It is finally here! After keeping our trip a secret from the kids for 6 months, the kids peer out the window of our van with a bewildered look as the catch their first sight of the magnificent Disney Dream. They are in shock and are not sure if our complaining about going the wrong way (we were supposed to get to Walt Disney World by now) on the highway blamed on our new GPS is fact or fiction. The astounded, "I can't believe it, pinch me I'm dreaming" look is priceless and has already made the trip memorable before it has really started. The smiles on their faces are suddenly unending. The wheels in their heads start turning and all of a sudden the vacation discussions and plans start to make sense, they've been duped, a late April Fools Day prank, they know we pulled one over on them but are elated about it. Take that know it all kids, hahaha...Mom & Dad can get things done without your knowing after all.
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| The Disney Dream |
We were happy to learn about the new Disney ship at least a year ago, we have sailed their others ( the Magic & the Wonder) and while we had great times and many memories from our voyages we look forward to something new. We all watched the building of the ship on Facebook updates, You Tube videos, webinars and e-mails. We already were feeeling a connection to the ship and were proud that our favorite cruise line was building this new "playground at sea" for our enjoyment. As usual Disney did not disappoint.
Check-in was a breeze but of course there is always a log jam of people getting on ships of any kind. If you have ever been to a Disney park you know that keeping lines moving is something they have a lot of practice with, so they have used their experience to break up the boarding process into groups, still not perfect but it did alleviate a crowded gangway and kept things moving. We arrived early as did many others, this ship has generated a lot of excitement and hype, touting the fine Disney product and highlighting the only water roller coaster at sea, the AquaDuck.
The entry way like the rest of the ship is breathtaking, elegance meets Disney. One would hardly think this ship was built for families and children, shimmering chandeliers, finely polished woods, amazing artwork incorporating just enough Disney characters to catch the attention but not too much to take away from the beauty and the detail of the decor. Our first impression...This will be an amazing journey for all ages.
My least favorite part of any cruise (besides leaving at the end of course) is always the first lunch buffet. The buffet is always open when guests begin boarding the ship, pretty much across the board this happens on every cruise line. It is always understandably, a bit confusing and hectic. The ship is new to the majority of guests, not sure where to go or what to do next, excited to finally be on vacation they clamor for the beautifully set up buffet. There is so much to do and so little time seems to be the feel, especially on this ship...we are no exception to this, the kids can't wait to get on the AquaDuck which is already open (ok, I admit it me too) and the anticipation of touring the ship we watched being built is really lifting our energy level. Let's eat and let the games begin. As expected the buffet was plentiful and offered a good variety to fit the tastes of just about anyone. I am immediately drawn to a mountain of shrimp & crab claws kept at a perfect temperature by the hills of ice they were piled on. Of course this was just the tip of the iceberg (no pun intended), the other food was equally good, so much so it was hard to decide where to start. Of course for less sophisticated tastes and for the kids (about 1000 expected on-board I am told), pizza, chicken fingers, pasta and sandwiches beckoned but of course a focal point for many was the dessert section. I see a lot of elliptical machine time ahead after this trip.
Disney (like other lines) in trying to avoid long buffet lines encourage guests to go to the buffet section of their choice, no need to stand in line for the whole thing if you did not want anything from that section. A good idea but in reality it doesn't seem to work well, it creates a little bit of chaos and some guests are either a bit rude , not knowing where to cut in and some not used to this feel like people are jumping front of them on line. Old habits are hard to break, believe it or not people want to stand in line (or so it seems).
After lunch we set off on our tour of the ship.Kids of all ages cannot help being excited and elated about this ship. The small children's area, tucked neatly in the shade next to the pool area brings Disney's Finding Nemo to life, it looks like so much fun that even the older children (over 9) want to go in the enclosed area to play. This is the "fun" deck where pools, play areas, slides, the AquaDuck and the amazingly large video screen are located, a dream come true for children whose smiles were shining ear to ear.
The artwork around the ship is striking, a good mix of animation art, sketches and paintings, Disney themed, some subtle some right off of the animators easel. Some of the artwork is interactive, that sounds mundane but it brings a smile to everyone who catches it. There are paintings that move, "...did that mickey just blink?" and change before your eyes.After a few cocktails playing tricks on unsuspecting friends with these could make you laugh for days.
There is even a fun family scavenger hunt type game played on board that gives clues to solving a mystery the player finds the piece of art, stands in front of it just right and activates the artwork, revealing an animated vingnette and a clue, this hunt takes you all around the ship, a lot of walking but is a great way to get accustomed to the ship and see the wonderful detail they have built intro the ship.
The journey begins.
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