Tag Archives: Disney Dream

Vanellopes Sweets and Treats

August 28, 2019 Barbara Ryan Leave a comment

Everyone’s favorite little spitfire from Wreck-It Ralph has her own Sweet Shoppe on the Disney Dream and Fantasy.

This is such a fun spot, colorful with scenes and characters from the movie everywhere.

Vanellopes’s treats are not included in your cruise price like the soft ice cream right outside. But it’s well worth it for a special treat. Here you will find bulk candy, pastries and of course ice cream, frozen yogurt and best of all, gelato!

The gelato selections will vary. Below is a sampling of what may be available.

Red Velvet ’N’ Cookies Gelato
Amarena – Cherry Gelato
Oreo Cookie ’N’ Cream Gelato
Key Lime Pie Gelato
Blueberry – Lemon Zest Gelato
Tiramisu Gelato
Candy Explosion Gelato
Strawberry Gelato
Cupcake Gelato
Cappuccino Gelato
Pistachio Variegate Gelato
Hazelnut Gelato
Mascarpone Cheese and Raspberry Gelato
Cherry Chocolate Chip Gelato
Mango Swirl Cheesecake Gelato
Pina Colada Gelato
Candy Cane Gelato
Pumpkin Gelato
White Chocolate and Roasted Almond Gelato
Mixed Berries Gelato

The ice cream, sorbet and frozen yogurt selections will vary. Below is a sampling of what may be available.

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
French Vanilla Ice Cream
Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream
King Candy Ice Cream
Salted Carmel Ice Cream
Peaches ’N’ Cream Ice Cream
Belgian Chocolate Ice Cream
No Sugar Added Vanilla Chocolate Ice Cream
Strawberry Cheesecake Chunk Ice Cream
Midnight Cookies ’N’ Cream Ice Cream
Dulce De Leche Ice Cream
Strawberry Cheesecake Chunk Ice Cream
Cookie Dough Dynamo Ice Cream
Mango Citrus Sorbet
Raspberry Sorbet
Black Cherry Frozen Yogurt

Bulk Candy Selections

Crazy Bananas Candy
Hot Tamales
M&Ms
Milk Chocolate Raisins
Mini Jawbreakers
Reese’s Pieces
Jelly Belly Jelly Beans (49 Assorted Flavor Mix)
Cry Baby Tears
Licorice Pastels
Sour Balls (Assorted)
Mike and Ike
Dark Chocolate Almonds
Tootsie Roll
Warheads Extreme Sour Candy
Gummy Sea Critters
Sour Patch Kids
Caramel Creams
Zotz
Mini Dark Chocolate Rainbow Nonpareils
Chocolate Double Dipped Peanuts
Skittles
Salt Water Taffy (Assorted Flavors)
Atomic Fireballs
Lemon Heads

The best thing about Vanellopes is you can order a special treat and have it sent to your dining location at dessert time. We tested this out on our recent cruise for my ice cream loving son’s birthday. That afternoon, I went to Vanellopes and ordered a race car sundae choosing the gelato and toppings. They fill out a form and then give you a small card with instructions to hand this card to your server when you sit down for dinner. Your server will then take care of calling up and having them make the treat and deliver it to them and they will bring it out. Worked like a charm!

Vanellopes is well worth the extra splurge!

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Dream with Teens

August 20, 2019 Barbara Ryan Leave a comment

There are a lot of cruise lines to choose from, but Disney offers the best experience for tweens and teens and that might be surprising to some. And let’s face it, parents generally make the decisions on where the family vacation is going to be and teens don’t necessarily get a big say. My kids were excited to go on their first cruise but less than thrilled it was Disney. They love Disney World but thought there would just be too many kids and it would be all about characters. They ended up having a great time and didn’t meet any characters and didn’t stand in any lines, except the AquaDuck once or twice. Sure, there were a lot of kids, but with their own spaces, they hardly had to see them.

We sailed on the Disney Dream 4 night Bahamas cruise in April 2019. The boys were 13 and 15, turned 16 on our sea day.

Here are 3 reasons I think the #DisneyDifference makes all the difference in a teen’s experience on vacation.

Exclusive spaces beyond compare…

Disney Cruise Line offers the best teen lounges/clubs on the high seas. Tweens have Edge, which on the Dream is located in the funnel! And teens have Vibe. On the Dream and Fantasy, Vibe has its own sun deck on the front of the ship with its own pool away from all the little ones. Vibe offers games and activities run by counselors and video games and a smoothie bar. Check out my Vibe post and video here. Be sure to visit the teen clubs on the first day to register the kids and check it out. The Navigator App will list the continuous stream of activities available through Vibe. They play “get to know you” games and Heroes vs Villains and do scavenger hunts.

Freedom…

Parents will feel so comfortable on a Disney Cruise with the incredible service and cast members. It allows them the ability to give teens the freedom to make their own choices on what they want to do and where they want to spend their time. Use the Navigator app to keep in touch with your teens while allowing them some freedom. Set guidelines for meeting up, for dinner for example and a curfew, but then let them fill the space in between. There are sports simulators, basketball court, miniature golf, movie theatre, self serve soft ice cream… Our teens basically did their own thing all day long. They had each other and didn’t really make friends, but they went off to Vibe or up to the sports deck, back to the room. A stop a Cabanas for some food. We barely saw them the entire cruise.

Bonus: This gives you lots of time to use the adult-only areas and do your own thing.

Unlimited food choices…

If your teens are anything like mine, a lot of time is spent standing in front of the open fridge saying there is nothing to eat. Not a problem on a Disney Cruise. Between the buffet, Cabanas and quick service location on the pool deck, in addition to the main dining room and free room service…teens will never run out of food options.

Don’t underestimate their own comfort level with dining alone either, my tween went up to the buffet on his own for his second or third lunch almost daily, he’s an athlete and eats a lot. And when we scheduled an adult-only dinner at Palo, I offered room service or grab a bite on the pool deck and the boys, a tween and teen, both wanted to go to the main dining room we were scheduled for that night, on their own. They loved our server and wanted to see him. We met them there towards the end of their meal and were greeted by our table neighbors saying what well-behaved and mature children we have. They were well taken care of by our servers, my little athlete had 3 cleaned plates in front of him, a regular occurrence, he ordered 3 meals every night.

We opted for late seating as there are less little kids at late and early was just too early. It worked out well for us and the kids that were in the dining rooms ate and were whisked away to the kids club quickly so we barely noticed them.

With all the food choices, amazing teen spaces and the comfort at allowing them some freedom, the #DisneyDifference shines bright on cruises with teenagers!

Disney Cruise Line

Palo Dinner Disney Dream

June 16, 2019 Barbara Ryan 1 Comment

As is typical on most cruise lines today, Disney offers choices beyond their Main Dining rooms. Already not typical with rotational dining and 3 main dining rooms, Disney offers Palo and Remy. Palo is Northern Italian cuisine on all 4 Disney ships. Remy is French cuisine on the Dream and Fantasy only. Both are adult-exclusive.

Upcharges and dress codes apply to both restaurants, but Palo is a little less restrictive than Remy. For Palo dinner, the charge was $40 per person.

Dress to Impress

To preserve the elegant ambiance of this restaurant, you are asked to adhere to a dress code when dining at Palo. We recommend dress pants or slacks and a collared shirt for men, and a dress, skirt or pants and a blouse for women. Jeans may also be worn if in good condition (no holes). Please no tank tops, swimsuits, swimsuit cover-ups, shorts, hats, cut-offs, torn clothing, t-shirts with offensive language and/or graphics, flip-flops or tennis shoes.

On our recent cruise, we had dinner at Palo on pirate night, which was the 3rd night of our 4 night cruise and our Castaway Cay day. We weren’t terribly interested in pirate festivities, our children are teenagers and we would be done in plenty of time to see the fireworks. On the Dream Palo and Remy are next to each other on the top deck in the front of the ship with the Meridian Bar in between. When you arrive you are escorted into the bar to wait for your escort into the restaurant. We had a drink here and then were escorted to our table. All tables have a wonderful view of the ocean.

The service is nothing short of outstanding! We ordered wine, and then Mircea our server brought the bread service and then the antipasto cart and we watched as our server prepared a plate of “a little bit of everything” to try.

We ordered several Primi to try and share, Calamari Fritti, Gnocchi and the Wild Mushroom Risotto. So so good. Even the gnocchi, which are usually not great in restaurants when you are used to my father’s homemade version, was wonderful.

Next, was a palette cleanser…

Then the main course, Rack of Lamb for me and Osso Buco for my husband. Cooked to perfection.

The dessert course was next. When you order your main course they will ask you if you will be ordering the chocolate souffle, their signature dessert because it does take some time to make. I knew about this in advance and was definitely getting it. There are no words, it was heavenly.

And there was other stuff, including a Happy Anniversary plate.

The dinner was well paced and lasted about 2 hours, but didn’t feel long at all. The restaurant was quiet, there were several tables around us, but it wasn’t full by any means.

Palo is well worth the upcharge and can be prebooked in your cruise account when your activities window opens.

Have you eaten there? I would go back in a heartbeat and next time will try the brunch too, I hear it’s phenomenal.

Disney Cruise Line

Teen Haven All Aboard Disney Cruise Line

May 1, 2019 Barbara Ryan 1 Comment

At this teens-exclusive space, chill out, listen to music, watch TV, play group games and more…

While the Vibe experience aboard each ship differs, the idea behind them is the same: Vibe provides Guests ages 14 to 17 with their own special place where they can break off from the family and connect with other teens from around the world. Designed with their interests in mind, each lounge is laden with amenities and activities that will keep them engaged and entertained while encouraging them to mingle.

On the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy

Part nightclub, part sundeck, totally awesome!

What’s the Vibe Like?
Vibe aboard the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy has the look and feel of a hip urban night spot, with multiple areas, a secret entrance and its own outdoor deck space. Its plush interior boasts sleek design, state-of-the-art lighting and sound, and movable modular furniture that invites teens to get situated in style. Vibe’s hangout central is its high-tech media room, where teens can watch movies or play video games on a 103ʺ LCD screen with digital surround sound. Comfortable, plentiful seating makes this gathering place your home theater away from home. In a separate stage area, talent shows, karaoke contests and dance competitions let teens own the spotlight. A dance floor and video wall set the stage for day-and-night dance parties, and aspiring DJs can even spin and mix tracks! For a more mellow experience, recline in your own built-in oval wall pod and game or watch a movie on a personal video screen.

Catch Some Rays
Vibe’s outdoor sundeck at the ship’s bow lets teens work on their tan without ever having to leave their private club or deal with the little ones on the crowded pool deck. Deck games such as ping–pong, foosball and “old school” board games set on a giant checkerboard floor offer further amusements. As well as the plunge pools.

2L+f5BC0QoOL1bwOizwdnw — During the embarkation day Open House the pool was closed.

View of Vibe from the adult only deck area by the Satellite Falls pool

HINT HINT: The Vibe on the Dream and Fantasy is located on Deck 5, but you cannot access it via Deck 5, you can only access it by a hidden dedicated staircase on Deck 4 on the jogging track. All the way forward.

We recently cruised on the Disney Dream and were able to register both our 16 year old and 13.5 year old, since he had an older sibing, at Vibe. This way they could hangout together. It’s worth asking if you have a teen on the cusp of 14. I merely pointed at my younger son after registering the older one and said, he’s only 13 and the cast member cut me off immediately saying, no problem we make exceptions for 13 when they have a sibling and got him registered.

On the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder

Housed in the iconic red Forward Funnel of your ship, this open-plan lounge is the spot to socialize with other teens. This highest point of the ship is sure to also be the high point of your teen’s cruise!

What’s the Vibe Like?
Vibe aboard the Disney Wonder is designed to resemble a laid-back urban loft or college dorm rec room. Mismatched furniture and eclectic bric-a-brac create a relaxed atmosphere where teen cruisers will feel instantly at home while enjoying both free-form and structured activities. Plush couches, comfy overstuffed chairs and beanbags allow them to configure the space to their liking, while a dance floor and bar area offer opportunities for mingling. On the Disney Magic, Vibe invites teens to unwind at an urban, loft-inspired haven where stylish industrial elements merge with music, gaming and all the latest trends. Amid brick, concrete and technical architectural flourishes, teens can sip on a flavorful coffee or smoothie, play the latest tunes and socialize with kids their own age during fun video and virtual-reality game sessions. At Vibe, there’s always something to do, with:

Multiple flat-screen TVs
Video games
Board games
Tablets

An LCD screen with digital surround sound lets teens gather ’round for video games or movies. And with teen dance parties, karaoke competitions and games that promote group interaction, they’ll have the chance to cut loose and show off!

Strictly for Teens
To ensure that Vibe remains a space that’s just for them, teens must present a special coded Key to the World card to access the lounge. On the first day of your cruise, visit Vibe during the Open House and register your teen. They will be given a new Key to the World Card to replace the one given to them at check-in, which will allow them entry into Vibe as well as everything else it is used for.

While designated as a teens-only hangout, Vibe is chaperoned by some of the coolest counselors at sea, in a laid-back way that allows teens to feel as unrestricted and comfortable as they can possibly be.

Beverages and Snacks
Vibe features a coffee bar serving a wide selection of nonalcoholic beverages, including fruit smoothies and more…

With so much to do, Vibe is bound to become your teen’s favorite on-ship destination!

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line Summer 2019 Itineraries

March 30, 2018 Barbara Ryan Leave a comment

In summer 2019, Disney Cruise Line will sail on new itineraries to seven new ports in Europe, including a first-ever round-trip cruise from Rome and first-time visits to destinations in Sweden, France, Spain, Denmark and Northern Ireland. Disney Cruise Line will take Guests on a grand tour of Europe with visits to the Mediterranean in early summer and northern Europe in late summer. Plus, adventures continue with sailings to Alaska, the Caribbean and the Bahamas, including new cruise lengths aboard the Disney Fantasy.

Also in the summer of 2019, Disney Cruise Line Guests can enrich their experience by combining a cruise with a package from Adventures by Disney®.

New in 2019, Adventures by Disney will offer a pre-cruise guided experience in Rome. These 3-night Short Escapes, also offered in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Barcelona, allow families to experience memorable icons in ways that few can, such as a private, after-hours visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel in Rome. Plus, activities like ziplining, flamenco dancing and preparing local cuisine immerse families in the culture of the region.

And, you can also enhance select European sailings with an Adventures by Disney package during the cruise. Adventure Guides lead travelers to experience the best of each port, helping them unlock the wonders of the destination through immersive excursions and off-the-beaten-path adventures. In addition, you will enjoy exclusive receptions onboard and have access to concierge service from these dedicated guides throughout the voyage.

These Adventures by Disney offerings are open for booking. A Vancouver Short Escape will open for booking later this year.

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line Itineraries summer 2018

February 23, 2017 Barbara Ryan Leave a comment

Open for booking today!

In summer 2018, Disney Cruise Line will sail on new itineraries and to new ports, including first-time visits to destinations in Italy and Ireland. Disney Cruise Line takes Guests on a grand tour of Europe with visits to the Mediterranean, northern Europe, Norway and Iceland. Plus, adventures continue with sailings to Alaska, the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

New sailings from Rome and Barcelona
For the first time, Disney Cruise Line Guests can experience more of the rich culture of Barcelona and inspiring history of Rome in a single cruise. In Rome, Guests can explore the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain and the Vatican, and sample authentic local cuisine. Barcelona offers beautiful beaches, the market streets of La Rambla, the artistic architecture of Gaudi and the famed Sagrada Família church.

On June 16, 2018, the Disney Magic will sail a seven-night cruise from Barcelona to Civitavecchia (Rome). Ports of call include Marseilles and Villefranche, France; and Genoa (Milan), Livorno (Florence, Pisa) and Naples, Italy.

On June 23, 2018, the Disney Magic will sail a seven-night itinerary from Civitavecchia (Rome) to Barcelona. Ports visited on this cruise are Naples, Livorno (Florence, Pisa) and Genoa (Milan), Italy; and Cannes and Marseilles, France.

First-time visits to Milan, Italy
Disney Cruise Line will call on Genoa, Italy for the first time in 2018, as part of three special sailings from Barcelona and Civitavecchia (Rome). The historic port town of Genoa, located on the Italian Riviera, is a gateway to the beautiful metropolis of Milan and the picturesque locale of Portofino. Milan is a global capital of fashion and design, featuring top-name designer stores, boutiques, open-air markets and art galleries.

A 10-night Mediterranean itinerary sailing from Barcelona on July 7, 2018, calls on Genoa, as well as other popular ports in Italy, France and Spain.

First-time visit to Cork, Ireland and first seven-night British Isles
The Disney Magic will call on Cork, Ireland for the first time as part of a first-ever seven-night British Isles cruise, departing on September 2, 2018. Additional ports visited on this sailing include Dublin, Ireland; Greenock, Scotland; and Liverpool, England. Cork is home to a vibrant culinary scene and a plethora of pubs, shops and cafes. It invites visitors to connect with Ireland’s ancient past, with historic sites like Blarney Castle, where visitors can kiss the famed Blarney Stone.

Throughout the summer, the Disney Magic will continue to tour Europe with engagements in the Baltic, Norwegian fjords, British Isles and the Mediterranean.

Return to Alaska
In 2018, the newly re-imagined Disney Wonder will return to Alaska for the summer season, opening up a world of breathtaking natural vistas, magnificent glaciers and awe-inspiring wildlife. A variety of five-, seven- and nine-night itineraries will depart from Vancouver, Canada, with stops in Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point and Tracy Arm Fjord.

Southern Caribbean Special Sailing
In 2018, the Disney Fantasy will embark on a special 11-night southern Caribbean itinerary departing June 30, visiting tropical destinations renowned for beautiful sun-kissed beaches, including Aruba, Barbados, Martinique, St. Kitts, Puerto Rico and the Disney private island, Castaway Cay.

Castaway Cay – More Opportunities to Explore Disney’s Exclusive Private Island
Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, is consistently a top-rated destination. In 2018, the Disney Dream will sail a series of cruises that include two stops at Castaway Cay so Guests can have twice the fun in the sun and enjoy even more of the pristine island paradise.