No Lie Disney Dream Review

[rutgers1]

Is it against this site's terms of services for the OP to promote his blogs in his posts? I would think that it would not be good for the company that owns disboards, as they operate on ad revenue and allowing someone to post links to their own stuff is a disincentive for other companies to pay for the right to do likewise. I run several rather large websites, and I would never allow someone to include links to their blogs for free for the reasons stated above.

 

[TECHJPM]

Another brilliant read I would guess....
Read before rambling...
I WAS on the 10th cruise and the 14th cruise. I just checked into a hotel in Orlando and was going through everything. The original posting was published to the web on the 13th. I posted it here today after listening to other people telling me their opinion. I am not grinding an axe. Maybe you do that often, but I am a person that has learned more and more about Disney over the years, and want others to know about the ship before they get on. (Hence these are forums, and I can do such informative postings.)

Dear OP,

I'm not addressing any one particular post as you have provided too much fodder for me to sort out. I think I will sum this up noting MJ's post that most people on these boards are just folks looking to have a great vacation, and most of the posts are simply from those who have been on board and are offering advice.

While you claim to be offering unbiased reviews, I have to wonder about your intentions as you claim to be currently on board the Dream, yet have posted 13 times since she was scheduled to set sail. It seems to me you have an axe to grind as most people would be intent on having fun rather that disparaging other folks on a forum. For God's sake, go enjoy yourself, you're on VACATION.

Kind Regards

 

[mmouse37]

Buckeye Goofy has already posted that they were in error on that point...many posts back.

MJ

 

[jmpurdy]

It is very typical for a defensive smoker to point in the direction of drinking and why don't drinkers suffer the same stigma as smokers. This is a tactic that was used extensively when I spearheaded a no-smoking policy for restaurants in our town. People will say and do terrible things to justify their smoking habit. OP's was a drop in the bucket. Would be surprised if OP was not a smoker.

 

[mmouse37]

Since this is technically a trip report it is being moved to the Trips Reports board.

MJ

 

[TECHJPM]

This wasn't about smoking / alcohol originally, but seems that everyone has made it so. SO>>> Cheers to the alcohol drinkers, and Puff Puff to the smokers. We all have a right to do what we want. When you do ignorant things in front of others that see fit to turn you in, then you obviously deserve everything you get.

Since everyone seems to be jumping all over me... Let me say this...
My daughter isn't asked to get us the cigarettes, lighters, or ashtrays. We do have a higher standard. Parents that have their children handle their alcohol, or cigarettes need serious counseling, and are "lumps" as far as I am concerned.

I guess by your writings that my child should be drinking because "DOLL PAPER" says it is good.

Each state is doing what they choose to do against smoking / alcohol. In NJ your business will get shut down if a child is seated at a bar stool. FACT. There will also be criminal charges based on the officer / judge overseeing the case. You actually never read the medical journals about casual WINE drinking. They say that is good for the body when taken CASUALLY. I don't remember reading beer in that list.

1) To what law are you referring? Could you please provide a citation? Since "everything you write is fact", I'm sure that there must be a law you can cite for this "legal obligation".

2) Great. Then when people are in NJ, they shouldn't allow their children into bars. Since the ship is NOT in NJ, that fact is entirely irrelevant.

3) Actually, alcohol (used in moderation), unlike smoking has been shown to have beneficial effects (heart disease for example). I take it you've never read the Doll paper? It is still held as one of the preeminent epidemiological papers and has a relative risk that has rarely been equaled (in other words, the strength of the excess risk of lung cancer in smokers compared to non smokers is one of the highest published).

I have no issue with your opinions (though I may, or may not, agree with them). I have issues with your "facts" which are blatantly wrong.

 

[LindyN]

Being a blogger I see more than a good percentage of other bloggers posting "excellent" reviews which is why bloggers are legally bound to scrutiny, and most don't follow that either. Most that receive things to review do lie. I have worked with hundreds of companies, and my reviews arfe dead on. In regards to smoking/alcohol... In NJ kids cannot sit at bars where tables are present. At waves many parents allowed their kids to sit there. Smoking is what I would like my kid to do rather than drink if she ever does either. Alcohol is PROVEN to be a killer. Smoking is attributed to cancer, but nothing solid has ever been proven in all reality. Everything I write is fact. Disney has received many complaints about the pools. 4000 people and the pools are smaller than the Magic or the Wonder.
I spoke to many people to see their response and everyone said I was pretty darn close to the bullseye on my thoughts.
Here...in case anyone is upset about the SUGAR COATING statement... A real large amount of people have given false opinions about certain aspects of the ship. Maybe they didn't review things as thoroughly to give their impressions. If you are a travel agent then I say no more.

So how is an opinion false if it is an opinion? Its an OPINION. Mine is going to be different than yours. Doesn't make it wrong, but it does make it different.

 

[Malaguti Ball Clan]

I just read through this whole thread and feel very undisney because of it, thanks. I am a smoker and a drinker, I try not to let either one ever effect others but on occasion both do (sorry). Disney has rules that address both, I abide by them always, it would be great if everyone did, just back from the parks this week and I saw a female (can't call her a lady) smoking in the que for RRC.

I, like most come here for HELPFUL advise and I did get some from the OP but the tone here is very negative and that all started from the OP. I would like to know more about shooting the aqua duck without a tube though, is it painful? I ask because when I do over indulge while on vacation this sounds like it would be a fun thing to do.

I hope everyone has a magical night....Alex

 

[Tiger926]

Very interesting thread...

As an English teacher, I have many issues with the OP's review, the first being that it is full of bias, and as others have stated before me, it is very judgmental. A true and unbiased review, would have had no mention of one's feelings toward alcohol or cigarettes, period.

He lost me at that part, as the review then becomes about his personal views on vices, and not on the Dream, which is what I thought I was going to be reading about.

Tiger

 

[crashbb]

I guess by your writings that my child should be drinking because "DOLL PAPER" says it is good.

Each state is doing what they choose to do against smoking / alcohol. In NJ your business will get shut down if a child is seated at a bar stool. FACT. There will also be criminal charges based on the officer / judge overseeing the case. You actually never read the medical journals about casual WINE drinking. They say that is good for the body when taken CASUALLY. I don't remember reading beer in that list.

No, THE Doll paper (as in the paper written by Doll) has nothing to do with alcohol. It is the seminal paper showing the link between smoking and lung cancer. Which is what I said, so I have no idea how you could construct "my writings" to suggest that the paper says it would be good for your daughter to drink.

Given that my PhD is in Epidemiology and I've taken many courses that focus on alcohol, you'd be wrong in your assumption that I haven't read the papers. I never said ANYTHING about beer. So, your comment about the papers not mentioning beer is moot (note, not mute).

And, AGAIN, the laws in NJ have nothing to do with what can (or cannot) happen on the Dream. The fact that it is illegal in that state does not mean that people were doing anything wrong on the Dream (if they aren't from NJ, they weren't doing anything that would be considered "wrong" for them at their home).

 

[TECHJPM]

Having a Navigator on the deck wall was nice because if you forgot yours in your stateroom you could quickly look at it to see what was going on.

(This is using a hypothetical) A bias review is a totally positive review about a Disney Cruise being written by a person that works for Disney. Or a positive review being written by a travel consultant that makes their money by selling the product that they reviewed.

In regards to the pool. I was noting my opinion, and others that we spoke to about the pools.

A few comments:

1) As others said, it isn't the actual "review" that most people are disagreeing with, rather it is the way that you declared that your review was the truth --- and unbiased --- when in reality any review is biased.

2) We received a navigator in our room every night, hand-delivered. If I ever needed another one, I could have gotten it at the guest services desk. I didn't need a publicly posted one to "see what was going on." I would much prefer to have my own copy that could go with me.

3) On your point about the pools and food, while I spoke to many people who loved the food (myself included), I don't think anyone would disagree that the pools are lacking. That is universally agreed upon on this board. I haven't seen anyone dispute that. I posted a very positive review of the ship yesterday, yet I was sure to mention that the pools were lacking. So, needless to say, your rants on that topic aren't breaking new ground or dispelling any myths.

 

[tigger2on]

Btw... I don't think that kids should be subject to the amount of alcohol they are. Impression is vital to our kids. Disney will never do anything about the alcohol because it is FREE money to them.

Thanks for your review TECHJPM. However, everyone has the right to choose what they wish their kids to see... and unfortunately, it ends up being what our kids see too.

Also... I am sorry you are being "attacked" for your opinions. This is why I believe a lot of reviews aren't written ...

 

[TECHJPM]

Everyone has gone to the far extreme...

I posted my review, and made note of some of the things we experienced.
Being that the review had a very small portion of anything about smoking / alcohol I find it funny that this has branched in this direction.

Fair is fair. Disney should not treat smokers any different than anyone else.

BTW... I took out my signature that has been there for 2 years.
I will make sure that I send a PM to the mods whenever someone has any sort of link that isn't directly Disboard related. And I will notate that Rutgers1 doesn't like links in signatures.

 

[lillygator]

re-read....you went to the extreme....and are RUDE about it.

 

[jmpurdy]

"While I am all for Disney trying to keep kids away from smoking I think Disney should honestly not be so shifty in their ways. I also firmly believe that if I had a choice of what influence I wanted my daughter to see then I would say SMOKING. Alcohol is a proven killer due to Kidney Diseases, Drunk Driving, and many other "Documented" issues. Smoking is still not documented as well as alcohol so keep this in mind.
Smoking sections are not like they used to be. You are able to smoke on the one side of Deck 4 from 6pm till 6am because the joggers were complaining too much. You are also able to smoke on one side of the Waves Bar. You are still able to smoke on your verandah, but that is even a fine gray line as far as I can see it. The room next door may be against this, and as such will complain, and cause issues"

These are your words OP. You said you'd rather have your daughter see smoking as an influence rather than drinking. You said smoking is not documented as well as alcohol. Says who? You? If you are going to make such bold statements, then you should have data to back this up. This is what has folks so fired up. I do not expect you to see this. It's ok though. I get it. Defensive tactic because you have a child who will some day be affected by your addiction. And yes, I am a child of a heavy smoker. My mother died from her addiction.

 

[Buckeye Goofy]

Another brilliant read I would guess....
Read before rambling...
I WAS on the 10th cruise and the 14th cruise. I just checked into a hotel in Orlando and was going through everything. The original posting was published to the web on the 13th. I posted it here today after listening to other people telling me their opinion. I am not grinding an axe. Maybe you do that often, but I am a person that has learned more and more about Disney over the years, and want others to know about the ship before they get on. (Hence these are forums, and I can do such informative postings.)

Indeed I was incorrect in what I wrote, but unlike some, was man enough to admit it. No editing of posts, I simply admitted I was wrong.

Perhaps I'll comment tomorrow, but will give you no further though this evening, while I relax with a nice cold drink on my smoke free deck

Cheers!

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

It is very typical for a defensive smoker to point in the direction of drinking and why don't drinkers suffer the same stigma as smokers. This is a tactic that was used extensively when I spearheaded a no-smoking policy for restaurants in our town. People will say and do terrible things to justify their smoking habit. OP's was a drop in the bucket. Would be surprised if OP was not a smoker.

I believe the OP has already admitted or at least implied they were a smoker; I agree with your assessment and also suggested a few posts back that this might be an instance of projecting.

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

Thanks for your review TECHJPM. However, everyone has the right to choose what they wish their kids to see... and unfortunately, it ends up being what our kids see too.

Also... I am sorry you are being "attacked" for your opinions. This is why I believe a lot of reviews aren't written ...

In my view, the OP is NOT being attacked for their opinion of the elements of the cruise ship (food, service, pools, stateroom) but rather their condemnation of the parenting choices of others. Not to mention suggesting that other people and their children are nuisances for using amenities that he feels should be exclusive to him and families like his.

That is NOT okay and blow back should be expected.

 

[BASTHEFIRST]

I can't be more unbiased myself because I haven't cruised yet. My first will be on the Dream on Easter Sunday.

I write a blog. It sure isn't fact. It's mostly what i've learned from books, research, and these boards. I do it for myself and my friends.

I quit smoking cigarettes this year. I'm a single Dad of an 8 yr old son. He didn't like it. I quit cold turkey for him. Plus I never really liked the smell, etc. My son likes my whiter teeth now. I don't hold smoking against anyone else. If it's a smoking area, it's a smoking area. If it's not, it's not. If it's posted there shouldn't be any questions. I'm actually looking forward to smoking a nice cigar on the Meridian deck.

I drink. I enjoy getting drunk. Although as a single parent it's pretty rare. I too live in N.J. and have taken my son into a bar. Kids have to be out by 10pm. I have heard bartenders say no kids at the bar to some and some said nothing. My son has seen all the bars on the Dream on-line and is looking forward to seeing them in person now, especially the changing scenes in Skyline. So if we get the chance to sit at that bar so he can have a Shirley Temple and enjoy it like I could, I think it would be great.

I do agree that Navigators posted on the top deck would be a great idea. Not everyone is as anal as me and would know to make sure they take care of theirs or go get several extras. It's a simple courtesy Disney could extend and it would be helpful as well.

While it is a shame that the family pool and deck areas can't handle the crowds for the most part, most know that to be the case now, and are forced to plan around it as best as possible. We will.

I've been writing a Pre-Trip Report and I will report upon my return as well (and blog ) about what I see and witness first hand. I'm a Disney fan, but i've never cruised. I live near Atlantic City, NJ and have eaten at phenomenal restaurants all around the U.S. and have lounged by countless pools and beaches all over. Oh and i'm not being paid for my opinions.

 

[Anal Annie]

Let me know how that works for you. I bet your child will become a drinker. Once a drinker you never can tell if it is responsible drinking or habitual drinking.

I'll get back to you in about 7 years when he's 21. Just because he is exposed to it does not mean he will have a predisposition to becoming an alcoholic. I'd rather not hide it from him as if it's something shameful. If I want a glass of wine with dinner then I'll have a glass of wine. If I need to stop to buy some beer & he's with me then so be it. It's just another errand in my book. If you go around making a big deal out of things (bigger than it really is) they get the wrong impression. It becomes more about the sneaking and the trying to get by with stuff. He's a bright kid with a good head on his shoulders and he knows right from wrong. If anything he's too good for his own good. I am not worried for one second that me having a drink in front of him is going to rot his liver.

BTW, I am a former smoker. Smoked for about 25 years & quit 3 ago. You FLOOR ME with some of your comments. Smoking is the one thing we never did inside our home or in our cars with DS around. He knew we smoked, we didn't HIDE it but we didn't want to expose him to the KNOWN effects of the second-hand smoke. There are several very descriptive adjectives that come to my mind when I read your posts. If I posted them most would probably get me a warning from the moderators so I'll refrain. But can I just say I have to wonder if you don't really work for a tobacco company.