Disney Dream cruise review: Disney magic on the high seas

Our verdict

Disney Dream's stunning atrium

If you're considering booking your first family cruise, then I have one piece of advice for you - make it a Disney ship.

Not only is the experience everything you would expect from a top-tier cruise line - including great food and first-class service - but some Disney magic gives it just that little bit extra. From stunning Broadway-calibre shows to watching your little one’s face light up as they get a cuddle from their favourite Disney princess, a Disney cruise is where memories are made.

We spent four nights on the Disney Dream, one of six cruise ships owned by Disney, and it was a truly unforgettable experience. From the second we stepped into the grand atrium to the sound of rapturous applause from the crew, we knew we were going to be treated like royalty.

Our spacious stateroom was comfortable and completely spotless, and the housekeeping staff bent over backwards to accommodate our every need. There were so many different activities on offer that the kids flopped into bed exhausted at the end of each day, and the words ‘I’m bored’ were not uttered once.

Yes, it's an expensive holiday (with the potential to get a lot more expensive once the kids discover the onboard shopping arcade) but it is fair to say that we got what we paid for - a holiday of a lifetime, with a little sprinkling of pixie dust.

How we tested

The kids enjoying the verandah

I spent four nights on the Disney Dream with my parents, my husband and our two kids, aged five and seven. We sailed from Southampton to Bilbao in Spain in August 2024. This was our second cruise as a family, but our first Disney cruise.

What are the cabins like?

We stayed in a spacious Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah, which was spotlessly clean and incredibly comfortable. There was some basic outdoor furniture on the verandah and the kids loved having the extra space to play, read, and watch the world go by.

The sofa bed and bunk bed configurations

Our queen-sized bed felt luxuriously comfy, while the kids slept on a sofa bed that could be transformed into a bunk bed with an upper bunk pulled down from the ceiling. When the upper bunk was down, it revealed a hidden mural of Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Wendy and her brothers soaring through a starry sky, which was a lovely touch.

The room was very open and airy, but there was a thick curtain that could be pulled at night, dividing the stateroom into two separate sleeping quarters, and giving everyone a bit of privacy.

Unlike our previous cruise, our cabin had a separate bathroom and toilet, which came in handy when everyone was trying to get ready at the same time. 

The only real downside was the lack of tea or coffee-making facilities in the stateroom, which meant we had to rely on room service or trek to the drinks station on the pool deck. This often meant waiting in line which could be quite chilly if we were after an evening brew. I feel that Disney may well have underestimated the Brits’ fondness for a cuppa.

What’s the entertainment like? 

Outside the Walt Disney Theatre

The entertainment on the Disney Dream was first class. In the evening there were three Broadway-quality shows to enjoy, including The Golden Mickeys, a mock award ceremony featuring show-stopping musical performances from Disney favourites, the stunning Beauty and the Beast, and Disney’s Believe, a charming musical about a workaholic father who reconnects with his daughter through a little Disney magic, featuring songs from Mary Poppins, Lion King and so much more. Each show was simply spectacular and it was impossible to choose a favourite.

Arrrgh! The Pirate Night deck party

We loved Pirate Night, which began with a special swashbuckling menu in the restaurant, followed by a Pirates of the Caribbean show and deck party. The staff helpfully left complimentary pirate bandanas in our staterooms so we could all join in the fun.

Playing detective with the Mid Ship Detective Agency

My kids loved the silent disco, making Disney-themed posters, trying their hand at shuffleboard and testing those little grey cells on one of many Disney quizzes that took place over the four days. The Mid Ship Detective Agency, a Disney whodunit that sends kids all over the ship searching for clues via interactive pictures on the wall, was also a big hit, even if it did involve an awful lot of walking.

Just like Disneyland Paris, character meet and greets are a huge part of the Disney cruise experience. The queues can be very long (over an hour for Rapunzel!), but the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app has times and locations for character appearances, which makes life much easier when tracking Mickey down for a family photo. Don’t worry if you get to the final night of the cruise and haven’t managed to grab a snap with your favourite character. The ship ran what can only be described as a Disney speed-dating event, where the characters were brought out en mass and we had a frenzied 15 to 20 minutes to steal a photo with those we had yet to meet (we ticked off Princess Tianna, Goofy and Pluto, so it’s definitely worth doing).

The characters that appear on the cruise are subject to change, so if your little one is desperate to meet a particular Disney Princess there is the option to book them a space for a Royal Gathering - but this does cost extra, plus tickets sell out well in advance of sailing.

If you're cruising without kids, or just need a break while the little ones check out the kids' clubs, there are plenty of adults-only spaces including the District Lounge, a relaxed piano bar featuring nightly entertainment and live music, Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar and the Quiet Cove Pool.

What are the pools like?

Clockwise from left: Mickey’s Pool, Quiet Cove Pool and riding the AquaDuck

In a word, busy. Just like many other cruises, the main pools and whirlpool spa were packed, leaving little space to actually swim. 

Nemo’s Reef splash pad

Undeterred, my five-year-old enjoyed Nemo’s Reef splash pad, while my seven-year-old spent much of her time repeatedly whizzing down Mickey’s Slide, a winding waterslide for kids aged four to 14.

However, the star attraction was the AquaDuck, a transparent water slide that winds all around the top of the pool deck, over the heads of sunbathers, and around the ship’s funnel. The kids, their dad and grandad loved the exhilarating ride and said it was well worth the 40-minute wait.

What’s the food like? 

Dinner onboard the Disney Dream was amazing. There were two evening dinner sittings to coincide with show times and we were assigned the later sitting ahead of boarding. The Disney Dream utilises rotational dining, meaning that each night we ate in a different restaurant - the Animator’s Palate, Enchanted Garden, or Royal Palace - taking our servers with us. As a side note, I honestly can’t praise our servers highly enough. Jonothan and Dwight easily won the kids over with jokes, high-fives, party tricks and sage advice about staying in school. They earned every single penny of their tips and deserve a big fat raise. 

Black bean chipotle cakes at the Animator’s Palate

Back to dinner and the food was wonderful. Although I’m not vegetarian, I had a couple of beautiful dishes from the veggie menu, including black bean chipotle cakes over corn kernels and brown rice, topped with tomato-cilantro salsa, and a tasty wild mushroom-stuffed pasta in a vegetable broth. My mum gave the thumbs up to the plentiful fish and seafood options. 

The kids' menu was limited and wasn’t wildly exciting, but tomato pasta, burgers, or mac and cheese chased down by a Mickey ice cream bar would probably be a hit with most kids rather than some of the fancier options you'd find on the adult menu. The ketchup served in the shape of Mickey Mouse went down well too.

Alcoholic drinks were not included in the cost of the evening meal and had to be bought separately. As you would expect, these were pricey and my mum forked out around £17 for a single glass of white wine, which, perhaps unsurprisingly, ended up being her only alcoholic drink on the boat (although she made up for it once we reached Spain). 

Seafood galore at Cabanas lunch buffet

Breakfast and lunch were served at Cabanas, a buffet restaurant with Australian beach vibes and no less than 10 serving stations ensuring that there was something for even the fussiest eaters.

Helping ourselves to ice cream at Eye Scream Treats

Pizzas and other poolside snacks were available throughout the day and unlimited soft-serve ice cream at Eye Scream Treats was also included in the price of the cruise. However, just next door was the oh-so-tempting Vanellope’s Sweets & Treats serving hand-scooped gelato. As these particular sugary delights cost extra, we stuck with the self-serve ice cream machine to satisfy the sweet-toothed members of the family.

What are the kids’ clubs like? 

The electronic wristband that allows access to the kids’ clubs

Disney’s Oceaneer Club is open to kids aged from three through to 10, and my two loved their encounters with the larger-than-life Toy Story gang in Andy’s Room, plus there was a chance for kids to pilot Han Solo’s spaceship through the Star Wars universe.

There were also hangouts for kids from babies all the way up to teens, including the "It's a small world" nursery (six months to three years), Edge (age 11-14) and Vibe (age 14-17), complete with interactive gaming areas for older children. Note that additional charges apply for the nursery.

There was a £15 deposit for the electronic wristband which allowed kids access to the clubs for the duration of the cruise.

What other amenities are on the Disney Dream?

If you're partial to a Disney film or two (let’s face it, you wouldn’t be on a Disney cruise if you weren’t), then you're spoilt for choice. As well as every Disney film imaginable available on the TV in the stateroom, there are a couple of options to see favourites on the big screen too.

Toy Story screening on Funnel Vision

The luxurious Buena Vista Theatre screened all the latest releases, including Inside Out 2 and Deadpool Vs Wolverine when we were on board. Alternatively, the open-air Funnel Vision - literally a cinema screen on the ship’s funnel - showed several Disney classics throughout the four-day sailing. We loved chilling on sun loungers while watching Toy Story and Wreck-It Ralph.

If you're looking for something to make your kids’ trip extra special, the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique sees the Fairy Godmother’s Apprentices transform children into princesses, knights, sea captains or salty pirates, depending on their preference. This magical makeover includes themed costumes, styling and accessories, but it does cost extra. Another popular add-on is the  Royal Court Royal Tea, which invites kids aged three to 12 to a fairytale tea party, meeting the Tea Hostess, Royal Pastry Chef and Disney Princesses regaled with songs, dancing and stories, with a special gift at the end. Just bear in mind that tickets sell out quickly and this paid experience is often fully booked when it’s time to set sail.

Why do people decorate their cabin doors on Disney cruises?

Decorated stateroom doors

We weren’t aware of this when we boarded, but door decor is a big thing on Disney cruises. Magnets, fairy lights, elaborate family name signs decorated with feathers and glitter…you name it, we found it plastered on the stateroom doors. 

It may make for a great Instagram picture, as well as being an easy way to identify your stateroom, but beware - if you use any tape, adhesive or over-the-door hanging organisers you might be slapped with a $100 (around £80) penalty fee per incident. Which is an extra expense you could probably do without.

What is Pixie Dusting on Disney cruises?

The haul from just two days of Pixie Dusting

Pixie Dusting is another Disney cruise tradition we were unaware of when we booked our trip. Pixie Dusting is the cute practice of leaving small, unexpected gifts or trinkets for other passengers. My kids naturally wanted to take part so, like many other families, we hung a bag up outside our door and soon found ourselves inundated with Disney pins, books, pens, pencil cases, stickers, magnets, Christmas decorations, bubble wands and all sorts of other goodies from fellow passengers (and we returned the favour wherever we could). One family went the extra mile and had specially prepared chocolates with their family’s Instagram handle splashed all over the Disney Princess-themed wrappers. 

It is possible to take part in this tradition without breaking the bank. My seven-year-old’s most treasured gift is a homemade Alice in Wonderland bookmark, so if you do want to do some Pixie Dusting on the cheap, my advice is to get crafting at home before you go.

What’s included in the price of a Disney Cruise?

Clockwise from left: Mickey’s Slide, inside the Oceaneer Club and mini golf

• Stateroom accommodation

• Daily breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks served in a variety of dining areas including upscale restaurants, casual diners and poolside snack bars

• 24-hour room service

• Entertainment, including Broadway-quality musicals, a chance to interact with your favourite Disney characters and attend deck parties

• Kids' clubs run by specially-trained Disney staff

• Access to adults-only nightclubs and lounges

• Use of pools and waterslides

The Royal Gathering, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and Royal Court Royal Tea cost extra, plus there are mandatory tips that are added to the bill at the end of the cruise. 

What are the excursions like?

Once we arrived in Bilbao, we took a shuttle from the cruise terminal to the city, which was easy to get around on foot. Here we enjoyed some authentic Spanish tapas, wine and ice cream, did some shopping and explored the sights and sounds of the city before travelling back via the shuttle.

We were happy to have a relaxed mooch around Bilbao, but if you're looking for something a bit more organised, Port Adventures offers shore excursions at each Disney Cruise port of call. Disney advises checking back with Port Adventures approximately 120 days prior to departure and booking in advance.

Disney Cruises departing from Southampton head to various European destinations including Belgium, France, Spain, the Norwegian Fjords and around the British Isles.

About the author

Laura Cooke is a freelance writer and mum-of-two living in Sussex. She has previously written family travel articles including a review of for Mumsnet and The Telegraph Travel.