Disney Dream – A Trip Report

Ship Overview

But if the day ever comes when Florida allows casino gambling, you can bet every Disney ship will have a casino. I wouldn't be surprised if Disney didn't already have all the equipment and plans to. Disney storytelling meets cruising luxury on Disney Dream.From restaurants that seamlessly blend animation with world-class food to full-scale stage productions of Beauty and the Beast and The Golden Mickeys at the Walt Disney Theater, Dream offers the kind of magical experience for children only Disney can provide. Disney Cruise Line – Pre/Post Cruise Hotels and Ground Transportation. LAST UPDATE: 7/7/20 On this page we’ve collected some useful hints about Disney Cruise hotels and where to stay before or after your cruise, ground transportation (limo or rental car) and other pre/post cruise information.

For assistance with your Disney Cruise, please call (800) 951-3532. Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern time; Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern time. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call. But, Dream does offer evidence that a Disney cruise is not only for kids or overgrown Mouse fans. The art deco decor onboard is elegant and jazzy and imparts an old-world luxury, mostly refined.

Andrew (a fellow Dad Married to a Doctor) and his family recently returned from their first ever Disney Cruise Line (DCL) sailing. Andrew and his family are Disney Vacation Club owners and HUGE Disney fans. I am always excited to hear back from a fellow Disney fan after their first DCL vacation.
Disney Cruise Line has 4 ships broken into two classes, the larger of the two contains the Disney Fantasy and the Disney Dream, both are home ported out of Port Canaveral, Florida. The second, older and smaller class comprise of the Disney Wonder and the Disney Magic.
All four of the Disney ships are small by today’s mega-ship standards, but are jam packed with family friendly activities aboard each ship. While the current DCL ships offer less concierge and suite options than Royal Caribbean and NCL (Norwegian Cruise Line), Disney currently has 3 new ships on order and many industry insiders expect there to be many more premium or luxury categories on the yet to be names vessels.

• Gross Tonnage: 130,000 tons Length: 1,115 feet Beam: 121 feet Draft: 28 feet Height: 216 feet
• Speed – Cruising: 22 knots • Max: 23.5 knots
• Capacity – Passenger: 4000 • Crew: 1458
• Passenger Decks – 14
• Staterooms – Inside: 150 Outside – Verandah: 901 Ocean View: 199

Disney ships are known for their family friendly inclusions, all of which forego the on board casino in favor of expanded kids club space. In recent years the Disney Company has purchased the Marvel and Star Wars properties and characters from both have made their way to the Oceaneers Club on board each Disney Cruise Line in addition to other Disney and Pixar favorites.
Additionally, excellent kids programming, Disney inspired evening entertainment, deck parties and amazing water activities make the Disney Cruise Line stand out in an ever crowded family friendly cruise marketplace.

In addition to the well kept up ships, family friendly spaces and activities, possibly the most popular aspect of a Disney Cruise is the cruise line’s private island, Castaway Cay. The island is currently hands down the best private island experience in the Caribbean (Royal’s new CocoCay experience is looking to change the game once it opens Summer 2019) and Disney recently announced a second private island experience coming sometime after 2021.

The Review

Was there any special reason you and your family decided to take this trip?
We wanted a Disney escape for Spring Break
Whom did you travel with?
Just the immediate family. My wife and two high energy boys age 6 and 4.
How was your experience with embarkation/embarkation?
Embarkation was much smoother than I expected. We arrived at the terminal in the afternoon so perhaps we missed the rush, but the lines were short and we walked right onto the ship.
What were your first impressions of the ship?
The ship was beautiful and the Disney theme immediately made me happy. I guess it helps when you love all things Disney but it was a great start to the trip.
What were your overall impressions of your room? Layout? Upkeep?
For an interior room I was impressed with how comfortable and livable it was. We had plenty of storage. We have frequently booked larger suites on other cruise lines, however availability was low for this cruise due to our last minute plans.
What were your impressions of the kid/family offerings on this ship?
The kids clubs are the highlight of the Disney Cruise Line. Other cruises have to try and cater to all ages from Senior Citizens to little children but Disney really makes sure the kids have a magical vacation
How was your experience dining aboard the Dream?
Dining was good and the service was consistent. I enjoyed having our waitstaff follow us through the different dining rooms for our rotations.
Did you do any of the Adult only dining options?
We did not try any of the Adult only dining options on this cruise since we specifically wanted to see each of the dining rooms and it was a short cruise.
What advice would you offer to someone considering a DCL sailing? Prepare for the most comfortable mattress on any cruise ship or almost any hotel for that matter.
In your opinion what does DCL need to improve upon?
The only little thing that was frustrating was paying for popcorn when most other food is included. This felt annoying especially since popcorn is very cheap but kids really want it when going to movies and shows.
Would you recommend this ship to your friends and why?
Yes – there aren’t many DCL ships yet so I can’t say why this ship is better or worse than another, however DCL is a better experience, especially with kids, over other cruise lines.
Would you book another Disney Cruise?
Yes
What is your favorite memory from this trip?
When my boys were chosen to participate in one of the shows. For the Golden Mickeys show they select 7 kids from the audience to dress as Dwarfs and come out on stage during the first part of the show. They come around before the show to find the kids so if people wanted a good chance of their kids being selected they should get to the show early and sit toward the front.
On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate the quality of service and why?
10
On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate the quality of food/dining?
8 (Adult only dining would probably be better but I am picky about food quality)
On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate the quality of public spaces?
10
On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate the experiences available for children?
10
On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate the quality of inclusions on board DCL?
9
On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate the experiences available for children?
10
On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate the quality of inclusions on board DCL?
9

How to book?

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Email us for your no obligation quote at john@pixievacations.com

I realized there is so much I want to say and share about our Disney Dream Cruise that it may take weeks to write so I decided to do a short review instead and then go into more detail later.

Dining on the Disney Dream

Food Rating: A- Dining Service Rating: A+

There are 3 dining rooms on the Disney Dream as well as several fast food and buffet options on Deck 11.

There was a wide selection of foods at the buffet (Cabanas on Deck 11) for breakfast and lunch during our cruise and our servers were very accommodating at dinner if we needed to make any substitutions to our meals.

The food quality and service was excellent. Nothing too hot, cold or burnt and the wait staff was always smiling and eager to help or offer suggestions.

Palo was the one adult only restaurant we booked in advance (decided to leave Remy for the next cruise) and was by far the best meal my husband and I had the entire cruise. Full review coming soon.

Room service is available 24 hours a day on the Disney Dream (no extra charge except for tip) and offers breakfast, sandwiches, salads and desserts. We didn’t make use of room service except for ordering Mickey Bars and cake of the day. Pretty awesome though to be able to have a Mickey Bar at midnight!

Inside Stateroom

Cabin Rating: A Cabin Service Rating: A+

Disney’s standard inside stateroom cabins measure about 169 square feet and our cabin had a queen sized bed, a small sofa which converted to a twin bed which our 4 year old slept on, a desk area, closet and a bathroom with bathtub.

Our 1 year old slept in a play yard which we requested when we booked the cruise with our agent.

On the Disney Dream, inside cabins have a Magical Porthole (a screen above the bed that streams footage of whatever is going on outside) and because of it the room felt more spacious than other inside cabins we stayed in on previous cruises.

Cabin service by our stateroom host was excellent! Our stateroom host was very attentive and always left cute towel animals and chocolates for the kids while we were at dinner.

Activities & Entertainment

Rating: A

There were many activities that families could participate in together on the Disney Dream.

Mid-ship Detective Agency (an interactive game which solving a mystery using artwork around the ship – you can see a short video of how it works on AllEars.net) , family karaoke, character meets and variety of activities at the kids’ clubs kept everyone busy during non port days.

The kids clubs are extremely well run and organized. While our children didn’t participate in any activities on their own at the clubs, we did hear a lot of positive feedback from parents who had children that did.

The fireworks show on Pirate Night was amazing and many kids stayed up to watch it although ours did not. Many cruisers and crew members really got into the spirit of Pirate Night and were dressed head to toe (including accessories like eye patches, plastic swords) in pirate garb.

Does Disney Cruise Line Have A Casino

The Disney Dream is known for the Aquaduck – the first water coaster at sea – but also boasts 4 pools (1 of which is adults only) and a splash area for non potty trained kids.

Nightly entertainment (lounge, shows and movies) were a lot of fun although from what we saw the majority of parents went to bed the same time their kids did. The lounges and club areas were quite empty when we walked by.

Ports Of Call

Rating: A

Our four night cruise had two ports – Nassau and Castaway Cay (Disney’s private island).

We decided to stay on board to enjoy the pool and water play areas as did many other families when we ported in Nassau. My in laws booked an excursion in Nassau and said it was good.

Castaway Cay was the highlight of the cruise for our kids and both very upset to leave after a full day at the beach. Stay tuned for a full review on Castaway Cay in the next few weeks.

Overall Rating: A

If you are a fan of Disney (which most cruisers we spoke to are) Disney Cruise Lines is definitely worth researching.

Disney Cruise Have A Casino

If you are someone who wants to dress up each night for dinner or likes to spend time at the casino the Disney Dream is not for you. This boat has a more relaxed dress code and does not have a casino.

Does Disney Cruise Have Gambling

Dining options, stateroom service, and the variety of activities and entertainment on and off the ship were all fantastic.

Cleanliness and hygiene also get top marks. The crew was constantly cleaning dusting vacuuming and as noted previously wipes were given out every time we entered a food area or dining room. The public areas and washrooms were spotless and any messes left by others in dining areas were immediately cleaned up.

Does Disney Cruise Have A Casino

Embarkation and disembarkation at the Port Canaveral terminal and ports were organized and very efficient. Wait time was minimal at all times – something we haven’t experienced often especially on ships this size – 4000 guests.

Disney cruises are a bit pricier compared to other cruise lines but considering what you get in terms of service and activities, it is worth the price difference.

Do Disney Cruise Have Casino

Our first family cruise experience was a very enjoyable and memorable one – our four year old hasn’t stopped talking about it since we returned over a month ago!