Question about new category 4E on Dream/Fantasy

[Lisa Lisa]

After almost 3 months of waiting, we finally got our VGT GTY assignment for the 2/12 Dream sailing: Room 5162. This is one of the new cat 4E rooms on deck 5 with oversized verandahs. I've read all the posts I can find about these rooms, and I'm confused about something. There seems to be some debate about whether these rooms should be cat 5 or cat 4. My understanding is that cat 5 are Deluxe Oceanview Verandah rooms (246 sq ft) and cat 4 are Deluxe Family Oceanview Verandah rooms (299 sq ft). At first I assumed that the cat 4E rooms must be the same size on the inside as other cat 4 rooms, but now I'm wondering whether the total square footage includes the additional verandah space. In other words, are these rooms the size of a regular (cat 5) oceanview verandah room on the inside + an oversized balcony? Or are they the same size as other family (cat 4) oceanview verandah rooms + the oversized balcony? Anyone know?

 

[princessmom29]

From what I understand,they are the size of a regular cat 5 on the inside, but ith a bigger verandah.

 

[Mtinkerbell5189]

I would like to know as well, I am thinking they must be the size of regular Cat 5 because they originally were cat 5 and just upgraded because of the big balcony? I wish they were bigger inside too though, like with the extra chair by the couch and stuff?

Anyone know if they have a round tub?

 

[msbiscuit]

I stayed in 5656 on the Dream. The stateroom is the same size as a category 5 and has the split bath. My stateroom had the standard tub, not the round one. They've changed many - if not all - of these extended verandah rooms to category 4E based on one thing: the verandah. I admit, it certainly was spacious out there, but it wasn't like I was planning a bbq or tea party.

 

[Lisa Lisa]

I stayed in 5656 on the Dream. The stateroom is the same size as a category 5 and has the split bath. My stateroom had the standard tub, not the round one. They've changed many - if not all - of these extended verandah rooms to category 4E based on one thing: the verandah. I admit, it certainly was spacious out there, but it wasn't like I was planning a bbq or tea party.

Thanks for confirming. I guess I don't see how Disney can justify recategorizing these as Family staterooms. It's not as if someone could sleep out on the verandah! There are only 3 of us, but I would rather have had a cat 5 on deck 6 or 7 (NOT directly above The District and a stone's throw from the kids clubs) than the oversized verandah. The savings is great, but I think I'll be picking my stateroom next time vs. going GTY!

 

[lds0191]

I just booked a 4E. On the DCL website it states it is 299 sq ft including veranda. The picture shows a chair by the sofa. Is that not the case?

 

[Wendy&Grumpy]

I just booked a 4E. On the DCL website it states it is 299 sq ft including veranda. The picture shows a chair by the sofa. Is that not the case?

It depends on which 4E you booked. What's your stateroom number?

 

[Wendy&Grumpy]

Thanks for confirming. I guess I don't see how Disney can justify recategorizing these as Family staterooms. It's not as if someone could sleep out on the verandah! There are only 3 of us, but I would rather have had a cat 5 on deck 6 or 7 (NOT directly above The District and a stone's throw from the kids clubs) than the oversized verandah. The savings is great, but I think I'll be picking my stateroom next time vs. going GTY!

You'll be above Skyline, which has been very quiet every time I've been in it, so you shouldn't have any issue with noise at night. It also seems most folks coming & going to/from the kids clubs go by way of the midship elevators, so you probably won't notice them much either.

We had 5652 & 5654 on the Dream last October and had no issues with noise from either the District or the kids clubs/traffic.

I personally think if Disney wanted to up the category for those particular staterooms based on the verandahs, they should have been reclassified as maybe 5A, rather than 4E, since the rooms themselves are not the same size as the other 4's.

We also have 5650 this coming April on the Fantasy, and both of our 4E stays were booked as 5E's, meaning we paid the lower price. Staterooms 5652 & 5654 were available for our family cruise this October, but we went with 5B's on deck 8 - lower price for the same size cabin as the 4E's on deck 5.

 

[Lisa Lisa]

I personally think if Disney wanted to up the category for those particular staterooms based on the verandahs, they should have been reclassified as maybe 5A, rather than 4E, since the rooms themselves are not the same size as the other 4's.

I totally agree that these should have remained a subcategory of cat 5. IMO, calling these family staterooms is misleading. Yes they are 299 sq ft including verandah, but part of that 299 sq ft is the extra verandah space.

Just out of curiosity, how would someone booking one of these rooms, which DCL says sleeps 3 or 4, know whether there is a bed for the 4th person? I'm guessing that as you go through the booking process you will be offered only rooms with the extra bed if you have 4 in your party, but what if you want to choose your own room? Is there any way of knowing which rooms have the extra pull down bed? We only have one child, but she loves the idea of that upper berth!

 

[Wendy&Grumpy]

I totally agree that these should have remained a subcategory of cat 5. IMO, calling these family staterooms is misleading. Yes they are 299 sq ft including verandah, but part of that 299 sq ft is the extra verandah space.

Just out of curiosity, how would someone booking one of these rooms, which DCL says sleeps 3 or 4, know whether there is a bed for the 4th person? I'm guessing that as you go through the booking process you will be offered only rooms with the extra bed if you have 4 in your party, but what if you want to choose your own room? Is there any way of knowing which rooms have the extra pull down bed? We only have one child, but she loves the idea of that upper berth!

I'm trying to figure that out myself! We're toying with the idea of moving our family cruise to inside cabins (in order to financially squeeze in another cruise!) and on Expedia the cat 11's are only showing up if we put 3 in a room rather than 4, although the description says they sleep 3 or 4.

Our 4E's on deck 5 did both have the upper berth beds though!

 

[msbiscuit]

Thanks for confirming. I guess I don't see how Disney can justify recategorizing these as Family staterooms. It's not as if someone could sleep out on the verandah! There are only 3 of us, but I would rather have had a cat 5 on deck 6 or 7 (NOT directly above The District and a stone's throw from the kids clubs) than the oversized verandah. The savings is great, but I think I'll be picking my stateroom next time vs. going GTY!

Honest, I had no issues with noise from The District or the kids clubs. I actually enjoyed being on deck 5 as there were less staterooms and really not much foot traffic on the starboard side. I liked being on deck 5 so much that I've booked another cruise - albeit on the Wonder - on the same deck.

 

[lds0191]

It depends on which 4E you booked. What's your stateroom number?

We are in 5156.

 

[Wendy&Grumpy]

We are in 5156.

Then no, that's not the case - there is no chair by the sofa in the 4E's.

The picture with the chair by the sofa is the 4A,B,C, and D's.

The 4E's are the same cabin setup as categories 5 - 7; the only structural difference between the categories is that the verandahs in the 4E's are twice as deep.

 

[Justusbraz]

We just booked 5050 and 5048 for oct 2013. I read on a different site that they were not very noisy. Anyone here have any info?

 

[Justusbraz]

Sorry, somehow didn't do it last time.

 

[kimpossible]

Quick question about the Fantasy.. Trying to choose between 5150 (huge balcony, but closest to the kids clubs, and right above the sports bar) or 5656 (large balcony, but not like the other one, on starboard side so quieter and better view).

WWYD?

 

[Alexander]

I stayed in 5656 on the Dream. The stateroom is the same size as a category 5 and has the split bath. My stateroom had the standard tub, not the round one. They've changed many - if not all - of these extended verandah rooms to category 4E based on one thing: the verandah. I admit, it certainly was spacious out there, but it wasn't like I was planning a bbq or tea party.

I can confirm all of the above for 5150 as well.

 

[abitagirl916]

We are in 5156.

My daughter and I were in 5158 on the Dream last year (right next door to 5156) and our stateroom was definitely not the same size inside as a "Family" stateroom. It would only sleep 3: did not have a pull down bed from the ceiling. It had a split bath with a regular tub, not the round tub. The verandah is very spacious and was really great. I have booked the Fantasy for next year but opted to book a 5D on Deck 6 because of the change in category and price of the previous 5E with extended verandah. I don't think that these particular rooms qualify as "Family" staterooms due to the room size.

 

[harmon54]

So I if someone can help me out. It appears 5652 adn 5654 sleep 4 and have the couch bed and the upper bunk bed? But none of these 4E cats sleep 5?
Thanks

 

[jahber]

So I if someone can help me out. It appears 5652 adn 5654 sleep 4 and have the couch bed and the upper bunk bed? But none of these 4E cats sleep 5?
Thanks

Nope. None sleep 5