We gained’t bury the lede: the Disney Treasure is our new favourite ship within the DCL fleet, and we strongly suspect it’ll be a fan-favorite for Walt Disney World and Disneyland diehards. This assessment of the most recent cruise ship covers the nice and dangerous, and our massive 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 ship. That’s the speedy predecessor to the Treasure, therefore the ‘worst to first’ subtitle to this assessment. Our Disney Want Cruise Ship Evaluation lined the explanations for this. Suffice to say, that ship garners robust opinions from passionate cruisers and first-timers, and can probably be your favourite or least favourite ship, with little center floor.
Regardless of my largely damaging first (and second) impressions of the Disney Want, I wished to present it a good shake and see how my it in comparison with the Disney Treasure with each contemporary in my thoughts. So, we booked a Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Want proper earlier than setting sail on the Disney Treasure. Actually. We disembarked from our household journey on the Want proper earlier than embarking on a media preview crusing of the Disney Treasure. These back-to-back sailings underscored simply what an evening and day distinction the 2 ships are for me.
Truthfully, I’m undecided I might’ve believed my very own recollection had we not carried out these consecutive sailings. It’s because, on paper, the 2 ships are very comparable. The Disney Treasure is a Want-class ship, and that’s instantly apparent when you begin strolling round. The ships observe nearly equivalent blueprints–which means the dimensions, scale, format, and so forth are practically equivalent. The buildings themselves are the identical, it’s how the identical canvases are used for various designs that makes the 2 stand up to now aside.
Accordingly, most of the negatives of the Disney Want are baked into the Disney Treasure. In case you look again on our lists protecting the “Better of” and “Worst of” the Disney Want to see what else we expect the brand new ship will get proper and unsuitable, you’ll discover a super quantity of overlap with the Disney Treasure.
The “Worst of” checklist, specifically, nonetheless resonates. Particularly, my complaints concerning the format, AquaMouse, grownup areas, and focus all ring true with the Disney Treasure. In case you disliked the format of the Want (as I do/did) and puzzled whether or not it was designed by somebody who had by no means set foot on a cruise ship (as I do/did), you’ll really feel equally concerning the Treasure. In case you’re disillusioned by the excessive finish retail occupying prime actual property within the Grand Corridor, that additionally will nonetheless apply. And so forth.
These are actually the most important negatives and weaknesses of the Disney Treasure, and shouldn’t be glossed over. Nonetheless, I’m not going to fixate on them right here, as I’ve already carried out that with the Disney Want, and there’s nothing new so as to add. Whereas the Treasure’s format was most likely set in stone earlier than suggestions amongst Want friends was acquired, it might’ve been good if DCL not less than improved wayfinding.
Delicate modifications may’ve been made to the Disney Treasure to attenuate points with the counterintuitive format, however I noticed no proof of that. The largest change, I suppose, is that cruises are typically longer aboard the Disney Treasure, so you will have extra time to get your bearings. However that is however regarding that nothing was actually carried out to handle these complaints–which aren’t distinctive to me–and worries me that the newly-announced roster of ships after the Want-class may need these similar faults if Disney is someway happy with these layouts.
It’s however actually spectacular the diploma to which the Disney Treasure overcomes its design deficiencies and isn’t merely the second-worst ship within the Disney Cruise Line fleet. As an alternative, it’s my favourite due to the next highlights…
Grand Corridor
Considered one of my largest complaints concerning the Disney Want is its Grand Corridor. I beforehand likened this area 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 moderately than the true factor.
The Grand Corridor on the Disney Want doesn’t have the identical consideration to element, texture, or finishings because the legacy ships. It’s photogenic (debatably), however that’s not bolstered by the precise ornamentation and craftsmanship. I’d take {that a} step additional and say there’s no actual sense of favor, and simply rests on the “fort on the seas” thought of being regal…with out truly being regal. There’s no there there.
You get the thought. The Grand Corridor on the Disney Treasure shares some widespread bloodlines with the Want as a result of, once more, it’s structurally the identical. However as a substitute of a bland and boring type that reads as grandiose, the Imagineers behind the Disney Treasure guess massive and daring, and opted for a very totally different type: Agrabah.
I’m undecided this look will work for everybody, however it completely does for me. One of many issues that I actually respect, in case it wasn’t clear from the forgoing, is that the Grand Corridor within the Disney Treasure is distinct. It has a voice. A singular type. It’s as if the designers heard the complaints concerning the Want and addressed them head-on.
On the coronary heart 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 (together with the magic lamp close by). Surrounding this statue are extra particulars which are impressed by Aladdin and signify the movie’s spirit of journey…and seek for treasure.
The Grand Corridor’s intricate carpet evokes 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. All through pillars within the Grand Corridor, you’ll spot mosaic tiles. These are carried over into different murals that weave collectively this area with the remainder of the ship. It seems nice, and is a pointy distinction to the Want.
The inventive choice to attract from Agrabah for the Grand Corridor was a daring guess, reflecting much more of a departure from the legacy ships. Due to that, some longtime DCL followers are certain to dislike it. Others won’t discover it to their tastes. From my perspective, it’s a giant swing that appears nice and likewise units the tone for the remainder of the ship and the voyage to return. This ship will not be the Want, and it’s clear from the second you step foot into that wonderful Grand Corridor.
Plaza de Coco
I like Arendelle: A Frozen Eating Journey, which is likely one of the Highlights of the Disney Want Cruise Ship. I used to be reminded of this throughout our latest crusing, and the “royal engagement occasion” completely holds up. It has coronary heart, comedy, and even tradition authenticity. That Frozen dinner present is arguably the very best common rotational restaurant aboard any Disney cruise ship.
It’s “solely” arguably the very best as a result of Plaza de Coco offers it fierce competitors. In speaking to everybody else who sailed with us, all of them most well-liked Plaza de Coco. Maybe there’s some recency bias at play or Coco remains to be merely underrepresented on the parks, whereas there’s ‘Frozen Fatigue’ amongst many followers. Or possibly I favor Frozen greater than most. (That final half might be true–the continuing Frozen hate baffles me.)
Regardless of, Plaza de Coco is undeniably superior. It truly is like entering into the world of Coco, full with a recreation of the Rivera’s Ofrenda and the Plaza de Santa Cecilia. The setting is textured, moody, and atmospheric–particularly at evening when the lighting actually shines, including an additional dimension and heat to the surroundings.
It’s significantly an evening and day–or maybe day and evening–distinction to the purpose that I’d advocate searching for out the second seating in case you’re cruising at a time of yr when the solar units early.
Plaza de Coco is about three years after the occasions of the movie and that is evident in seeing how Santa Cecilia and the Rivera household have advanced. There’s a protracted hallway that results in the primary eating room–identical to its Frozen counterpart–and a whole lot of storytelling and world-building is finished on this prolonged hall. To the purpose that I’d advocate paying a go to to Plaza de Coco exterior of your rotational eating when this space is full of individuals.
On 7-night and longer cruises, Plaza de Coco provides 2 distinct nights of dwell leisure, that includes beloved characters, favourite songs, and dwell performers. Each Plaza de Coco exhibits options Miguel being joined by Héctor and Mama Imelda and singing the most well-liked Coco and Mexican songs. The truth is, the entire expertise is one half Coco and one half culturally genuine leisure.
Our media cruise was 3-nights, throughout which the second dinner was offered as a substitute of the primary. That featured Miguel reuniting along with his great-great-grandparents Hector and Mama Imelda. With the assistance of his magic guitar, he was transported to rejoice Dia de los Muertos—the Day of the Useless. It’s a celebration that may be powerfully emotional, however isn’t miserable or a somber event. At its core, Dia de los Muertos is a celebration of life. It’s concerning the previous, but in addition the long run, and of these we love–and conserving them alive in our hearts. It’s actually, very well carried out.
My solely disappointment about Plaza de Coco was the meals. After listening to individuals rave concerning the genuine delicacies, we discovered our culinary expertise to be underwhelming–it was the weakest rotational restaurant for meals. Maybe we simply bought unfortunate or ordered poorly, however our meals had been pretty bland and delicate and fewer energetic than the present.
Periscope Pub
I’m inclined to name Periscope Pub the hidden gem of the Disney Treasure, however just about everybody I talked to felt that manner about it. Can one thing that’s so beloved actually be a sleeper hit? I suppose we name that the Sanaa Paradox: one thing unequivocally common with those that have been…however not many individuals go within the first place.
Periscope Pub is impressed by 20,000 Leagues Underneath the Sea. Each the 1954 Walt Disney movie and the celebrated Disney Parks attraction that was open at Walt Disney World from 1971 to 1994, and remains to be open to at the present time at Tokyo DisneySea, arguably essentially the most underrated attraction there!
Friends dive into the legendary depths of uncharted oceans amidst the submarine-styled interiors and try the watery world under by an intriguing glass ceiling. There are results, props, and Easter eggs galore, to the purpose that this actually straddles the road between being a traditional themed bar and a extra immersive expertise just like the superlative Haunted Mansion Parlor.
As a part of a media preview, I had the possibility to expertise Periscope Pub earlier than the crowds arrived in its “pure” kind, which was distinctive. It was moody, serene and calming–I may’ve grabbed my laptop computer and labored in right here for hours. It’s extra refined and fewer show-heavy than Haunted Mansion Parlor, which undoubtedly makes it extra conducive to dialog.
Interested by how the vibe would change throughout a sport (since that is basically the ship’s foremost sports activities bar), I returned for a second “analysis” go to to observe soccer. I used to be shocked at simply how properly the environment labored for that. It was like a decompressing agent for the high-energy and doubtlessly nerve-racking expertise of watching tight soccer video games. If I ever win the lottery, that is what I would like my mixture workplace and man cave to be like!
Whereas Periscope Pub is a “no notes” spotlight and Haunted Mansion Parlor is the spotlight of the Disney Treasure, we discovered all the ship’s lounges to be upgrades over their Want counterparts. Scat Cat Lounge is refined and can attraction to non-Disney followers and lovers alike, even when it may use extra cats. Skipper Society is an improve over the Bayou, even when it may very well be extra joke and detail-dense. Sarabi is superior to Luna. HeiHei Cafe is charming and quiet. Jade Cricket Café is one other sleeper choose for us, and is likely one of the most calming spots on the ship.
Story of Moana
Paradoxically, the Story of Moana is not a “no notes” providing aboard the Disney Treasure, however regardless of that, it’s the greatest Broadway-style stage present on any Disney Cruise Line ship and arguably the #1 or #2 smartest thing concerning the Disney Treasure.
I’m reticent to spoil something about Story of Moana, as a result of it’s greatest that you simply go into this present “chilly” in order that the shock moments will seize your creativeness and sense of awe. On condition that Moana has been watched for about 7 trillion hours on Disney+ (slight exaggeration), you’ve most likely seen the movie a time or ten. And so you recognize the story. That’s tremendous–this retelling will nonetheless go away you speechless and tug at your heartstrings on quite a lot of events.
As you’d count on, the songs from the movie are all right here and offered in spectacular trend. “How Far I’ll Go” all the time impresses, however the scene-stealer right here is the DCL’s twist on Tamatoa belting out “Shiny.” The way in which the story is retold is essentially devoted to the unique, excluding a heartfelt framing machine and a few scenes and characters omitted. (There’s no poultry or pigs.)
Casting for this present is superlative, and it’s fairly clear Disney Cruise Line put a whole lot of effort and expense into getting this proper. With one main exception. I actually hate singling out any performer, however Disney went in a “totally different route” with Maui…and it’s initially jarring. To every their very own, however it was too jarring for me. It looks like they had been going with a Genie from Aladdin (the musical) however then didn’t totally decide to the bit. Fortunately, as a result of what little they tried falls flat. It’s additionally tonally at-odds with the scenes instantly previous to Maui’s introduction.
You get used to Maui after a scene, and the performer who performs him, like the remainder of the solid, is incredible. (I get 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 all the pieces else concerning the Story of Moana that it manages to simply overcome this and nonetheless be a ten/10 manufacturing.
For me, Story of Moana surpasses the Magnificence and the Beast, Tangled, and Frozen stage exhibits, all of that are glorious. It’s additionally much better than the only-okay Little Mermaid manufacturing on the Want. In my opinion, the Disney Treasure has the very best lineup of Broadway-style stage exhibits of any ship within the fleet. I cherished Story of Moana a lot that I might’ve undoubtedly watched it a number of occasions if this had been a 7-night crusing and an encore had been offered. Hey Disney, there’s a giant empty theater at DCA–this is able to be a incredible match!
Coriander and Sage
Coriander and Sage are two new authentic characters created completely for the Disney Treasure. They’re nomadic adventurers who deliver marvel and curiosity to the ship’s Grand corridor, providing comedic aid, coronary heart, and emotion. They strike me as being storytellers within the spirit of One Thousand and One Nights.
Coriander and Sage supply a number of family-friendly exhibits within the Grand Corridor, however their spotlight occurs in Sarabi, the place the “Select Properly” interactive Indiana Jones-themed stage present recounts the adventures of the legendary archaeologist in wacky trend. Carried out with simply two actors, makeshift props, and viewers enter, this present is an absolute hoot.
That is going to sound like hyperbole, particularly because you most likely haven’t even heard of those storytellers even in case you’ve been studying different evaluations of the Disney Treasure, however Coriander and Sage are the guts of the Disney Treasure. They’re the connective tissue that ties collectively the thematic throughlines on the Disney Treasure, they usually put a pleasant little bow on prime of all of it on the finish of the voyage.
Common readers know the way I really feel about atmospheric performers and streetmosphere, and Coriander and Sage are that type of leisure–however the dynamic duo does rather more heavy lifting. With their trunks packed stuffed with props and curiosities collected throughout their travels, they inform tales that captivate friends. All through the voyage, they pop up with interactive experiences, providing a sort of intimate leisure that’s participatory in nature and a ton of enjoyable.
The choices hosted by Coriander and Sage are decidedly low price range as contrasted with one thing like Story of Moana, however for the friends who take the time to cease and get in on the act, it’s a ton of enjoyable. I wouldn’t be stunned if some households go away the Disney Treasure speaking about their experiences with Coriander and Sage greater than the rest. Disney is so nice at these “little issues” that go away an enduring impression, and that is an exemplar of that. (A lot in order that I concern they’ll be the eventual victims of price range cuts, which might be an absolute disgrace.)
The Little Issues
Lastly, a fast nod to the Disney Treasure getting the little issues proper, or not less than, extra to my liking. The Disney Want already was my least-favorite ship earlier than our Very Merrytime cruise, however one factor that caught out to me much more throughout that crusing was an absence of effort in getting the little particulars proper, or going the additional mile to offer a layer of design applicable to Disney. The Treasure rectifies this, and feels, fairly frankly, prefer it had an even bigger price range. Or on the very least, like its price range was spent smarter.
Then there are the little annoyances on the Want. That is outdated man yells at cloud materials, however I simply really feel just like the Want is a tad tedious at occasions. There’s artwork all through the ship, for instance, that appears much less about magic and whimsy and extra about making an announcement. The artwork aboard the Treasure, against this, is likely to be attractive idea items for Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room or a lavishly-done brand-new piece of Te Fiti. It’s all attractive enjoyable, and on-theme.
Then there’s the Little Mermaid present on the Want. In speaking to different followers, the consensus is that this present is mediocre, to place it charitably, and the explanations for which are laid naked when evaluating–or moderately, 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 any stretch, however it’s underwhelming while you see what Disney is absolutely able to in Story of Moana. I do know the creators wished to do one thing “totally different” with that retelling of the story, however totally different isn’t all the time good–and the inventive selections, greater than the rest, come throughout as lazy moderately than ingenious.
Finally, that sort of underscores the variations between the Disney Treasure and Want for me. Although the bones are basically equivalent, and most of the options and themed areas are additionally clones (Worlds of Marvel, 1923, and so forth.), all the modifications that had been made had been for the higher. Each single one.
Giving Imagineers a second probability at designing for one more new ship resulted in studying from errors and placing ahead a lot better concepts. There’s extra element, higher stylistic selections had been made, and all the pieces that may very well be corrected or improved upon from a design perspective, was. The ship itself is essentially iterative, because it’s nonetheless a part of the Want class, however that massively undersells the variations.
The extent of thoughtfulness that went into each side of the Disney Treasure’s design and programming shines by, making for a cohesive product and expertise from begin to end. In contrast, the Disney Want is a thematic hodgepodge, just like the Disney+ residence web page that highlights the (supposed) greatest and hottest programming. Maybe that resonates extra with most of the people, providing broader and extra floor stage publicity to the model, however it strikes me as rudderless and unfocused. For diehard Disney followers–particularly of the theme parks–the Disney Treasure is up to now superior to its predecessor that it’s truthfully onerous to imagine they’re sister ships.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the Disney Treasure? In case you’ve already set sail on this ship, how does it examine so that you can the legacy ships or the Disney Want? Happy with the thematic focus or design particulars, or do you continue to choose the type of the older ships? Ideas on the lounges, eating places, leisure, and so forth? Does this have you ever extra excited for the Disney Treasure? Do you intend on reserving a cruise aboard this ship, or are you awaiting extra fan suggestions–or offers? Do you agree or disagree with our recommendation and evaluation? Any questions? Listening to suggestions about your experiences is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
