Resort Review
Walt Disney World Trip Report
Embarkation Day
Nassau
Castaway Cay
Day At Sea and Debarkation Day
Recap
We spend 3 days at Walt Disney World before departing on a 4-night Bahamian cruise aboard the Disney Dream. We opted for a rental car as we didn't have the children with us (no strollers or car seats to worry about). We parked directly at the Port and had a Port Arrival Time of 10:45 a.m. The process was EXTREMELY simple to park and head right into the port. If traveling with young children I would recommend a private town car service if you are flying in. Disney's transfers are a great option but may not have a port arrival time until the late afternoon.
Favorite Moments
Erin and Richard
Erin
The shows and characters...I felt like such a kid again. Loved every second of it!
Richard
The shows in the Theatre!
Eric and Amanda
Eric
The Cabana and Beach
AmandaHands down our Cabana!!
Stateroom Review
We were booked in 2 Category 10A Deluxe Inside Staterooms on Deck 7. For 2 adults per room, this was a PERFECT option. I would hesitate to stay in these rooms with more than 3 people, depending on the ages of the kids, but for the 2 of us it was perfect. The split bath's were a MUST do (Standard Inside rooms do not have split baths). We were located on Deck 7 Aft. While I love Deck 7 and it was extremely quiet, being that far aft meant a lot of vibrations as we pulled in and out of port. This really only affected us in the morning and was a gentle vibrating. I would not hesitate to book these rooms again!
FAQ
How Strict is the Dress Code?
It's not! Disney pretty much just asks you don't show up in bathing suits. Personally we like to dress up on the cruises and usually try to book an adult only meal to dress up a bit more (and by we...I mean me lol...hubby could take it or leave it). Most nights we wore business casual...sundresses, khaki's, polo shirts. Be comfortable!!
How much time do you have at Castaway Cay?
If the weather is good the ship should dock in time for you to disembark around 8:30 a.m. and you'll have until about 4:45 p.m. on the Island. Keep in mind that this port is NEVER a guarantee and in bad weather you may not stop at all.
You talk a lot about BINGO...how much does it cost and how much can you win?
BINGO ranges in cost from about $30-$80 depending on how many cards you purchase. We often buy the biggest package but split it between both staterooms. The prizes ranged from around $100 up into the thousands!! We saw a few big winners (several hundred).
How much is parking at the port?
| Length of Cruise | Parking Rates |
| Three Nights/Four Day | $60.00 |
| Four Nights/Five Day | $75.00 |
| Five Nights/Six Day | $90.00 |
| Six Nights/Seven Day | $105.00 |
| Seven Nights/Eight Day | $120.00 |
| Eight Nights/Nine Day | $135.00 |
What's NOT included? How much should I expect to spend
Great question! That TOTALLY depends! Let's go over what you can expect.
- Gratuities
These range in price depending on the length of your cruise. You can always adjust the amount once on board depending on how you feel about the service but this is what is auto charged to each stateroom at the end of the sailing.
| Per Guest per cruise | 3-Night | 4-Night | 7-Night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dining Room Server | $12.00 | $16.00 | $28.00 |
| Dining Room Asst. Server | $9.00 | $12.00 | $21.00 |
| Dining Room Head Server | $3.00 | $4.00 | $7.00 |
| Stateroom Host/ Hostess | $12.00 | $16.00 | $28.00 |
| Dining Manager | Your Discretion | ||
| Room Service | Your Discretion | ||
| Palo | Your Discretion | ||
| Remy | Your Discretion | ||
| Senses Spa & Salon | An 18% gratuity will automatically be applied to all spa services. | ||
| Vista Spa & Salon | An 18% gratuity will automatically be applied to all spa services. | ||
| Babysitting | Gratuity not expected | ||
| Port Adventures | Optional; not included in port adventure price. | ||
- Drinks: This of course depends on you personally, but drinks can add up! To help control costs I highly recommend one of three things!
- Beer Mug! The cost for this $16.95. You'll be given your beer "token". Each time you order a beer you pay the 16oz price for a 22oz Beer
- Drink of the day! I enjoyed these a few times...they are less than $5 each!
- Bring your own!! We also brought rum on board but in the past we have also brought on wine. You can bring as much as you'd like in your CARRY-ON...do NOT check this! Also no coolers :)
- Excursions
Again...totally depends on YOU! You don't have to book any of these things. They can range in price but I highly recommend booking directly with Disney. Not only are these safe, but they ensure you get back to the ship on time! - Souvenirs! It's Disney..let's not be surprised that the costs for these can add up!
- Classes/Extras...we love to play BINGO but there are several bar related activities that adults can participate in (like Martini or Wine Tastings). These are roughly $20 per person
- Tips
We talked about tips above but don't forget that all drinks at the bar automatically add gratuitiy. Plus if you order room service be prepared to have a few dollars on hand. - Spa
We chose to go the inexpensive route and book the Rainforest room but the Spa has MANY services available, for an additional fee - Food...yes MOST of your food is included but here are some food items that are not:
- Prepackaged snacks and soda from room service
- Popcorn at the theatre
- Smoothies and non-alcoholic drinks purchased at the bars
- Adult Dining at Palo and Remy
I hope you enjoyed our trip report, comments and tips! As usual we can't say enough good things about cruising with Disney. From the food, to the service, to the cleanliness of the ship...everything is just hands down amazing!!
If you are thinking about booking at Disney Cruise Line vacation, please be sure to visit us at www.livingwiththemagic.com.
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