Disney Dream Review -- May 4-8, 2015

[ilovenyc72]

We were on the May 4-8, 2015 4-night cruise. This was my 15th cruise but my first with Disney. Previously we cruised with Carnival, NCL, Royal Caribbean and Cunard. Was the Disney cruise better than any other cruise line as far as food? No. In some cases, I found food on other cruise lines to be better. Was it better as far as the pools, deck lay-out, etc.? No. Again, I found other cruise lines to have larger pools and much better deck space. But when it came to entertainment and magic, that’s where Disney ranks above everyone else. We had a fantastic time and my nieces (ages 6 & 9) were in awe of meeting so many characters, seeing Tinkerbell fly and seeing it snow in the theater, etc. We all had a fantastic time.

PROS: Everything Disney – from the magic in the shows to the character meet and greets. Also, the ship was beautiful. The beds were SO comfortable – best sleep I’ve had in a while. The kids club was great.

CONS: Pools were too small. Having to leave a key card in the slot by the door to keep your lights on was ridiculous. Never have I encountered any other cruise lines that does that. I also think the gratuities are a little high. Not for adults, but for children. It should be half of what the adults pay (like what other cruise lines do).

All in all, we had a wonderful time. I would definitely cruise Disney again with children because seeing it through their eyes was priceless. But if it was just adults, I would go with another cruise line.

 

[swimfin]

We were on the May 4-8, 2015 4-night cruise. This was my 15th cruise but my first with Disney. Previously we cruised with Carnival, NCL, Royal Caribbean and Cunard. Was the Disney cruise better than any other cruise line as far as food? No. In some cases, I found food on other cruise lines to be better. Was it better as far as the pools, deck lay-out, etc.? No. Again, I found other cruise lines to have larger pools and much better deck space. But when it came to entertainment and magic, that’s where Disney ranks above everyone else. We had a fantastic time and my nieces (ages 6 & 9) were in awe of meeting so many characters, seeing Tinkerbell fly and seeing it snow in the theater, etc. We all had a fantastic time.

PROS: Everything Disney – from the magic in the shows to the character meet and greets. Also, the ship was beautiful. The beds were SO comfortable – best sleep I’ve had in a while. The kids club was great.

CONS: Pools were too small. Having to leave a key card in the slot by the door to keep your lights on was ridiculous. Never have I encountered any other cruise lines that does that. I also think the gratuities are a little high. Not for adults, but for children. It should be half of what the adults pay (like what other cruise lines do).

All in all, we had a wonderful time. I would definitely cruise Disney again with children because seeing it through their eyes was priceless. But if it was just adults, I would go with another cruise line.

When did Tinkerbell fly? We are taking our 1st cruise in June on the Dream ... was Tinkerbell ever part of the Meet and Greets?

 

[kodes]

Just about gratuities - we just went on a short cruise with Princess, and the gratuities were exactly the same for adults as they were for the kids in our stateroom.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Just about gratuities - we just went on a short cruise with Princess, and the gratuities were exactly the same for adults as they were for the kids in our stateroom.

We've been on 4 different lines (including DCL) and the gratuities were the same on all of them. I believe they are pretty much the industry norm. IMO, kids don't require less work (spoken as a mom).

 

[ilovenyc72]

When did Tinkerbell fly? We are taking our 1st cruise in June on the Dream ... was Tinkerbell ever part of the Meet and Greets?

Tinkerbell, not the actress but a cool light, flies over the theater during their show believe. There were one or two opportunities on the ship to meet Tinkerbell, the character. Have fun!!

 

[ilovenyc72]

We've been on 4 different lines (including DCL) and the gratuities were the same on all of them. I believe they are pretty much the industry norm. IMO, kids don't require less work (spoken as a mom).

I appreciate your reply. However, unless things have changed since I went on a cruise withNCL a few years ago, my niece only had to pay five dollars per night. This cruise on the Disney dream is the first one I've taken since then so maybe things have changed…

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I appreciate your reply. However, unless things have changed since I went on a cruise withNCL a few years ago, my niece only had to pay five dollars per night. This cruise on the Disney dream is the first one I've taken since then so maybe things have changed…

We haven't cruised NCL, but, in checking I find that they recently (Feb 2015) raised their daily service charge (gratuities) to $12.95 with children under 3 free. I couldn't find anything about a lesser charge for other children.

 

[iloverags2]

I appreciate your reply. However, unless things have changed since I went on a cruise withNCL a few years ago, my niece only had to pay five dollars per night. This cruise on the Disney dream is the first one I've taken since then so maybe things have changed…

NCL does not charge for children under 3. MSC charges about 1/2 for children. Those are the only two of the mainstream cruise lines which charge lower gratuities for children; otherwise they are the same for both adults and children.

 

[swimfin]

Tinkerbell, not the actress but a cool light, flies over the theater during their show believe. There were one or two opportunities on the ship to meet Tinkerbell, the character. Have fun!!

Thanks for the clarification!!!

 

[js]

Hi. I agree with most of your points. We sail NCL and RCCL and have four cruises booked one each with CCL, DCL, NCL and RCCL. I can tell you all the newer ships you have to leave a card in the slot for the air and lights. That is not new to DCL. I usually keep an old used gift card to bring with us and just keep it in the slot.

NCL raised their gratuties for all guests and extra for Haven, RCCL is raising their gratuties and CCL raising as of June 1.

Glad you had a good time. We are sailing Dream on September 14.

 

[ilovenyc72]

I appreciate your replies and your research. However, as you can see from my cruising history, this isn't my first time at the rodeo and I know what I know. If they've changed their policies, so be it. But up until 2011, gratuities for children were much less.

 

[My2litteprincesses]

Just got off the Dream & thought it was the absolute hands-down best cruise/vacation we have ever been on. Food was great. Service was outstanding. Cleanest ship I have ever stepped foot on.

 

[GreyStr0ke]

Just got off the Dream & thought it was the absolute hands-down best cruise/vacation we have ever been on. Food was great. Service was outstanding. Cleanest ship I have ever stepped foot on.

We must have been on the same sailing and I wholeheartedly agree with everything you said. I've been going crazy wanting to plan another one now.

 

[My2litteprincesses]

GrayStr0ke-- we did!! Booked for next May on the Fantasy for a 7-day! Booked while we were onboard the Dream! We couldn't help ourselves!

A note on gratuities: the CM's earn every.single.cent of what they receive.
We have sailed Royal & Carnival multiple times, and while I'm still a Royal fan, nothing can compare to Disney. Worth every dime!

 

[jpeppers]

The card thing for the lights is kind of obnoxious but just hold onto your key from your last cruise and use it on the next or any card will work. We were even given one in our fish extender gifts, a great idea! The room host would usually pull it out when they came in the room and no one was present but I didn't care.

 

[Joshuy]

having not been on a cruise since I was a little kid and going on a disney cruise this summer (on the Dream I think), what's annoying about putting your key in the slot when you're in your room? Just curious. I suspect it will keep me from losing it, although my little one may keep taking it out now that I think about it. Will a driver's license work or any plastic thing?

 

[Dug720]

having not been on a cruise since I was a little kid and going on a disney cruise this summer (on the Dream I think), what's annoying about putting your key in the slot when you're in your room? Just curious. I suspect it will keep me from losing it, although my little one may keep taking it out now that I think about it. Will a driver's license work or any plastic thing?

I use the key card from my hotel the night before and it's no problem. We actually used a heavy card-stock business card once and it was fine. Yes, your stateroom host might slip it up so that it's not using power, but it's a simple matter of pushing it back down a few millimeters to have lights again.

I think most of the people who find it "annoying" are the ones who think they must use their KTTW card so they'd have to remove it from the lanyard or whatever.

 

[Four Swampers]

having not been on a cruise since I was a little kid and going on a disney cruise this summer (on the Dream I think), what's annoying about putting your key in the slot when you're in your room? Just curious. I suspect it will keep me from losing it, although my little one may keep taking it out now that I think about it. Will a driver's license work or any plastic thing?

What we found annoying was swapping cards. So I would put in mine, then I would want to leave, but others would stay. Then a 30 second hunt for someone else's card, then swap the cards. Not a life changing event, but a mild nuisance when I just want to leave the room. I will definitely be using a hotel card from now on. Happy to move it up to turn off the power to the room.

 

[SwimMom2]

The card tip is a good idea. Will any sort of card work that fits in the slot.

2lityleprincesses, I am SO glad to hear that the ship was very clean.

 

[Flossbolna]

The card tip is a good idea. Will any sort of card work that fits in the slot.

2lityleprincesses, I am SO glad to hear that the ship was very clean.

Anything that is the size of a credit card. It is just a mechanical switch.

My travel agent gave us a used WDW ticket with a stripe of magnetic tape on the back to use for this purpose. Withe the magnetic tape, we could take it out and just attach it to the wall when we were not in the room. The walls are mettalic, so magnets will stick to it.