ONLINE CRUISE SEARCH

There's hardly a Florida tourist market that WDW hasn't successfully tapped. Ocean-going vacations are no exception. Disney Cruise Line (tel. 800/951-3532; www.disneycruise.com) launched the Magic and Wonder in 1998 and 1999, respectively. It didn't take long before the line made it all the way to the top of the family cruising market.

The Magic is Art Deco in style, with Mickey in the three-level lobby and a Beauty and the Beast mural in its top restaurant, Lumiere's. The Wonder's decor is Art Nouveau. Ariel commands its lobby, and its featured eatery, Triton's, sports a mural from The Little Mermaid.

Subtle differences aside, these are nearly identical twins. Both are 83,000 tons with 12 decks, 875 cabins, and room for 2,400 guests. There are some adults-only areas including Palo, an intimate and romantic Italian restaurant; however, both ships have extensive kids' and teens' programs that take up almost an entire deck. They're broken into four age groups: the Flounder's Reef Nursery for ages 3 months to 3 years; Disney's Oceaneer Club for ages 3 to 7; Disney's Oceaneer Lab for ages 8 to 12; and Common Grounds (on the Wonder) or The Stack (newly opened on the refurbished Magic) for ages 13 to 17.

Restaurants, shows, and other onboard activities are extremely family oriented. One of the line's unique features is a dine-around option that lets you move among main restaurants (each ship has four) from night to night while keeping the same servers.

The 3-night voyages visit Nassau and Castaway Cay, Disney's own private island; 4-day voyages add Freeport. There also are 7-night eastern Caribbean (St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and Castaway Cay) and 7-night western Caribbean (Key West, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and Castaway Cay) itineraries. A special 10-day Caribbean cruise is scheduled for the end of December 2004 and a couple of West Coast cruises are penciled in for the summer of 2005; call for details and rates.

Seven-night land-sea packages include 3 or 4 days afloat, with the rest of the week at a WDW resort. Prices at press time ranged from $829 to $4,999 adults, $399 to $1,399 kids 3 to 12, and $139 kids under 3, (Note: infants under 12 weeks are not allowed aboard ship) depending on your choice of stateroom and resort. Packages are available that add round-trip air and unlimited admission to the WDW parks, Pleasure Island, and other Disney attractions. Cruise-only options for 3 nights are $409 to $2,749 adults, $229 to $799 kids 3 to 12, and $99 those under 3; 4-night cruises are $509 to $3,149 adults, $329 to $899 kids 3 to 12, and $99 kids under 3. Disney's 7-night cruises sell for $829 to $4,999 adults, $399 to $1,199 kids 3 to 12, and $139 kids under 3.

All cruises depart from Port Canaveral, which is about an hour east of Orlando by car. If you buy a Land and Sea package, transportation to and from Orlando is included. You can get discounted fares if you book well in advance and go during non-peak periods. For more information, call Disney Cruise Line or check out its very informative website, which also allows you to plan and reserve shore excursions before you go.