Anyone sailing on the Dream?

[steelers1933]

We are going this November for 3 nights on the Dream and then 4 nights at BLT.

We would have done it the other way around, but I saw a clip where the DCL Mom's Panel person really urged Guests to try it this way, so we're a-goin' - cannot WAIT!!!!

Kinda hope we love cruising and it becomes a new dimension of our Disney vacations - excited!

We are doing the opposite very soon. We leave in 9 days for 5 nights at BLT followed by 3 nights on Dream. We too have never been on a cruise. I will share our perspective when we return and would like to hear yours in Nov.

[DiZ NeE 08]

We are doing the opposite very soon. We leave in 9 days for 5 nights at BLT followed by 3 nights on Dream. We too have never been on a cruise. I will share our perspective when we return and would like to hear yours in Nov.

Ohh that sounds like it's going to be an amazing vacation! I hope you post pics and a tr!

[Presley]

I just did a 3 night Dream cruise last month. It was my first cruise ever and I thought it was great. There were a lot of frequent Disney Cruisers who complained a lot, though. Apparently, the service isn't as good as the Wonder (I thought the service was exceptional, but I have nothing to compare it to).

Personally, I'd go back every year, but I have to fly across the country to get there, so I may not ever make there again.

[DiZ NeE 08]

Dang! sorry to here that Presley...

[ggsheadtodiz]

Really? What was their rationale for recommending the cruise first?

We did a cruise after 5 days at the parks and enjoyed that approach. I felt like it gave me time to actually relax after running around WDW non-stop for a few days.

It was a Mom who said the typical "most people do it the other way to rest from the parks" kind of thing - like everyone is saying here. But she was the "official" Disney Cruise Moms panel mom, had done many and suggested the other way. Her rationale was that she felt the cruise should be enjoyed on its own merit with all the energy to really "be" there. Her feeling was that if you are "relaxing/recovering" from the parks you could miss out on being "present" for the cruise; having energy to explore it; absorb it, etc.

I personally also feel strongly that traveling from the ship all the way home in one day would be more difficult for us than having something to look forward to at BLT. Cruises are so relaxing and otherworldly that the jolt of leaving the ship and going straight to all that travel with 2 little ones and then being home the same day is too much of a transition for me. WDW and BLT are our "step down" and then off to home 5 days (4nights) later.

Of course, the travel TO the cruise is as long as leaving, but I am excited to leave home and head to the ship. So, I feel like we will all have the motivation and excitement to get kids from the long plane to the long bus without it being to stressful for the grownups. THAT is more tiring to me than the Parks - LOL. The cruise is my decompress from life at home and the travel down. Key here may be the word "mom" in Moms Panel. Easier for moms of little ones maybe?

We can rest, decompress but have the energy to explore and enjoy the cruise - Then off to BLT where we will go fairly easy on ourselves Parks-wise. Also, BLT is our home resort, so we feel like home there. It is relaxing for us and the proximity to MK makes those days less of a "trek."

When we head home, the trip is shorter. And I am okay coming home a bit tired. I am sure the memories will be well worth it. I am excited to see if it works - great thing about DVC is that if our plan isn't superb - there's always next time!

[TimK]

But she was the "official" Disney Cruise Moms panel mom, had done many and suggested the other way. Her rationale was that she felt the cruise should be enjoyed on its own merit with all the energy to really "be" there. Her feeling was that if you are "relaxing/recovering" from the parks you could miss out on being "present" for the cruise; having energy to explore it; absorb it, etc.

Meh. To each their own but personally I think it takes a lot more energy to "explore" and "absorb" the parks than a cruise ship. I had no problems seeing and doing everything that I wanted on the ship without nearly the amount of physical exertion required to tour hundreds-of-acres of theme park over 4-5 days.

[ggsheadtodiz]

We are doing the opposite very soon. We leave in 9 days for 5 nights at BLT followed by 3 nights on Dream. We too have never been on a cruise. I will share our perspective when we return and would like to hear yours in Nov.

Wow - sounds great - enjoy - tell us all about it!!! And we'll do the same - excited!

[steelers1933]

One day left until we set sail. VERY excited, but sad to have to leave WDW and BLT as well.

[ggsheadtodiz]

One day left until we set sail. VERY excited, but sad to have to leave WDW and BLT as well.

Always sad to leave BLT! Have a GREAT cruise - BON VOYAGE!

[steelers1933]

We just returned yesterday from our 5 nights at BLT followed by 3 nights on Dream. Not sure I really can offer any advice on what is better, WDW then cruise or the reverse. Honestly I am leaning more towards doing the cruise instead of, versus in conjunction with, WDW. The Dream is a beautiful ship with so much going on. I really wish we would have had the opportunity to sail a few more days. The Oceaneer Club/Lab area was outstanding and very large with TONS of things for the kids to do ranging from low tech crafts to high tech interactive floor and computer games. Had a hard time dragging the kids out at the end of the night. The Pirate Party and fireworks were a lot of fun for all of us. The kids met a lot of characters new and old. One we had never seen before which they met on the cruise was Jack Sparrow. They did not know who he was but DS thought he was cool, cause he was a pirate. We loved the sit down dinner rotation and thought the food was very good. Animators' Palate was very cool for the kids--just think of dining with a mix of Turtle Talk with Crush and other Nemo characters visiting the table areas. The Royal Palace and Enchanted Garden were very nice and the dining rooms were filled with grandeur and just the right hint of Disney mixed in. Having the same server team for all the meals was a big plus. At least it was for us because we liked our team a lot. The only thing we really did not care for was the size of the kids and family pools. They were very small and over crowded because of it. I still have wounds healing from the one morning I spent with the kids at the pool.

Absolutely LOVED Castaway Cay!!!! Lots to do for everyone there including our young children. I would have been happy if the ship had just sailed straight to Castaway Cay and docked for 2 days.