Greetings all...
We just got off the Dream a week ago today. Our family was on the Dream's 1st 5 Day Double Dip May 29-June3 and it was fabulous. While on board, we booked the May 26th Fantasy so we could go again. This cruise was almost sold out when we booked with only a handful of rooms to choose from.
At cruise time next year...
Our 5th Disney Cruise: Wonder 2005, Magic 2007 & 2009, Dream 2011 & Fantasy 2012
DH, DW, DD16, DD11
Cat 4C
Main Dining, Late Show
Just a few quick notes from the Dream:
Stayed at the Hyatt pre-cruise - this is great/convenient and the only way for us. Checked in at MCO and received Boarding #3/2nd bus. We could have had Boarding #2/Bus #1, but the CM had printing issues that delayed us about 20 minutes waiting at the desk. The new shows were just outstanding and we loved them all. Even the Golden Mickey's was updated with new material that was fun. Ship, rooms, kids/adult areas, restaurant areas were all beautiful. Palo's was wonderful as usual, but only half full. Our server told us that they have trouble filling it on these shorter cruises since people want to try all 3 rotation dining rooms. No issues with elevator waits except the last morning which is expected.
The only ship negatives we experienced were pools crowding/chair hogging (nothing new and it was Memorial Day week) and Cabanas. We liked the food and facility well enough, but whoever designed the layout so that you have to go through Cabanas...where everyone is getting their food and eating, just to go from the elevators/stairs to the pool/deck area was just crazy. It was congested and the CM's were always trying to hand you hand sanitizing clothes for your meal when all you wanted to do was walk to get a drink at the drink stations. People were also confused about whether you waited in line "buffet style" or jumped in and got what you wanted "food station" style. CM's kept telling people to jump in, it's not cutting, they want no lines. The design of the elevators and the adult area was the same way. Tons of kids walking through since they had no choice if they wanted to get from the elevators to the deck. We are hoping they fix this design flaw in the Fantasy since they have already announced other design differences between the sister ships. Maybe they won't be exactly the same.
It could have been the difference in a 7 day to the 5 day we took this time, but there didn't seem to be as many family and adult activities in the evening as normal beween and after the shows. Also, the cruise entertainment staff on the pool decks just didn't seem as good and energetic as in the past cruises either. I have great past memories of my kids learning lots of dance songs and moves they learned on deck...those song words that immediately make you think of your cruise and how much fun it was...Let's Get It Started.... I can't remember any of that from this cruise. Maybe they were just new and learning the ropes.
LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the new round bathtub design, bed/bedding and the raised beds in the stateroom. We had plenty of storage to spare. I brought my over the door shoe rack for the bath room, but left the 2nd one that I use for shoes at home. Glad I did since the closet had PLENTY of room for shoes on the lower shelves. Loved the new Shutter "book case" design. This made it so easy to review our photos at the end of the trip. LOVED the Aquaduck. We all road it many times. We had chocolate covered strawberries every single day from the cafes. They were my DD's favorite treat on board. DD15 LOVED Vibe. She spent a lot of time there in the afternoons and after the show. DD10 had a great time in the Lab/Club too.
Our only real personal bummer was that my DD15 lost her SD card for her camera on the morning we left. We had requested a 6 am wakeup call from Guest Services (we couldn't figure out how to set the alarm clock) and we received no call. They said sometimes it just doesn't seem to work and they don't know why. My husband woke up at 6:30 on his own and we jammed to get dressed and out the door by 6:45 for breakfast. DD15 swapped out her full card the previous night since it had over 1000 pictures on it from our week in Orlando and the 5 night cruise. In her rush to get back to Vibe in a hurry, she failed to be responsible and put it in my camera case. The next morning in our rush, it must have fallen on the floor when we were throwing the remaining items in carryon bags. I called Disney Lost & Found later that day when she realized it was missing, but no luck yet.
Lesson Learned - figure out a way to put ID on the SD cards JIC
Overall, a fabulous trip and we just loved the new ship design changes. She is just beautiful. If anyone has any questions, I would be happy to answer if I can. Looking forward to the Fantasy and a longer cruise.
We just got off the Dream a week ago today. Our family was on the Dream's 1st 5 Day Double Dip May 29-June3 and it was fabulous. While on board, we booked the May 26th Fantasy so we could go again. This cruise was almost sold out when we booked with only a handful of rooms to choose from.
At cruise time next year...
Our 5th Disney Cruise: Wonder 2005, Magic 2007 & 2009, Dream 2011 & Fantasy 2012
DH, DW, DD16, DD11
Cat 4C
Main Dining, Late Show
Just a few quick notes from the Dream:
Stayed at the Hyatt pre-cruise - this is great/convenient and the only way for us. Checked in at MCO and received Boarding #3/2nd bus. We could have had Boarding #2/Bus #1, but the CM had printing issues that delayed us about 20 minutes waiting at the desk. The new shows were just outstanding and we loved them all. Even the Golden Mickey's was updated with new material that was fun. Ship, rooms, kids/adult areas, restaurant areas were all beautiful. Palo's was wonderful as usual, but only half full. Our server told us that they have trouble filling it on these shorter cruises since people want to try all 3 rotation dining rooms. No issues with elevator waits except the last morning which is expected.
The only ship negatives we experienced were pools crowding/chair hogging (nothing new and it was Memorial Day week) and Cabanas. We liked the food and facility well enough, but whoever designed the layout so that you have to go through Cabanas...where everyone is getting their food and eating, just to go from the elevators/stairs to the pool/deck area was just crazy. It was congested and the CM's were always trying to hand you hand sanitizing clothes for your meal when all you wanted to do was walk to get a drink at the drink stations. People were also confused about whether you waited in line "buffet style" or jumped in and got what you wanted "food station" style. CM's kept telling people to jump in, it's not cutting, they want no lines. The design of the elevators and the adult area was the same way. Tons of kids walking through since they had no choice if they wanted to get from the elevators to the deck. We are hoping they fix this design flaw in the Fantasy since they have already announced other design differences between the sister ships. Maybe they won't be exactly the same.
It could have been the difference in a 7 day to the 5 day we took this time, but there didn't seem to be as many family and adult activities in the evening as normal beween and after the shows. Also, the cruise entertainment staff on the pool decks just didn't seem as good and energetic as in the past cruises either. I have great past memories of my kids learning lots of dance songs and moves they learned on deck...those song words that immediately make you think of your cruise and how much fun it was...Let's Get It Started.... I can't remember any of that from this cruise. Maybe they were just new and learning the ropes.
LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the new round bathtub design, bed/bedding and the raised beds in the stateroom. We had plenty of storage to spare. I brought my over the door shoe rack for the bath room, but left the 2nd one that I use for shoes at home. Glad I did since the closet had PLENTY of room for shoes on the lower shelves. Loved the new Shutter "book case" design. This made it so easy to review our photos at the end of the trip. LOVED the Aquaduck. We all road it many times. We had chocolate covered strawberries every single day from the cafes. They were my DD's favorite treat on board. DD15 LOVED Vibe. She spent a lot of time there in the afternoons and after the show. DD10 had a great time in the Lab/Club too.
Our only real personal bummer was that my DD15 lost her SD card for her camera on the morning we left. We had requested a 6 am wakeup call from Guest Services (we couldn't figure out how to set the alarm clock) and we received no call. They said sometimes it just doesn't seem to work and they don't know why. My husband woke up at 6:30 on his own and we jammed to get dressed and out the door by 6:45 for breakfast. DD15 swapped out her full card the previous night since it had over 1000 pictures on it from our week in Orlando and the 5 night cruise. In her rush to get back to Vibe in a hurry, she failed to be responsible and put it in my camera case. The next morning in our rush, it must have fallen on the floor when we were throwing the remaining items in carryon bags. I called Disney Lost & Found later that day when she realized it was missing, but no luck yet.
Lesson Learned - figure out a way to put ID on the SD cards JIC
Overall, a fabulous trip and we just loved the new ship design changes. She is just beautiful. If anyone has any questions, I would be happy to answer if I can. Looking forward to the Fantasy and a longer cruise.
and maybe even meet you for lunch. 
that I did not have HIS BC, I shot him a look that said, "Keep your mouth shut!!!". By the divine power of God
, the CM did not hear him NOR see my name on both BC's! She only felt for the raised seals on both of them! We went ahead onto the ship in panic mode. In the process our DS-10 lost one of his shoes on the ship somewhere (and never found it). We spoke with some DISers at our Welcome Aboard party, and they told us DH would need his BC again when we got to St. Thomas. We had to call my DSIL before we left port to have her find his BC and ship it to St. Maarten in hopes that it would reach us in time. UPS said they couldn't do it, but luckily FEDEX said they could. DH, naturally, was a nervous wreck for 3 days! We didn't tell Disney what we were waiting for, but they knew we needed a package and said it would be no problem. In the mean time, I got sick the 1st night with a sinus infection
(probably made worse by stress!
) and had to pay $100 to see the MD/Nurse for $2 worth of antibiotics-the only meds I DIDN'T bring with me! On the day we got to St. Maarten, our catamaran excursion was cancelled due to high winds. We checked with Guest Services about the package around lunch time and they said our package was on the island. However when we asked before dinner about the package, they said, "What package?". Can you say 
Obviously this was a new CM and they had no clue. Then they told us it was on the FEDEX truck and would not make it to the ship on time! We went to dinner totally depressed thinking DH was going to be put out on St. Thomas and have to fly home or who knows what! But once again by the grace of God
, a CM brought us the package at our dinner table! 
Can you say, "Drink of the Day"...I did!!!. 
This was Monday night. On Wednesday we arrived at St. Thomas with all of our BC's! We had a great snorkeling excursion on a pirate ship...but I got stung by fire coral and our DS-10 had a bad time with snorkeling. But my DH and I had a great time...and too much to drink! We ended up losing one of our DDs shoes and buying 2 of the same shirt! 
The next day was at sea. There was a seafood buffet and my DH enjoyed it thoroughly. We rested and then went to Palo and had a big deliciously rich dinner. At 1am I was awakened by loud wretching. Guess who? And severe diarrhea. He ended up with a temp of 101 from dehydration. 
We had docked at 
. She didn't make her flight home, though, because of health complications...she ended up in our local hospital and is going to be there for at least another week, poor thing. So I'm visiting her with my DH and/or with the kids at least once a day, many times twice a day. Meanwhile, we packed out our household goods in the two days right before we flew out for our cruise, so we are using loaner furniture until we fly to the states next month. Hoping to get MIL safely home and our dog safely to our new home stateside. 
At least we're already booked!
