disney dream cruise live shows

Frequently Asked Questions: Stage Shows on Disney Cruise Line Ships

Every Disney Cruise Line ship includes stage shows as part of their evening entertainment. Here’s everything you need to know about the DCL stage show experience.

Where are DCL stage shows performed?

The major productions are performed at each ship’s Walt Disney Theater. This is located on Deck 4 Forward on the Magic and Wonder. On the Dream, Fantasy, Wish, and Treasure, the main Walt Disney Theater entrance is on Deck 3 Forward, with additional balcony seating on Deck 4 Forward.

What kinds of shows are there on the Disney Cruise ships?

There are three main types of stage performances that take place in the Walt Disney Theater.

• Jukebox-style original shows . These are shows that use characters and songs from a variety of different Disney/Pixar franchises and combine them into a wholly new story.
• Retellings of familiar Disney stories . These shows are modified and abridged versions of a familiar Disney tale.
• Guest performers .  On sailings of longer than three or four nights, you’ll often see comedians, magicians, ventriloquists, musicians, and the like performing on the main stage.

On longer sailings you might also have a new Disney, Pixar, Marvel, or Star Wars film shown in the Walt Disney Theater.

How long are the shows?

Live evening performances typically last about an hour. This may be prefaced by a 5-10 minute introduction and announcements by the cruise director.

What time are the stage shows?

Times vary slightly depending on your specific itinerary, check your Personal Navigator app while you’re onboard for the exact details. But in general there will be two performances of the same show each evening, one at about 5:45 or 6:00 p.m. and one at about 8:15 or 8:30.

These times are the inverse of the main dining room seating times. So if you have a 6:00 dinner time, then you’ll be able to see the 8:30 stage show, and vice versa.

In addition to the evening shows, some sailings may offer a mid-afternoon extra performance of a mainstage show, but this does not happen on many itineraries.

What happens if I want to see one of the stage shows, but I can’t?

There are times when a guest can’t get to a stage show. Some reasons might be:

• You have an adult dining experience booked during the showtimes.
• You get back late from a port excursion.
• Someone in your party is ill.
• Your child is falls asleep in the stateroom during showtime and you don’t want to wake them.

If you find that you can’t make it to the show, then you can look for the Walt Disney Theater channel on your stateroom TV. This channel will show a pre-recorded version of the show playing in the main theater. It’s a poor substitute for the real thing, but sometimes you have to make do.

Can I have someone else in my party record the stage show for me?

Noooooo. Taking photos and video during the live performances is strictly prohibited. It distracts the audience and the performers (which is particularly dangerous on a moving vessel) and it’s poor form in general. Don’t do it.

I have seen guests removed from the theaters for using recording devices during a performance.

Can I have a snack during the show?

Just prior to and during showtimes, the Preludes snack bar will open near the Walt Disney Theater entrance. Preludes sells popcorn, some packaged snacks, beer, wine, and canned soft drinks, which you’re welcome to bring into the theater and consume during the show. There is a fee to get these items. For example, a canned soda will cost about $1.50.

If you’re not in the mood to pay for something like soda that you can easily get for free from the dispensers on the pool deck, then you can try to bring a cup of free soda into the theater with you. I’ve also put some free pool deck French fries into a paper cup and taken those into the theater.

I used the word “try” in the previous paragraph, because sometimes you’ll have a cast member tell you not to bring non-Preludes food into the theater. In my personal experience this happens about 25% percent of the time and is more common on the Wish than on the older ships. Be discrete about what you’re doing and just abandon your snack if you’re asked to do so.

Do I have to get to the theater early?

This is a controversial topic. If you don’t care about where you sit, then you’re probably fine to show up at the theater 5-10 minutes prior to showtime and you’ll find a seat. DCL has tons of experience with understanding guest interests and capacity for entertainment. That said, some guests will say that you absolutely must show up at the theater at least half an hour in advance. These people might be extremely passionate about their seat location or they might have a large party that they feel must sit together.

If you have a large group and truly feel that you must sit front and center, then you should probably arrive at the theater no later than 20 minutes in advance. If you just want to see the show, you can roll up just before it starts.

Can I save seats for my family?

Generally this is a big no-no.

Are you holding one seat for five minutes while your companion runs to the restroom quickly? Then you’re probably not going to have any issues. Are you holding an entire row for a dozen people who are going to arrive at the theater after the show starts, well, that’s just not polite.

Is there a dress code for the theater on the ship?

They don’t specify one. You should stay away from swimwear, but otherwise you can wear what you like. However, since most folks with either be coming from or going to dinner right before or after the show, the majority of guests in the theater will be wearing attire appropriate for dining.

Are there other etiquette rules I should know about?

You should be as respectful of the players and other audience members on the ship as you would be at a fancy theater on land. This means no talking during the performance and you should show your appreciation to the performers by applauding at the appropriate junctures. And while young children are welcome at the main theater stage shows, if your baby or toddler starts to cry or otherwise become unruly, PLEASE take them out of the theater.

Is there a charge to see the shows on Disney Cruise Line?

Nope. Stage shows are included with the price of your cruise.

Do I need reservations to see a stage show on Disney Cruise Line?

No. You’re welcome to see the stage shows on Disney Cruise Line with no reservations and no tickets. In fact, if you’d like to skip your main dining room dinner and see a show twice in one evening, you’re perfectly welcome to do that.

What is the quality of the shows like? Are they only for kids?

Let’s take the second part of this question first. While the stage shows on Disney Cruise Line use familiar songs and stories from Disney films and they’re all appropriate for children, with no off-color language or situations, MANY adults love the DCL shows. If you’re traveling on DCL without kids and you love Beauty & the Beast (for example), then by all means go ahead and see the show.

As for quality, that’s in the eye of the beholder. Like most things Disney, some guests think they’re astounding and others find them underwhelming.

Disney advertises the shows as “Broadway-style.” They are Broadway-style in that there are live performers who dance and sing. The performers are completely competent. There are several stories of cruise ship performers who have gone on to have notable careers on Broadway or screen (Jennifer Hudson is the classic example), but those stories are relatively rare.

Another big difference is that Broadway musicals are required to use live musicians. On DCL, the performers sing with recorded orchestrations, which somewhat diminishes the productions’ depth and spontaneity. Similarly, the limited space on a moving vessel means that sets cannot be as cumbersome or elaborate as they might be on land.

Additionally, the shows on DCL run about an hour. Musicals on Broadway typically last at least two hours, which means that in the story’s abridgments, you lose much of the nuance in the storytelling. The Aladdin show on DCL is not the same as the Aladdin show on Broadway. On the plus side for DCL, some technical aspects of staging a live production at sea are nothing short of remarkable.

If you’re looking for something nearer to a Broadway experience at sea, Royal Caribbean offers some sailings with full-length renditions of past Broadway hits such as Mama Mia, Cats, and Grease.

What shows will I see during my DCL vacation?

There are three shows resident on each Disney Cruise Line ship. They are:

• Beauty and the Beast. This show is based on the live-action movie, not the animated version.
• The Golden Mickeys. A jukebox-style show that takes the form of a faux awards ceremony.
• Disney’s Believe. A jukebox-style show that tells about a daughter’s relationship with her botanist father.
• Frozen: A Musical Spectacular. Lots of puppets and projections, as well as some obligatory fake snow.
• Disney’s Aladdin. A shortened version of the film story.
• Disney’s Believe. (As above.)
• Tangled: The Musical. Includes several songs that are not in the movie.
• Disney Dreams. A girl talks with Peter Pan and sees scenes from a variety of Disney movies.
• Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story. What if the glass slipper broke before Cindy could slip it on?
• Disney’s Aladdin. (As above.)
• Disney Seas the Adventure (As below.)
• One new show, to be announced at a later date.
• Disney Seas the Adventure. Goofy takes the helm of the ship and gentle mayhem ensues.
• The Little Mermaid. As if a community theater troupe put on a version of the live-action film.
• Frozen: A Musical Spectacular. (As above.)
• The Golden Mickeys. (As above.)
• Disney Dreams. (As above.)

I’m doing a repeat sailing on one of the Disney ships. Will I see the same shows I saw last time? Does Disney ever change the shows on a ship?

Crafting a show for sea viewing is a long, complicated, and expensive process. Disney does change the onboard shows, but you can expect this to happen at something like 10-year intervals. Unless it’s been a VERY long time since you last sailed on your vessel, you can expect the shows to be the same.

If you don’t want to repeat seeing a show, you can use that time to explore other parts of the ship when they’re relatively empty. A classic trick is to ride on your ship’s feature pool slide during showtime and you’ll almost certainly have little to no wait time.

Do you have a favorite (or least favorite) Disney Cruise Line show? Let us know in the comments. 

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Erin Foster

Erin Foster is an original member of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel (now PlanDisney), a regular contributor to TouringPlans.com, and co-author of The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line. She's been to WDW, DL, DL Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, Aulani, DVC Vero Beach, and DVC Hilton Head. She's a Platinum DCL cruiser and veteran of 10 Adventures by Disney trips. Erin lives near New York City, where she can often be found indulging in her other obsession - Broadway theater.

2 thoughts on “ Frequently Asked Questions: Stage Shows on Disney Cruise Line Ships ”

The shows on the Dream a few years ago were amazing. It was such a memorable experience.

For snacks we ordered a plate of chocolate chip cookies from room service and brought with us to the show.

Having just returned from the Fantasy, I thought Aladdin was terrific, while Frozen and Believe were forgettable.

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Disney Dream Cruise Ship: Complete Guide

When the Disney Dream Cruise Ship began sailing in 2011, it became the third ship in the fleet and the first of what would be known as Disney’s “Dream class” ships. Let’s take a deep dive into all the guest rooms, dining, activities and entertainment onboard this amazing floating resort.

Prefer to Speak to Someone? Get Free Help From Our Favorite Disney Travel Agency!

In This Guide:

• Ship Overview
• Rotational Dining
• Adult-Exclusive Dining
• Casual Dining
• Lounges, Bars & Snacks
• Room Service
• Pools & Splash Pads
• Oceaneer Club
• Oceaneer Lab
• Broadway-Style Shows
• Pirate Night / Fireworks

Midship Detective Agency

• Spa & Salons
• Itineraries & Ports
• Deck-By-Deck Guide
• How To Book

Disney Dream Ship Overview

Image © Disney

The arrival of the Disney Dream in 2011 marked the first expansion of Disney Cruise Line’s fleet since its initial two ships in the late 1990s. It had been about 12 years since the launch of the Disney Wonder, and the Dream’s launch was highly anticipated — not just because of pent-up demand but also because Disney had an additional decade of experience and technological advances under its belt. Still no casinos onboard , but lots of new innovations such as a sort of water coaster called the AquaDuck, interactive artwork that springs to life as you pass by, and much more.

As you step onto the ship, your arrival is announced over the atrium loudspeakers as if you were arriving at a state dinner — the crew and your fellow passengers applaud to welcome you aboard, and your vacation has officially begun!

Inside the grand atrium of the ship which towers three decks in height, you might stop to gawk at the impressive overhead light fixture (22 feet in diameter and 13 feet tall, bedazzled with more than 88,000 Swarovski crystals and 24-carat gold plating).

There are plenty of photo spots here, from the grand staircase to the selfie-worthy statue of Admiral Donald [Duck]. Glass elevators zip up and down, ferrying passengers between 14 passenger decks, each waiting to be explored. Where will you head first?

How Does Disney Dream Compare to Other Disney Cruise Ships?

The Disney Dream is a sister ship to the Disney Fantasy , meaning the two are relatively equal in terms of construction (although similar areas on each ship are usually themed differently from one another). The Dream is significantly larger than the two original ships ( Disney Magic and Disney Wonder ) but is slightly smaller than the Disney Wish .

Based on the expected design of the remaining Disney Cruise ships currently being built , the Disney Dream should settle in as one of the “mid-sized” ships in the Disney Cruise fleet — larger than the classic ships, but well below the gigantic ship that Disney is planning to launch in Singapore in 2025.

As to onboard experiences, the Disney Dream is one of only two ships in the fleet to offer the AquaDuck water coaster, the Remy adult-exclusive fine dining restaurant, and virtual portholes (with live camera views of the outside) for its inside staterooms.

How Does the Dream’s Size Affect the Onboard Experience?

There are pros and cons to both types of ships — larger and smaller — but it really depends on your personal preference.

The smaller ships such as the Magic and Wonder are certainly easier to navigate on foot – you’re just a short walk away from virtually anything onboard. My wife and I tend to prefer the smaller ships for this very reason — but the difference is certainly not significant enough to be a dealbreaker. As a matter of fact, Katie and I have sailed onboard the Disney Dream more than any other Disney Cruise Ship despite generally preferring the smaller ones.

We at MagicGuides also tend to recommend smaller ships for first-time cruisers as they might feel a bit cozier when you’re trying to get your feel of the world of cruising — but again, it’s not a major consideration. My first Disney Cruise (and my first cruise ever, for that matter) was on the Disney Dream; I never felt overwhelmed during my maiden voyage and you likely won’t either.

Larger ships such as the Dream might not be able to dock in smaller ports; this is  usually not a concern thanks to savvy itinerary planning on Disney’s part, but some ports are so small that almost every cruise ship has to rely on tenders (smaller boats to ferry you between the ship and shore).

A bigger ship means more passengers, so you’ll find that all of the onboard venues are larger, too. Expect larger restaurants, larger theaters, and larger pools. Fortunately, the additional passengers are well absorbed by these so it rarely feels crowded. And thanks to clever design such as the use of forced perspective, there are still plenty of cozy spots onboard so you never really feel like you’re in a giant cavernous gymnasium.

Jump To: Overview   |  Staterooms   |  Dining   |  Water Fun   |  Kids Clubs   |  Entertainment   |  Spa & Salons   |  Itineraries & Ports   |  Deck-by-Deck   |  Fact Sheet   |  How To Book

Disney Dream Staterooms

One of the biggest decisions to make for your cruise is your own private room onboard the ship. Your stateroom (passenger cabin) serves as your hotel room at sea.

The Disney Dream has 1,250 staterooms, most of which offer an outside view via either a porthole window or a verandah balcony. There are four primary types of staterooms on the ship; each of those four types is further divided into multiple categories and subcategories. Your choice of stateroom is one of the biggest factors in the how much a Disney Cruise costs , because the per-person cost can increase depending on the stateroom category.

Here is a consolidated list of the room types offered onboard. They’re listed here generally from least expensive to most expensive, though there may be some price overlap. For a more in-depth look at each of these room types, see the descriptions and photos posted in our Disney Cruise Staterooms article.

Inside Staterooms on Disney Dream

Inside Staterooms are the smallest Guest rooms on the ship, but are still larger than those found on some other cruise lines. And thanks to some smart design, there’s still plenty of room for everyone and their luggage.

These staterooms have no porthole window and no balcony, but on this ship they do have so-called “magical portholes.” These are circular video screens which offer live video views of the outside, along with occasional character sightings.

Inside staterooms are offered in standard and deluxe versions, with standard being the smaller of the two. The standard version is also the only regular stateroom category on the ship which does not feature a split bathroom configuration; a split bathroom has a toilet/sink in a separate room from the shower/sink, allowing two people to get ready at the same time.

• 11C:   Deck 2
• 11B:   Decks 5, 6, 7
• 11A:   Decks 8, 9, 10
• 10A:   Decks 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Oceanview Staterooms on Disney Dream

Oceanview staterooms offer an outside view through a porthole window which does not open.

There are two major choices within this category: a  Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom which is similar in layout to many other staterooms on the ship, and a  Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom  which is larger (holding more people) and offers many additional features geared toward larger families.

• 9D (obstructed porthole with limited ocean view) :   Decks 6, 7, 8
• 9C (obstructed porthole) :   Decks 7, 8
• 9B:   Deck 2
• 9A:   Decks 5, 6, 7, 8
• 8C: Decks 5, 6
• 8B: Decks 7, 8, 9
• 8A: Decks 5, 6

A giant porthole with padded cushion, found in some Family Staterooms | Image © Disney

Verandah Staterooms on Disney Dream

A typical stateroom verandah layout | Image © Disney

Verandah staterooms offer a private outside balcony which can be accessed through sliding glass doors. Most verandahs have see-through railings (with clear plexiglass for safety), but a few categories have solid metal partitions or are otherwise somewhat obstructed.

• 7A:   Decks 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
• 6B: Decks 5, 6, 7
• 6A:   Decks 8, 9
• 5C:   Decks 6
• 5B:   Decks 7, 8
• 5A:   Decks 9, 10
• 4E (oversized verandah, some with whitewall) :   Deck 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
• 4C:   Deck 6
• 4B: Decks 7, 8
• 4A:   Decks 9, 10

Category 7A Enclosed Navigator’s Verandah | Image © Disney

Concierge Staterooms on Disney Dream

Concierge Family Stateroom | Image © Disney

Concierge staterooms offer additional personalized services , concierge staff, and access to an exclusive Concierge Lounge and sun deck.

• 3A:   Decks 11, 12
• 2B:   Decks 11, 12
• 2A:   Deck 12
• 1A:   Deck 12

Concierge One-Bedroom Suite | Image © Disney

Concierge Royal Suite | Image © Disney

Need Help Picking a Stateroom?

For free, personalized guidance on the different stateroom options offered by Disney Cruise Line, trust the Disney Cruise experts at The Vacationeer ! As an Earmarked Diamond level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner ,  The Vacationeer has helped thousands of families just like yours make their Disney Cruise plans.

When you contact The Vacationeer , you’ll be connected with a single, dedicated travel planner — no waiting on hold to speak to someone at a gigantic call center! Your Vacationeer will take the time to get to know your family’s needs to make sure that you find the perfect stateroom at the best possible price  so you get your money’s worth .

They’ll walk you through all the options, answer your questions, make your reservations for you, and share money-saving tips for Disney Cruises . The Vacationeer can even help you set up a zero-interest payment plan ; you’ll often be able to book with just a preliminary deposit, then pay over time .

They even offer a generous onboard credit that can be used toward your purchases on the ship. And best of all, their planning services are free !

So take advantage of free booking help from a Disney Cruise expert — contact The Vacationeer today for a free, no-obligation quote on your dream Disney Cruise!

Disney Dream Dining and Lounges

It’s generally well-known that food is a big part of the cruise experience , and the Disney Dream is no exception. With three sensational main dining restaurants, two elegant adult-only dining options, multiple lounges/nightclubs, and plenty of places to grab a quick meal or a snack on the go, you certainly won’t go hungry onboard this ship.

Rotational Dining Restaurants on Disney Dream

Like all Disney Cruise Ships, the Disney Dream offers rotational dining during the nightly dinner service. This Disney Cruise Line dining innovation pre-schedules you to visit a different restaurant on each night of the cruise. You’ll have the same servers each night, so they’ll get to know you and your food preferences.

Dinner at these three restaurants is included in the cost of your Disney Cruise .

Animator’s Palate

Animator’s Palate is the flagship dining experience on the first four Disney ships, including Disney Dream. Animator’s Palate offers a fan-favorite menu along with a taste of the magic of animation.

Menu items are inspired by Asian, Pacific, and Californian cuisine. Some examples of items you’ll find include black truffle pasta purseittes (a favorite of repeat DCL passengers), butternut squash soup, wild mushroom risotto, polenta cake with tomato and mushroom, lemon-thyme marinated chicken, beef tenderloin, and many more.

Your dinner also includes a tribute to animation – Undersea Magic features interactive digital animation of the Finding Nemo characters in a show that’s reminiscent of EPCOT’s Turtle Talk with Crush. It’s a fun digital twist on the usual concept of dining with Disney characters .

• Enchanted Garden

The use of “enchanted” in this restaurant’s name is no mistake: the atmosphere of this French countryside conservatory magically changes from daytime to sunset to nighttime during the course of your dinner, while light fixtures transform and flowers “bloom.”

Enchanted Garden offers farm-fresh continental cuisine; menu options may include lobster ravioli, an Ahi tuna and avocado tower, curried carrot & apple soup, sea bass, marjoram-scented chicken, and pork tenderloin. Round out the meal with a tempting dessert of steamed lemon buttermilk pudding, banana sundaes, chocolate tortes, and almond meringue cake.

Outside of dinner service, Enchanted Garden is also an alternate option (versus the primary onboard buffet Cabanas ) for breakfast and lunch on most days. You’ll find a less ambitious menu during those meal periods: the usual sausage, bacon, eggs, and hash browns for breakfast; salads, soups, burgers, grilled items, and pizza at lunch.

• Royal Palace

You’re invited to a royal banquet at this elegant restaurant inspired by the ballroom scene in Disney’s Cinderella and other animated classics: beautiful marble floors with a royal design, tiara-topped porthole windows, and hand-painted portraits of Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, and Snow White.

Your four-course royal feast includes options such as pomegranate-glazed duck breast, jumbo shrimp, spinach soufflé, avocado citrus salad, French onion soup, angus grilled beef tenderloin, roasted wild boar, lobster medallions, and Dijon-crusted rack of lamb. For dessert, indulge in the famed crème brûlée or enjoy a peanut butter mousse.

Adult-Exclusive Dining on the Disney Dream

Disney cruises are certainly family-friendly, but adults don’t need to worry that there’s nothing for them onboard. One of the great things on the Disney Dream that’s available exclusively to adults is a pair of elegant adult-exclusive restaurants . So send the kids off to the youth clubs, put on some nice duds, and enjoy a lovely kid-free date night at Palo or Remy!

Reserve a table at Palo for a delightful meal featuring memorable Italian cuisine. The stunning venue includes giant windows overlooking the ocean, providing a perfect backdrop for your meal.

Dinner menu items include seared sea scallops, tableside-fileted dover sole, butternut agnolotti, tiramisu, and a signature chocolate soufflé that’s considered one of the most popular items across the entire Disney Cruise fleet. On sea days, a tremendously-popular brunch service is typically offered.

Dining here requires an upcharge and space is usually in high demand; book as early as your onboard booking window allows.

The finest onboard dining experience is at Remy. Named after the diminutive chef in Ratatouille , this restaurant transports you to the heart of Paris for a gastronomic experience like no other. You might be seated in the main room, or perhaps in the 900-bottle wine room. Or opt for ultimate luxury: the private Gusteau room (complete with a custom multi-course menu).

Dinner begins with a signature champagne cocktail prepared at your table. Then, it’s a gourmet culinary adventure designed in part by Chef Scott Hunnel (of Disney World’s Victoria & Albert’s) and Chef Arnaud Lallement (recipient of three Michelin stars and voted by  other Michelin-starred chefs as one of the 10 best chefs in the entire world). A gourmet cheese trolley and selections such as duck, elk, Kobe beef, langoustine, and sablefish are hallmarks of the menu.

On certain cruises, there’s also a highly-demanded champagne brunch as well as a 5-course dessert experience.

Dining here requires an upcharge. You’ll want to book as early as possible to have the best chance of securing a spot.

Casual Dining on the Disney Dream Cruise Ship

Cabanas | Image © Disney

Breakfast and lunch are casual meal periods onboard the Disney Dream. So come as you are (just cover up any swimsuits) and grab a bite at Cabanas.

This restaurant offers a mix of American, Asian, and European favorites in an all-you-care-to-eat breakfast and lunch buffet served from nearly a dozen food stations.

Breakfast is exactly what you’d expect from an American perspective – custom-made omelets, bacon & sausage, Mickey Waffles, hash browns, and the like. There are also some international offerings such as rice and miso soup. For me, this is always a great chance to expand my culinary horizons with things I can’t normally get at home. My usual morning fare on the ship includes a giant healthy bowl of fresh muesli with dried fruits and nuts — admittedly usually with a few Mickey Waffles and bacon on the side (it’s all about the balance, you know).

Lunch at Cabanas is a constantly-changing mix of jumbo iced shrimp & crab claws, hamburgers, sandwiches, pizza, freshly-grilled meats, veggies, and much more.

Cabanas also offers an alternative dinner service most nights. It’s not buffet style at night; a server will present you with a menu and bring your food to you, and it’s usually a rather quiet meal. My spouse and I will sometimes plan to have dinner here on formal night if we don’t feel like packing dress clothes for the cruise.

Lounges, Bars, and Snacks on the Disney Dream

There’s always a place to grab a quick bite or a refreshing drink onboard. Whether you’re looking for a nibble, just want a soda, or are seeking something with a bit of alcohol , you’ll easily find it onboard. Here are just a few highlights:

• Beverage Station

There’s no need to purchase a separate drink package on a Disney Cruise, as most non-alcoholic drinks are included at no additional cost (a rarity in the cruise industry). This self-service beverage station located near the pool offers unlimited refills of sodas, teas, coffees, and other non-specialty beverages.

An adults-only retreat that focuses on specialty coffees and teas during the day, with cocktails in the evening.

A compelling open-air bar on Deck 13 offering expansive views and delightful cocktails. Adults only.

This family-friendly venue hosts interactive events for all ages. Karaoke, trivia, game shows, and even dance parties can be found here on a daily basis.

• District Lounge

A relaxed piano bar offering cocktails and nightly entertainment. Non-alcohol options are also available for those who want to enjoy the live music in a “drier” way.

Evolution lives up to its name. During the day, it welcomes cruisers of all ages for games, activities, and dance classes. At night, it evolves into a vibrant adults-only nightclub with a lively bar scene.

Evolution | Image © Disney

Eye Scream Treats and Frozone Treats

Cool down with all-you-can eat soft-serve ice cream cones (included in the cost of your cruise!), or spend a bit extra to enjoy a specialty smoothie.

Flo’s Cafe: Fillmore’s Favorites, Luigi’s Pizza, and Tow Mater’s Grill

For a quick grab-and-go snack poolside, check out these quick service windows. You’ll find pizza, chicken tenders, burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, and more.

Meridian Lounge

Supplement your elegant meal at Remy or Palo by having cocktails at this upscale travel-themed lounge conveniently located directly between those two fine dining establishments. Cigars are also offered for purchase.

A serene lounge on Deck 14 in the forward funnel (red smokestack). This spot is often overlooked due to its secluded location, so it’s a quiet retreat with compelling views (and a great wedding venue, too!).

This Champagne and Wine bar pays tribute to all things bubbly, featuring a private-label Tattinger champagne created and bottled exclusively for this spot. Tip: look closely enough at the bubbles along the wall and you can spot pink elephants here even without having a drink!

Pink Wine & Champagne Bar (Disney Dream)

This contemporary sports bar offers live matches via satellite (when available) and comfortable lush seating. Open to everyone during the day, and adults only at night. The pub’s name is a nod to the ship’s hull number at the shipyard where it was created.

• Senses Juice Bar

Enjoy a healthy quaff at this retreat near Senses Spa and Salon. Fresh fruit and vegetables give their all for these nutritious protein- and vitamin-packed beverages.

This adults-only bar provides scenic views of iconic city skylines around the world. Thanks to a little Disney magic, the view out the “window” changes to a different city every fifteen minutes.

• Vanellope’s Sweets & Treats

Purchase hand-scooped gelato, baked goods, and candy in this shop inspired by  Wreck-It Ralph . Fees apply.

Room Service on Disney Dream

Almost all of the Disney Dream’s Room Service menu is offered at no additional charge – you’ll only have to pay for a few specialty items and to tip the crew member who delivers the food to your room.

The standard room service menu typically includes soups & salads, chicken tenders, burgers & dogs, sandwiches & wraps, and hot wings.  You’ll also typically find a few flatbreads or pizzas and perhaps some pasta. Dessert — usually cookies, cake, or pie — is also offered.

A favorite among repeat cruisers is the All Hands on Deck , a plate of assorted cheese, fruit, and crackers. Kids (both actual and adult) will be pleased to know you can also request a Mickey’s Premium ice cream bar – the same kind found in the theme parks.

If you don’t mind paying a bit extra, you can add on specialty items such as beer, wine, canned soft drinks, deluxe coffees, juices, and pre-packaged snacks such as candies.

Best Bets for Each Meal on Disney Dream

Below we list each of the main meal periods onboard the ship, and your best options for each.

• Primary option: Cabanas is the number one breakfast spot onboard thanks to its long hours, expansive options, and all-you-care-to-eat service style. Mornings can be rather hectic here, but there’s rarely difficulty in finding a seat.
• Secondary option: One of the three rotational restaurants (typically Enchanted Garden) usually offers a table-service breakfast, complete with a server who will bring your food and keep your drinks refilled. The menu is a bit more limited than at Cabanas, but it’s usually a much quieter option to start your day.
• Other options: Room service is available, but there are two things to know. First, you’ll need to order in advance via a menu card that you hang on your doorknob the night before. Second, know that the breakfast menu is extremely limited. There’s no “hot breakfast” (no bacon, eggs, sausage, or oatmeal); instead, it’s a continental sort of menu with juices, coffees, pastries, and cold cereals. I personally find the room service breakfast to be too limited, though I’ll admit there’s a certain charm to coffee and a light pastry while enjoying the sunrise from my verandah.
• Primary option: Like at breakfast, Cabanas is the best lunch option thanks to its wide selection. Iced jumbo shrimp and crab claws are a signature menu item most days and I usually eat my fill of them at least once during the cruise; you’ll also find freshly grilled meats, a wide variety of side items, some interesting international selections, and lots of tempting desserts.
• Secondary option: Spending the afternoon by the pool? There’s no need to dry off and head inside when you get a rumbly in your tumbly. Drip dry and head over to the food service windows at Flo’s Café for burgers, dogs, sandwiches, and unlimited ice cream cones. These windows often offer extended hours, which makes them a good failsafe for folks who miss lunch hours at Cabanas or get hungry before their late dinner service.
• Other options : Enchanted Garden typically serves lunch with open seating. Room Service is another good option, though there’s sometimes a lunch rush which can delay your food’s arrival a bit. The cloche-covered dishes sometimes mean that fried items such as wings might not arrive quite as crispy as you’d like.
• Primary option: Your assigned rotational dining restaurant is the heart of Disney Cruise dining and shouldn’t be missed. Your dedicated service team follows you all voyage long and will likely become your favorite Crew Members onboard the ship (my wife and I made such a connection with our servers on a 2019 cruise that we still remember their names to this day!). Add in special themed menus and other thoughtful touches, and you’ll quickly see why this is a highlight of each day onboard.
• Secondary option: As an alternative to your pre-scheduled rotational dining restaurant, you might opt to experience Cabanas in a totally new way. Dinner at Cabanas is an entirely different experience than the free-for-all buffet-style offerings that are the mainstay of breakfast and lunch. A host seats you at your table, and a server presents you a menu featuring some of the most popular selections onboard.
• Other options: Many cruisers enjoy dedicating at least one night of their cruise to an adult-exclusive meal at Palo or Remy. Otherwise, you can always grab something from the quick-service windows on the pool deck, or order room service.

Off-Hours Eating and Snacking

• Primary option: For cravings outside the main meal periods, your best bet is Flo’s Café on the pool deck. Their generous hours and snack-friendly offerings make them a great choice to tide you over between meals. Individual portions tend to be “snack sized” (perhaps 2 or 3 chicken tenders and a few fries), so you won’t spoil your dinner unless you want to by asking for a larger portion.
• Secondary option: Room Service is available 24/7, up until about 1:30 AM on the last morning of your cruise. It’s the only option for overnight snacking. I’ll occasionally order a few warm cookies and some milk at bedtime, but you can also order 1:00 AM buffalo wings if your antacid game is strong.

Book Through The Vacationeer and Get Free Spending Money To Use Onboard

Disney Dream Pools and Water Slides

The AquaDuck is the premier water attraction onboard the Disney Dream. This first-of-its kind (water coaster on a cruise ship) attraction takes its guests on a wild adventure high above the upper decks of the ship.

Guests board a raft and are propelled by jets of water through 765 feet of tubes and open-air slide segments; along the way, you’ll experience a 4-deck drop, a careening curve over the edge of the ship, and a journey through one of the iconic red smokestack funnels.

There’s no additional charge to ride the AquaDuck, but you will have to wait in line. There is no FastPass, Lightning Lane, or Genie+ onboard the ship. Lines tend to be longest on Sea Days and shorter when the ship is in port. Riding earlier or later can also help avoid crowds – just don’t forget to check the operating hours each day in the Navigator app.

To ride solo, Guests must be at least 54″ tall and at least 7 years of age. Children under the age of 7 who are at least 42″ tall and toilet-trained may ride with a companion who is at least 14 years of age.

Pools and Splash Pads

• Donald’s Pool

This pool offers a shallow wading area with a deeper center. This is a perfect place to enjoy Disney movies on the giant 24′ x 14′ FunnelVision screen nearby. This pool is sometimes closed during special on-deck events, covered with a retractable floor to offer more deck space.

Donald’s Pool | Image © Disney

Funnel Puddle

A shallow (approximately 1-foot deep) family friendly pool that’s far removed from the raucousness of the Donald’s and Mickey’s pools. This is the closest thing you’ll find onboard to a “quiet pool” that’s still open to all ages; but there’s still a small water fountain feature in the middle that kids love to splash in.

• Mickey’s Pool & Slide

The shape alone clearly communicates this is designed for kids; The deeper zones of this still-shallow pool are shaped like the friendly face of everyone’s favorite pal, Mickey Mouse. Meanwhile, one of Mickey’s signature white gloves supports a bright yellow waterslide for kids aged 4 to 14 / height 38″ to 64″. May be closed during deck parties.

Mickey’s Pool | Image © Disney

• Nemo’s Reef

This toddler-friendly splash zone features PIXAR characters spraying water, a child-sized Mr. Ray waterslide, and more — all in a shaded, enclosed, and “accidental tumble”-friendly soft surfaced area. Ages 3 years or younger; swim diapers are required.

• Quiet Cove Pool

A serene oasis for those 18 and up to get away from the kids for some quiet time. There’s a three-circled pool of varying depths, lounge-style seating in the shallowest segment, a whirlpool spa, and of course plenty of adult beverages nearby.

Satellite Falls Pool

One of the most unique water spaces onboard, Satellite Falls is an adults-only wading pool that features a cascading (ok, rapidly dripping) waterfall directly underneath one of the giant satellite domes on the ship’s upper deck.

Satellite Falls | Image © Disney

Disney Dream Kids Clubs and Teen Clubs

Much of Deck 5 on the Disney Dream is dedicated to spaces especially designed for younger passengers, and there are plenty of other youth-friendly spaces onboard. Here’s a preview.

• Disney’s Oceaneer Club

The Oceaneer Club is the primary kids activity onboard the ship. It’s the place where your kids will probably spend most of their time onboard. For some families, it’s not uncommon for the kids and adults to part ways at breakfast and regroup at dinner, with the Kids Club filling the gap between.

This secure facility is accessible only to kids aged 3-10 and trained youth activities staff — but there are pre-scheduled open houses to allow parents and kids to tour the location together. Inside there are tons of kid-friendly spaces and activities, and it’s all included in the cost of your Disney cruise! This amazing kids club is one of the reasons we consider Disney to be the best cruise line for children .

Andy’s Room

Kids are immersed in the world of Disney·Pixar’s Toy Story movies in this play area.

Disney Infinity Game Room

Enjoy interactive video games and activities in this high-tech space.

Disney’s Once Upon a Time

Disney characters come to life in this bookmaking and story time experience.

Jedi Training: Experience the Force

Learn the ways of the Force with this interactive training experience.

Pixie Hollow

This forest-themed area is the perfect place for storytelling, playing dress-up, and arts & crafts.

Puzzle Playtime with Mickey

Mickey and pals drop in for fun and games.

Star Wars: Millennium Falcon

The “fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy” is ready for adventure! Hop into the cockpit and zoom through the stars, the forests of Endor, and more.

• Disney’s Oceaneer Lab

A partner facility to the Oceaneer Club, the Oceaneer Lab offers lots of hands-on activities and experiences for kids ages 3-10.

Animator’s Studio

Learn how to draw your favorite Disney characters – or just entertain your own creative instincts.

Anyone Can Cook

Learn how to measure and mix ingredients and bake a batch of fresh chocolate-chip cookies.

Craft Studio

A spot perfectly prepared to indulge creative urges with hands-on creations.

Get the Hook!

A 3-day search through multiple crime scenes to find Captain Hook’s… well, you know.

Disney movies, video games, and occasional structured activities are the order of the day here.

Piston Cup Challenge

Bars of soap form the chassis of your custom-made race car in this fun, hands-on race.

Put on battle gear and join forces with The Avengers to take on super villains.

Super Sloppy Science with Professor Make-O-Mess

Meet a world-famous scientist with a penchant for unashamedly messy experiments.

The Wheelhouse

Home of  Tides of Fortune , a multi-player Pirates of the Caribbean game that can only be found on a Disney Cruise. A major component is piloting your pirate ship through the Caribbean Sea via video simulation.

Tweens and young teens (ages 11 to 14) have a space all to themselves onboard the Disney Dream, and it’s in one of the coolest spots on the entire ship: inside the iconic red smokestack funnel on Deck 13! Edge is the perfect place to relax as tweens see fit — a huge video wall, a dance floor, karaoke machines, a game room, and photo booths. The furniture can even be moved around so Guests can make the space their own. A mix of planned activities and unstructured free time keeps things interesting.

Those aged 14 to 17 have a unique indoor/outdoor space made just for them, complete with a super secret entrance! Indoors, teens will find plenty of TVs, video games, and tablets, plus dance parties, karaoke sessions, and group activities. Or, they can head outside to a private sundeck at the bow of the ship to enjoy deck games, splash pools, and sunbathing.

Vibe outdoor sundeck

it’s a small world nursery!

Tiny cruisers are well cared for in it’s a small world nursery! , an onboard babysitting service for infants and toddlers aged three and younger.

Disney youth counselors watch over the tykes, playing with them, feeding them, and handling diaper duty.

Nominal fees apply, charged by the half-hour (with a one-hour minimum), and there are discounts for multiple children in the same family. Advanced reservations are strongly recommended. Note that there are no in-room babysitting services onboard.

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Disney Dream Entertainment and Activities

Disney is an entertainment company at heart, so it’s no surprise that the shows and experiences onboard the Disney Dream are top notch.

Broadway-Style Shows in the Walt Disney Theatre

Each night of your cruise, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a live show in the beautiful Walt Disney Theatre. This includes at least three Broadway-style shows during your cruise, along with other additions (such as family-friendly comedians, magicians, and hypnotists) on longer voyages.

Show times are opposite your dinner time onboard. So if you have early dining, you’ll see the late show — and vice versa.

Beauty and the Beast

This show brings a tale as old as time to the stage. Innovative puppetry and stunning special effects combine with skilled actors and memorable music to bring you an unforgettable evening.

Disney’s Believe

A true stage spectacular, featuring 300+ costumes, 200+ scenic elements, and a cast of characters assembled to help a daughter provide her hard-working father a bit of perspective on what’s truly important in life.

The Golden Mickeys

It’s awards night onboard the Disney Dream! Experience all the glitz and glamor of the red carpet as the crowd clamors to guess who will win the coveted titles of “Most Romantic” and “Most Heroic.” Meanwhile, there’s a problem… the emcee is missing! Fear not — these things usually have a way of solving themselves. This fan-favorite musical features songs from about a dozen different Disney films.

Mickey’s Color Spin Dance Party

This offering, presented on select cruises, features a 90s throwback themed dance party on deck. Start the show off with a group sing-along of Into the Unknown , then spin the color wheel to reveal a series of high-energy performances and easy-to-learn dances and group actions. Mickey, Minnie, and even Max are along for the party.

Pirate Night / Pirates in the Caribbean Deck Party with Fireworks

Pirate night starts with the delivery of pirate bandanas to your stateroom – then the party moves to your scheduled dining location for the evening, where a special themed menu awaits. Then, head up to the pool deck for a raucous show with high-flying pirates including favorite Disney characters. Finally, the grand finale (and another Disney innovation) – fireworks at sea!

Note: not every itinerary offers a pirate night, and fireworks may be canceled due to weather.

Sailing Away Deck Party

The official start to your Disney Dream cruise — your vacation begins when the ship’s horn plays those familiar notes and confetti rains down from the upper decks. Captain Mickey and all his pals are there to join the fun to ensure your trip gets off to a great, high-energy start.

Disney Movies in the Buena Vista Theatre

First-run and classic favorite Disney, Marvel, PIXAR, and LucasFilm movies are shown throughout the day in the Buena Vista Theatre. No need for a ticket — it’s completely free so all you need to do is find a seat at showtime.

Sailing during the premiere of a highly-anticipated Disney film? It’ll be shown repeatedly in the Buena Vista Theatre, likely after a huge “PremEAR at Sea” showing in the Walt Disney Theatre.

Goofy Golf and Sports Deck

If you prefer your entertainment to be a bit more active, there’s plenty of great recreation to be had on Goofy’s Sports Deck , located on Deck 13 aft.

Enjoy a delightfully ludicrous mini-golf course with nine fun-filled, pun-filled holes. It’s completely free and no tee times are required. Just grab a putter and a goofball, er, golf ball — and perhaps a scorecard/pencil if you insist on keeping things official (I don’t bother, as I see no reason to put my lies in writing).

This is one of my absolute favorite things to do onboard the Disney Dream. I just love enjoying a game of mini-golf out on the open ocean, and the sight gags just add to it. Vewy sewious mini-golfers will appreciate that each hole offers two tee locations — one just for fun and one for a slightly more challenging experience.

Elsewhere on the sports deck, you’ll find other, more mainstream pursuits, such as a basketball court and even a digital sports simulator (fees apply).

Down on deck 4, you’ll also find shuffleboard courts — a classic cruise activity.

Here’s a great way to explore the ship: sleuthing out a crime! Start your adventure at the agency kiosk on Deck 5 — pick up a badge and deck plan / casebook — and suddenly, the game is afoot!

This extensive adventure will send you all over the ship looking for more than 20 interactive artwork displays, where a series of random events and “choose your own adventure” dilemmas make sure that you can play over and over without getting bored.

Depending on the agency’s caseload, you might help Mickey and pals recover some stolen paintings, try to find 99 missing Dalmatians, or follow Pepe the King Prawn’s clues to solve a zany Muppet mystery.

Not only is this a fun adventure, it’s also an astounding way to orient yourself to everything on the ship! I highly recommend it for first-timers. And because your detective badge tracks your progress, you can play at your own pace, starting and stopping as you like.

Disney Dream Spas and Salons

Disney Dream offers a full-service spa onboard the ship, featuring many other health and wellness services.

Senses Spa and Salon

Pamper yourself with spa treatments, salon services, and rejuvenation procedures at this restful retreat. Services offered at Senses Spa include Swedish massages, aroma stone therapy, deep tissue massage, acupuncture, facials, teeth whitening, shampoo/cut/style, manicures, pedicures, and more. Even those who aren’t into spa treatments may enjoy the Rainforest Room with its various themed shower settings. Complimentary non-alcoholic beverages, showers, lockers, sandals, and robes round out the offerings.

Exclusively for guests aged 13-17, this special area of Senses offers treatments to teens. A parent or guardian must accompany the teen for the duration of the treatment ( solo and combined treatments are offered as an option).

• Fitness Center

Perhaps you’re a regular exerciser, or maybe you just want to offset several days of all-you-can-eat meals. Either way, you can stay in shape with the offerings at the Disney Dream’s onboard fitness center. Whatever your preferred equipment — weight machines, cardio equipment, ellipticals, treadmills, and others — you’re likely to find it here. If you prefer a group experience you can join a yoga, Pilates, or aerobics class. Or, opt for personalized one-on-one training and analysis with a professional trainer.

• Walking/Jogging Track

If, like me, you’re not keen on a major workout but do enjoy a nice walk after dinner, you’ll be happy to know that the Disney Dream offers an open-air walking/jogging track on Deck 4. I like that it’s low enough on the ship to offer some close-up ocean views — especially handy if you’re lucky enough to see wildlife such as dolphins playing alongside the ship. A leisurely stroll is perfectly fine, but jogging is also fair game here if you don’t want to miss your daily run while onboard.

Get Free Credit Toward Spa Treatments When You Book With The Vacationeer

Disney Dream Itineraries and Home Ports

You can board the Disney Dream from several places around the US and in Europe.

Disney Dream has a busy schedule of cruises in 2024 .

• January through end of April: Caribbean cruises and Bahamian cruises from Fort Lauderdale
• Early- to mid-May: Transatlantic voyage from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona
• Late May to mid-September: Various European itineraries from Barcelona, Civitavecchia (Rome), and Southampton
• Mid-September to mid-October: Not yet announced
• Late October: Transatlantic voyage from Southampton to Fort Lauderdale
• November to end of year: Bahamian cruises and Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale

Here’s an overview of Disney Dream’s schedule of cruises in 2025  so far.

• January through end of September: Bahamian and Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale
• October and beyond: Not yet released

Find a Cruise Near You and Secure the Best Possible Rate

Disney Dream Deck-by-Deck

Here’s a look at what’s located on each deck of the Disney Dream.

• Health Center
• Tender Lobbies (ship exit at ports of call)
• Public Restrooms
• Self-Service Laundry
• Vista Gallery
• Category 9B
• Category 11C
• Walt Disney Theatre (main level)
• Animator’s Palate
• Guest Services
• Mickey’s Mainsail
• Sea Treasures
• Lobby Atrium
• Buena Vista Theatre (main level)
• Walt Disney Theatre (balcony level)
• Pink Wine & Champagne Bar
• Port Shopping Desk
• Shutters Photo
• Tiffany & Co.
• Vacation Planning Desk
• Atrium (overlook)
• Buena Vista Theatre (balcony level)
• “it’s a small world” nursery
• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
• Port Adventures Desk
• Category 4E
• Category 6B
• Category 7A
• Category 8A
• Category 8C
• Category 9A
• Category 10A
• Category 11B
• Category 4C
• Category 5C
• Category 9D
• Category 4B
• Category 5B
• Category 8B
• Category 9C
• Category 6A
• Category 11A
• Category 4A
• Category 5A
• Funnel Vision
• Eye Scream Treats
• Filmore’s Favorites
• Luigi’s Pizza
• Tow Mater’s Grill
• Frozone Treats
• Rainforest Room
• Treatment Salons
• Whozits & Whatzits
• Category 2B
• Category 3A
• AquaDuck Entrance
• Funnel Puddle Pool
• Concierge Lounge
• Senses Spa (additional treatment rooms)
• Category 1A
• Category 2A
• Sports Courts
• Sports Simulator
• Satellite Falls
• Currents Bar
• Concierge Private Sun Deck

Disney Dream Fact Sheet

Shipyard (ship’s birthplace).

Meyer Werft – Papenburg, Germany

Maiden voyage

January 26, 2011

Varies by time of year — see Itineraries & Ports above

Ship’s Registry

Approximately 130,000 gross tons

22 knots cruising speed

23.5 knots maximum speed

Diesel-based electric

Crew Members

Maximum capacity.

4,000 passengers

1,250 staterooms

• 901 verandah staterooms (includes 21 suites)
• 199 oceanview staterooms
• 150 inside staterooms (12%)

How To Book a Cruise on the Disney Dream

While there are many ways to book Disney Cruise Line vacations , we believe the best way to secure your spot on the Disney Dream (or any other Disney Cruise ship ) is to work with one of the Disney Cruise experts at our official travel agency partner The Vacationeer .

This Earmarked Diamond level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner , offers absolutely free help planning and booking your cruise . Their group of Disney fanatic travel agents can help you make all the right choices, picking the right ship for your family and helping you choose between a Disney Cruise and other cruise lines such as Princess , Carnival , Norwegian , and Royal Caribbean (they book them all!).

Your cruise won’t cost more than if you’d booked it yourself — it might even cost less ! Their genius-level knowledge of money-saving discounts is one of the many reasons to book with a Disney travel agent .

Another reason? The Vacationeer offers Onboard Credit — free spending money that you can use toward purchases you make while you’re onboard the ship! Use it towards specialty dining, souvenirs, spa treatments, shore excursions , gratuities , and more! Booking through The Vacationeer can earn you up to $1,000 in onboard credit .

And finally, there’s The Vacationeer’s personalized service . You’ll be assigned a single, dedicated agent who’ll handle your cruise arrangements from start to finish . Imagine — never having to wait on hold to speak to yet another agent in a giant call center! Good luck finding that level of service with a nationwide wholesaler !

So what’re you waiting for? It’s time to take a Disney Cruise — and  Vacationeers are ready to help!

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On with the Show: Disney Dream Offers World-Class Entertainment

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CELEBRATION, Fla.  — Disney Cruise Line developed entertainment designed to charm and dazzle the entire family. On the Disney Dream, guests delight in the most elaborate original Broadway-style musicals presented at sea, over-the-top deck parties and, bursting above it all, a nighttime fireworks spectacular.

Broadway-style Stage Shows at the Walt Disney Theatre

Every night is show time at Walt Disney Theatre, an elegant 1,340-seat entertainment palace that spans three decks with orchestra and balcony seating and is resplendent with art deco styling recalling luxurious show places of a bygone era. At the same time, it is equipped with theatrical technology that makes it one of the most advanced venues on land or sea, bringing original productions and Disney stories to life in a whole new way.

“Beauty and the Beast” Live Stage Show

A tale as old as time takes the stage with “Beauty and the Beast,” a musical production inspired by Disney’s live-action adaptation of the animated classic. The show expands upon the most imaginative elements of the highly anticipated live-action and classic films to delight Disney Cruise Line guests aboard the Disney Dream.

Audiences once again fall in love with the enchanting fairytale as they embark on a sweeping journey to discover the power of transformation through true love and courage. This new production of “Beauty and the Beast” celebrates the romance, adventure and magic of the live-action film, weaving in the charm and nostalgia of the award-winning animated feature.

“Beauty and the Beast” brings the timeless fable to life like never before, featuring a style of theater that interlaces classic storytelling elements with cutting-edge technology. An innovative take on the story transforms renowned songs into spectacular, show-stopping numbers, and lavish costumes and puppetry bring a fresh perspective to beloved characters.

• Drawing inspiration from the live-action film, the stage musical uses the scenic motif of a music box to guide spectators through the story. Set designer, Jason Sherwood (“Paint Your Wagon,” “Frozen, A Musical Spectacular”), worked in concert with video designer, Aaron Rhyne (“Frozen, A Musical Spectacular,” Broadway’s “Anastasia”), to create a transforming set that takes audiences on a magical journey through the music box, from Belle’s provincial French town to the Beast’s mysterious castle.
• To bring “Beauty and the Beast” to the stage, Disney assembled an all-star creative team, led by director and choreographer Connor Gallagher (“Tangled: The Musical,” “Found”). Gallagher collaborated with writer Sara Wordsworth (“Frozen, A Musical Spectacular,” Broadway’s “In Transit”) and a talented collection of Broadway artists to create an imaginative, new approach to this iconic story.
• Through a combination of high-definition projections, dynamic scenery and a little bit of Disney magic, this interpretation of “Beauty and the Beast” creates a visual panorama that reaches beyond the stage and into the audience. Complementing the immersive set, lighting design by four-time Tony Award-nominated, Japhy Weideman, punctuates the powerful emotions of the classic tale.
• “Beauty and the Beast” features songs from the original animated film’s award-winning soundtrack by acclaimed composer Alan Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman. Complementing the score, the show also includes two of the new songs created for the live-action film by Menken and lyricist Tim Rice, “How Does a Moment Last Forever” and “Days in the Sun.” Enchanting arrangements and orchestrations by Matt Castle and Frank Galgano (“Into the Woods”) bring a unique musical identity to the production.
• Beloved songs like “Belle,” “Something There” and “Beauty and the Beast” received a musical makeover that reflects the show’s stylized approach, while songs like “Gaston” and “Be Our Guest” leap to the stage as joyful and exuberant production numbers.
• One of the most iconic songs in the Disney canon has been completely re-imagined for the stage. “Be Our Guest” is a multi-course French dinner rooted in imagination and fantasy, as rousing choreography and dazzling visual effects fill the stage during this full-fledged spectacle.
• Blurring the line between costuming and puppetry, costume designer Sarah Cubbage (Broadway’s “Skylight”) and puppet designer Jeff Conover joined forces to give life to the enchanted objects of “Beauty and the Beast.” Beloved characters like Lumiere, Mrs. Potts and Cogsworth are realized in an unprecedented way, using innovative puppetry and elaborate costumes to bring these characters to life in their true scale.

“Disney’s Believe”

“Disney’s Believe” is a stage spectacular that combines a heartfelt story with a captivating musical score. The lavish production tells the story of a workaholic father who, through the power of Disney magic, reconnects with his daughter and learns a valuable lesson about what is important in life.

“Disney’s Believe” takes guests to the garden of Dr. Cornelius Greenaway, a brilliant botanist obsessed with cultivating his precious plants. Dr. Greenaway is so preoccupied with his garden that he overlooks the birthday of his daughter, Sophia. Saddened, Sophia makes a special birthday wish and the impossible happens: Genie from Disney’s “Aladdin” appears to make her wish come true.

Joined by a host of characters, Genie takes Dr. Greenaway on an enchanting journey into the world of Disney stories. Through spirited production numbers, Dr. Greenaway learns that magic is real and is embodied in his beloved daughter.

More than 20 of Disney’s most beloved characters take the stage during “Disney’s Believe,” including Cinderella, Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, Belle (“Beauty and The Beast”), Rafiki (“The Lion King”) and Princess Tiana (“The Princess and the Frog”).

“The Golden Mickeys”

“The Golden Mickeys” celebrates the musical heritage of Disney animated films, immersing guests in all the glamour and excitement of a Hollywood awards gala. On the Disney Dream, the show gets an extra sprinkle of glitz and glamour with additional musical numbers, enhanced technology and dazzling special effects.

Party on Deck

In addition to nightly stage productions, Disney Cruise Line brings the upper decks of the Disney Dream to life with incredible live entertainment.

The fun begins with “ Sailing Away ,” a ‘welcome aboard’ show starring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and the Disney gang. The show is a celebration of the fun aboard a Disney cruise.

During a special night of each cruise, the Disney Dream transforms into a pirate ship with a night of events brimming with buccaneer fun and a fireworks spectacular.

Families can venture to the pool deck to dance off dinner with their favorite Disney characters and enjoy an entertaining pirate show, as well as interactive games with some special surprises.

Spectacular Fireworks at Sea

Disney Cruise Line ups the entertainment ante and lights up the sky with a fireworks extravaganza like only Disney can do.

As part of the pirate night celebration, the skies above the Disney Dream explode with brilliant colors during “ Buccaneer Blast ,” a pyrotechnic spectacular choreographed to a dramatic score featuring songs from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies.

Family Entertainment Venues

Disney Cruise Line combines innovative design and technology to create the family entertainment venues on board the Disney Dream. These imaginative environments surround guests in storytelling in unique ways, putting them front and center as they play a part in the magic.

Imagine a “family room” where everyone gathers for “game night.” That’s the spirit of D Lounge, on Deck 4 midship. It’s a bright, informal place with mod-inspired modular furniture that’s cushy and comfortable, made for kicking back.

However, there are differences from the typical “family room.” For starters, this one is designed to accommodate about 350 fun-seeking guests at a time. In addition, the fun and games aren’t limited to the evening hours. Throughout the day, D Lounge hosts activities for specific ages and interests as well as whole families.

Buena Vista Theatre

Aboard the Disney Dream, the 399-seat Buena Vista Theatre is the place where guests can sit back and enjoy first-run motion pictures, including films in Disney Digital 3-D. With so many new and classic Disney movies to choose from, a family movie night is the perfect way to spend an afternoon or evening.

To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, visit disneycruise.com , call Disney Cruise Line at 888-325-2500 or contact a travel agent.

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Disney Dream REVIEW- Disney Cruise Line Guide, Castaway Cay, Bahamas

One of Disney's newer cruise ships is the Disney Dream cruise ship which is the sister ship to the Disney Fantasy. The Disney Dream features the AquaDuck, a twisting water coaster that extends over the side of the ship, along with broadway style entertainment, high end dining experiences, themed staterooms and more.

Keep reading to learn more about the Disney Dream including the themes of the staterooms, pricing, the AquaDuck slide, fine French dining plus a Beauty & Beast production.

I recently enjoyed a 5-day Marvel Day at Sea cruise on the Disney Dream that included a stop at Cozumel, Mexico and Castaway Cay. During our experience we explored every inch of our cruise ship and our guide provides everything you need to know about this ship including my review on how it stacks up to the other Disney Cruise Line ships.

In this planning guide:

Disney Dream Cruise Ship Review

Disney Dream is one of the newer Disney Cruise Line ships prior to the newest Disney Wish ship and the upcoming Disney Treasure that sets sail at the end of 2024-2025. Read more about 2025 Disney Cruise Line itineraries in our guide!

Disney Dream is a beautiful ship and is one of the largest Disney Cruise Line ships. Disney Dream has 14 decks while in comparison, older ships like the Disney Magic have 11 decks. So if you are interested in one of the “newer” Disney Cruise Line ships but may not be eager to shell out the higher bucks for the Disney Treasure next year, this is a good choice. Although all of Disney's ships do a great job and offer the same high quality level of entertainment and dining. We loved our experience on the Alaska Cruise on the Disney Wonder!

Since all the Disney Cruise Line ships are so similar, the way to pick your cruise is to look at itinerary. Since the Disney Dream is currently hosting Marvel Day at Sea, trips to Castaway Cay, Cozumel, and Nassuu, this should be your main deciding factor.

However, the Disney Wish really changed the Disney Cruise Line comparison ranking since the dining options on that ship are much more immersive with Frozen and Marvel character interactions during meals. I heard from a few cruisers that preferred the Disney Wish based on this alone. However, I also heard from other cruisers that they love the Disney Dream as they do not necessarily care about the heavy Disney interactions at meals. It all comes down to personal preference.

Personally, we loved the Disney Dream and my 14 year old son heard from other common cruisers in the teenage “Vibe Club” that this particular club is one of the best amongst the Disney Cruise Line ships most notably for its own personal pool deck.

Disney Dream Ports of Call

Most common ports of call for the Disney Dream currently are cruises departing from Fort Lauderdale and include a stop at Castaway Cay (Disney's private island!), Cozumel and Nassau.

The ports of call that the Disney Dream visits are breathtaking but my favorite out of our stops was Disney's Cataway Cay. Pure paradise, Disney style.

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Deluxe Family Stateroom with Verandah Review  

During my recent cruise I stayed in a deluxe family stateroom with verandah on the Disney Dream. Our specific stateroom was located on Deck 6. Our room could slept up to five people with a queen bed, single sleeper sofa, wall pull-down bed, and upper-berth pull-down bed.

Since it was just two of us, we only needed the pull down sofa. Every evening during turn down service, our stateroom host would prepare the bed.

This stateroom is extremely spacious, you can see how large it is from the picture above. A curtain divides the room which is nice if your family is on different sleep schedules.

The stateroom has a split bathroom- one room with a toilet and a sink.

And another with a split shower/tub and sink so there are two separate places to get ready in the morning.

The best part of this room is the verandah which comes equipped with two patio chairs and a small table. There are walls separating the ship verandahs for privacy.

I loved having a view of the ocean from our room! What a wonderful way to wake up each day. This was a beautiful room and plenty of space for our two person group. I could see a family of 4-5 fitting well in here although you may feel a bit cramped with five. Having that private verandah was a great perk of this room choice and is worth the extra splurge.

Inside Stateroom

The cheapest room option on the Disney Dream are the inside staterooms.

The inside staterooms have the option of a standard choice or a deluxe option which includes more square footage than the regular inside stateroom. These rooms do not have a window except for a Magical Porthole playing footage of Disney characters, the ocean, and more.

  Specifications

• Sleeps: 3 to 4
• Size: 169 sq. ft.
• Room Configuration: queen bed, single sleeper sofa and upper-berth pull-down bed (if sleeping 4)
• View: Magical Porthole with real-time views

Deluxe Inside Stateroom

Specifications

• Size: 204 sq. ft.

Deluxe Inside Stateroom design features include:

• A sitting area with a couch, TV and desk
• A heavy privacy curtain to separate the sitting and sleeping areas
• A “split bath”: a bathroom with a vanity, sink, shower and tub and a half bathroom with a vanity, sink and toilet
• Elevated wooden bed frames for under-bed storage of suitcases and other large items
• A leather-upholstered ottoman with hollow inside storage
• Attractive yet functional cabinetry in the living area

A mural of Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Wendy and her brothers soaring through a starry sky reveals itself when the upper-berth bed is pulled down!

Magical Porthole

All Inside Staterooms feature a Magical Porthole, providing Guests with a real-time view of the ship’s exterior while reflecting your stateroom’s actual location, port or starboard. High-definition cameras feed live video to an LCD flat-screen monitor cleverly disguised as a porthole, with the help of a stylized frame.

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom

• View: 1 or 2 porthole windows, some with obstructed views

Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom

This option offers more square footage than the standard oceanview stateroom with the same real porthole window.

• Sleeps: 3 to 5
• Size: 241 sq. ft.
• Room Configuration: queen bed, single sleeper sofa, wall pull-down bed (in most) or upper-berth pull-down bed (in some)
• View: 1 to 2 porthole windows with built-in seating

Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah

These rooms offer the most square footage of all the rooms and are combined with concierge services. Concierge Family Oceanview Staterooms with Verandah are classified as Category V and are located on Decks 11 and 12, Forward. Concierge Family Oceanview Staterooms with Verandah are classified as Category 3A.

These rooms feature warm wood finishes, custom fabrics and carpeting, original artwork, crown moldings, genuine teak accents and a private verandah for magnificent views of the sea.

• Size: 306 sq. ft., including verandah
• Room Configuration: queen bed, double sleeper sofa and upper berth pull-down bed
• View: private verandah with floor-to-ceiling windows

Your private balcony comes equipped with:

• Patio furniture
• Deck lighting
• Plexiglas or solid whitewall railings
• Childproof locks

Expanded Main Suite Option

Larger parties can add an adjoining Concierge 1-Bedroom Suite with Verandah or Concierge Royal Suite with Verandah. On adjoining accommodations, the partition between verandahs can be opened to create a larger balcony for sharing, with access between rooms.

Benefits of signature Concierge service begin with priority check-in and boarding at a dedicated check-in station. The Concierge team will meet you at a private welcome reception—exclusive to Concierge Guests—and will be available to attend to your needs, questions and special requests. Enjoy assistance with:

• Reservations (Port Adventures, Palo and Remy dining, spa treatments and nursery stays)
• Dining reservation confirmations and changes
• Priority tendering in ports of call
• Updates to your personal itinerary
• Special occasions and celebration planning

Concierge Guests enjoy exclusive access to dedicated areas on the ship, including the Concierge Lounge. Located amid the Concierge Suites on Deck 12, this area provides cocktails, internet access, large-screen TVs, and complimentary food and nonalcoholic beverages offered throughout the day.

From the Lounge, Concierge Guests can access a sun deck via a private entrance with cooling water misters, cushioned lounge chairs, and a bar stocked with water and refreshments.

Upgraded Amenities

Guests of our Concierge Suites and Staterooms enjoy an expanded range of offerings:

• Down Duvets: Enjoy a superlative night’s sleep with the softness of genuine feather duvets, featured in Concierge main bedrooms.
• Guests of our Concierge Suites may choose from pillow options including hypoallergenic, feather and therapeutic memory foam.
• Personal Robe and Slippers: These plush comforts are yours to use for the duration of your cruise.
• Complimentary Wi-Fi Internet Service: Enjoy up to 100 MB at no extra charge. (Usage fees apply after 100 MB.)

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Disney Dream Pools & Waterslides

The Disney Dream features a variety of pools for kids, teens, adults, and a waterslide! Most of the pools are oriented for younger kids however they are two exclusive pools just for teens and adults!

Mickey & Donald's Pool

The main pools feature a large family pool and two whirlpool spas. This is the most popular pool area on deck and you can watch Disney movies here throughout the day. For evening entertainment, the pools will be covered up and this deck becomes the main area for shows like Pirate Night or Marvel Day at Sea.

The AquaDuck is the Disney Dream waterslide that twists and turns all around the top of the ship. This water slide is extremely popular! On average, we waited about 30 minutes each time we rode although you could get on with lesser wait on port days when everyone is off the ship. Another smart hack is to have your swimsuits on and ready to go when you arrive on the ship, during the Sailing Away party they will open u the AquaDuck and the slide was a walk on the entire time.

AquaLab and Dory's Reef

This child focused pool area includes a splash pad area and the double-looping Twist ‘n’ Spout slide.

The slide was popular with small kids and did build up quite a line midday.

Quiet Cove Pool

This is the adult exclusive pool which offers the deepest pool on board plus a poolside bar. This area was perfect to relax away from the hustle and bustle of the family area. There was also an adult only hot tub and plenty of lounge chairs.

Teen Only Pool Deck

This deck is only for teens that have signed up at the Vibe Club. During select hours which will be advertised on the Disney Cruise Line app, they will open up this deck that is just for teens and provides lockers for kids to lock up their belongings before they swim. The area includes two splash pools, misters, and fountains plus a variety of deck games like giant checkerboard and ping pong.

Disney Dream Entertainment

There is a variety of entertainment on the Disney Dream from breathtaking Broadway quality musicals to fireworks to characters around every corner.

Disney Cruise Line Live Shows

The live Broadway style productions on the Disney Dream are the best forms of entertainment Disney Cruise Line has to offer. Do not miss these shows! Currently, Disney Dream is playing Beauty & the Beast, Disney's Believe, and Golden Mickeys. There are no photography or videos allowed so all of our photos for this experience come direct from Disney or prior to showtime.

Disney's Believe is a musical about a workaholic father who reconnects with his daughter through a little Disney magic- including songs from popular favorites like Aladdin, Lion King, Princess & the Frog, and more. This was a really cute show and one that our whole group really enjoyed. There was such a wide variety of Disney characters incorporated from it including the show ‘host' the Disney Genie.

Golden Mickey's is an award style show similar to the Oscars but focused on presenting ‘The Golden Mickeys' to notorious Disney characters and films. This show was good but definitely not as great as the other two performances. It does have rare characters that often aren't given a stage presence these days like Quasimodo from the Hunchback of Notre Dam.

These shows will also play twice a day and coordinate with your assigned dinner time. Earlier dining times will watch the show after dinner, later dining times will watch the show before. For Beauty and the Beast, due to its popularity, was given a third show time during our cruise around midday.

Fireworks on the Disney Dream

Guests can experience Disney fireworks on most itineraries with a special show of color light and song at sea. If you book Marvel Day at Sea, you can expect fireworks as part of the Avengers nighttime spectacular. All cruises will include Pirate Night which ends with one of the longest fireworks shows seen on the cruise ships.

Character Meet and Greets

You will see have ample opportunities for character meet and greets on the ship including Mickey, Minnie, Captain Hook, Disney Princesses, and more at designated areas. All the character meet and greets will be posted in the Disney Cruise Line app. Cruisers LOVE their character meet and greets so be prepared for high demand especially for characters like Mickey and Minnie.

Disney Movie Showings

Experience the newest Disney movies in the Buena Vista Theatre which is modeled after Hollywood's Golden Age in the style of a luxurious movie palace. You can also catch a Disney movie outside under the stars. This theatre will also be in touch with current events, for example during our cruise we were able to watch the Oscars.

Disney Dream Recreation

There are a wide variety of recreation on the Disney Dream for all ages. Plus options for kids to enjoy so parents can go enjoy the adult exclusive options! This is something that the Disney Cruise Line does best!

Youth Clubs

• Disney’s Oceaneer Club- children can learn and play in larger-than-life spaces fueled by Disney storytelling.
• Edge —Tween focuses featuring plenty of available video games, music and movies.
• Vibe- This youth club is geared for teens and is open until 2AM with karaoke and dance parties.

These clubs are only open to kids in these age groups that register with the cast member. They will have brief open houses throughout the cruise if you want to come in and check things out but otherwise they are exclusive to their designated age group. My 14 year old teen had a blast hanging out in the Vibe and made a ton of friends.

Adult Exclusive Spaces

Adult exclusive spaces on the Disney Dream include

• Senses Spa & Salon- a serene spa and salon so you can fully relax and enjoy your vacation
• The District – adults-only part of the ship featuring mixed drinks a Skyline and Pink, live televised events at 687 Pub and dancing at Evolution

Plus you can enjoy a variety of lounges around the Disney Dream to relax in. These lounges are geared for adults but children are welcome too in many of them. Certain all ages events may take place in these areas along with 18+ only events.

Youth Activities

• Midship Detective Agency- guests ages 9 and older get to solve different mysteries aboard the ship
• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique- for littles ones to dress up as fairy princesses and royal knights

Sports and Fitness

The Disney Dream features a full-service fitness center with weight machines and instructional fitness classes. This is located next to the Senses Spa with an exercise room overlooking the water.

Disney Dream Dining

Animator's palate.

The theming of this restaurant is the most “Disney” out of the rotational dining options as it celebrates Disney animation. Kids will love this dining spot!

Royal Palace

Enchanted garden.

This restaurant is beautiful and serene featuring custom-glass flower lights, white trellises, ornamental posts and a centerpiece of a 7-foot tall cascading fountain of a stone cherub Mickey Mouse.

Casual Dining Experiences

There are casual dining experiences located around the ship that are all included in the cost of your cruise. This is where you can enjoy breakfast and lunch plus snacks!

Cabanas is the best place for breakfast and lunch (sometimes dinner is offered too!) with the most selection of options as compared to the other quick dining spots. One of my favorite touches about the atmosphere in this dining spot is there is a wall of clocks all set to the local time for each Disney Park in the world!

Flo's Cafe features three walk up windows with burgers, chicken, pizza and salads. We found ourselves coming here often throughout the day especially for the Four Cheese pizza!

This soft serve ice cream is available all day with a mix of chocolate, vanilla, banana, and strawberry. We found ourselves eating this nonstop during our cruise! I don't think I've ever had so much ice cream.

Forozen Treats

This window is right next to the ice cream area but these treats come at an additional cost. This is where you can find smoothies plus Dole Whips!

Adult exclusive dining experiences include:

• Palo- Northern Italian delicacies with a modern twist with live music and ocean views
• Remy- French-inspired menu of seasonal ingredients

These two dining options are at an extra cost and are only for adults 18 years old and up. This will be your most luxurious dining options on the Disney Dream.

Plus your room includes complimentary, 24- hour dining. Just don't forget to tip! We utilized this for breakfast a few times, especially on port days when we wanted to get ready quickly and get off the ship.

Overall, the Disney Dream is one of the BEST Disney Cruise Line ships. Some of the cruisers I met during our adventure even said they like it better than the new Disney Wish!

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Disney Dream Activities

Entertainment & Activities

Disney dream shows and theater.

Walt Disney Theater (Deck 3 and 4):  Disney Dream shows always draw a full house with their intricate sets and costumes, beloved songs and captivating performances. You could easily forget you're at sea. The Walt Disney Theater on Dream offers up much-loved favorites such as "Beauty and the Beast,” as well as its signature show, "Disney's Believe," directed by Broadway veteran Gordon Greenberg.

A host of old-time favorites make an appearance, including Peter Pan, Genie from "Aladdin" and Cinderella, but the story of a workaholic single father who reconnects with his young daughter is refreshingly new.

Buena Vista Theater (Deck 4 and 5):  Dream has license to show first-run Walt Disney Studios movies in its theaters -- and not just the PG-rated animated shows. A lineup of four or five movies will play in rotation; check the daily newsletter or the screen outside the theater for show times.

On a short cruise, you might find it difficult to fit movie-watching time into the packed schedule of more appealing daily activities.

The counter outside sells popcorn in souvenir buckets and smoothies in souvenir cups -- for an added fee, of course. Extra-cost soda and beer are also available there. (Keep in mind that soda is free elsewhere on the ship. To save a few dollars, head up to Deck 11 to fill a cup or two with Coke before you hit the theater.)

Disney Dream Daily Things to Do

Character experiences are the backbone of Disney cruises, and like the other ships, there is no shortage of opportunities to greet Mickey, the princesses and the rest of the crew onboard. This vessel affords kids a much more intimate experience than the parks do. Instead of paying the high cost of character dining or waiting in insanely long lines just to snap a mediocre shot, Disney Dream characters are accessible, typically in the Atrium or the D Lounge.

If you miss the formal greetings (times are outlined in your daily newsletter), you can count on seeing them around the ship, and they'll always stop for a photo. Disney Dream photographers are available for a professional photoshoot with the characters at all scheduled meet-and-greets. The photos are available for purchase later in the sailing.

Offered on select five-night itineraries from Miami to Bahamas, Disney Dream’s Marvel Day at Sea is a fun event for the whole family. More than 30 superheroes from the Marvel Universe, such as Thor, Captain America, Black Panther, and Spiderman, lead a variety of activities throughout the day, including costume parties, movie screenings and interactive experiences.

The D Lounge on Deck 4 is also the main venue for all-ages Disney Dream activities and games, such as family karaoke, bingo, Disney trivia, animation classes, and more. Live music in the Atrium can lead to impromptu dance parties.

For a DIY scavenger hunt, stop off at the Deck 5 kiosks to access the Midship Detective Agency. You will search the ship for clues, hidden in the "enchanted art" onboard (digital pictures that come to life via motion detectors) to solve a Muppets-themed mystery.

Nightlife on Disney Dream

The popular "Pirates in the Caribbean" party has become two separate events, happy news for parents unable to keep little ones up late. There is a sing-along and Mickey-led deck party early in the evening for kids called "Mickey's Pirates in the Caribbean," followed by "Buccaneer Blast," in which Jack Sparrow rappels off the funnel; a short performance with special effects ensues and ends in Disney's famed fireworks display.

There is no casino on Disney Dream.

Disney Dream Bars and Lounges

There are a dozen different places to buy cocktails onboard, but the hub of the adult action is the adults-only "district" on Deck 4, with its multiple venues: Pink, Pub 687, District Lounge, Skyline Lounge and Evolution. During the day, the space is used for all-ages events; kids are kicked out after dinner.

Unlike most other cruise lines, Disney does not offer unlimited alcoholic drinks packages. Instead, there are a few deals for those looking to indulge in a few drinks, including wine and beer packages, and hard seltzer, soft drink and bottle water packages.

Bon Voyage Bar (Deck 3):  Just off the atrium, the Bon Voyage might be the first place you can access alcohol on your cruise, and it's the place to pick up a beverage on your way to someplace else.

District Lounge (Deck 4):  This is the spot to hear live music in an intimate setting. It's on the main thoroughfare through the District and hard to miss.

Pink (Deck 4):  Pink, the girly (but fabulous) Champagne bar is done up in pink bubble decor. (See if you can spot the tiny Dumbo who appears at times in the bubbles.) Toast your cruisemates with a bottle of the ship's exclusive Pink Champagne.

Pub 687 (Deck 4):  Sports pub 687 (Dream was the 687th ship built by Meyer-Werft shipyard) is the place to kick back with a beer and watch the game. If you're not interested in a televised game, grab a board game from the stack, and hold your own competition. Pub grub is also available there for a fee, including chips with a trio of dips, and tempura shrimp.

Skyline Lounge (Deck 4):  A giant screen behind the bar displays images of five big-name cities, as if you're in a high-rise bar at night looking out on the skyline. Every 15 minutes, you're in a new city. The art on the wall changes, too -- it's enchanted, after all -- but the martini bar stays the same, so you can order a Chicago-inspired drink while gazing out at Rio's rooftops.

Evolution (Deck 4):  This caterpillar-to-butterfly themed nightclub is the place to dance after you've dumped the kids at the Oceaneer Club. Evolution also hosts late-night adult events, such as Match Your Mate or '80s Music Challenge.

Cove Bar (Deck 11):  Not quite a swim-up bar, the Cove Bar does have stools set in the shallow wading area of the Cove Pool. There, you can enjoy your pina colada in peace and quiet, away from the kid-thronged midship pools.

Meridian Lounge (Deck 12):  Our favorite adults-only spot is the top-deck Meridian, a wine bar tucked between Palo and Remy. Inside, it's got a travel theme; outside, there's a gorgeous alfresco terrace.

Waves Bar (Deck 12):  This open-air bar is tucked away behind the big screen and under the sports court, but it's the closest thing to a pool bar Dream has. Otherwise, you can grab your poolside daiquiris and buckets of beer from roving waiters or conveniently placed drink carts.

Currents Bar (Deck 13):  Currents is an adults-only bar on the adults-only sun deck above the adults-only pool.

Outlook (Deck 14):  This top-deck venue is used for onboard weddings and as a quiet getaway for passengers (despite its location just above the tween club). It has limited hours; when we stopped by, the door was closed and locked.

Public Rooms

Disney dream pools and hot tubs.

The ship's pool deck (11) features a large family-oriented area, complete with hot tubs and a pair of pools (Donald's and Mickey's). The Mickey Pool prevails as the most trafficked area, its spiral slide hosting a constant parade of happy children. Donald's Pool is five feet deep, offering a front-row view of the 24-foot-tall LED screen that's mounted on the ship's funnel.

Behind Mickey's Pool is the toddler splash area with a Nemo theme, plenty of shade and huge glass panes so parents can easily monitor the kids (8 and younger) frolicking inside. This is the only water play area that allows tots in swim diapers, but just like in the main pools, it can get pretty crowded, so new walkers will likely need supervision.

Quiet Cove, Disney's adults-only pool area, features a subtly Mickey-shaped pool with a deeper section for soaking, a shallower section for wading, and a splash-up bar with stools in the water. A hot tub is set against the windows overlooking the sea.

Disney Dream AquaDuck Water Slide and Sports Deck

The highlight for many is the Disney Dream AquaDuck, the first-ever watercoaster at sea. Clearly visible atop the ship, the water slide features a transparent, acrylic tube that propels riders along on a raft, up and down four decks of the ship, at one point swinging out 13 feet off the side, 150 feet above the ocean.

While not a scary ride by any means (adults expecting an intense thrill will be disappointed), there is a 42-inch height requirement, so prepare younger siblings. The entrance is on Deck 12, and there are nearly always lines.

The Deck 13 Sports Deck pales in comparison to the extensive outdoor play areas found on other lines' newest ships. Expect a sports court that can be adapted from soccer to basketball, and a whimsical Goofy-style mini-golf course. Oddly, the Ping-Pong tables are out in the open air. (Good luck trying to hit a decent shot while at sea.) Foosball tables and golf simulators are there, as well.

The promenade on Deck 4 is a great place to walk or chill out old-school style on wooden loungers. For the most nostalgia, engage in a game of shuffleboard.

Sun Decks on Disney Dream

The pools on Deck 11 are flanked with basic metal loungers, as well as tables and chairs for alfresco dining. Deck 12 has additional sunbathing spots, overlooking both the main pool area and the Quiet Cove.

Deck 13 is home to the Satellite Falls, which boasts shade structures and a water feature. There, you'll also find loungers and some cushioned wicker seating areas. In the center of this area, blocked off by glass walls, is the exclusive sun deck for Concierge passengers, featuring even more plush seating, including clamshell sunbeds.

Services and WiFi on Disney Dream

The guest services desk is found on Deck 3, just off the main level of the atrium. Deck 4 is home to the Internet help desk, future cruise sales and the shopping consultant, as well as the photo gallery and art gallery.

The photo shop, Shutters, puts a new spin on the old "look through hundreds of photos to try and spot your own" approach. Passengers can either use their key cards to look up photos connected to their cabins at computer terminals or find their photos in books assigned to them and identified by color, character and number.

The shore excursions desk is on Deck 5, across the atrium are the conference facilities.

Disney Dream does not have a typical Internet cafe and only offers wireless for those who bring their own mobile devices or laptops. (The Cove Cafe is a particularly good place to check your email.) Its Connect@Sea program offers a range of Wi-Fi plans that can be used on as many devices as you want. The Disney Cruise Line Navigator app can be checked without a data plan.

The shops on Deck 3 are a combination of Disney Store and the usual cruise ship duty-free merchandise (jewelry, duty-free liquors and perfumes, and logowear). If you forgot your princess ball gown or pirate clothes, you can pick them up there. There are also smaller shops on the pool decks, where you can buy souvenirs, as well as glowing accessories for the various deck parties.

A medical center is located on Deck 1, and self-serve launderettes can be found on all passenger decks, though their locations aren't noted on deck plans. You can charge the fees to your cruise card.

Note that there are no ATMs onboard or on Castaway Cay (Disney's private island), so be sure to bring enough cash for tips and on-shore purchases that can't be made with your Key to the World card.

Spa & Fitness

Disney dream spa & thermal suite.

The Senses Spa on Deck 11 is beautiful and offers the usual range of treatments, from salon-oriented hairdos and manicures to more exotic fare like hot-stone massages and body wraps. There's a men's barber shop, and options for teeth whitening and acupuncture. Look for port-day specials. Sense has a minimum age of 18.

The spa also sells passes to the Rainforest room on Disney Dream, which offers a series of steam rooms and saunas, scented rain showers, heated loungers and hot tubs looking out over the sea. Day passes are available; access is not included with treatments. (Free saunas are located in the locker rooms.)

Two couples’ villas offer a romantic getaway with a lounge/treatment area, open-air shower and private veranda with a whirlpool and plush loungers. Treatments there will run you several hundred dollars.

Also, kudos to Disney for introducing Chill, a spa just for teens with treatments like the "Acne Attack Facial," "Mother/Daughter Paradise Massage" and "Truth or Hair" hair styling.

The Senses Juice Bar features individual window seating where anyone (even those not receiving spa treatments) can enjoy healthy drinks like smoothies and coconut water for an extra fee.

On Deck 5, you'll find the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. This magical salon transforms little girls and boys into their choice of princess, knight, pirate or captain. Prices may include hairstyling, costumes, makeup, nail polish, sash and tote, depending on the package. Although adults can't make appointments to be turned into princesses, the boutique does keep spots open to make grown-ups over for the Disney Dream Pirate Night.

Disney Dream Gym

The Disney Dream gym is small for a new-ish ship, with the group class area out in the open at one end of the fitness center. You'll find Life Fitness treadmills, stationary bikes and elliptical trainers, free weights up to 50 pounds and resistance machines.

Fitness classes include yoga, Pilates, group cycling and boot camp; some require advanced signup, and boot camp incurs an extra fee. You can also sign up for personal training or a body composition analysis.

Is Disney Dream Kid Friendly?

Disney is one of the most kid-friendly cruise lines around. Its kids’ program goes well beyond great children’s clubs and fun daily activities: Princess meet-and-greets take place daily and are hugely popular, the shows feature character cameos and songs from the Disney movies, and the family pools are overrun with splashing, shrieking young-uns.

Beyond the character cameos, there’s a designated kids’ spa and a wide range of Disney-themed shows and amenities. For parents with babies and toddlers, the ship can provide Pack 'n Plays and diaper pails in your cabin, as well as high chairs and pureed food in the restaurants. You can buy diapers, wipes, formula and other baby supplies onboard.

Kids’ Club on Disney Dream: Oceaneer Club

The Disney Dream kids’ club is what keep many loyal families coming back. It's not just the innovative, engaging spaces for kids and familiar characters that make it such a success; the counselors are truly extraordinary. They offer far more than smiling faces to greet you at check-in. Indeed, these men and women are experienced, attentive and downright fun, with a keen eye for spotting children who need encouragement, a friend to play with or a major timeout.

The Disney Dream Oceaneer Club and Lab on Deck 5 (ages 3 to 12) are connected on Dream (hooray!) so kids can roam back and forth, effectively doubling the space available to them at any given time. Club activities are geared to younger kids and Lab for older, but Disney's innovative approach of allowing kids of all ages to access both clubs means that siblings can hang out together if they choose, and children can pursue their own interests.

Highlights include the adorable Andy's Room, which has oversized characters like the dinosaur and pig from "Toy Story" for little ones to climb on.

There is also an entire area dedicated to Disney Infinity, a series of video games that are activated by Disney-themed character game pieces. In the Infinity section of Oceaneer's, kids will find 10 gaming stations, each outfitted with two controllers, as well as a life-size Infinity gaming station, where people become the game pieces and control the outcome of each competition with their body movements. Kids work in teams of two to rack up points in an effort to beat the highest scores.

Finally, the piece de resistance is the Millennium Falcon-themed Star Wars play area, which simply bursts with excitement and geekery. In the center is a replica of the Millennium Falcon's cockpit, complete with two chairs where kids can sit to "fly" the aircraft via a series of simulations. To the left is a control room that has so many lights, levers and buttons, you'll never push the same one twice. (We're told that when a certain sequence of buttons is pushed, it will trigger additional special effects.)

To the right is a likeness of the Falcon's common room, which serves as a seating area for the kiddos. Throw in some movie props, boxes that move when you use "the force," and an R2-D2 replica that beeps, chirps and swivels his head, and it's enough to make adults wish they had an onboard space this awesome

The Disney Dream kids’ clubs also have an outpost on Castaway Cay, so parents can enjoy some private beach time while kids hang out with their friends in a supervised setting on the island.

Babies and Toddlers on Disney Dream

For the tiniest tots, the It's a Small World Nursery on Deck 5 midship is reserved for those from 6 months to 3 years. The nursery offers an age-appropriate playroom, as well as a quiet area with cribs, swings and rocking chairs.

If you want to play with your child in Dream's kids clubs, look for open house hours in the daily newsletters. These are times when the clubs are open for unsupervised (by Disney staff) play, and age restrictions don't apply. You can let your toddler explore Andy's Room or experience the Millennium Falcon.

There are also special toddler play hours in the Nemo's Reef splash zone and in the waiting area outside the Enchanted Garden restaurant for safe baby play.

Tweens and Teens on Disney Dream

Disney Dream has a kids club dedicated entirely to tweens, ages 11 to 13. (Yes, 11- and 12-year-olds have access to the Oceaneer Club and Lab, as well as the tween club.) True to its name, the Edge is located in the funnel on Deck 13, far removed from the other kids clubs. What seemed like a decent idea in theory doesn't work here; we didn't like seeing preteens hanging out in the staircase, unsupervised.

Inside, however, it delivers, with an 18-foot-tall video wall, video karaoke and computers with access to an intranet-based (limited to the ship) social media app.

The 9,000-square-foot teen club, the Disney Dream Vibe (ages 14 to 17), has modular furniture, a fountain bar and its own outdoor space (new for Disney) with a sun deck and wading pools. It's located forward on Deck 5.

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Disney Dream

Cruise line Disney Cruise Line

• Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades, Florida)
• Southampton (England)

Disney Dream current position

Disney Dream current location is at North West Atlantic Ocean (coordinates 26.20496 N / -78.08365 W) cruising en route to USPEF. The AIS position was reported 11 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Disney Dream

Disney Dream current cruise is 3 days, round-trip Bahamian Cruise From Fort Lauderdale . Prices start from USD 1869 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 12 Apr, 2024 and ends on 15 Apr, 2024 .

Specifications of Disney Dream

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Disney Dream Itineraries

Disney dream review, review of disney dream.

The 2010-built MS Disney Dream cruise ship is Walt Disney 's third (Dream-class) liner with sistership Disney Fantasy (2012).

The vessel (IMO number 9434254) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 311042900) and registered in Nassau .

History - construction and ownership

DCL-Disney Cruise Line is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company (shipowner). The company was incorporated in 1996 as "Magical Cruise Company Ltd". Walt Disney also owns the Bahamian private island Castaway Cay (exclusive port of call - for Disney ships only) and an exclusive Cruise Terminal at Port Canaveral (Orlando Florida) . Disney cruises are marketed as "family vacations" and feature unique and exclusive activities, such as costumed Disney Characters, adults-only deck areas, dedicated facilities for teens, kids and infants-toddlers, signature (trademarked) shipboard facilities and activities, themed live entertainment.

The 4000-passenger ship Disney Dream is among industry's best cruise liners for families with small kids (younger than 8). MS Disney Dream is almost 50% larger, 2-deck taller and with 44% bigger passenger capacity in comparison to the older fleet mates Magic and Wonder . The ship design is inspired by traditional 1920s ocean liners. The vessel features a navy blue hull, 2 bright red funnels, elegant Art Deco decorations and some of the most innovative technologies and fun ideas at sea, including:

• 22 pieces of "Enchanted Art" adorning the walls of hallways - paintings and pictures that are actually framed LCD screens with a technology to recognize guests present and proceeding with one of several animations;
• wave phones in every stateroom (used to call or text other guests) and effectively replacing the old onboard beeper system (now the counselors' messages come directly to the parents' phones);
• the Magical Portholes on the walls of all Disney Dream Inside cabins (LED screens showing a real-time view of the ship).

The CLIENTELE consists almost entirely of North American travelers (the USA and Canada). The new Disney Lines approach to teens and young couples (by age-related activities and limited access onboard venues) adds a really strong appeal for multi-generational cruisers.

The DRESS CODE is similar to that of the Disney luxury resorts - day casual and evening resort casual (men - jackets (no ties) and pants, women - summer dresses). All Disney Dream sailings include one pirate and one semi-formal night. On 3-day Disney Dream cruises, one night is casual, 4-day sailings are with 2 casual evenings and on 5-day voyages 3 nights are casual.

Disney Dream TIPS (totaling the US $12 PP per day) are given to waiters (including the assistant waiters) and to cabin attendants. Additionally, a 15% gratuity on all drinks is automatically charged to guests' shipboard accounts.

Decks and Cabins

Most Disney Dream staterooms (1250 total, in 28 grades) are 205-255-ft2 Balconies. The ship has 21 Suites, 887 Balcony, 199 Oceanview and 150 Inside cabins. The largest accommodations are the Concierge Royal Suites (900 ft2 / 84 m2 plus 885 ft2 / 82 m2 terrace).

Disney Dream ship cabins are very well planned and equipped. Like on all Disney ships, Disney Dream staterooms are some of the industry's largest standard cabins, most of them designed to easily accommodate four passengers. Some of the best Disney cabins features are the ample closet space, the normal-sized living space and the split bathrooms (1 room with shower-bathtub-sink and a separate toilet and sink).

Beds on Dream are raised to allow storing 2 medium-sized suitcases underneath, staterooms also got 2 vanities, a 22-inches smart HDTV, an iPod docking station and 2 rechargeable "Wave Phones" to be used ship-wide. The Disney Dream Inside cabin has a most innovative feature (and the industry's first, for that matter) - the Magical Portholes, which are LCD screens (above the beds) in the shape of portholes, projecting a real-time view outside the ship (provided by cameras). Veranda cabins feature 2 chairs and a small table on the balcony. The Disney Dream suites. Concierge Suites and Concierge Family Cabins (Deck 11-12) are new for the line, offering direct access to the ship's concierge facilities (1 small lounge, a private sun deck area with chairs, free food and drinks).

Most 1-bedroom suites are with connecting doors (1 queen bed a sitting area with a double convertible sofa, 1 pull-down bed in the living rooms, a walk-in closet, 2 bathrooms (one with a hot-tub). The largest Disney Dream stateroom, the Royal Suite, adds to all previously mentioned a living room, a wet bar, a kitchenette, media library and a Jacuzzi on the balcony.

The boat has 14 decks , of which 9 are with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The Disney Dream three themed main restaurants are called "Animator's Palate", "Enchanted Garden" and "Royal Palace". There are 2 adults-only specialty restaurants - "Remy" (named after the "Ratatouille" movie star, French cuisine) and "Palo" (Italian cuisine) as alternative dining options. The line's Rotational Dining system allows you to rotate to each of the three main restaurants each night while your servers follow you. The Animator's Palate has screens showing animated Disney characters and themes from "Finding Nemo" movie. The Enchanted Garden is a Versailles-inspired room, featuring lighting effects, transforming day into night. The Royal Palace is princesses-themed with numerous portraits of "Cinderella" and the "Sleeping Beauty" movie characters (even the bread baskets are shaped as Cinderella's coach). The food quality is very good, the service staff is amicable and timely.

The Remy specialty restaurant is a classy place to be on any special occasion, offering a marvelous French menu and charging serious prices - a service fee of $75 PP (reservations are required, along with the formal dress code), drinks and wine are additional. The Palo restaurant is an Italian (Mediterranean) eatery with $20 cover PP (serves dinner and on selected days - Champagne brunch). Superb fish and seafood entrees, a cold buffet (meats, cheese, shrimp, salads and desserts) and several hot made-to-order items. The "Cabanas" casual dining complex on Deck 11 has several food and drink stations for hot and cold buffet items (including made-to-order omelets and sandwiches). The "Flo's Cafe" offers burgers, chicken fingers, wraps, pizza, salads.

Follows the complete list of Disney Dream restaurants and food bars.

• Enchanted Garden Restaurant (696-seat forward Dining Room, inspired by the gardens of Versailles; serves as a buffet for breakfast and lunch, full service for dinner 5:45-8:15 p.m.)
• Royal Palace Restaurant (696-seat forward Dining Room, offers complimentary French cuisine; specialty coffees and drinks are extra)
• Animator's Palate Restaurant (696- seat aft Dining Room, animator's studio design, features favorite Disney-character dinner shows; serves complimentary drinks; Rotational Dining with two fixed Dinner seatings - at 5:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.)
• Flo's Cafe (quick service restaurant with 3 food stations: "Fillmore's Favorites" (lite lunch, complimentary), "Tow Mater's Grill" (burgers bar, complimentary) and "Luigi"s Pizza")
• Cabanas (self-service complimentary restaurant with American cuisine, pasta, sushi)
• Remy (reservations-only, adults-only French specialty restaurant for lunch and dinner; aft location, bookings via the Internet or onboard)
• Palo (144-seat Italian specialty restaurant; adults-only, reservation-only; aft location; bookings via the Internet or on board).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The Disney Dream kids cruise fun clubs are the main reason for the line's high loyalty passengers ratio. Besides all the Disney characters and most innovative technologies and fun attractions on ships, the Disney children counselors are a pretty big reason many families to repeat their visits. Always smiling and friendly, they are hugely experienced, all college educated, attentive and downright. The Oceaneer's "Club" and "Lab" facilities (ages 3-10) are connected, thus doubling the fun space. The "Oceaneer's Club" features the "Andy's Room" (with oversized Disney characters for kids to climb on) and the "Laugh Floor" (with its "laugh-o-meter" and Mike and Sully of "Monsters Inc"). The "Oceaneer's Lab" is maritime-themed, featuring an Animator's Studio and a small Sound Studio. The new Disney approach allows all kids ages 3-10 to access the same clubs with separate rooms and age-related activities.

The ship's children club is called "Edge" (ages 11-13) properly secluded on Deck 13 in the funnel. The best attractions here are the 18 ft (5,5 m) tall LCD wall, the video karaoke, and numerous interconnected PCs. The teen-only "Vibe" club (ages 14-17) is of 9,000 sq. foot (836 m2), with a fountain bar and its own sun deck and pools.

The list with adults-only entertainment venues includes a dozen different lounges and bars (cocktail places), like the "Pink's Champagne Bar", the "687" sports bar, the "Evolution" nightclub, the top-deck "Meridien" wine bar (between Palo and Remy). Public spaces are decorated in deep blue and red, with numerous "Mickeys" just about everywhere (cabin, artwork, dinnerware, railings). One of the ship's most memorable places is the 3-deck high Atrium lobby with its golden hue, the wide royalty-style winding staircase, and the Donald Duck bronze statue. The Dream Atrium is a hub area connecting restaurants, theaters, and shops. You may check emails in the Internet cafe, but there's also Wi-Fi coverage throughout the ship. Like all Disney ships, Dream has no casino.

• Fun activities on board

All Disney stage shows feature intricate sets and Disney-themed captivating performances, and the big place for grand entertainment is the Disney Theater with goldies like the "Golden Mickeys" and "Villains Tonight", new amazing stage productions, like the "Disney's Believe" (directed by Gordon Greenberg) and all the best Disney movies in 3D. The themed Disney characters onboard have always been the greatest sensation of all, and there are countless opportunities to meet and greet Mickey and company around the ship - in contrast to Disneyland, here they all are accessible and will always stop for a hug and a photo with you. Another big success is the "Pirates in the Caribbean" kids party divided into two programs - the sing-along called "Mickey's Pirates in the Caribbean" followed by the "Club Pirate" (with many special effects) and great Disney fireworks between the shows.

• SPA and FITNESS, pools, waterslide, technology

The "Senses" Spa & Salon offers all the usual treatments (haircuts, manicures) and more exotic choices (hot-stone massages, mud baths). The "Chill" is a teen-only Spa within the facility. The Fitness Center along with the usual equipment offers at additional fee Yoga and Pilates classes. The Sports Deck has a small sports court, a mini-golf course, Ping-Pong tables, a walking/jogging track.

The pool deck has a large area for family fun water activities, featuring 2 hot tubs and 2 kids pools - "Donald's" (5 ft deep) and "Mickey's" (with a spiral slide). A big attraction here is the big LED screen mounted on the funnel. There's a toddler splash area (Nemo themed) located in the center on Deck 11 with huge glass panes for parents to monitor their kids.

The AquaDuck waterslide - the ever first water-coaster at sea is located atop the ship, featuring a 765 ft (233 m) long 4-decks high transparent tube, reaching the incredible 150 ft (46 m) above the ocean (there's a 42-inch (107 cm) height requirement). The "Nemo's Reef" is a small kids waterpark. And while speaking of water and pools - the adults-only "Quiet Cove" pool area is a great place to hide from all the little angels and devils around the ship.

Follows the complete list of Disney Dream lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Walt Disney Dream Theatre (1340-seat, offers live shows, aerial acrobatics performances, grand-style productions, 3D movies; with two evening shows - at 6:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.)
• Dream's Atrium (3-deck high central ship area, featuring marble-carpet flooring, grand staircase, and panoramic glass elevators)
• Mickey's Mainsail (Disney brand logo shop for postcards, souvenirs, DVDs, toys, clothes, games)
• Sea Treasures (duty-free crystal, brand jewelry, watches, precious stones, Disney merchandise, underwear, sport, and swimming apparel)
• Whitecaps (duty-free brand jewelry, perfumes, liquor, and tobaccos)
• Bon Voyage Bar (adults-only, serving wine, beer, and cocktails)
• Buena Vista Theatre (399-seat 4D cinema, features 3D movies, Dolby Surround 7.1 and Dolby 3D movie technology)
• Preludes Bar (quick wait-service snacks & beverages bar)
• Shutters PhotoShop (photo packages, accessories, photographic services)
• Vista Cafe (atrium bar for specialty coffees and teas, dinner cocktails, complimentary snacks, and pastries; Wi-Fi spot)
• D Lounge Bar & Nightclub; Evolution Disco & Nightclub; Vista Gallery
• The District (adults only area including the District Lounge, Evolution night club, Pink Champagne Bar, 687 Sports Bar, Skyline Bar)
• Pink (adults-only champagne bar; chocolate and alcohol tasting classes)
• Skyline Lounge (adults only cocktails bar, with glass walls and 7 LED screens)
• Vibe Disco & Club Lounge (teens only)
• It's A Small World Nursery (for 3 months to 3 yo infants and toddlers; reservations required)
• Dream's Oceaneer Club (kids 3-12 yo; with four play areas with themes from Disney films); Dream's Oceaneer Lab (play area for kids 3-12 yo)
• Senses Spa & Fitness Complex (with 17 treatment rooms; 1 Whirlpool; "Rainforest Room"; "Relax Room"; Fitness Centre /health and wellbeing seminars; Beauty Salon)
• Luxurious Spa Villas (two private suites with own hot tub, private verandah, Roman bed with canopy, open-air shower)
• Quiet Cove Pool (adults only pool, served by Cove Bar; with 2 Whirlpools)
• Chill Spa (teens only spa with separate relaxation area and treatment rooms)
• Cove Cafe (adult-only, with big TV screen; Wi-Fi spot)
• Eye Scream Treats Bar (complimentary ice cream, poolside)
• Frozone Treats (iced fruit smoothies bar, poolside)
• Whozits & Whatzits (pool shop for AquaDuck related stuff)
• Donald's Pool; Mickey's Pool
• Nemo's Reef (waterplay kids zone; features characters meetings and greetings)
• Arr-cade (kids/teens video games arcade)
• Waves Bar (family poolside bar)
• Outdoor LED movie screen (24x14 ft)
• Meridian Lounge & Bar (adults-only venue for dinner cocktails)
• Currents Bar (outdoor bar for cold drinks, refreshments, cocktails)
• Edge Lounge (11-14 yo teens-only club area, with a giant video wall, interactive games, Internet)
• Goofy's Sports Deck (Walking Track, Jogging Track, 9-hole Mini Golf Course, Virtual sport games simulators, combined sports court, Ping Pong/Foosball tables)
• Radio Studio (live radio programs for Disney Dream itinerary-related news and onboard events)
• Outlook Bar (retreat area with a piano and full bar; hosts weddings receptions).

Itineraries

Between 2011-2022, Disney Dream's itinerary program was based on short-breaks (3-night and 4-night) roundtrips to The Bahamas departing from Port Canaveral/Orlando Florida . Call port destinations included Castaway Cay (DCL's private Bahamian island) and Nassau .

The ship's last voyage from Port Canaveral was on June 3, 2022 (3-day to Castaway Cay), while the last departure from Port Canaveral was on June 6st, leaving for the new homeport Miami . The first voyage from PortMiami departed on June 7th (4-day maiden voyage). Out of Miami, Disney Dream offers two itineraries: 4-day "Bahamian Cruise" (Nassau and Castaway Cay) and 5-day "Western Caribbean Cruise" ( Grand Cayman and Castaway Cay). Select 7-day Western Caribbean voyages visit Cozumel Mexico, Grand Cayman, Falmouth Jamaica).

In Port Canaveral, Disney Dream was replaced by the new Disney Wish , starting on July 22, 2022.

In 2023, Disney Dream will be homeported (for the first time) in Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale (Florida USA) . The new homeporting (beginning November 2023) follows the European deployment (Mediterranean from Barcelona and Civitavecchia-Rome, and UK-Baltic from Southampton). The new 4- and 5-night itineraries visit ports in The Bahamas (Castaway Cay, Nassau) and Western Caribbean (Cozumel Mexico, Grand Cayman).

Disney Dream - user reviews and comments

Photos of disney dream.

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Other Disney Cruise Line cruise ships

• Disney Adventure
• Disney Destiny
• Disney Fantasy
• Disney Magic
• Disney Treasure
• Disney Wish
• Disney Wonder

Disney Dream Wiki

The Walt Disney ship Dream is company's third liner, with sistership Disney Fantasy . Each vessel is 40% larger in size than the oldest Disney ships ( Magic and Wonder ). While its capacity (at double occupancy) is 2500, the Dream-y ship of Disney can accommodate up to 4000 passengers at full/max occupancy (all berths).

The vessel (Mayer Neptun yard/hull number 687) is powered by MAN B&W marine diesel engines (3x 12-cyl, 2x 14-cyl) plus diesel generators (3x 14,4 MW, 2x 16,8 MW) with total power output 76,8 MW. The propulsion system is electric (based on two converteam propulsion motors) with total power output 26 MW, plus two FPPs (5-blade Fixed-Pitch Propellers/inward-turning).

The vessel was ordered on February 22, 2007. The design was announced on Oct 29, 2009. Vessel's construction started with the keel-laying ceremony on August 19, 2009. The exterior (hull and superstructure) was completed on June 1, 2010. The ship was launched (floated out from drydock) on October 30, 2010, and paid in full by the shipowner Walt Disney Company on December 8, 2010. Liner's first cruise/maiden voyage was on January 26, 2011. The Bahamian itinerary from homeport Canaveral-Orlando (Florida) visited Nassau and Castaway Island .

The Disney ship Dream has company's classic "ocean liner" design inspired by the 1920s-30s' passenger ships. The hull is painted in navy blue, both funnels are in bright red. The Art Deco-styled Atrium Lobby looks jazzy and elegant, with a huge glass chandelier and the bronze statue of Donald Duck - standing right in front of the marble stairway. Walt Disney's most famous character - Mickey Mouse - can be seen everywhere - in staterooms, artworks, on dinnerware, on railings. The swimming pools are small, but the AquaDuck has the craziest waterslide at sea, with a transparent tube spinning over the ocean. The ship provides numerous regularly scheduled activities for families, kids, teens and adults, and plenty of dining and entertainment options.

On November 6, 2017, on MS Disney Dream was the premiere of the "Beauty and the Beast" musical developed as an exclusive evening production show.

The vessel's last drydock (for regularly scheduled maintenance works) was in 2020 (at Damen Shiprepair Yard in Brest France ).

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Disney Dream Cruise Essential Guide: What You Need to Know Before You Sail

Jill Robbins

The  Disney Dream’s maiden voyage was on January 26, 2011. She joined the  Disney Magic  and the Disney Wonder  as the third ship in Disney Cruise Line’s fleet of then five ships. The Disney Dream  and the  Disney Fantasy , which debuted the year following the Dream,  are nearly identical in layout. Historically, the Dream  has sailed three and four-night cruises from Castaway Cay to the Bahamas, but Disney Cruise Line has recently changed things up, and the Dream  is currently spending her summers in Europe.

If you’re trying to decide what Disney Cruise Line vessel is the right one for you, here’s a deep dive into what the Disney Dream  offers, although I choose my cruises based on the sailing dates and where they’re going versus choosing based on ship. I’ve sailed four of the five ships in Disney’s fleet and on the  Dream  twice.

Ship Basics

The Disney Dream  is 1,114.7 feet long and 137 feet wide. The ship has 1,250 staterooms and can accommodate a maximum of 4,000 passengers and a crew of 1,458. The ship’s atrium features Art Deco styling and a statue of Admiral Donald. All Disney ships have unique stern art, and the Disney Dream’s  stern art features Sorcerer Mickey directing his magical broomsticks to finish painting the ship’s emblem.

The Dream  is one of two Dream Class ships – the other is the  Fantasy  – which are about 40 percent larger than the two classic Disney ships, the Magic  and the  Wonder .

Choose the Itineraries Over Choosing the Ship

I recommend choosing your Disney cruise based on what dates are good for you and where the ship is going. The ships are similar enough to one another that your experience isn’t going to vary widely from ship to ship, so take the vacation that works for you timewise and go where you want to go, whether that’s the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, or one of Disney’s new sailings in Australia and New Zealand.

Unless, of course, you’re chasing a grand slam like me. A grand slam is a term coined by the passengers to indicate they’ve sailed on all of Disney Cruise Line’s vessels. There are currently five, with the new Disney Treasure  being released in 2024.

Staterooms on the Disney Dream

The types of staterooms on the  Disney Dream  are Concierge, Oceanview with Verandah, and Inside. Concierge is Disney Cruise Line’s suite class. The staterooms are more spacious and have enhanced in-room amenities, access to a concierge lounge, and dedicated shoreside and onboard teams to assist them. Sailing concierge has other perks, such as priority embarkation and disembarkation and the first choice of shore excursions and onboard activities.

Of course, this luxury and convenience comes with a price: Concierge staterooms are the most expensive.

The other stateroom categories are pretty much what they sound like, except Disney uses the word ‘verandah’ whereas most other cruise lines use the word balcony. An Oceanview stateroom will have portholes to look out of, and an inside stateroom will have no windows. The inside staterooms are the least expensive.

Rotational Dining on the Disney Dream

Rotational dining is unique to Disney Cruise Line. You’ll be assigned a different dining room each night of your cruise, which is included in the price of your cruise. The Disney Cruise Line Navigator App will tell you where you eat each night.

The cool thing about rotational dining is that your servers go with you. That’s right; you won’t have different servers in each dining room. Your servers will follow you from location to location, and they will make every effort to get to know you and your family throughout the cruise. The Disney Dream has three main dining rooms, Enchanted Garden (Deck 2 midship), Royal Palace (Deck 3 midship), and Animator’s Palate (Deck 3 aft).

Each menu includes bread service. The bread comes with butter and some type of dip or sauce. You’ll also find at least one plant-based option and a “lighter notes” menu, including a salad, a plain steak, plain salmon, and a plain chicken breast. Each venue has unique desserts, a signature dessert, and a sugar-free dessert option.

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Read More: Restaurants on the Disney Dream: Complete Guide to Dining Onboard

Early or late dining

Guests will choose between early or late dining when booking their Disney Dream  cruise. Early seating is at 5:45 p.m., and second seating is at 8:00 p.m. This may vary by cruise, and when the  Disney Dream  is in European ports, the dining times may be pushed later. Once you choose, you’re locked in, and there is no flipping back and forth between early or late seatings.

Enchanted Garden

The gardens at Versailles inspire the Enchanted Garden’s decor. The appetizer menu choices included a cucumber garden roll, an ahi tuna and avocado tower, an applewood smoked bacon and mushroom tart, and lobster ravioli.

The soup and salad menu included asparagus soup, tomato soup, spinach and raspberry salad, and a romaine wedge. Mains included sea scallops, sea bass, roast chicken, seared pork medallions, and prime rib.

The dessert list included:

• A sticky date pudding.
• A chocolate torte.
• A gluten-free orange almond cake.
• A brownie sundae.
• A pecan pie tart.

The food was good and plentiful, and the atmosphere felt pretty and soothing, like eating in a…well, in an enchanted garden. That said, this was my least favorite restaurant on the Dream .

Royal Palace

The theme of the Royal Palace is Disney princesses. There is princess artwork around the dining room’s perimeter that’s fun to walk around and look at if the dining room isn’t too crowded. Appetizers include duck confit, iced lobster, jumbo shrimp, fried brie, and escargot.

Soup and salad offerings include a potato and leek soup, French onion soup, a Bosc pear salad, and a farmer’s salad with goat cheese.

The main dishes are pasta with lobster and tomato, oven-baked salmon, roasted duck, rack of lamb, and chateaubriand.

 The featured desserts are:

• A Grand Marnier souffle.
• Apple tartine.
• Strawberry shortcake sundae.
• Creme brulee.
• A chocolate sponge cake soaked in coffee syrup with chocolate ganache.

I love the princess-like setting, which is just the perfect amount of theming and not too “in your face” Disney. The menu is rich, luxurious, and perfect entry-level French cuisine that will make both more sophisticated palates and picky eaters happy.

Animator’s Palate

I’ll preface this by saying I adore Animator’s Palate, my favorite restaurant across the fleet. I’m bummed that the  Disney Wish  doesn’t have it. Animator’s Palate is your favorite Disney animation coming to life before your eyes. The entertainment is truly spectacular. The  Dream has Undersea Magic, where you can have a real-time conversation with Crush from Finding Nemo as he swims around the dining room, popping up in various picture frames.

Magical Entertainment

Animation Magic is truly one of my favorite parts of Animator’s Palate and Disney Cruising in general. If you’re lucky enough to eat at Animator’s Palate when Amination Magic is happening, you’ll be given a placemat to draw on when you first sit down to your meal. The servers will collect your placemats, and your drawings will become a special, magical part of the entertainment.

Delicious Food

The food at Animator’s Palate is also my favorite of the three main dining rooms. Appetizers include smoked salmon tartare, slice serrano ham, black truffle pasta, and a tomato tart. The choices for soups and salads are butternut squash soup, baked potato cheddar soup, an arugula salad, and a chicken salad.

Mains are pasta bolognese, tuna steak, thyme-seasoned chicken breast, herb-crusted pork, and ginger-dusted beef tenderloin with wasabi mashed potatoes that’s a fantastic explosion of flavors – and I’m not a huge red meat eater.

Desserts at the Animator’s Palate include:

• A lemon icebox pie.
• Cookies and cream sundae.
• Crunchy walnut cake.
• Cheesecake with a layer of chocolate fudge.

Other Included Dining On the Disney Dream

There are many other places to eat included in the cost of your cruise.

Cabanas is the Disney Dream’s  buffet eatery. Serving a wide variety of items for both breakfast and lunch, Cabana’s offers indoor and outdoor seating.

Room Service

Most room service items on the Disney Dream  are included in the cost of your cruise. A variety of soups, salads, pizza, sandwiches, and desserts can be delivered to your room 24 hours a day. Really .

Certain items on the room service menu are not free, so make sure you’re paying attention when you order. Alcohol, canned soda, and snacks such as candy and popcorn aren’t included.

Flo’s Cafe

If you want to eat on the deck or grab some quick service sustenance while you’re enjoying the ocean views, this outdoor eatery is home to three food stations—Luigi’s Pizza, Tow Mater’s Grill, and Fillmore’s Favorites, all inspired by Disney Pixar’s Cars . Chicken, pizza, salads, and sandwiches are served so everyone can find something they enjoy.

Eye Scream Treats

Unlimited soft serve is a Disney Cruise Line favorite.

Frozone Treats

The smoothies at Frozone Treats are not included in the cost of your cruise.

Vanellope’s Sweets & Treats

Vanelleope’s Sweets and Treats serves hand-dipped gelato, a variety of sundaes, ice cream treats, candy, and other delights to tempt a sweet tooth. Not included in the cost of your cruise.

Preludes is the concession stand near the theater that serves popcorn that you can smell a mile away, candy and other snacks, sodas, and alcohol. You can also order from a server in the theater before the show starts.

The Cove Cafe serves specialty coffee and tea, with and without alcohol. Aside from the self-service coffee machine in the Concierge Lounge, the Cove Cafe is the only place to get decent coffee on the ship, and if you like your morning java, make sure you’re budgeting for it.

While the drinks at the Cove Cafe aren’t included in the cost of your cruise, the snacks are.

There are usually a variety of pastries in a display case that are free to adult guests. The Cove Cafe is located in the adult-only area of the ship. If you visit between 5:00-7:00 p.m., you might get lucky and find antipasto.

Senses Juice Bar

This juice bar is located near the Senses Spa and Salon and serves nutritious beverages made with fresh fruits and vegetables. Not included in the cost of your cruise.

Adult Fine Dining on the Disney Dream

The  Dream  has two adult-only fine dining venues, Palo and Remy. If you’re looking for a sans kids dinner or brunch date, a coveted reservation at one of these spots is the way to go.

Palo serves dinner and brunch on sea days. Dinner is $45 per person, and brunch is $40 per person. The prices are always subject to change. I’m a big fan of Palo Brunch. Although the buffet portion of Palo Brunch is no more, the current menu is more than ample, and you’re brought an antipasto tray early on in the meal with most of the things the old buffet used to have.

The brunch menu includes tasty delights such as soups, waffles and pancakes, benedicts and omelets, and Italian-inspired dishes such as calzones, pizza, pasta, and chicken parmesan. The current dessert menu includes a light vanilla berry panna cotta, a limoncello torte, and traditional tiramisu. While I can’t find fault with any of the desserts, the brunch menu is so excellent and robust that I didn’t have much room. I didn’t think any of the desserts were worth saving room for and I recommend you go for it and sample as much of the brunch menu as you can hold.

They’ll keep bringing you food as long as you can handle it.

For dinner, Palo has an extensive selection of steaks and seafood that are a little more thoughtfully prepared than what you’ll find on the main dining room menus. If you’re a foodie or really crave a good steak or premium seafood, book your dinner at Palo. If it comes down to the choice between Palo dinner and Palo brunch on the Dream, the brunch is an easy winner.

French cuisine with Ratatouille -inspired decorative touches paired with ocean views? Can you say “Ooh la la?” Remy serves dinner, brunch, and a dessert-only experience. I think it’s approachable for fine dining, but it is fine dining and it may make someone new to truly upscale food experiences uneasy, although I think on board a Disney cruise is a great way to dip your toes in and try something new.

The serves will do a great job explaining the dinner menu to you, but if you’re a picky eater or have dietary restrictions, you might find Remy less than accommodating. If you’re more of a chicken tenders person than a foie gras with cauliflower foam person, $125 per person for dinner might be something you want to rethink, but if you’re an adventurous eater, Remy is a truly delicious gastronomic journey. Allow about three hours, and plan to take a walk on deck after. You will need it!

The famous Remy cheese cart

If you love a good cheese course, Remy won’t disappoint. The cheese cart has several varieties of cheeses plus accompaniments like honeycomb and apricots. The server will expertly plate your cheese and recommend the order to enjoy them.

I love cheese, but I don’t enjoy the taste of Brie or most soft, pungent cheeses, and there wasn’t a lot on the cheese cart that I liked. I enjoyed the presentation and the opportunity to taste something new. My husband more than made up for the share of cheese I did not eat.

Remy Add On’s

If you really want to splurge, you can get the sommelier-curated wine pairings for $230 per person, which adds up to an extremely expensive dinner for two. We did it, and I thought it was worth the splurge, but it definitely pinched our pocketbooks. The wines were outstanding, and our sommelier was very thoughtful and kind, but my husband and I know a bit about wines. Someone newer to fine wine tasting might feel out of their depth.

It’s an additional $30 to add champagne pairings to brunch and $25 to pair wines with a Remy dessert experience.

Palo and Remy Dress Code

Formal or semi-formal attire is recommended. Dress casual attire with a polished look is permitted (such as dress pants, jeans in good condition, collared shirts and blouses, and lifestyle shoes). Clothing such as T-shirts, swimwear, and sports attire is not permitted.

Bars on the Disney Dream

The district.

The  Dream  has an adults-only, late-night area – and late-night is relative on board the  Disney Dream . Things shutter pretty early. The District has five bars where adults can have a drink before or after dinner or participate in adults-only games, dancing, or quiz shows.

The Skyline Bar features a digital window that displays rotating cityscapes. Pink is a bubble-themed champagne bar, although they serve other cocktails and spirits.

Evolution is a nightclub-inspired space with a dance floor and a stage – check the Navigator App to see what’s happening. If you’re looking for a cozy pub, 687, is named for the shipyard number assigned to the Disney Dream  while she was under construction.

The District Lounge is a stylish space at the The District’s entrance, where you’ll find a full bar and live piano music. The District is open to guests of all ages before 7:00 p.m.

Other On Board Bars

The sophisticated Meridian Lounge, located between Remy and Palo, offers gorgeous ocean views off the back of the ship. Palo and Remy’s dress codes may apply in this space.

The “blink and you’ll miss it” Vista Lounge on Deck is a fun, tucked-away spot to have your morning coffee or a pre-dinner cocktail.

Looking for a family-friendly place to hang out and enjoy games that everyone can play? Check out the D Lounge on Deck Four for family quiz shows, karaoke, and more.

Kid’s Activities On the Disney Dream

Kids clubs are included on the Disney Dream  cruise and all Disney Cruise Ships. There are three kid’s clubs that young passengers can go on based on age, the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab, Edge, and Vibe. There’s also a nursery.

The kid’s clubs are open all day and all evening without a break, and there’s no limit to how long a child can stay in the clubs. The clubs will offer an open house on the first day and at various points during the cruise – check the Navigator App for times. Anyone can check out the clubs during Open House. Otherwise, only the kids registered with the clubs can be in them.

Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab

These co-located kid’s clubs are for kids three to 12. Kids must be potty trained. The Oceaneer Lab’s activities are a little more educational-focused than the Oceaneer Club.

Edge is the Disney Dream’s  tween club for kids 11-13.

Vibe is the Disney Dream’s  teen club for kids 14-17.

It’s a Small World Nursery

The nursery is not included in the cost of your cruise, and reservations are required. Kids between six months and three years old can go to the nursery.

Pools and Slides on the Disney Dream

The Disney Dream  has three themed pools: the kid’s pool, Mickey’s Pool, is two feet deep, and the family pool, Donald’s Pool, is five feet deep. Both are located on Deck 11.

The Quiet Cove Pool is adult-only and has a connecting bar and hot tubs. Disney does a great job at keeping kids out of the adult-only pool area, so it is a much more serene experience than being on the main pool deck with all the excited kids.

Younger Guests and Pools Aboard the Disney Dream

Kids must be three and older and potty trained to be allowed in the pools on the Disney Dream . Swim diapers are not permitted in the onboard pools. Kids in swim diapers can splash in the adorable Nemo’s Reef splash pad if you have a little one.

The AquaDuck

The AquaDuck on Deck 12 is Disney Dream’s  thrilling water slide, sometimes called a water coaster. Guests whiz around the ship in an acrylic tube and are treated to ocean views and a bird’s eye view of the pool deck.

Children under seven may ride with someone 14 or older but must be at least 42 inches tall. Single riders must be at least 54″ tall. Operating hours vary, and the lines will be long, especially on sea days. The best time to ride the AquaDuck on the Disney Dream  is on embarkation day, on sea days, and in the early evening when most families with kids are at dinner.

Entertainment and Live Shows on the Disney Dream

The onboard Walt Disney Theater will have Disney-themed, Broadway-style entertainment on board. The current shows on the Disney Dream  are Beauty and the Beast , Frozen , and Disney’s Believe .

The shows typically run about 50 minutes to give guests time to get to dinner and other activities. Beauty and the Beast  and Frozen  are abbreviated versions of Broadway musicals, and the show’s designers have done a fantastic job of telling the full story in the time allotted without making the guests feel cheated.

Disney’s Believe  is a production exclusive to Disney Cruise Line and is a father-daughter story about a busy inventor who doesn’t have time for his progeny. He learns about the power of believing through interactions with over 20 Disney characters, including Genie from Aladin , Mary Poppins, Tiana, and more.

On longer cruises, the entertainment may include illusionists or family-friendly comedy shows. If there’s a world premiere of a Disney movie while you’re on board, the Walt Disney Theater may hold a Hollywood-style opening night.

Shows are aligned with dinner seatings

There are two dinner seatings and two nightly shows. If you’re dining early, you’ll eat first and then go to the show. If you’re dining later, your designated show will be before dinner.

Movies on Board the Disney Dream

Watch Disney movies on board the Disney Dream  in the Buena Vista Theater. The Buena Vista will show first and second run Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars movies, so if there’s something from one of those franchises playing at the theater when you take your cruise, you’ll be able to watch it on board the Disney Dream , and it’s included in the cost of your cruise.

A schedule of movie times will are posted on the marquee outside the theater, and they’ll also be listed in the Disney Navigator App.

Funnel Vision

If you want to watch a Disney movie from the pool or while relaxing on the sun deck with a piece of pizza, there are nearly round-the-clock movies playing on a giant screen on Deck 11.

In Room Movies

If you prefer to cozy up in your room and watch Disney films, just turn on your TV. The television offerings may vary but on my most recent cruise on the Disney Dream  in 2022, the selection for movies was almost like being inside Disney+ – I found a huge selection of programming.

Disney Character Meet and Greets

Whether you are a first time Disney cruiser  or whether it’s your tenth Disney Cruise, seeing your favorite Disney characters on board is always a fun treat.

There are almost endless opportunities to interact with your favorite Disney characters on a Disney cruise ship. Your Navigator app will tell you the character times and locations, so find out when your favorites will be available and line up early for that photo. Don’t forget your autograph book.

Surprise character sightings are constantly popping up. You might see Cinderella or Belle waving from the balcony overlooking the atrium or spot Pluto clowning around in the elevator, which seems to be a favorite spot. Or, you might get lucky and encounter a character as they’re moving from one spot to the next. I once happened upon Captain Hook traveling down a corridor on Deck 5. He kept moving and gave me a disdainful little wave.

Fun Character-Themed Outfits

If you’re into character greetings, you’ll be delighted to know that character attire on a Disney Cruise Line ship is unique. You’ll see characters in nautical outfits on board, in beachwear on Disney’s Castaway Cay, and pirate garb on pirate night.

If you do an Alaska cruise, you’ll see your favorite character in fur-trimmed parkas, and if you take a seasonal cruise, such as a Halloween or holiday cruise, you’ll see characters in costumes and Christmas sweaters. There’s nothing cuter than seeing Mickey Mouse dressed up like Dracula.

Where Does the Disney Dream Cruise Stack Up For Me?

I love the  Disney Dream , and it ranks number three out of the five ships I’ve sailed on so far. The Disney Wonder  is my favorite, and the Disney Magic  is a close second. I love the smaller ships, and I’ll be heartbroken if they retire these ships without replacing them with a more intimate-sized cruise ship.

In case you’re wondering, the Disney Wish  ranks last for me – so far. That said, I’ve never had a bad Disney Cruise Line experience, and I would sail any of the four ships I’ve been on again in a heartbeat. My bags are packed! Really, they are.

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They don’t call it the Disney DREAM for nothin’…

The Disney Dream was the third ship to join the ever-expanding Disney Cruise Line fleet. (Seriously… have you heard that the NEW Disney Destiny was just announced ??) The Disney Dream introduced a new class of ships to the line — the Dream Class, of course! And if it’s YOUR dream to sail on this magical ship, then we hope you’ll join us as we explore everything you and your traveling crew need to know about cruising on the Disney Dream!

Disney Dream Overview

The Disney Dream took its Maiden Voyage with passengers on January 26, 2011. The Disney Fantasy, which followed with its first sailing in 2012, is the sister ship to the Disney Dream.

So, in both its size and structure (with 14 Decks and 1,250 Staterooms) and passenger capacity (a whopping 4,000!), it is similar to the Disney Fantasy. That said, each ship boasts some of their own distinguishing features.

These start right in the ship’s Art deco-inspired Atrium, where a golden statue of Admiral Donald Duck himself welcomes you aboard!

Of course, among additional varied features, the ship’s itineraries differ as well…

Disney Dream Destinations

The Disney Dream primarily offers Bahamian cruises departing from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida .

However, the summer of 2024 holds something very unique in store for passengers on the Dream, as the ship is destined for Europe following a Transatlantic voyage from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona ! Sailings over the summer include Mediterranean (including the Greek Isles), British Isles, Western Europe, and Norwegian Fjords (with one sailing including Iceland) cruises.

When the Dream returns stateside, she’ll depart again from Fort Lauderdale to offer Bahamian and Caribbean cruises, and select sailings will include a stop at Disney Cruise Line’s NEW island destination, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point (and, of course, Disney Cruise Line’s beloved Castaway Cay )!

Check out Disney Cruise Line’s itineraries for Summer 2025 here!

Disney dream entertainment.

Unique Disney Cruise Line entertainment kicks things off RIGHT AWAY as your cruise starts with a Sailing Away Deck Party!

When I say “unique” that’s because the pals joining you in the entertainment throughout the voyage are none other than Disney characters!

Select sailings also present Disney Cruise Line’s famous Pirate Night (complete with FIREWORKS at sea!). And don’t forget: your CREW is invited to don all the Pirate-y garb you can pack in yer suitcase, matey!

When it comes to entertainment options, Disney Cruise Line is best known for its Broadway-style productions — presented in the Walt Disney Theatre — that tie in characters, beloved stories, and treasured music from the Disney films.

The three shows that guests can enjoy on the Disney Dream are Beauty and the Beast , The Golden Mickeys, and Disney’s Believe.

Currently exclusive to the Disney Dream, Beauty and the Beast brings the “Tale As Old As Time” to you live on stage!

In addition to seeing the characters and hearing the songs you already know and love from the animated film, this production also includes two new pieces written by Alan Menken and Tim Rice from the live-action film.

While Beauty and the Beast puts the focus on one Disney film, Disney’s Believe and The Golden Mickeys bring together oodles and oodles of Disney stories, characters, and signature songs!  In Disney’s Believe , which Disney shares is a “spellbinding musical about a workaholic father who reconnects with his daughter through a little Disney magic,” you’ll see familiar friends from Peter Pan, Aladdin, Cinderella, The Lion King , and The Princess and the Frog.

The Golden Mickeys is “a dazzling tribute to the enchanting movies of Walt Disney” (and it includes a red carpet pre-show!). Featured Disney films include — but aren’t limited to — Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Mulan, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Toy Story 2.

P.S. You can pay a visit to Preludes before the show to pick up some popcorn (or perhaps a cocktail) to enjoy in the theatre!

Disney Dream Water Features

Passengers of all ages can make a BIG SPLASH on Deck 11 (and even a bit higher…) of the Disney Dream! Let’s start with that part that’s “a bit higher…”

We’re talking about the Aqua Duck , the water coaster that made its debut on the Dream!

To ride, guests enter on Deck 12. From here? As the Disney Cruise Line website shares, you’ll take a 2-person raft on “a wet and wild journey up, down, around and off the side of the ship, through the Forward Funnel—on a daredevil 4-deck drop.”

Be aware, though, that there is a height requirement of 42 inches or taller to ride (and single riders must be at least 54 inches).

Water areas for all ages include Donald’s Pool on Deck 11, as well as a wading pool on Deck 12.

Specifically for the kiddos is Mickey’s Pool , and Nemo’s Reef in particular is a splash area for those 8 and under.

Mickeys Slide , however, can be enjoyed by passengers ages 4 to 14.

The Quiet Cove Pool is reserved for guests over 18 years of age only, as is the Satellite Falls wading pool, complete with a cooling rain curtain. In the same area, adult guests can enjoy a cocktail at the Currents pool bar (the Waves bar is another option), or step inside the Cove Café for a specialty coffee.

Disney Dream Staterooms

The Disney Dream offers four categories of staterooms: Inside, Oceanview, Verandah, and Concierge. Many of the rooms feature Disney’s innovative split bathroom which allows more guests in a cabin the chance to get ready at one time.

While each category boasts amenities such as premium mattresses and linens, a 22″ LCD flat-screen TV, a refrigerator, and a surprising amount of storage space, there are many more details to explore among the varying categories, so we’ve dedicated a page to those options here .

Looking for ALL the Stateroom details for the Disney Dream? Click HERE!

Disney dream dining.

As with all the other ships in the fleet, the Disney Dream presents a wide array of options, starting with a Disney Cruise Line signature: Rotational Dining!

Rotational Dining means that guests have the chance to enjoy dinner at ALL THREE of the ships main dining rooms, each with their own theme and specialty menus on select nights. The best part is that, as you move to a different restaurant each evening, so do your servers! They “rotate” right along with you so they can get to know your group’s dining preferences.

The three Rotational Dining restaurants on the Disney Dream are Animator’s Palate, Enchanted Garden , and Royal Palace.

Animator’s Palate is an innovative restaurant where the show is drawings coming to life on screens all around you. Undersea Magic immerses diners in the world of  Finding Nemo .

Dinner at the Royal Palace features French and continental cuisine in the opulence of the classic Disney fairytales Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast.

At Enchanted Garden, guests enjoy their meal as the restaurant changes as flowers bloom and the “sky” fades from day to night.

Be aware that Royal Palace and Enchanted Garden may also serve breakfast and lunch during a sailing, offering guests a full service option if they prefer not to dine buffet or quick service style.

A number of options are available throughout the day, as well. Cabanas hosts a massive buffet for both breakfast and lunch. Help yourself!

Also on Deck 11, several Quick Service options serve classics like burgers, hot dogs, chicken strips and fries, pizza, and healthier fare like salads and sandwiches. These are all available at Flo’s Cafe , which is divided into three different stations: Luigi’s Pizza, Tow Mater’s Grill, and Fillmore’s Favorites.

P.S. Don’t forget to follow up any and all of that with some soft-serve ice cream at Eye Scream Treats!

Additional treats — including scoops from a Gelato Bar —  are available for extra purchase at Vanellope’s Sweets & Treats , a charming spot themed to Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph .

And did you know that ROOM SERVICE is available for breakfast or snacks 24 HOURS A DAY??  The vast majority of items are INCLUDED in the cruise price!

Disney Dream Adult Spaces

In addition to the Quiet Cove mentioned earlier, the Disney Dream offers more areas reserved just for grown-ups. These include the fine dining restaurant, Palo , which may be booked for dinner for an additional charge per adult.

Additionally, the famous Palo Brunch is available for booking during sea days! This option is incredibly popular, so advance booking through your Disney Cruise Line account is recommended.

Be aware, as well, that Palo does have a dress code. The Disney Cruise Line website states: “Formal or semi-formal attire is recommended. Also permitted is dress-casual attire with a polished look, such as dress pants, jeans in good condition, collared shirts, dressy tops and lifestyle shoes. For brunch at Palo and Palo Steakhouse, dress shorts are acceptable. Clothing such as T-shirts, swimwear and sports attire are not permitted.”

The Disney Dream is also home to Remy, another adults only option that adheres to a slightly more strict dress code than Palo: Jackets for men (or collared shirt for brunch) are required and no jeans, shorts, capri pants, sneakers, or open toed shoes.

The cuisine is exceptional French fare and reservations are required.

By the way, before or after your special meal, you might stop at Meridian , a lounge overlooking the back of the ship!

Ready to relax with a drink, or maybe even do a little dancing? Adults can pay a visit to The District , featuring several lounges, each with their own distinct style and atmosphere. District Lounge , for instance, is a relaxing piano bar, while Evolution presents late-night entertainment like dancing, games, karaoke, and comedy shows.

Pink is a Wine and Champagne Bar, while Skyline Lounge immerses you in a “sleek sky bar” boasting views of some of the world’s most iconic skylines!

Meanwhile, sports fans can catch a game at Pub 687. 

Adults might also opt to participate in a Mixology Class or Beverage Tasting Seminar for an extra fee. Featured liqueur and cocktail options include — but aren’t limited to — rum, tequila and margaritas, whiskey, champagne tastings, and more!

Advance booking is highly recommended for these fun and VERY popular opportunities!

The Senses Spa & Salon offers a wide array of services and treatments. (And the Rainforest Room provides an especially relaxing oasis!) Select experiences are available for pre-booking, and you can stop by Senses to inquire about prices for the Rainforest Room and other treatments during your cruise. And the Fitness Center offers workout machines and classes.

And though this is not limited to adults, keep in mind that if you’d like to get a jog or two in, Deck 4 hosts a walking track!

Disney Dream Kids Clubs and Experiences

But what about the kids? Oh, don’t you worry… there are specific areas on the ship dedicated to children, offering experiences tailored for ages from infants to teens!

The It’s a Small World Nursery is available for ages 6 months to 3 years old (save for the Transatlantic cruise, during which the nursery welcomes ages 1 to 3 years old).

Be aware that the Disney Cruise Line website states that “Reservations can be made on a first-come, first-served basis during the open house on Embarkation Day or anytime throughout your cruise. Childcare at “it’s a small world” nursery! is available at an additional fee.” Disney also emphasizes that space is limited.

Meanwhile, Disney’s Oceaneer Club AND Disney’s Oceaneer Lab are available for children ages 3 to 10. The Oceaneer Lab specializes in learning while having FUN!

The Oceaneer Club features activities such as character experiences, storytime, and play areas. (There are also specific guided activities for the littlest ones, ages 3 and 4.)

On the Dream, the Oceaneer Club features the following playful spaces: Andy’s Room (that’s Andy from Toy Story ), the Disney Infinity Game Room, Pixie Hollow , and Star Wars : Millennium Falcon.

Keep in mind that Youth Activities counselors are present at all times in these spaces. Parents will want to know that spaces for your child can be pre-registered via your Disney Cruise Line account, and registration may also take place onboard the ship.

Tweens (ages 11 to 14) can gather at the Edge to hang out, watch movies, play games and make friends during group activities with fun Disney counselors and more. And you want to know something really cool? Edge is located in the ship’s Forward Funnel on Deck 13!

Vibe offers cruisers ages 14 to 17 similar activities geared to their age group, or simply a place to chill. It even boasts its own sun deck on the Dream.

We’ve got one more thing to mention, though it’s not a club, per se. For an extra fee, your little Prince or Princess age 3 to 12 can get a makeover at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique .

Disney Princess, knight, and sea captain-themed packages are available… and there’s an exclusive makeover for Pirate Party Nights!

But we’re STILL not done… because children ages 3-12 can partake in a special tea party with Disney characters. Children get gifts including a jewelry box, tiara, bracelet, necklace, a Cinderella doll, and autograph book. Alternatively they can opt for a package including a cinch bag, sword, shield, pins, Duffy plush, and autograph book. The Disney Cruise Line site will have pricing information available when you book via your Disney Cruise Line account in advance.

Disney Dream Activities

Still want MORE to do 😉 ? That’s good, because the Disney Dream has GOT MORE! D Lounge, for example, is the place to be for family fun with events like game shows and trivia, dance parties,  and more.

Catch a movie on the big screen at the Buena Vista Theatre ! You might choose to watch a Disney animated classic, or maybe a Star Wars or Marvel flick. You never know… your sailing just might feature a first-run Disney feature film at sea! “Funnel Vision” on the pool deck shows movies on the big screen, too.

You can find basketball courts and ping-pong tables on Goofy’s Sports Deck. (My personal favorite option here? It’s 9-hole MINI GOLF!)

Want to explore all sorts of areas on the ship while SOLVING A MYSTERY, to boot? Then get ready to play Midship Detective Agency.  You and your fellow detectives will interact with “enchanted art” in locations all over the ship to gather clues and crack a case wide open! In fact, there are 3 cases to solve (including, but not limited to a MUPPETS-themed caper), so you can play several times — on your own or with your crew — if you like!

And let’s not forget that throughout your cruise, you can meet, hug, get autographs from and pose for pictures with your favorite DISNEY PALS!

Sailing with you are the Fab Five (that’s Mickey and the gang), Disney Princesses, friends from Frozen , and more! Be aware that, while all Character Greetings are included with your cruise, select Greeting times may require advance booking.

Seasonal Sailings

Depending on the time of year, you may find that a special seasonal cruise is in store! For instance, select sailings on the Dream offer a Marvel Day at Sea !

And all ships in the fleet present Halloween on the High Seas in September and October, while Very Merrytime Cruises sail in November and December.

Disney Cruise Line Navigator App

Whew! As you can tell, there’s a LOT happening on the Disney Dream! To keep track of what’s happening when and where, be sure to download the free Disney Cruise Line Navigator app before your cruise.

This is where you can easily find ALL of the activities mentioned throughout this post, book select experiences, check out menus for the ship’s dining locations, and MUCH more!

Join the AllEars.net Newsletter  to get the free list of 50 tips for going on a Disney Cruise! Click here to get started!

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Entertainment – Frequently Asked Questions

Will my choice of dinner seating allow time to also see a live show in the evening?

Yes. Dinner seating times and show schedules are planned so you will have plenty of time to enjoy a leisurely dinner and attend a live show on the same evening.

If you are assigned the first dinner seating, you'll be able to go to the later performance. If you are assigned the second seating, you can attend the early performance.

At the time you book your cruise, you will be assigned one of the 2 dinner seatings. Requests to change your seating time may be made online under My Reservations or upon boarding the ship, if availability allows.

Discover all the entertainment options on board Disney Cruise Line ships.

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Shows on the Disney Dream

Hello all, I hope you are well! Today we are continuing to talk about the Disney Dream, and today we are talking about the you can see while aboard. If you missed last weeks post click here ! Okay. let’s get right to it!

Golden Mickey’s

This was the show we saw the first night of our cruise, and it was really cute! It’s an award show that features different Disney characters and musical numbers, and if you are in the lobby before the show starts, you might be in it!

Beauty and the Beast

For our second night we saw Beauty and the Beast, and it was fantastic! If you want to see my “live” reaction, check out this vlog . It’s unique to the Disney Dream, so if you are able to see it I would highly recommend it! This night the theatre was very full, not so much the other nights.

Disney’s Believe

The final show was Disney’s Believe, and it was cute! It tells the story of a father and daughter, and how the father needs to believe in magic. Again, it features a lot of fun Disney characters and musical numbers, and we enjoyed it!

4 night sailing

If you are on a 4-night sailing on the Disney Dream, your 4th show would be either a magician, or comedian. Different sailings have different shows, but the people I’ve spoken to said they enjoyed it!

Movies in the theatre

There’s a movie theatre on board where you can watch some of the newest releases! While we were on board (in Mid-November) the new Maleficent movie was playing as well as the live action Lion King. They rotated and were shown for the duration of our cruise. But it we had been on the cruise a week later, we could have seen Frozen 2 the night it premiered!

Movies on the funnel vision

There’s also Disney movies playing on the FunnelVision (the large screen on the pool deck). check the navigator to see what’s playing, and there are even seasonal movies! We were on a Very Merrytime cruise, so movies like Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas were playing! I loved watching Moana while sitting on a lounge chair on the upper deck!

Other shows

There are lots pf other shows you should see, like the sail away show, the show for pirate night, and even the show the last night as Mickey says See Ya Real Soon! They are cheesy but cute, and it looked like the kids on the cruise enjoyed them!

Disney does entertainment really well, so if you enjoy watching the shows in the parks, you’ll enjoy the shows on the cruise!

If you’d like to hear more about the shows on the Disney Dream, check out the video below!

What is your favourite Disney show? From the parks, cruise, anywhere! Let me know in the comments below!

Thank you so much for joining me today!

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The Ultimate Guide to Shows on Disney Cruise Line

By Kayleigh Henniger Leave a Comment

If setting sail with Disney Cruise Line (DCL) is one of your favorite things to do, or if you’re hoping to experience it for the first time, this post is for you! 

Disney Wish

For a first-timer, it might seem that the Disney Cruises would have less to do and experience compared to the parks. While, no, you won’t be soaring at nearly 60 miles per hour on a roller coaster, or taking photos in front of a castle, there are plenty of shows, snacks, character meet and greets, and activities — so many, in fact, that you’ll find that there simply isn’t enough time to complete everything! A fan-favorite experience on these ships is watching the shows that take place aboard. If your idea of fun includes sitting in a crowd and watching a themed show or spectacular be performed in front of you, then keep reading.

This post is going to serve as your ultimate guide to shows on DCL. Typically, there are two different showings of each show or musical per day — one that accommodates guests from each of the two dining times. However, for a brand-new, popular musical, there might also be an additional showing earlier in the day. (Back in the pandemic days, DCL actually limited the number of specific shows playing, with more times added to allow for distancing!)

Schedules are always subject to change, so it’s important to check the Daily Navigator or the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app for specifics on available shows, dates, and times. Shows are typically around an hour long, so you’ll still have plenty of time to fit in other activities and experiences throughout the evening. Now, without further ado, let’s first talk about the different theaters available aboard DCL.

Walt Disney Theatre

The Walt Disney Theatre is aboard the Magic, Wonder, Dream, Fantasy, and Wish ships. The theatre decor resembles that of vintage movie houses, yet the shows on stage include modern technology.

Walt Disney Theater

The theatre is adorned with Art Deco and Art Nouveau flourishes from the 1930s and 1940s. This luxurious theatre was designed to handle complex, modern productions.

Buena Vista Theatre

The Buena Vista Theatre is inspired by the golden age of cinema — boasting Art Deco-inspired decor throughout. You’ll find it aboard the Magic, Wonder, Dream, and Fantasy.

The theatre showcases first-run films as well as popular motion-picture releases and classic Disney films!

Wonderland and Neverland Cinema

Specific to the Disney Wish, these cinemas are themed to popular classic Disney films. Wonderland is a woodland-themed theater themed to  Alice in Wonderland, while Neverland is inspired by Peter Pan’s flight from London to Neverland.

Wonderland Cinema

Combined, these cinemas seat 170 guests and are more intimate theatres. Here, visitors can catch glimpses of modern films.

Now that we’ve gotten to take a look at the theatres aboard Disney Cruise Line, it’s time for the fun part! The shows! Below, you’ll find a list of some of the live shows you can see on your cruise.

Shows Aboard the Disney Magic

Disney Magic

Tangled: The Musical

Tangled: The Musical features three new songs not in the original film and includes a beautiful set and costumes. There are even some puppets that help bring the characters to life!

Disney Dreams

Disney Dreams  is about a young girl who learns to believe in herself as she is visited by beloved characters like Peter Pan, Mickey, and Minnie. This is a really cute story and it can be fun to see scenes from so many popular musicals in one show.

Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story

Twice Charmed  is a version of Cinderella  that takes place in an alternate world where the glass slipper is destroyed before Cinderella can try it on.

Shows Aboard the Disney Wonder

Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wonder

Frozen: A Musical Spectacular

Frozen: A Musical Spectacular  utilizes projectors, puppets, costumes, and more to showcase the kingdom of Arendelle. The musical includes popular songs from the first  Frozen  movie, including “Let It Go,” as well as snow falling down on the theatre!

The Golden Mickeys

The Golden Mickeys  starts out with a shy stage manager having to fill in for a non-show host, so it follows the “believe in yourself” theme woven into many Disney movies and shows. There are awards given for various categories and the show includes performances from popular Disney movies including  The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Tarzan, and Mulan. 

Disney Dreams  is about a young girl who learns to believe in herself as she is visited by beloved characters like Peter Pan, Mickey, and Minnie. This is a really cute story and it can be fun to see scenes from so many popular musicals in one show. Yep, this is the same one that appears aboard the Disney Magic!

Shows Aboard the Disney Fantasy

Disney Fantasy

Disney’s Believe

Believe Is about a botanist dad who doesn’t believe in magic, while his young daughter does. When he forgets her birthday because he’s focused on growing his plants, she makes a birthday wish for him to believe.

Disney’s Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular

This musical showing of  Aladdin  showcases the music, characters, and theming of the original Aladdin  movie, while also showcasing some newer technology.

Shows Aboard The Disney Dream

Disney Dream

Beauty and the Beast

This take on the classic film includes giant LED walls and projections that help set up the stage. The images on the screen work as the set design and background — helping you to feel as though you’re transformed into the show.

Shows Aboard the Disney Wish

Disney Wish docked at Castaway Cay

Disney Seas the Adventure

This live stage show features a procession of characters from some all-time favorite Disney adventurous classics!

The Little Mermaid

This theatrical production of  The Little Mermaid  includes innovative design and immersive special effects that will transport you into the story.

Well, there you have it! Those are all the theaters and shows that you can check out while aboard your Disney cruise. Don’t forget to also check the Disney Navigator for the times of the Deck Shows during your cruise — which feature some fan-favorite characters as well. Make sure to follow along for more Disney news, reviews, and updates — DCL things included.

What characters can you spot on Disney’s private island? Click here!

What you need to know about disney cruise line, learn all about disney cruise line and its various ships, explore disney’s mega cruise ship – the wish, a full list of what you can’t bring on a disney cruise, these are the best times to book your disney cruise, the best ways to save space in your tiny cruise cabin, 10 things you need on your next cruise (that you won’t think to pack), what it’s like to live on a cruise ship for 6 months, join the dfb newsletter to get all the latest disney news delivered right to your inbox click here to subscribe.

Have you ever been on a Disney cruise? Let us know in the comments!

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Live Shows – Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line ships boast Broadway-caliber, Disney-themed live shows for the entire family that you simply won’t find anywhere else.

All Aboard: Let the Magic Begin is an approximate 50-minute live show featuring variety acts, musical performances and a cavalcade of Disney Characters. It plays on Embarkation Day aboard the Disney Magic on Deck 4, Forward in the Walt Disney Theatre on 7-night or longer cruises.

All Aboard: Let the Magic Begin – Disney Magic

This Broadway-style production stars more than 20 celebrated Disney Characters in a heartfelt musical extravaganza. The show takes place in the Walt Disney Theatre on Decks 3 and 4.

Disney’s Believe – Disney Dream &  Disney Fantasy

Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular is an approximate 45-minute, Broadway-style production with many of the songs from the classic Disney film. It plays at approximately 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. aboard the Disney Fantasy on Decks 3 and 4, Forward in the Walt Disney Theatre.

Disney’s Aladdin—A Musical Spectacular –  Disney Fantasy

Disney Dreams – An Enchanted Classic is an award-winning, 50-minute musical live show celebrating the value of dreams, starring some of your favorite Disney Characters. It plays at approximately 6:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. aboard the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder on Deck 4, Forward in the Walt Disney Theatre.

Disney Dreams – An Enchanted Classic – Disney Magic & Disney Wonder

Wishes is a Broadway-style production that takes place in the Walt Disney Theatre. During this heartfelt musical, celebrated Disney Characters reveal the secret to growing up—while staying young at heart.

Disney Wishes – Disney Fantasy

The Golden Mickeys is an approximate 50-minute, musical live show presented as an awards ceremony in which characters from Disney movies are nominated in a series of categories. It plays at approximately 6:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. aboard the the Disney Wonder and Disney Dream in the Walt Disney Theatre.

The Golden Mickeys – Disney Dream  & Disney Wonder

Remember the Magic: A Final Farewell is an approximate 50-minute live show that revisits some of your cruise’s most memorable moments, starring a host of variety acts, theatre performers and Disney Characters from your cruise. It plays the day before Debarkation aboard the Disney Magic on Deck 4, Forward in the Walt Disney Theatre on 7-night or longer cruises.

Remember the Magic: A Final Farewell – Disney Magic

Toy Story –The Musical is an approximate hour-long, musical live show based on the hit Disney•Pixar film. The light-hearted story of Woody and Buzz Lightyear’s friendship plays exclusively at approximately 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the Disney Wonder in the Walt Disney Theatre, located at Deck 4, Forward.

Toy Story – The Musical – Disney Wonder

Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story is an approximate 50-minute, Broadway-style, song-and-dance extravaganza which re-imagines the classic Cinderella story. It plays at approximately 6:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. aboard the Disney Magic on Deck 4, Forward in the Walt Disney Theatre.

Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story – Disney Magic

Villains Tonight! is an approximate hour-long, comedic revue-style live show starring the best of the worst Disney villains. It plays at 6:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. aboard the Disney Magic and Disney Dream in the Walt Disney Theatre.

Villains Tonight! – Disney Dream  & Disney Magic

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Which Disney Cruise Line Ship Did I Prefer: The Wish or The Dream?

The Disney Wish vs Disney Dream. Take a deep dive into two Disney Cruise Line ships, to learn about the differences between them.

When you’re booking a sailing aboard the Disney Cruise Line, you have so many options and choices! From your itinerary to shore excursions to onboard activities to your rotational dining schedule, you can customize your cruise experience in countless ways – but it all starts with the ship itself. The ship you sail aboard can make your cruise, shaping the details of your daily dining, your onboard entertainment, and even how your stateroom is decorated and designed. So, how do you decide which cruise ship is the best choice? Are some Disney cruise ships better than others?

I’ve had the chance to sail on two ships within the Disney Cruise Line Fleet: the Disney Dream and the Disney Wish . Which did I prefer? Here’s my overview of what the Disney Dream does well and where the Disney Wish excels.

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Attraction special – haunted mansion, attraction special – jungle cruise, attraction special – pirates of the caribbean, disney wish vs disney dream: which is the better disney cruise ship.

While it’s tough to compare – and choose between! – different Disney Cruise Line ships, the experience is different on different sailings. And I’ll just tell you right off the bat that overall, I preferred the Disney Wish to the Disney Dream .

Yes, it’s true! I have only ever been on two Disney Cruise Line sailings, and I’ve only experienced the Wish and the Dream. I was not expecting to prefer the Wish, to be honest, because the Dream and the Fantasy are such classic ships, and they’re so beloved by Disney Cruise Line fans. I was kind of surprised that I liked the Wish more, and by how much more I liked it. Here’s an overview of my experiences on both the Wish and the Dream, and where I think each ship really shines.

The Food is Better on the Disney Wish vs the Disney Dream

The biggest detail that was so much better on the Wish – like, leaps and bounds better – was the food. I’m talking about the regular rotational dining and the buffet dining; while on the Dream all of that food was unremarkable, on the Wish it was great.

Photo by Danny Shuster

The detail I was really shocked by on the Wish versus the Dream was the difference in the quick service food options. Both The Wish and the Dream have a quick service area on the pool deck. However, on the Disney Dream, these quick service windows are offering pizza, sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers, and similar items. On the Disney Wish, the options are more varied and interesting. There’s a Mexican buffet and a barbecue buffet, for example. I enjoyed these quick service options on Deck 11 of the Wish so much. I wasn’t expecting to, but they were fantastic!

Photo by Jimmy Taylor

And when it comes to the buffets – Cabanas on the Dream and Marceline Market on the Wish – Marceline Market was so much better. I found the quality of the food there better, and it seemed more organized. The Cast Members really took the time to serve Guests the food instead of it being more of a free-for-all. Plus, there was a really nice omelet station!

However, there was one detail that stood out to me on the Dream that the Wish couldn’t match: the Mickey waffles! If you’re a fan of Mickey waffles like me, I found these to be better on the Dream. I think the Wish was still maybe a little new and working out its Mickey waffle recipe. So, while the food was generally better overall on the Wish, those Mickey waffles won on the Dream.

Rotational Dining Wins on the Wish

Rotational dining is a huge part of your Disney Cruise Line experience, and when it comes to this key detail, the Wish was far and away superior. The rotational dining on the Disney Wish outdid what was available on the Disney Dream. This is because of the theming, first and foremost. Outside of the quality of the food, the rotational dining on the Wish is better because it’s much more immersive. You don’t get nearly the same level of immersion and theming on the Dream. While rotational dining is themed, it’s much more subtle – and when I’m on a Disney cruise, I want immersive dining experiences.

Dining at Worlds of Marvel on the Wish is truly immersive! Photo by Danny Shuster

What does the rotational dining onboard the Disney Wish include? There are three locations: Worlds of Marvel , Arendelle , and 1923 . Those three restaurants were really so much more interesting than the dining options and thematics on the Dream (which are Enchanted Garden, Royal Palace, and Animator’s Palate). While Animator’s Palate is up there in terms of immersion, it was more for the kids. The rotational dining on the Wish still appeals to kids, but these restaurant options are better suited for every age, I would say, and appeal to both kids and adults. 

A look at Animator’s Palete onboard the Dream. Photo by Julie de la Fe

The Disney Wish Offered More Entertainment Choices

If you’re hoping to satisfy the interests of your entire family on your Disney Cruise Line vacation, the Wish offers entertainment that appeals to both kids and adults. I personally found the entertainment options on the Wish much more appealing for my age bracket. I’m in my 30s and I don’t have kids, and I am a Disney girl; I love Disney stage shows, and I enjoyed the shows offered on the Wish. 

The stage shows weren’t of the same caliber as on the Dream. I found this ship’s stage shows quite dated. They were cute, but I felt they were really built for kids. And in my opinion, the thing about Disney that’s so special is when the entertainment appeals to everyone. The Wish, I feel, really encapsulated that. On this ship, the available shows were able to appeal to all age groups. 

Staterooms Are Bigger (and Theming is Better) on the Disney Wish

Let’s talk about rooms . After all, it’s where you’ll be staying (albeit for short periods of time, since you’ll be out enjoying all Disney Cruise Line ships have to offer!). The rooms on the Wish are better – they’re a little bit bigger, and they’re themed. You can stay in rooms themed to  Frozen ,  Cinderella, or The Little Mermaid , and you’ll also spot different themed hallway art and lighting throughout the decks. The rooms and their theming are so stunning!

A look at a Frozen-themed room on The Wish. Photo by Danny Shuster

While you can stay in themed rooms on the Wish, you can’t really get that same perk on the Dream. Your Dream room will either include a veranda or no veranda. But otherwise, all of the rooms aboard the Disney Dream look the same. And hallway or deck theming is pretty consistent ship-wide.

A look at the theming in hallways on The Dream. Photo by Bill Ryan

And when it comes to comfort, the Wish won for me! I slept on a pull-out couch on both the Wish and the Dream, and let me tell you: The pull-out couch on the Wish is so much better. It’s so much more comfortable! It came with actual bedding and blankets. On the Dream, this wasn’t the case.

To learn more about the different Disney Cruise Line ships you can explore and experience for yourself, keep reading:

Revealed: The New Disney Treasure Ship: Inside and Details

Disney Wish Pools and Slides: A Complete Guide

The post Which Disney Cruise Line Ship Did I Prefer: The Wish or The Dream? appeared first on WDW Magazine .

Eight passengers stranded on African island after Norwegian cruise ship left without them

A dream cruise vacation has turned into a nightmare for eight passengers left stranded on the African island of São Tomé and Príncipe after their ship left without them because they were late to return from a private tour.

The tourists — six from the U.S. and two from Australia — were aboard the Norwegian Dawn, a Norwegian cruise line ship , which departed from Cape Town, South Africa, on March 20 for a 21-day voyage up the coast of Africa set to end in Barcelona, Spain, on April 10.

But on Wednesday, the group of eight tourists was late to return to the ship by more than an hour for the all-aboard time of 3 p.m. from a private excursion on the island, which was not organized by the cruise line.

Jay and Jill Campbell of South Carolina were part of the group that was left behind.

They said that their tour’s operator notified the cruise captain that they were going to be late to rejoin the ship and that the local Coast Guard tried to get them on the vessel but that they weren’t allowed to board.

As a result, the couple and the rest of the group have been stranded for days on the island off Nigeria, grappling with language, currency issues and complicated travel to catch up with the ship.

“The lovely people of São Tomé were very gracious, very hospitable. They had reached out as much as they could to help us find hotels,” Jay Campbell said on NBC's "TODAY" show Tuesday morning.

“We were able to get to a tour agency there to arrange flights to the next port of call. ... Very difficult process — you’re dealing with multiple languages, language barriers, you’re dealing with different currencies ... finding someone that even has dollars ... trying to get an agent to understand where we need to get to.

"It’s one of those ‘You can’t get there from here,’" he added.

A Norwegian spokesperson called the incident a “very unfortunate situation” and said, “Guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time.”

The cruise line said that after the guests failed to return, their passports were delivered to local port agents, in line with protocol. The company said it was working with local authorities to understand “the requirements and visas needed for the guests to reboard the ship at the next available port of call.”

On Monday, the guests had made arrangements to rejoin the ship in Banjul, Gambia, but the ship was unable to safely dock there because of “adverse weather conditions” and “tidal restrictions,” Norwegian said. The guests were then contacted and provided with information to rejoin the ship at Dakar, Senegal, on Tuesday. 

Jill Campbell said they traveled through seven countries in 48 hours to arrive in Senegal on Monday night.

But the couple was reconsidering whether they even wanted to return to the cruise.

"We are considering whether or not we are going to board the ship. It is in dock here in Senegal," she said. "We believe there was a basic duty of care that they had forgotten about, so it does concern us."

"After what we witnessed, we truly believe that although there’s a set of rules or policies that the ship may have followed, they followed those rules too rigidly. I believe that they really forgot that they are people working in the hospitality industry and really the safety and well-being of the customers should be their first priority," she added.

Ultimately, the eight passengers did rejoin the cruise before 8:30 a.m. ET Tuesday in Dakar, Senegal, Norwegian told NBC News in an e-mail Tuesday evening, after this story originally published.

Norwegian said the passengers were responsible for making their own travel arrangements to rejoin the ship.

"Despite the series of unfortunate events outside of our control, we will be reimbursing these eight guests for their travel costs from Banjur, Gambia to Dakar, Senegal," a cruise line spokesperson said in a statement. "We remain in communication with the guests and are providing additional information as it becomes available."

A silver lining of the catastrophe was that the Campbells were able to connect with another Norwegian Dawn passenger — Julia Lenkoff, 80 — who was also left on the island, but for a medical reason.

Lenkoff was on a different day tour Wednesday. She had "medically disembarked" from the cruise to seek local treatment on that day, Norwegian said.

Norwegian said that its care team tried to call Lenkoff several times and was unable to reach her and that it worked with its port agent in São Tomé and Príncipe for updates on her health.

The Campbells met Lenkoff and were able to put her in contact with her family in California, who flew her home — a move Lenkoff's daughter said "saved her life."

"She's a world traveler. She travels all the time. So this was going to be one of her bucket list trips, because she's been to 120 countries so far, and she wanted to get to 130," her daughter, Lana Lenkoff Geis, said in an interview that aired Tuesday on "TODAY."

Norwegian said Lenkoff was escorted on a flight to Lisbon, Portugal, then put in the care of airport staff members to continue her journey back to the U.S., where she has safely returned.

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Let’s move to Disney town! Will life in its 2,000 themed homes be a dream or a nightmare?

Starting at $1m, a Disney home offers Disney art classes, Disney dinners, a Disney clubhouse and a Disney lake that never changes colour. We explore the House of Mouse’s plans for curated living

I t seems fitting that, in a Californian desert city named Rancho Mirage, there should be an improbable fantasy world rising from the parched, sandy ground. At the starry intersection of Frank Sinatra Drive and Bob Hope Drive – named after two Hollywood celebrities who used to frequent the area’s exclusive country clubs – a hoarding trumpets the arrival of Cotino , a “Storyliving by Disney community”. In this square mile of desert near Palm Springs there will soon stand a gleaming new world of 2,000 homes arranged around a sparkling turquoise lake, where every aspect of life will be curated by the entertainment corporation.

Cotino offers superfans a place to live out their wildest dreams; a chance to live in a Disney movie “where the story is all about you”. It will feature a clubhouse inspired by the futuristic mansion from Incredibles 2, where neighbours can bond over Disney-themed art lessons, enjoy dinners inspired by Disney stories and join family days with Disney-related activities.

The themed homes, which will start north of $1m (£792,000), promise to be “infused with the company’s special brand of magic”, while a forthcoming town centre, featuring a street market where local artists will sell Disney-themed arts and crafts, will be “abundant with opportunities for laughter”. The 24-acre lake – a bold proposition for an area that suffers from extreme drought – will be kept an unnatural shade of Avatar blue all year round, courtesy of patented Crystal Lagoons technology. Cotino seems to be as close as you can get to living in Disneyland itself, with every detail honed by Disney imagineers, every service provided by Disney “cast members” (ie staff).

Launched in 2022, with another 4,000-home development in North Carolina on the way, Storyliving by Disney represents the latest chapter in the expansion of the world’s largest entertainment company beyond the screen. It is a century-long tale which is being brought to life in an eye-opening new exhibition at the Arc en Rêve centre for architecture in Bordeaux, France, charting how Disney went from making flickering animations of a talking mouse to sprinkling its themed fairy dust over every aspect of our lives. The company’s $180bn portfolio now includes film production, cable and streaming channels, theme parks, cruise ship holidays, golf courses, theatre productions, safari expeditions, music publishing, an airline, and even its own island in the Bahamas where you can snorkel around a fake shipwreck .

With revenue from cinema and streaming falling in recent years, income from Disney’s “experience” division is soaring, and property development is the next logical step. Disney tried it before in Florida, first with utopian plans for Epcot (the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow), followed by the quaint town of Celebration , but Storyliving takes the branded living experience to the next level. It has been calibrated to capitalise on loyal fans’ emotional attachment to the House of Mouse when they make the most expensive purchase of their lives, while creating a captive audience to ply with branded services forevermore.

As Amy Young, creative director for Cotino, says in a promotional video: “You don’t see many new home communities that people have a real emotional connection to, and we thought, ‘We’ve got a real emotional connection to our guests.’” It’s evidently enough of an emotional bond to make residents cough up $20,000 to join Cotino’s neighbourhood club, and $10,000 a year thereafter for the rest of their happily themed lives.

The exhibition at Arc en Rêve, titled The Architecture of Staged Realities, paints a portrait of Walt Disney as a natural-born developer, a cartoonist who understood not only how to lure people into his magical worlds but how to keep them coming back. It is a story of human psychology as much as architecture and design, with Walt self-styled as the avuncular wizard of happiness. As the exhibition’s curator, Saskia van Stein, puts it: “His main medium was the American psyche.” And boy, did he know how to exploit it.

Disneyland occupies a central place in the story, as the first physical manifestation of Walt’s cartoon universe. Just as the modern Disney company is built on cross-promotion – with films nudging consumers towards themed rides and merchandise, and vice versa – so too did Walt realise the importance of television to the success of his planned theme park. In the 1950s, he struck a deal with ABC television network to invest in his acquisition of 244 acres of land around Anaheim, California . In return for its investment, Disney himself would front a weekly TV show for the network, in which he would tell stories about technological progress and alternative realities – and most importantly, update viewers on the process of building Disneyland.

“It will be a place of hopes and dreams, facts and fancy all in one,” he declared in the opening episode as he pored over maps and models, introducing viewers to the nostalgic wild west realm of Frontierland; the futuristic utopia of Tomorrowland; and the rose-tinted Fantasyland, home to “anything your heart desires”. More than half of all TV owners in the US tuned in, exposing a rapt audience of more than 28 million people to Disney. It was a stroke of marketing genius: by the time visitors arrived in Disneyland, they were already familiar with it, having seen the plans evolve on their screens, providing the kind of intoxicating frisson of meeting a celebrity in the flesh.

The exhibition shows how brand partnerships were a key weapon in Disney’s promotional arsenal, beginning with the Monsanto House of the Future , one of the chief attractions of Tomorrowland in the 1950s and 60s. A cluster of cantilevered capsules made of reinforced plastic, this was a sci-fi hymn to the possibilities of plastic, featuring a dishwasher, a microwave, a two-way camera for video calls, plastic crockery and an electric toothbrush – all long before their widespread adoption in suburban homes.

Bringing movie stagecraft into the built environment, Van Stein reveals how visual tricks are deployed in Disney’s parks, such as the use of “Go Away Green”, a patented shade of drab olive deployed to make things disappear. It is used to colour everything from lamp-posts to fences and loudspeakers – as well as the concrete foundation of the now-demolished Monsanto House. Meanwhile “Blending Blue” is used to disguise unsightly taller structures.

Scale is also a chief part of the illusion, with buildings’ floors built incrementally shorter as they rise – at 5/8 scale above the ground floor, then 1/2 scale above that – making the worlds feel cute and “pony size”, as Walt put it. He also took cunning poetic licence with features such as the US flags found throughout the parks – each lacks a star or a stripe, allowing them to dodge the usual regulations that apply to the daily raising and lowering of the Stars and Stripes.

Another innovation – which went on to influence today’s smart cities – were the utilidors, a sprawling network of underground service corridors connecting the different themed lands in Florida’s Disney World. They were introduced after Walt was bothered by the sight of a cowboy walking through Tomorrowland on his way to his post in Frontierland in the California park, which Walt felt destroyed the illusion.

The tunnels housed automated vacuum waste disposal, hidden deliveries, costuming spaces for cast members, kitchens and emergency services, forming a ”below-stage” warren for the theatrics above. As the New York Times architecture critic cooed after a visit in the 1970s, Florida’s Disney World boasted “an array of technical innovations that would make any city manager drool,” making it “perhaps the most important city planning laboratory in the United States”.

As it is being staged in France , the exhibition has a section dedicated to Disneyland Paris and the surrounding suburban developments it spawned. After a long and hard-fought competition between various European countries in the 1980s to host this hallowed outpost of US culture, France was awarded the prize – and had to cough up more than four times the amount that Disney put in for the privilege. The project was described as a “cultural Chernobyl” in the French press at the time, with the park seen as destroying a vast swathe of prime agricultural land. The gift that Disney boss Michael Eisner presented to France’s future president Jacques Chirac, didn’t bode well either: an original painted animation celluloid of the Evil Queen offering Snow White a poisoned apple.

The exhibition documents the ongoing development of Val d’Europe, a Disney-themed new town near the park, created after a deal in 1987 gave the company unprecedented control of urban planning codes across almost 5,000 acres of surrounding land. The result is a surreal series of Florida-style gated communities gussied up in French fancy dress, with clusters of inflated Hausmannian wedding cakes cropping up in the fields of Marne-la-Vallée. Poignant photographs by Eléa Godefroy, taken while walking around the periphery of the Disney domain, document how these unreal enclaves sit within the surrounding countryside. Each year, they nibble away a little more land, as the Happiest Place on Earth expands across the globe.

• Architecture
• Walt Disney Company

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Walt Disney: The Dream Goes On is sporadically shown on longer sailings aboard the Disney Magic. The production covers the life of Walter Elias Disney spanning his creation and loss of Oswald the Rabbit to the creation of Mickey into the Snow White through the opening of Disneyland.

Below are some additional clips of Walt Disney: The Dream Goes On.

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