I’ve sailed a lot in my lifetime, but there’s something about a Disney cruise that is extra special. Maybe it’s that pixie dust they scatter in the air.
Last summer, my father-in-law took the whole Bloom family for a Bahamas cruise on the Disney Dream. Lucy loved exploring the ship with her cousins Matthew and Alex, having sword fights on pirate night, splashing around in Nemo’s Reef, and lounging on Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.
For its horn signals, the ship uses the first seven notes of “When You Wish Upon a Star.” I was humming the tune for months afterward. Lucy got a book on the making of the ship called Welcome Aboard! The Creation of the Disney Dream, and it became one of her favorite bedtime stories.

Lucy and her cousins Alex and Matthew with Captain Mickey on our summer trip. (Photo: Jonathan Bloom)
After that trip, the Disney Dream went into dry dock and was overhauled. I wanted to go back and check out all the new features, from a serious Star Wars installation in Disney’s Oceaneer Club to an outpost of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.
This time around, Lucy and I went with the Begley side — including my niece Virginia, my brother Tom and his wife Kathleen, and Grandma and Grandpa.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes peek at what makes the Disney Dream so extraordinary.

Lucy goes warp speed on the Millennium Falcon. (Photo: Laura Begley Bloom)
For Star Wars fans, this ship is truly intergalactic, with a host of innovations that would make Luke Skywalker proud. You can get behind the controls on the Millennium Falcon, learn to operate a lightsaber in the Jedi Training Academy, or just battle good versus evil.
The Star Wars Millennium Falcon room is loaded with secrets, according to Walt Disney Creative Entertainment Producer Tony Giordano. “There are a lot of buttons, and if the kids push them in a certain way, they’ll cause the room to do something,” says Giordano. “You can hear Darth Vader’s breathing, and the whole room will turn red.”
It’s great for all ages, as Grandpa discovered when he visited during an open house and played Star Wars with Lucy.
Dreams come true in the new Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique — whether you want to become a princess or a pirate. Virginia chose a classic Cinderella look, while Lucy went punk-rock princess. Their fairy godmothers entertained them throughout the makeover process. I loved that Lucy’s fairy godmother, Carolyn, made everything sound so regal: she nicknamed Grandpa the “royal photographer” and told Lucy she was from the “far-off kingdom of Brooklyn.”

Two little princesses, after a visit to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. (Photo: Laura Begley Bloom)
You’ll find special features everywhere you look on the Disney Dream. “It’s Imagineers. They think of everything, from hidden Mickeys around the ship to enchanted artwork that comes to life,” say cruise director Jimmy Lynett.
Virtual reality comes aboard the ship in a way you’ve never seen. In the Oceaneer Club, there’s a high-tech space based on the Disney Infinity video game, where you can literally become one of the characters. Lucy and I took a turn at the controls — I became Maleficent, and Lucy became Joy from Inside Out, blue hair and all!

The Disney Dream, with its signature Mickey-themed color scheme and yellow lifeboats. (Photo: Disney Cruise Line)
The new Vanellope’s Sweets and Treats is a dream for a candy lover — there’s homemade gelato, handmade candies, and plenty of sweets from your youth.
Creating a candy store like this is no small feat. “It took us over a year to create Vanellope’s Sweets and Treats, over a hundred castmembers, Imagineers, our partners, Disney Cruise Line, and also Walt Disney Animation Studios to craft together this amazing space,” says David Handke, with Walt Disney Imagineering.
The staff on the Disney Dream goes above and beyond, too, whether that means doing magic tricks at your table or creating little origami gifts for the kids. The crew even goes ashore to help create magical moments for children in need in various ports of calls.

The family that sails together, stays together. (Photo: Disney Dream)
We checked out some of the shows, and I have to say that the performers are Broadway caliber. “The process to become a member that will be on our stage is just like going out for a Broadway show,” says Lynett, who is quite the star himself. He introduces all the shows in front of 1,340 passengers in the Walt Disney Theatre and makes regular announcements over the PA system.
There are also the simple pleasures of being out at sea, like playing ping-pong or putt-putt golf or just exploring the ship.

Princess putt-putt golf. (Photo: Laura Begley Bloom)
Another fabulous feature for families: the cabins. My parents, Lucy, and I stayed in a Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom together and were totally comfortable. In fact, there was so much room that Virginia almost had a slumber party with us one night. There’s a queen-size bed, a single sleeper sofa, a bunk bed that magically pulls out of the ceiling, and another twin-size bed hidden in the wall. The bath is split into two rooms — one for the toilet, another for the shower/tub — with a sink in each. It’s perfect for a family traveling together.
And what would a Disney cruise be without characters? You’ll see your favorite friends everywhere you look: Jake the Pirate, Minnie, Pluto, Daisy. And of course, there’s Captain Mickey. Ahoy Captain Mickey!
Best of all, there’s something for everyone on this amazing ship.
By Laura Begley Bloom
Very good post! We are linking to this great article on our website. Keep up the good writing.
Very neat blog. Fantastic.
Muchos Gracias for your blog post.Thanks Again. Really Great.
You made some decent points there. I looked on the net for additional information about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this site.
My spouse and I stumbled over here different page and thought I may as well check things out. I like what I see so now i’m following you. Look forward to checking out your web page repeatedly.
I’m still learning from you, while I’m trying to achieve my goals. I certainly love reading everything that is written on your website.Keep the stories coming. I loved it!
You are my breathing in, I have few web logs and infrequently run out from to brand.
I really like and appreciate your article.Really looking forward to read more.
I’ve learn several excellent stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how a lot attempt you set to create this kind of fantastic informative website.
Hi there, You have done a great job. I’ll definitely digg it and personally suggest to my friends. I’m confident they will be benefited from this site.
Good day! Would you mind if I share your blog with my facebook group? There’s a lot of people that I think would really appreciate your content. Please let me know. Many thanks
I cannot thank you enough for the post.Really thank you! Keep writing.
I truly appreciate this blog article. Really Great.
Thank you for your post. Cool.
I value the blog article.Really looking forward to read more. Will read on…
Thanks for the blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Cool.
Merely wanna say that this is very beneficial , Thanks for taking your time to write this.
I really like and appreciate your article.Really thank you! Fantastic.
Hey, thanks for the blog article.Thanks Again. Great.
Usually I don’t read article on blogs, but I wish to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do so! Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thank you, very great article.
What’s up it’s me, I am also visiting this web page daily, this site is genuinely good and the users are actually sharing fastidious thoughts.
I am so grateful for your post.Really looking forward to read more.
Appreciate you sharing, great blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Awesome.
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my weblog thus i came to return the favor.I am attempting to find things to enhance my website!I suppose its ok to use a few of your ideas!!
Hi, just wanted to tell you, I liked this article. It was helpful. Keep on posting!
A big thank you for your blog article.Much thanks again. Cool.
Nice blog here! Also your web site loads up fast! What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my weblog so i came to return the favor.I’m attempting to find things to improve my site!I suppose its ok to use a few of your ideas!!
I was studying some of your blog posts on this website and I conceive this website is real instructive! Retain posting.
Im obliged for the blog post. Want more.
Muchos Gracias for your article post.Much thanks again. Will read on…
Awesome blog post.Really thank you! Cool.
For most recent news you have to go to see the web and on web I found this site as a finest site for most recent updates.
It’s very straightforward to find out any topic on net as compared to textbooks, as I found this post at this website.
Liking the blog post.. thanks! My internet browsings seem total.. thanks. My internet browsings seem complete.. thank you. Love the admission you furnished..
I really enjoy the post.Thanks Again. Cool.
I really like and appreciate your blog article. Really Great.
Say, you got a nice article post.Really thank you!
Thanks for some other great article. The place else may just anyone get that type of information in such an ideal method of writing? I’ve a presentation next week, and I’m on the search for such info.
It’s very straightforward to find out any topic on net as compared to books, as I found this post at this website.
Thank you ever so for you article post.Thanks Again. Much obliged.
We’re a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your website offered us with valuable info to work on. You’ve done a formidable job and our entire community will be grateful to you.
Thanks for the auspicious writeup. It in reality was a leisure account it. Look complicated to more delivered agreeable from you! However, how could we be in contact?
Thanks a lot for the blog article. Want more.
Thanks-a-mundo for the blog.Really looking forward to read more. Want more.
Wow, marvelous weblog structure! How long have you ever been running a blog for? you made running a blog glance easy. The full glance of your web site is wonderful, let alone the content!
Major thanks for the blog.Really thank you! Really Great.
Thank you ever so for you article.Thanks Again. Want more.
Hi, I check your blog on a regular basis. Your humoristic style is witty, keep doing what you’re doing!
I loved your blog post.Really thank you!
Hi, i think that i saw you visited my web site thus i came to “return the favor”.I am attempting to find things to enhance my site!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!!
Very informative article post.Much thanks again. Really Great.
You are my inhalation , I own few web logs and occasionally run out from to brand.
Great, thanks for sharing this blog post. Fantastic.
I read this piece of writing completely about the comparison of most recent and preceding technologies, it’s remarkable article.
I value the article post.Really thank you! Keep writing.
Major thankies for the blog article.Much thanks again. Cool.
I cannot thank you enough for the article.Thanks Again. Cool.
I just want to mention I’m newbie to blogs and actually savored this blog. Probably I’m likely to bookmark your website . You amazingly come with beneficial posts. Many thanks for revealing your website page.
Wow, great blog article.Much thanks again. Really Cool.
wow, awesome blog post.Much thanks again. Will read on…
I was recommended this website by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my problem. You’re incredible! Thanks!
Now I am going to do my breakfast, later than having my breakfast coming again to read other news.
Hmm is anyone else experiencing problems with the pictures on this blog loading? I’m trying to figure out if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Major thankies for the blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Want more.
A big thank you for your blog. Will read on…
Thanks for the article. Great.
Really enjoyed this blog article.Much thanks again. Really Cool.
A round of applause for your post.Really thank you! Keep writing.
Really informative blog.Really looking forward to read more. Awesome.
excellent points altogether, you simply received a new reader. What would you recommend about your submit that you simply made some days ago? Any sure?
Im obliged for the article post. Awesome.
Right now it looks like BlogEngine is the preferred blogging platform available right now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you’re using on your blog?
I cannot thank you enough for the post.Really thank you! Will read on…
I simply want to say I am beginner to blogging and definitely savored you’re website. Probably I’m going to bookmark your blog post . You actually come with impressive articles and reviews. Bless you for sharing your blog site.
thank you for sharing this piece of useful article