We received’t bury the lede: the Disney Treasure is our new favourite send within the DCL fleet, and we strongly suspect it’ll be a fan-favorite for Walt Disney International and Disneyland diehards. This overview of the most recent cruise send covers the nice and dangerous, and our giant image first impressions of its strengths and weaknesses.
For many who haven’t adopted our Disney Cruise Line protection, the Disney Want is my least favourite send. That’s the rapid predecessor to the Treasure, therefore the ‘worst to first’ subtitle to this overview. Our Disney Want Cruise Send Overview lined the explanations for this. Suffice to mention, that send garners robust reviews from passionate cruisers and first-timers, and shall be your favourite or least favourite send, with little heart floor.
Regardless of my in large part unfavourable first (and moment) impressions of the Disney Want, I sought after to present it an even shake and notice how my it in comparison to the Disney Treasure with each recent in my thoughts. So, we booked a Very Merrytime Cruise at the Disney Want proper earlier than environment sail at the Disney Treasure. Actually. We disembarked from our family members go back and forth at the Want proper earlier than embarking on a media preview crusing of the Disney Treasure. Those back-to-back sailings underscored simply what an evening and day distinction the 2 ships are for me.
In truth, I’m no longer certain I might’ve believed my very own recollection had we no longer finished those consecutive sailings. It is because, on paper, the 2 ships are very identical. The Disney Treasure is a Want-class send, and that’s in an instant obtrusive whenever you get started strolling round. The ships observe nearly equivalent blueprints–that means the scale, scale, format, and so on are just about equivalent. The buildings themselves are the similar, it’s how the similar canvases are used for various designs that makes the 2 stand to this point aside.
Accordingly, lots of the negatives of the Disney Want are baked into the Disney Treasure. Should you glance again on our lists protecting the “Absolute best of” and “Worst of” the Disney Want to peer what else we predict the brand new send will get proper and incorrect, you’ll discover a super quantity of overlap with the Disney Treasure.
The “Worst of” record, particularly, nonetheless resonates. Particularly, my court cases concerning the format, AquaMouse, grownup spaces, and focal point all ring true with the Disney Treasure. Should you disliked the format of the Want (as I do/did) and questioned whether or not it used to be designed by way of any individual who had by no means set foot on a cruise send (as I do/did), you’ll really feel in a similar fashion concerning the Treasure. Should you’re disillusioned by way of the excessive finish retail occupying high actual property within the Grand Corridor, that still will nonetheless observe. And so on.
The ones are actually the most important negatives and weaknesses of the Disney Treasure, and must no longer be glossed over. Then again, I’m no longer going to fixate on them right here, as I’ve already finished that with the Disney Want, and there’s not anything new so as to add. Whilst the Treasure’s format used to be most certainly set in stone earlier than comments amongst Want visitors used to be won, it will’ve been great if DCL no less than advanced wayfinding.
Delicate adjustments may just’ve been made to the Disney Treasure to reduce problems with the counterintuitive format, however I noticed no proof of that. The most important alternate, I suppose, is that cruises are in most cases longer aboard the Disney Treasure, so you’ve got extra time to get your bearings. However that is however relating to that not anything used to be actually finished to deal with those court cases–which aren’t distinctive to me–and worries me that the newly-announced roster of ships after the Want-class would possibly have those similar faults if Disney is someway happy with those layouts.
It’s however actually spectacular the stage to which the Disney Treasure overcomes its design deficiencies and isn’t merely the second-worst send within the Disney Cruise Line fleet. As a substitute, it’s my favourite because of the next highlights…
Grand Corridor
One among my greatest court cases concerning the Disney Want is its Grand Corridor. I in the past likened this house to Shanghai Disneyland, which has a superficial veneer of opulence and grandiosity, however that falls aside upon nearer inspection. It’s just like the cheesy, McMansion model of themed design slightly than the true factor.
The Grand Corridor at the Disney Want does no longer have the similar consideration to element, texture, or finishings because the legacy ships. It’s photogenic (debatably), however that’s no longer strengthened by way of the real ornamentation and craftsmanship. I’d take {that a} step additional and say there’s no actual sense of fashion, and simply rests at the “fort at the seas” thought of being regal…with out in truth being regal. There’s no there there.
You get the speculation. The Grand Corridor at the Disney Treasure stocks some not unusual bloodlines with the Want as a result of, once more, it’s structurally the similar. However as a substitute of a bland and uninteresting genre that reads as grandiose, the Imagineers at the back of the Disney Treasure wager giant and ambitious, and opted for a unconditionally other genre: Agrabah.
I’m no longer certain this glance will paintings for everybody, nevertheless it completely does for me. One of the crucial issues that I actually respect, in case it wasn’t transparent from the forgoing, is that the Grand Corridor within the Disney Treasure is distinct. It has a voice. A unique genre. It’s as though the designers heard the court cases concerning the Want and addressed them head-on.
On the center of the Grand Corridor is a life-size bronze statue of Aladdin, Princess Jasmine and Magic Carpet, proper on the base of the grand staircase (in conjunction with the magic lamp within reach). Surrounding this statue are extra main points which might be impressed by way of Aladdin and constitute the movie’s spirit of journey…and seek for treasure.
The Grand Corridor’s intricate carpet conjures up the fountain in Jasmine’s courtyard and likewise options animals you’ll see within the movie together with Aladdin’s mischievous monkey sidekick Abu, Jasmine’s birds, the golden scarab beetle, and extra. During pillars within the Grand Corridor, you’ll spot mosaic tiles. Those are carried over into different work of art that weave in combination this house with the remainder of the send. It appears large, and is a pointy distinction to the Want.
The inventive determination to attract from Agrabah for the Grand Corridor used to be a daring wager, reflecting much more of a departure from the legacy ships. On account of that, some longtime DCL lovers are sure to dislike it. Others would possibly no longer in finding it to their tastes. From my standpoint, it’s a large swing that appears large and likewise units the tone for the remainder of the send and the voyage to come back. This send isn’t the Want, and it’s transparent from the instant you step foot into that superb Grand Corridor.
Plaza de Coco
I like Arendelle: A Frozen Eating Journey, which is without doubt one of the Highlights of the Disney Want Cruise Send. I used to be reminded of this right through our fresh crusing, and the “royal engagement celebration” completely holds up. It has center, comedy, or even tradition authenticity. That Frozen dinner exhibit is arguably the most productive common rotational eating place aboard any Disney cruise send.
It’s “solely” arguably the most productive as a result of Plaza de Coco offers it fierce festival. In speaking to everybody else who sailed with us, all of them most well-liked Plaza de Coco. Possibly there’s some recency bias at play or Coco remains to be merely underrepresented on the parks, while there’s ‘Frozen Fatigue’ amongst many lovers. Or possibly I desire Frozen greater than maximum. (That final section is most certainly true–the continuing Frozen hate baffles me.)
Regardless of, Plaza de Coco is undeniably superior. It actually is like getting into the sector of Coco, entire with a sport of the Rivera’s Ofrenda and the Plaza de Santa Cecilia. The environment is textured, moody, and atmospheric–particularly at evening when the lighting fixtures actually shines, including an additional measurement and heat to the surroundings.
It’s severely an evening and day–or most likely day and evening–distinction to the purpose that I’d counsel looking for out the second one seating in case you’re cruising at a time of 12 months when the solar units early.
Plaza de Coco is ready 3 years after the occasions of the movie and that is obvious in seeing how Santa Cecilia and the Rivera family members have advanced. There’s an extended hallway that ends up in the principle eating room–similar to its Frozen counterpart–and a large number of storytelling and world-building is completed on this long hall. To the purpose that I’d counsel paying a discuss with to Plaza de Coco outdoor of your rotational eating when this space is full of other people.
On 7-night and longer cruises, Plaza de Coco provides 2 distinct nights of reside leisure, that includes loved characters, favourite songs, and reside performers. Each Plaza de Coco displays options Miguel being joined by way of Héctor and Mama Imelda and making a song the preferred Coco and Mexican songs. In reality, the entire enjoy is one section Coco and one section culturally unique leisure.
Our media cruise used to be 3-nights, right through which the second one dinner used to be introduced as a substitute of the primary. That featured Miguel reuniting together with his great-great-grandparents Hector and Mama Imelda. With the assistance of his magic guitar, he used to be transported to rejoice Dia de los Muertos—the Day of the Useless. It’s a party that may be powerfully emotional, however isn’t miserable or a somber instance. At its core, Dia de los Muertos is a party of lifestyles. It’s concerning the previous, but in addition the long run, and of the ones we adore–and protecting them alive in our hearts. It’s actually, actually smartly finished.
My solely unhappiness about Plaza de Coco used to be the meals. After listening to other people rave concerning the unique delicacies, we discovered our culinary enjoy to be underwhelming–it used to be the weakest rotational eating place for meals. Possibly we simply were given unfortunate or ordered poorly, however our foods have been reasonably bland and delicate and not more energetic than the exhibit.
Periscope Pub
I’m vulnerable to name Periscope Pub the hidden gem of the Disney Treasure, however just about everybody I talked to felt that approach about it. Can one thing that’s so loved in reality be a sleeper hit? I suppose we name that the Sanaa Paradox: one thing unequivocally well-liked by those that had been…however no longer many of us pass within the first position.
Periscope Pub is encouraged by way of 20,000 Leagues Below the Sea. Each the 1954 Walt Disney movie and the prestigious Disney Parks enchantment that used to be open at Walt Disney International from 1971 to 1994, and remains to be open to at the moment at Tokyo DisneySea, arguably essentially the most underrated enchantment there!
Visitors dive into the legendary depths of uncharted oceans amidst the submarine-styled interiors and try the watery international underneath thru an intriguing glass ceiling. There are results, props, and Easter eggs galore, to the purpose that this actually straddles the road between being an ordinary themed bar and a extra immersive enjoy just like the superlative Haunted Mansion Parlor.
As a part of a media preview, I had the danger to enjoy Periscope Pub earlier than the crowds arrived in its “natural” shape, which used to be outstanding. It used to be moody, serene and calming–I may just’ve grabbed my pc and labored in right here for hours. It’s extra refined and not more show-heavy than Haunted Mansion Parlor, which surely makes it extra conducive to dialog.
Thinking about how the vibe would alternate right through a sport (since that is necessarily the send’s major sports activities bar), I returned for a moment “analysis” discuss with to observe soccer. I used to be surprised at simply how smartly the ambience labored for that. It used to be like a decompressing agent for the high-energy and probably annoying enjoy of gazing tight soccer video games. If I ever win the lottery, that is what I need my mixture workplace and guy cave to be like!
Whilst Periscope Pub is a “no notes” spotlight and Haunted Mansion Parlor is the spotlight of the Disney Treasure, we discovered the entire send’s lounges to be upgrades over their Want opposite numbers. Scat Cat Front room is refined and can enchantment to non-Disney lovers and fanatics alike, although it will use extra cats. Skipper Society is an improve over the Bayou, although it might be extra funny story and detail-dense. Sarabi is awesome to Luna. HeiHei Cafe is captivating and quiet. Jade Cricket Café is any other sleeper select for us, and is without doubt one of the maximum calming spots at the send.
Story of Moana
Mockingly, the Story of Moana is no longer a “no notes” providing aboard the Disney Treasure, however regardless of that, it’s the most productive Broadway-style level exhibit on any Disney Cruise Line send and arguably the number 1 or #2 highest factor concerning the Disney Treasure.
I’m reticent to damage the rest about Story of Moana, as it’s highest that you just pass into this exhibit “chilly” in order that the wonder moments will seize your creativeness and sense of awe. For the reason that Moana has been watched for roughly 7 trillion hours on Disney+ (slight exaggeration), you’ve most certainly noticed the movie a time or ten. And so you recognize the tale. That’s high quality–this retelling will nonetheless go away you speechless and tug at your heartstrings on various events.
As you might be expecting, the songs from the movie are all right here and introduced in impressive style. “How A long way I’ll Pass” at all times impresses, however the scene-stealer here’s the DCL’s twist on Tamatoa belting out “Glossy.” The best way the tale is retold is in large part trustworthy to the unique, except for a heartfelt framing software and a few scenes and characters disregarded. (There’s no poultry or pigs.)
Casting for this exhibit is superlative, and it’s relatively transparent Disney Cruise Line put a large number of effort and expense into getting this proper. With one main exception. I actually hate singling out any performer, however Disney went in a “other route” with Maui…and it’s to begin with jarring. To every their very own, nevertheless it used to be too jarring for me. It sort of feels like they have been going with a Genie from Aladdin (the musical) however then didn’t absolutely decide to the bit. Fortunately, as a result of what little they tried falls flat. It’s additionally tonally at-odds with the scenes in an instant previous to Maui’s advent.
You get used to Maui after a scene, and the performer who performs him, like the remainder of the forged, is improbable. (I am getting that they couldn’t solid Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to fill this position nightly, however the remainder of the casting is pitch-perfect.) It’s a testomony to the entirety else concerning the Story of Moana that it manages to simply conquer this and nonetheless be a ten/10 manufacturing.
For me, Story of Moana surpasses the Good looks and the Beast, Tangled, and Frozen level displays, all of which can be very good. It’s additionally a ways higher than the only-okay Little Mermaid manufacturing at the Want. In my opinion, the Disney Treasure has the most productive lineup of Broadway-style level displays of any send within the fleet. I cherished Story of Moana such a lot that I might’ve surely watched it more than one instances if this have been a 7-night crusing and an encore have been introduced. Whats up Disney, there’s a large empty theater at DCA–this may be an unbelievable are compatible!
Coriander and Sage
Coriander and Sage are two new authentic characters created completely for the Disney Treasure. They’re nomadic adventurers who carry marvel and interest to the send’s Grand corridor, providing comedic aid, center, and emotion. They strike me as being storytellers within the spirit of One Thousand and One Nights.
Coriander and Sage be offering a number of family-friendly displays within the Grand Corridor, however their spotlight occurs in Sarabi, the place the “Select Properly” interactive Indiana Jones-themed level exhibit recounts the adventures of the mythical archaeologist in wacky style. Carried out with simply two actors, makeshift props, and target market enter, this exhibit is an absolute hoot.
That is going to sound like hyperbole, particularly since you almost certainly haven’t even heard of those storytellers although you’ve been studying different critiques of the Disney Treasure, however Coriander and Sage are the guts of the Disney Treasure. They’re the connective tissue that ties in combination the thematic throughlines at the Disney Treasure, and so they put a pleasant little bow on best of all of it on the finish of the voyage.
Common readers understand how I believe about atmospheric performers and streetmosphere, and Coriander and Sage are that genre of leisure–however the dynamic duo does a lot more heavy lifting. With their trunks packed stuffed with props and curiosities accumulated right through their travels, they inform stories that captivate visitors. During the voyage, they pop up with interactive studies, providing one of those intimate leisure this is participatory in nature and a ton of amusing.
The choices hosted by way of Coriander and Sage are decidedly low funds as contrasted with one thing like Story of Moana, however for the visitors who make an effort to prevent and get in at the act, it’s a ton of amusing. I wouldn’t be shocked if some households go away the Disney Treasure speaking about their studies with Coriander and Sage greater than anything. Disney is so large at those “little issues” that go away a long-lasting influence, and that is an exemplar of that. (Such a lot in order that I concern they’ll be the eventual sufferers of funds cuts, which might be an absolute disgrace.)
The Little Issues
In any case, a snappy nod to the Disney Treasure getting the little issues proper, or no less than, extra to my liking. The Disney Want already used to be my least-favorite send earlier than our Very Merrytime cruise, however something that caught out to me much more right through that crusing used to be a loss of effort in getting the little main points proper, or going the additional mile to offer a layer of design suitable to Disney. The Treasure rectifies this, and feels, relatively frankly, adore it had a larger funds. Or on the very least, like its funds used to be spent smarter.
Then there are the little annoyances at the Want. That is outdated guy yells at cloud subject material, however I simply really feel just like the Want is a tad tedious now and then. There’s artwork all through the send, for instance, that turns out much less about magic and whimsy and extra about creating a remark. The artwork aboard the Treasure, in contrast, could be beautiful idea items for Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room or a lavishly-done brand-new piece of Te Fiti. It’s all beautiful amusing, and on-theme.
Then there’s the Little Mermaid exhibit at the Want. In speaking to different lovers, the consensus is this exhibit is mediocre, to position it charitably, and the explanations for which might be laid naked when evaluating–or slightly, contrasting–it with Story of Moana. The set design is uninspired and rehashed, the costuming is sloppy, and the storytelling leaves one thing to be desired.
I don’t dislike the Little Mermaid by way of any stretch, nevertheless it’s underwhelming whilst you see what Disney is actually able to in Story of Moana. I do know the creators sought after to do one thing “other” with that retelling of the tale, however other isn’t at all times excellent–and the inventive alternatives, greater than anything, come throughout as lazy slightly than creative.
In the long run, that roughly underscores the diversities between the Disney Treasure and Want for me. Despite the fact that the bones are necessarily equivalent, and lots of the options and themed spaces also are clones (Worlds of Surprise, 1923, and many others.), the entire adjustments that have been made have been for the easier. Each and every unmarried one.
Giving Imagineers a moment likelihood at designing for any other new send led to studying from errors and hanging ahead significantly better concepts. There’s extra element, higher stylistic alternatives have been made, and the entirety that may be corrected or advanced upon from a design standpoint, used to be. The send itself is in large part iterative, because it’s nonetheless a part of the Want category, however that hugely undersells the diversities.
The extent of thoughtfulness that went into each side of the Disney Treasure’s design and programming shines thru, making for a cohesive product and enjoy from begin to end. Against this, the Disney Want is a thematic hodgepodge, just like the Disney+ house web page that highlights the (intended) highest and most well liked programming. Possibly that resonates extra with most of the people, providing broader and extra floor degree publicity to the emblem, nevertheless it moves me as rudderless and unfocused. For diehard Disney lovers–particularly of the theme parks–the Disney Treasure is to this point awesome to its predecessor that it’s truthfully onerous to imagine they’re sister ships.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you recall to mind the Disney Treasure? Should you’ve already set sail in this send, how does it evaluate so that you can the legacy ships or the Disney Want? Happy with the thematic focal point or design main points, or do you continue to want the way of the older ships? Ideas at the lounges, eating places, leisure, and many others? Does this have you ever extra excited for the Disney Treasure? Do you intend on reserving a cruise aboard this send, or are you looking ahead to extra fan comments–or offers? Do you compromise or disagree with our recommendation and overview? Any questions? Listening to comments about your studies is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas underneath within the feedback!
