Fantasy dry dock changes like the Dream?

[Enicole414]

Honestly, as much as we've always loved it (and the parks), it hurts to think my kids club experience was altered for someone who would spend $30k on just a suite, not even the whole vacation, like it's nothing. That just doesn't feel right. The getting up at midnight to rush online and try to book stuff, the whole scarcity thing and being at parks staring at your phone for Genie+, it's all getting to be too much. Being on FB groups where people who have finally scraped together enough for a DCL cruise are trying to figure out how to get a shot at a BBB appt for their little girl, and people who have 15+cruises under their belt and have kids who get to do that every year are like, "Maybe someone will cancel and you can get an appt." It just feels....wrong.

It’s how they keep you coming back. As your castaway club status rises, so do your chances of booking the experiences that led you to DCL in the first place. They don’t want to be a one-and-done destination. Smart business move. Sad for those who don’t have the means to be returning customers.

 

[nmoody1]

I'll sorry, but if anyone is offended by a company that is willing to nickel and dime most things, modern day Disney is not for you.

However, I will say we have never chosen to cruise concierge, but I'm.not going to say my vacation is ruined because I didn't get a Cabana.

It seems that modern parents "NEED" their kids to have every single experience. It's maybe a lesson to take away that you can't always have everything in life, but you can still have a great time with your family, even without being made over as a princess or sitting in a cabana on Castaway Cay.

Yes - it would be nice, but it's not always achievable. Is it fair? Probably not, but hey - Dosney is all about the $$$ unfortunately.

However, what i will say is I cruised Disney in the early days and I've sailed with Virgin Voyages more recently - whilst some things are bookable in advance, they keep a good 50%+ of space to book onboard on a first come, first served basis. I think this would be a fairer thing for Disney to do as it levels the playing field. Sadly though, as they seem hell bent on extending premium rooms, it's unlikely.

And whilst I will never ever be able to afford (or want) to pay for a cruise stateroom for 7 days what i would pay for a car that lasts me years, I kind of feel they deserve to have the very best experience - they've paid for it! I don't expect to get entry ti a first class airport lounge when I fly coach. I don't expect to receive lemonade when I order champagne.

Sadly, that's life folks.

 

[MaidMarian444]

Just want to add that we sailed DCL for the first time last June - 5 night western Caribbean cruise on the Magic. And we were able to reserve brunch at Palo for 4 people on the second at-sea day. And the ship was full!

We’re interested in doing our next cruise on the Dream, I’ll keep an eye out for reviews of the new Edge/Vibe

 

[Mickey'sTown]

We are on the 10-day Southern Cruise July 2026.
DCL just changed on of our cabins (family Oceam View with Veranda) on deck 10 to further aft. According to Disney the refurbishment from the dry dock will not be completed by Jull 2026.
So it seems obvious that many of the deck 10 cabins will be converted to Concierge! Sometime after July 2026

 

[mpetersen]

As a middle school teacher and mama, it bugs me that Disney is shrinking offerings for the 10+crowd. This group (10-13ish) NEED spaces and some structured activities to keep them engaged. We had some minor issues on our last cruise during downtimes (not disneys fault or parents) especially on the sports court and it’s only speaks to the age group needing clubs with programming, just like the littles. Instead they’re being glossed over.

 

[Sydnerella]

We are on the 10-day Southern Cruise July 2026.
DCL just changed on of our cabins (family Oceam View with Veranda) on deck 10 to further aft. According to Disney the refurbishment from the dry dock will not be completed by Jull 2026.
So it seems obvious that many of the deck 10 cabins will be converted to Concierge! Sometime after July 2026

First, I didn’t know that they were expanding concierge cabins with dry dock, just knew about the concierge pool deck area expansion by satellite Falls. I’m sure I can find that out on one of the million Disney vlogger websites.

Hmmm - your thinking/post is strange to me since Fantasy Dry Dock is happening in Fall 2025. I would assume that any planned Concierge room conversions happen at that time.

But it seems strange only one of your cabins was relocated - assuming that they were all right next to or near each other on Deck 10? Why would only one change unless it was literally on the line of where a Concierge expansion starts?

I would check the deck plans for the Dream to see your cabins relative to their Concierge. Look to see if that previous cabin number (relocated to aft) is in Concierge or missing now. The DD changes should be comparable.

 

[ilovebassets]

As a middle school teacher and mama, it bugs me that Disney is shrinking offerings for the 10+crowd. This group (10-13ish) NEED spaces and some structured activities to keep them engaged. We had some minor issues on our last cruise during downtimes (not disneys fault or parents) especially on the sports court and it’s only speaks to the age group needing clubs with programming, just like the littles. Instead they’re being glossed over.

It also seems very shortsighted to me. Kids grow up. They don't stay under 10 forever. If they're unhappy as soon as they age out of the kids clubs, families will just pivot to other cruise lines--which is exactly what we've started doing. Our next two cruises are booked on Norwegian in the Haven. Because I could pay $18k to go to Alaska on DCL for 7 nights with 3 ports in a 250 sq ft cabin for a family of 5. Or we could pay $20k to go to Alaska on NCL for 10 nights with 6 ports in a 500 sq ft cabin in the Haven. The only reason to pick DCL is better kids clubs (that my older kids are aging out of as tweens and teens) and that intangible Disney feel.

We have one more Disney cruise booked with only our youngest child while the older ones are at sleepaway camp this summer. For three people (including one younger child), it seems worth it. For five people including two older children who clearly aren't the target audience of DCL anymore....no.

 

[Mickey'sTown]

First, I didn’t know that they were expanding concierge cabins with dry dock, just knew about the concierge pool deck area expansion by satellite Falls. I’m sure I can find that out on one of the million Disney vlogger websites.

Hmmm - your thinking/post is strange to me since Fantasy Dry Dock is happening in Fall 2025. I would assume that any planned Concierge room conversions happen at that time.

But it seems strange only one of your cabins was relocated - assuming that they were all right next to or near each other on Deck 10? Why would only one change unless it was literally on the line of where a Concierge expansion starts?

I would check the deck plans for the Dream to see your cabins relative to their Concierge. Look to see if that previous cabin number (relocated to aft) is in Concierge or missing now. The DD changes should be comparable.

The one that was relocated was not (currently) a Concierge cabin. Out Concierge stayed. Their Family Oceanview with Veranda changed. It appears that a number of cabins on deck 10 are changing. But they will not be finished with the work by the time of our cruise.
We were on the Magic years ago, a Transatlantic, when they were still working on the cabins. Ship was pretty empty of paying passengers

 

[Sydnerella]

Does the Spa Smoothie bar go away with dry dock?

 

[Mickey'sTown]

Don'r know. We are on the Fantasy in April. Magic and Treasure in July