Dream special rooms - now that we see the pictures! ** Index now in Post 7 **

[HallsofVA]

Please advise 5528....I know the level itself will be busy...do you think it will be bearable?

The positive is that it'll have the larger verandah as most other 5E verandahs will have. The negative is it's location, and possibly that it's a connecting room depending on your needs or preference. I'm not as concerned about what's on Deck 5 itself as to what is below it. 5528 is directly above the Walt Disney Theatre Balcony, and I'm not sure how much soundproofing separates you from the actual theatre. Hopefully they've added quite a bit.

On the Magic/Wonder, they didn't really break out the "balcony" level, so I don't know what difference that will make. You can read the room reports from the forward Deck 5 rooms on those ships. I think some of the most common reports were noises from the theatre during nap times as they rehearsed the stage shows, and of course from the actual performance if you went to bed early. On the Magic/Wonder, the shows generally went until 9:30pm, except on nights they had adult or other entertainment in the theatre (which they did on the WBTA, but that may have been because there were so many adults on board.) On the Dream, the 3rd show goes from 9-10pm, so a little bit later.

Honestly, there are so many rooms on the ship that have positives and negatives, and your perception of which is which depends on what's important to you or what you prefer. On our August cruise, we have friends travelling with us. At the time they booked, the cheapest connecting rooms they could find were two of the square 8A rooms on Deck 5. Do they really want to be above the WDT? No, not really. Did they want to pay more for connecting verandah rooms in another location? No, not at all. So they opted for the *potential* disruption of Deck 5 (since no one had sailed there yet) instead of paying more for another location or category. [Bonus since booking - we found out that each of their rooms has 2 large portholes, so they'll have 4 large portholes across their connecting rooms! Again, positive vs negative, and the positives won them over.]

 

[hdmeza]

Thanks, I switched from 5524..with the terrible obstruction...blah..
I am hoping the theater wont be such a proble as we are main seating and last showing. Our DD will be 8 then and naps aren't mucha part of life, so I think we'll manage. I kinda like the idea of being on the kids club levels, don't have to travel far..

but do you think it may be a problem w/ kids and teens roaming the halls and FE's/ Magnets dissapearing?

Can't thank you enough for all your advise in wealth of information!

LARGER VERANDAH???????

 

[HallsofVA]

LARGER VERANDAH???????

You might be able to search this thread for the discussion of the Deck 5 verandahs (or 5E verandahs). Might be somewhere around page 18 or 19. But if you go back to the first page or any picture where you see a picture of the Dream from the front or back, you'll see that she has very wide "hips" as I like to say. She is much wider from Deck 4 down than she is on decks 5 through 10. In the original artist renderings, they had the Deck 5 verandahs being the same depth as the rest of the verandahs. But that would have made them extra sucky, since you would see only the large white space of the ship's hips if you tried to look out and down from your verandah. As construction evolved, we realized they decked out the top of the hips rather than leaving them unusable, and as they erected the verandah railings, they extended them all the way out to the edge of the hips.

So most of the 5E rooms (except for the far forward room on either side) have verandahs that extend out further than the regular verandahs. The positive is you get a bunch of extra verandah room. The negative is that room is visible to everyone above you on Deck 10 - 6, and it's also visible to the sun and weather elements. You also can't see down to the water while sitting on the verandah just outside the door. You'll have to move your chair out to the edge to see down.

You can see the extra space best from aerial or overhead shots of the Dream. You can also see people standing in the extra space on the video from the Wonder as she passed the Dream on 1/6/11. (I think that's the video, don't shoot me if it's the horn battle video or some other video from the past week - there have been so many.) This is an older shot, before they finished all of the verandah railings on Deck 5, but you can clearly see the expanded space for those verandahs:

 

[HallsofVA]

Thanks, I switched from 5524..with the terrible obstruction...blah..
I am hoping the theater wont be such a proble as we are main seating and last showing. Our DD will be 8 then and naps aren't mucha part of life, so I think we'll manage. I kinda like the idea of being on the kids club levels, don't have to travel far..

but do you think it may be a problem w/ kids and teens roaming the halls and FE's/ Magnets dissapearing?

Can't thank you enough for all your advise in wealth of information!

Sounds like the room will work out well for you then, since you won't be there for the last show anyway!

As for the FE's, we always bring a ziptie to secure them to the holder to keep them from being stolen, plus ours has our name on it. We empty our FE everytime we see something in it, to reduce the risk that stuff walks away.

As to the magnets, I generally make sure each magnet has our name on it as well, which makes it easy to find if it ends up on someone else's door. Mischief happens, regardless of which deck you are on.

 

[hdmeza]

Again a million thanks...I feel pretty confident in our choices now! That larger verandah will be nice.

On a side note..I heard tale that they are changing the smoking policy to NOT included verandahs..since that is the ONLY place DH will smoke (he refuses to smoke outdoors around children including our own) that may be a scary prospect for him...he really tries to respect others and keep his vice his own...hmmmm

 

[HallsofVA]

While I agree with HallsofVA, I'd like to add that from what I'm seeing, those Deck 5 Verandahs look to be very large. Kind of a trade off. Location may be noisy and some don't like the fact that the verandah's above will have a partial view of yours in return you get some room to spread out in.

Good point about the extra verandah space. But I still wouldn't book them!!

This ship is one big trade-off if you spend too much time looking at every room in detail!! I think we could come up with a list of pluses and minues for every room, but our lists would probably be different depending on where we're coming from. As someone with young kids, I haven't found many Deck 5 rooms that I'd be willing to book, since they are all located above venues that can be loud, and continue (or start) late into the night when we're already in bed trying to sleep.

If I was going to book something on Deck 5, though, my first choices would be rooms 5546 or 5046 since they are non-connecting rooms located above the theatre restrooms, followed by any other rooms located right across from the forward elevators or stairs (5046 - 5052 and 5546 - 5552). Third, I'd opt for the ones above the Walt Disney Theatre since it generally has scheduled performances that don't extend too late into the evening. Other than via a free upgrade, I don't see me in the aft 5E verandah rooms any time soon!

 

[wltdsnyfan]

Wow Thanks for doing this! IT is great.

 

[Silverfox97]

Good point about the extra verandah space. But I still wouldn't book them!!

This ship is one big trade-off if you spend too much time looking at every room in detail!! I think we could come up with a list of pluses and minues for every room, but our lists would probably be different depending on where we're coming from. As someone with young kids, I haven't found many Deck 5 rooms that I'd be willing to book, since they are all located above venues that can be loud, and continue (or start) late into the night when we're already in bed trying to sleep.

If I was going to book something on Deck 5, though, my first choices would be rooms 5546 or 5046 since they are non-connecting rooms located above the theatre restrooms, followed by any other rooms located right across from the forward elevators or stairs (5046 - 5052 and 5546 - 5552). Third, I'd opt for the ones above the Walt Disney Theatre since it generally has scheduled performances that don't extend too late into the evening. Other than via a free upgrade, I don't see me in the aft 5E verandah rooms any time soon!

I am going to have our TA put a "Do not Upgrade" on our 6A room! We do this when we book 6634 on the Magic/Wonder, too. Sure, they might consider moving us up a Cat an upgrade, but with a small child, I would not be happy to get moved to a noisy room, just because it's a higher cat.

Seriously, things like this make me so thankful for the DIS. This thread is so helpful. I was originally so excited for the 5E rooms - cheapest plexiglass verandahs, more verandah space, and aft. After they were analyzed with a fine toothed comb, we decided against the 5E rooms, and are thrilled with our choice. After our experience in our room on the Magic this last cruise, I am being extra careful from here on out!

 

[robin09]

Phew! I thought that is what it looked like on the 1st post (I saved your pic to a folder on my desktop to use when looking for rooms!), but the more recent pics looked different. 9674 was the only back aft room left, except for the deck 10 rooms, which I wanted to avoid. Room choice is important to me. I can tell you, we were in 2628 on the Magic (booked 11C, were upgraded to 9C) and we were not fans at all. Noisy, noisy, noisy (will write a stateroom report for sure). Would've rather had an inside stateroom on a higher, quieter deck. Can't wait to get back to higher decks and verandahs!!! (Wasn't going to pay for a verandah for a Jan cruise -- good thing we didn't, it was cold!!).

Thanks for your input as always!!
~Emily

I didn't think about the weather..thought of it as always warm? DUH... I booked a FEB 2012 cruise on the Dream with a verandah... Should I not of? I hate being new at things...

 

[princess stich]

I personally wouldn't book those rooms because they are located above the night clubs, specifically Pink. While the entire room isn't directly over Pink, I have to imagine at least a portion of the room will be directly over the club.

While I agree with HallsofVA, I'd like to add that from what I'm seeing, those Deck 5 Verandahs look to be very large. Kind of a trade off. Location may be noisy and some don't like the fact that the verandah's above will have a partial view of yours in return you get some room to spread out in.

Good point about the extra verandah space. But I still wouldn't book them!!

This ship is one big trade-off if you spend too much time looking at every room in detail!! I think we could come up with a list of pluses and minues for every room, but our lists would probably be different depending on where we're coming from. As someone with young kids, I haven't found many Deck 5 rooms that I'd be willing to book, since they are all located above venues that can be loud, and continue (or start) late into the night when we're already in bed trying to sleep.

If I was going to book something on Deck 5, though, my first choices would be rooms 5546 or 5046 since they are non-connecting rooms located above the theatre restrooms, followed by any other rooms located right across from the forward elevators or stairs (5046 - 5052 and 5546 - 5552). Third, I'd opt for the ones above the Walt Disney Theatre since it generally has scheduled performances that don't extend too late into the evening. Other than via a free upgrade, I don't see me in the aft 5E verandah rooms any time soon!

Thanks for all of the info! We currently have 5656 booked but have decided not to chance it with the noise. We are thinking about changing it to an Aft balcony- specifically 8188 or 7690. Will we be able to see over the white wall while we are sitting? Does anyone have any thoughts on these rooms?

 

[dsnydaddy]

If I was going to book something on Deck 5, though, my first choices would be rooms 5546 or 5046

I like the way you think. 5546 is the room that I picked for our 4 night cruise. For the exact same reasons that you quoted.

 

[ibouncetoo]

Here's the video of the Dream taken from the Wonder as she passed by. About 1:50 into it you can see people on their deck 5 verandah.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4F-ebnFvMo

.

 

[princess stich]

I like the way you think. 5546 is the room that I picked for our 4 night cruise. For the exact same reasons that you quoted.

We are considering this room now as well. So many choices!

 

[dsnydaddy]

That was a great video. I saw the version of it taken from the shore. This one was so much better. Thanks.

 

[HallsofVA]

You can also see people standing in the extra space on the video from the Wonder as she passed the Dream on 1/6/11. (I think that's the video, don't shoot me if it's the horn battle video or some other video from the past week - there have been so many.)

Here's the video of the Dream taken from the Wonder as she passed by. About 1:50 into it you can see people on their deck 5 verandah.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4F-ebnFvMo

Whew! Glad to know I was remembering things correctly!!

Thanks for all of the info! We currently have 5656 booked but have decided not to chance it with the noise. We are thinking about changing it to an Aft balcony- specifically 8188 or 7690. Will we be able to see over the white wall while we are sitting? Does anyone have any thoughts on these rooms?

I think it was in response to Silverfox's post recently where I reminded folks that the metal wall on the Dream aft verandahs is only shin or knee height on an adult. Look back at the very first picture posted in Post #1, and you see people standing on the verandahs. You can see their knees. If you look back at the recent aft picture posted (think it's in my same post to SFox but very recent) you can see chairs on deck 5. I think you may be looking through the plexiglass when seated, depending on how tall you are, but it's nothing like the metal wall on the Magic/Wonder. Lots of folks have booked these rooms, and I'd book them if I was booking an aft room. I might prefer the deck 8 room over the deck 7, just because deck 7 gets a little close to the flag that is flown when the ship is in port.

I didn't think about the weather..thought of it as always warm? DUH... I booked a FEB 2012 cruise on the Dream with a verandah... Should I not of? I hate being new at things...

It depends on what you plan to use your verandah for. I've sailed in verandah rooms 3 times on Caribbean cruises in December. Only on our 3rd cruise, which was the 3rd week of December, was it perhaps too cold to spend time out on the verandah when the ship was moving. But that was true for much of the cruise, when they also closed the Deck 4 promenade lounge because of high winds. We had no problems going out there when in port. However, the bahamas ports tend to be somewhat cooler, I just can't speak to the temp in February. We cruised the Wonder in January 2010, and it was 65 degrees in Nassau the day we were there, with a sharp, cold wind. We didn't have a verandah on that cruise, and wouldn't have used it anyway, since it was about 30 degrees when we left Port Canaveral.

Personally, after cruising 3 times in suites with extra large verandahs (from upgrading at the port), we realized we didn't use the verandah enough to really warrant paying much extra for it. Especially on shorter cruises of less than 7 nights. So we generally book oceanview rooms these days unless we get a deal on a verandah (on the WBTA, we ended up booking a verandah after originally booking an oceanview and then inside room, because we switched to the military rates which made the verandah $900 cheaper than the inside we had booked.) But it depends on your personal preference, and when you will be using it.

 

[Silverfox97]

I didn't think about the weather..thought of it as always warm? DUH... I booked a FEB 2012 cruise on the Dream with a verandah... Should I not of? I hate being new at things...

As far as weather goes, we just got off the Jan 3-8 double dip to Castaway Cay on the Magic. Here's my schtick: (Keep in mind we live in Florida, and we don't do Nassau.)

OK, first day at CC, DH and I didn't even wear our swimsuits. DD did, and we let her play in the sand, and she had a great time while we took turns playing with her and resting in the hammock. We went to Cookies for lunch, then back for a nap. DH went to the shore twice to get her an sand bucket full of water, and reaffirmed that it was COLD. There were not a lot of people swimming, compared to Aug when the beach was empty, because everyone was swimming.

Nassau day DD spent 2 hrs in the Mickey pool. I went with her, and it was OK - cool when you get out. I did go into the hot tub to warm up, but it was windy on deck.

The 2nd CC day it was straight out COLD, but the wind was the main contributer to that. There was a cold front coming in, and you could tell. This time, we all had pants on. We went with DD into Scuttle's Cove as Visitors and played in the Whale dig area, which was fun until lunch. It was cold eating lunch, but after, back to the ship for naptime, so we weren't affected by the early departure of 3pm to avoid the string of strong t-storms coming.

Sea day was also cold, but we avoid the pools anyways due to the crowds (Nassau day is our "sea day".) That wind was 30 knots and it was whipping across deck.

I didn't expect warmth, though, and that is why we didn't pay extra for a verandah. I used the verandah in Aug., and booked one for Oct., and June 2012. Winter months, I say save our $$$. Just my opinion

Sorry to go off topic on the thread - just wanted to answer the question

 

[amandaw]

For all of the cruise experts on here, especially those that know a lot about the Dream, do you have any opinion (good or bad) about stateroom #6190. Thanks!

 

[Debbru]

For all of the cruise experts on here, especially those that know a lot about the Dream, do you have any opinion (good or bad) about stateroom #6190. Thanks!

I'll let you know after the Maiden Voyage - we are in 5192 - should be pretty much the same experience as your room.

 

[amandaw]

I'll let you know after the Maiden Voyage - we are in 5192 - should be pretty much the same experience as your room.

Great! Thank you so much & have a wonderful time on your cruise!

 

[Piecey]

If I was going to book something on Deck 5, though, my first choices would be rooms 5546 or 5046 since they are non-connecting rooms located above the theatre restrooms, followed by any other rooms located right across from the forward elevators or stairs (5046 - 5052 and 5546 - 5552). Third, I'd opt for the ones above the Walt Disney Theatre since it generally has scheduled performances that don't extend too late into the evening. Other than via a free upgrade, I don't see me in the aft 5E verandah rooms any time soon!

I like the way you think. 5546 is the room that I picked for our 4 night cruise. For the exact same reasons that you quoted.

We're sailing the Fantasy (identical I hope, after I've spent all this time pouring over this thread!) in 5546.

I'm glad that everyone else drew the same conclusions I did. I was shocked at the lack of connecting staterooms on this ship!

I hope 5546 is a good room. Can't wait to hear people report back... we'll have 2 little ones that will be taking afternoon naps.