DCL sailing out of So. Cal.--do you think it will ever happen?

[cantsitstill]

Don't even get me going!! We'd be on the maiden voyage and every year after!! Maybe twice a year if they had a 3 or 4 day!! A couple of days at Disneyland and then a few days on the Disney Cruise!!! I'm in!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mickeyhugger]

I'm from Texas, and even though we'd still have to pay for airfare, we'd love to go to the Mexican Riviera, and have been talking about Alaska, (but can't get excited yet about an Alaskan cruise because it's not Disney )

 

[KaitlinsMom]

I'm just waiting to see what the prices will be! Hope it is not like the 10 day Crhristmas cruise!

 

[disneylover5]

We were told it would be a 12 day cruise...so it will be expensive~!

 

[KaitlinsMom]

A twelve day cruise!!!

Maybe I could get a job working at the port!

 

[hayesktrm]

So, the 2005 sailing that so many of you are talking about would be a 10-12 day? Hopefully, they'll start doing shorter ones after that. We, too, would be going on it....a lot. It would be something that we could do last minute, too because we wouldn't have to worry about airfare and all those logistics. Just show up at the port and go! If anyone from DCL is reading this post, PLEEEAAASSSEEE add Los Angeles as a port. They might not have Castaway Cay, but I bet they could either buy a resort somewhere in Mexico or have some kind of association with one so that people could use the beach there.

 

[AnnMorin]

well the impression I got was that it was going to be an ongoing sailing from Ca. to the mexican riv. maybe the 12 day is the transisitional sailing to move the ship from the eastcoast to the west.

 

[disneylover5]

I was told this would all be clear this March...so not long to wait

 

[BWVPam]

No wonder they won't announce the 7 day sailings past May for 2005.

 

[KaitlinsMom]

Maybe I should hang out at Disneyland more and try and get some information from the CM's!!

 

[lotsofboys]

KaitlinsMom:

I've already tried that with no success, actually with the result of blank stares even from CM's we know! It is exciting to dream about though isn't it?

 

[jrabbit]

They could also build a new port....they've done it once they can do it again

Well actually, they didn't build the termial at Port Canaveral. They strong armed Florida into building it for them. To do the same in California would mean that they would have to armwrestle Arnold (the Terminator) I hope it happens, a few days at Walts Park, then on to the ship.

 

[Hygiene99]

We heard that Disney purchased Land that could be used for docking a ship in Caliifornia From a cast member ......
on a recent trip to Walt disney World......

 

[Robert and Kelley]

Our server on our recent cruise told us that the Magic is moving to California in 2005. I know he is far from upper management but he was very certain that the Magic is moving west.

 

[makaylee]

OH PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!

Our server on our recent cruise told us that the Magic is moving to California in 2005.

OH PLEASE!!!!!

 

[Otisp]

Gosh darn....I don't think I've been a sourpuss before (at least not on this board), but....

As a lifelong Californian, I've been there, done that with the "Mexican Riviera." Even though a Magic sailing out of L.A. would save us a ton of plane fare, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo (the usual stops on the 7-day cruises) just don't hold the same allure as Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and Castaway Cay (notice I didn't mention Key West). Now, I haven't actually been to GC and Coz, but there just seems like there is a lot more you can do in a single day in those places, than I remember being able to do in any of the MR ports (unless you enjoy bar-hopping with the kids in tow). We were really looking forward to doing a 7-day in summer '05, but I'm thinking we might put it off for a year if DCL decides to bring the Magic out here. (Man, I'm in a pissy mood tonight!)

 

[GenieDana]

Although for nostalgia, it would be "interesting" if Disney sailed from CA for the 50th - but it makes very little economic sense to do so:

Lost revenues from Port Canavereral and the terminal already there
Cost of building or leasing a CA terminal
- contracts with unions not present in FL for limited gig?
- suppliers of fuel (more $ in CA) groceries and equipment (all more $ in CA, and Disney still must maintain the FL capacity)
- Contracts with new ports of call
- hiring of a duplicate staff on West coast for a short-term gig?
- loss of sailing revenue (Caribbean is by far the busiest market)

No guarantee of passenger capacity - Port Canaveral is busiest cruise port in the world

If they did it at all, I could imagine back-to-back Panama crossing cruise(s) (going through the PC is expensive $$$ too) - to California and back doing the Mexican Riviera and perhaps other ports on the way there and back for the 50th with a 10-day itenerary.

Not until a 3rd ship enters the fleet will there be any real presence in CA.

 

[CamColt]

I just wish they would announce it and stop all this speculation. I have wanted forever to do the 7 day Western for our 10th anniversary which is of course 7/05. At this point I dont even care whether its the Western itinerary or not as long as it goes to warm tropical ports out of FL. Without knowing whats going on, Im stuck wondering whether I will be able to do that, or should I book a 4 day and settle for that(want to get early booking savings), or since I really had my heart set on a 7 day cruise for this, maybe scrap it all and go on another cruise line. I dont know.

I do find it hard to believe that they would leave Castaway Cay empty for another day a week. Just think of all those souveniers with the CC logo that would go unsold. Plus with them sailing full ships that time of year out of Florida, why chance it? I guess I have the "If it aint broke, dont fix it" attitude, but who knows what they are thinking.

JUST TELL US!!!!!

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by GenieDana
Although for nostalgia, it would be "interesting" if Disney sailed from CA for the 50th - but it makes very little economic sense to do so:

The Disney Magic will be temporarily repositioned to Southern California in summer 2005 only if Disney has a business case that makes economic sense — and I think that such a business case is very possible.

Let's consider the prices that DCL could charge if the Magic offers a repositioning cruise through the Panama Canal to Southern California in May 2005, a series of 3- and 4-night or 7-night cruises (or a combination) to Mexico, and a repositioning cruise back to Post Canaveral in the fall.

The Panama Canal cruises would take around two weeks each. They would probably occur in May and October when DCL normally must offer some of their lowest cruise rates to fill their Caribbean cruises. The Panama Canal cruises would be very attractive to those DCL repeat guests who are able to schedule 2-week vacations at those times.

The summer cruises out of Southern California would also benefit from the "supply and demand" situation. The supply of DCL cruises out of Southern California would be very limited. Such cruises would be likely to sell out at top prices.

There is a cruise ship infrastructure that DCL can leverage in Southern California — cruise terminals, food suppliers, and other support services. The crew of the Disney Magic would be the same regardless of whether the ship stays in Florida or temporarily goes to the West Coast.

Another part of the economic equation is that Disney could use the famed Disney PR skills to get significant media attention for DCL and Disneyland. As noted in this thread, July 17, 2005, will be the 50th anniversary of the opening of Disneyland. Such publicity could be worth millions.

One way or the other, Disney has almost certainly made a decesion about where the Magic will sail in summer 2005. I assume Disney is just waiting for the right time to make an announcement.

By the way, there have been various posts on this board discussing that all 2005 dates have been announced for the Disney Wonder, but that the Disney Magic cruises are only listed through May 2005. That, however, is really not strong evidence, given that the other major cruise lines also haven't announced 7-night cruises beyond May 2005.

 

[CAMICKEY]

If they did this, they would also probably do a repositioning cruise. Hmmm - Port Canaveral via the Panama Canal to Los Angeles. Sign me up. I'll have to ask them about this when I am on my Western cruise in May. Might even have to book it then if they have announced anything by then.