Did You Know? There's a Book Exchange on the Disney Dream!

There is a magical little place on the Disney Dream called Cove Café.

Yes, THAT Cove Café.

The one with the delicious pastries.

The one where I have spent an embarrassing amount of time admiring the complimentary treats.

The one that might just be my favorite place on the entire ship.

Well, apparently, Cove Café has been keeping a secret from me.

There is a book exchange.

An actual book exchange.

With actual books.

And somehow, despite all my visits to Cove Café, I had absolutely no idea where it was.

Let me explain.

The Great Disney Dream Book Hunt 📚

For years, I had heard whispers about a mysterious book exchange somewhere on the Disney ships.

A place where passengers could leave books they had finished and pick up something new to read.

It sounded wonderful.

It also sounded suspiciously like something I had invented in my head.

Because no matter how many times I sailed on the Disney ships, I had never actually seen this magical collection of unwanted books.

Where were they?

Did they really exist?

Was this just wishful thinking from a woman who loves books almost as much as she loves Disney cruises?

I needed answers.

And fortunately, I had time.

Eighteen nights, to be exact.

I had just boarded the Disney Dream for a 13-night transatlantic cruise, followed immediately by another five-night sailing.

Thirteen plus five.

Eighteen glorious nights aboard the Disney Dream.

Surely, that was enough time to locate a few books.

I had even brought books from home that I had finished reading and was ready to leave behind.

I was prepared.

I was determined.

I was going to find this book exchange.

And so began my investigation.

First, I checked Guest Services.

Nothing.

Then I started searching the bars.

All of them.

I paid particularly close attention to Pub 687 because there were games there.

And in my mind, games and books belong together.

Apparently, the Disney Dream did not agree.

No books.

I searched Vista Café.

I examined the surrounding couches.

I looked in corners.

I inspected shelves.

I wandered around the ship looking for a collection of books that I wasn't entirely convinced existed.

Nothing.

Not one mysterious bookshelf.

Not one abandoned paperback.

Not even a lonely romance novel waiting for a new home.

Eventually, I admitted defeat.

The book exchange was a myth.

A beautiful, literary myth.

And I had spent far too much time looking for it.

And Then There Were Pastries

Naturally, after such a disappointing investigation, I needed to console myself.

With pastries.

Obviously.

So off I went to Cove Café.

My happy place.

My sanctuary.

My reliable source of delicious little treats.

I was standing in line, patiently waiting for my pastry reward, when I happened to glance toward the side of the café.

You know that little area?

The one with the television?

And the very large bookcase?

The VERY LARGE BOOKCASE.

With books.

Lots and lots of books.

Wait.

What?

Could it be?

Had I finally found it?

YES!

There it was.

The mysterious Disney Dream book exchange.

Right there.

In Cove Café.

The very place where I had spent an enormous amount of time over the years.

The very place I visited practically every day.

The very place I considered my favorite spot on the ship.

I had searched all over the Disney Dream for something that had apparently been sitting right under my nose.

Or, more accurately, right next to my pastries.

I would like to say this was my finest detective moment.

It was not.

But I was thrilled!

Books, Books, and More Books!

Once I recovered from the excitement of finding the world's most obvious hidden book exchange, I got down to business.

I left the books I had brought from home.

And then I started browsing.

There were so many interesting books!

Different authors.

Different genres.

Books I had never heard of.

And because we had just sailed across the Atlantic, I was especially excited to discover books by British authors.

Naturally, a few of those found their way into my possession.

I had brought books to leave behind and now had new books to enjoy.

It was perfect.

And the best part?

The book exchange was real.

Not a rumor.

Not a cruise ship legend.

Not something I had dreamed up after eating too many pastries.

Although, to be fair, that last possibility was entirely reasonable.

🚢Clearly Maggie's Advice

If you're sailing on the Disney Dream and love to read, take a peek at the bookcase in the side seating area of Cove Café, near the television.

During my sailing, that was where I found the book exchange.

Bring along a book you've finished and see if there's something interesting waiting for you. Just remember that the selection depends on what other passengers have left behind.

And if you can't find the books immediately, don't do what I did.

Don't spend 18 nights searching every corner of the ship.

Just go to Cove Café.

Find the big bookcase.

And while you're there, get yourself a pastry.

Because apparently, the only thing better than a good book is a good book with a complimentary pastry.