7 Nights Aboard the Disney Dream

The Disney Cruise Line App

The most important thing to download once you book your cruise is the Disney Cruise Line App. Not only does it provide you with a fun countdown to your embarkation date, but it has also so much necessary information your check-in and valuable information during your trip. Including, dining times, rotation schedules, times of events, shows, meet-n-greets, shore excursion information and so much more! Download it the day you book your trip so you are fully prepared before you board the ship. Once you connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi, you will be able to access the app for free – no need to purchase a separate Wi-Fi package to access the app. For parents, the app will also allow the Kids Club to contact you if your child needs anything or wants to be picked up.

Image 1: Disney characters dressed up in costumes on a balcony inside the ship, with the peacock light fixture in sight. Image 2: A swanky and circular designed adults-only pool.

Embarkation

Embarkation Day may be the best of all, as you enter the grand lobby with an announcement of your arrival (feel free to be creative with your name!). You are whisked away to your room, if it’s ready, or go ahead and start the festivities, by grabbing some lunch, hopping in the pool or getting a great spot for the send-off deck party. There will be plenty of time here for photos, visits with characters and learning how to navigate the different areas of the ship.

Staterooms

There are many different options of staterooms you can choose from for your Disney Cruise. Disney has four main stateroom categories and ten different room types on the Disney Dream, to make sure your experience is perfect. They are,
Inside staterooms are interior rooms that have no exterior view, but some ships feature a virtual porthole. These rooms tend to disappear first so if you are interested, book sooner rather than later.

Oceanview staterooms are outward-facing rooms with one or two portholes. Some rooms feature a “split bath” design.

Verandahs are outward-facing rooms with a private verandah. Some rooms can fit up to five people. Another great feature of these rooms is the “split bath,” where there is a bathroom with a vanity, sink, shower and tub, and another half-bathroom with a vanity, sink and toilet.

Concierge are luxurious accommodations with private large verandahs, premium amenities and concierge services. Rooms feature down duvets, a pillow menu, personal robes and slippers and complimentary Wi-Fi. There are also options for one-bedroom suites and even the coveted Royal Suite. You will also be able to reserve onboard activities and services online one hundred twenty days prior to sailing. Be sure to provide the concierge team with your preferences one hundred thirty days prior to sailing, and they can make the bookings on your behalf (Cabana at Castaway Cay, anyone?). You will also receive access to concierge-only lounges aboard the ship and a private sundeck.

Dining

Disney is my favorite cruise line in terms of dining. Not only is the food absolutely magnificent, you can of course order as much as you’d like. My favorite part is their rotational dining. Each night you are assigned a restaurant and table, so you are able to visit each restaurant more than once if you are on a longer voyage. AND your wait staff rotates with you each night, so they quickly learn your preferences. Before seating each night, my children’s drinks were already on the table, they knew that my kids wanted extra butter, two baskets of bread, and ice cream for dessert.
On the Disney Dream, we ate at the Enchanted Garden, Animator’s Palate and Royal Palace. The food at each restaurant was different every night, so we had the opportunity to try a variety of dishes. The experience of Animator’s Palate was our favorite, as we were able to draw our own characters that were animated later in the evening, and visits from Crush. I would absolutely dine here every day if I had the chance!

You can also book ahead for upgraded dining at Remy and Palo, but these restaurants charge an additional fee per person.

Kids, Tween, and Teen Club

I can 100% say that I was absolutely jealous of the setup of the kids’ clubs. On the first day, it is a great time to visit the club to get your children acquainted with the space, options and Cast Members. Once you drop your children off, they have free roam of the kids club, and of course, you are notified via the app if you child wishes to leave or needs anything.

There are several options for different ages:
For children ages three to ten, there is Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lab. These two clubs are connected, leading to tons of fun for your child (ours never wanted to leave!). With some many play spaces and interactive Cast Members, your child will have an amazing experience. My kids’ favorite? The Magic Play Floor, climbing into the driver’s seat in the Star Wars: Millennium Falcon and the Mickey and Friends Pajama Party. They also had kids-exclusive character visits, which limited the lines we needed to stand in around the ship to meet their favorite characters. And if you’re not a parent, don’t worry – there is a designated time when you can visit the Oceaneer’s Club and be a kid yourself!

For eleven to fourteen year-olds, there is Edge. This tween’s exclusive club features TV’s, computers, video games and daily guided activities. Located in the Forward Funnel of the Disney Dream, there is modular movable furniture, cushy beanbags and floor-to-ceiling windows, making this one amazing place for your tween to hang out with their new friends.

For fourteen to seventeen year-olds, there is Vibe. This teen’s exclusive club is a perfect for place for teens to chill out, listen to music, watch TV and experience exclusive events. Vibe features a coffee bar with a wide selection of non-alcoholic beverages, including fruit smoothies and more!

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

For those little princes and princesses, the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is a wonderful addition to the magical time aboard the ship. There are different packages and outfits to choose from, and the experience was truly magical. Children can have their hair done in special princess up-do’s, costumes, make-up, nails and more. For princes, they can choose from pirate costumes, makeup and accessories.
Pro tip: Schedule your Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique visit near your Princess Gathering (reservation required) time so that your little princess is photographed with a Disney Princess!

Character Experiences

You cannot walk around the ship without seeing lines for meet-n-greets with your favorite characters. They wear special outfits each day and night to correspond with the themes, so you will be tempted to be photographed with each one! Utilize the Disney Cruise Line app to see when and where your favorite characters will appear, and arrive in line early.

Fish Extenders and Pixie Dust

For my first Disney Cruise, I joined the Facebook group for my sailing date (which I highly recommend you do ASAP). One of the first things you will see posts on are Pixie Dust groups. Let me provide you with the low-down! On the outside of your stateroom door, you will place a bag or what they call “fish extenders” (you can make your own, or buy one off Etsy or Amazon, but there are soooo many options). These are places for other guests to leave a surprise gift (or “Pixie Dust”) for you and your party. On the Facebook group, you can opt to join a Pixie Dust group, where you will input your cruise party, ages, favorite foods, characters, etc. and the remainder of your group will do the same. You will surprise your group with gifts in their fish extender. It’s a great experience to both give and receive, and our kids were always so excited to see what was in their bag at the end of each day. Some guests will also opt to pass out little gifts and treats randomly at decorated doors, so have some fun with it! Don’t forget to decorate your doors, but remember magnets only!

Onboard Entertainment

There will be nightly entertainment featuring special Broadway style shows onboard your ship. These change throughout the year, but they are always magical. Some nights also feature comedians, ventriloquists, singers and much more. We were able to attend one show most nights, and I cannot recommend it enough! Recently-released movies will also be playing all day either in the theaters, or you can always catch a classic movie on the big-screen by the pool. The adults club will also feature special acts, so there are plenty of times to enjoy a drink and have fun late into the evening!

Shore Excursions

The ports of calls are obviously one of the most intriguing parts of a Disney cruise. With so many destinations, it’s hard to choose! We opted for the Disney Dream sailing to the Norwegian Fjords, which stopped in Brugges, Belgium, Copenhagen, Denmark and Oslo and Stavenger, Norway. You do not have to sign up for a shore excursion, and instead you can opt to explore your ports of calls on your own. However, I would recommend doing some research for each port of call so you know what the transportation in and out of the port looks like. Sometimes Disney will provide shuttles if you do not have a planned excursion, and sometimes the ship docks very close to the city so you don’t need to have transportation. Other times, the ports are in areas where a shuttle is required to leave. When in doubt, ask your travel advisor!

Disney shore excursions are designed to provide you with a seamless travel experience onshore in various activities. Depending on the port of call, options will vary from walking tours, bus tours, river tours, museums and so much more. Some excursions can be booked up very quickly (I’m looking at you Lysefjord Cruise in Stavanger) so if you want to take advantage of shore excursions, I recommend you book the experiences ASAP when they are released. You will not be billed until closer to when your voyage begins, so check back often if you missed out on an excursion to see if anyone has removed it from their itinerary.

If you head out to the port on your own, be sure to arrive back with plenty of time before the cruise ship departs, as the ship can leave you at the port if you do not board on time. If you join a Disney shore excursion, the ship will not leave without the group, so that is an added benefit to booking your spot.

The above in no way encompasses the entire experience you will have with Disney Cruise Line. You will have such a great time you will never want to leave! Don’t forget to book your Placeholder Reservation before you disembark the ship – you will get 10% off your next cruise. This is an onboard offer only. You don’t have to choose the date when choosing a placeholder, but it can be used for sailings within twenty-four months to book your next sailing, with a $250 refundable deposit made onboard. With so many destinations, ports of call and various ships, you can have so many different wonderful Disney experiences. Contact me or your travel advisor today to get your Disney vacation booked and get ready to pack your Mickey ears!