DISNEY DREAM CRUISE SHIP REVIEW
By Paula Hughes Court
As a veteran of 20+ cruises on various lines from 5-star to mass
market I thought all cruise lines were basically the same with a few
variations thrown in here and there. After a quick two day stay on the
brand new Disney Dream I realized this is definitely not the case. On a
Disney cruise what you’re paying for is a total immersive Disney
experience. From the moment you’re welcomed on board with a Royal
Ball style greeting “Welcome Onboard Court Family!” to the final
Mickey Mouse towel animal placed on the bed you’ll be surrounded by
Disney’s special touches and extreme attention to details. For this
reason I highly recommend a Disney Dream cruise for all families with
children.
Though difficult to narrow it down, my 15-year-old daughter, Claudia
and I compiled a list of our favorite things about the new Disney
Dream. Here is our list of the:
Top Ten Reasons to Sail on the New Disney Dream Cruise
Ship:
10. FREE SOFT DRINKS-The majority of cruise lines charge $2-4 per
soft drink so most families buy the soft drink package which averages
around $6.50 per child, per day. This adds up to be quite a hefty sum
for a family on a 7-day cruise. A Disney Dream cruise includes free
unlimited soft drinks for everyone in the family.
9. MICKEY’S PIRATES IN THE CARIBBEAN DECK PARTY-On the
Disney Dream the party starts at 8 pm so young cruisers can enjoy the
fun. We’re not talking about a simple pirate party with dancing and
costumes here. At this party, the whole Disney crew including Mickey,
Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy teach young pirates on deck how to
become part of Mickey’s Pirate crew so they can battle the evil Captain
Hook. In a surprise move, Captain Jack Sparrow rappels down a rope
hanging from the ship's funnel. The deck party is followed later by
Buccaneer Blast, a spectacular fireworks show set to the music from
Pirates of the Caribbean.
8. FANTASTIC DESSERTS (EVEN ON THE BUFFET)-This may not
seem like a big deal but it is to me and I suspect to many other people
as well. The desserts on most cruise lines look wonderful.
Unfortunately, they usually taste bland or worse, especially the
desserts served in the buffet areas. I can honestly say the desserts on
Disney Dream were the first cruise desserts that taste as good as they
look. We especially liked the Carrot Cake, Key Lime Pie, Cheese Cake
and of course the Cookies and Cream Sundae at Animator’s Palate
and Bananas Foster Sundae at the Enchanted Garden.
7. FAMILY FRIENDLY STATEROOMS WITH NEW INNOVATIVE
TOUCHES-Most Disney Dream staterooms feature a split bath with a
vanity/sink and shower/tub in the full bathroom and a vanity/sink and
toilet in the half bathroom. Even with only two of us in a cabin this
came in very handy. The queen size bed in the stateroom is a real
queen rather than two twins squeezed together. Also the bed sits high
off the floor so there's plenty of room underneath to hide suitcases.
The Sealy Posturepedic Premium Plush Euro-top matttress was the
most comfortable cruise line mattress I've ever slept on. The bed felt
exactly the same as the one we enjoyed the previous night at the 5-
star Grand Floridian Resort where rooms start at $470 per night. The
staterooms also include an iPod docking station with a clock (beware
the blue light...ours inexplicably turned into a strobe light in the middle
of the night) and a unique Key to the World card holder by the door
which also turns on the lights.
6. AVAILABILITY OF DISNEY CHARACTERS FOR PHOTOS AND
HUGS-As we all know, meeting the Disney characters is the number
one thrill for children. On the Disney Dream the daily “Personal
Navigator” lists exactly where each character will be and for how long.
Want to have photos taken with Princess Aurora? No problem. You
can find her in the atrium from 6-6:30. If your child is really into
characters you could almost plan out the entire day going from one
area to another meeting Disney characters. The Princess Gathering
featuring Snow White, Cinderella, Princess Aurora, Princess Tiana and
Sleeping Beauty is another not-to-be-missed activity and fantastic
photo opportunity.
5. MID SHIP DETECTIVE AGENCY GAME-This interactive scavenger
hunt type game proved to be a hit both with kids and adults. First you
go to the “Mid Ship Detective Agency” on deck five to activate your
detective badge and choose either “Case of the Missing Puppies” or
“Case of the Stolen Paintings.” Then you must find paintings
throughout the ship which animate once the sensors detect your
badge. The paintings will give you clues to solve the mystery. Trust
me, this is much more fun than it sounds and is a great activity for
parents to do with younger kids or for older children to do as teams.
Late on the last night, I noticed several adults wandering around alone
still trying to solve the mystery. The paintings change every day so
kids can play it again and again.
4. “DISNEY’S BELIEVE” AND “THE GOLDEN MICKEYS”
THEATRICAL SHOWS-It was a toss up between which show we liked
the best. “The Golden Mickeys” featured some of our favorite Disney
characters while the Genie in “Disney’s Believe” could easily do a show
all on his own. Either way they’re both terrific and entertaining for
passengers of all ages. A master illusionist designed several of the
magical effects in the “Disney’s Believe” show so try to sit mid-theater
for the best view of the “magic.” The first couple of rows is a little too
close plus the smoke seemed to engulf the guests in the front row for
longer than it should have.
3. ANIMATOR’S PALATE FEATURING THE CAST OF "FINDING
NEMO"- We were completely wowed by this gorgeous restaurant and
its interactive entertainment. Upon entering the restaurant you’ll find
black and white sketches from the movie “Finding Nemo”. As the
dinner progresses, the sketches change into a vivid undersea
environment swimming with Bruce the shark, Dory, Nemo and Crush,
the totally awesome surfer dude turtle.
About halfway through dinner, guests begin to realize Crush is actually
interacting personally with diners in the room. As he "swims" around
the room he teases back and forth with diners and asks questions.
After dinner he taught us all a few new surfer dance moves before
leading the room in a group dance. Animator’s Palate is an over-the-
top delightful experience. We would have eaten here every night if
given the choice. Loved it!
2. OCEANEER CLUB FOR KIDS 3-10 YEARS OLD-Once the kids get
a peek into the Oceaneer Club you won’t see them again for the rest
of the cruise. And really, why should they leave? Everything a child
could possibly imagine to do or play with is in these rooms. My favorite
area is Andy's Room where kids can play with a life size Mr. Potato
Head and crawl through a huge Slinky Dog. Other areas include Pixie
Hollow an room designed for crafts, dress up play and storytelling
sessions.
And of course, the Number 1 reason why you should cruise on
Disney Dream:
1. THE AQUADUCK WATER COASTER RIDE-The one thing everyone
must do on the Disney Dream is ride the AquaDuck. It’s fun,
exhilarating and a truly unique cruise-industry first. The ride lasts just
under a minute and is full of twists, turns and plenty of splashes. We
thought the ride was a perfect blend of thrills...not too fast, not too
scary....just perfect.
DISNEY DREAM REVIEWS
DISNEY DREAM CRUISE SHIP PHOTOS
We have hundreds of photos and videos featuring all areas of the ship.
In the next few days we'll be continuously uploading and updating the
photos.
Disney Dream Atrium Lobby Photos
Disney Dream Walt Disney Theater Photos
Disney Dream Bon Voyage Atrium Lobby Bar Photos
Disney Dream D Lounge Photos
Disney Dream AquaDuck Water Coaster Photos
Disney Dream Goofy's Sports Deck Photos
Disney Dream Donald's Pool Photos
Disney Dream Mickey's Pool Photos
Disney Dream Nemo's Reef Photos
Disney Dream Arcade Photos
Disney Dream It's A Small World Nursery Photos
Disney Dream Oceaneer Club Photos
More Disney Dream Oceaneer Club Photos
Disney Dream Vibe Teen Club Photos
Disney Dream Edge Tween Club Photos
Disney Dream The District Lounge Photos
Disney Dream Skyline Bar Photos
Disney Dream Pink Cocktail Bar Photos
Disney Dream Evolution Night Club Photos
Disney Dream Enchanted Garden Photos
Disney Dream Animator's Palate Photos
Disney Dream Royal Palace Photos
Disney Dream Remy Photos
Disney Dream Palo Photos
Disney Dream Cabanas Buffet Photos
By Paula Hughes Court
As a veteran of 20+ cruises on various lines from 5-star to mass
market I thought all cruise lines were basically the same with a few
variations thrown in here and there. After a quick two day stay on the
brand new Disney Dream I realized this is definitely not the case. On a
Disney cruise what you’re paying for is a total immersive Disney
experience. From the moment you’re welcomed on board with a Royal
Ball style greeting “Welcome Onboard Court Family!” to the final
Mickey Mouse towel animal placed on the bed you’ll be surrounded by
Disney’s special touches and extreme attention to details. For this
reason I highly recommend a Disney Dream cruise for all families with
children.
Though difficult to narrow it down, my 15-year-old daughter, Claudia
and I compiled a list of our favorite things about the new Disney
Dream. Here is our list of the:
Top Ten Reasons to Sail on the New Disney Dream Cruise
Ship:
10. FREE SOFT DRINKS-The majority of cruise lines charge $2-4 per
soft drink so most families buy the soft drink package which averages
around $6.50 per child, per day. This adds up to be quite a hefty sum
for a family on a 7-day cruise. A Disney Dream cruise includes free
unlimited soft drinks for everyone in the family.
9. MICKEY’S PIRATES IN THE CARIBBEAN DECK PARTY-On the
Disney Dream the party starts at 8 pm so young cruisers can enjoy the
fun. We’re not talking about a simple pirate party with dancing and
costumes here. At this party, the whole Disney crew including Mickey,
Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy teach young pirates on deck how to
become part of Mickey’s Pirate crew so they can battle the evil Captain
Hook. In a surprise move, Captain Jack Sparrow rappels down a rope
hanging from the ship's funnel. The deck party is followed later by
Buccaneer Blast, a spectacular fireworks show set to the music from
Pirates of the Caribbean.
8. FANTASTIC DESSERTS (EVEN ON THE BUFFET)-This may not
seem like a big deal but it is to me and I suspect to many other people
as well. The desserts on most cruise lines look wonderful.
Unfortunately, they usually taste bland or worse, especially the
desserts served in the buffet areas. I can honestly say the desserts on
Disney Dream were the first cruise desserts that taste as good as they
look. We especially liked the Carrot Cake, Key Lime Pie, Cheese Cake
and of course the Cookies and Cream Sundae at Animator’s Palate
and Bananas Foster Sundae at the Enchanted Garden.
7. FAMILY FRIENDLY STATEROOMS WITH NEW INNOVATIVE
TOUCHES-Most Disney Dream staterooms feature a split bath with a
vanity/sink and shower/tub in the full bathroom and a vanity/sink and
toilet in the half bathroom. Even with only two of us in a cabin this
came in very handy. The queen size bed in the stateroom is a real
queen rather than two twins squeezed together. Also the bed sits high
off the floor so there's plenty of room underneath to hide suitcases.
The Sealy Posturepedic Premium Plush Euro-top matttress was the
most comfortable cruise line mattress I've ever slept on. The bed felt
exactly the same as the one we enjoyed the previous night at the 5-
star Grand Floridian Resort where rooms start at $470 per night. The
staterooms also include an iPod docking station with a clock (beware
the blue light...ours inexplicably turned into a strobe light in the middle
of the night) and a unique Key to the World card holder by the door
which also turns on the lights.
6. AVAILABILITY OF DISNEY CHARACTERS FOR PHOTOS AND
HUGS-As we all know, meeting the Disney characters is the number
one thrill for children. On the Disney Dream the daily “Personal
Navigator” lists exactly where each character will be and for how long.
Want to have photos taken with Princess Aurora? No problem. You
can find her in the atrium from 6-6:30. If your child is really into
characters you could almost plan out the entire day going from one
area to another meeting Disney characters. The Princess Gathering
featuring Snow White, Cinderella, Princess Aurora, Princess Tiana and
Sleeping Beauty is another not-to-be-missed activity and fantastic
photo opportunity.
5. MID SHIP DETECTIVE AGENCY GAME-This interactive scavenger
hunt type game proved to be a hit both with kids and adults. First you
go to the “Mid Ship Detective Agency” on deck five to activate your
detective badge and choose either “Case of the Missing Puppies” or
“Case of the Stolen Paintings.” Then you must find paintings
throughout the ship which animate once the sensors detect your
badge. The paintings will give you clues to solve the mystery. Trust
me, this is much more fun than it sounds and is a great activity for
parents to do with younger kids or for older children to do as teams.
Late on the last night, I noticed several adults wandering around alone
still trying to solve the mystery. The paintings change every day so
kids can play it again and again.
4. “DISNEY’S BELIEVE” AND “THE GOLDEN MICKEYS”
THEATRICAL SHOWS-It was a toss up between which show we liked
the best. “The Golden Mickeys” featured some of our favorite Disney
characters while the Genie in “Disney’s Believe” could easily do a show
all on his own. Either way they’re both terrific and entertaining for
passengers of all ages. A master illusionist designed several of the
magical effects in the “Disney’s Believe” show so try to sit mid-theater
for the best view of the “magic.” The first couple of rows is a little too
close plus the smoke seemed to engulf the guests in the front row for
longer than it should have.
3. ANIMATOR’S PALATE FEATURING THE CAST OF "FINDING
NEMO"- We were completely wowed by this gorgeous restaurant and
its interactive entertainment. Upon entering the restaurant you’ll find
black and white sketches from the movie “Finding Nemo”. As the
dinner progresses, the sketches change into a vivid undersea
environment swimming with Bruce the shark, Dory, Nemo and Crush,
the totally awesome surfer dude turtle.
About halfway through dinner, guests begin to realize Crush is actually
interacting personally with diners in the room. As he "swims" around
the room he teases back and forth with diners and asks questions.
After dinner he taught us all a few new surfer dance moves before
leading the room in a group dance. Animator’s Palate is an over-the-
top delightful experience. We would have eaten here every night if
given the choice. Loved it!
2. OCEANEER CLUB FOR KIDS 3-10 YEARS OLD-Once the kids get
a peek into the Oceaneer Club you won’t see them again for the rest
of the cruise. And really, why should they leave? Everything a child
could possibly imagine to do or play with is in these rooms. My favorite
area is Andy's Room where kids can play with a life size Mr. Potato
Head and crawl through a huge Slinky Dog. Other areas include Pixie
Hollow an room designed for crafts, dress up play and storytelling
sessions.
And of course, the Number 1 reason why you should cruise on
Disney Dream:
1. THE AQUADUCK WATER COASTER RIDE-The one thing everyone
must do on the Disney Dream is ride the AquaDuck. It’s fun,
exhilarating and a truly unique cruise-industry first. The ride lasts just
under a minute and is full of twists, turns and plenty of splashes. We
thought the ride was a perfect blend of thrills...not too fast, not too
scary....just perfect.
DISNEY DREAM REVIEWS
DISNEY DREAM CRUISE SHIP PHOTOS
We have hundreds of photos and videos featuring all areas of the ship.
In the next few days we'll be continuously uploading and updating the
photos.
Disney Dream Atrium Lobby Photos
Disney Dream Walt Disney Theater Photos
Disney Dream Bon Voyage Atrium Lobby Bar Photos
Disney Dream D Lounge Photos
Disney Dream AquaDuck Water Coaster Photos
Disney Dream Goofy's Sports Deck Photos
Disney Dream Donald's Pool Photos
Disney Dream Mickey's Pool Photos
Disney Dream Nemo's Reef Photos
Disney Dream Arcade Photos
Disney Dream It's A Small World Nursery Photos
Disney Dream Oceaneer Club Photos
More Disney Dream Oceaneer Club Photos
Disney Dream Vibe Teen Club Photos
Disney Dream Edge Tween Club Photos
Disney Dream The District Lounge Photos
Disney Dream Skyline Bar Photos
Disney Dream Pink Cocktail Bar Photos
Disney Dream Evolution Night Club Photos
Disney Dream Enchanted Garden Photos
Disney Dream Animator's Palate Photos
Disney Dream Royal Palace Photos
Disney Dream Remy Photos
Disney Dream Palo Photos
Disney Dream Cabanas Buffet Photos
 | |  | |  | |  |
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