The
Disney Wonder will go into drydock in October for a multi-million
dollar refurbishment, Disney Cruise Line said, with a focus on its
pool areas. It will return to service on Oct. 15.
Additions are planned
for the Mickey Pool, the Goofy Pool, and the adult-only Quiet Cove
pool, Disney said. Modifications also will be made to the onboard
conference rooms, the Vista Spa and Salon and the youth activity
areas.
Some renovations will
be made with toddlers in mind, Disney said, such as an extension to
the Mickey Pool on Deck 9 designed specifically for children not
yet toilet trained and still in swim diapers. Designed to be
reminiscent of Mickey's sorcerer hat, the 385-square-foot toddler
water-play pool will feature star- and moon-shaped interactive
fountains and splash zones.
For older children,
the Oceaneer Lab for kids ages 8 to 12, will be equipped with a new
computer simulator to enable children to see what it's like to
steer the Disney Wonder in and out of various ports of call, Disney
said. The simulator is built into a replica of the ship's bridge,
with giant video screens that provide a panoramic view of the ports
that are similar to the view from the actual ship's
bridge.
The Oceaneer Club for
kids ages 3 to 7 will expand on its Neverland theme and revamp the
Captain's Closet dress-up area, creating more space for hands-on,
interactive activities for the children, along with additional
PlayStation and computer stations for individual play, the cruise
line said.
The Disney Wonder
will also get a jumbo, 336-quare-foot LED screen affixed to the
forward funnel on Deck 9 for viewing outdoor movies and major TV
and sporting events at the Goofy Pool (family pool
area).
According to Disney,
the Quiet Cove adults-only pool will undergo a makeover to make it
more upscale, with the addition waterfalls to its two hot tubs and
a teak deck and lounge chairs lining the pool area. The Quiet Cove
area will be designed to feel like an outdoor extension of the
Vista Spa, Disney said.
At the Vista Spa and
Salon, meanwhile, the expansion includes three spa villas with an
indoor spa treatment suite connected to a private, outdoor verandah
with personal hot tub, an open-air shower and a chaise
lounge.
The fitness center
will double in size, increasing by 1,700 square feet, bringing the
total size of the Vista Spa and Salon to 10,700 square feet. This
will provide space for more exercise equipment, an area for
spinning classes and private salons for Pilates instruction and
one-on-one beauty and fitness consultations, Disney
said.
During this round of
refurbishments, business travelers were kept in mind with
transformations to the Peter Pan, Fantasia and Steamboat Willie
conference rooms on Deck 2.
Each room will be
refurbished with warm wood tones mixed with Disney nostalgia and
state-of-the-art business presentation tools, complete with LED
flat-screen TVs, Disney said. The meetings space will also host a
business center, individual computer stations and a refreshment
bar, and there will be additional Wi-Fi Internet stations inside
Cove Cafe, located on Deck 9.
The refurbishment
will be done at the Norshipco ship yard in Norfolk, Va.
To
contact reporter Johanna Jainchill, send e-mail to [email protected].