
AquaDuck

AquaDuck is a water coaster (a water slide with similar turns, drops and g-forces to a roller coaster) that is located on the deck of two Disney cruise ships. It was first constructed on the "Disney Dream" in January 2011 and then later on the "Disney Fantasy" in February 2012. It was developed by Walt Disney Imagineers, and despite a few exceptions, is accessible to almost anyone. The AquaDuck is the first water coaster to exist on a cruise ship, and so far it is the only one of its kind.
History.
Disney announced the development of the two new ships in 2007. After plans had been finalized, construction began on March 2, 2009 with a special ceremony: the trademark Disney scrolls that reside on the bows of both the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy were cut from steel. Both the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy were constructed by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany. Meyer Werft is an upscale ship construction company, known for its precise attention to detail. Disney Dream was complete in early 2011, followed by Disney Fantasy in early 2012. Joe Lanzisero and Bruce Vaughn, the two Disney Imagineers responsible for the idea, were accompanied by many others in the development of the coaster. Disney Dream launched on its maiden voyage on January 19, 2011 from Port Canaveral in Florida. The Disney Fantasy was introduced the in March the following year. It continues to run.
Design.
AquaDuck is 765 foot long and exists on 46 foot tall stilts. The AquaDuck was built on both the "Disney Dream" and the "Disney Fantasy", two sister ships in the Disney Cruise Line Fleet. The entrance to AquaDuck on both ships is located on Deck 12, an exposed deck where most swimming pools are located, midship. The AquaDuck captures the mechanics of a roller coaster and combines them with the physical attributes of a water slide. The coaster is made of a transparent acrylic material, much like a clear plastic, that most waterslides in resorts and theme parks are made of. Within the acrylic tube, water jets are used for uphill propulsion, a similar concept to conveyor belts on roller coasters. It is themed to Donald Duck's nephews.
Attraction.
The entrance to the AquaDuck is in the middle of Deck 12, the main swimming deck aboard both ships. The entrance, pictured, leads one directly to a set of stairs leading to Deck 16, the highest deck accessible by passengers aboard the ship. Once one has reached the top of the stairs, they climb into a specially designed inflatable raft that seats two. If riding alone, the tourist will sit in the rear seat. If not, the heavier passenger will sit in the back with the lighter passenger directly in front of them. After boarding, a conveyor belt carries the raft to a translucent, acrylic tube. Because of the clear nature of the tube, the rider(s) will catch glimpses of the ocean and the ship's deck below. After leaving the loading area on Deck 16, the highest point accessible by travelers on the ship, the raft is launched 12 feet out over the edge of the deck and is suspended 150 feet over the water. The water coaster utilizes high-power water jets to defy gravity and propel the raft uphill at about 20 feet per second, an idea adopted from roller coasters. Two sloped straightaways line the port and starboard sides of the ship. AquaDuck boasts several tight turns and quick drops, much like most roller coasters. At the end of the coaster, the raft is pushed through 335 ft of rapids, down the lazy river and finally returned to the unloading area on Deck 12.