Disney Cruise Line and Mystic Manor

MouseStation 358 – Disney Cruise Line and Mystic Manor

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Show run time 0:32:36

On today’s show, Steven Ng brings us interviews from the D23 Expo on what’s coming from the Disney Cruise Line and the new Mystic Manor coming to Hong Kong Disneyland.

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Feature: Disney Cruise Line and Mystic Manor

Steven Ng brings us interviews from the D23 Expo on what’s coming from the Disney Cruise Line and the new Mystic Manor coming to Hong Kong Disneyland.

Jason Lasecki: What’s happening at Disney Cruise Line

The Disney Wonder will be relocating to the West Coast for entire year of 2011. It’ll be sailing from Los Angeles/San Pedro to the Mexican Riviera for most of the year, plus it’ll be making its first-ever Alaskan voyages during the summer months. It’ll make 18 7-night cruises out of Vancouver to Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and the Tracy Arm fjord. At this time, the Wonder will use existing facilities in San Pedro rather than building a separate terminal as in Port Canaveral. Disney chose the Wonder because it’s time to put the Wonder in the spotlight a little bit. The Wonder just came out of drydock to prepare for Alaska. We ran photos of the new enclosed viewing area of Outlook Cafe, which will be above Cove Cafe, in Monday’s Walt Disney World Resort Update.

The Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy will debut in 2011 and 2012, respectively, On August 26, the keel was laid for the Dream, signifying the true start of construction. In all, 80 giant blocks will be welded together to make the 128,000 ton vessel. Jason noted that they will be unveiling details of the guest experience aboard the Dream at a press conference at the end of October; that press conference will actually be held later today, at 4:15 p.m. EDT. You can access a webcast of that press conference here. The Dream and Fantasy will be based in Port Canaveral, and in 2011 the Disney Magic will go Transatlantic to cruise the Mediterranean for the summer. In fact, Disney will be able to do the Alaska cruise thanks to the flexibility offered by the Dream coming online

The Castaway Club, DCL’s frequent cruiser program, will be creating tiers based on the number of cruises taken instead of the number of days sailed due to member requests. They’ll be adding benefits in addition to tiering the program. Gold or Platinum members will get an extra week in advance to book new itineraries.

Imagineers Mark Schirmer and Dustin Schofield: Hong Kong Disneyland’s new Mystic Manor

One of the three exhibits slated for Hong Kong Disneyland (a Grizzly coaster and Toys Land are the others), Mystic Manor is Hong Kong Disneyland’s version of the Haunted Mansion. It’s designed for the Hong Kong public, as ghosts don’t resonate with them quite as well. The year in Mystic Manor is 1908. Lord Henry Mystic is an eclectic adventurer/explorer who is in a society with Harrison Hightower (from Tokyo Disney Sea’s Tower of Terror), and he has constructed a Victorian home on a remote jungle hilltop. Mystic has declared that anyone who makes the journey to the remote location is welcome to enter and enjoy his collection and his hospitality. When you enter, an animatronic Mystic pops out and welcomes you, then shows you his latest find, a music box. He also introduces Albert, his monkey companion). Of course, as with all great attractions, Things Go Horribly Wrong and you complete your tour of the manor as the place comes alive around you.

The Imagineers are excited about creating all of the different types of artwork involved in the project. The attraction appears to be a similar concept as the Adventurers Club; it took inspiration from from the Pleasure Island club, but is not directly related (though rumors say that some of the decor from the Club will end up in the attraction).

The attraction uses a trackless, wire-guided ride system, with the vehicles designed to look like turn of the century electric vehicles. The vehicles are “constant run” but can be stopped for static scenes. The attraction will be designed so that it can be a little different each time you ride.

What do you think? Let us know by sending us an email or calling our toll-free feedback line (1-866-939-2278)!

Twitter/Facebook poll questions

Here are the responses to some questions that Mark was asking on Twitter and Facebook in the last week. If you’d like to get in on answering these questions in the future, you can follow Mark on Twitter or friend him on Facebook.

What’s your favorite SINGLE thing (i.e. “MNSSHP”=no; “Boo to You” or “HalloWishes”=yes) about Halloween season at the parks?

• Haunted Mansion Holiday at DL!
• I love the fall colors, oranges and yellows. All the pumpkins. And that headless horseman too!!
• Dressing up and being mistaken as a Disney CM.
• ^what he said. 🙂
• Definately the Boo to You parade…although I’ve only lived it through utube…
• Favorite = HalloWishes. It’s awesome. The Boo to You parade music takes honorable mention, though.
• HalloWishes!
• MNSSHP by next year they’ll have 50 parties.
• All the clever decorations.
• Just saw a special about Knotts Berry Farm where they claim that 50% of their annual profits can be traced directly to their Halloween activities. So the prediction about MNSSHP may not be that far off. 🙂
• I’ve never been, but it’s in the plans. I’ve heard the track for Hallowishes and it sounds fantastic! Also, like at Christmas, I would want to look at every decoration I possibly could LOL!
• I say Boo to You. Most definitely.
• If the Halloween decor counts, that’s mine. I love it! Otherwise, I don’t know because I’ve never been to MNSSHP.
• Boo To You parade. Headless horseman is wicked awesome.
• Haunted Mansion Holiday. This year closely followed by Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy.
• I’d have to say….nothing. I wouldn’t care if it was all skipped
• Boo to You for sure. Such a great parade!!!
• remember the villans mix and mingle back in 05? Fantastic
• boo parade!
• The Boo to You song that plays during the halloween party and parade!
• Boo To You — I love parades, and don’t really like the booms of fireworks
• Favorite single thing about Halloween season at the Disney Parks is that the Christmas season is close at hand! Joy to the World!

What do you think?

Again, if you’d like to get in on answering these questions in the future, you can follow Mark on Twitter or friend him on Facebook.

Wrapping up

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Thanks to our audio engineer and sound editor Steven Ng and to announcer Andrew Rich.

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