This post contains affiliate links and our team will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on the links.
In January of 2011 a new ship will set sail in the Disney fleet. The Dream is a new 1,114 ft behemoth featuring 14 Guest floors adorned with an Art Deco style. This ship is 50 percent longer than any other Disney ship with 1,250 staterooms.
This ship features an on-board water coaster unavailable on any other ship in the cruise industry. Stretching 765 feet and spanning 4 decks the AquaDuck Experience extends over the ship’s edge, 150 feet above water. High powered water jets will accelerate guests up to 20 ft. per second. The AquaDuck also features 335 ft. of river rapids. Guests are whisked through an enclosed tunnel of specialized lighting and magical effects – which can be seen through portholes in the tween club. The majority of the water coaters design is made from a clear acrylic allowing riders a stunning panoramic view. Once night falls, the AquaDuck immerses guests in a unique nighttime experience combining the water coaster with customized lighting.
Other unique family offerings include a higher capacity Walt Disney Theater featuring a new stage show along with the other classic Disney Cruise Line shows. The new Buena Vista Theater will span two decks and offer first-run movies and offers easier access for guests with disabilities. The family pool and Mickey children pool returns along with a 1,022 sq. ft. Arr-cade.
Disney Cruise Line is also offering other brand-new family-friendly innovations aboard the Disney Dream. Around the atrium lobby and throughout the ship, Enchanted Art will surprise guests as seemingly normal paintings come to life before your very eyes. Paintings appearing to be animation cells from classic animated Disney films will appear to be just another photo, but what the guest won’t notice is that it may actually be a framed LCD screen with motion sensing technology that will cause the animation to be activated when a guest stops to look. Scenes will change from day-to-day causing guests to see different animation the next time they see the Enchanted Art.
The Virtual Porthole featured in all the 150 inside staterooms brings another cruise industry first to the Disney Dream. Each Virtual Porthole offers a real-time view via cameras from around the ships exterior. Now all rooms have a “view” with several equipped with magical surprises throughout the day. Guests may see Peach the starfish from Disney/Pixar film Finding Nemo crawl across the “porthole” or even a haunted pirate ghost ship.
For the young ones, there are now five new youth areas divided up for toddlers, children, tweens and teenagers.
It’s a Small World Nursery offers an inviting comfortable space for infants and toddlers ages three months to three years. Parents and children can interact with counselors upon entering creating a relationship from the start.
Disney’s Oceaneer Club, is a 7,610 sq. ft. child-friendly oasis that immerses kids to different magical lands including Andy’s Room, Monster’s Academy, Pixie Hollow and Explorer Pod (inspired by Finding Nemo). The central rotunda with a Never Land theme is the main gathering place and hub. Constellations of Disney characters created with fiber optics light up the ceiling. The focal point is a stage where children can create and star in their own performances or interact with Finding Nemo star Crush, the animated sea turtle, via a 103-inch plasma screen. This living character technology has hit all the Disney resort destinations with attractions like “Turtle Talk”, “Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor” at the Magic Kingdom in Florida, and similar interactive shows featuring Stitch in other locations.
Disney’s Oceaneer Lab will feature more fun adventures for children with Animator’s Studio where children can use their own imagination to create original hand-drawn art or a computer-animated character with help of their counselors. The Sound Studio allows children who dream to be a rock star to create their own music and lyrics, and record it. The Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab are open for 3-to-10-year-old children.
Teens familiar with the Disney Magic or Wonder will be impressed with this 9,000 sq. ft. teen club, Vibe. For ages 14 to 17, this teen-only club allows for a relaxing parentless atmosphere for teens to interact with one another or play some video games, watch movies, or download new music in the media room. Teens will be able to edit videos using the latest programs or just lounge and surf the net via their own WiFi-enabled laptop. Outside, teens have their own private deck equipped with their very own pool and sun bathing area. At night, teens can dance the night away in the club area or take part in talent shows, karaoke contests and dance competitions.
Tween Club, Edge, allows tweens ages 11 to 13 to enjoy a lofty-style space with tons of hi-tech entertainment. There’s a game wall, notebook computers, a lighted dance floor, and photo postcard/video karaoke station for them to take part in.
How about the adults? Where along with great shopping, an adult pool and great family entertainment available in the two theaters, there is also The District. This night time “Pleasure Island” aboard a ship is an adult-exclusive nighttime entertainment space on the Disney Dream. Each venue has its own unique design, look, feel and sound.
The adult venue includes:
- District Lounge – sophisticated, yet relaxed area featuring live piano music and entertainment
- Metro Pub – warm, welcoming and casual – a modern interpretation of a traditional pub
- Pink – an elegant and upscale cocktail lounge serving champagne and top-shelf libations
- Skyline – a chic, metropolitan “sky bar” with ever-changing views of stunning city skylines
- Evolution – inspired by the evolution of the butterfly, a dynamic, contemporary nightclub
Also available just for adults is the Senses Spa & Salon offering adult’s serenity with 17 private rooms, spa villas with indoor treatment rooms and private outdoor verandahs along with Rainforest, a special section to relax the mind and body.
Palo returns with a new unique design. This adult only restaurant offers beautiful ocean vistas while a pianist serenades guests in this romantic getaway.
Rotational dining remains on this new ship with two new restaurant concepts along with the return of Animator’s Palate.
The rotational dining restaurants include:
- Animator’s Palate, a signature Disney Cruise Line restaurant that brings the magic of Disney animation into the dining room for a unique experience that will captivate the entire family.
- Royal Palace, an elegant restaurant inspired by the classic Disney films “Cinderella,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Sleeping Beauty.”
- Enchanted Garden, a whimsical, casual restaurant inspired by the gardens of Versailles and featuring a dining environment that magically transforms from day to night.
There are quite a few new features and offerings that will be available on the Disney Dream, but to be honest, there are 13 press releases for this new ship and there is no possible way for everything to be put in one article… well at least in one article that someone would want to read all the way through. The Dream is definitely promising to be the competition to beat and with a 4th ship on its way shortly after The Dream debuts, Disney will have one wonderful fleet of ships with more options and itineraries available to cater everyone’s needs.
The Disney Dream will offer three, four, and five-night cruises to the Bahamas and Disney’s private island Castaway Cay, which will also be expanding to accommodate the larger crowds. For more information, check out DisneyCruise.com.
(check out this virtual tour of the new ship)
Disney Dream Fact Sheet
Birthplace Meyer Werft shipyard – Papenburg, Germany
Maiden Voyage Jan. 26, 2011
Home Port Port Canaveral, Fla.
Ship’s Registry Bahamas
Tonnage 128,000 gross tons
Length 1,114 feet
Beam 121 feet
Draft 26 feet
Height 187 feet
Speed 22 knots cruising speed (maximum 23.5 knots)
Crew 1,453
Passenger Decks 14
Capacity 4,000 passengers
Staterooms 1,250
•150 Inside Staterooms (12%)
•1,100 Outside Staterooms (88%)
· 199 Ocean view
· 860 Verandah
· 21 Suites (with verandah)
Itineraries
Three-, four- and five-night Bahamian itineraries departing from Port Canaveral, Fla.
Main Public Areas
Atrium Lobby – Deck 3
Walt Disney Theatre (1,340 capacity, 8,708 sf) – Decks 3 and 4
Buena Vista Theatre (399 capacity, 5,188 sf) – Decks 4 and 5
Broadway Treats / Hollywood & Wine concessions – Deck 3
Bon Voyage atrium lobby bar – Deck 3
Vista Café – Deck 4
Shutters (Capturing Memories) – Deck 4
Vista Gallery art gallery – Deck 4
Guest Services – Deck 3
Port Adventures – Deck 5
Family Areas
D Lounge – Deck 4
AquaDuck water coaster
Donald Pool family pool – Deck 11
Mickey Pool children’s pool – Deck 11
Arr-cade (1,022 sf) – Deck 11
Mickey’s Mainsail, Sea Treasures, Whitecaps retail shops – Deck 3
Whozits & Whatzits retail shop – Deck 11
