Disney Dream vs Disney Destiny

The Disney Dream was built in 2011. Disney Dream's exterior has a old-school steam boat feel while the interior leans into the Art Deco styling. Outside the ship, you'll see Sorcerer Mickey painting the name on the stern. It's 14 years older than the Destiny, which was built in 2025. The Disney Destiny is inspired by stories of heroes and villains. You'll enter the ship through the Grand Hall which is themed after Marvel's Black Panther. Outside the ship, you'll see Spider-man painting the name on the stern. The Destiny is still under construction and Disney hasn't released all the details yet.

Comparison Overview

Ship Size

The Dream is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 1,115 feet long and 121 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 3.1 football fields, as wide as 2.3 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 14-story building. Compared to the Disney Destiny, the Dream is 10% smaller in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

Disney Dream holds 38% fewer passengers than the Destiny based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, or what we call the "Space Ratio," the Dream has more space per person compared to the Destiny. This means that you might have a bit more space to yourself on the ship, although there still could be some crowded areas like buffets, pools, etc.

Disney
Dream
Disney
Destiny
ClassDreamWish
Gross Tonnage130,000144,000
Length1,1151,119
Beam/Width121128
Passenger Decks1415
Passengers (double occupancy)2,5004,000
Crew1,4581,555
Passenger to Crew Ratio1.72.6
Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger)5236


Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.

The Dream has ten different dining options like Royal Palace, Animator's Palate, and Enchanted Garden. Of those options, six are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other four options have an additional fee.

The Destiny has the same number of dining venues. Some of its popular venues are 1923, Marceline Market, and Worlds of Marvel. five of these restaurants are complementary and the other five have an additional fee.

The Disney Dream has about the same number of dining options as the Disney Destiny.

If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Dream might be a better choice then the Destiny. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.

Restaurants on Disney Dream & Destiny

Disney
Dream
Disney
Destiny
1923✗✓Learn More
Animator's Palate✓✗Learn More
Cabanas✓✗Learn More
Cafe Megara✗✓Learn More
Cafe Merida✗✓Learn More
Edna A La Mode✗✓Learn More
Enchante by Chef Arnaud Lallement✗✓Learn More
Enchanted Garden✓✗Learn More
Eye Scream Treats✓✗Learn More
Flo's Cafe✓✗Learn More
Marceline Market✗✓Learn More
Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods✗✓Learn More
Palo✓✗Learn More
Palo Steakhouse✗✓Learn More
Preludes✓✗Learn More
Pride Lands✗✓Learn More
Remy✓✗Learn More
Royal Palace✓✗Learn More
Vanellope's Sweets and Treats✓✗Learn More
Worlds of Marvel✗✓Learn More

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.

There are also plenty of bars available on these ships. Alcohol is not included in the base price of this cruise ship. To see if you would save money with a drink package, try our Drink Package Calculator.



Pools and Hot Tubs

Donalds Pool on Disney Dream
Donald's Pool on Disney Dream

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The Disney Dream has a total of 3 pools and 3 hot tubs.

Disney Destiny has more pools than the Dream and the same number of hot tubs. There are more exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Destiny. If you don't mind paying for exclusive access to areas in order to have less crowds, this might be a better choice.

Tired of loud kids and splashing? One of the pools and one of the hot tubs are adults only on Dream.

Disney
Dream
Disney
Destiny
Total Pools38
Pools - General Access26
Pools - Adults Only11
Pools - Exclusive1
Total Hot Tubs33
Hot Tubs - General Access2
Hot Tubs - Adults Only11
Hot Tubs - Exclusive2



Ship Features and Activities

Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. You might up paying more while on board the Dream. Only 77% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare. On the Destiny, 83% of the activities are included at no additional cost.

Disney
Dream
Disney
Destiny
Adult Only Relaxation Area✓✓
Basketball✓✓
Character experiences✓✓
Fitness Center✓✓
Kid's Play Area✗✓
Mini golf✓✗
Movie Theater✓✓
Salon✓✓
Shows - Broadway play✓✓
Shows - musical review✓✓
Spa✓✓
Splash park✓✗
Virtual Sports Simulator✓✗
Water Coaster✓✓
Water slides✗✓
Learn moreLearn more

Cruise Costs

Disney is a premium cruise line. Premium cruise lines typically offer upscale food, accommodations, and service. These typically cost about $150 - $400 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. Typically newer ships cost more, so a cruise on Disney Dream will likely be cheaper than on Disney Destiny.

Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Disney ship.

Disney
Base Daily Gratuities*
(Per Person Per Day)
$14.50
Tip added to drinks & services18%
Soda PriceIncluded
Domestic Beer Price$6.50
Drink Package PriceNo drink package available
Internet Plan$12 - $36 per device per day
*Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates.

With Disney Cruises, soda is included for meals, but will have an extra cost at bars and throughout the day. While no drink packages are available, you can preorder bottles of wine or beer at a discount.

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