This Disney Dream Cruise Ship Guide provides everything a cruiser needs to know about booking a sailing on the Disney Dream. Keep reading to learn about one of Disney Cruise Line’s largest ships!

Overview of the Disney Dream Cruise Ship

Debuting in 2011, the Disney Dream was the first expansion of Disney Cruise Line’s fleet since the 1999 debut of the Disney Wonder. The Disney Dream would become part of the “Dream Class,” with the Disney Fantasy joining the Dream in 2012.

Staying true to Disney Cruise Line’s original design on the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder, the Disney Dream features nautical theming with subtle Disney accents. However, it is significantly larger than its predecessors and is a 130,000 gross-ton ship with 14 decks and a 4,000-passenger capacity.

The Disney Dream currently sails 4- and 5-night Bahamian itineraries out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, while spending its summers sailing European itineraries.

Disney Dream Cruise Ship Staterooms

Like all DCL ships, Disney Dream offers four types of staterooms: inside staterooms, oceanview staterooms, verandah staterooms, and concierge staterooms.

All staterooms, with the exclusion of Concierge, will have the same basic amenities:

• Premium plush Euro-top mattress
• 100% cotton linens and premium bath towels
• 43” flat screen TV with Disney on Demand and live channels
• Full length mirror
• USB and USB-C ports
• Mini refrigerator
• Mini in-room safe
• Hair dryer
• Control of your own AC
• Bath and shower products
• Beds on elevated frames to store luggage underneath
• Privacy curtain to separate sleeping from sitting area
• Desk and sitting area with couch

The type of stateroom you need depends on the type of vacation you are looking to have! Below is a breakdown of all the staterooms offered on the Disney Dream to help you find your best fit.

Inside Staterooms

An inside stateroom simply means that there are no windows and no verandah. It is the smallest stateroom available but also the most inexpensive. On the plus side, the Disney Dream inside staterooms do offer a “magical porthole.” This porthole is connected to webcams on the ship that give real-time views of the outside. You may even see some Disney characters that pop up along the way!

This may be a great fit if you are a no-frills traveler who just needs a place to sleep! If you have small children, sleeping four people in an inside cabin might be fine, but it would be tight quarters with four adults.

• Sleeps 2 to 4 people depending on the category
• 169 square feet
• Located on Decks 2,5,6,7,8,9,10
• Consists of one queen bed, a convertible single sofa, and an upper pull down single bed if it is a room that sleeps 4
• No exterior view
• Full bathroom with vanity, sink, shower and tub with glass door

Oceanview Staterooms

Oceanview rooms are just as stated, rooms with an ocean view. There is a porthole window in your stateroom to catch the breathtaking views of the sea.

If you are looking to budget but want a view, this is your best option. It’s slightly bigger than an inside stateroom and gives you a view of the ocean without the verandah price tag.

There are two types of ocean-view staterooms on the Disney Dream: the deluxe ocean-view stateroom and the deluxe family oceanview stateroom.

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom:

• Sleeps 3 to 4 people depending on category
• 204 square feet
• Located on Decks 2 and 5 through 10
• Consists of 1 queen bed, 1 single sleeper sofa, and one pull down bed
• Large porthole view
• Full split bathroom with vanity, sink, shower and tub with glass door; half bathroom with vanity, sink, and toilet

Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom:

• Sleeps 4 to 5 people depending on category
• 241 square feet
• Located on Decks 5 through 9
• Consists of 1 queen bed, 1 single sleeper sofa, and 2 pull down beds
• Large porthole view
• Full split bathroom with vanity, sink, shower and tub with glass door; half bathroom with vanity, sink, and toilet

Verandah Staterooms

The salty air is at your fingertips with a verandah stateroom. Equipped with a small table and 2 chairs, the verandah is the perfect way to watch the sunrise or sunset from the privacy of your stateroom, with endless opportunities for relaxation.

The verandahs are very safe, with multiple safety locks that can be pretty tough to open for little ones, so those with kids shouldn’t be worried about booking a verandah room. We have booked many verandah staterooms, and our toddler could never get out unsupervised!

If your idea of a vacation is full of relaxation, a verandah is for you. Are you all about activities and seeing the sights on vacation? If so, you might want to use the money you would spend on a verandah elsewhere, as these rooms are among the priciest on the ship.

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah:

• Sleeps 3 to 4
• 246 square feet
• Located on Decks 5 through 10
• Consists of 1 queen bed, 1 single sleeper sofa, and one pull down bed
• Private verandah open air balcony with views of the ocean
• Full split bathroom with vanity, sink, shower and tub with glass door; half bathroom with vanity, sink, and toilet

Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah:

• Sleeps 4 to 5
• 299 square feet
• Located on Decks 5 through 10
• Consists of 1 queen bed, 1 single sleeper sofa, and 2 pull down beds
• Private verandah open air balcony with views of the ocean
• Full split bathroom with vanity, sink, shower and tub with glass door; half bathroom with vanity, sink, and toilet

Concierge Staterooms

Concierge guests live a life of luxury in Family Oceanview, which offers Verandah rooms, one-bedroom suites, and a Royal Suite. Although concierge rooms are expensive, they come with some upgraded amenities including:

• Upgraded linens
• Early check-in
• Early access to reservations such as Palo, Port Adventures, spa services, and Remy
• Priority tender in ports of call
• Concierge private lounge including internet, food and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic)

Disney Dream Cruise Ship Dining

The Disney Dream has something for everyone when it comes to dining. Best of all, most options are included in your cruise fare! Cruise ship dining is a great way to expand your palate, but don’t worry, even the pickiest eaters will be satisfied when sailing on the Disney Dream.

There are buffet, pool deck options, three main dining rooms, and two adults-only specialty restaurants (that are an extra charge). This is your time to try something new!

Staying true to the Disney Cruise Line specialty, the Disney Dream offers rotational dining for dinner. Guests will use their Navigator app to find out what restaurant they will attend that day, as it will differ each night. Additionally, your service team follows you to each restaurant, so you have the same service team every night getting to know your preferences! One of the main dining rooms is also open for breakfast and lunch if you’d prefer a more formal sit-down option during the day. Guests can check the Disney Navigator app for which restaurants and times.

Cabanas

Cabanas is the breakfast and lunch buffet located on Deck 11 aft. The beach boardwalk comes to sea when you step into Cabanas. Surfboards line the buffet stations while the carpets are streaked with waves. A 30-foot-long mosaic of scenes from Disney and Pixar’s Finding Nemo lines the entrance wall and sandcastles simulating the five famous Disney castles.

For breakfast, cruisers can find common offerings such as scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, hashbrowns, fresh fruits, yogurts, pastries, and made-to-order omelets.

At lunch, kids can choose from standard fare such as mac and cheese, chicken tenders, french fries, pizza, and simple vegetables. Cabana’s famous lunch offerings include peel-and-eat shrimp and crab claws, as well as a variety of international cuisines, soups, and salads.

Flo’s Cafe

Inspired by Disney and Pixar’s Cars, Flo’s Cafe is the pool deck cafe on Deck 11, midship, starboard. Here guests can walk up to 3 outdoor stations:

• Luigi’s Pizza – serving a different selection of pizzas each day
• Tow Mater’s Grill – serving chicken tenders, hot dogs, burgers, and brats
• Fillmore’s Favorites – serving salads, sandwiches, and wraps

Eye Scream

Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc. is ready to bring you unlimited soft-serve ice cream! Located on Deck 11, midship, port side, Eye Scream offers unlimited vanilla and chocolate soft-serve ice cream and a daily rotation of other flavors, usually strawberry, banana, and blueberry.

Animator’s Palate

Animator’s Palate is one of the three main dining rooms aboard the Disney Dream. It is showcased on the first four of Disney Cruise Line’s ships, with each ship experience being slightly different.

On the Disney Dream, this vibrant restaurant brings an animation studio to life with character sketches on the walls, figurines on shelves, paint brushes, and drawing areas around the decor. The chairs, with red, black, and white color schemes, pay tribute to the mouse himself.

During your dinner, guests are immersed under the sea with Disney and Pixar’s Finding Nemo friends. With screens conveniently positioned all around the restaurant, Crush pops up randomly to have conversations with cruisers!

The main menu pays homage to Pacific Island, Asian, and Californian cuisine. Be sure to try the famous Truffle Pasta Pursettes appetizer!

Enchanted Garden

The second main dining room option onboard the Disney Dream is Enchanted Garden. Inspired by the gardens of Versailles, its light and airy decor takes guests to the French countryside. A fountain is located at the entrance while white trellises line the ceilings, making you feel like you are in a garden rather than at sea.

Its seasonal menu uses market-fresh ingredients, offering options such as an avocado and tuna tower, fresh sea bass, cucumber rolls, and sea scallops.

There is currently no entertainment at this restaurant — it’s just dinner.

Royal Palace

Step inside and turn into royalty—that’s the theme at the Royal Palace! This main dining room is inspired by Disney’s classic princess films, with hand-painted portraits of Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs lining the walls and shimmering marble floors lining the walkways.

This French-inspired menu offers guests a fine dining experience. Some items offered include escargot, chateaubriand, salmon, and duck. Oh, and the French onion soup is a must!

Palo

Palo is one of two adults-only exclusive restaurants on the Disney Dream. Northern Italian cuisine is Palo’s specialty, with a modern twist. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer stunning views, paired with spectacular service.

Dining at Palo is by reservation only (which can be booked anywhere from 120 to 90 days in advance based on your sailing status with Disney) and is open for brunch and dinner. For brunch, a set price of $50 per person gets guests an all-you-can-eat menu, including eggs, pancakes, waffles, pizzas, and entrees. For dinner, Palo offers a Prezzo Fisso menu for $50 per person with your choice of Antipasti, Insalata, Il Secondo, and Dolce from a limited menu, or a la carte style ordering.

Per Disney Cruise Line’s website, the dress code for Palo is as follows:

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

Remy

Remy is the Disney Dream’s second exclusive adult-only restaurant. It excels at fine dining and offers the most elegant dining experience onboard. Inspired by fine French cuisine, Remy transports guests to France with its pre-fixe menu. Silverware and fine china were created exclusively for this restaurant while floor-to-ceiling walls and dim lights set the tone for an exquisite adventure that awaits.

Dinner always begins with a cocktail, then specially crafted gourmet options by Chef Scott Hunnel, an award-winning chef featured at Victoria & Albert’s at Walt Disney World Resort, and advising Chef Arnaud Lallement—a 3-Michelin-starred chef begins to make way to your table. This pre-fixe menu takes guests on a journey through sea, land, and everywhere in between.

Dinner is $135 per person, with additional wine pairings available. Brunch and dessert experiences are available at Remy on select sailings. Remy is open for reservations only (which can be booked anywhere from 120 to 90 days in advance based on your sailing status with Disney).

Per Disney Cruise Line’s website, the dress code for Remy is as follows:

Guests are requested to dress in a manner consistent with the restaurant’s sophistication. 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. Clothing such as T-shirts, swimwear and sports attire are not permitted.

Disney Dream Cruise Ship Bars & Lounges

The Disney Dream has no shortage of bars and lounges for guests to sit back, relax, and enjoy a cocktail (or mocktail!). Disney Cruise Line may be geared toward families, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t fun for the adults either.

Located on Deck 4, Aft, is The District. The District is home to many bars and lounges onboard the ship. While some areas are strictly adults-only, others are adults-only after a particular time, or for specific events. Many adult cruisers love the layout of the Dream Class ships due to this design, as children have no reason to be in the District.

Pub 687

Pub 687 is the hub for all beer lovers and sports fans. Its 687 namesake comes from the shipyard in which the Disney Dream was built, as the Disney Dream’s hull number was 687. Rich, dark wood lines the bar and high-top tables, with oversized chairs and couches also available for relaxation. Flat-screen TVs show live sporting events daily and board games are available to play. Pub 687 is home to family and adults-only activities such as trivia and crafts but is strictly an adults-only venue after 9PM.

Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar

Designed to look like the inside of a champagne bottle, Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar’s decor is polished and elegant, resembling champagne flutes and bubbles. Guests can also find Disney’s Dumbo’s famous pink elephant lining the walls! Pink velvet seating areas are positioned around this small venue, with enough room for plenty of cruisers to enjoy.

Pink: The Wine and Champagne Bar hosts many of the tasting classes throughout the sailing. It typically does not open to all guests until 4PM or later, making it strictly an adults-only venue. At night, cruisers can enjoy live entertainment in this venue.

Skyline Bar

Skyline Bar is an upscale lounge that transports guests to major cities around the world every 15 minutes! Behind the bar, virtual screens alternate between the skylines of London, Barcelona, Hong Kong, and New York. Hand-crafted cocktails and martinis are the stars of the show here.

This is strictly an adults-only venue. It opens to all cruisers in the evening and holds tasting classes during the day.

Meridian

Nestled on Deck 12 between Palo and Remy, this adults-only lounge is the perfect spot to grab a drink pre or post-dinner reservation. Themed to the early days of sailing, nautical decor lines the walls, seat cushions are designed as luggage sacks, and maps are spread about the ceiling. Ocean views from this aft bar are hard to pass up.

D Lounge

Home to game shows, trivia, dance parties, cooking classes, and more, the D Lounge is the main lounge for onboard activities right off the atrium balcony on Deck 4! Separated into two sides is a stage side and a table and chairs side. This space is large enough not to feel crowded but small enough to feel still intimate enough to get to know your cruise activities staff!

District Lounge

Right in the heart of the District is the District Lounge. This lounge has a stage with surrounding tables, chairs, and benches, making it the perfect spot to lounge and listen to live music. A full-service bar is available behind the seating area.

During the day, this lounge hosts both family-friendly and adults-only activities, but it becomes strictly an adults-only venue after 9PM.

Evolution

Evolution is a large venue with a full bar and plenty of space for activities. During the day, family-friendly activities are hosted here such as bingo. The parties at Evolution start at night, turning into an adults-only late-night venue full of drinks, dancing, themed parties, karaoke, adult shows, and more!

Cove Cafe

Located off the Quiet Cove pool area, the Cove Cafe is an adults-only coffee lounge with a full bar. It offers coffee, tea, and a variety of cocktails. Cove Cafe is a fleetwide lounge and a quiet spot for guests looking to escape the hustle and bustle of their vacation.

The coffee options are extensive, ranging from a simple decaf to a fancy French press. The venue uses Twinings Tea. If you get a hot coffee, they will even put a cute character stamp on it for you—just ask!

Disney Dream Cruise Ship Onboard Activities

Though you won’t see casinos, roller coasters, or escape rooms on Disney Cruise Line, that doesn’t mean there is a lack of entertainment. In fact, it’s quite the opposite! From movie theaters playing the latest Disney releases to pool activities to nightly entertainment, there is plenty to keep cruisers on their feet. You may not even get around to everything!

Pool Deck Activities

There is no shortage of fun on the pool deck of the Disney Dream! Mickey and Donald’s Pools make up most of the pool deck, with retractable covers to turn the pool deck into a full stage for deck parties. The Quiet Cove Pool in the adults-only section includes a swim-up bar with two hot tubs.

The Aqua Duck water coaster wraps the length of the ship, a Mickey’s kids’ slide, and Nemo’s Reef splash pad for even the littlest cruisers to keep everyone in the family entertained. You can even lounge in one of the pools while you watch your favorite Disney movie on Funnel Vision, the large outdoor movie screen playing movies all day long!

Broadway Style Theater Shows

The Walt Disney Theatre is home to a show each night of your cruise. On the Disney Wish, you can see Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and Disney Cruise Line’s original shows, The Golden Mickey’s and Disney’s Believe.

The Golden Mickey’s takes viewers through an award show, giving awards to famous Disney movies and songs throughout this 60-minute spectacular. While Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is a 60-minute, Broadway-style adaptation of the original film. And, Disney’s Believe is a production that follows a father and daughter on a journey to believe in magic. It features your favorite Disney characters and music, led by the Genie himself!

While reservations are not required, we recommend that you get to the shows early. Seating can fill up quickly!

Pirate Night/Fireworks at Sea

Disney Cruise Line’s famous Pirate Night is hosted for one night on every Disney Dream sailing. You can dress up and get in on the action, joining the pirate fun! There is a kid-friendly show at 7:45PM with Mickey and friends on the main pool deck stage. Then, at 10:15PM, cue the fireworks (weather permitting)! Yes, Disney Cruise Line is also the only cruise line with fireworks at sea!

Midship Detective Agency

Help Mickey and Friends, or the Muppets, on a secret detective adventure. Guests can start their adventure at either agency headquarters located on Deck 2 or Deck 5. Families make their way around the ship interacting with hidden pictures to find out who is responsible for whatever mission is selected.

In a sense, you are putting yourself into a real-life version of the board game, Clue. This is a great interactive family activity that can be completed throughout your cruise or all at once. There are three stories to choose from, so you have more than one opportunity to play!

Goofy’s Sports Deck

Home to a 9-hole mini golf course, two virtual sports simulators, ping-pong tables, and a basketball court that holds basketball and pickleball tournaments, this sports deck offers hours of fun for the whole family!

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

Guests can make reservations at this enchanted salon on all five ships for their little ones to transform into their favorite adventurers. They can choose from an assortment of packages, ranging from their favorite princesses, to a royal knight, Captain Mickey, or a pirate for pirate night! Packages range from $100-$450.

Children must be at least 3 years old to participate, and anyone under 12 years old must have a parent or guardian with them at all times. You must make reservations, and spots do fill up fast. So, this would be one of the first things I’d do when the booking window opens.

Senses Spa

Senses Spa provides tranquility and luxury amenities for pampering and relaxation. The ship also has a full-service gym, so you can start your day with a workout before you indulge in all that cruise food!

Guests can get specialty salon treatments such as massages, body wraps, facials, aromatherapy, and so much more. They also offer manicures, pedicures, teeth whitening, hair styling, and men’s grooming.

There are showers, lockers, robes, changing rooms, and beauty products at your convenience around the spa.

The main focus of the Senses Spa seems to be the rainforest room. The rainforest room is offered on all five ships, but it does vary slightly on all ships. On the Disney Dream, the Rainforest Room features a steam and dry sauna, heated loungers, aromatherapy showers, jacuzzis, and panoramic ocean views.

They only sell a limited number of rainforest room passes, but with a recent update to the onboard activities pre-booking options, you can reserve full-length cruise passes ahead of time!

Disney Dream Kids Clubs

The star attraction on Disney Cruise Line ships is the kids’ clubs. Kids spaces are available for children ages 6 months to 17 years old. These immersive spaces are impressive for all ages. In fact, even the adults often wish they could hang out here!

For the kids who may be too shy to go alone, throughout your cruise, there are open houses of all these kid’s zones. Parents can join their kids in using everything the kids clubs have to offer during these times. Check your Navigator app for the times and spaces that have open houses throughout the day.

“it’s a small world” Nursery

The nursery is available for children ages 6 months to 3 years of age. The staff here play with, feed, change diapers, and put kids to sleep when under their care. The area has rocking chairs and cribs for sleep. Of note, they will feed your children snacks if you allow it, but no full meals will be given (unless it’s formula).

You do have to make reservations for the nursery, however. Guests can book reservations whenever your onboard booking window opens, and we have had great luck booking the nursery space same day as well. There is an additional charge of $9 per hour for one child and $8 per hour for additional children in the same family.

This is WELL worth it and a great way for mom and dad to have some adult time. We have used the nursery onboard multiple ships at varying ages and have only had great experiences. Our son has never gone to daycare, so we weren’t sure how he would do with the counselors, but he cried every time we had to take him out rather than when we sent him in!

Disney’s Oceaneer’s Club

Children ages 3 to 10 can interact with characters, become toys in Andy’s Room, join the Rebel Alliance in Star Wars Millennium Falcon, color in Pixie Hollow, test their skills in the Disney Infinity Game Room, and participate in hands-on activities in the Oceaneer’s Lab.

This club also offers organized activities throughout the cruise, though kids can enjoy free play here as well. Reservations are not required for the Oceaneer’s Club and kids can come and go as much as they please. Parents do have to check their children in and out, though.

The biggest thing here is that kids MUST be potty trained and completely bathroom independent. If not, they will have to go to the nursery.

Edge

Edge is a tween club for kids ages 11 to 14. The kids can check themselves in and out without an adult present. The space is located within the famous Disney Cruise Line funnel. Edge offers TVs, video games, foosball, board games, movies, trivia, and a great deal of scheduled activities for even the most shy tween to get out of their comfort zone!

Vibe

Vibe is a sacred space for big kids. Kids ages 14 to 17 can relax in Vibe’s hangout spaces, play video games, participate in karaoke and dance parties, and so much more!

Vibe also features an outdoor space with hot tubs and loungers, giving the older kids a pool area to call their own.

Thoughts on the Disney Dream Cruise Ship

Overall, we love the Disney Dream and its “classic” Disney Cruise Line feel. This ship is held in pristine condition, resembling more of a new ship than a ship over 12 years old.

While the pool deck dining options may not be as trendy as the newest ship, the Disney Wish, the Disney Dream shines in food variety and quality in both the main dining rooms and Cabanas.

From secluded adults-only areas to spaces where everyone can be a kid again, there is something for everyone to enjoy on this relaxing vacation! Don’t miss Disney Cruise Line’s production of Beauty and the Beast, as I personally think this is the best show at sea!

Comments

Have you cruised on the Disney Dream before? What is your favorite part of the Dream Class ships? Leave us a comment below to share why you love cruising with Disney Cruise Line.