In April, I talked about heroes who can be found sailing the seas with Disney Cruise Line (DCL), and now it’s time to talk about the mischievous characters we love – villains!
Disney fans are fierce; we love character interactions, and I’m thrilled to say we finally have a space to see these misunderstood characters year-round on our cruise vacations.
When sailing on the Disney Destiny, interacting with villains can be part of any day in your cruise. It’s a chance to see them shine as they take center stage (and sometimes want control of the ship).
To help draw you into their tales, the ship’s Storytellers Zayah and Gamble share the Legend of Loki during your first night of the cruise.
Loki is also seen walking in the Grand Hall throughout the sailing, interacting with guests and declaring himself as King of the Ship.
Cruella’s over-the-top persona is on full display during the sailings as she hosts her own fashion show and has her own lounge – De Vil’s. Blogs with full details of these two experiences will be published at a later date, BUT needless to say, I jumped at the opportunity to meet this fashionista in a bound inspired by her love for spots.
Captain Hook and Smee are out recruiting new members for their pirate crew during the Pirate Night, and it offered me the chance to build an outfit around a villain whose style is often overlooked. Between Captain Hook’s frilly top, red jacket, and pink pantaloons, his look is ageless and worth admiring.
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It’s hidden in the photos, but I had a silver feather-shaped pin on the red headband to mirror Hook’s feather in his hat. That little detail was noticed by Mr. Smee when I met him and Captain Hook at their meet-and-greet.
Under Her Spell: A Maleficent Encounter transforms the Saga lounge into Maleficent’s world of mysterious forests, dark dungeons, and her throne room, as she imparts her wisdom to those who dare to enter.
BUT for me, the villain whose presence is undeniable, who draws the biggest crowds, and who does a few fancy magic tricks is Dr. Facilier.
There are two ways to see him throughout your cruise. The first is a traditional meet-and-greet where you can step into his Parlor for a quick chat and a photo or two.
The second is Dr. Facilier’s Parlor Experience; believe me when I say this is worth lining up for!
It’s a 10–15-minute show where small groups of guests (usually around 12 people) are welcomed into the parlor, and three guests are invited to sit down at his table to assist in a magic trick. Photos and video recordings are not allowed, making this memorable gathering even more elusive and exciting to be part of.
The experience is listed in the Navigator app, and Dr. Facilier will run multiple iterations of his show during the hour (so it’s not just the first 12 people and that’s it), but Cast Members have to close the line once all of the show spots are full, so get there early. This experience was the busiest event during my sailing, and I’ll say it was well worth the wait.
Now, I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t dress to impress for my first meeting with Dr. Facilier; therefore, I bounded when meeting him.
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I was lucky enough to be picked as one of the three cruisers invited to sit down at his table during the Parlor Experience, and it was adorable to hear other guests realize that I was bounding during the show.
My advice for a Disney Destiny cruise is to have fun with your bounds, and add a flash of villainous style to your sailing!
Happy Bounding!
~Kelly the Character Bounder
I want to share an update on what’s been happening at TheCB.Co.
In the past year, there have been fluctuations in trade agreements, shipping costs, tariffs, and an unpredictable global economy, creating challenges for many small businesses. Increased costs have risen to a point where they’re too high for me to absorb and too much to pass on to my fellow bounders.
It’s not feasible to keep the shop open.
The store portion of the website is closing, BUT all other elements of the site will remain active.
TheCB.Co’s story is far from over; we’re just at the part where the path shifts, the plot takes an unexpected turn, and a new chapter begins.
I’m choosing to embrace this moment of change by switching from The Character Bounding Company to the Character Bounder.
There will be new blogs and social media posts, and I’m still going to be at the different meet-ups in the parks.
For me, there’s a joy in being inspired by characters. Bounding is something I love doing, and that constant remains; it’s never going to change.
Sometimes our dreams grow and reshape into something different from what we first envisioned, and that’s ok.
As I look ahead, I hope you join me on this next chapter of TheCB.Co’s story. The focus will be on me — a self-proclaimed Disney nerd who loves to bound and believes there’s magic around us.
So, be inspired by a character, then go out and write your next chapter.
Happy Bounding!
~Kelly the Character Bounder
