I am a lifelong Disney fan, so I had great expectations for my first Disney cruise, My wife & I, both in our mid-50's, thought it would be similar to a land vacation at Disney- first class accommodations, fine dining, Broadway calibre shows, etc with the added nuance of a cruise. I think if I hadn't had my Disney blinders on, I could've foreseen the problems and not made such an expensive mistake as I did with this cruise.

I am not a fan of traditional dining venues. I don't like having to show up en-mass at a set time and then spend my dinner bantering with strangers. I know I'm supposed to form lifelong bonds with these people, but, frankly, I just want to have a quiet meal with my wife, discussing topics relevant to us. at a pace we determine. Instead, it's two hours of small talk every night in a loud room, overrun with children, watching waitstaff hustle and bustle as all the tables are served in unison. I simply hated it. By the middle of the cruise, I was dreading the dinner hour. Disney needs to incorporate free-style dining, like all the other major cruise lines. Adults simply don't care about Crush the Turtle if it means they have to be served dinner barracks-style.

The production shows were excellent and clearly appealed to young and old alike. But, the ventriloquist, comedian, and magician were geared for children. I simply couldn't sit thru it. Not Disney's fault. Like the dinner shows/venues, it was a constant reminder that I was on-board a kiddie ship. Read more