Living the Disney Dream - Review & 500 pics!

[Im_A_Princess]

Awesome review! Thanks!

[George&J]

Thank you, EROLLER.

My wife and I are taking our Grandson on the Disney Dream next month for our first cruise on a Disney Line ship. He will turn five on the day we land. His parents will pick us up and then we will enjoy a few days at Disney World. Your write up and pictures gave us an informative insight into what we can expect during the cruise. We really appreciate your efforts. Again, thank you.

[mrsbuddha123]

Ernie

I am completely overtaken by the photographs! I Thank you over and over again. I am a Disney junkie! Love it I am almost 44 and have been going since WDW opened in Florida. We sail the Dream in a couple of days! I have butterflies...

 

I am already planning my Fantasy cruise for July 2013. :D:D:D

Tracey

[shoelover536]

What a great review! Thank you!

 

I'm also a huge Disney fan...been to WDW more times than I can count.

 

We were on the Celebrity Eclipse this january (my first cruise, DH had cruised before). We loved it and can't wait to go back. I'm interested in possibly trying DCL too.

 

So...questions for you...have you cruised Celebrity? If so, how do you like it relative to Disney? TIA!

[eroller]

Thanks again everyone for the really nice comments! Much appreciated and so glad you're enjoying the pics and review.

 

Ernie

[eroller]

What a great review! Thank you!

 

I'm also a huge Disney fan...been to WDW more times than I can count.

 

We were on the Celebrity Eclipse this january (my first cruise, DH had cruised before). We loved it and can't wait to go back. I'm interested in possibly trying DCL too.

 

So...questions for you...have you cruised Celebrity? If so, how do you like it relative to Disney? TIA!

 

 

I absolutely love Celebrity. The Solstice Class (which includes the ECLIPSE) are exceptional ships and hard to top IMO. One of the reasons I love them so much is the same reason I love the Disney ships ... attention to detail. Royal Caribbean (which owns Celebrity) places almost as much emphasis on the design of their ships as Disney does. They don't have a "one size fits all" mentality like a lot of cruise lines do that build one ship platform and operate it across multiple brands. Sure that is the most economical way to do it, but it's not the best way from my standpoint as a saavy consumer.

 

When you sail on DCL, and I hope you do, you will find they do things differently than other lines. They sort of beat to their own drum and are not so influenced by what the other lines are doing ... and I really like that. This being said they are expensive and there are a lot of kids onboard (I don't have kids), so I will not exclusively sail on DCL. I will still frequent Celebrity, Cunard, and luxury lines like Silversea in addition to what I hope will be many more DCL cruises!

 

Ernie

[Friend100]

They sort of beat to their own drum and are not so influenced by what the other lines are doing ... and I really like that.

 

Where is the LIKE button!

 

Many people in other forums in CC ask what makes DCL charge such a high price, and then start a laundry list of comparing everything tangible from food to pool with other lines. The point is, for people who like DCL, who cares!? I felt proud to be cruising on a Disney ship and I enjoyed it. That's it. But at the same time I will cruise other lines and expect a different experience.

[RenieRaider]

........ more importantly I have an eye for detail, and it's those details I try to capture. The DISNEY DREAM was loaded with amazing detail......

 

Ernie

 

...Awesome 'eye for detail'

[soccerpapi]

Originally Posted by eroller

They sort of beat to their own drum and are not so influenced by what the other lines are doing ... and I really like that.

 

Where is the LIKE button!

 

Many people in other forums in CC ask what makes DCL charge such a high price, and then start a laundry list of comparing everything tangible from food to pool with other lines. The point is, for people who like DCL, who cares!? I felt proud to be cruising on a Disney ship and I enjoyed it. That's it. But at the same time I will cruise other lines and expect a different experience.

 

I have to agree, Disney definitely does things that are different than other cruise lines. It is very refreshing that Disney does think outside of the box when creating the Disney cruise experience.

 

Some of the differences that I noticed on my recent DISNEY DREAM cruise were.

 

1. Soda, juices and other beverages are free throughout the ship and are available 24 hours per day at the beverage station.

 

2. Disney allows you to bring unlimited alcohol, soda, water and other beverages onboard without limitation.

 

3. The rain shower in the DISNEY DREAM washrooms are heaven, these have to be the best showers in standard cabins of any cruise line.

 

4. The separate washrooms that allow two people to use them at the same time on the DISNEY DREAM are great and a real convienence for most passengers.

 

5. The main dining room rotations are a uniqe concept to Disney.

 

6. The self closing drawers that are part of the furniture are really cool and keeps the noise level down.

 

7. The queen size beds with underneath storage and the oversized cabins that are very comfortable.

 

The are other Disney differences that passengers may or may not notice that make the DISNEY DREAM cruise experience a very pleasant one. You do not want your cruise on the DISNEY DREAM to end, because it all just comes together so well.

 

I loved my 3 night cruise on the DISNEY DREAM so much that I have booked myself on the 5 night cruise with 2 stops at Castway Cay already. That is saying something about how much I enjoyed my DISNEY DREAM cruise!

 

soccer

[shoelover536]

I absolutely love Celebrity. The Solstice Class (which includes the ECLIPSE) are exceptional ships and hard to top IMO. One of the reasons I love them so much is the same reason I love the Disney ships ... attention to detail. Royal Caribbean (which owns Celebrity) places almost as much emphasis on the design of their ships as Disney does. They don't have a "one size fits all" mentality like a lot of cruise lines do that build one ship platform and operate it across multiple brands. Sure that is the most economical way to do it, but it's not the best way from my standpoint as a saavy consumer.

 

When you sail on DCL, and I hope you do, you will find they do things differently than other lines. They sort of beat to their own drum and are not so influenced by what the other lines are doing ... and I really like that. This being said they are expensive and there are a lot of kids onboard (I don't have kids), so I will not exclusively sail on DCL. I will still frequent Celebrity, Cunard, and luxury lines like Silversea in addition to what I hope will be many more DCL cruises!

 

Ernie

 

Thanks! This is just what I wanted to hear. We don't have kids either, so I wouldn't pick DCL all the time (plus its nice to have the casino sometimes, haha). But I would like to try it at least once, especially since I am such I huge Disney fan (we even got married there - my DH puts up with a lot, lol). We like the luxury feel of celebrity and its sounds like we can find this on DCL as well (with differences, of course). I've always liked the rotating dining idea, too.

[eroller]

Thanks! This is just what I wanted to hear. We don't have kids either, so I wouldn't pick DCL all the time (plus its nice to have the casino sometimes, haha). But I would like to try it at least once, especially since I am such I huge Disney fan (we even got married there - my DH puts up with a lot, lol). We like the luxury feel of celebrity and its sounds like we can find this on DCL as well (with differences, of course). I've always liked the rotating dining idea, too.

 

 

Well being Disney there are always going to be kids, but there a few things you can do to help minimize the impact. First is to only cruise on DCL during the off season when kids are in school. Never during spring break and never during a school holiday. Avoid summer as well if you can. Not only will this reduce the amount of kids, but your rates will be lower as well. Second is to take a longer cruise if you can manage it. Seven days on the FANTASY sounds like heaven to me! Even the five day and four day cruises have less kids than the three day. Parents don't feel too guilty taking their kids out of school for a day or two for the 3-day cruise, but it's more difficult on the four, five, and seven day cruises so less kids.

 

Honestly even with the kids onboard, I've never found it a big problem. In fact it's really cute to watch the smaller kids interact with the Disney characters. Unlike some lines (i.e. Carnival) I have never found roaming gangs of teenagers creating chaos and looking to get into trouble on DCL. Most kids are quite well behaved and because Disney offers them so much to do, I would say they are fairly well engaged as well. All the better for the adults. Lastly my experience has been that DCL is quite good about enforcing the adults only areas, more so than many lines which seem to just ignore their own rule.

 

Good luck and I hope you give DCL a try!

 

Ernie

[eroller]

...Awesome 'eye for detail'

 

 

Thank you!

[metairiegal]

Hi,

 

I just found your Dream thread - I'm off to check out your pics. :)

[metairiegal]

Loved your review and your pictures are outstanding! How in the world do you get so many pictures with no one in them? I noticed the same thing with your Oasis pics. Amazing.

 

We're Disney fanatics, too, and go to WDW about every other month with our passes. Just wondering if you pin trade and if so, how was pin trading on the ship?

 

How did you manage to get a table for 2 - any hints?

 

The only problem we had on our past Dream cruise was that it was too short being only 3 nights. So, I am looking forward to our Dream cruise next month which is 5 nights and is a Castaway Cay double dip. We are also booked for Thanksgiving, 7 nights, on the Fantasy.

 

Again, your pictures are beautiful. Love all the details you capture!! :)

[eroller]

Loved your review and your pictures are outstanding! How in the world do you get so many pictures with no one in them? I noticed the same thing with your Oasis pics. Amazing.

 

We're Disney fanatics, too, and go to WDW about every other month with our passes. Just wondering if you pin trade and if so, how was pin trading on the ship?

 

How did you manage to get a table for 2 - any hints?

 

The only problem we had on our past Dream cruise was that it was too short being only 3 nights. So, I am looking forward to our Dream cruise next month which is 5 nights and is a Castaway Cay double dip. We are also booked for Thanksgiving, 7 nights, on the Fantasy.

 

Again, your pictures are beautiful. Love all the details you capture!! :)

 

 

 

Glad you enjoyed the review and pics.

 

Nope, not pin traders. Not sure why I never got into it? Seems like fun.

 

I usually take the pics at about 11am on a popular port day. Most people are off the ship, and the dining rooms are usually empty but prepared for the next meal (good for pictures). It's nice to walk around the ship when it's fairly empty and really take note of all the details. Also by the time I disembark into the port the crowds are gone and I just walk off. I'm never the first off the ship because I like to sleep in, and I avoid lines at all costs!

 

There are no tables for two on DCL, but if you request one, they will do their best to provide you a four-top but for only the two of you. My best suggestion is to request second/late sitting (which we love), and to cruise during the off season when the ship is not filled to capacity. This will almost guarantee your request can be confirmed.

 

I agree three days on DISNEY DREAM is not enough. There is just too much to enjoy on this beautiful ship to squeeze into just a few days. My only other complaint was that the pools were too small. It's not something that would prevent me from sailing on these ships, I just think Disney should have designed larger pools. It's interesting they are larger on the smaller DCL ships, especially the adults pool. Go figure?

 

I'm envious of you sailing on the DISNEY FANTASY. Lucky you! I'm hoping to sail on her in the fall if all goes well.

 

Ernie

[rhioghnach]

You and Chris must be great fun to travel with! I appreciate your observations--they made me feel like I have been on the Disney Dream and Port Canaveral Terminal. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

 

I hope my hubby & I meet up with you two on a great cruise in the near future! :-)

 

Sincerely,

 

~Donna :)

[TITISSA]

Thank you Ernie and Chris. I loved the pictures and your review :).

 

We have cruised Disney before but with our girls when they were younger. This time they have Summer jobs and it's just DH and I. We are on the 4th of July cruise and I have booked Palo and Remy already. My question to you is: out of all the non-paying restaurants what 2 restaurants would you say is a must...

 

Thank you.

[Tina0922]

Oh my gosh those pictures are wonderful....I'm leaving in 10 days & can't wait now that I saw those pictures over my dinner break at work! I even printed one of the ship photos to give to my brother so my nephews will have a little wake-up note saying "Let's Go, Get to Grammy's, We Have Somewhere to Be!!" & then the picture of the ship. (And Grammy's is 3 blocks away & this is where we will be leaving from). THANKS AGAIN!! :)

 

Tina

[lissa42886]

uhgggg makes me want to go soooo much more!!! thanks. cant wait to look at all the pics!! ( thats my fave part hehe )

[lissa42886]

question.. after looking at ALL your wonderful pics... how do 99% of them have ZERO people?!??!

[pepsicruiser]

Great pictures. TY

[Host Mick]

question.. after looking at ALL your wonderful pics... how do 99% of them have ZERO people?!??!

 

If you take them during the boat drill, you can get a lot of no-people photos in before they kick you off.

[Gatrcruzer]

Ernie,

 

Thanks so much for taking the time to write such a wonderful review, and for sharing your amazing pics. You are a true cruise connoisseur, sailing such a diversity of cruise lines. How awesome are you? Your opinions and perspectives are really valuable, and as a result we are leaning more toward taking a Disney cruise.

 

To lissa42886, I think he wrote earlier in the posting list that many of the photos were taken during port days when many people were off the ship.

[lissa42886]

Ernie,

 

Thanks so much for taking the time to write such a wonderful review, and for sharing your amazing pics. You are a true cruise connoisseur, sailing such a diversity of cruise lines. How awesome are you? Your opinions and perspectives are really valuable, and as a result we are leaning more toward taking a Disney cruise.

 

To lissa42886, I think he wrote earlier in the posting list that many of the photos were taken during port days when many people were off the ship.

 

aaahhh i must have missed that part.. thanks!

[eroller]

Thank you again to the recent members that posted comments. I'm happy this review and pictures are still bringing enjoyment to people! Makes taking the time to write it and take the pictures all worth while!

 

Bon Voyage to those getting ready to sail!

 

Ernie