Disney Cruise Dream Ship with Babies & Toddlers
Disney Dream is indeed dreamy for families. This Disney Cruise Line ship is 40 percent larger than its predecessors, Wonder and Magic. It offers the same outstanding customer service and delightful details, plus some extra frills. Not only has my family loved sailing Dream, but I have also asked other family travel experts to weigh in on their experience aboard this incredible ship. Here’s what to expect when sailing Disney Dream with babies, toddlers, and children.
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Family Pools on Disney Dream
When we sailed Disney Dream, my then-kindergartner, Karissa, had a grand ol’ time swimming about in Donald’s Pool for families and Mickey’s Pool for smaller sailors. To enjoy the pools with less crowds, Margie DQ with DQ Family Travels suggests staying on board the ship for splash-time fun on port days while most cruisers are on shore.
If sailing with young children, take note that there is a 48-inch height requirement to experience Dream’s AquaDuck water coaster. Jodi Grundig with Family Travel Magazine recommends queueing up for AquaDuck Water Coaster first thing in the morning to avoid long lines. She says, “My kids love the Aquaduck the most. It’s a completely unique experience that’s only available on the Dream and Fantasy, and is fun for kids and adults.”
Nemo’s Reef for Tots
Most cruise ships do not allow non-potty-trained children to swim in their pools for obvious sanitary reasons. Thankfully for young families, though, Disney Cruise Line offers special splash areas just for little ones.
On Disney’s older ships, Magic and Wonder, the splash area is simply one small round play area with a steady stream of shooting water. Don’t get me wrong, my daughter adored this option on our Disney Mediterranean Cruise when she was a toddler. But Nemo’s Reef on Dream blows that out of the water!
Nemo’s Reef splash area, adjacent to the family pools, is resplendent with characters from Finding Nemo which spray, sprinkle, and mist water for giggling children. The preschooler set especially loves a small stingray-shaped waterslide.
It’s a Small World Nursery for Babies & Toddlers
The darling It’s a Small World Nursery is painted in the fanciful style of the Disney ride for which it is named. Babies and toddlers (aged 3 months to 3 years) enjoy crafts, toys, books, and games at tables just their size. Numerous cribs set at the back of the nursery provide a serene space for nap time. They even have several strollers on hand for babies and toddlers who need a little ride to induce sleep.
A one-way window allows parents to peek at little ones without disturbing their play. This was a handy tool on our first Disney Cruise on Magic. My husband and I would drop off a crying toddler and return five minutes later to find our daughter happily at play.
Trying to decide whether to place your newly potty-trained child in the nursery or the camps for older kids? Officially, children should be at least 3 years old to participate in Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab.
However, younger children who are potty trained are welcomed on a case-by-case basis. Oceaneer children must find and use the restrooms on their own, though, without reminders from counselors. This proved to be too much independence for our not-quite 3-year-old, Leo. After one accident, we placed our son in the more attentive care of It’s a Small World Nursery.
Keep in mind that there is an additional hourly charge for children in the nursery. Additionally, space may be limited. This is especially true during peak times like spring break and summer. Make reservations for the nursery online before cruising or soon after you board the ship.
Oceaneer Club & Oceaneer Lab for Children
You might have a hard time convincing your children to depart the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab, designed for children ages 3 to 12. The Oceaneer areas are joined. This allows kids to wander between the two, choosing which space and activities appeal to them most. Both feature a Magic PlayFloor, where kids’ movements control the action. For example, children can step into the futuristic world of Tron for a team-based game or pretend to fly over the streets of London like Peter Pan.
Oceaneer Club is geared toward younger children, with themed play areas like Andy’s Room from Toy Story, Pixie Hollow from Tinkerbell, the Explorer Pod a la Finding Nemo, and Monster’s Academy for fans of Monsters, Inc.
Added to Oceaneer Lab in 2015, Star Wars: Millennium Falcon, is a Force-filled play area inspired by the spacecraft from the legendary saga. Another exciting addition is the Disney Infinity game room, with virtual toys and environments exclusive to Disney Cruise Line.
For those traveling with older kids, there is also a club for tweens (Edge)and another for teens (Vibe).
Dining on Dream with Kids
As on other Disney ships, evening meals are eaten in three rotation restaurants on Dream. Dining in rotation means you keep your same table mates and waitstaff but eat in a different restaurant each evening. Kimberly Tate, editor of Stuffed Suitcase, says, “My family loved moving around to different dining rooms each night but keeping our same servers. This was fabulous for families with allergies since your servers know about your allergies every time!”
Animator’s Palate
Animator’s Palate is a favorite among Disney Dream cruisers. This unique restaurant’s walls come to life with Disney animation while diners enjoy their meals. Dream’s version features video screens with characters from Finding Nemo that come to life when the sea turtle, Crush talks to diners.
Enchanted Garden
Enchanted Garden is a whimsical restaurant filled with colorful flowers and vine-shaped trellises. In the restaurant’s center sits a tiered fountain topped with a Cupid Mickey Mouse. This casual but beautiful restaurant was inspired by the gardens of Versailles.
Royal Palace
The most elegant of the rotation restaurants, Royal Palace makes guests feel like royalty. Diners are immersed in lavish surroundings inspired by Disney princess movies. Expect French-inspired continental fare here.
Cabanas
For a casual breakfast, lunch, and dinner option, there is the beach-themed Cabanas food court. This restaurant is not part of the rotation restaurants. Go here for a buffet with an overwhelming variety of foods to meet the needs of even the pickiest child or adult. I love how Disney Dream caters to cruisers from around the world with breakfasts of bagels and lox, miso soup, eggs and bacon, muesli, and more.
Snacks
Satisfy hunger during non-mealtimes with additional snacking options available poolside. Think sandwich wraps, chicken tenders, fresh fruit, and frozen smoothies.
Vanellope’s Sweets and Treats
Craving something sweet? Inspired by “Wreck-It-Ralph” — Vanellope’s Sweets and Treats offers a tempting array of handmade gelato and ice cream, candies, and other treats for purchase.
Family-Friendly Staterooms
Disney Cruise Line staterooms boast larger floor plans than most cruise lines. I really appreciate the privacy curtains divide the children’s area from the parents’ bed. Additionally, two separated sinks make getting ready for the day a breeze. Plus, all staterooms include bathtubs — a rarity on cruise ships. This makes it easy to bathe babies, toddlers, and other young children while at sea.
My daughter gleefully climbed into her top bunk in our stateroom during our Disney Dream cruise. For you nervous mamas like me, rest assured that her bed was secured with a safety railing. We also received a removable safety railing for my son’s lower bunk. Karissa adored sleeping beneath a painted nighttime sky dotted with stars—just another delightful Disney detail!
Inside staterooms on Dream feature Magic Portholes, which show live video views outside the ship. The best part? Disney characters like Dumbo or Nemo float past these portholes to surprise guests. Magic Portholes also transport cruisers to a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars images.
Animated Artwork
Disney even adds magic to the art hung on the walls of Dream. When approached, some of the ship’s artwork comes to life with animation.
Also, this interactive art is utilized by cruisers for an electronic scavenger hunt of sorts. Jodi with Family Travel Magazine has sailed six whopping times on Dream with her kids and she says the Midship Detective Agency is one of her family’s favorite activities. She explains, “It’s a self-guided interactive mystery where kids follow clues on the various screens located midship. They loved running around the ship finding the various clues.”
Beth Henry, editor of Cloud Surfing Kids agrees. She says, “My kids’ very favorite thing was playing detective with the interactive pictures throughout the ship. We spent hours following the clues and solving the mystery. It was so magical and exciting to hold a card up and watch a still painting come to life!”
Other Special Disney Touches
Disney Cruise Line offers all sorts of unique touches. Expect character meet-and-greets, Broadway-caliber live shows, and first-run Disney movies in the ship’s movie theatre. Plus, Disney is the only cruise line to offer fireworks at sea.
Beth says, “We loved coming back to the room each night to find the Origami towels folded on the bed and the chocolates on the pillows.” Those little touches really add up!
What really makes a Disney cruise special, though, is over-the-top attention to detail and incredible customer service. Crew members make every effort to ensure all guests are entertained and cared for — from babies, toddlers and children, to teens and adults.
Dream Itineraries & Beyond
Disney Dream offers three, four, and five-night cruises to The Bahamas, with a day or two spent at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.
If you plan to sail on Dream (and you should!), I’d go for the longest cruise you can afford. I felt an incredible sense of “hurry up and have fun” on our two-night preview cruise.
On the other hand, Jodi prefers the shorter cruises. She says, “We love the amenities and service offered on the Disney Cruise Line. We especially enjoy cruising on the Disney Dream because the itineraries are 3-4 days. That way, we can combine a cruise with a few days at the Disney parks.”
Save on Your Disney Dream Cruise
Do you want to save money on your Disney Dream Cruise? Of course you do! Call our partner, Get Away Today or visit them online to book your Disney Cruise vacation. In addition to the best information, you can get bonuses like extra on board credits and Mickey and Minnie plushes when you mention Travel Mamas sent you. Book your Disney Cruise with Get Away Today now!
Read more about Disney Cruise Line and check pricing via CruiseDirect.
More Cruise Tips
Before setting sail, take a look at what to pack for a Disney Cruise.
Not sure which ship is best for your family? Learn how to choose a Disney Cruise.
Get tips for sailing with kids, no matter the cruise line.
Read about the best cruise mocktails, perfect for parents and kids alike.
Keep these Disney Dream with Kids Tips
If you’re considering sailing Disney Dream with kids (and I think you are!), be sure to keep these tips for future reference. Just save the pin above to Pinterest. You might as well follow Travel Mamas on Pinterest while you’re at it!
Would you like to sail Disney Dream with babies, toddlers and children? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
A Note from The Travel Mama: Disney hosted my family’s Disney Dream Christening Cruise. I was singing the praises of Disney Cruise Line long before I became a travel writer!
Can you comment on the safety of the ship for preschoolers? Did you ever feel nervous having them near the edges or railings? Thanks!
Hi Lauren – I worried about this as well before my first family cruise. Honestly, though, I wasn’t worried at all once I was onboard the ship. If you’re going to get a room with a balcony, you will need to watch kids on the balcony every minute, of course. Really, though, unless they climb up and over the balcony railing, I don’t know how anyone ever falls off a cruise ship. I know it happens, but it’s rare and usually alcohol or foul play is involved. Having said all of that, I would highly recommend booking a Disney Cruise without worries! Enjoy!
Oh wow. This would make a perfect vacation for the entire family! I will have to check this out. Love that family stateroom and the many activities that would keep my grandchildren entertained the whole time.
A Disney Cruise would be SO MUCH FUN with your grandkids!
That is really an amazing experience for the whole family! Thank you so much for the tips!
Happy to share tips on the fabulous Disney Dream ship!
How very cool that had to be to experience. I guess I haven’t thought about doing a Disney Cruise before and now I will be keeping it in mind. Everything looks so amazing. Which I wouldn’t expect anything less from Disney.
I’m so glad I’ve convinced you to consider a Disney Cruise, Brianne! I really do love this cruise line for all ages.