When it comes to Disney Cruise Line, the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy are often compared — and for good reason. As sister ships in the Dream Class, they share many of the same features: 14 decks of an elegant ocean liner design packed with Disney details, Broadway-style entertainment, the AquaDuck water coaster, character meet-and-greets, and immersive dining rooms. But despite their similarities, these two ships offer unique touches that can shape your entire vacation. From itinerary differences to exclusive onboard experiences, here’s how the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy stack up—so you can decide which ship best fits your dream cruise.
Disney Dream
The Disney Dream launched in 2011. The interior design theme is classic art deco design, complete with Disney touches woven into the details.
The Disney Dream offers various travel itineraries, including European, Caribbean, and Transatlantic voyages, but is currently sailing 5-night Bahamian Cruises out of Fort Lauderdale, FL, including stops at Disney’s private islands Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay.
- Rotational dining rooms include Animator’s Palate (featuring a Turtle Talk-style show), Royal Palace (an elegant dining room with Disney Princess theming), and Enchanted Garden (inspired by the gardens of Versaille).
- In addition to the it’s a small world Nursery for infants, Edge and Vibe for pre-teens and teens, the Oceaneer Kids Clubs are themed to Andy’s Room, Spider-Man, Tinker Bell’s Pixie Hollow, and Star Wars: Millennium Falcon, where kids can join the Rebel Alliance and help pilot the ship from the cockpit.
- Adult lounge spaces are separate from the rest of the ship (unlike the Wish class), and split off from the central District Lounge, and include non-IP themed spaces, like the Pink champagne & wine bar and 687 Pub (named after the Disney Dream’s yard number during construction).
- Broadway-style shows include Beauty & the Beast, Disney’s Believe, and the Golden Mickeys (don’t miss this one!).
Disney Fantasy
The Disney Fantasy joined the Disney Cruise Line fleet in 2012. The interior design theme is a sophisticated art nouveau design featuring colorful elements reminiscent of peacocks and butterflies. There’s “hidden” Mickeys and characters to discover throughout.
This ship will be entering a dry dock for enhancements later this year, including a few updated spaces, and a new tower suite.
The Disney Fantasy is currently sailing multiple European itineraries from Barcelona and Southampton, with 4- and 5-night Bahamian itineraries from Port Canaveral, FL, beginning after its dry dock later this year, with stops at Disney’s private islands Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay.
- Rotational dining rooms include Animator’s Palate (featuring a Turtle Talk-style show and Animation show, where your own creation will be included!), Royal Court (an elegant dining room with Disney Princess theming), and Enchanted Garden (inspired by the gardens of Versaille).
- In addition to the it’s a small world Nursery for infants, Edge and Vibe for pre-teens and teens, the Oceaneer Kid Clubs are themed to Andy’s Room, Marvel Super Hero Academy, Tinker Bell’s Pixie Hollow, and Star Wars: Command Post, where kids can train with Jedi via an interactive “holotable”.
- Adult lounge spaces are separate from the rest of the ship (unlike the Wish class), and split off from the central La Piazza lounge, and include non-IP themed spaces, like the Ooh La La champagne bar featuring live piano, and O’Gills Pub — inspired by Darby O’Gill and the Little People.
- Broadway-style shows include Frozen: A Musical Spectacular, Disney’s Believe, and the Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular.
Which Ship Would You Choose?
Do you like longer voyages to completely check out, or would you prefer a shorter helping of Disney magic at sea? Are you a die-hard Beauty & the Beast fan, or would you rather try out the newer Frozen musical? Whichever ship works best for you and your travel needs, both the Dream and Fantasy offer top-tier Disney service and whimsy throughout, making them great choices for cruisers looking to set sail on a larger DCL ship (versus the Magic class), still featuring classic ocean liner details with those Disney touches, and without the hustle and bustle of the newer Wish class.
Once you’ve narrowed down which ship will be the bigger hit with your family, contact Dreams Unlimited Travel to plan the Disney cruise of your dreams!
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