While at the Disney Cruise Line press event for the Disney Dream, I had the opportunity to speak with Joe Lanzisero, Imagineering Senior Vice President, who oversaw the Imagineering team for the Disney Dream. Joe showed me around the model of the ship and gave an overview of the upper deck and some of the enhancements coming to the Disney Dream.
POOLS
No matter who I spoke with, the Cast Member emphasised how the Disney Dream is 40% larger than the Magic and Wonder and so everything was enlarged by about 40%. The same is true for the pools. There are three pools: quiet pool for the adults, the family pool and kid’s pool. The family pool and kid’s pool are positioned together so families don’t feel separated. The kid’s pool has the Mickey slide (similar to the Magic and Wonder) with a couple additional turns. None of the pools are covered nor is there a “Solarium” type pool.
The huge announcement for water activities is the incredible AquaDuck coaster 🙂 More AquaDuck information click here.
Here’s a photo of the AquaDuck raft:
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Disney officials are being quiet right now about the Recreational Area on the upper deck. When asked if there would be mini-golf or some other type of recreation, I was told there would be a separate announcement about that.
SUITES
There will be exciting additions to the upper deck. Suite guests will now have their own private area to relax. The deck below is also the suite deck. And the stairs to the left will also take you from the Lounge to the Upper Deck. There will be a private concierge lounge. If you look at the photo, the dome in the ceiling is for the concierge lounge. The lounge will offer private check-in, private buffet, a bar, and a shore excursion desk.
The Walt and Roy suite are located in the front of the ship. If you look at the photo below and you will see two outdoor jacuzzis and that’s the Walt and Roy! These 2 suites were designed so the beds have ocean views out to the sea. This photo is from the starboard side of the ship, so it’s reversed from the photo above. These two suites will be approx 890 sq. feet and sleep 5.
TEEN CLUB
Those familiar with the Magic and Wonder ships may recall that there was a Crew member pool area in the front of the ship. On the Disney Dream, this area now becomes part of the Teen Space! This area will have lounges for sunbathing, two wading pools, fountains, pop jets and misters. The checkboard area are the pop jets. Under the Mickey ears (one deck below) is the Teen Club. They will have cards to swipe that allow only them into these areas. Click here for the Press Release on the Tween and Teen Clubs.
SHOPPING
The Shopping Area will be enlarged (about 40% as all the areas have been). The Disney Dream will have more of an open promenade shopping area. There will be more than two stores.
BYE BYE INTERNET CAFE
The entire ship will be Wi-Fi, there will be no dedicated internet cafe!
Thank you Joe for spending so much time with the AllEars team!
I’m very excited about the new ship! It’ll be my first time on a Disney Cruise in May 2011 and we’re lucky enough to be able to book that ship for the dates we need! My kids are gonna have a great time for their birthday! And I’ve compared the prices: for a Cat 9, 3 nights on the Disney Wonder in May 2010, it comes to 2337.68. For a Cat 6, 3 nights on the Disney Dream, it comes to 2025.77, so 300$ less for a better room and a brand new boat! 🙂 Maybe the Suites are not as big but the improvements will work for me! 🙂
Wow,
We were planning on taking a cruise with the kids in a few years. Waiting for our 4 year old to get a little older. We may have to bump up our plans. Can’t wait to see this ship. It look amazing! Thanks Deb for the pictures!
I am disappointed there are no 7 day itineraries; hopefully that will change??
DEB: At this time it is only the 3, 4 and 5 night itineraries. Probably once the Fantasy ship comes online this will change.
With all due respect, Disney isn’t looking out for the folks who can afford either to pay cash or DVC points for the Royal Suites. Considering how many of those suites are available on any of these ships, that is a small percentage of the Disney Family Cruising population. They assume that if you’ll shell out the big bucks for a Royal Suite, you can add a little more for another cabin. The versatility of an add-on configuration proves that point. The average Joe family who saves for a once-in-a-lifetime Disney Cruise is looking more for the cost and amenities available on this new ship. Cabin sizes, even if smaller than on the Wonder and Magic, are still larger than standard cabins on other lines (which are TINY for a family of three or four!)
Just consider affordability for the masses on board, and you’ll see why that new Royal Suite configuration makes business / booking sense…and doesn’t really strike a sympathetic bone with management. Not many are in your position. Book two cabins if you need them; there aren’t many regular cabin options for a family of 5 either…
Good afternoon again,
Spoke to Wilma, a Disney Cruise representative, and was told the following:
The new Royal Suites on the Dream only accommodate 5 guests (the Royal Suites and Catagory 2’s on the Magic and Wonder accommodate up to 7). You may reserve the adjoining One Bedroom Suite next to the Royal Suites to accommodate your larger party.
Looking at the 360 degree tour of the Dream at the Disney Cruise website, many of the suites can be connected.
So if I want to sail the Disney Dream and stay in the Royal Suite with my party of 6, you have to reserve two suites.
That should be cheap!!!
What a delightful Dream come true.
Am I missing the boat here?
Troy
Good afternoon,
Looked into the Dream as soon as Disney sent the info to me. I’m in shock about the Royal Suites. Still only two on the new larger ship and now only one bedroom and designed for a party of 5 guests! What!!!
This is a hugh step in the wrong direction. I have a party of six and love the Catagory 1 and 2 suites on the Magic and Wonder. I guess Disney expects me to book two rooms for the Dream?! I don’t think so. They missed the ship here!!!
Just wanted to let you know , that on the Disney Dream , the Queen Size Beds in the cabins CAN NOT be switched into twins.
Deb – thanks for your great coverage! Love coming to the site and reading all the reports.
Can you relay any info on the Quiet Cove pool area? It looks smaller and almost enclosed on what I can make out on the model — and only one hot tub. Did you get any info on that area? Will it include a bar similar to Signals?
Thanks!
Dale – I’ll see if I can get any information about the Quiet Cove pool and Signals.
As always Thanks debs for this great review/report. The whole ship looks totally awesome and I can not wait to try it.
This ship just continues to impress. But it has me wondering if Disney will eventually bring the Magic & Wonder in to bring them up to speed with the new ships. Replace one or two of the restaurants, the lounges, the children’s areas, perhaps add the virtual portholes to the inside cabins (if that’s even possible).
YES! Thank you so much for all of your Dream postings. Once I got thru with DVC, I was able make my reservation for the maiden voyage. We have a Deluxe Oceanview with Verandah on deck 9. All of your prompt postings from the press release were a huge help. Thanks again and I look forward to sailing with you!!!
Lori I will see you on the Maiden Voyage!
We always appreciate reading the information you post and it always makes our trips more meaningful and easier, especially with a special needs son.
I have been looking over stateroom sizes and have noticed that most stateroom square footage has decreased. We are Gold Castaway Club members and always booked a cat. six on the Magic/Wonder and now are concerned that the equivalent stateroom on the Dream is sixty square feet smaller. Why would that be? Have they perhaps reduced their prices? Also, I noticed that the number of inside staterooms has decreased. Is that because they in the past did not sell out on the other ships?
Just curious. My agent is going to try to transfer our dummy ressie today on the Dream…here’s hoping.
Thank you for your time.
Jackie Psarianos
DEB: Hi Jackie – Yes, the staterooms are smaller on the Disney Dream. As you may know, all the categories have changed as well. I need to get uptospeed on those. I think the goal was to have as many outside cabins as possible. With expanded public areas on the ships, it makes sense to reduce the number of inside cabins. Still LOTS to learn about the new ship!