We just got back from the best family vacation ever, a week at Walt Disney World followed by three days aboard the Disney Dream cruise ship! We shared lots of fun pics on our Facebook, Instagram and Instagram stories and I came home to tons and tons of messages and emails asking all kinds of questions about our trip. There’s just so much to share about our #DisneySMMC experience, I’m going to try and answer all the questions and give you the scoop in a few blog posts over the next few weeks. Starting with this one, all about the Disney Dream Cruise 2018 !

If you’re curious just how much does a Disney Cruise cost our friends at Global Munchkins break it all down. I love their tips on how to save money when planning a Disney cruise.

Disney Cruise- Is it worth it?

The question I’ve been asked the most! Everyone wants to know is a Disney cruise worth the money. Yes, it’s a little bit more expensive when you compare it to other cruise vacations. But YES, it is so worth it! I can’t say that enough people. Let’s just break it down…..

We’ve been on several other cruises so I can tell you that Disney truly goes above and beyond when it comes to all the little details. From the moment you arrive you’ll experience that thing that sets Disney apart from all the rest.

Check in for the Disney Dream cruise is a breeze. You arrive at the cruise terminal, hand over your important documents and join the other vacationers ready to board the ship. We had a very minimal wait and enjoyed checking out the model of our ship and watching families have their photo taken with Mickey before boarding the cruise. Once the line started to move we were escorted through the entrance and had our picture taken in front of the cruise backdrop.

Disney Dream Cruise Ship - Disney Dream Cruise Photos - DisneySMMC Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2018 via Misty Nelson #disneysmmc #disneymoms

When it was our turn to board the ship the friendly staff announced us by microphone — “Welcome the Nelson family” as a line of cruise staff applauded and smiled. We stepped through the doorway and immediately you can’t help but be amazed by the beauty of the main ship grand entry. The staircase, the marble, the character statues. At the top of the stairs Cinderella greeted little guests and took photos. Brady barely spoke a word as he took it all in, his face frozen with excitement and awe.

 

Disney Cruise Cost

Disney cruises are a little pricier than some of the the other cruise lines. Before we had set sail on our first Disney cruise I wondered what made it special and if it was worth the extra expense. Friends, it’s so worth it! Everything about a Disney cruise is better. It feels like you’ve been upgraded from the moment you step aboard. It’s all the little details that Disney is known for that make a big difference in your travel experience. The dining is better, the ship is cleaner, the decor is newer, the staff are friendlier and the kids club is a thousand times more awesome.

How Much is a Disney Cruise

So how much does it cost to book a Disney cruise? It all depends on the time of year you wish to travel, your destinations and the length of your vacation. You can find cruises for well under $2000 if you want to travel in the off season or are happier with a shorter cruise.

Disney Travel Agents

The best way to plan your Disney cruise vacation without all the stress and worry is to find a great travel agent. Tinks Magical Vacations is an AWESOME travel agency that specializes in Disney travel.

Disney Dream Ship Rooms

We were so excited to tour and explore the ship, starting with our cabin. We stayed in a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah. Our room featured a queen sized bed, spacious living room with desk and a single convertible sofa bed as well as an upper Pullman style bunk bed. The private split bathroom was nice, with a vanity, sink, shower and tub in one room and a vanity, sink & toilet in the other. Our verandah offered plenty of space for sitting out on the deck and enjoying the ocean view. The plexiglass railings were high enough to make me feel more safe and the doors to the verandah have child-proof locks too.

Our bed was very comfortable and having the single bed as well as the top bunk was nice. We brought my aunt along, so the room actually felt quite comfortable with three adults and one small child. The room had a small table, a good sized TV, refrigerator, lots of closet space and under-bed storage space as well. Disney Dream Cruise Ship Rooms - DisneySMMC Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2018 via Misty Nelson #disneysmmc #disneymoms

Disney Dream Cruise Ship

After checking out our room we set off to explore the ship and find something to eat. It was almost lunchtime and we were excited to see all the things there were to do and eat on our cruise! We made our way to Deck 11 to cruise around the main pool area. There are four pools on the Disney Dream ship – Donald’s Pool, Mickey’s Pool, Quiet Cove as well as  a water play area, Nemo’s Reef. All of the pools are filled with fresh water, unlike other cruise lines I’ve been on.

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Disney Dream Pools — Donald’s pool, a large family pool on Deck 11, is right beneath the giant movie screen and where all the action happens. It’s also where you’ll find the Aquaduck water slide, a giant tube slide that twists it’s way around the deck above the crowd. A small slide, the Mickey slide is on the opposite side. Mickey’s pool is a smaller pool on the same deck with a depth of 2 feet.

Disney Cruise Adults Only -Quiet Cove, a relaxing area towards the front of the ship,  is for guests 18 and over. There’s a swim up pool bar, a 6 foot plunge pool and a 4 foot sunbathing pool as well as hot tubs where you can sit and soak.

Disney Dream Cruise Ship - Disney Cruise Adults Only SIde - DisneySMMC Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2018 via Misty Nelson #disneysmmc #disneymoms

Disney Dream Cruise Ship - DisneySMMC Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2018 via Misty Nelson #disneysmmc #disneymoms Disney Dream Cruise Ship Tour

So what else is onboard the Disney Dream you’re probably wondering? Tons! Keep cruising past the pools on Deck 11 and you’ll find Goofy’s Sports Deck where you can play a round of mini-golf, shoot some hoops or take on your opponent in a game of ping-pong.Disney Dream Cruise Ship Activities - DisneySMMC Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2018 via Misty Nelson #disneysmmc #disneymoms

Ice Cream and Vanellope’s Sweet Treats– Cool off with some self-serve icecream from the Frozone Treats station. Or grab a sweet treat from Vanellope’s dessert and candy shoppe.

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Disney’s Oceaneer Club–  Inside the ship there’s more to explore! You’ll have a hard time getting the kids out of Disney’s Oceaneer Club, where they can spend the day playing with friends and experiencing all the Disney magic.

Disney Dream Cruise Ship - Disney Dream Cruise Photos - DisneySMMC Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2018 via Misty Nelson #disneysmmc #disneymoms Disney Movie Theater and Live Shows– Catch a movie over at the Walt Disney Theatre or one of the extraordinary live shows. We LOVED Beauty and the Beast and Disney’s Believe! 

Disney Dream Character Appearances – Meet your favorite characters for fun photo opps aboard the Disney Dream ship. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and the gang can be found daily all around the ship as well as the beloved Disney princesses and other popular characters like Captain Jack Sparrow and more!

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Disney Dream Bars, Nightclubs and Lounges – Don’t let the kids have all the fun! After we dropped our little guy off at the Oceaneer’s club we loved having a cocktail at one of the many bars onboard the Disney Dream. Pink, a trendy wine and champagne bar, was my personal favorite. Dave liked drinking a pint and watching sports at Pub 687. And we both loved sipping frozen concoctions and watching the sunset outside Currents on the top deck. 

Disney Dream Cruise - Disney Cruise - Disney family vacation blog - via Misty Nelson, @frostedevents @funfamilytravelblog #disneycruise #disneymoms #disneysmmc

There’s Senses Spa & Salon in case you want to book a massage or get pampered. Me time mamas, we all could use a little more of that, right? And a fitness center for all the dedicated people who like to get in a good workout while they’re on vacation. Me, not so much! But hey, you do you.

Disney Dream Restaurants and Disney Cruise Food!

If you’re like me, then dining is a big deal when it comes to what makes a vacation really great. The Disney cruise menus did not disappoint! We had some of the best meals ever on the Dream ship, starting with the first meal. The lunch buffet before we set sail was unbelievable! I wish I had taken pictures but honestly we were so hungry and so excited I completely forgot. Let me just say this, my husband became an instant Disney cruise fan as soon as he saw that the lunch buffet had all-you-can-eat rock crab and shrimp. The seafood had him sold! Pizza, pasta, roast beef, chicken, fish, salads and so much more.

Disney Dream Dining –There are several dining options onboard the Disney Dream, from casual to upscale. Breakfast buffets or served dining every morning, casual lunch buffets with all sorts of delicious options from american fare, to italian and mexican food. Dinner seatings change each night so you have the chance to experience the three main dinner restaurants – The Enchanted Garden, The Royal Palace and Animator’s Palate.

Disney Dream Cruise Ship - Disney Cruise Dining Animator's Palate Restaurant - DisneySMMC Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2018 via Misty Nelson #disneysmmc #disneymoms Disney Dream Cruise Ship - Disney Cruise Dining Animator's Palate Restaurant - DisneySMMC Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2018 via Misty Nelson #disneysmmc #disneymoms Animator’s Palate was our favorite and the perfect place to enjoy a send-off meal on the last night of our vacation.

If you get hungry for a snack or just want to grab a bite to eat by the pool there’s Flo’s Cafe Food Court. Tow Mater’s Grill serves ups tasty burgers and hotdogs. Luigi’s Pizza is the place for slice of pie or if you’re looking for something on the lighter side Fillmore’s Favorites offers sandwiches, salads and wraps.

Disney Dream Cruise Ship - Disney Cruise Dining - DisneySMMC Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2018 via Misty Nelson #disneysmmc #disneymoms

Disney Dream Cruise - Disney Cruise - Disney family vacation blog - via Misty Nelson, @frostedevents @funfamilytravelblog #disneycruise #disneymoms #disneysmmc

Disney Dream Cruise Activities

So now that you know all there is to see and eat on the Disney Dream, let’s cover a few of our favorite activities….

  • Sail-Away Celebration – Sing and dance along with your favorite characters as you set sail. Our send off party was so fun, we loved grooving along to hit songs with Mickey and pals.
  • Pirates in the Caribbean party – This fun deck party is a big deck party the whole family will love with an exciting character show, dancing and music. Bring a pirate costume and accessories and get in on the swashbuckling fun. We loved the spectacular fireworks display at the end!
  • Watch first-run Disney movies in Disney Digital 3D onboard. We saw the Black Panther on our cruise and it was awesome. Of course there’s popcorn, drinks and snacks available for purchase too.
  • The live shows onboard the Disney Dream are unbelievable! Beauty and the Beast was such an enchanting experience. And Disney’s Believe is a wonderful tale that takes you through so many magical Disney moments, you can’t help but sing along.

 

 

Disney Dream Cruise Ship - Disney Cruise Pirate Night - DisneySMMC Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2018 via Misty Nelson #disneysmmc #disneymoms Disney Dream Cruise Ship - DisneySMMC Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2018 via Misty Nelson #disneysmmc #disneymoms Disney Dream Cruise Ship -Family Vacation Castaway Cay - DisneySMMC Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2018 via Misty Nelson #disneysmmc #disneymoms Disney Dream Cruise Ship -Family Vacation Castaway Cay - DisneySMMC Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2018 via Misty Nelson #disneysmmc #disneymoms

Disney Vacation Planning

Be sure to read our 10 Perks of Staying at a Disney World Resort before planning your Disney vacation. There are so many reasons why you’ll want to consider staying at a Disney resort before you book your trip. You can save time and money, plus it makes the trip so much more magical for everyone!

Disney Family Shirts

Of course you can’t plan a Disney family vacation with picking out matching Disney Family Shirts.

 

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