We love everything about the Disney Dream cruise ship. Well, we don't love Nassau, but that's really just where the Disney Dream parks for a day. If you haven't done a Disney cruise yet, this list will let you know how awesome they can be. Here are our 8 Favorite things about the Disney Dream cruise ship, along with some of our favorite cruise tips.

Castaway Cay

Castaway Cay is the highlight fo many Disney cruises. Disney's private island is everything you'd expect it to be, and more. There are characters and activities all around. There's water fun (snorkeling, jet skiing). There's land fun (basketball, giant chess, bicycling). The sand is beautiful. The drinks are reasonable. And the view…unbelievable.

Mouse Hacking Tip: Ride bikes all the way to the end of the island and back as soon as you arrive. Once you're by or past the cabanas, it's a much more isolated experience, and by heading out early you'll get an overview of the island before the rest of your day. Head over to "Heads Up Bar" for the above awesome view.

Pirate Night

Dress like a pirate and learn to be a pirate in Mickey's crew! Complete with Jack Sparrow and Fireworks, pirate night is a super fun addition to every Disney Dream cruise. It's not just for kids, either. Not only will you get to see adults enjoying the fun, but when it comes time for your swanky dinner, you'll see plenty of adults donning their pirate gear in Royal Palace.

Mouse Hacking Tip: The fireworks are shot from starboard (right), so grab a spot on that side for the clearest view or on port to avoid looking straight up (the AquaDuck usually doesn't obstruct the view too much).

The AquaDuck

Disney claims the AquaDuck is the first "water roller coaster" at sea. We don't know what that means, but the AquaDuck is a fun water slide ride around the ship (makes it feel sort of small, actually).

Mouse Hacking Tip: Ride the AquaDuck when the ship is at port for no wait.

Pink (But All The Bars, Really)

It's the obligatory entry on any Mouse Hacking "best of" list: a bar! Pink is our favorite bar on the Disney Dream, its specialty being champaign/sparkling wine and related cocktails.

It's home to a piano and frequently features the musicians who will be spending the rest of their nights on the main deck performing for larger (and louder) crowds.

Mouse Hacking Tip: Come for a drink when there's a performance for a much more intimate experience than you'll get on the main deck.

Castaway Cay 5K

If you're into running, Disney has you covered. Even if you're just into walking, sign up! The Castaway Cay 5K is the morning you arrive at Castaway Cay. You're actually the first guests onto the island, though by the time you start and run the race, many more will have joined you. There's nothing particularly special about the race itself, but it is a fun way to start your morning and get acquainted with the island.

You won't PR here, it's just too hot, but the winning time has been right around 20 minutes when we've done it. You'll need to talk to the guest services desk to get your tickets when you're on the ship. Everyone gets the same rubber medal for finishing, so just enjoy the run.

Mouse Hacking Tip: Bring your stuff for the day along and leave it in the container at the starting line to avoid making the long walk back to the ship.

Match Your Mate

If being embarrassed (or watching people be embarrassed) is for you, then definitely check out Match Your Mate. It's a newlywed-style game featuring three couples. We were lucky enough to be "Couple Number 2" last time, which earned us a bit of fun fame the entire trip.

Mouse Hacking Tip: Nothing to hack here. (Okay, if you want to get chosen by the crowd to play, tell them you're from a big city, that's how you get the most cheers.) This is an *adult* game. Have fun with it and remember that kids aren't allowed in the bars at those hours.

Skyline

Two bars on one list is a little excessive (even for us). But Skyline is another of our favorite spots on the Disney Dream cruise ship. This bar features false windows that rotate between night skylines of major global cities. Skyline is always worth a stop to enjoy the swank atmosphere.

Mouse Hacking Tip: Plan to grab a drink and sit through each of the skylines. This will be about 20-30 minutes.

All the Activities

The Disney Dream is loaded with activities. You can go to a beer tasting, then to a talk about how the ship was built, and then head over to the movie theater for a show. You won't ever be bored on this ship if you're willing to try new things!

During the Christmas cruises you can even make a gingerbread house!

Mouse Hacking Tip: Check the daily navigator to see what's going on around the ship. Not everything is advertised beforehand. Also, consider skipping Nassau in favor of a boat day. Not only will you get in more activities, but you'll have the ship mostly to yourself.

We took a Disney cruise for the first time last April on the Dream, and every day since a little part of us has missed that ship (except for when we were on it again, of course). There's so much to do on this ship, that as long as you're willing to go out and try some things, you're practically guaranteed to have a great time.