Disney Cruise Line stages 'Toy Story - The Musical' on Disney Wonder, a Media Monday video

In keeping with its reputation for pixie-dusted family cruises, Disney Cruise Line (DCL) provides families aboard its ships with entertainment options that have that Disney touch. On its ships, DCL passengers may of course meet Disney characters, watch animated movies, and find hidden Mickeys. Then there are the live stage shows.

Disney Cruise Line’s stage shows bring passengers a touch of the Broadway musical to their cruise, offering family entertainment adapted from Disney and Disney-Pixar films. Such is the case with “Toy Story – The Musical” aboard the Disney Wonder.

"Toy Story  – The Musical" on DCL's Disney Wonder
“Toy Story – The Musical” is the first time the film “Toy Story” has been adapted for the stage. (It is the second Disney-Pixar film to be adapted, after Finding Nemo.) Mindi Dickstein’s work takes audiences back into the movie’s story, emphasizing the relationship between Woody and Buzz Lightyear in the original film, but also adds some new elements.

“Toy Story – The Musical” runs approximately one hour and is shown twice nightly aboard the Disney Wonder, at 6:00 and 8:15 p.m. It is shown in the 997-seat Walt Disney Theatre, located on Deck 4, Forward.

“The ‘Toy Story’ film offered us a rich story and some incredible visual elements to build upon,” noted Jim Urry, vice president of Entertainment for Disney Cruise Line. “The team we assembled created costumes, set designs and a whole new musical score to literally transport our guests into the middle of the whimsical world of Buzz and Woody.”

Scroll to the end of this article for “Toy Story – The Musical” video, Disney Parks Blog.

The show includes seven songs – six original songs by Valerie Vigoda and Brendan Milburn plus Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” – that offer pop, rock, and folk sounds. A standout is the show’s "Make A Little Noise,” sung by Sid, the neighborhood boy who tortures toys and gets his comeuppance in the movie.

“Toy Story – The Musical” uses 10 sets and oversized props, all scaled larger-than-life in order to create a toys’ perspective of the human world. Costumes and props aid in creating the illusion that audiences are in the toys’ world, with an inflatable 9-foot tall Rex the Dinosaur, 4-foot-round Hamm the piggybank, or Mr. Potato Head’s moving body parts.

Performers manipulate oversized articulated puppets and inflated, balloon characters portray several “Toy Story” characters, using pre-recorded lines of dialogue to interact. The actors who play Woody and Buzz, as well as Bo Peep, are portrayed as face characters, and their words and songs are performed live on stage.

Disney Cruise Line family cruises
Family cruising on the Disney Cruise Line Cruise and travel-industry insiders have recognized Disney Cruise Line for its quality family cruises. DCL has earned awards from "Conde Nast Traveler," "Travel + Leisure," and AAA, among others. In addition to its family-friendly destinations, DCL offers plenty for families to see and do together, whether hanging out at the pool or taking in live stage shows. DCL cruises also offer entertainment and activities that appeal to family members of all ages: adult-only dining experiences and nightclubs, children’s activities areas, and recreational clubs for teens.

To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can contact their travel agent, visit disneycruise.com or call Disney Cruise Line at 888-DCL-2500.

For more on the Disney Wonder, see this Tilt-shift video of the Disney Wonder or read about the chocolate souffle at Palo, a Disney Wonder signature restaurant.

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