hotel September 8, 2026

Dreams Resorts Expands MasterChef Junior Culinary Program

Learn about the new Dreams Resorts MasterChef Junior experience, a culinary program designed to engage young travelers through interactive cooking activities.

Dreams Resorts & Spas is expanding its MasterChef Junior culinary program to additional family-oriented properties. This expansion grows the initial “MasterChef Junior: Next Course” collaboration, which aims to provide more interactive cooking experiences for young travelers.

A Shift Toward Experiential Family Travel

Dreams Resorts & Spas is growing its partnership with the MasterChef Junior television series to offer more cooking activities for families. This move follows a shift in how modern families plan vacations. Many travelers now seek shared activities that involve both parents and children. They are moving away from the traditional model where kids stay in supervised rooms while adults engage in separate activities.

This program changes the way families interact during their stay. Instead of standard childcare, the program uses “edutainment” to mimic the style of the hit competition show. This approach differentiates Dreams Resorts from other all-inclusive competitors. For example, Club Med often focuses on high-energy activities like circus arts, sailing, and sports. Iberostar typically relies on traditional supervised play in themed kids’ clubs. By contrast, Dreams is targeting a niche in skill-based, culinary-focused learning that creates a central part of the vacation itinerary.

Culinary Skills in Action: What to Expect

While the brand is rolling out new activity lists for various locations, the core of the program is hands-on kitchen experience. Children participate in cooking events that teach basic culinary skills in a supervised resort setting.

A typical session might involve a child learning to use kid-safe knives to dice vegetables or mastering the art of whisking a simple sauce. They may also practice food presentation, such as learning how to plate a colorful salad or decorate a dessert. These activities allow children to work alongside professional chefs, turning a meal into an active learning event.

The expansion includes several key properties, such as Dreams Playa Mujeres, Dreams Los Cabos, and Dreams Papagayo Beach. Families at these locations can expect these structured sessions to be a primary feature of the kids’ programming.

Maximizing Value with the World of Hyatt Program

Because Dreams Resorts & Spas is part of the Hyatt portfolio, travelers can use the World of Hyatt loyalty ecosystem for these stays. This provides an advantage for those who collect points through Hyatt stays or credit card spending.

When planning a trip, you should consider how you pay for the stay. World of Hyatt points have high value, averaging about 1.7 cents per point. This is higher than the value at Marriott, where points often average 0.8 cents per point. While Hyatt has a smaller footprint than Marriott—with about 1,200 properties compared to Marriott’s 8,000+—the redemption power per point is a significant factor for frequent travelers.

To use your points effectively, keep these mechanics in mind:

Transfer Partners: You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio. This is a common way to fund large family stays.
Award Charts: Hyatt uses a category-based award chart from Category 1 to Category 8. Check the category of your specific Dreams Resort to ensure your points are used efficiently.
No Top-Offs: Unlike the IHG One Rewards program, Hyatt does not allow you to “top off” a reservation by paying part in points and part in cash. You must have the full amount of points required for the award stay.
Earning Potential: You can earn points at these resorts through direct stays or by using Hyatt-branded credit cards.

Globalist members may also receive perks like suite upgrades and late checkout, though the availability of these benefits at all-inclusive properties like Dreams depends on specific resort policies.

Is the MasterChef Experience Worth the Booking?

This culinary expansion is a logical choice for families who want their children to be active participants in their vacation. It moves the kids’ club experience from simple supervision to skill-based engagement. If you are a World of Hyatt member, these stays offer a way to use high-value points for a family-centric experience.

Travelers should check the Dreams Resorts website or their World of Hyatt account to confirm which specific properties currently offer the MasterChef Junior programming before booking.