Selecting the perfect stateroom for your Disney Cruise Line adventure can greatly enhance your vacation experience. With the growing fleet—including the newest ships like the Disney Wish and the upcoming Disney Treasure, Disney Adventure, and Disney Destiny—finding the right stateroom is more important than ever. Here’s a guide to help you choose the best stateroom, with tips on utilizing online resources, understanding GTY rooms, and ensuring you know exactly what you’re getting before you even set sail.
1. Use the Disney Cruise Line Room Reports Database
One of the best tools available to help you choose a stateroom is the Disney Cruise Line Room Reports database provided by WDWInfo.com. This resource offers detailed reviews and reports on nearly every stateroom across Disney’s fleet, including the newest additions like the Disney Wish.
- How to Use It: You can search by ship, stateroom number, or stateroom category. Reviews often include insights on room conditions, noise levels, views, and proximity to key areas of the ship, which can help you avoid potential issues.
- What to Look For: Pay close attention to recurring comments about noise, obstructed views, or particularly favorable rooms. This information can be crucial in choosing a stateroom that meets your needs and preferences.
2. Watch YouTube Room Tours
In addition to reading reviews, watching stateroom tours on YouTube provides a visual understanding of what to expect.
- Why It’s Helpful: Videos offer a real-world look at the room’s size, layout, and amenities, which can be more informative than photos alone. You’ll see how the room is arranged, the actual space available, and the views from verandahs or portholes.
- Tips for Searching: Use specific search terms like “Disney Wish room tour” followed by the room category (e.g., “Disney Wish 5A room tour”). This can help you find videos that match your exact stateroom type.
3. Understanding GTY (Guarantee) Rooms
Booking a GTY (Guarantee) room is a popular way to save money, though it comes with the uncertainty of not knowing your exact stateroom number until closer to your departure date.
- What You Need to Know: When you book a GTY rate, you’re guaranteed a room in a certain category or better, but the exact room is assigned later. This can be anytime between booking and a few weeks before the cruise.
- Researching GTY Categories: Although you won’t know the exact room, you can research the category (e.g., 8D, 9A) to understand the general type of room you’ll receive. Look up room reports and YouTube videos for staterooms within that category to get an idea of what your room might be like.
4. Consider Your Preferences and Needs
Choosing the right stateroom involves considering what’s most important to you during your cruise.
- Proximity to Elevators and Stairs: If you want quick access to dining areas, pools, or kids’ clubs, choose a stateroom near the elevators. However, these rooms might be noisier due to higher foot traffic.
- Quiet Locations: If you value peace and quiet, look for staterooms located away from public areas like theaters or nightclubs. The Disney Wish and upcoming ships like the Treasure will likely offer these quiet retreats, so it’s essential to research their layouts.
- Views and Balconies: If having a view is important, prioritize staterooms with verandahs or portholes. Use room reports to discover which rooms have the best (or worst) views, including any that might be obstructed.
5. Leverage Experience
A travel agent specialising in Disney cruises can be a valuable resource for selecting the best stateroom. They often have insider knowledge and can provide recommendations based on your specific needs and budget. However, I have always DIY’d it, and always used social media groups and instant messanger groups to gather my knowledge, ideas, and of course blogs and Youtube videos.
6. For Example… our experience of the Best Staterooms on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy
When sailing on the Disney Dream or Disney Fantasy, choosing the right stateroom can elevate your cruise experience. While every room offers Disney’s signature comfort and magic, some staterooms stand out for their size, layout, and family-friendly features.
Family Verandah Rooms: These rooms are a fantastic choice for families. They offer more space than standard staterooms and feature a private verandah that’s perfectly safe for small children when supervised. The verandah provides a great place to relax and enjoy the ocean views in privacy, making it an ideal choice for families who want a bit of extra space without splurging on a suite.
Special Recommendation – Square-Shaped Family Oceanview Staterooms: For a truly special experience, consider booking one of the unique square-shaped Family Oceanview Staterooms. These staterooms are almost like mini-suites, offering more space and a different layout compared to standard rooms, and two portholes that you can sit it in. The specific staterooms to look for are:
- Deck 5: 5018, 5020, 5022, 5518, 5520, 5522
- Deck 6: Corresponding rooms with similar layouts and amenities
These rooms are highly sought after because of their larger size and the panoramic views they offer through their large porthole windows. They provide the luxury of extra space and a more comfortable seating area, making them perfect for families who want more room to spread out during their cruise.
Why We Like Them: The square-shaped staterooms’ unique design gives them a suite-like feel without the full suite price tag. The added space and enhanced views make these rooms worth considering if you’re looking for something extra special on your Disney Dream or Fantasy cruise.
Before booking, it’s always a good idea to check resources like the Disney Cruise Line Room Reports to see what other cruisers have said about these specific rooms, and watch YouTube room tours to ensure they meet your expectations.
Conclusion
Finding the best stateroom on a Disney Cruise Line ship, whether it’s the Disney Wish, the upcoming Disney Treasure, or other ships in the fleet, is all about doing your research. Use resources like the Disney Cruise Line Room Reports and YouTube room tours to get a clear picture of what to expect. Even if you’re booking a GTY room, understanding the stateroom categories and reading up on other cruisers’ experiences can help ensure you’re happy with your choice long before you set sail.
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