disneyfan73
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2004
I know this may not be new news ... but I think it may be the first time that Disney has stated it publicly.
"We have the designs for the new ship," Walt Disney World President Al Weiss said. "It's just a matter of waiting for a favorable exchange rate."
Here is the link to news story....
www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/moneystoryMAIN0203DISNEY1.htm
Feb 2, 9:10 PM
3rd Disney ship on the drawing board
BY DONNA BALANCIA
FLORIDA TODAY
ORLANDO -- Disney Cruise Line is expected to play an increasingly important role at The Walt Disney Co., company executives said Wednesday.
The Walt Disney Company president and COO, Bob Iger, left, along with Walt Disney World president, Al Weiss, center, and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts president, Jay Rasulo, address Central Florida community leaders during a breakfast presentation Wednesday in Lake Buena Vista. Image by AP
That includes a third cruise ship to add to the Disney fleet that now includes the Magic and the Wonder, both based at Port Canaveral.
"We have the designs for the new ship," Walt Disney World President Al Weiss said. "It's just a matter of waiting for a favorable exchange rate."
One of the three ships likely would be based in California.
Most large cruise ships are built in Europe, and with the dollar's weakness against the euro, Weiss said now is not the best time to be buying a ship. Weiss and other high-ranking Disney officials were in Orlando on Wednesday to meet with Central Florida business leaders.
The cruise industry is a vital component of a $1 billion-a-year tourism industry in Brevard County. Disney Cruise Line has about 3,000 employees on the ships, at Port Canaveral and in the Orlando area. Disney -- which employs about 54,000 people at its Orlando-area attractions -- is Central Florida's largest employer.
As Disney prepares for the 50th anniversary of Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., all theme parks and properties will get an infusion of new attractions or features. As part of the 18-month-long anniversary celebration, the Disney Magic will be deployed to the Port of Los Angeles from May through September and will offer seven-day voyages through the Mexican Riviera.
It is a dry run for putting another ship into action. The company's projections for success are so high, the only thing that's keeping them from adding a ship right now is money.
Weiss said the cruise ships combine the best of all worlds, because of the "immersion" of the visitor into the full Disney experience.
"The ships are where we experience the highest customer satisfaction," he said. "The visitors get a chance to have total immersion in the Disney experience. The children can experience the great Disney programs, and the cruises are great for families."
On May 14, the Disney Magic will depart from Port Canaveral on a 14-day "repositioning cruise" to the Port of Los Angeles at San Pedro. It will make port-of-call stops in the Bahamas, Curacao, Acapulco, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. Beginning May 28, and ending in August, Magic will sail seven-night trips from California to Mexican ports of call. Then, the Magic will offer another 14-day repositioning cruise, returning to Port Canaveral Sept. 3.
Lou Liebig, a self-proclaimed "Disney freak" from Suntree, said he and his wife are taking a seven-day Disney cruise from California to Mexico.
"We love the cruises," Liebig said. "We've been on all the different legs they have available. We knew they were going to offer these cruises in California, so my wife and I decided to go."
It's repeat customers like the Liebig family that the cruise line depends on.
Travel representative Adrienne Anderson of Gadabout Travel said she anticipated similar deals to what the company offers in Florida.
"They're probably going to offer land-and-sea packages," she said. "Cruises are a great value. You unpack once but visit multiple destinations."
Analysts say it is worth the wait, rather than investing the possibly hundreds of millions of dollars into one ship now.
"It's no surprise Disney is moving ships around," said Marilyn Green, cruise editor of Travel Trade magazine of New York City. "The gap between the euro and the dollar is pretty daunting. If you go to London, your lunch money goes on a cup of coffee. That gives you an idea of how crucial it is the company to conserve. Disney's ships in general have been quite expensive because of the bells and whistles. Clearly, they haven't gotten the deal they want yet. That's why they're moving ships around, rather than adding one."
Contact Balancia at 242-3647 or dbalancia@flatoday.net
"We have the designs for the new ship," Walt Disney World President Al Weiss said. "It's just a matter of waiting for a favorable exchange rate."
Here is the link to news story....
www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/moneystoryMAIN0203DISNEY1.htm
Feb 2, 9:10 PM
3rd Disney ship on the drawing board
BY DONNA BALANCIA
FLORIDA TODAY
ORLANDO -- Disney Cruise Line is expected to play an increasingly important role at The Walt Disney Co., company executives said Wednesday.
The Walt Disney Company president and COO, Bob Iger, left, along with Walt Disney World president, Al Weiss, center, and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts president, Jay Rasulo, address Central Florida community leaders during a breakfast presentation Wednesday in Lake Buena Vista. Image by AP
That includes a third cruise ship to add to the Disney fleet that now includes the Magic and the Wonder, both based at Port Canaveral.
"We have the designs for the new ship," Walt Disney World President Al Weiss said. "It's just a matter of waiting for a favorable exchange rate."
One of the three ships likely would be based in California.
Most large cruise ships are built in Europe, and with the dollar's weakness against the euro, Weiss said now is not the best time to be buying a ship. Weiss and other high-ranking Disney officials were in Orlando on Wednesday to meet with Central Florida business leaders.
The cruise industry is a vital component of a $1 billion-a-year tourism industry in Brevard County. Disney Cruise Line has about 3,000 employees on the ships, at Port Canaveral and in the Orlando area. Disney -- which employs about 54,000 people at its Orlando-area attractions -- is Central Florida's largest employer.
As Disney prepares for the 50th anniversary of Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., all theme parks and properties will get an infusion of new attractions or features. As part of the 18-month-long anniversary celebration, the Disney Magic will be deployed to the Port of Los Angeles from May through September and will offer seven-day voyages through the Mexican Riviera.
It is a dry run for putting another ship into action. The company's projections for success are so high, the only thing that's keeping them from adding a ship right now is money.
Weiss said the cruise ships combine the best of all worlds, because of the "immersion" of the visitor into the full Disney experience.
"The ships are where we experience the highest customer satisfaction," he said. "The visitors get a chance to have total immersion in the Disney experience. The children can experience the great Disney programs, and the cruises are great for families."
On May 14, the Disney Magic will depart from Port Canaveral on a 14-day "repositioning cruise" to the Port of Los Angeles at San Pedro. It will make port-of-call stops in the Bahamas, Curacao, Acapulco, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. Beginning May 28, and ending in August, Magic will sail seven-night trips from California to Mexican ports of call. Then, the Magic will offer another 14-day repositioning cruise, returning to Port Canaveral Sept. 3.
Lou Liebig, a self-proclaimed "Disney freak" from Suntree, said he and his wife are taking a seven-day Disney cruise from California to Mexico.
"We love the cruises," Liebig said. "We've been on all the different legs they have available. We knew they were going to offer these cruises in California, so my wife and I decided to go."
It's repeat customers like the Liebig family that the cruise line depends on.
Travel representative Adrienne Anderson of Gadabout Travel said she anticipated similar deals to what the company offers in Florida.
"They're probably going to offer land-and-sea packages," she said. "Cruises are a great value. You unpack once but visit multiple destinations."
Analysts say it is worth the wait, rather than investing the possibly hundreds of millions of dollars into one ship now.
"It's no surprise Disney is moving ships around," said Marilyn Green, cruise editor of Travel Trade magazine of New York City. "The gap between the euro and the dollar is pretty daunting. If you go to London, your lunch money goes on a cup of coffee. That gives you an idea of how crucial it is the company to conserve. Disney's ships in general have been quite expensive because of the bells and whistles. Clearly, they haven't gotten the deal they want yet. That's why they're moving ships around, rather than adding one."
Contact Balancia at 242-3647 or dbalancia@flatoday.net
how Carnival and Norwegian both have ships named Spirit??
