We recently returned from a 4-night cruise on board the *Disney Dream*, and I wanted to share our experience. Spoiler alert – it was pretty magical, but there were definitely a few bumps along the way, which I will be honest about – because what’s the point in a review if we don’t cover the highs and the lows, right?! So if you’ve been wondering whether a Disney Cruise is right for you, read on!
Boarding the Dream
The boarding process was a great start to our holiday! Disney Cruise Line do an exceptional job of making you feel that Disney Magic from the moment you step on board when your family name iss announced, and you are welcomed with applause – it made us feel like celebrities for a moment!
The first thing that struck me was just how beautiful the ship is. It truly lives up to its name – polished dark wood surfaces with golden details, elegant decor, and everything looking pristine. Even the ship’s distinctive *Disney* scent added to the magic, making us feel like we were in for a special experience right from the get-go.
Sail Away Party – A Bit of a Miss for Us
Unfortunately, the much-anticipated Sail Away Party wasn’t quite the magical kick-off we had hoped for.
We ended up missing most of it due to the rather chaotic muster drill. Having recently sailed with Virgin Voyages, we know that a much calmer virtual muster drill experience is more than possible and I really do wish that Disney would modernise this process as disabled and neurodivergent guests like ourselves had a particularly hard time, with all of the 5000+ guests on board released at the same time to make their way to Deck 11 for the party.
Our muster drill was on Deck 4, so it was a real struggle for us to find an elevator as I was unable to make it up several flights of stairs, and by the time we reached the deck, the party had already started, and all the viewing spots were taken. My kids were heartbroken as they didn’t get to see the characters at all and they’d really been looking forward to this element of the cruise.
I’ve since emailed Disney Cruise Line about this and am hoping they’ll reconsider how this is handled for future guests with accessibility needs as it felt very unfair and was certainly not the way the holiday should have begun.
Dining on the Dream
One of the things I love about cruising with Disney is the rotational dining system, where you get to experience the different themed restaurants on board each night but keep your same serving staff. It’s such a fun way to dine!
The restaurants on board the Disney Dream were:
1. **Royal Palace** – Inspired by Disney princesses, this restaurant feels like stepping into a fairytale. The elegant decor made for a lovely dining experience, and the menu was filled with classic dishes that felt fit for royalty. Our meal here was my absolute favourite on board!
2. **Animator’s Palette** – This was easily our favourite for theming! The Mickey inspired dining chairs and decor here are wonderful, and we especially loved the interactive show with Crush from *Finding Nemo*. The kids were completely mesmerized as Crush chatted with them through the screen, answering their questions and asking them about their day – true Disney magic! The food here was delicious too, but honestly, the atmosphere stole the show.
3. **Enchanted Garden** – While it’s a stunning restaurant with a cool garden-themed ambiance, I was disappointed to learn that some of its signature features (like the “blossoming” ceiling) have been non-functional since COVID. This wasn’t something we were told when booking, and I felt a bit let down by that. While the restaurant was still beautiful, it just felt like we were only getting half the experience. The food here was also our least enjoyed of the cruise.
Aside from the main dining rooms, there were other dining options like **Cabanas**, the buffet restaurant. The food here was fantastic, with plenty of variety, but finding a table was always real challenge during this particular cruise. It was always packed, and it took us quite a while to find seating each time we visited so we only managed to eat here twice in 4 days.
There were also poolside quick-service diners offering things like burgers, pizza, and sandwiches, which were convenient and a hit with the kids. The burgers and hot dogs were actually very good!
And let’s not forget the poolside free ice cream machines and self-serve soft drinks – these were a huge hit with my children! They loved being able to grab a cone whenever they wanted, and they really did get my moneys worth – the banana flavour soft serve was their favourite!
Our Oceanview Stateroom
We stayed in an Oceanview stateroom for the first time, and I have to say it was perfect for our family of five. I was worried that I’d regret not booking a veranda but I honestly didn’t at all.
The cabin felt spacious and comfortable, and the large porthole made the ocean view feel so accessible throughout our stay – much more so than with a balcony. We loved the cushioned seating inside the porthole – it was a favourite spot for the kids to sit and watch the waves. It felt more open than having a verandah, and I think I actually preferred this layout!
Wonderful Staff
The Disney cast members on board were simply fantastic. Our serving team in the dining rooms remembered our preferences every evening and took great care of the kids, going above and beyond to make every meal feel special. The kids club staff were also amazing, ensuring my children felt safe and had fun. Every staff member we interacted with seemed to genuinely care about making our holiday as smooth as possible, and their warmth really added to the magic.
Kids Clubs – A Big Hit!
Speaking of the kids, they absolutely *loved* the kids clubs on board. I could barely drag them away! The characters got involved in the activities too, with Stitch hosting a slime-making activity and Pluto’s pyjama party being a big hit. Where else can you actually play with the characters and have Cinderella read you a bedtime story?! Such a magical experience!
The clubs were well-organized, and super engaging for the kids. This was definitely a highlight for our family.
West-End Quality Shows
The onboard entertainment blew me away! We saw **The Golden Mickeys**, **Disney’s Believe**, and **Beauty & The Beast** – and all three were nothing short of West End quality. I even ended up crying at the end of the Golden Mickeys, I found it so very moving. The shows were magical and brought the Disney spirit to life in a way that was genuinely breath taking – I cannot recommend the shows on board enough!
Pirate Night Fun
Pirate Night – a special event that Disney Cruise Line are famous for – was another huge highlight, where guests are encouraged to dress in pirate attire which of course we did! The deck show was fantastic, with abseiling pirates and characters in full pirate gear for meet and greets. The whole ship was decked out in pirate decor, and even the restaurant menu was themed for the evening. The atmosphere was so much fun, and it was one of the best nights on board. Unfortunately they were not able to have fireworks on board for this sailing which was a shame, but we knew this before we sailed so it wasn’t something we had expected.
Other Onboard Activities
We tried our hand at towel animal folding, which was a fun little activity that we all really enjoyed, and Jon & I enjoyed some of the trivia quizzes throughout the cruise while the kids were at kids club too.
For me, one of the standout moments was relaxing in the **Pink champagne lounge** in the adults-only area – a perfect little escape for some downtime. Unfortunately, the pools on board were very crowded during the day, so we didn’t spend as much time there as we usually would but my eldest son did absolutely love the Aqua Duck water slide and we really enjoyed watching the *movies under the stars* on the pool deck in the evenings.
Final Thoughts – Would We Cruise Again?
Overall, we had a wonderful time on the Disney Dream, but I have to be honest – I would avoid booking a summer holiday sailing with Disney Cruise Line again. It was incredibly busy, and the very long queues for character meets were tough for our neurodivergent children to manage. Disney doesn’t offer an equivalent to their park Disability Access Service on the cruises, which was a real challenge for us.
That said, I would definitely book another Disney cruise, making sure that next time I opt for a longer, off-peak sailing. I’ve heard these tend to be less crowded, which I think would make the experience even more enjoyable for our family.
That doesn’t mean that a summer holiday sailing isn’t the right choice for your family though, as the majority of people we met on board who were more used to travelling in peak season absolutely loved it!
In the end, despite the hiccups, the Disney magic was still very much alive, and we left with plenty of happy memories.
Have you sailed with Disney Cruise Line? I’d love to hear your thoughts!