Deposit Down We Got the 8A Mini Suites on Dream

[PixieFairies]

We have just changed from a Deluxe Family Oceanview with Verandah to putting a deposit down on 2 x Deluxe Family Oceanview ( Mini Suites ) Category 8A Stateroom 5520 & 5522 on the Disney Dream.

I think with 3 young kids the space was more important than the verandah, plus we will be on the same deck as the kids clubs etc.

This is also for the 4 night cruise to bahamas on Halloween 31st Oct 2016 sailing.

Anyone else on this sailing, will this be a Holiday themed Cruise like the Merrytime etc.

Now that its booked, what next???? All i know is that we have got these rooms & we are booked for the first seating for dinner etc.
Im trying to research EVERYTHING about the cruise, the ship, restaurants, shops, excursions etc etc but im finding it very overwhelming as its our very first cruise.

First we are doing 2 nights at the Hard Rock Hotel Universal, then the 4 night cruise, followed by 8 nights at Old Key West for the parts before flying home, to Ireland that is lol

Cannot wait & so so excited.

 

[moremouse]

Sounds super exciting! You're going to have a such a good time on the cruise.

You can find out pretty much EVERYTHING on this site. Seriously. LOL

Best Wishes!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

What next, read the Navigstors for your type of. Those and book Palo Remy Spa and shore trips at your booking window.

 

[PixieFairies]

Super Super excited How do you mean Navigators? Dont even know what my booking window is

 

[emilyann415]

Since it is your first cruise you will be able to book excursions, adult dining like Palo and Remy at 90 days before you sail. Navigators are the programs that come out each night with all the activities for the next day. There will be TONS of activities, meet and greets with characters, classes, shows, etc. etc. to pick from! You can find the Navigators here sometimes in peoples trip reports and there are lots of other sites that have them posted. You would want to pick the 4 night Navigators to give you a good idea because the 7 night ones will have things not offered to you due to the length of the cruise. I personally find reading the trip reports the MOST beneficial for me on this site. Do you know where those are at the top of the forum? Also, watch youtube videos....some of those are GREAT! You will have a GREAT time!!!!!!!!!!! We have not stayed in that type of room before...always have a verandah....but we are staying in one for a NYE cruise this Dec and I cannot wait. I think my kids will LOVE the window seat in the porthole!!!!!!

 

[Kimberly1]

We had these 2 rooms last year during Spring Break, and I will book them anytime I cruise on the Dream or Fantasy...they were awesome!

 

[ratt1345]

We had these 2 rooms last year during Spring Break, and I will book them anytime I cruise on the Dream or Fantasy...they were awesome!

As Kimberly1 said, those rooms are awesome. DW and I were in 5020 on the Fantasy and 5520 on the Dream. In October 2016, we will be in 5022 on the Fantasy. So much room in those staterooms!!! At first I thought I would not like not having the split bathrooms, but I barely even noticed it. DW and I are not big into the verandas. If we want to experience the outside, we just go down one deck and go on the promenade. Have fun!!!

 

[Dug720]

Interesting - have they reclassified? I wasn't aware that DCL had "minisuites".

Sounds like you'll have a great time though!

 

[CaliGrrl]

They are HA rooms, not mini-suites. They are bigger so a wheelchair can get around in the room. That is also why they have a roll-in shower and not a tub. They should only be booked by people who actually need HA rooms, not by people that just want extra room.

 

[PixieFairies]

They are HA rooms, not mini-suites. They are bigger so a wheelchair can get around in the room. That is also why they have a roll-in shower and not a tub. They should only be booked by people who actually need HA rooms, not by people that just want extra room.

I think you may be mistaken, i have been told by TA that they are not Accessible rooms. These are 5520 & 5522. There is not a roll in shower & they do have a tub. They are category 8A rooms, they are not official suites, however people who have booked them describe them a secret mini-suites. I would never take up an accessible room.

 

[lanejudy]

All of the 8A's are not necessarily HA, maybe half of them. They do seem to be designed similarly but most of them have never officially had the HA designation. I think some people refer to them as a "mini-suite" because of the partial wall divider in some of the rooms.

Since it is your first cruise you will be able to book excursions, adult dining like Palo and Remy at 90 days before you sail.

Unless I've missed something, first-time cruisers do online check-in and advanced booking at 75 days prior to sail date; CC Silver is 90 days.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Bree]

Not all the HA rooms designed for the ship passed requirements. They may have HA features, but are not an official HA room.

 

[Weedy]

FYI: to book excursions, Palo and Remy it's 75 days out for a 1st time cruiser.

• Concierge Guests: 120 days in advance
• Castaway Club Levels:
  • Platinum Castaways: 120 days in advance
  • Gold Castaways: 105 days in advance
  • Silver Castaways: 90 days in advance
  • • First Time Cruiser: 75 days in advance
    
    
    
  • Here is the link
  • http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/ships-activities/ships/dream/dining/palo/

Here is a link to past Navigators (newsletter) that you will receive the 1st day and then in your cabin each day. This will list all the activities happening on the ship. Be sure to take a few minutes to look over this each day.

http://disneycruiselineblog.com/personal-navigators/

the activites won't all be the same but it will give you an idea of what will happen.

Each cruise has a "meet" thread. You can chat with people that will be on your cruise. Here is the link to the Dream 2016 meets thread. The October 31st cruise has not been set up yet. You can wait for someone to start it or request to start it :0

http://www.disboards.com/threads/find-your-2016-dream-cruise-meet-link-here.3345962/

 

[PixieFairies]

I would never have dreamed of taken up a HA room when there was no need for it & other people would need it more than I. We opted for space with 3 little ones & we were advised by TA they were not HA rooms, well those 2 cabins in particular.

 

[PixieFairies]

FYI: to book excursions, Palo and Remy it's 75 days out for a 1st time cruiser.

• Concierge Guests: 120 days in advance
• Castaway Club Levels:
  • Platinum Castaways: 120 days in advance
  • Gold Castaways: 105 days in advance
  • Silver Castaways: 90 days in advance
  • • First Time Cruiser: 75 days in advance
    
    
    
  • Here is the link
  • http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/ships-activities/ships/dream/dining/palo/

Here is a link to past Navigators (newsletter) that you will receive the 1st day and then in your cabin each day. This will list all the activities happening on the ship. Be sure to take a few minutes to look over this each day.

http://disneycruiselineblog.com/personal-navigators/

the activites won't all be the same but it will give you an idea of what will happen.

Each cruise has a "meet" thread. You can chat with people that will be on your cruise. Here is the link to the Dream 2016 meets thread. The October 31st cruise has not been set up yet. You can wait for someone to start it or request to start it :0

http://www.disboards.com/threads/find-your-2016-dream-cruise-meet-link-here.3345962/

Thank you so much for the links and information. Sometimes you feel awful when a newbie to a cruise & feel like asking silly questions lol. But i guess you need to start somewhere x

 

[Quellman]

I didn't realize these rooms were a thing as we discriminate against interior rooms as a rule. But this may be a go to if we can't get a 5e! Have a great trip

 

[PixieFairies]

I didn't realize these rooms were a thing as we discriminate against interior rooms as a rule. But this may be a go to if we can't get a 5e! Have a great trip

Thank you. Apparently these rooms are hard to get & book out on release day, however 4 days after release day they were still available & thats even on a 31 Oct 16 cruise which im hoping will be the Halloween on the High Sea cruise. Cant see how it wouldnt be being it been Halloween on the sail date lol.
But they were easily available. Apparetently there are 4 of these rooms. They are all Category 8A, all on Deck 5, rooms 5018 - 5020 dock side, then 5520 - 5522 starboard side which is what we booked, they are interconnecting, however they dont have a split bathroom, however that is not going to bother us much as we will have 2 bathrooms with the two cabins, plus a big bonus is its right on the same deck as the kids clubs etc so we are not too far if the kids go in there.

 

[PixieFairies]

Just looking at some past navigators, what does it mean when it says Drink of the Day????

 

[Lilybear]

I think you may be mistaken, i have been told by TA that they are not Accessible rooms. These are 5520 & 5522. There is not a roll in shower & they do have a tub. They are category 8A rooms, they are not official suites, however people who have booked them describe them a secret mini-suites. I would never take up an accessible room.

I would love to get an 8A one day! It's my understanding that you are correct, they're not all HA rooms, maybe 5018 and 5518 could be designated as such, due to the open concept and roll-in shower, but the ones you're in have the wall dividing the bedroom area and couch area, so yes, like a "mini-suite"! (From what I've read, that is....)
Enjoy your cruise!!

 

[BlondieinFL]

On the Dream, the 5020,5022,5520,5522 are not HA; they have tubs, and the bathrooms do not seem accessible. But, they are big and awesome with 2 giant porthole windows. We loved them, and have stayed 2x, but since going veranda on our last cruise...............