Disney Cruise Line has long been a favorite for families looking for a vacation that pleases everyone. Their newest ship, the Disney Fantasy does not disappoint!  They have taken all of the fantastic things about the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder and kicked them up a notch.

Here are the top 5 features of the Disney Fantasy that will make your vacation one to remember for a lifetime:

Disney Entertainment:  Disney is without a doubt one of the most respected names in entertainment and certainly tops in family entertainment.  They continue live up to that reputation with entertainment on board the Disney Fantasy.  The nightly shows in the Walt Disney theater are Broadway caliber productions complete with your favorite Disney characters. The newest production at sea, Aladdin , is definitely not to be missed!

The entertainment doesn’t stop there. Even the art work on board gets in to the act. Interactive art, which looks like a regular picture comes to life if you pause to look at it. Some of these pictures are even hiding clues to a mystery kids can solve with help from the Mid-ship Detective Agency featuring the Muppets. While dining in the Animator’s Palate dining room guests create their own animated character that is then brought to life and made to be a part of the show during dinner. “Pirate Night” has been a guest favorite on Disney cruises for some time now but the Buccaneer Blast and Pirate Party on the Disney Dream takes the experience to a new level. Disney is the only cruise line to have fireworks at sea and on the Fantasy, those fireworks are set to music. This is one party you won’t want to miss!

Youth Activities: When you think Disney, you think children. The majority of Disney Cruise Line guests are families traveling with children but remarkably the ship doesn’t seem overrun with kids. Why? Because they are almost always engaged in the kids activities onboard! Disney offers supervised programming for kids age 3 months to 17. Onboard the Disney Dream children age 3 months – 2 years enjoy the It’s a Small World nursery which is staffed with caring “counselors” and equipped with everything from soft toys to rows of cribs for nap time. Children age 3-10 will love the Oceaneers Club and Oceaneers Lab.  While these two clubs flow together through a project room and children can move from one to the other, typically the Oceaneers Club appeals to those age 3-7 and the Oceaneers Lab for ages 8-10. Both clubs offer ample play space with lots of high tech play options plus some good old fashioned fun with everything from dress up to board games.

Tweens will enjoy their own space at Edge where they can make green screen movies, mix their own music or even hang out on their own water deck with a splash pad and sun deck. Teens will enjoy Vibe with it’s key card access areas, private pool deck at the front of the ship, shipboard social networking options and even their own spa called “Chill.”  Don’t be surprised when you hear parents telling their children that yes, they do have to come out to have dinner or spend time with the family!

Night Life for Mom and Dad: There is plenty for Mom and Dad to do while the kids are in their respective clubs! The adult areas of the ship include everything from intimate cocktail lounges, a sports bar, a dance club and even an in-the-pool bar at the adult only pool! There is even a private, adult only beach on Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the Bahamas. Disney does insist that the 18 and up age limits are strictly followed in these areas. Be sure to make time to check out The Tube, the high energy dance club found in Europa. Our group had lots of fun there. We recommend you give one of their signature drinks – the Tuppany Tube – a try!

Well Designed Staterooms: Ask anyone who has ever cruised before to describe their stateroom and “spacious” is not a word they are likely to use. Space on a cruise ship is limited so staterooms are typically quite small. The staterooms on the Disney Fantasy are very thoughtfully designed to make the best use every inch of space. Though it may seem like common sense, most cruise lines do not leave enough space under the bed to store luggage. Thankfully Disney corrected this and even the largest suitcase in your luggage set will slide under your bed for storage. There are ample shelves, drawers and closet space for storing your wardrobe while on board. Disney introduced the concept of the split bath on their first ships and the Fantasy features them as well. Most staterooms have 2 separate bathrooms; one with a sink and toilet and the other with a sink and tub/shower combination. The designers of the stateroom seem to have though of everything, except to include an outlet in the bathroom for plugging in a hair dryer! If your family likes to sleep in, pack a long extension cord to or plan to have to turn on the lights and run the hair dryer in the vanity area as your family covers their heads with pillows and considers tossing you, or at least your hair dryer, overboard.

The AquaDuck: Dubbed a “water coaster at sea”, the AquaDuck is 765 ft of fun! Riders are taken out over the edge of the ship and along the top deck overlooking the pool and outdoor movie screen. The ride is fun for all and not at all scary. There has been some criticism that it is not enough of a thrill but it was never intended to be “Space Mountain at Sea” but rather a family fun attraction. Judging by the line of people waiting to ride again and again, it earns a thumbs up. Water in the AquaDuck is heated, but the wind on deck can make it a bit refreshing in winter months as you queue up for another chance to “do the Duck.”

The Disney Fantasy is a truly beautiful ship that is reminiscent of a classic ocean liner. Equipped with the latest in technology and thoughtful design, Disney strikes a perfect balance of elegance and entertainment. It is no wonder that almost 90% of first time cruisers say they will plan another cruise vacation in the future!