A Real Dive

As the story goes, a small harbor was cut off from the sea in the big storm that created Typhoon Lagoon, trapping an overturned boat and thousands of tropical fish... along with a few sharks. Today, this little corner of the village has become known as Shark Reef.

Hammerhead Fred's Dive Shop has anything would-be explorers might need to check out the sea life on the reef. There are lots of great details in and around the shop, along with plenty of humor. The dimensional marquee for Hammerhead Fred's is a riot, with the shark sculpture outfitted with dual dive masks.

Also hanging nearby is a crate bound for Acme Taxidermy in Dearborn, Michigan, but it looks like the sawfish specimen inside is too large for the box. The sawfish's toothy snout has busted right through the front.

Whether native to the area or not, many such species (and large examples at that) were deposited in the waters around Typhoon Lagoon as a result of the storm. This pair of jaws from a Sharkus Gigantus were found washed up on the beach. (Sharkus Gigantus is fictional, but not far off from the scale of the Megalodon, a giant prehistoric shark.)

The wall of the dive shop displays a whole collection of shark jaws, including those of a Great White, Tiger Shark and Bull Shark reportedly found in the area. There's even a lone tooth attributed to "the BIG one that got away..." "almost caught in the catch basin of Humunga Cowabunga." That one's estimated to have been 25-30 feet long, but you know how fish tales go.

With all the sharks sighted in the area, it's a wonder anyone would actually want to get in the water. Then again, that's part of the thrill. (Actually, the sharks found in Shark Reef are relatively small and well-fed by the Animal Programs team, so there's no real risk for the snorkeling Guests.)

The slightly less adventurous can climb down into the hull of the overturned ship in the middle of the reef for a look out the portholes at the undersea environment.

It's a beautiful site, filled with tropical fish, rays and sharks (it's hard to make out, but there's a shark in the upper left portion of the photo below). The animals here are real and cared for by some of the same Cast Members who look after the collection at The Seas with Nemo & Friends. While opportunities exist for a qualified few to dive the tank at Epcot, Shark Reef gives every Guest the chance to swim with the fishes.

The Gator. The Myth. The Legend.

Lagoona Gator is a surfing legend around Typhoon Lagoon. No one else can "hang eight" like he can!

When Disney's third water park, Blizzard Beach (the now-closed River Country was first), opened in 1996, it came with a bit of mythology about a cartoon critter named Ice Gator. Ice Gator was so popular (and ripe with merchandise potential), a similar character was developed for inclusion at Typhoon Lagoon. For a period in the late-90s, Guests at the park could even meet Lagoona Gator in person. Today, he's typically "Gone Surfin'," but plenty of references to him can still be found.

Lagoona's main hangout is the Board Room, under the clock tower at the beach. There are a few details on the outside of this old shack, like the oars standing in for the hands of the clock and the diving gator carved into the tiki totem on the porch, but the really fun stuff is tucked inside.

Here, we discover Lagoona Gator's home, complete with makeshift kitchen and hammock. Notice the issue of Surfin Reptile magazine hanging on the wall. It's the one with Cathy Cayman on the cover. Main squeeze? Or dream girl? In either case, Lagoona has his guitar ready to serenade her should she swing by.

Lagoona is a bit of a celebrity himself. The newest issue of Surfin' Reptile is on the table, this one featuring Lagoona riding a pretty massive swell. Look around, and you'll also spot posters recalling Lagoona's glory days, like when he was part of the Beach Gators... "They're so cold blooded, they're hot!"

Lagoona was even a movie star, with roles in such classic films as Bikini Beach Blanket Muscle Party Bingo! Look closely at the poster for this one. It's full of sly references. "Starring Lagoona Gator as Freddie & Annette Crocochello as Bee Bee" is a nod to the Beach Party films Mouseketeer Annette Funicello did with Frankie Avalon after her work with Disney. In those movies, she played Dee Dee to his Frankie. "Bobcat Shaw as Braindead, Sandra Deer as Idjit & Troy Greeno'hue as Moonfroggie" are further references to this film genre.

That's not all. There are also some Hidden Disney references here. Swampywood Records recalls Hollywood Records, a Disney-owned music label. The credits on the poster refer to Imagineers who worked on the Lagoona Gator enhancements to the park. There's Ron Scaly (former Imagineering Show Producer Ron Chesley), Croc Buzoo (Artist and Art Director Chuck Ballew) and Cayman Lafferty (Senior Show Writer Kevin Rafferty).

Extreme Makeover: Storm Edition

"A furious storm once roared 'cross the sea,

catching ships in its path, helpless to flee.

Instead of a certain and watery doom,

the winds swept them here to Typhoon Lagoon."

Throughout Typhoon Lagoon, you can find evidence of the great storm, from businesses rebuilt from the wreckage to the Miss Tilly marooned atop the peak of the volcanic Mt. Mayday.

The main entrance of the park is cobbled together from bits and pieces of lost ships. There's the mast and sail forming the marquee and a collection of wheelhouses and cabins for ticket booths. Strung across the threshold is a row of nautical flags. The observant may note that they've been arranged to spell out "WELCOME TO TYPHOON LAGOON."

Nestled along the shores of the sparkling lagoon is a tiny fishing village and the former Placid Palms Resort, since renamed Leaning Palms. The storm left quite a few things here in disarray. Some buildings, like the tower at Leaning Palms, are barely standing, held in place by nothing more than a few salvaged ropes.

This fishing supply store down by the river has taken advantage of the fact that the storm shot a boat straight through their roof. Now they've renamed the business "Happy Landings" and started selling ice cream to the tourists.

Elsewhere, entrepreneurs have taken over slanting shacks and decorated them with some of the items blown in from around the world. Even some new residents were brought here by the storm. Singapore Sal has brought her "Saleable Salvage" operation to town, taking advantage of the giant buoy that crashed through the roof of a village residence, turning it into a bit of advertising for the venture.

Although the place is a bit the worse for wear, the townsfolk have made the best of things, and business is booming.

Island Paradise

The ultimate destination for any Disney Cruise Line Caribbean itinerary is Disney's private island, Castaway Cay (pronounced "Key"). Disney purchased the island, once known as Gorda Cay, and transformed it into a tropical paradise for cruise Guests. Best of all, a full-size pier was built, allowing the ships to pull right up to the island. No lining up for tenders to take you back and forth here!

Step off the ship, and step onto Castaway Cay, where you can immediately tell this is a Disney destination. Of course, there are the friendly Cast Members and top-quality amenities, but there are also doses of storytelling.

The Castaway Cay Post Office is a functioning facility, where postcards and letters may be mailed with a special postmark. Look closely, and you'll see that office manager May B. Tamara specializes in Mail by Sea. She even has plenty of message-carrying bottles in her incoming and outgoing mail boxes. Just don't ask when your message might get delivered. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe the next day. Things run on Bahamian time around here.

Nearby you'll spot some other island businesses. Some are legitimate third-party operators offering excursions for Disney Cruise Line Guests, but others are pure fiction. Take, for example, Big Al Weiss Shrimp Distributors. It's the Castaway Cay equivalent of a window on Main Street. Al Weiss (who happens to be fairly tall) was President of Walt Disney World when Disney Cruise Line was launched. Today, Al is head of worldwide operations for Disney Parks & Resorts.

What most Guests look forward to on Castaway Cay is the beaches. From the family beach to Serenity Bay, the adults-only beach, they really are spectacular, with white sand and clear blue water.

There are lots of other fun sites to discover, though, as you wander the island. Most folks like to stop for a photo at Mount Rustmore, a pile of marine scrap metal turned cartoon pop art.

There's also an old airstrip on the island, complete with a couple of World War II vintage planes. Labeled "Castaway Air," the planes sport Disney character insignia actually designed by the Studio for the military back in the 1940s.

Just off the airstrip is a biking and hiking path that leads to an observation tower. The tower offers great views of the entire island, the Caribbean Sea and the Disney ship in the distance. There's another little surprise for those who make the trip out to the tower: these wacky vignettes, featuring a cast of comical pelicans.

Back closer to the pier, pirates have approached the island. Lurking just off shore is Davy Jones's ship, Flying Dutchman, from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. The ship is a near-full-scale prop actually used in the production of the film, parts of which were shot nearby. If the top of the ship looks odd, it's because it wasn't built with full rigging. Instead, poles stick out from the masts to hold the ropes in the right places, as if the ship were complete. Shots of the whole ship at sea were produced as digital effects.

Inevitably, the day at Castaway Cay must come to an end. It's not the end of the pirate fun, though. The swashbuckling continues on board that evening with the Pirates in the Caribbean deck party, fireworks at sea, and a visit from the one and only Captain Jack Sparrow.

It's the perfect conclusion to a fabulous day of Disney adventure on Castaway Cay.

A Cruise for Kids

Disney Cruise Line popularized the concept of family cruising when they launched their first ship in 1998. Many Guests who sail with Disney are surprised, however, to discover that the ship isn't exactly overrun with children as they might expect. Apart from adult-only areas like the Quiet Cove Pool and Palo, the Disney ships also feature areas exclusively for the kids.

Since there's no casino on board (Disney feels strongly that gambling doesn't jive with the family atmosphere), all the space on Deck 5 is allocated for Flounder's Reef Nursery and the Oceaneer Club (primarily for younger Guests) and Oceaneer Lab (for the older kids).

My boys especially loved Oceaneer Club. The entire room is designed to look like you're on a pirate ship straight out of Peter Pan. There are cannons and barrels and nets. Hook's cabin is filled with games, computer activities and dress-up accessories. The Disney Characters even stopped by periodically. Stitch taught the kids how to surf. Cinderella told her story, and Peter Pan himself flew in specifically to deliver a message to my boys (courtesy of their grandparents).

The children's activities are closely supervised and coordinated by a team of dedicated Disney Crew Members. Each child is given an electronic wristband to wear for the duration of the cruise, and parents are given pagers and a personal password. Once children are signed in to the Club, they're in a completely secure environment that's so much fun, many of them never want to leave. As soon as they do, though, Mom and Dad are just a page away.

Kids' activities even extend to Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, where Scuttle's Cove is an outdoor play area exclusively for children. Operated much like the Club and Lab on the ship, Scuttle's Cove gives kids a chance to play beach volleyball, dig in the sand, have a dance party with the Characters or just hang out while their parents take in a massage or a jet ski excursion.

On the final day of the cruise, all the kids who have participated in Oceaneer Lab and Oceaneer Club have a chance to come together and put on a little show for their families. "FriendShip Rocks!" is presented in the Walt Disney Theater, where the children all file on stage and get to perform a little dance routine with none other than Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

It's a fun finale to a great cruise packed with activities the kids will be talking about for a long time to come.

Adventures Away!

Once on board a Disney Cruise Line ship, there are certain formalities that must be handled: finding your stateroom, making a reservation for dining at Palo, the mandatory safety drill and of course, consuming enormous quantities of shrimp at Beach Blanket Buffet (Topsiders on Disney Magic). Once all those important things are out of the way, it's time to party!

To kick off the cruise, everyone packs onto Decks 9 and 10 for the "Adventures Away!" Sail-Away Celebration. It's a huge party, hosted by Disney Crew Members and complete with streamers and Disney Characters. The action takes place on stage, in the crowd and on the giant Ariel-Vision screen attached to the forward funnel (at other times, the screen shows Disney movies and TV shows). They even pull a floor covering over the Goofy Pool at Midship, creating even more room for all the revelers.

Once the party's done, it's time to relax and let the Captain take the wheel as you enjoy one of the best vacations of your life. Take a stroll, participate in a class, enjoy the spa, watch a movie... there's so much to do on board. If swimming is your thing, and you just can't wait for Castaway Cay, dive into one of the three main pools on the ship.

The Quiet Cove Pool is set aside exclusively for adults. At Midship is the Goofy Pool for families, and then there's the Mickey Pool for the little ones. The Mickey Pool even has a water slide for the adventurous and a shallow splash area for infants and toddlers.

What many Guests don't realize is there's actually a fourth pool on the ship. On Deck 5 Forward is a pool reserved exclusively for Disney Crew Members. The crew on the ship work contracts which are typically several months long, followed by a period of shore leave lasting several weeks. The crew is also incredibly diverse, with representatives from more than 50 countries on board, and the service they provide their Guests is incredible even by Disney's high standards.

Admittedly, a Disney Cruise Line vacation is a favorite getaway for me and my family. There's so much to love about the ship, the destinations and the entire experience, and there's absolutely nothing like the feeling of being on the top deck as the ship leaves port and hearing that magical horn blow "When You Wish Upon a Star." It gives me goosebumps every time.