My Disney Blog

Pirate Protection in the Mediterranean

I am getting so excited, because I am getting closer and closer to booking a Disney Cruise Line Mediterranean cruise for the July 9, 2011 sailing. I know my name is Disney Dean, but I am here to admit that I have NEVER been on a Disney Cruise! Yep, you're heard correctly - never, nada, zilch! When I got back from my trip to Hawaii (staying very close to the new Disney Hawaii Resort construction site!), I tried to think about how I could top that vacation. I knew it HAD to do with Disney, but I wasn't sure what we should do. By chance, one of the Walt Disney World Mom's was talking about her upcoming trip to the Mediterranean on Disney Cruise Line, and it instantly set off alarm bells in my big empty head (ouch)! I knew from that point on, that I would do everything I could to get on THAT cruise (well, not the same one as @DisneyWorldMom, but the same itinerary). :)

When I started talking about it on twitter (my home away from home), a few people started asking me if we could get a twitter group cruise going. I asked my friend Celeste (owner of Enchanted Destinations), and she said she would love to help set something up that would be fun and have some extra perks. Well, once I mentioned this on twitter, they asked if I was going to provide FREE Pirate Protection. They asked me if I would dress up like Jack Sparrow and everything! I said "of course!". So, if you come along on this cruise, you will be provided with Pirate Protection by Disney Dean at absolutely no extra expense! This typically has a value of $19.99, so act now! :)

The problem is that it is about 18 months away. The GOOD thing is that I have 18 months to save for this cruise, because it is pretty spendy. I recently read that the average vacationing family spends about $8000 a year on vacations, so that made me feel a little better. We have decided to forgo our weekly cabin stay during that year, and to save up as much as we can between now and then. I would eat ramen noodles for MONTHS to be able to do this cruise. I  would make my kids shovel walks, and sell my wife's collection of snow babies on eBay to be able to go. OK, maybe not quite that far, but it's fun to think about. Just not selling any Disney memorabilia :)

Anyway, just wanted to let you know where we are with the group cruise. Group space is not available for booking quite yet, but the prices will be pretty close to what they are on the Disney Cruise Line site. If you are a Disney Travel Agent and would like to go, you'll want to book that yourself to get the commission, and then maybe pay a fee for the group get together(s) - whatever they may be.

Gotta run...have to hit the treadmill if I'm gonna look like Johnny Depp in 18 months!

--- Disney Dean - arrrrr

Disney Gathering Calendar

One of the things I have never had the opportunity to do, but would LOVE to do, is travel with some Disney friends. I've long wanted to go to the various Disney meets and gatherings, but have not been able to travel during those times. I thought it would be fun to put together a comprehensive listing of various Disney travel events.

I am SO excited to announce that I am in the planning stages for a Disney Mediterranean cruise during the summer of 2011. More information should be coming out soon regarding this cruise. It would be an amazing opportunity to meet some of the friends I've made through this blog, twitter, and through DisFriends. This would be a dream come true!

So, here is the list. I will update this with more information when I receive it:

DECEMBER 2009
WDW Today Reunion - WOW - this looks like a great event. Lots of people have already signed up for this! A range of events, and you can sign up for one or for all. Check it out at WDW Today Reunion

JULY 2010
Magic Meets at Sea - cruise on Royal Caribbean (July 22-26, 2010). Information at magicmeets.com

OCTOBER 2010
Mouse Guest Experience 3 - cruise on the Disney Magic (October 23-30, 2010). Information should be on mouseguest.com in the near future.

FEBRUARY 2011
WDW Radio Cruise with Lou Mongello - (February 27-March 3, 2011). Information and quote forms are now available on wdwradiocruise.com. This is the Disney Dream INAUGURAL CRUISE!

MAY 2011
Deb Wills Alaska Inaugural Cruise - Cruise with Deb Wills of AllEars.Net (May 3 2011 Sailing). Information on mousefantravel.com and will be on AllEars.Net coming up soon. This is the INAUGURAL CRUISE to Alaska!

JUNE 2011
Be Our Guest Podcast Cruise - (June 11, 2011). Find out more on the BeOurGuestPodcast forums

SUMMER 2011
DisneyDean's Mediterranean Cruise (Details coming soon - most likely July 2011). 11-Night Mediterranean Cruise on the Disney Magic. Info coming soon on MyDisneyBlog.com and twitter.com/DisneyDean

Do you know of any other events, or have any corrections to the above calendar? Just let me know. Email me at mickeysites@gmail.com or send me a note on twitter!

--- Disney Dean

Disney Cruise Line Videos

Remember a couple short years ago, when online videos (podcasts) were fairly hard to find. Well, with bandwidth increases, and more people getting high speed Internet, videos seem to be all over the place. Disney Cruise Line has a great Podcast section, that allows you to view a number of videos relating to taking a Disney cruise. As I sit here with snow falling outside, and the snowblower waiting for me, it helps me to escape - even if just for a little while! When you live in the wilds of northern Minnesota, you've got to escape the long winters somehow. You can even sign up for Disney Cruise Line Podcasts RSS feeds, and find out when a new video (podcast) has been released. Another thing that is kind of cool, is that Disney Cruise Line appears to be releasing their videos on YouTube (see yesterday's post concerning the addition of new cruise itineraries). I think this is incredibly forward-thinking, and actually very impressive! In the past, Disney seems to have pretty much controlled their message, and not ventured too much outside of the Disney "domain". I think it is a very good marketing strategy to make use of YouTube, one of the most popular sites on the planet.

At any rate, hop on over to the Disney Cruise Line Podcast (Video) page, and start escaping. Now, about that snowblower - I guess it won't run by itself, so gotta go ;)

--- Disney Dean

Disney Cruise Line Adds New Itineraries

Big news out of Celebration Florida today, as Disney Cruise Line announces two new eastern Caribbean itineraries for 2009. I have a feeling this is only the beginning for DCL!

CELEBRATION, Fla. (Dec. 4, 2007) -- Disney Cruise Line announced today two new eastern Caribbean itineraries for 2009 -- giving guests more choices than ever before to explore the beautiful islands of the Caribbean -- and special offerings for 2008.

Beginning in 2009, St. Croix will be a featured stop on one new seven-night itinerary, and Tortola will be featured on another seven-night itinerary. Both islands are new to Disney Cruise Line, increasing the seven-night Caribbean choices on the Disney Magic to four itineraries (Disney's traditional eastern and western Caribbean itineraries will continue).

"The Caribbean continues to be an extremely popular destination for our guests," said Tom McAlpin, president of Disney Cruise Line. "Expanding our offerings in the eastern Caribbean provides our first-time cruisers an array of popular destinations to choose from, while also providing seasoned Disney cruisers new destinations to visit and explore with Disney."

McAlpin noted that there are also special offerings during 2008 including a summer season of sailings to the Mexican Riviera, select cruises with multiple stops at Disney's private island paradise, Castaway Cay, and an enhanced seven-night Land and Sea package that combines the adventure of a Disney cruise with the fun and excitement of a stay at Walt Disney World Resort.

2009. . .New Eastern Caribbean Routes

Disney Cruise Line guests have always enjoyed the beautiful turquoise waters and sugar sand beaches of the eastern Caribbean and, on select voyages throughout the 2009 season, guests will be able to explore either St. Croix or Tortola.

The largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix offers a wonderful mix of colonial-style architecture, natural wonders, quaint shops and spectacular marine habitats. Tortola, part of the British Virgin Islands, features centuries-old ruins, botanical gardens, sugar mills, sensational bays and beaches. The new eastern Caribbean itineraries will stop at St. Croix or Tortola, St. Thomas and Disney's private island, Castaway Cay.

Eastern Caribbean w/ St. Croix*

Saturday	Port Canaveral
Sunday	At Sea
Monday	At Sea
Tuesday	Tortola
Wednesday	St. Thomas
Thursday	At Sea
Friday	Castaway Cay
Saturday	Port Canaveral

Eastern Caribbean w/ Tortola**

Saturday	Port Canaveral
Sunday	At Sea
Monday	At Sea
Tuesday	St. Croix
Wednesday	St. Thomas
Thursday	At Sea
Friday	Castaway Cay
Saturday	Port Canaveral

*Eastern Caribbean itineraries with St. Croix sail 1/3, 1/31, 2/28, 3/28, 10/10, 11/7 and 12/5/2009

**Eastern Caribbean itineraries with Tortola sail 4/25, 5/23, 6/20, 7/18, 8/15 and 9/12/2009

Disney Cruise Line will continue to offer its current version of the eastern Caribbean cruise with stops at St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Castaway Cay. The traditional eastern Caribbean voyages will sail in-between the special sailings to St. Croix or Tortola.

Double the Castaway Cay in 2008

As a special treat during the summer of 2008, Disney Cruise Line has redesigned the four-night itinerary to offer two stops at Castaway Cay, Disney's private island in the tropical waters of the Bahamas. Castaway Cay continues to be one of the highlights of a Disney Cruise vacation, and with this new itinerary, guests will have twice as much time -- two full days -- to enjoy all the amenities and activities of the tropical oasis. With its crystal-clear turquoise waters, powdery white sand beaches, swaying palm trees and beautiful tropical flowers, Castaway Cay provides the ultimate escape, whether a guest is seeking adventure, relaxation or quality time with the family.

Altering the traditional four-night itinerary, these 16 special sailings will bookend a day in Nassau with two visits to Castaway Cay.

Four-Night Bahamian Cruise with Two Stops at Castaway Cay***

Sunday	Port Canaveral (embarkation)
Monday	Castaway Cay
Tuesday	Nassau
Wednesday	Castaway Cay
Thursday	Port Canaveral (debarkation)

***All four-night sailings from 5/11/08-8/24/08 will include two stops at Castaway Cay

Enhanced Land and Sea Package

Beginning in 2008, Disney Cruise Line guests will have the option to book an enhanced package for Disney's seven-night Land and Sea Vacation. The new vacation package, Disney's seven-night Land and Sea Package Plus Dining, includes all the perks of the existing seven-night Land and Sea package along with the added benefits of the Disney Dining Plan, which provides guests one sit-down meal, one counter-service meal and one snack per person for each night of their Walt Disney World stay.

Disney's seven-night Land and Sea vacation package combines a three- or four-night cruise on the Disney Wonder with three or four nights of accommodations and theme park tickets at Walt Disney World Resort. The addition of the Disney Dining Plan creates a more inclusive vacation experience. Combined with Onboard-Airline Check-in and Disney's Magical Express, this enhanced package is yet another way that Disney helps provide a hassle-free vacation experience.

To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can contact their travel agent, visit disneycruise.com or call Disney Cruise Line at 888/DCL-2500. Travel agents can call Disney Cruise Line at 888/325-2500 or visit disneytravelagents.com.

--- Disney Dean

Disney Cruise Line Announces Onboard Airline Check-in Service

CELEBRATION, Fla. -- Disney Cruise Line strives to offer guests a hassle-free vacation experience by providing extra services, such as Disney's Magical Express, that help eliminate some of the stresses of family travel. And beginning this fall, select guests sailing with Disney Cruise Line will find their vacation experience has been made even easier with the introduction of Onboard Airline Check-In. This new service will allow qualified guests to check-in for their post-cruise flights while on board the Disney Magic or Disney Wonder, eliminating the need to do so at Orlando International Airport.

Guests participating in Onboard Airline Check-In will enjoy the ease and convenience of not having to collect their luggage upon debarkation--checked luggage will be transported directly from the ship to the guest's flight. While on their cruise, guests' boarding passes will be delivered to their staterooms the day prior to disembarkation. Upon the ship's return to Port Canaveral, participating guests can proceed directly to Customs and then to Orlando International Airport where they bypass check-in and continue straight to airport security and on to their assigned departure gate.

In order to take advantage of this service, guests will need to meet certain requirements and be booked on a domestic flight on one of the seven participating air carriers: AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Northwest Airlines, or United Airlines/Ted. Eligible guests will be able to enroll for Onboard Airline Check-in by completing pre-registration information received at Orlando International Airport or one of the Disney Cruise Line Hospitality Desks at the Walt Disney World Resort and turning it in during check-in at Port Canaveral.

To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a Disney Cruise Line vacation, guests can contact their travel agent, visit disneycruise.com or call Disney Cruise Line at (888) DCL-2500. Travel agents can call Disney Cruise Line at (888) 325-2500 or visit disneytravelagents.com.

--- Disney Dean

Big kudos for Disney Cruise Line (DCL)

NEW YORK, N.Y., October 11, 2007 - Disney Cruise Line was recently recognized as the No. 3 cruise experience at the 20th Annual Readers' Choice Awards for Conde Nast Traveler magazine in New York City.  Up against some of the most distinguished lines in the cruise industry, the family focused cruise experience rounded out the top three in the "Large Cruise Ship" category just behind Crystal Cruises and Regent Seven Seas, who placed No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.

Known for bringing family travel to the cruise industry, Disney Cruise Line continues to raise the bar on the cruise experience, with specifically designed areas and activities for each member of the family allowing for both quality time together and wonderful individual experiences.  The accolades from the esteemed travel community that voted on these awards, is a further testament to the success of the Disney Cruise Line business.

The Conde Nast Readers' Choice Awards recognize the best in travel for resorts, destinations, airlines, cruise lines and car rental agencies.  This year's results were derived from one of the largest independent polls of travel consumers through questionnaires delivered randomly to readers of the April and May issues.  Complete results of the awards will be in the November issue of the magazine, out on newsstands October 25.

--- Disney Dean

Delight in the ‘Magic’ and ‘Wonder’ of the Holidays Aboard Disney Cruise Line

CELEBRATION, Fla. -- From the happy haunts of Halloween through the revelry of the new year, guests will discover an extra dose of pixie dust aboard Disney Cruise Line this holiday season. From traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts to "snowflake" sightings and seasonal caroling, the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder will sparkle with the joy of the holiday season.

The festivities begin on the Oct. 27 and 28 sailings, where guests can take part in some Halloween fun. Children will enjoy a trail of candy stations that culminates in a dance party on the top deck and special costume parties in each of the youth activity areas. For adults, there's a dance party and costume contest with prizes for costume categories such as best group, most original and most Disney. With Halloween decorations throughout the ship and scary -- as well as not-so-scary -- movies playing in various venues, children of all ages will enjoy a uniquely Disney twist on this autumn tradition.

Then, beginning in late November, the spirit of the season will surround cruise guests from the moment they arrive at Port Canaveral, Fla. Disney characters decked out in their finest holiday attire will welcome guests to the lavishly decorated private cruise terminal. Onboard, the festivities continue with special themed activities, decorations, and even a transformed winter wonderland on Disney's private island, Castaway Cay.

On Thanksgiving Day, guests will delight in a traditional Thanksgiving feast complete with roast turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings. After enjoying as much as they care to eat, guests can relax in a deck chair or partake in some of the many shipboard activities such as themed craft projects for the children. To top off the festivities, Mickey and Minnie will don their Thanksgiving costumes.

After Thanksgiving, guests will discover continued holiday cheer along with:

• A nearly three-deck-tall tree festooned with decorations in the atrium lobby, where "snow" flurries fall and a tree-lighting ceremony occurs.
• A Christmas Day visit from Santa Goofy, with surprises for all the kids.
• International holiday caroling by crew members from around the globe (exclusively on the Christmas cruises).
• Special family time for designing and decorating gingerbread houses.
• A reading of "The Night Before Christmas" by Mrs. Claus.
• Traditional holiday feasts in Disney's three themed dining rooms (Christmas cruises only).
• Multiple faith and interdenominational holiday services (Christmas and Hanukkah cruises only).
• A ship-wide party to ring in 2008 and a New Year's Day tailgate party.

The holiday fun even extends to Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. When the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder arrive at the sandy Bahamian isle just after Thanksgiving, the island will be transformed into a Magical Wonderland -- a "snowy" holiday hideaway. "Snow" flurries will fall like magic, Christmas trees will glow and carolers will croon. Mr. and Mrs. Snowman, wearing shell noses and tropical attire, will greet guests with a sleigh full of presents. The tram that transports guests across the 1,000-acre island will be reindeer themed, complete with antlers and tail. At the beach, kids can dive into holiday-themed activities that include making candy cane reindeer, paper plate angels and snowflake mobiles.

The festivities begin on the Disney Magic on a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise departing on Nov. 24, and on a special four-night Bahamian cruise leaving Nov. 21. Guests wishing to spend the Christmas holiday onboard Disney Cruise Line can enjoy a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise beginning Dec. 22, or a four-night Bahamian cruise departing Dec. 23.

From an extra treat on Halloween to a magical holiday season Thanksgiving through the New Year, Disney Cruise Line guests will cherish the memories made on board the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can contact their travel agent, visit disneycruise.com or call Disney Cruise Line at 888/DCL-2500. Travel agents can call Disney Cruise Line at 888/325-2500 or visit disneytravelagents.com.

--- Disney Dean