Welcome to planDisney, Kristen! I still remember the very first Disney Cruise I took with my young family almost twenty years ago and I’m so excited you’re about to make those magical memories together for the first time!
One of the reasons I love sailing with Disney Cruise Line is because they offer
complimentary room service 24 hours a day (up until 1:30 AM on the final day of your cruise). This includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, late-night snacks, and my personal favorite, Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bars.
In my experience, you can expect room service to arrive at your stateroom door around 20-30 minutes after placing your order. Wait times can vary and are typically busier around the traditional meal times. While room service is free and I prefer to
pre-pay gratuities before our cruise, I like to keep cash on hand to tip the Cast Members who deliver our room service meals to us.
Two other dining options to keep in mind in addition to room service and your scheduled rotational dining restaurants are Cabanas (a buffet-style eatery) and Flo’s Cafe on the pool deck, where you’ll find many kid-friendly menu choices like burgers, chicken fingers, and pizza. And let’s not forget the complimentary soft serve right around the corner at Eye Scream Treats!
Kristen, I completely understand wanting to arrive early for the shows. The Broadway-style musicals at sea are some of the best live entertainment I’ve ever seen (and I live in Music City!). Beauty and the Beast is my favorite, but they are all truly fantastic. I recommend purchasing a popcorn bucket on your first night so you can enjoy affordable refills throughout your sailing (even when you’re not watching a show). I also suggest trying seats on both levels of the Walt Disney Theatre as your little ones may enjoy the perspective of being on the front row of the balcony overlooking all the action as well.
No matter the show or the meal, I know your family will be enchanted with the many offerings on the
Disney Dream. It’s one of my favorite ships in the fleet, especially because of AquaDuck and Vanellope’s Sweets & Treats. Make sure to check out the
deck plan to familiarize yourself with all the spaces on the ship and download the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator app so you have the daily schedule in the palm of your hand for the duration of your journey. If you think of any other questions before you set sail, don’t hesitate to hop back to us here at
planDisney.
Embrace the magic,
Sami