Disney Cruising

Submitted by: Stephanie Mansell, April 2014

My family and I recently had the opportunity to experience all that the Disney Cruise Line has to offer! We are huge Disney fans and have experienced both DisneyLand and Walt Disney World at least once a year for the past 10 years. During that time, we have never been disappointed in the Disney experience – the customer service, the cleanliness, the food, the entertainment and so much more. The visits have always been above and beyond our expectations! So, after years of enjoying the parks, we were thrilled have the opportunity to set sail on the Disney Dream!
On embarkation day, we arrived at the port and went through a very efficient check in process. Our bags were checked and we didn’t have to worry about them again until we were ready for a change of clothes before dinner. When we first stepped foot on the Disney Dream, our name was announced and we had a royal entrance complete with a round of applause from the staff – it was such an exciting way to begin our journey. Almost immediately, we realized that we were about to have an amazing experience!
Our cabin – we are a family of 5 and the thought of sharing a cabin on a cruise ship sounded a bit difficult to put it lightly! These thoughts quickly went away when we stepped foot into our home for a few days. There was storage everywhere we looked – multiple closets, an ottoman that opened up, under bed storage to name a few. There were also two bathrooms – one with a sink and a bath/shower, and one with a sink and toilet so there was never a time that a family member was banging on the door to get in. The beds for the kids were opened up in the evening and stowed away during the day so there was ample space to move around when we needed it.
The restaurants – there were always options to grab a quick bite to eat and room service options so we were never hungry! We ate at the same time each evening but every night was at a different restaurant so we always had a new experience. The best part about it was the fact that the waiters travelled to each restaurant with us and we got to know them during our time on board. The kids loved one of the staff members who had a new magic trick every night for them to enjoy. Also, the food was fantastic with options for everyone to enjoy!
The entertainment – first run movies in a beautiful theater complete with popcorn, live shows, a pirate party, fireworks, characters, pool side movies and trivia, putt-putt, basketball, a beach BBQ at Castaway Cay and so much more. There was always something to do and hardly enough hours in the day to experience it all!
The Oceaneer Club – what can I say? My kids never wanted to leave! They participated in art projects, baked cookies, watched movies, dressed up, etc. Safety is the number 1 concern with special wristbands to check in/out and a password was given for an extra safety measure. We would drop them off and get ready for dinner or just have a little downtime in one of the adult only areas. Our children would beg to stay and could even have meals there if they chose. Of course, we wanted to spend some time with them so we would convince them to join us every once in awhile J!
I cannot say enough wonderful things about the Disney Cruise Line. It was a vacation we will always cherish! As always, they have thought of everything for both the adults and the children. Every moment of it was touched with Disney magic!