing clothes is the easy part as far as I’m concerned. My first list has to do with all the extras. Things like sunscreen, contacts, glasses, toothpaste, hairbrushes, band -aids, hand sanitizer, make-up, medicines, etc. are the important things to remember. Then the list gets bigger from there!

Incidentally, I have already started that list even though our trip is still a few months away. This way, I can add things as I think of them. This eliminates the pressure of having to remember all this important things at the last minute. I keep the list readily available so that I can easily edit it at a moments notice.

Next comes the clothing items. Lets face it. Airline checked bag prices can be obscene! That is an import thing to note when you start planning how many clothing items you plan to bring along.

Which brings me back to utilizing the laundry facilities. For a 15 night trip, I pack around 6 outfits for each member of our family. It is ridiculously simple to throw in a load at the end of the night and then in to the dryer right when we wake up. If you plan to use community laundry facilities, you can utilize them when you are enjoying downtime at your resort.

Since the July/August heat in Orlando allows you the ability to practically fry an egg on the sidewalk, we only pack shorts, shirts, and light dresses. This also leaves more room in the luggage. How’s THAT for a space saving tip? Before you start planning and packing, you will want to make sure to check the carry-on restrictions for your particular airline.

If your plans include a Land/Sea vacation, like mine, there are some particulars you will definitely want to remember. Although your cruise is prepaid, be sure to remember to pack cash to tip your servers, room steward, etc.

Incidentally, on the first day of your cruise, you’ll want to pack a “day bag.” This is because your checked luggage may not be delivered to your stateroom until after1:30pm or even later. Some items you may want to include in your bag are medications, swimwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, contacts/eyewear, change of clothes (if needed), collared shirts for men, and personal electronics.

Lastly, remember to bring along all the important items specific to a Disney vacation! As a matter of fact, I suggest you make another list! Tops on mine are autograph books, park tickets, rain ponchos, Magic Bands, pin trading lanyards, and EARS.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope my advice helps some of you as you plan your MAGICAL Disney vacation.

Embark on one of TWO Member Cruises coming in 2015!

Disney Vacation Club will embark on two unique Member Cruise voyages in 2015 as part of Membership Magic: our traditional 4-night Bahamian sailing and our first 7-night Member Cruise to Alaska!

Both voyages will elevate the already spectacular Disney Cruise Line experience with added special entertainment, in-room gifts and more, all created with Members in mind. Here’s a quick look at the two itineraries.

Up first on the calendar is the 7-night Alaskan voyage, sailing aboard the Disney Wonder from May 25-June 1, 2015, out of Vancouver, B.C. Members will enjoy scheduled port days in Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, an awe-inspiring pass through the Tracy Arm Fjord and two sea days filled with Disney Vacation Club-created entertainment. Both the special entertainment and the in-room gifts for this sailing will draw inspiration from the voyage’s wild and wintery setting, creating a Member Cruise unlike any other.

For Members who prefer sunglasses and sandals to scarves and sweaters, a 4-night Bahamian voyage will sail aboard the Disney Dream from Aug. 24-28, 2015, out of Port Canaveral, Florida. Two scheduled visits to Disney’s private-island paradise, Castaway Cay, will bookend an activity-filled sea day, with Disney Vacation Club-created entertainment celebrating Disney’s storied history and exciting future.

Bookings for both voyages will open on Sunday, June 22, 2014, with Member Services’ operating hours from 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. EDT specifically for 2015 Member Cruise reservations. As previous Member Cruise voyages have quickly filled to capacity, calling early (at 1-800-800-9800 or 407-566-3800) is highly recommended.

In the meantime, click here* for more information about the voyages, including the associated Points Charts for each
sailing.

*Please note in order to view the link, you will need to login to your dvcmember.com account

Wordless Wednesday – First Sunrise

Wordless Wednesday – February 6, 2013

Rainforest Room DCL – Beth’s Disney Dream

I recently went on my very first Disney cruise aboard the Disney Dream. It was a great introduction to cruising the Disney way albeit way too short as there are so many fun things to do on this amazing ship. I want to tell you about one tip in particular.

The final day of the cruise was at sea and unusually windy due to storms ahead of us. It was too chilly to sunbathe, swim or brave the Aqua Duck so in my search for something to do, I stumbled across a hidden treasure inside the ships spa, Senses Spa and Salon. This little gem is called the Rainforest Room and includes three sauna-steam rooms, the Laconium, Caldarium, and Hamam. Each sauna-steam room is very relaxing and unique in their own way. One provides a peaceful view overlooking the ocean, one gives you the option of purchasing salt scrubs for added pampering, and one is extremely hot and nearly takes your breath away as you enter. A few minutes in the sauna-steam area is all it takes to feel rejuvenated and refreshed as if all the amazing food you’ve been enjoying throughout the cruise just melts away. After sweating it out in the saunas and steam room, I tried out the variety of ocean inspired showers, each at different temperatures and water pressures. Watch out for the one that starts out nice and warm and shocks you with a blast of cold water! Next I had to try the heated stone loungers which are ergonomically designed and make a great place to relax, read a book, or drift off for a short nap. Finally I ventured out to the deck for a soak in the Jacuzzi where the jets soothed away any remaining stress as I enjoyed the view of the open seas.

Rainforest Room DCL Details

The Rainforest Room DCL at the Senses Spa and Salon aboard the Disney Dream is $16 per day for unlimited access and includes complimentary non-alcoholic drinks, showers and lockers in the changing rooms, and sandals and robes for use in the rooms. Bathing suits must be worn in the Rainforest Room. The spa hours vary and is for guests age 18 and up and also offers many others services and treatments in addition to the Rainforest Room. My only regret is that I didn’t discover the Rainforest Room on day one of my cruise.

Happy Pampering!