You beat me to this. I had just heard a news story a few minutes ago on the local ABC affiliate (owned by Disney Corp) so I was trying to hunt down a written story or press release.
Disney Cruise Line to Homeport Disney Wonder at the Port of Los Angeles
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LOS ANGELES, Calif., (March 30, 2009) – Disney Cruise Line announced today that it plans to reposition the Disney Wonder from its Florida base in Port Canaveral to the West Coast in 2011. The company is working with the Port of Los Angeles to finalize a two-year agreement with a three-year extension option. The contract will be considered by the Port of Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners on April 2, 2009.
If approved, the new Disney Wonder sailings could generate more than 250,000 guests passing through the Port of Los Angeles over a five-year period.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said he is pleased to welcome the renowned family cruise line back to the Port of Los Angeles at San Pedro.
“Having Disney Cruise Line operating out of the Port of Los Angeles will provide a great boost to the local economy by generating business and tourism revenue in San Pedro and throughout the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area,” Mayor Villaraigosa said. “The return of Disney Cruise Line to our port speaks volumes about our ability to attract world-class cruise lines to the area.”
The addition of a new homeport for Disney Cruise Line is part of the overall expansion plan for The Walt Disney Company. Two new ships, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, will arrive in Florida’s Port Canaveral in 2011 and 2012, respectively.
“We are looking forward to returning to the Port of Los Angeles and offering our special brand of family cruises on the West Coast,” said Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo. “Having a Disney Cruise Line ship based in this region is something families on the West Coast have wanted for a long time, and we’re pleased to bring the Disney Wonder to Southern California in 2011.”
Disney Cruise Line has successfully tested the West Coast market with two summer seasons of Mexican Riviera itineraries from the Port of Los Angeles. The Disney Magic cruise ship first called on the West Coast during the summer of 2005 as part of Disneyland’s 50th anniversary and returned again during the summer of 2008. Disney Cruise Line has not yet announced the details of its itineraries for 2011.
“The return of Disney Cruise Line to the Port of Los Angeles is just one more reason visitors will come to Los Angeles to help our city thrive,” added Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Geraldine Knatz, Ph.d. “The LA area is already home to Disneyland – it’s a natural fit.”
The Port of Los Angeles continues to be one of the busiest cruise ports on the West Coast. Known for its proximity to area attractions, including Disneyland Resort, and ease of convenience for transportation and nearby airports, the Port of Los Angeles provides cruisers with a great experience.
Disney Cruise Line delivers a cruise experience that every member of the family feels was created for their own individual vacation wants and needs. Specifically designed areas and activities for each member of the family allows for both quality time together and wonderful individual experiences. The focus is to allow families to reconnect, adults to recharge their batteries and kids to immerse themselves in worlds of fantasy only Disney can create.
Known for establishingfamily travel in the cruise market Disney Cruise Line continues to be a leader in the industry. The Disney Wonder was recently named the top large cruise ship experience by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine in the 9th annual “Reader’s Cruise Poll.” The Disney Magic, which was also ranked in the top five cruise experiences in the poll, will embark on a season of limited itineraries exploring Northern Europe and the Mediterranean in 2010. Additionally, the line continues to move forward on the construction of its two new ocean liners at the Meyer Werft yard in Germany.
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Media Contacts:
Disney (Los Angeles): John Nicoletti, 818.560.4067
Disney (Orlando): Christi Erwin Donnan, 407.566.3655/3648
Mayor’s Office: Jared Irmas, 213.978.0741
Port of Los Angeles: Arley Baker, 310.732.3093
[Editor’s Note: Visit DCLNEWS.com for news and information about Disney Cruise Line. Photos are also available for downloading.]
this move is certainly understandable in light of Disneyland being a short distance away from the port. And additional good news for the Ports of LA and LB with the Carnival Splendor and RC's Mariner of the Seas both taking over for smaller ships.
In a move that officials expect will create 2,600 jobs in the Los Angeles area and generate millions of dollars in tax revenue, Disney Cruise Line announced today that it will move one of its two ships from Florida to Los Angeles. The Port of Los Angeles will become the home base for the Disney Wonder cruise ship, pending approval of a two-year contract with an option to extend it another three between Disney and the port.
Disney estimates the move would mean 250,000 cruise-ship passengers here over five years.
The ship’s original home base is Port Canaveral in Florida, said Disney Cruise spokeswoman Christi Erwin Donnan.
“Having a ship on the West Coast will allow us to diversify our fleet,” she said.
The itinerary for the ship, which won’t move to Los Angeles until 2011, is pending. But Donnan said it’s a safe bet that cruises would include trips along the Baja coast.
The ship has previously done three- and four-day jaunts around the Caribbean, including trips to Disney’s private resort island called Castaway Cay (pronounced “key”).
The economic figures describing all the jobs estimated to come to L.A. as a result of the cruise business came from Port of Los Angeles officials.
Unclear are the specific types of jobs and salary ranges for the potential employees Disney would hire directly — the paperwork necessary to approve the contract is as yet unfinished.
“We’re just not ready to share the details on that yet,” Donnan said.
The move to Los Angeles is part of Disney Cruise Line’s larger expansion plans announced in 2007 — shipwrights in German are busy welding together the Disney Dream, slated for delivery to Canaveral in 2011. Disney also contracted another new ship called Fantasy that is supposed to be ready to sail in 2012.
Meanwhile, the second of Disney’s two existing ships is setting off for the Mediterranean, where it will be based for a year or so. The photo above pictures the Disney Wonder cruise ship that will soon make its home in the Port of Los Angeles.
This might be the same as the Disney press release (my eyes are getting tired, near midnight), it's from the The Port of LA website. The Port of Los Angeles: America's Port™
I was trying to see the agenda for the Commissioners' meeting this week, but it's not listed on the city of LA website (there's a place on the site which has the different agendas for the agencies and city council). When I tried clicking on the home page for the that commission, I get an error message.
11. Re: RESOLUTION NO. ______ - PROPOSED PERMIT NO. 883 WITH MAGICAL CRUISE COMPANY, LIMITED, DBA DISNEY CRUISE LINE Transmittals SUMMARY: In the summers of 2005 and 2008, the Magical Cruise Company, Limited, dba Disney Cruise Line (DCL), used the Port of Los Angeles (Port) for a series of cruises to the Mexican Riviera. These were arrangements that were made individually for each year’s season. DCL is in the process of significantly expanding its cruise business with the addition of two 4,000 passenger vessels, currently being built overseas and expected to be put into service in 2011 and 2012. With new ships on order, Disney has sought to identify a West Coast home port for one of its existing vessels. In an effort to build its West Coast presence and capture the currently under-served family cruise business, DCL is pleased to announce that it has decided to make the Port its Southern California home port. DCL will relocate the Disney Wonder from the Caribbean to Los Angeles for up to five years and will utilize Port cruise terminal facilities. The proposed action will grant DCL a term permit allowing for berthing of cruise ships and other required cruise-related activities at Berths 90-93 at Los Angeles World Cruise Center for a period of two years, beginning January 1, 2011, and ending December 31, 2012. The proposed Permit also includes three, one-year options following the initial two-year term, with a potential use of Port cruise terminal facilities until December 31, 2015. Recommendation: Board resolve that (1) the proposed Permit with DCL be approved in substantially the form as attached, based on the terms and conditions as set forth in the Board report; (2) the Executive Director be authorized to execute and the Board Secretary to attest to the Permit upon Board approval; and (3) Resolution No._____be adopted.
This is going to be a great addition to the port. I mean, it really makes sense, because Disneyland isn't too far! I think it is a great choice personally.
Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers
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Los Angeles readies for Disney Wonder in 2011
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