ONBOARD THE DISNEY WONDER -- Wide-eyed passengers whispered with anticipation as they inched toward the front of the long line. Their goal was reaching the star posing for photos and signing autographs.

Brad Pitt? Nah. Michael Phelps? Wrong again.

How about Capt. Mickey?

Or, as one child after another gushed upon encountering the world's most famous mouse -- the nautically costumed version, of course -- ``Miiickeeeeeeeee!''

Disney at sea is a remarkably successful production through which families can combine a three- or four-night Bahamian cruise from Port Canaveral with a stay at Walt Disney World in nearby Orlando.

The combo package conveniently fits a one-week vacation timetable. At first blush, prices may stagger. But by Disney standards, it's a bargain: A family of four -- two adults and kids ages 8 and 10 -- pays as little as $4,300 for a week's vacation in November that includes an interior stateroom on a four-night cruise, Disney World lodging for three nights, theme-park tickets, transportation, taxes, fees and insurance.

Not enough time at sea for cruise buffs? The near-identical Disney Magic operates weeklong itineraries from Port Canaveral to the eastern and western Caribbean.

Each ship carries 1,754 passengers based on the industry's two-people-in-a-stateroom formula. But because adults tend to bring along the kids to any Disney product -- and accommodations are spacious -- it's not unusual to sail with as many as 3,000 companions.

IMAGINEERS AT SEA

In their appearance, Disney's vessels, which debuted in 1998 and 1999, resemble sleek ocean liners of yesteryear. Except I don't remember Goofy positioned on the Queen Mary's stern.

Even a short voyage illustrates that this venture is as much a floating theme park as a traditional cruise experience.

I was just finishing a delectable butternut squash soup in Animator's Palate -- the most innovative of the Wonder's multiple restaurants -- when my eyes fixed on the wall panels. Animated black-and-white sketches of Disney film scenes seemed to be adopting a tinge of color. Was I feeling the effects of that pre-dinner martini? No, only the creativity of Disney's imagineers -- the same folks who design attractions in Fantasyland. The transformation continued, with characters growing more and more vivid as I proceeded through a maple-glazed salmon and toward a chocolate and peanut butter pie. Even the waitstaff, which began the evening dressed in stark back-and-white, changed into a rainbow of fashions.

This was only an appetizer for the evening's entertainment specialty -- The Golden Mickeys, a tribute to animation magic featuring music, video and special effects from Disney productions. It's touted as the most technologically advanced production at sea, and guests enter the 977-seat Walt Disney Theatre via a red carpet.

The applause stopped just in time to move on to the Pirates in the Caribbean deck party, a swashbuckling extravaganza capped by fireworks.

Beyond The Golden Mickeys, clean-as-a-whistle production shows include a Disney Dreams bedtime story starring Peter Pan with help from Tinker Bell, Cinderella, Aladdin and others.

The most elaborate show yet is the Wonder's newest offering, Toy Story, the Musical, showcasing Buzz Lightyear, Woody and a 9-foot-tall Rex the dinosaur.

And Disney's cast of singers and dancers is a cut above the roster on most ships: Among those who got their start on the Wonder -- just before her American Idol audition -- is Jennifer Hudson, Oscar-winning star of Dreamgirls.

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