August 2 2025, DVC member Cruise on the Dream!

[Mathmagicland]

How’s the cruise you are on now? Seas? Weather?

Pretty nice for the most part , a little rain on a couple of days and a heck of a lot cooler than at home! Some days sunny, others a bit overcast. Seas have been good , calm all the way.

 

[erionm]

Our cruise this Friday on the Wish was just cancelled due to Hurricane Milton.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Our cruise this Friday on the Wish was just cancelled due to Hurricane Milton.

I wonder what is happening to the current sailing. I hope they are all safely out of the path.

 

[erionm]

I wonder what is happening to the current sailing. I hope they are all safely out of the path.

Just checked MarineTraffic.com, and the Wish is current docked at Castaway Cay.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Just checked MarineTraffic.com, and the Wish is current docked at Castaway Cay.

If they get an extra couple days at CC I’m going to be so jealous.

 

[Mathmagicland]

Don Hahn and imagineer Christopher Merritt have a new book coming out in July. Dare we hope for a session about this on the MC?

https://attractionsmagazine.com/two-disneyland-70th-anniversary-books-now-available-for-pre-order/

 

[bobbiwoz]

Just bought the Travelex Insurance. Had to buy it before we paid 2025 dues.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Oh shoot, I didn’t even think about that. I paid cash so long ago I allocated it to our ‘24 travel budget instead of ‘25… I think we can still get travel insurance just not cancel for any reason?

Has anyone seen if any concierge rooms have come back available since they initially sold out? Is it possibly to waitlist?

 

[Mathmagicland]

Has anyone seen if any concierge rooms have come back available since they initially sold out? Is it possibly to waitlist?

They have not that I have seen, and yes you can waitlist. I called after the additional Dream concierge cabins were announced but still none available at that time.

 

[HI_Tig808]

Who wants to come here and chat, while we wait?

We are Tom and Bobbi, senior citizens, and we enjoy DVC Member Cruises especially for the Imagineers on board and the special presentations!

We just signed up for this cruise, our first DVC Member Cruise. We are super excited!

 

[HI_Tig808]

Oh shoot, I didn’t even think about that. I paid cash so long ago I allocated it to our ‘24 travel budget instead of ‘25… I think we can still get travel insurance just not cancel for any reason?

Has anyone seen if any concierge rooms have come back available since they initially sold out? Is it possibly to waitlist?

We just booked Concierge today. The CM told us there were still a LOT of concierge rooms left.

 

[HI_Tig808]

They have not that I have seen, and yes you can waitlist. I called after the additional Dream concierge cabins were announced but still none available at that time.

There are several concierge cabins available as of today. We just booked ours

 

[bobbiwoz]

There are several concierge cabins available as of today. We just booked ours

Good for you!

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

There are several concierge cabins available as of today. We just booked ours

We called this afternoon and there were several to choose from but they are all under the pool deck and the stateroom reviews suggest noise will be a real nuisance. I’m torn, I have wanted to try concierge for a while but worried I will hate myself if I pay an extra $5k, get a smaller balcony, and can’t sleep.

Has anybody on this thread been Concierge on a member cruise before? Does it get you any extra perks other than the ones on a standard cruise (reserved seats at special events, meet and greets, etc.)?

 

[DanCali]

We called this afternoon and there were several to choose from but they are all under the pool deck and the stateroom reviews suggest noise will be a real nuisance. I’m torn, I have wanted to try concierge for a while but worried I will hate myself if I pay an extra $5k, get a smaller balcony, and can’t sleep.

Has anybody on this thread been Concierge on a member cruise before? Does it get you any extra perks other than the ones on a standard cruise (reserved seats at special events, meet and greets, etc.)?

I've thought about it for the last couple of cruises too, but I can't justify the extra cost. Obviously this is very subjective.

I'd rather save the extra $5K for another separate 3-4 night cruise...

But would be interesting to read answers to your question about extra perks (or lack of them) specifically on a DVC member cruise.

 

[Mathmagicland]

Has anybody on this thread been Concierge on a member cruise before? Does it get you any extra perks other than the ones on a standard cruise (reserved seats at special events, meet and greets, etc.)?

I’ve done so a couple of times. Only extra “perk” I can recall is when on the Magic, they offered embarkation day fours of the Walt Disney and Roy Disney suites to concierge guests only. While totally random, it was pretty cool to run into Don Hahn in one of the suites and get a five minute private convo with him!

More recently, nothing specifically unique like that. However, many of the special onboard MC talent were also sailing concierge and were very approachable in the Lounge for some extra conversations.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

I’ve done so a couple of times. Only extra “perk” I can recall is when on the Magic, they offered embarkation day fours of the Walt Disney and Roy Disney suites to concierge guests only. While totally random, it was pretty cool to run into Don Hahn in one of the suites and get a five minute private convo with him!

More recently, nothing specifically unique like that. However, many of the special onboard MC talent were also sailing concierge and were very approachable in the Lounge for some extra conversations.

Chilling in the lounge with on board talent is a pretty cool perk, if you recognize them—I’m not sure we would.

I was thinking that I assume the actual member special events will be packs but the normal (non-event) onboard areas might be less crowded. Does that sound about right?

 

[Mathmagicland]

Chilling in the lounge with on board talent is a pretty cool perk, if you recognize them—I’m not sure we would.

I was thinking that I assume the actual member special events will be packs but the normal (non-event) onboard areas might be less crowded. Does that sound about right?

I don’t always recognize the special guests until after attending one of their sessions, so you’d not be alone!

Many member events are busy & crowded, some times not enough seating & people might sit on the floor, but they try to schedule a couple at the same time to split the crowds. Then will repeat that pair later so folks have an opportunity to attend both if interested. I am so busy going from one special event to another, so I can’t really speak to the non-event areas. Usually most every venue has something special, except the places with the tastings. There is also some trivia and crafts sessions but not as many, and I’ve never done those on a MC. I figure I can do those any time but cannot see a special guest except on a MC. MS will also set up in an area, ie one of the lounges, they’ve used District Lounge on the Dream, so that takes a venue off the table for non-MC happenings.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

I don’t always recognize the special guests until after attending one of their sessions, so you’d not be alone!

Many member events are busy & crowded, some times not enough seating & people might sit on the floor, but they try to schedule a couple at the same time to split the crowds. Then will repeat that pair later so folks have an opportunity to attend both if interested. I am so busy going from one special event to another, so I can’t really speak to the non-event areas. Usually most every venue has something special, except the places with the tastings. There is also some trivia and crafts sessions but not as many, and I’ve never done those on a MC. I figure I can do those any time but cannot see a special guest except on a MC. MS will also set up in an area, ie one of the lounges, they’ve used District Lounge on the Dream, so that takes a venue off the table for non-MC happenings.

Thanks!

MS=Member Services?

Is it customary (and/or allowed on these boards) to set up a meet and greet for one of the early days of the sailing or perhaps try to coordinate on a grand cabana on one of the islands? I usually don’t do meet ups, but would love to meet some long time DVC enthusiasts. I’m a big Disney Parks enthusiast (having visited all 12 parks at least twice, two of them today, lol), but I’m relatively new to DVC life and excited for our first member cruise.

 

[Mathmagicland]

Thanks!

MS=Member Services?

Is it customary (and/or allowed on these boards) to set up a meet and greet for one of the early days of the sailing or perhaps try to coordinate on a grand cabana on one of the islands? I usually don’t do meet ups, but would love to meet some long time DVC enthusiasts. I’m a big Disney Parks enthusiast (having visited all 12 parks at least twice, two of them today, lol), but I’m relatively new to DVC life and excited for our first member cruise.

Yes to MS.

Organizing a Meet-up is permitted, at least I think so as I’ve seen several posts about them over the years. @bobbiwoz has organized a breakfast meet-up at times, in the sit-down restaurant open for breakfast. I don’t know that we’ve ever had someone be able to get a cabana, af least not that I’ve seen, but that could be another option.

And I’m so jealous you’ve been to all 12 parks! I’ve only been to 8 of them…and someday I will get to the others but I don’t know when.

You will love your first MC! So much fun and different with the special talent and gifts and happenings. You’ll get something with the initial schedule usually when you check in so you can start perusing and planning, but keep watch in the Navigator as things can be added or changed. There should also be a special MC Disney Files magazine in your room, with more info about each session as well as the guests, to help you decide…or prioritize as you can’t always do everything,