Ahoy!
Early this morning our newest cruise ship, the Disney Dream, finally arrived home to Florida’s Port Canaveral after sailing several thousand miles across the Atlantic Ocean.
For everyone on board – like me – it was an emotional moment to see hundreds of Disney cast members waving and cheering while fireworks burst above in the pre-dawn sky. A crowd of about 2,000 people turned out in the dark to see the ship pull in, which was a wonderful welcome.
The arrival of the Disney Dream in Florida marks the end of the ship’s nearly two-year construction journey and the start of an exciting new era for Disney Cruise Line guests, one that will send our existing ships on adventures to other parts of the world.
On Thursday, in fact, the Disney Wonder will depart for West Coast-based itineraries including the Mexican Riviera and our first-ever cruises to Alaska. This summer, the Disney Magic will return to Europe for visits to popular ports in Italy, France and Spain, plus stops in Tunis in northern Africa and the island nation of Malta.
During the trip home I had a chance to meet and talk with dozens of Disney Dream crew members, many of whom will be familiar faces to repeat guests who’ve sailed on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder over the past 12 years. Everyone is so excited to welcome the first passengers aboard later this month.
We all agree that as beautiful as the Disney Dream is, what’s been missing up to now are the Disney Cruise Line guests who’ll bring the ship to life with their smiles, laughter and enthusiasm. That’s what I’m looking forward to the most and I’m glad we’ll get to share it with you on the Disney Parks Blog.
In the meantime, before the ship can sail her maiden voyage on January 26th we have to christen her, right? It’ll be spectacular and I can’t wait to tell you what we’ve got planned. First I have to unpack, though.
It’s good to be home.
Comments
Made me tear up! Beautiful and wish I could have been there!
How fabulous. Can’t wait to sail. Disney does it right! Love the classic style of the ship and can’t wait to experience all the magical surprises in store for us 🙂
ALL I SAY IS—— WOW!!!! definitely a big welcome!!! we were on board the disney magic on her first meditterean sailing -i thought her welcome to barcelonia, spain amazing-but this DEFINITLY BEATS IT!!! Will be on board for maiden voyage Jan 26 and CAN’T WAIT TO SEE HER IN PERSON!!!! Also doing 3/4 back to back in Feb. 6 to 13th. HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THEN!!! KEEP CRUSIN”-
We’re going to be on the christening cruise and I am so incredibly excited about it! Great video, thanks for posting!
Emotional, wow – I didn’t expect that from a video of a ship sailing into port, that’s Disney for you! Wonderful video, amazing photos – I can’t wait to experience it for myself!
Welcome home!
~Karen P from NH
She looks awesome! Am counting down the days until January 26th. She is a Dream come true!
counting the days until our voyage on February 27– she sure is beautiful ! ! !
I can’t wait to board the ship on February 27th with 455 of my fellow WDWRadio cruisers!!!
Welcome Home Dream!!!
Lori
Can’t Wait!!!! We sail Feb. 2nd so so so excited, I have never taken a cruise before and to be able to go on a cruise ship that is a Disney Cruise Ship and it be a brand new ship is so AWESOME!!!!
I tried really hard to view the Port Canaveral webcam this AM but it just would not allow me 🙁 so I have had to settle for the videos being posted out on the web and I have to say I cannot not get enough of seeing the arrival of the Dream.
Those that were able to be on location and see the Dream arrive has seen an amazing moment of what great things Disney can do.
The Disney Dream looks like an absolutely stunning the ship! The restaurants, the new shows, the AquaDuck, and everything else seems fantastic. While I understand the reason for the look of the ship (and many people like it), it’s a shame the entire ship didn’t receive some redesign on it’s outside. From far away, it looks just like the Magic or Wonder, but enlarged a bit. I’m not complaining by any means, just a bit surprised that there wasn’t any change with it’s shell. Regardless, it looks amazing!
-Travis
Discussion Kingdom
First of all, Jonathan, I am incredibly jealous! How lucky are you to be a part of this! She looks absolutely beautiful and I can’t wait to see her in person. More pictures please!
Wow!!! just…Wow!!!
I am not a boat person! but i must say all this excitement and a very eager husband, perhaps my family and I will visit…in a few years. Welcome Home!
Welcome Home Jonathan!
Thank you for your time and dedication for keeping us all up-to-date on the progress and events of the Disney Dream since the beginning! You are very much appreciated and look forward to reading more 🙂
Welcome Home DREAM!!!
Can’t wait for the 26th. We will be sailing on the maiden voyage.
The ship is beautiful. Can’t wait for May 19th doing back to back 3/4 night cruises. Disney sure knows how to do it best!!!
What a welcome!! Followed Dream from the start and soon I will be on board!! The days ,for me, go by so quick and so it will not be long till I set sail on the Dream in April….
It’s beautiful!! It’s come so far, it seems like just yesterday it was beginning to be built! So much magic has gone into this ship! We are counting down the days until May 15th! 🙂 congratulations to everyone, the crew must be proud!
DEAR D.C.L.
I WAS ON COMPUTER 3:53 A.M. THIS DAY TO BEGIN TO TRACK THE DREAM TO PORT. FOUND HER JUST OFF COCOA BEACH AREA AND SAT GLUED TO LIVE CAM BY PORT CANAVERAL AND WAS IN AWE.
WHAT A HOMECOMING, THE COLORED LIGHTS IN THE AIR AS IF PIXIE DUST WAS FALLING, TUG BOAT WATER SALUTE, WAVE RUNNERS WITH BIRD KITES BEING PULLED THROUGH THE AIR, THE FIRE WORKS…………..IT WAS AWESOME AND TRUE DISNEY!
I WAS VERY THRILLED TO HEAR “YOUR SIGNATURE HORN, WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR” IT IS YOURS ALONE. KEEP IT PLEASE. THE CROWD JUST WENT WILD SO DOES THAT NOT TELL YOU?
SHE IS BIG, SHE IS BEAUTIFULL AND SPARKLES IN THE SUN AND OHHHHHHHH MY GOODNESSSSSSS…SHE SURE TAKES UP THE DOCK AND THEN SOME. 103 DAYS AND WE SAIL.
GOD SPEED DREAM AND MAY YOU HAVE ALL THE BEST OF VOYAGES. WELCOME HOME
CAROLE G.
FLORIDA
I simply can’t get enough of looking at this ship! We’re sailing on the maiden voyage as well…can’t wait to get to Port Canaveral and get that up close and personal look!!
SHE IS BEAUTIFUL HOPE TO SEE HER SOMEDAY!
What a gorgeous ship — I would love to take my kids on aboard this ship to they can dream again — see they just lost their father at the age of 44 to a massive heart attack and my poor son watch him die and my daughter was of course daddy’s little girl so both my children lost their dreams — we were suppose to do something DISNEY this year because we are such DISNEY FANS we had a “DISNEY NIGHT” every Friday night until my husband passed. Hopefully I will be able to take my kids on a trip on this gorgeous ship so that my children can start to heal and dream once again Thank you Disney for this Magical Ship DREAM BIG EVERYONE!!!!
I’m on the wait list for the DVC members only cruise in September. I’m thinking positive thoughts that my family will get on! Welcome Home! 🙂
When is the christening? We are going to WDW in a few weeks but staying at my grandparents condo in titusville a couple days before that….would be great if it was one of those days…would love to see it!
Can’t wait to sail March 6th on this beautiful ship….
The ship looks fantastic. Cannot wait until April 17th to be aboard.
I woke up at 3am so I could be at Jetty Park to see the Dream’s arrival. After watching her construction for the last year or so, finally seeing her in person was so spectacular! Thank you for making quite a show of the Dream’s arrival with the fireworks, glow-in-the-dark kites, and Mickey hands for us to wave! We can not wait to sail on her in May!
beautiful just beautiful we are just amazed with every update we see…come on Feb. 13th
Looking so forward to our trip on May 29th aboard Disney Dream….I am sooo excited…..cant wait!!!!!
Beautiful ship! I would love to go on a Disney cruise. They are too pricey for me. 🙁 I bet they are the ultimate!
Cannot wait. We set sail Feb. 13th. We have been on many cruises before but this will be our first Disney Cruise. It was so nice of Mickey to call the kids Christmas morning and tell them we were going.
That would really make our grandchildren happy and feel like kids again. Reading everyones posts so far that are going on it I am happy for you.
A dream come true thats all I can say….
I have to think positivee that some day my husband and I will be sprinkled with pixie dust and be able to take our first cruise together with our grandchildren. Can you imagin taking a crise on a beautiful Disney ship like this? WoW!
What a beauty. Welcome HOME Dream! We can’t wait to see the majesty in person, April 2011!
This is so exciting!!! I can’t wait to go on our wedding cruise!
Can’t wait for the 26th!! We’ve been on the maiden voyage for the Magic and Wonder … can’t wait for the Dream!!!
We are booked for the Fantasy as well ….. now just waiting for the WISH (seems like it would be a good name for the next ship!)
She is beautiful!!! Jeffrey, can anybody go the preview on the 21st? because I will love to go. thanks
We hope to attend the christening! I’ve been watching for any information on it on several Disney sites!!
Welcome Home Disney Dream!!
That is my new Dream…..My husband and I spent a wonderful week on the Disney Magic for our honeymoon in 2000. We even became popular on the cruise with others asking us to sign their memory books. We were chosen to play on the Disney version of the Newlywed game. We did terrible but we had so much fun and apparently were entertaining:) I’ve always want to do another Disney Cruise…..someday…until then I’ll keep Dreaming….
I was also at Jetty Park this morning. Were also going on the preview cruise on the 21st. We cant wait. All the kids keep talking about is geeting to see Stewie in the kids area again.
My husband and I plan on taking our 10th anniversary cruise on either the Dream or Fantasy in 2012. It can’t get here soon enough!!!
Looking forward to seeing her this Friday (1/7). Can’t wait for the Aqua Duck!!
OMG she sure is beautiful!! I would love to sail on her and check out the new Aqua Duck water coaster. Maybe this summer.. Does anyone know what her itenerary will be and for how many days??
it’s beautiful
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!! We can’t wait to see her in person this April!!!! Good luck on the Maiden Voyage in a couple weeks 🙂
I was one of the cast members at Jetty Park welcoming the Dream home. It was emotional for us as well. We could hear all of you cheering and see you waving back at us. The Dream is just so beautiful and majestic. I can’t wait to take my first cruise on her which happens to be on the 21st!!! Welcome home!
I cant wait!!!!!!!
Looking forward to seeing her in person on March 3rd!
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