Yesterday, we told you about some whimsical innovations on the new Disney Fantasy™. Starting her maiden voyage this afternoon, Disney Cruise Line® guests will spend 7-nights immersed in these features that will capture the hearts of young and old.
Which of the Disney Fantasy’s™ features would make your Top 5 list? Tell us in the comments section below!
When the Disney Fantasy™ sets sail on her maiden voyage tomorrow, guests will be immersed in several technological innovations beyond their belief. Whether it is playtime, mealtime or bedtime – these innovations are everywhere!
New “Animation Magic” at Animator’s Palate
Animator’s Palate is a restaurant that is featured on all four of Disney Cruise Line’s® ships. With last year’s launch of the Disney Dream,™ Animator’s Palate featured a new theme that offered guests an opportunity to interact with Crush, the sea turtle from the Disney•Pixar film “Finding Nemo.”
Animator’s Palate on the Disney Fantasy™ takes the magic one step further with a new show called “Animation Magic.” The dinner show celebrates the magic of Disney animation and allows families to create and participate in a whole new way.
When guests are seated at their tables, they are invited by their wait staff to draw a character of their own using a simple template on their placemat. After dinner, Mickey works his magic and brings the guests’ drawings to life on the screens placed throughout the restaurant. Mickey leads the guests’ drawings in a parade across the screens around the dining room. The animation of the drawings becomes increasingly more elaborate, and then the drawings step into scenes from beloved Disney movies and skip, skate and dance side-by-side with characters such as, Mickey Mouse, Jiminy Cricket, Cinderella and Snow White. At the conclusion of the show, credits roll on screen showing each guest’s name listed as a guest animator. At the end of dinner, guests’ drawings are returned to them with an added touch: a golden seal proclaiming them an Official Disney Animator.
The Themed Entertainment Association awarded Disney Cruise Line® the “Ingenious Use of Technology” award for the “Animation Magic” show at Animator’s Palate on the Disney Fantasy™.
Enchanted Art
More than 20 pieces of Enchanted Art, inspired by classic Disney characters and animations, immerse guests in Disney storytelling in a completely new way on the Disney Fantasy™. Enchanted art was introduced last year on the Disney Dream.™
As guests pause to admire an individual piece of Enchanted Art, it magically comes alive. While Enchanted Art looks like other hanging art pieces around the ship, it is actually a framed LCD screen that utilizes technology to create special effects. Enchanted Art “recognizes” the presence of a guest and activates several seconds of animation. Guests may see new and different animation when they visit the Enchanted Art another time. Here is just a sample of some of the Enchanted Art new to the Disney Fantasy™:
Midship Detective Agency – Muppets Adventure Game
Midship Detective Agency was another innovation that was launched with the Disney Dream™. On the Disney Fantasy™, the Muppets have taken over the show!
Guests are guided by a map and use a unique game card to unveil clues and find missing props from special Enchanted Art. Successful detectives will solve the crime before it’s time to raise the curtain and light the lights on the Muppets’ big show. Each game features several possible endings and multiple randomized events – so each time a guest plays, they have a different adventure.
Living Characters
In Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lab youth areas, Disney characters come to life and interact with children in one-of-a-kind experiences. Crush from the Disney•Pixar motion picture “Finding Nemo” and Stitch from the motion picture “Lilo & Stitch” appear on a 103-inch plasma screen. The characters chat, play and joke with kids in live, unrehearsed, personalized conversations, using sophisticated, voice-activated animation. These youth areas also feature a Magic PlayFloor, a cruise industry first that blends the latest in gaming technology with Disney’s panache for storytelling. The interactive floor allows children to engage in group activities where their movements control the action, such as a virtual tilt maze.
Magical Porthole
First introduced on the Disney Dream™, the Disney Fantasy™ carries on the spirit of innovation with a cruise industry first for all 150 inside staterooms – a “window” to the world with a real-time view outside the ship. High-definition cameras on the exterior of the ship feed video to each Magical Porthole. The feed even corresponds to the location of the particular stateroom location – port or starboard – forward, midship or aft. New Magical Porthole animations that are exclusive to the Disney Fantasy™ include a swinging Rapunzel from “Tangled,” a waving Mr. Potato Head from “Toy Story,” and Scuttle and Flounder from “The Little Mermaid” peeking in as they fly by.
Skyline
On the Disney Fantasy™, adult guests step into a world that’s all their own at Europa – a nighttime entertainment district exclusively for guests 18 and older that features sophisticated bars and lounges inspired by the very best in European travel.
Skyline is a chic bar that provides ever-changing birds-eye views of stunning city skylines. Skyline’s nine “windows to the world” are actually 65-inch LCD screens that depict different locales in panorama. Guests glimpse ever-changing views of spectacular cities, such as Paris, London, Barcelona, Florence, Athens, Budapest and St. Petersburg. Skyline’s drink menu even offers specialty cocktails themed for each of the cities.
To learn more about The Disney Fantasy™ or to book a vacation, contact your Magic Maker. Bookings for sailings onboard all four of Disney Cruise Line’s® ships are open through 2013.
When the Disney Fantasy™ sets sail on her maiden voyage tomorrow, guests will be immersed in several technological innovations beyond their belief. Whether it is playtime, mealtime or bedtime – these innovations are everywhere!
New “Animation Magic” at Animator’s Palate
Animator’s Palate is a restaurant that is featured on all four of Disney Cruise Line’s® ships. With last year’s launch of the Disney Dream,™ Animator’s Palate featured a new theme that offered guests an opportunity to interact with Crush, the sea turtle from the Disney•Pixar film “Finding Nemo.”
Animator’s Palate on the Disney Fantasy™ takes the magic one step further with a new show called “Animation Magic.” The dinner show celebrates the magic of Disney animation and allows families to create and participate in a whole new way.
When guests are seated at their tables, they are invited by their wait staff to draw a character of their own using a simple template on their placemat. After dinner, Mickey works his magic and brings the guests’ drawings to life on the screens placed throughout the restaurant. Mickey leads the guests’ drawings in a parade across the screens around the dining room. The animation of the drawings becomes increasingly more elaborate, and then the drawings step into scenes from beloved Disney movies and skip, skate and dance side-by-side with characters such as, Mickey Mouse, Jiminy Cricket, Cinderella and Snow White. At the conclusion of the show, credits roll on screen showing each guest’s name listed as a guest animator. At the end of dinner, guests’ drawings are returned to them with an added touch: a golden seal proclaiming them an Official Disney Animator.
The Themed Entertainment Association awarded Disney Cruise Line® the “Ingenious Use of Technology” award for the “Animation Magic” show at Animator’s Palate on the Disney Fantasy™.
Enchanted Art
More than 20 pieces of Enchanted Art, inspired by classic Disney characters and animations, immerse guests in Disney storytelling in a completely new way on the Disney Fantasy™. Enchanted art was introduced last year on the Disney Dream.™
As guests pause to admire an individual piece of Enchanted Art, it magically comes alive. While Enchanted Art looks like other hanging art pieces around the ship, it is actually a framed LCD screen that utilizes technology to create special effects. Enchanted Art “recognizes” the presence of a guest and activates several seconds of animation. Guests may see new and different animation when they visit the Enchanted Art another time. Here is just a sample of some of the Enchanted Art new to the Disney Fantasy™:
Midship Detective Agency – Muppets Adventure Game
Midship Detective Agency was another innovation that was launched with the Disney Dream™. On the Disney Fantasy™, the Muppets have taken over the show!
Guests are guided by a map and use a unique game card to unveil clues and find missing props from special Enchanted Art. Successful detectives will solve the crime before it’s time to raise the curtain and light the lights on the Muppets’ big show. Each game features several possible endings and multiple randomized events – so each time a guest plays, they have a different adventure.
Living Characters
In Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lab youth areas, Disney characters come to life and interact with children in one-of-a-kind experiences. Crush from the Disney•Pixar motion picture “Finding Nemo” and Stitch from the motion picture “Lilo & Stitch” appear on a 103-inch plasma screen. The characters chat, play and joke with kids in live, unrehearsed, personalized conversations, using sophisticated, voice-activated animation. These youth areas also feature a Magic PlayFloor, a cruise industry first that blends the latest in gaming technology with Disney’s panache for storytelling. The interactive floor allows children to engage in group activities where their movements control the action, such as a virtual tilt maze.
Magical Porthole
First introduced on the Disney Dream™, the Disney Fantasy™ carries on the spirit of innovation with a cruise industry first for all 150 inside staterooms – a “window” to the world with a real-time view outside the ship. High-definition cameras on the exterior of the ship feed video to each Magical Porthole. The feed even corresponds to the location of the particular stateroom location – port or starboard – forward, midship or aft. New Magical Porthole animations that are exclusive to the Disney Fantasy™ include a swinging Rapunzel from “Tangled,” a waving Mr. Potato Head from “Toy Story,” and Scuttle and Flounder from “The Little Mermaid” peeking in as they fly by.
Skyline
On the Disney Fantasy™, adult guests step into a world that’s all their own at Europa – a nighttime entertainment district exclusively for guests 18 and older that features sophisticated bars and lounges inspired by the very best in European travel.
Skyline is a chic bar that provides ever-changing birds-eye views of stunning city skylines. Skyline’s nine “windows to the world” are actually 65-inch LCD screens that depict different locales in panorama. Guests glimpse ever-changing views of spectacular cities, such as Paris, London, Barcelona, Florence, Athens, Budapest and St. Petersburg. Skyline’s drink menu even offers specialty cocktails themed for each of the cities.
To learn more about The Disney Fantasy™ or to book a vacation, contact your Magic Maker. Bookings for sailings onboard all four of Disney Cruise Line’s® ships are open through 2013.
Princess Merida from Disney•Pixar’s upcoming movie “Brave” will begin an all-new character greeting experience in mid-May.
At the Magic Kingdom® Park in Florida, Merida and the mischievous three bear cubs from the film will appear in a setting inspired by her home in the Scottish Highlands. While waiting to meet Merida and her Scottish clan, guests will be entertained by an interactive queue with archery and other activities. To make room for the new Princess, Rapunzel will move from her Fairytale Garden location to a new location on the Adventureland® Verandah on Apr. 15.
At the Disneyland® Park, Merida’s meet & greet will take place in Adventureland® area near the iconic “it’s a small world”® Attraction.
Disney•Pixar’s “Brave” opens in theaters June 22nd.
Images are artist concept art. Actual construction may vary
Princess Merida from Disney•Pixar’s upcoming movie “Brave” will begin an all-new character greeting experience in mid-May.
At the Magic Kingdom® Park in Florida, Merida and the mischievous three bear cubs from the film will appear in a setting inspired by her home in the Scottish Highlands. While waiting to meet Merida and her Scottish clan, guests will be entertained by an interactive queue with archery and other activities. To make room for the new Princess, Rapunzel will move from her Fairytale Garden location to a new location on the Adventureland® Verandah on Apr. 15.
At the Disneyland® Park, Merida’s meet & greet will take place in Adventureland® area near the iconic “it’s a small world”® Attraction.
Disney•Pixar’s “Brave” opens in theaters June 22nd.
Images are artist concept art. Actual construction may vary
by Magic Maker® Tara Radulski
Spring has arrived in Orlando and what better way to usher it in than to visit Epcot’s® International Flower & Garden Festival! Visitors to Walt Disney World® Resort already know that year round, the plants and surroundings throughout the resort are beautifully maintained. However during Epcot’s® International Flower & Garden Festival they definitely crank it up a notch!
The landscaping and everyday flower beds are meticulously transformed and become bursting with vibrant colors. As you explore the countless character topiaries throughout Epcot®, it is amazing to see what Walt Disney Imagineering is able to do with plants, flowers and other organic materials! As you stroll through Future World you’ll find Stitch, looking like he is ready to start trouble outside of Mission: SPACE® Attraction. Not to mention you’ll find Lightening McQueen and Mater hanging out near Epcot’s® World Showcase Japan Pavilion, looking like they just finished racing the world circuit. All of the hidden surprises are sure to bring a smile to your face. Princes and Princesses, pirates, and Toy Story characters are some of the amazing topiaries found through Epcot®. 
Be sure not to miss Lotso near Epcot’s® World Showcase American Pavilion, and take a deep breath…it smells like he is in a huge field of ripe strawberries!
There are special venues set up just for the festival as well, including Bambi’s Butterfly House and the Let’s Get Moving play area for children. Everyone can enjoy the Flower Power Concert Series which plays host to such performers as Starship, the Guess Who and Chubby Checkers to name a few. HGTV is the festival sponsor, and HGTV hosts, such as Genevieve Gorder, Sabrina Soto, and Antonio Ballatore take to the stage with special presentations. And the best part – everything is included in your daily park admission to Epcot®!
Epcot’s® International Flower & Garden Festival will continue daily through May 20th, 2012.
For a full schedule of event surrounding Epcot’s® International Flower & Garden Festival please visit this page!
by Magic Maker® Tara Radulski
Spring has arrived in Orlando and what better way to usher it in than to visit Epcot’s® International Flower & Garden Festival! Visitors to Walt Disney World® Resort already know that year round, the plants and surroundings throughout the resort are beautifully maintained. However during Epcot’s® International Flower & Garden Festival they definitely crank it up a notch!
The landscaping and everyday flower beds are meticulously transformed and become bursting with vibrant colors. As you explore the countless character topiaries throughout Epcot®, it is amazing to see what Walt Disney Imagineering is able to do with plants, flowers and other organic materials! As you stroll through Future World you’ll find Stitch, looking like he is ready to start trouble outside of Mission: SPACE® Attraction. Not to mention you’ll find Lightening McQueen and Mater hanging out near Epcot’s® World Showcase Japan Pavilion, looking like they just finished racing the world circuit. All of the hidden surprises are sure to bring a smile to your face. Princes and Princesses, pirates, and Toy Story characters are some of the amazing topiaries found through Epcot®. Be sure not to miss Lotso near Epcot’s® World Showcase American Pavilion, and take a deep breath…it smells like he is in a huge field of ripe strawberries!
There are special venues set up just for the festival as well, including Bambi’s Butterfly House and the Let’s Get Moving play area for children. Everyone can enjoy the Flower Power Concert Series which plays host to such performers as Starship, the Guess Who and Chubby Checkers to name a few. HGTV is the festival sponsor, and HGTV hosts, such as Genevieve Gorder, Sabrina Soto, and Antonio Ballatore take to the stage with special presentations. And the best part – everything is included in your daily park admission to Epcot®!
Epcot’s® International Flower & Garden Festival will continue daily through May 20th, 2012.
For a full schedule of event surrounding Epcot’s® International Flower & Garden Festival please visit this page!
The 19th annual Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival kicked off March 7th at the Walt Disney World® Resort with a huge splash of color. Walt Disney World’s® horticulture team showed off their green thumbs with the garden inspired from a scene of “Fantasia” in front of the park’s iconic Spaceship Earth.
Here are some fun facts on the front-entrance “Fantasia” topiary display:
The 19th annual Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival kicked off March 7th at the Walt Disney World® Resort with a huge splash of color. Walt Disney World’s® horticulture team showed off their green thumbs with the garden inspired from a scene of “Fantasia” in front of the park’s iconic Spaceship Earth.
Here are some fun facts on the front-entrance “Fantasia” topiary display:
Off to Neverland Travel has integrated two new Facebook features into our website!
The New Facebook Panel on the right side of the screen allows you to see the latest Disney news and updates that we have shared with our fans via Off to Neverland’s Facebook page. If you haven’t become a fan of our Facebook page, you can do so by simply clicking LIKE in the panel. If you are already a fan, clicking any link in the panel will direct you to our Facebook page.
Also new, guests are no longer required to create a separate login to comment on our blog article. As long as you are currently signed into Facebook, you will simply type your comment below and hit “Comment.”