Chai Ying Seow
Tell us why you are Singapore's biggest Disney Cruise Line fan.
Disney has been part of my life for as long as I can remember – and I am over 30 this year!
Every phase of my life has had a Disney character walking alongside me. As a little girl, I bonded with my mum over Mickey Mouse animations on television. During my primary school years, my sister and I were so obsessed with Toy Story that we named our first dog Woody. In my late teens, when it was time to think about the future, I found myself resonating deeply with Belle – she inspired me to embrace being different and to dream of adventure in the great wide somewhere. Today, as an adult, I am happy to share my love for Disney with my partner through Marvel films.
Disney has not simply entertained me – it has shaped me. It taught me to dream boldly, stay curious and believe in magic even as I grew older. I am incredibly proud of that.
In recent years, I have chased that magic around the world – visiting all the Disney parks in Asia, collecting Disney treasures (as many as my trove can hold), and catching every Disney Broadway musical that toured Singapore. Each experience has been unforgettable. Yet there is one dream I have not fulfilled – being completely immersed in Disney magic, day and night, while at sea.
When Disney Cruise Line was announced to sail from Singapore, it instantly became my newest dream. Since then, I have been counting down as though it were my own fairytale finale. I visited the Disney Cruise Line pop-ups and meet-and-greets at Jewel Changi every week during their two-month run. I bought Disney Cruise Line merchandise so I would be ready for embarkation day. I even prepared my stateroom door magnets, fish extender gifts and pixie dust surprises in advance. I am not just excited about Disney Cruise Line – I have been living as though I am already on board.
That is why I truly believe I am the biggest Disney Cruise Line fan.
Who would you like to experience the Disney Adventure cruise with and why?
Without hesitation – my mum, my sister and my partner.
My mum is the reason Disney became part of my life in the first place. She read Disney stories to me while she was pregnant with me, long before I could understand the words. Her love for Disney came from her own childhood too, as my grandmother would put Mickey Mouse shows on their black-and-white television for her. That love has now spanned three generations in our family. When she met Mickey at Jewel Changi for just a few minutes, she lit up like a child again. In that moment, I realised something important – true happiness is not just about fulfilling my own childhood dreams, but about fulfilling my parents’ childhood dreams too.
My sister is the Anna to my Elsa, the Buzz to my Woody. Growing up, Disney was our shared language. Almost 95% of the Disney films I watched for the first time were with her. She has never been to a Disney park, so I know boarding the Disney Adventure would be a life-changing experience. I can already imagine her tearing up at the beauty and magic of it all.
My partner shares my love for Disney in this season of life. He is a Disney fan convert, thanks to me! He has never once said no to a Disney park, pop-up or musical I wanted to attend, or to a piece of Disney merchandise I wanted to buy. He fully embraces my love for Disney and involves himself in it so that we can share that joy together. I would love for him to experience the Disney magic at sea as well.
Sailing together on the Disney Adventure would not just be a holiday – it would be a celebration of every phase of my life, with the people who made each phase magical.
