While relaxing on board the Disney Dream this morning, I found myself noticing some of the special features Disney 'Imagineers' thoughtfully included in the ship's staterooms.

- An HDTV on an extendable swivel arm
- A nicely-equipped desk area, equipped with AC outlets and push-button light switches, including one for an overhead night light
- Comparable room space to most other cruise lines (don't worry, it's more than sufficient and after all, you won't be spending much time in your stateroom anyway)
- A full-length divider curtain that can be extended to separate the bed and bathroom area from the couch, desk and balcony
- Portable Wave Phone communication devices that allow for convenient person-to-person communication, whether on ship or ashore at Disney's private island, Castaway Cay
- A spacious underbed storage area
- Dual bathrooms--one equipped with a sink and toilet and the other equipped with a shower/tub and sink
- A box-like foot rest in front of the couch that can also be used as a nightstand or for additional storage.

Disney planners have also incorporated energy-efficient practices where possible. To that extent, it's good to know that in-room electricity cannot be accessed until a room key is placed in an activation slot next to the stateroom door. Just don't forget to pull your key out as you exit the room!

I was in an oceanview stateroom with a verandah which was beautiful but, if you stay in an interior stateroom, you'll get to see a first for the cruise industry - a 'porthole' that delivers a real-time view outside the ship. High-definition cameras placed on the exterior of the ship feed live video to each Magical Porthole, as they're called. Animated characters may also be spotted 'going by' like Peach the starfish from  “Finding Nemo,” the flying balloon house from “UP” or even Mickey Mouse.