A VIP visitor from the wonderful world of Disney
BARBARA HODGSON WAS AT TYNEMOUTH PIER TO WELCOME DISNEY MAGIC TO TYNESIDE
THE Disney Magic cruise ship paid its eagerly-awaited visit to Tyneside on Wednesday morning and met with a warm – if not sunny – Geordie welcome.
The 11-deck vessel, whose on-board attractions include animated dining rooms and a Toy Story set, was stopping off in the region on a 12-night tour of the British Isles.
There may not have been much sign of that fairytale magic when it came to the weather, but a small crowd did turn out to watch the ship’s early arrival in Tynemouth.
Spectators gathered at Tynemouth Pier – one of several spots signalled out as good viewing areas – to see it make a grand entrance between the piers at 7.30am en route to its berth at Northumbrian Quay in North Shields near the Royal Quays Marina.
Another vantage point was on the opposite bank at South Shields, where more photographers had their lenses trained on the shape emerging from a grey horizon.
Soon, the striking 294m-long ship, with its Mickey Mouse-inspired colours, could be easily seen – but many were keen to hear it too and listened out for its trademark blast from the ship’s horn of the opening strains of Disney’s flagship tune When You Wish Upon A Star.
Among them were father and son Malcolm and Adam Hollinshead, who had made a special trip down from Cramlington and have their own Disney Magic cruise to look forward to next month.
Another was self-confessed Disney fan Laura Armstrong, a community nursery nurse from Whitley Bay, who said: “I am supposed to be on my way to work in Hartlepool but I wanted to come to see the ship first. I love all the Disney magic. I love Disneyland Paris and the films. I don’t have kids but I’ll watch them on my own. “I’m a total Disney freak but my husband has just found out as I’ve kept it under wraps!” But while those in Tynemouth missed out on a tune, as the ship passed silently between the piers, eager viewers were rewarded for their wait with first sight of the black hull, white superstructure, yellow trim and two giant red funnels emblazoned with the Disney Cruise Line Mickey Mouse logo. And it proved an impressive sight as it brought its 2,700 – mainly American – passengers for a day-long visit, which included a range of itinerary options to choose from, such as The Alnwick Garden, Hadrian’s Wall, Washington Old Hall and Durham Cathedral. Operated by the Disney Cruise Line, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, the ship’s own attractions include 875 staterooms and a 950-strong crew plus an unprecedented number of captains: it has four, with Captain Mickey, Captain Hook and Captain Jack Sparrow joining the official man in charge. Its much-hyped arrival, which saw it escorted by a Port of Tyne pilot boat, marked a return for the Disney Magic following a debut visit to the North East last year when it made a lasting impression. Several of the early-risers out to welcome the ship on Wednesday had seen it then and were just as keen to see it this time around. In a bid to capture a closer look, Shields Ferry was also running a special tea-time river trip – for a charge, going to charity – which enabled passengers to follow the Disney Magic cruise ship all the way to the mouth of the Tyne.