Magic cat 12GTY vs Wonder cat 6?? Please help!

[Jaime]

Which would you do...a 7 day Eastern in cat 12GTY on the Magic or a 4 day cat 6 on the Wonder? Family of 4 children ages 3 & 5.

For those who have sailed both...which did you like more? We are booked on Wonder 4 day in cat 6 but dh said today that he thinks he would rather do a 7 day...we can only afford a cat 12GTY right now on the 7 day. He figures it would be more relaxing...I really wanted a balcony to relax on however 3 extra nights sounds pretty nice too...it actually may be to late for us to switch as I gave my TA final payment yesterday however it isn't due for 2 weeks.

Our current vacation we have booked is 1 day at the Cocoa Beach...a 4 day Wonder cruise...3 days off site in Orlando and then 4 days on site at Saratoga Springs.


TIA!

 

[nordkin]

I would do the 7 day. I agree with your husband. Since there are four of you, if you book the GTY 12, you will receive an upgrade because the category 12 only accomodates 3 people.

 

[yndygo]

Honestly? that's a tough question.

For me, I wouldn't do a 7 day w/o a balcony (too claustrophobic - and I am one of those people who likes to spend time in my room winding down!) but trust me when I say that no matter how long you are aboard, you will wish it was longer!!

If you think you can do the 7 day go for it - a GTY12 will upgrade, but maybe only to a CAT11 or 10 - so if an inside cabin won't work for you, don't make the switch... but if it does? Go for the 7 day!!

Remember too tho that you can book the 4 day, and rebook for a 7 day while onboard at a 10% discount with a $200 credit... which you'll end up doing if you're like the rest of us DIS addicts!

 

[101DalmFan]

Even though I'm of the I-need-natural-light group , I would always choose the longest cruise even if meant an inside cabin.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'd take the 7 day vacation.

Haven't sailed either--but just what I would do.

 

[ragdoll]

I would absolutely do the seven night. I've cruised in a cat. 6 and in a cat. 12. Don't mind the cat. 12 at all. And the Eastern ports are sooo much nicer than Nassau.

 

[anewmac]

I would do the 7, dh and I have done a 3day and we both said in the end we would do longer next time (hense us doing a 7day now LOL with the family) and we too are doing gty12

 

[Jaime]

Remember too tho that you can book the 4 day, and rebook for a 7 day while onboard at a 10% discount with a $200 credit... which you'll end up doing if you're like the rest of us DIS addicts!

Even though I would love to do that because of the expense for airfare it's just not possible for us...we plan on doing vacations closer to home for the next 5 years...then if we enjoyed this cruise cruise again maybe on one of the new boats.

I really like the idea of sailing on the Magic...we would have book a cat 12GTY before but it wasn't available when we booked but now it is. Since we did not want to pay the price of the cat 11 we decided to book a cat 6 on the Wonder...

The balcony idea and having natural light and going to Atlantis is after growing on me and we are looking forward to it but now I also like the idea of having more time to enjoy the ship...relax...go to Palo's...have more adult time(I'm a stay at home mom)...I am having a really hard time trying to decide...and because we made our final payment early I am not even sure if we can change. Also we have a room book in Orlando for 3 nights for a really low rate of $110 at a 5 star resort(timeshare deal) that I am not sure if we can cancel...however we would be okay paying that rate for Sat night only if we had too.

Thank you all for the help!

 

[yndygo]

You're going to have a great time no matter what!!

It's really so much of a personal thing... My older brother is a park fanatic - and so his family always ends up doing 4 day cruises after spending anywhere from 3 to 10 days in the park first (yes 10... and I think he would've stayed longer if he could've!! he was a CM back in college) My family is more of a 'let's stay on the ship... hmmm... we're going to have to save up for a 15 day repo in a few years' type...

But honestly? If you spend 3 days in Orlando, and 4 on the ship, you're still going to have a HEAVENLY week!!

((hug))

 

[tinkerone]

keep in mind, if its setting on deck that sounds appealing you can always set out on dec nine by the pools, deck 4 ( a quieter spot) with wonderful views of the ocean, deck 7 (the secret deck) and deck 10. lots of these spots are very private so if the urge hits you.....
i to would pick the 7 day hands down!

 

[CraftyMouse]

The 7-day...no question about it.

We have done the 3-day, 4-day and 2 7-day cruises. We have stayed in Category 10, 11, 9 and 6 cabins. While the balcony was nice we felt it was a waste of money. With so much to do on the ship we hardly ever used it and, as someone else said, there are plenty of other decks to sit out on if you are so inclined.

Now we always book a Category 9 because DH really likes the natural light. If it were up to me I would book a Cat. 12 GTY for us every time and you know you will get an upgrade of some sort.

Good luck with your decision. I'm sure you'll enjoy your trip, no matter which option you choose.

 

[JsMom2]

Go for the 7 days!! Especially if this will be your last cruise for awhile. My DD and I have been on the Magic 3 times. The first time in a cat 5 (due to a free upgrade), second in a cat 7, and then on the 11 day Med we had a cat 11.

The verandah is nice, but we really didn't spend that much time on it. There's so much going on elsewhere on the ship. When your kids are in the club, you can enjoy the adult pool deck or the secret deck on deck 7. And when you have your kids with you, they'll probably want to be at the Mickey pool.

My DD and I feel that when you visit parks you are visiting Disney, but on the ship we are living inside Disney!

 

[Jaime]

You're going to have a great time no matter what!!

It's really so much of a personal thing... My older brother is a park fanatic - and so his family always ends up doing 4 day cruises after spending anywhere from 3 to 10 days in the park first (yes 10... and I think he would've stayed longer if he could've!! he was a CM back in college) My family is more of a 'let's stay on the ship... hmmm... we're going to have to save up for a 15 day repo in a few years' type...

But honestly? If you spend 3 days in Orlando, and 4 on the ship, you're still going to have a HEAVENLY week!!

We actually have booked 1 day at the Cocoa Beach...a 4 day cruise...3 days off site in Orlando and then 4 days on site at Saratoga Springs so we will still be going to WDW even if we do the 7 day...those 3 days off site we planned to go shopping and to Universal Studio's...we could still go to Universal Studios when we get of the 7 day cruise depending what time we get to Orlando...

I plan to talk to the other family we are travelling with today to see if they want to switch...thanks for all the info...I believe we will enjoy the 7 day so much more. I know we'll have alot of fun on either vacation but it would be more relaxing on the 7 day.

 

[jns]

we have been in your shoes had a 4 day booked for and all paid and then decided that a 7 day 12gty would be nicer
so just waiting for our room number

we don't care where we end up sleeping as long as it is on the magic

 

[ch10dad]

never done a cat 12 gty but in general...

... more days = more better...

 

[kcashner]

As above, you will not sail in a 12 with a family of 4. You will be in an 11 without any pixie dust, and maybe even something nicer.

I'd go for the 7 day. I've been in a 6, an 8, 9, 10, 11....we don't spend that much time in the cabin.

The only reason I'd hesitate at all is that with a balcony you can chill on the balcony while the kids nap....that's nice. But I'd still go for the longer cruise.

 

[ironwill1979]

I plan to talk to the other family we are travelling with today to see if they want to switch...thanks for all the info...I believe we will enjoy the 7 day so much more. I know we'll have alot of fun on either vacation but it would be more relaxing on the 7 day.

I'm so excited for you! Keep us informed about what you decide to do!

 

[Jaime]

I'm so excited for you! Keep us informed about what you decide to do!

Thanks for all the advise...we switched and got a fablous "magical rate"...it's only costing us $150 more to go on the 7 day cruise...now all we have to do is wait for our room assignment.

 

[Frankiesmom]

That's so awesome! LOL Congrats!

 

[TexasGirl]

No hesitatation.... the 7 day!!!!!!