Is a Disney Dream Cruise Worth it? 9 Magical Reasons to Sail on the Disney Dream

It’s official.  My love for Disney extends beyond the parks.  My family and I recently returned from our third Disney Cruise and we are hooked.  Even more so now that we experienced one of the newer ships, the Disney Dream.  Everything is exceptional, from delicious food, to family friendly entertainment, and kids clubs that are out-of-this-world.  While we were guests of Disney Parks as part of the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, which included perks not included as part of general admission and a Disney vacation package at a discounted rate, all opinions are my own.  We’ve previously taken two other Disney cruises (the Disney Wonder and the Disney Magic) at our own expense.  So without further ado:  Is a Disney Dream cruise worth it?  Absolutely!  Here are 9 magical reasons to sail on the Disney Dream with your family!

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Is a Disney Dream Cruise Worth It?  9 Magical Reasons to Sail on the Disney Dream

When I received an invitation to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, I was excited to see that it included both a Land and Sea Celebration.  Which meant that not only did it include time at Disney World, but that it also included a cruise on the Disney Dream and a day at one of our favorite islands, Castaway Cay.

My family loves cruising, especially with Disney.  In November 2017,  my family set sail on the Marvel Day at Sea with the Disney Magic, and it was fantastic.  So I was hoping that the Disney Dream would be as equally fun.  Now that we’ve returned and unpacked our bags, I’m writing 9 magical reasons to sail on the Disney Dream Cruise.  My only wish is that the Disney Dream itinerary is longer!

Kids Club:  Oceaneer Lab and Oceaneer Club

There are so many things for kids to do on the Disney Dream, beginning with the Oceaneer Lab and Oceaneer Club.  In the Oceaneer Club, there are 4 different themed play areas, including Andy’s Room, Disney’s Infinity Game Room, Pixie Hollow, and Star Wars:  Millennium Falcon.  Is your child (or you) a Star Wars fan?  If so, buckle up!  There’s an area where guests can pretend to fly the Millennium Falcon.  My 5 year old son loves this area of the Oceaneer Club and even I had the opportunity to give it a try during open house.  However, there are plenty of other things to do besides fly the Millennium Falcon.  Throughout the day, kids can participate in several activities.  The activities are advertised in the Personal Navigator, Disney’s newsletter that is delivered to your cabin the night before the next days scheduled events.

Tweens and teens aren’t left out, either.  Tweens can hang out in Edge, and teens can hang out in Vibe.  Because my son is 5 years old, I primarily focus on activities for families traveling with younger children.  However, my friend Kirsten from Kids are a Trip has written a comprehensive article for teens and it’s definitely worth checking out by clicking here.

Pools and Slides on the Disney Dream

Simply put, the pools and slides on the Disney Dream Cruise are fantastic.  My son absolutely loves Mickey’s Pool, Donald’s Pool, and the AquaDuck.  Parents of young children will appreciate that life vests are available.  And adults who want quiet time also aren’t left out – there is a pool area for adults only called Quiet Cove Pool.  The AquaDuck is especially fun – guests are basically able to go down through a tube (seen in the picture below) in a two person raft.  Children must be at least 42 inches or taller to ride the AquaDuck.  My son is tall enough now to go on it and he really enjoyed it!

Dining Options on the Disney Dream

There are plenty of dining options on the Disney Dream Cruise.  For those who love the variety and convenience of buffets, Cabanas is the place to be.  As for main dining, there are three different restaurants:  Animator’s Palate, Royal Palace, and Enchanted Garden.  The food is delicious and guests can experience all of the restaurants since Disney rotates guests to different restaurants throughout the cruise.  Quick service dining is also available thanks to Flo’s Cafe, which serves hamburgers and pizza.  And room service is also available free of charge!  We have taken advantage of this on all three Disney cruises we’ve been on – especially to order Mickey bars 🙂

There are also adult only restaurants on board, Palo and Remy.  My husband and I have taken our son to the kids club so we can eat dinner at Palo.  While dining at Palo and Remy cost extra, they are worth it since the food is delicious, and you don’t have to pay for a babysitter thanks to the kids club.

Tip for Palo and Remy:  If you decide to eat at Palo or Remy, you’ll want to make sure you make reservations at soon as possible.  They book up very quickly.

And for those of you who have a sweet tooth like me, there are Frozone Treats, and the ultimate candy store, Vanellope’s Sweets and Treats.  Vanellope sells gelato, cupcakes, and candy galore and you really will feel like a kid in a candy store.

Entertainment on the Disney Dream

Disney isn’t kidding when it says Be Our Guest!  You can expect great entertainment and the Disney Dream Cruise is the only cruise ship that has a live performance of Beauty and the Beast.  It has the same caliber as a Broadway show and is included in the price of the cruise.  I was able to see some of the props and costumes and the details are amazing.  My son is still telling people about how he was able to see Beauty and the Beast on board the Disney Dream Cruise.

Beauty and the Beast isn’t the only entertainment, though.  There are other nightly shows as well as musical performers.  And that doesn’t even include the first run Disney movies shown in the Buena Vista Theatre.    The movies are also included in the price of the cruise and it’s extremely convenient.

Sports Activities on the Disney Dream (Goofy’s Sport Deck)

Another reason to sail on the Disney Dream Cruise is Goofy’s Sport Deck, located on Deck 13.  There, passengers can play miniature golf as well as other sports activities like basketball.  Like Beauty and the Beast, and the first-run movies, miniature golf is also included in the price of the cruise.

Midship Detective Agency on the Disney Dream

We love the Midship Detective Agency.  As I mentioned above, my family and I have been on two other Disney Cruise Ships, the Wonder and the Magic.  While the Wonder and the Magic do not have the Midship Detective Agency, the Disney Dream does have it.  I’m glad we had the opportunity to try it out for ourselves because it quickly became one of our favorite things to do onboard the cruise.  It’s very interactive.  Basically, you help solve a mystery based on several clues.  Each clue takes you to a different location on the cruise ship, where you scan a card, with the help of interactive paintings, to obtain another clue.  There are different levels depending on age and experience.

We walked past so many paintings that I didn’t realize were part of the Midship Detective Agency.

Pirate Night on the Disney Dream

One of the other reasons to sail on the Disney Dream is Pirate Night!  We love Pirate Night, which includes fireworks at sea (weather permitting).  Some of the guests go all out for pirate night, whereas other guests play it low-key.  Disney provides pirate-themed bandanas for all guests, so no one is left out.  It’s a great nod to Pirates of the Caribbean, and one of the reasons why I love sailing with Disney Cruise Line in general.

Characters on the Disney Dream

There are several characters on the Disney Dream, including characters like Captain Mickey.  You can find out the locations and times of the character meet and greets by looking at the Personal Navigator.  Be sure to bring an autograph book for your child even if you are just walking around the cruise ship, because you may also see a character without expecting it.

Fun Surprises on the Disney Dream:  Pepe the King Prawn

Pepe the King Prawn is a character from the Muppets and turns out he has his own stateroom on the Disney Dream 🙂  My husband and our son randomly found it when they were wandering around the cruise ship.  We called the number listed on his cabin door, but no one answered, lol.

As you can see, there’s so much to see and do on the Disney Dream Cruise.  I’m ready to plan another trip now!

BOOK A DISNEY CRUISE THROUGH GET AWAY TODAY!

If you’re thinking of booking a Disney Cruise, then please consider booking through Get Away Today by clicking on this link.  I’m an affiliate of Get Away Today and Get Away Today offers cruise packages for Disney Cruise Line.