'Don't Miss' On the Disney Dream

Submitted by Greg Seiter, January 24, 2011

As I look back on my time aboard the Disney Dream cruise ship last week, there are many experiences that stand out in my mind. The Christening cruise was an abbreviated one (two nights), so I wasn't able to do everything I wanted. But based on what I WAS able to personally sample, here are a three things, in no particular order, that shouldn't be missed when sailing on the Disney Dream:
The Walt Disney Theatre
Theatrical productions aboard the ship are truly first-class and often combine high-tech elements such as lasers and special lighting with brightly-costumed characters. The in-theater sound quality is excellent and the seats are spacious and comfortable. Yes, the shows performed there generally have a childhood theme to them--I saw "Disney's Believe" and "The Golden Mickeys: A Timeless Tribute"--but I assure you, there's nothing childish or amateur in regards to the quality of these productions. No matter your age, you'll enjoy Disney's on-board shows but if you simply can't make it to at least one, be sure to visit the theatre. For a moment, you might actually think you're on Broadway.

Castaway Cay
I was saddened when I heard a young woman on board say she wasn't going to bother even visiting Castaway Cay while we were docked there. She said the place was just for kids. Although there's certainly plenty for kids to do there, nothing could be further from the truth. Castaway Cay is Disney's private Bahamian island and is open only to Disney Cruise Line passengers. Once there, guests can rent just about everything from waverunners to paddle boats and can even partake in stingray feeding sessions. Some enjoy snorkeling in the bay area while others prefer to simply relax on the beach. During our visit, Disney Dream cast members temporarily left the ship in order to serve as Castaway Cay cast members for the day (the same holds true for other Disney cruises as well). While there, we toured private rental cabanas but ultimately, we ended up in a semi-secluded adult-only beach area. There are a couple of small gift/necessity shops at Castaway Cay too and the prvided lunch consist of things like hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, chips and cookies.

AquaDuck
Found only on the Disney Dream, AquaDuck is a 765-foot-long water coaster (think of an enclosed water-tubing ride) that transports guests who are 48 inches and taller up, down and all around four decks of the ship while aboard a two-person inflatable raft.A small section of the ride, which is fast enough to be exciting but not enough so to be scary, even extends out over the side of the ship. While I was fortunate enough to experience AquaDuck, not everybody on board was as lucky. Limited operational hours and an uncooperative raft lift that ultimately broke down, prevented some from being able to partake during our cruise. My advice...once on board the Dream, make the AquaDuck one of your immediate priorities. Lines are bound to be long at times and you just never know when a mechanical breakdown is going to limit participation opportunities.

Photo Gallery
And now, since a picture is worth a thousand words, here's a selection of Disney Dream photos from my friend and photographer Paul Chen: