Disney Dream

Disney Dream

The Disney Dream launched in 2011 and is the first ship in the Dream Class (alongside the Fantasy).

The Dream combines classic ocean liner elegance with a distinctly Disney twist. Influenced heavily by an Art Deco style you can expect hidden Mickeys, character motifs and a magical atmosphere throughout.

The stern character on this ship features Sorcerer Mickey and the bronze status in the atrium lobby is Admiral Donald.

Staterooms

The Dream has 1,250 staterooms and are among the most family-friendly and well designed at sea. They are known for being spacious, comfortable and filled with Disney’s signature style .

  • Inside Staterooms (category 11A, 11B and 11C - 169 sq ft) and Deluxe Inside Staterooms (category 10A, 10B and 10C - 204 sq ft) Split bathroom only as part of the deluxe category where the sink and toilet are in one room and the shower/sink in another. All offer a signature ‘magical porthole’ screen that displays real-time ocean views with animated Disney characters popping up randomly. Rooms offer a queen bed, single sleeper sofa and some have an upper berth pull-down bed.

  • Oceanview Staterooms (category 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D - 204 sq ft) Very similar layout and amenities to inside staterooms but feature natural light from oversized portholes (either one or two). Some rooms sleep up to 5 with an extra Murphy bed which folds down.

  • Verandah Staterooms (category 5A-5E - 246 sq ft) and Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah (4A-4E - 299 sq ft). Similar layout but offer a private balcony with seating. Some rooms sleep up to 5 with an extra Murphy bed which folds down.

Concierge Staterooms & Suites

The concierge level on the Dream features 41 staterooms and suites. Guests receive priority boarding, exclusive access to the Concierge Lounge and sundeck with dedicated concierge hosts. Rooms feature lavish décor, upgraded linens and luxury bath products.

Dining

All Disney Cruise Line ships have rotational dining where guests experience rotational dining where restaurants are pre-booked each night automatically (with two different sittings which you get to pick from when you book - the first sitting generally begins at 5:45pm and the later seatings begins at 8:15pm). Rotational dining works where the guests rotate through the themed restaurants with the same serving team each evening so they really get to know your preferences and things like drink orders - it all adds to the exceptional service!

Animator’s Palate

  • A tech-enhanced restaurant where the walls come to life with animation around you as you eat your food.

  • Serving up a fusion of Pacific Island foods, Asian cooking and fresh California fare - our favourite is the Black Truffle Pasta Purseittes starter.

Royal Palace

  • An elegant restaurant inspired by Disney Princesses and serving up a mouthwatering menu of French and American cuisine.

  • Dine on French onion soup, snails, lobster and Grand Marnier Soufflé in this wonderful restaurant.

Enchanted Garden

  • Throughout the course of your meal you are transformed from a blue daytime sky through a golden sunset followed by a twinkling nighttime sky in this gorgeous restaurant.

  • Menus here are inspired by market-fresh ingredients which include Ahi tuna and avocado, roasted pork tenderloin and an almond meringue cake.

Additional restaurants and quick-service spots are spread throughout the ship including Cabanas (buffet open for breakfast and lunch), quick service locations next to the pool for options like burgers, pizza and ice cream and then Premium dining at Palo and Remy (adults-only and additional charge). Room service is available 24/7 and is completely free as well! There is also Vanellope’s Sweets and Treats dessert shop where you can purchase gelato, baked goodies and other treats if the unlimited free soft serve ice cream available on deck isn't enough for you!

Bars & Lounges

Skyline

  • Sightsee from your seat at this chic sky bar where drinks are served in front of a screen showing some of the best skyline views from across the globe.

District Lounge

  • A relaxed piano bar featuring live music and entertainment with cozy ambience.

Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar

  • An intimate space which provides the ideal romantic setting serving some of the best wines, champagnes and cocktails.

D Lounge

  • Sing, dance, play games and enjoy live entertainment as a family. As the sun sets, D Lounge transforms into a family-friendly nightclub featuring lively dance parties and fun contests.

Evolution

  • A trendy dance club which is family friendly during the day but switches to adults-only on an evening. They specialise in artisanal cocktails and have an extensive menu of beer, scotch and bourbon.

Vista Café

  • A great spot to grab coffee and take advantage of the free cakes and pastries.

Pub 687

  • A sports-fans paradise, this pub is fitted with huge screens to watch live broadcasts whilst enjoying a drink (adults-only after 9pm).

Meridian

  • Enjoy a pre or post dinner cocktail at this sophisticated indoor and outdoor lounge situated next to Palo and Remy.

Bon Voyage

  • Located in the grand atrium and serves cocktails, coffees, juices and sodas.

Cove Café

  • Adults-only peaceful retreat. Grab a gourmet coffee in the morning or a craft cocktail at night - this is a great spot to relax with gorgeous ocean views.

Currents Bar

  • Located close to the adult pool this is an outdoor bar offering great cocktails, beers and frozen drinks and is the perfect place to sunbathe and watch the sea with a drink.

Pools

The pools on the Dream class ships are a definite upgrade on the Magic class ships. They offer something for everyone - from toddlers to thrill-seekers to adults who just want to relax. The pool deck has funnel vision (a giant movie screen showing Disney films all day) and is also where the Sail-Away Celebration and Pirate Night celebrations take place.

  • Donald’s Pool (Main Family Pool): The main family pool area is located on Deck 11 Midship. Lifeguards are always on duty (and everyone knows Disney lifeguards are the best of the best). This pool is right in front of Funnel Vision so you can splash around and watch a film at the same time. There are always plenty of deck chairs and loungers available too.

  • Mickey’s Pool: This is for younger children and is a shallower, wading-style pool shaped like Mickey Mouse. There is a large yellow water slide in this area too which is great for children who may be a bit small for the main slide.

  • AquaDuck: A hybrid water coaster and slide. This 765 feet long coaster wraps around the upper decks and even goes over the side of the ship (with a clear tube section giving a view straight down to the ocean below!) You sit on a 2-person raft and there are sharp turns, uphill sections and a splash at the finish. We love this slide!

  • Nemo’s Reef Splash Pad: An interactive kids water play area designed specifically for toddlers and infants in swim diapers. It features fountains, jets, water sprays and small slides.

  • Quiet Cove (Adults-Only): Also on Deck 11 but towards the front of the ship. This features a multi-level pool design with a swim-up bar and hot tub. Surrounded by a tranquil lounge area with padded loungers and offering bar service, this has no loud music, kids or activities - just peaceful vibes!

  • Satellite Falls (Adults-Only): Located on Deck 13 - this is another adults-only area close to the Spa. It features a circular splash pool with a rain curtain style waterfall dome. The surrounding lounge deck has panoramic ocean views. This tends to be even quieter and less crowded then the Quiet Cove and is a great spot to relax.

Family Fun

There is always a jam-packed schedule of onboard activities for every age when onboard Disney Cruise Line. Many of these can be pre-booked on the app (and some are an extra charge) but others are completely free and require no reservation. These include things like trivia, drawing classes, character meets, live music and plenty of pool deck activities. We have highlighted some of the best spaces below:

  • Walt Disney Theatre: This shows Broadway-style Disney musicals such as Beauty and the Beast, which is not to be missed!

  • Buena Vista Theatre: This is a free cinema onboard showing the latest Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars movies.

  • Midship Detective Agency: Guests of all ages can play this interactive game, at your own pace, with animated elements throughout the ship. There are 3 different games to try and this is one of our favourite things to do onboard a Disney Ship! This is only offered on the Dream class ships so don’t miss out.

  • Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique: Book a makeover appointment for your child at this magical salon where kids arrive as themselves and leave as a princess, knight or sea captain! On Pirate Night this space turns into the Pirate League offering pirate-themed makeovers.

  • Goofy’s Sports Deck - Open-air activity centre featuring mini-golf, virtual sports simulators and a basketball course.

Kids Clubs

The kids clubs on Disney Cruise Line are absolutely exceptional - they are themed play spaces for kids overflowing with Disney magic and a packed schedule of organised activities. All of these spaces offer ‘Open House’ hours where families can look around and enjoy the spaces together which can be great for children who are unsure if they want to join in without their parents nearby.

  • ‘It’s a Small World’ Nursery (ages 6 months - 3 years): Space is limited here so book your reservations as soon as possible, there is an additional fee for this service. Broken down into two distinct areas - the main play area and a separate quiet room for naps.

  • Disney’s Oceaneer Club (ages 3-10): Youngsters will be absorbed for hours in this activity centre full of magical surprises. Themed areas on the Dream include Andy’s Room, Mobile WEB Workshop, Pixie Hollow and Star Wars: Millennium Falcon.

  • Disney’s Oceaneer Lab (ages 3-10): This is connected to the Oceaneer Club space so kids are free to go between the two. The great spaces here include an Animator’s Studio, Craft Studio, Media Room, Explorer’s Room and The Wheelhouse where you can do things like participate in video game challenges.

  • Edge (ages 11-14): Tweens have their very own place to play onboard, it’s packed with all of the high-tech goodies you can imagine and features things like a dance floor and even an outdoor deck which features a splash pool!

  • Vibe (ages 14-17): Part sundeck, part nightclub - this is a great spot for teens to hang out and make new friends.

Adult-Only Activities

  • Senses Spa & Salon: Provides tranquility, pampering and relaxation with a multitude of spa and beauty treatments. You can book for a specific treatment or book a Rainforest Pass for the length of the cruise which allows you access to the spa area to enjoy things like the steam room, sauna and speciality rain shower experiences.

  • Fitness Centre: Expansive, state of the art exercise club offering stunning ocean views and everything you need to work out during your sailing.

  • Beverage Tastings: Book onto an informative beverage tasting, such as mixology class, rum tasting, stem-to-stern wine tasting and many more, for a fun afternoon!

Adventures x Paradise Review

We absolutely adore Disney Cruise Line! All of our ship reviews begin this way as the whole Adventures x Paradise gang agree that any time onboard a Disney ship give us some of the most magical memories and vacations.

The Dream class ships are probably, on balance, our favourite Disney ships at the moment! The Fantasy holds our top spot but this could just be because we spent longer on this one with a longer cruise. The Dream and Fantasy are similar in so many ways. We absolutely adore the AquaDuck and find this is actually a much better waterslide than the AquaMouse on the Triton class ships. The pools on the Dream are perfect and we enjoy having more room in the main pools and having a great view of Funnel Vision. The dining options on this ship are great (Cabanas is the best buffet we’ve experienced on any cruise line) and the quality of the food in the restaurants is exceptional. The menus can get a little bit repetitive if you’ve cruised a lot but as this is a common gripe we expect Disney will change these up soon.

Midship Detective Agency is such a fun game to play. You can play it at your own leisure and stop and start whenever you have time throughout your cruise - it’s a great way to get to know the layout of the ship as it takes you all over to various decks to find the clues. This is something we really miss when we’re not on a Dream class ship. The Dream class seems to deal better with crowds than the Triton class too (even though there is no difference in the number of passengers onboard). It never seems quite as crowded which is a great thing for us.

Our vlogs below give a full tour of the ship along with our hints and tips for making the most of a trip on the Disney Dream.

TOP TIP - The Beauty and the Beast show on the Dream is absolutely amazing - it really is a Broadway level production so do not miss this.