Dream

A player entering a dream in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

A dream is an online feature in Animal Crossing: New Leaf and Animal Crossing: New Horizons that allows players to visit other dream towns (dream islands in New Horizons). Unlike regular town visits, some areas (like Main Street or Town Hall) are inaccessible and the player cannot take any items from this town (if they are lying on the ground). In both games, Luna will hold onto the items that were in the player's pockets prior to dreaming, and will return them once the player wakes up.

While initially absent from Animal Crossing: New Horizons, dreams were added in the 1.4.0 Free Summer Update Wave 2. Unlike the previous game, the player can sleep on a regular bed rather than in the Dream Suite, which does not exist in New Horizons. Dreams may only be accessed if the bed that the player sleeps on is in their own house, and if the airport gates are closed.

Sharing a dream

In New Leaf

A player lying down to share a dream in New Leaf

Once a day, the player can share a dream of their own town with other New Leaf players by lying down on the couch. Luna will ask the player whether or not custom designs from the town can be taken by visitors; if the player allows this, Wendell will appear in dreams of the town to provide the designs to dreamers. Luna will then tell the player their town's Dream Address and pay the player 5,000 Bells.

The first time the player uploads the dream of their town, Luna will add the town's Dream Address to the player's Town Pass Card. After later updates, Luna will tell the player how many other players have dreamed of their towns. The player may also talk directly to Luna to have the dream of their town deleted.

Before Welcome amiibo update, a Dream Address consisted of 12 digits; however, after update they now contain hexadecimal values. All towns shared before this update were removed.

In New Horizons

Once a day, the player can share a dream of their own island with other New Horizons players by lying down on any bed in their own house. Dream Addresses are prefixed with DA and follow a similar format to the Dream Addresses from New Leaf (12-digit number). The player's dream address is added to their island map and passport once the Dream is initially uploaded. After the dream's initial upload, and upon each subsequent update to the Dream, Luna will mail the player a Dream Exchange Bell Ticket the following day, which can be sold at Nook's Cranny for 5,000 Bells.

Besides updating their dream and visiting other dream islands, the player can either delete the dream or set the dream to private, so that the dream address does not appear on the player's map or passport.

Dreaming

In New Leaf

A player entering a dream in New Leaf

To begin a dream, the player must lie down on the bed and pay Luna 500 Bells. They may then choose to visit a random town, input the Dream Address of a specific town to visit, or search for a town. They may then choose to visit a previously visited town or a random town, or to input the dream address of a new town to visit. While dreaming, the player may walk around the town and perform actions just as they would in the real world, but their actions will have no effect on the town.

While dreaming, the bed will be on the dream town's plaza. Luna and Lloid stand near it until the player decides to wake up. Players can borrow tools like a shovel and axe from Lloid to use within the dream. If the player lies on the bed a second time, they will leave the dream and anything they have in their pockets will be lost.

The player cannot go to Main Street or enter any buildings with doors besides homes. Additionally, messages left on the bulletin board cannot be read; instead, the board displays the town's name and Dream Address. If the player who uploaded the town chose to allow their custom designs to be taken, the dreaming player will be able to talk to Wendell to access the designs. Regardless, custom designs on display in the town, such as on the ground and in houses, will be visible. The player who uploaded the town can also be found walking about. When spoken to, they will say their recorded greeting.

Upon returning from a dream selected by Luna, if the player tells Luna that they had a nightmare, Luna will not send the player to the town again.

If the player attempts to enter Re-Tail, it will say "Temporarily closed forever." since it is just a dream. Main Street is also inaccessible because a train is in the way, and the Roost sign will say "Closed 24 hours."

If a villager that lives in the player's town is also in the dream town, the villager in question may comment on how "it's nice that at least you're here!".

In New Horizons

A player entering a dream in New Horizons

When the player wishes to dream, Luna will ask them to provide a dream address and, unlike in New Leaf, cannot take the player to random players' islands without the need for a dream address. There is also no service charge, so dreaming is free in New Horizons. If the player tries to input their own Dream Address, Luna will reject it, stating that she cannot guide the player to their own island “any more than [she] can divide by zero.” Unlike in New Leaf, the player will not change into pajamas before dreaming, and will continue wearing the clothing that they had on beforehand. Clothes from Wand transformations cannot be worn as Luna also takes away the Wand, and must be taken off before dreaming. Beginning in the 1.5.0 Fall Update, players are able to view a list of dreams they have visited before.^[1]

While dreaming, the player may walk around the island and perform actions just as they would in the real world, but their actions will have no effect on the island. The bed will be on the dream island's plaza. Luna stands near it until the player decides to wake up. She holds an umbrella if it is raining. If the player lies on the bed a second time, they will leave the dream and anything they have in their pockets will be lost.

Lloid does not appear on the dream island unlike in New Leaf and thus the player cannot borrow tools. Replacing the functionality of Wendell from New Leaf, the plaza contains a design kiosk that allows the player to browse the island owner's custom designs, including Pro Designs, and take them out of the dream.

During a dream, the NookPhone apps have altered availability and functionality. Only the Camera, Map, Chat Log, and Best Friends List have full functionality. The Custom Designs app will allow the player to wear their designs, but not edit or display them, and if the player tries to call Rescue Service, the Operator will note the “Strange tunnels” and can only drop the player off at the plaza as a result. The Operator will not charge the player due to them not being able to choose where to be taken, though the Operator will complain about this. All other apps are completely unusable.

While dreaming, the player cannot learn DIY recipes, and any items that are picked up will not be cataloged. They also cannot enter Nook's Cranny or Able Sisters, and the message, “Due to unusual circumstances, we will be closed today.” will be displayed if the player tries to enter either shop. The Airport can be entered, but Orville will simply tell the player to enjoy their visit, and will not offer to fly them to other islands or allow them to use the card stand. However, the Museum still functions normally and as if the player were in another island's museum online.

If the player feels that the dream island violates Nintendo's terms of service, they may wish to report it with the minus button, after which Luna will immediately wake them up.