Family, travel, mom blog | Theme Park Mom (Leigh Caldwell)

The Disney Dream doesn’t even set sail until Jan. 26, 2011, but I am practically packing my bags already. I am so excited about this new cruise ship.

Al Weiss, the president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, spoke to the media tonight about the new ship. He says the Disney Dream combines the grand traditions of oceanliners with “Disney imagineering and 21st Century technology.” Here are my Top 5 favorite things the Disney Imagineers have dreamed up for the Disney Dream:

1. The AquaDuck: It’s a water coaster on a cruise ship! But beyond that hype, the AquaDuck looks totally fun. It will take riders out the side of the ship in a translucent tunnel over the water. I can’t wait to ride it. This is a point-of-view animation of the AquaDuck produced by Disney Cruise Line:

2. “Disney Immersion” for the kids: Children will be able to shrink down to toy-size and play in Andy’s Room from “Toy Story” aboard the Disney Dream. They can play with Mike and Sully on the “Monsters, Inc.” Laugh Floor, or they can visit TinkerBell in her fairy forest. These fun rooms are all part of the children’s programs on the new ship.

3. Virtual Portholes: Even the inside cabins will have portholes on the Disney Dream. These video screens will have live video of the view outside the ship. And animated characters such as Peach the starfish from “Finding Nemo” will also drop by the virtual porthole to pay cruisers a visit.

4. Cocktails at Skyline: This lounge aboard the Disney Dream will have tall “windows” that give an aerial view of famous city’s skylines. Imagine telling your friends you were able to visit Paris, London and Tokyo on your Caribbean cruise. What’s more, the skyline views will change from day to night along with the time of day during your Disney Cruise.

5. Senses Spa & Salon: Massages, facials, steam and hydrotherapy. Need I say more?

The new Disney Cruise Line ship doesn’t sail until next year, but you can book your Disney Dream cruise right now. The Dream will sail from Port Canaveral on Florida’s East coast. You can cruise to the Bahamas and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

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It’s one year until the maiden voyage of the Disney Dream. To mark the occasion, Disney Cruise Line is releasing new details about some of the recreation choices on the ship.

Here are some of the family activities that will be available on the upper decks of the Disney Dream:

Deck 13 – Goofy’s Sports Deck

• Walking path – will ring the outside of the deck
• Goofy’s Golf  – miniature golf course with a “goofy” twist
• Two digital sports simulators – play virtual games of soccer, tennis, basketball and more
• Full basketball court that can also be used for volleyball
• Two miniatures sports courts for children’s soccer and basketball
• Table tennis
• Foosball tables

Deck 11 – Pools and water fun

• Nemo’s Reef (shown above) – water play area for kids that’s shaded from the sun
• Quiet Cove Pool and Cove Bar – adults-only pool and pool bar area
• AquaDuck – water coaster that traverses the upper decks of the Disney Dream ship
• Donald Pool – family pool, including a giant screen where movies will be shown
• Mickey Pool – kid’s pool shaped like Mickey Mouse

The Disney Dream is already accepting reservations for many cruises in 2011. The earlier you book a Disney cruise, the more money you can save on your vacation.

Disney Cruise Line has announced that a new stage show, “Villains Tonight,” will debut during the March 27, 2010 voyage of the Disney Magic.

The cruise line says the show will be a family-friendly comedy, so no concerns about nightmares in your cruise cabin.

I am so excited about this show! There have long been rumors about Disney doing more with the villains as a group, and I hope this is a sign of bigger things to come.

Disney has released this video preview:

“Villains Tonight” will also be performed on the brand-new Disney Dream when it sets sail in 2011. Did you know you can already book sailings on the Disney Dream? I recommend using the magic makers at Enchanted Destinations to book your Disney Cruise. They are experts at getting you the most for your money!