Disney Cruise Line has Fantasy in mind

[Isafari]

From the Orlando Sentinel...

Now that the Disney Dream is getting its sea legs, more attention can now turn to the Disney Fantasy, which will be the fourth ship in the Disney Cruise Line when it has its maiden voyage in March 2012.

The Fantasy, which will have its keel-laying ceremony in Papenberg, Germany, on Friday, will look very familiar to folks who have seen the Dream — just like the cruise line's first two vessels were similar.

"It will be a sister ship [to the Dream] just like the Magic and the Wonder are," Walt Disney Parks and Resorts President Al Weiss said last month. "You'll just change some of the interior designs and spaces for the Fantasy."

So, it will be the same, only different, with 4,000 passengers aboard. The Fantasy will leave from Port Canaveral on seven-day cruises to the western and eastern Caribbean, while the Dream does three-, four- and five-night trips.

"There will be nuanced differences. It will largely be the design," said Tom Staggs, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts chairman.

Details are under wraps, but the Fantasy will have an adults-only nightclub district with "a different lineup," Staggs said. The array of restaurants will be altered as well, though expect Animator's Palate to be back on board in some fashion.

Many Fantasy decisions are still in the works, including which shows will be presented on board.

"We really wanted to have a different menu for each ship," said Jim Urry, vice president of entertainment. "Some of the shows will be from our current ships, but we haven't really landed on the exact shows yet."

Currently on the Dream are "Golden Mickeys," "Disney's Believe" and "Villains Tonight!"

It may take a sharp eye to tell the Dream from the Fantasy from land. Their profiles will be similar, right up to the top deck, where both will sport a water coaster.

Disney has not announced plans for ships beyond next year's Fantasy.

"We just want to make sure we deliver the same kind of quality experiences that we've been delivering on the Magic and Wonder because guests rate those ships extremely well." Weiss said. "We just want to make sure the same thing happens on the Dream first and the Fantasy next."