Magic Drydock changes announced About This Page:

[Disneybine]

Dave, thanks so much for posting your thoughts on the enhancements.

I know it's just speculation at this point, but do you think Disney will add something to the Wonder to make it more attractive in colder weather (since the Wonder is cruising Alaska in the summers)?

[cal2net]

I'm excited about the changes, the Magic was our first cruise. I hate to see the beautiful chandelier go. Hopefully they will be able to utilize it somewhere else.

[Dave Marx]

Originally Posted by Disneybine

I know it's just speculation at this point, but do you think Disney will add something to the Wonder to make it more attractive in colder weather (since the Wonder is cruising Alaska in the summers)?

This is where the crystal ball turns to onyx.

DCL did add Outlook Cafe to the Wonder, which, on a smaller scale, is a feature found on other ships with cool-weather itineraries - an indoor lounge on a high deck, towards the bow, with panoramic views. Definitely a place for watching the scenery pass while staying out of the elements. This is just above Cove Cafe and Signals bar. The downside is that the view directly forward is affected by the forward elevator housing (above the spa). On some ships, this space is found farther forward, roughly where the Wide World of Sports deck is. I can appreciate that Disney didn't want to lose that year-round, all-ages space. I have to admit that I haven't sailed the Wonder since that was added (when I go on research trips for new itineraries, it has to be the year prior to DCL's first visit), so I don't know how well Outlook Cafe "works" on the Alaska itinerary. Anyone care to chime in?

The other major cool-weather feature is, of course, a retractable pool roof. In DCL's case, this would have to be above the Goofy Pool. Based on the retractable pool roofs I've seen on ships, I don't think that's practical. If closed, it would be a problem for folks up on deck 10 during deck parties and would make the Ariel Vision video screen kind of hard to see. When opened, it would still be "stored" in the same area, blocking 20-25% of the deck 10 area used during deck parties. I just don't see DCL doing this for the sake of three months out of the year, especially since they don't seem to have a problem filling the ship with medium-to-high fares.

Now, if there was a way to better-shelter the Mickey Pool/Aqua Lab... That could make the kids and their parents very happy, and could be a positive selling point. It might be something as simple as a canvas awning with clear plastic panels - something to reduce drafts, banish the Alaskan rain and mist, and hold in a bit more of the warmth generated by the heated water. Pure guesswork on my part, though.

I remember the speculation, years before the Wonder went to Alaska, that the ships needed hull reinforcement in order to deal with floating ice (I didn't buy into that theory, by the way). That, as those who have since cruised on the Wonder up Tracy Arm Fjord know, was a non-issue.

Now, since I fully expect the Wonder to get all or nearly all that the Magic will be getting, there's one other way cold-weather cruising could be acknowledged in the rehab: Decor. It's at least possible that they find a way to give a "tip o' the hat" to cooler climes in some of the decorative elements. However, with the ship spending most of her year in warm places, I wouldn't expect to see a glacial ice-inspired chandelier in the atrium lobby.

[jimmymac]

At the age of the Disney ships, I hope they're doing some upgrades on plumbing, electical and propulsion as well as aesthetics

[bobyetman]

Originally Posted by Dave Marx

There may also be one or two engineering-oriented changes that they haven't explained. The length of the ship is expanding by 20 ft.! Now, that's not "kosher" in the world of Panamax vessels. The Magic Class ships are currently just small enough to fit the Panama Canal, but with the new locks that will be opening in Panama, that extra length won't matter. The extension seems to be entirely in the stern, near the water line, and is probably the thing that increases the ship's displacement by 1,000 GRT (83,000 GRT before, 84,000 GRT after). My guess is a change to the propulsion system from conventional shaft/propellers to Azipod. I thought they'd do that for the Dream Class ships, but it turned out they didn't, as Captain Tom (who has a lot to say in these matters) was against that, feeling the old-fashioned system is more reliable and more readily repaired. However, fuel savings of 10% or more can be had when switching from traditional to pod propulsion. Or perhaps the hull extension simply reduces drag (which would also improve fuel consumption). More on this after I do some digging.

I was reading on another board that the extra 20' is for 'ducktail's to enhance stability, here's a link to some other ships getting them: Lets talk about Duck Tails | CruiseInd 2.0

They also mentioned swapping out propellers, but no azi-pods.

[Dave Marx]

Thanks Bob, that's beautiful!

So, does a ducktail turn a Mickey Ship into a Donald Ship?

[Horatio]

These are my fully developed thoughts on the redesigns. I was looking at the renderings found Here.

1) The Atrium
I like the brightness this space has. The new curtains are very nice as well. At first, I was weary of the removal of the starboard stairwell, but I now feel that it was a good design move. The new carpet on the stairs is simply too blue, overwhelmingly so. Similarly, the main floor carpet does not seem to fit in the space. I feel it would look better with Ariel, on the Wonder.
On to my biggest disappointment in the space, the chandelier. The rendered chandelier looks horrid, to be honest. It does not seem to flow with the rest of the space. I am shocked that the Festa Venezia I is being removed, though a tad dark at times; I feel with minor lighting adjustments it could be made brighter and more inviting.

2) The Adult district
Keys and O'Gills look amazing. I believe they will be very popular.
I am not sure how I feel about Fathoms. I like the space, but the renderings make it look dark and smokey. I think this is just the rendering and the space will be very nice in completion.

3) AquaLab
This area looks very fun! However, I am not sure why the Mickey pool is being removed. The blue deck treatment looks similar to pool decks on other cruise lines(Royal Caribbean International, for example), and I am not impressed. I feel something different could have been done here that would keep the classic feel and incorporating modern details.

4) The Youth Spaces
The club and lab renderings look amazing! I would have loved to play in these spaces as a child. Good job! I would like to see what is being done in the teen and tween area as well.

5) Carioca's
The first rendering I saw was overwhelmingly white. However, the evening render looks warmer and the central light fixtures being on helps with the white. A friends of mine commented that the costumes were very shocking, and I agree. Perhaps subtler colours could be used. Overall, I like this redesign.

6) AquaDunk
I am shocked that the decision was made to add this type of slide to the Magic.I feel the slide, though red, will take away from the aesthetic lines of the ship. I like the idea of the slide; it looks really fun, but it's placement in questionable. Much like the Dream and Fantasy, more supports will be used than rendered and there will be a lot of clutter in front of the funnel. I feel this slide, or derivative, could be placed without ruining the lines of the ship.

7) Other spaces not rendered
I am perplexed at the change from Studio Sea to D-Lounge. I am not sure why this change is needed. I would like to warn against creating the same spaces on all four ships, as each should have her own unique character. The same can be said for the redesign of Animator's Palette. I like the new design on the Dream and Fantasy as well as the original design on the Magic and Wonder. Upgrades are needed, but I don't feel that the design should be changed to be just like the Dream and Fantasy. Some variation is needed.
I would like to believe that the Walt Disney Theatre will be receiving some TLC during this dry dock as well. A complete redesign is not necessary, but maybe new upholstery, or something, just to refresh the space.
The rendering of the spa I saw was amazing; it looked very calming and welcoming.

Overall, I like the designs, but I feel that not all angles were looked at carefully enough

[Dave Marx]

Originally Posted by Horatio

7) Other spaces not rendered
I am perplexed at the change from Studio Sea to D-Lounge. I am not sure why this change is needed. I would like to warn against creating the same spaces on all four ships, as each should have her own unique character. The same can be said for the redesign of Animator's Palette. I like the new design on the Dream and Fantasy as well as the original design on the Magic and Wonder. Upgrades are needed, but I don't feel that the design should be changed to be just like the Dream and Fantasy. Some variation is needed.

From the standpoint of frequent cruisers, we'd rather have unique reasons to sail on every ship, just as Disney Parks fans are happy for the differences between Disneyland Park and Magic Kingdom. But if you watch Disney Parks TV ads these days, the ads concentrate on experiences and images that can be found in both places. "Come to Disney Parks."

What we see with these changes is DCL's need to present a consistent marketing message (same great experience on every ship), and to deliver on that message when first-time Disney cruisers step on board. It shouldn't matter which kids club is pictured in a TV ad - if not identical to the one in the video, it should bear a close family resemblance. Even the naming (every spa "Senses," every family nightclub "D Lounge," every teen club "Vibe," the rhyming of AquaDuck/AquaDunk) helps support that - every name that all ships have in common gives them the advantage of selling the experience by name. Rather than, "Relax in the spa," it can be "Relax at Senses spa." ("Vista Spa" was homage to "Buena Vista," a time-honored name in Disney history, but "Senses" evokes the reason you go to a spa - a rose by any other name may not sell as sweet.)

Since there still will be differences between the various dining rooms, why was it necessary to make all the pool deck buffets "Cabanas?" In this case, I believe it's to please the veteran cruisers, not the first-timers. Cabanas was such an improvement over Beach Blanket Buffet/Topsiders that they had to make the upgrade, and the best way to get the message out is to change the name and decor, not just the layout.

Is AquaDunk going to break the classic lines of the ship? To some degree, though most of the time we're not looking at the ship from afar - it'll be our experience on board that counts. In marketing images, they'll show the ship's opposite profile when they want to sell "classic" and the slide side when they want to sell "fun and excitement." Like it or not, there's an arms race of sorts going on in the cruise industry, and dramatic-looking recreational features that can be seen from afar are key armaments. In Disney Imagineering terminology, these are "weenies" - objects that draw the eye from afar, beckoning folks (such as passengers on other ships berthed in the same port) to come hither.

The need to bring the Magic and Wonder into line with the Dream and Fantasy was obvious from the start (check, "The Future of the Disney Cruise Line" essay in the past few editions of our cruise guide). DCL can carry 2.5 times as many passengers now as it did in 2010. That means DCL has to lure a lot of new first-time Disney cruisers - a fair percentage of them from other lines. The only "differences" DCL wants to offer them are 1) port of embarkation, 2) itinerary, and 3) The Disney Difference. They would rather folks not prefer one ship over another - they want cruisers to prefer the DCL experience to Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity.... Disney doesn't want what the other lines have - lower fares on the older ships.

Slightly off the topic... Once again, I've under-estimated the changes DCL would make. I thought the new ships wouldn't depart as dramatically from the older ships' features and design as they did, and even after seeing the new ships, I didn't think they'd make nearly as many changes to the Magic and Wonder as they obviously are/will be making.

[bobyetman]

Originally Posted by Dave Marx

Thanks Bob, that's beautiful!

So, does a ducktail turn a Mickey Ship into a Donald Ship?

If they add a 'Quack Quack' to the horn, then we'll know....

[cubfancolleen]

I am sad to hear they're getting rid of the Chihuly chandelier. But the change from Parrot Cay is a welcome one! Now to figure out when to sail her again - I still have a soft spot for the Magic. We've sailed her more than any other ship.

[unewillow]

Well as a somewhat "veteran" cruiser, having sailed the Magic twice now, I am happy to see changes. At this point I will have sailed on 3/4 ships and would have thought my next sailing would be on the Fantasy just for something new, regardless of whether the itinerary was that appealing. But now they may just lure me back to the Magic again

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

Originally Posted by cubfancolleen

I am sad to hear they're getting rid of the Chihuly chandelier.

A rumor i've seen online is it's going to be put into the cruise line terminal.

[gardengirl628]

Happy to see the Magic is getting some exciting changes. We just booked a 7-Day Mediterranean cruise for August 2014 without knowing this, so it was an added bonus!

[Donald_Quackers]

Originally Posted by Dave Marx

Thanks Bob, that's beautiful!

So, does a ducktail turn a Mickey Ship into a Donald Ship?

I vote yes!

[Dave Marx]

DCL, as usual, doesn't tell the entire story at once. They posted a new video today, focusing on the non-concierge staterooms. There's just one bit of news - they're adding 44 more connecting doors. While not the most earth-shattering news, the shortage of connecting rooms on the Magic Class has always been an issue. It's good that it's being addressed.