Wonder vacation

Taking a vacation usually means having a respite from daily work for complete days of rests and relaxation. But in the Philippines, taking a vacation means something else. It is more of like getting away from a world full of bad and disappointing news concerning politics, scandals, intrigues, lying, cheating and stealing. And the best way to do that is not merely to go to a far away place but more importantly to a place full of fantasies and beautiful dreams that look so real. And that’s precisely what my wife Josie, our son Jolly and his wife Jane and their children Jamee and Justin did for four days and three nights as we boarded the cruise ship fittingly called “Disney Wonder”.

The cruise ship is really a wonder to behold not only because of her 964 feet overall length and 106 feet width containing 875 staterooms but also because of the modern gadgets and high tech instruments found inside the 11 decks, all having art nouveau interior designs characterized by an “art from nature feel” with whimsical, swirling waves.

Entering the ship gives an exhilarating feeling of leaving a world of grim realities and being transported into a world of beautiful dreams. The wonder of it all however is that dream world setting is not a world of make-believe but remains as real as it can be. This is mainly because the ship is manned by real, friendly, down to earth people who make the four-day stay truly pleasant and relaxing. Filipinos especially will never feel homesick because in every section of the ship are highly qualified Pinoys and Pinays who are part of the 945 crew members. In fact about 70 percent of the crew are Filipinos.

At first, the cruise seems to be full of fantasy and magic suited only for children. Indeed most of the wellcomers are Disney cartoon characters humanized by people in authentic costumes making them alive and real. But that impression readily vanishes as the set of family activities unfold each day starting with the rousing welcome party at decks 9 and 10 participated by more than 2000 passengers. This was followed by another magical party called “Pirates of the Caribbean” that was capped by a magnificent display of fireworks that lighted up the sea in the middle of the night.

I never expected that a pragmatic septuagenarian like me, who hates musicals and make-believes would enjoy Golden Mickeys, Toy Story, and an enchanted Disney classic called Dreams presented at the artistically designed Walt Disney Theater equipped with highly technical gadgets combining filmed scenes with actual stage presentations of well-trained dancers, actors and actresses. The effect is simply magic as it successfully fuses fantasy with reality — a show I really enjoyed over and above the few adult classical operas I have hesitantly watched before. Once more my wife and I realized that we can be and we really are still kids-at-heart.

I have not been to movie theaters to watch Hollywood films perhaps for the last half of my life simply because I felt I have no more time for them anymore. But during this cruise, I found myself with my wife, our son and his family watching The Proposal, a romantic comedy where the laugh keeps on coming in the movie theater located at the fifth deck of the ship aptly named “Buena Vista”. Even with its inanities and predictability, I found the movie enjoyable enough as to convince me to resume watching movies that I used to do during my “innocent” years. Hence, expect two more senior citizens (my wife and I) patronizing our cinemas back home.

The family activities and bonding are not confined within the ship but even at her ports of call. First stop in Nassau, Bahamas offers some famous tourist spots like the Atlantis and duty free shopping at its quaint downtown area. But the more enjoyable stop is at the enchanting island called “Castaway Cay” exclusively developed as a Disney vacation resort. The island has program areas for children called “Scuttle’s Cove”. Then there is a beach where families can enjoy their togetherness on the clear blue waters of the Caribbean sea and bask in the sun along the Castaway Family Beach. Further down the island is another beach for adults and the elderly called the “Serenity Bay Beach” where there is more peace and quiet conducive to mental relaxation. Indeed the magic and wonder of the cruise are transported to the island by the crew who brought down with them all the amenities they have provided in “Disney Wonder”.

In a nation of many broken families like the US of A, the Disney enterprise has apparently offered an effective antidote that heals the deep wounds of separation or strengthens fragile family relations. Obviously they still believe that the family is the basic foundation of any nation. Hence fortunately for America and perhaps the rest of the world, the Disney conglomerate utilizes their expertise and sophisticated technologies in providing entertainment, amusement, rest and relaxation that somehow foster family solidarity even as they continue to rake in the dollars.

Notably, every Disney tale develops the overriding theme that dreams can really come true. Perhaps this is taken from the story of the Disney Organization’s founder himself whose dream came true apparently beyond his wildest imagination, as shown by the huge business empire now established around the world. Indeed one can find Disneyland in many parts of the world purveying the same tales that “let your imagination escapes into a world of enchantment and adventure” to discover the “power of dreams”. This is personified by the young girl Tinker Bell whose wish upon a star comes true with a “little faith, trust and pixie dust”. This kind of story has obviously drawn many believers. But it would be much better if the Disney organization could include in their fantastic and wonderful projects and undertakings the more enduring and credible message that “more things are wrought by prayer than this world can ever dream of”.

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