New Stories Come to Life for Kids on the Re-imagined Disney Magic

Now that Disney cruisers are calling the re-imagined Disney Magic their home-away-from-home on tropical getaways from Miami, we’ll be taking a look at what guests love most about the ship’s transformation over the next couple of weeks.

Some of the most dramatic enhancements on the ship are to the areas just for kids, leaving many grown-ups (including me) a bit envious! Parents will have a chance to check out these spaces during Open House on their cruise, but first I’ll give you my own virtual tour of the transformed youth spaces, starting today with Disney’s Oceaneer Club.

A bright, open area, perfect for group play and special activities, is the entry point for kids before they are transported to a magical realm of their choice. Giant storybook facades line the walls, marking the adventures and stories they can join.

Mickey Mouse Club is inspired by a new series of two-dimensional short cartoons that borrow from the style of Mickey Mouse’s character in the 1930s and place the world’s most famous mouse in contemporary settings like Paris, New York, Tokyo and Venice. Designed for the younger ones, kids can create crafts on ear-shaped tables, play with wacky, magnetic spinning gears (known as Goofy Gears) and enjoy a pixie-dusted version of the classic kids memory challenge, Mickey’s Memory Match Game.

Themed to another favorite, classic Disney character, Pixie Hollow is an enchanted land where Tinker Bell and her fairy friends live. In this magical forest setting, tree branches wind their way around the space and Tinker Bell’s teapot house serves as a closet filled with fanciful costumes for dress up. Here kids can make crafts while sitting on stools shaped like mushrooms and acorns or play on computers shrouded in tree branches.

The stars of the Disney•Pixar “Toy Story” film trilogy come to life in Andy’s Room, a multi-level activity area stocked with Andy’s favorite toys. Kids, who feel toy-sized themselves in this space, can craft their own Mr. Potato Head creation and put larger-than-life sized coins in the “Toy Story” piggy bank, Hamm. Or they can climb the stairs to the top of Andy’s bed and take the super-fun Slinky Dog slide back down.

And finally, the all-new space guests have been talking about most, Marvel’s Avengers Academy transports young crime-fighters to a secret S.H.I.E.L.D. base (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division) — a technologically advanced remote command post used by Marvel’s The Avengers for special missions and operations training. There’s no shortage of high-tech fun here with special lighting, audio effects, computer stations and a giant video wall to assist in the multi-day “training” and super hero missions.

The addition of Marvel’s Avengers Academy marks the first time Marvel Super Heroes have been introduced on a Disney Cruise Line ship, so I know many of you are looking forward to hearing about the epic experiences for kids taking place. Check back next week to find out more, and let me know in the comments how excited your little cruisers are to be transported to the Marvel Universe on the re-imagined Disney Magic.

Keep an eye on the Disney Parks Blog and Disney Cruise Line Facebook page, and follow @DisneyCruise on Twitter for all of the exciting updates about the Disney Magic’s transformation! While you’re on Twitter, join in the conversation by using the hashtag #DisneyMagic.

New Stories Come to Life for Kids on the Re-imagined Disney Magic by Jonathan Frontado: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog