Disney Cruise Line Announces Pixar-inspired California Coastal Cruises

[GusMan]

Linky to article.

Snip:

If you‘re a fan of Pixar Animation Studios’ award-winning films, you are going to love the new offerings announced today for Disney Cruise Line’s seven-night California Coastal voyages this fall.
During these voyages, Disney Cruise Line guests will be able to interact with and explore the world of Pixar and their beloved characters while the Disney Wonder sails to popular port cities along the coast of California.

Sounds real interesting... I think this may attract new guests to the West Coast as well. (ie: Attractive land and sea trips that include DLR.)

[mkraemer]

This sounds like a terrific option for the coastal cruises, and I think it will definitely bring new appeal to the sailings for DCL. Wouldn't it be nice to have an excursion over to Pixar headquarters in Emeryville on those sailings????

[stan4d_steph]

I would love to have the opportunity to hear from all of the Pixar artists etc. Sounds like a great cruise!

[AVP]

Here's the full press release:

To the Horizon and Beyond! Disney Wonder Offering Special Pixar Cruises This Fall

CELEBRATION, Fla. (May 30, 2012) — A new cast of characters will stroll the decks and visit with guests aboard the Disney Wonder as Mr. Incredible, Remy, Woody, Jessie, Buzz Lightyear and other memorable characters from Pixar Animation Studios’ award-winning films make their shipboard debut during four special Pixar-inspired seven-night California Coastal cruises Sept. 16 through Oct. 14, 2012.

During these voyages, Disney Cruise Line guests will be able to interact with and explore the world of Pixar and their beloved films while the Disney Wonder sails to popular port cities along the coast of California. Special entertainment and offerings designed for both children and adults include:

•Pixar Presentations and Sneak Peeks: Artists and filmmakers from Pixar Animation Studios will provide guests with an inside look at the creative process used in the development of an animated feature or short. Guests will go behind the scenes and explore the making of Pixar’s newest release “Brave” and get a look at footage of future Pixar films.

•The Art of Pixar: Storyboards, character sketches, environment paintings, maquettes and other inspiring concept art used to design Pixar films will be on display in a special art exhibition at sea. This collection of art has only been seen outside of Pixar Animation Studios when it has been displayed at leading art museums around the world. This time the art will truly be a “traveling” exhibition as the Disney Wonder sails up and down the California coast.

•Pixar Film Fest: Guests will be able to enjoy the entire Pixar library of films while onboard, including a selection of delightful animated shorts. Viewing opportunities will take place in the Buena Vista Theatre, Walt Disney Theatre, at the jumbo LED screen on deck or on in-stateroom televisions. The voyages coincide with the theatrical premiere of “Finding Nemo 3D,” which guests can enjoy at either of the two theatres equipped with state-of-the-art Dolby 3D projection systems.

•Pixar Character Encounters: More than a dozen Pixar characters will meet with and greet guests throughout the cruise. There will be a special Pixar-themed dance parties in the Atrium Lobby and a host of other opportunities for guests to reconnect with their favorite Pixar pals.

Guests sailing on the Pixar-themed voyages will also receive a commemorative lithograph created by Pixar artist and “Brave” co-director/screenwriter, Steve Purcell.

The Disney Wonder will sail out of Los Angeles and visit San Francisco, San Diego and Ensenada, Mexico during the four Pixar-themed voyages. Rates for the seven-night voyages start at $799 per person for a deluxe inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

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

Personally, I *love* this idea, and now I'm really bummed that our tentative plans to book one of these cruises didn't work out. I've always liked this itinerary - we thoroughly enjoyed the overnight in San Francisco when we did it as part of the Alaska repo cruise, and you get a nice long day in San Diego. Ensenada... eh, I didn't even get off the ship there when we visited at the end of the Hawaii cruise, but there's no getting around it - the ship HAS to stop somewhere to meet the distant foreign port requirement.

And let's be really honest, that's what this is about - Disney trying to do their level best to deal with a situation they can't control. Demand by families for Mexican Rivera cruises is down because of the political, social and safety issues there, and Disney can't control that. They have a ship on the west coast that has to go somewhere, and these California Coastal cruises are their best option. Now they're leveraging their considerable creative assets to make those cruises even more attractive to families, and I think they've come up with a really compelling product.

Let's see how it plays to Peoria.

Adrienne

[dlfansx4]

I'm really excited to see the Pixar additions to these cruises (we are already booked on the September 23rd cruise). I am now wishing that I would have booked the kids with us though, LOL. Oh well, I can't take them out of school anyway.

I'm not surprised they are doing something to make these cruises sell more. I was able to book a VGT about 6 months out (although they have removed the VGT rates since I booked). I heard these cruises are way undersold so I expect to see more discounts on these ones still (unless this new announcement does the trick).

[Drince88]

There are a few of us who would be enticed by Pixar to do a California cruise, but given the dates, I'm not sure how many more families are going to be booking -- because of that pesky 'school' thing.

[jswtsang]

I'm really excited to be booking this cruise! Can anyone tell me if they also have the pirate night? We are huge pirate fans and have heard great things about that party, but I don't know if because this is pixar themed if they don't have it on this cruise. This would be our first disney cruise.

[dlfansx4]

I'm really excited to be booking this cruise! Can anyone tell me if they also have the pirate night? We are huge pirate fans and have heard great things about that party, but I don't know if because this is pixar themed if they don't have it on this cruise. This would be our first disney cruise.

I'm assuming there will still be a pirate night (with fireworks) since that is such a popular piece of their entertainment. I think the addition of the Pixar elements is to try and get more people interested in these very undersold cruises.

[jswtsang]

I'm assuming there will still be a pirate night (with fireworks) since that is such a popular piece of their entertainment. I think the addition of the Pixar elements is to try and get more people interested in these very undersold cruises.

Thanks! Well it worked, they sent me email, I forwarded it to my husband and sister joking that we should go and then we started talking and are booking! A dream come true Turns out my sister got the same email and had been thinking about going herself, so now a family reunion is in the works. Gotta love that disney magic Brilliant marketing move on their part!

[dlfansx4]

Thanks! Well it worked, they sent me email, I forwarded it to my husband and sister joking that we should go and then we started talking and are booking! A dream come true Turns out my sister got the same email and had been thinking about going herself, so now a family reunion is in the works. Gotta love that disney magic Brilliant marketing move on their part!

Awesome!!!! Which cruise are you going on? DH and I will be on the September 23rd cruise

[jswtsang]

Awesome!!!! Which cruise are you going on? DH and I will be on the September 23rd cruise

Too cool, we are going on that one too :-D

[disneyjunkie]

My family just booked the Sept 23rd cruise! We are first time cruisers . There will DD one and her 3 boys. my other DD and sign other and then my hubby and I . We are celebrating his 60th. Questions, formal/semi formal night, what to expect really formal or moderate???? Ben who is going to be 3 right after our trip will go to the child care lounge anyone have experience with this???

[dlfansx4]

My family just booked the Sept 23rd cruise! We are first time cruisers . There will DD one and her 3 boys. my other DD and sign other and then my hubby and I . We are celebrating his 60th. Questions, formal/semi formal night, what to expect really formal or moderate???? Ben who is going to be 3 right after our trip will go to the child care lounge anyone have experience with this???

We will be on that cruise with you

For the formal and semi-formal nights, you will see just about everything. My DH will wear a full suit on formal night and will wear dress pants, button down shirt w/tie and vest on Semi-formal. At least that is what he wore on the MR cruise. I wore a floor length dress on Formal night and a knee lenght cocktail dress on semi formal (although I don't think I'm bringing the floor length gown this time). We saw a few men in tuxes but most wore either suits or nice slacks/tie, etc. Some men will just wear khakis and polos. Some will even wear jeans and a t-shirt, LOL. Ladies attire will be the same, everything from formal gowns to sundresses to capris. Disney does not enforce the dress code in the Main Dining Rooms, they just make the nights themed and ask people to observe the theme (but they don't deny you access to the dining room if you don't). The only place that the dress code is really enforced is in Palo. But they have great photo opportunities on those nights and I like to follow the recommended dress codes so we usually try to dress up on those nights.

I don't have any experience with the nursery (where Ben would be if he is under 3) but my DS loves the kid's clubs on the ship. We usually do second seating and he always participated in Dine and Play (where the kid's club CMs would pick them up about 45 minutes into the meal so the adults could finish). If Ben is potty trained and can use the restroom 100% by himself, he may be allowed to stay in the Kid's Club rather than the nursery. But I have heard great things about the nursery on the ships too, so I'm sure you are fine either way.

[disneyjunkie]

Thanks so much for the information . We are on a fast track potty trainning mission. The great news we got our room number today and were upgraded from a inside stateroom to a deluxe outside view stateroom and all of our 3 rooms are within doors from one another. The excitement is mounting in our family!

[disneyjunkie]

Thanks so much for the information . We are on a fast track potty trainning mission. The great news we got our room number today and were upgraded from a inside stateroom to a deluxe outside view stateroom and all of our 3 rooms are within doors from one another. The excitement is mounting in our family!

Ben Ben made it to potty trained he went to Oceanears Club and the Lab he made a new friend in castmember Allison who picked him up each evening from dinner . He did have one "accident" that did not demote his status . His brothers also loved kids club and lab the middle one Dylan could not be pried out and recieved a wonderful autographed pictures from the characters that" Goofy " made for him for helping the staff pick up pixie dust all night long.
The formal semi formal eves were fun even though I had to prod Dh into dressing for the events! All can thank my DH and his golf crew on the portside adventure golfing for the extra hour or so in Ensenada. He was the last one back on the boat to a welcome home applause and the gang way closing behind him. Golf excursion gone bad lol.