Disney Magic, help with location and type of room please

[Nicsmom]

Deciding between Deluxe Ocenaview with Verandah or Deluxe Family with Verandah. Which way would you go and why?

Also deciding between stateroom location, front of boat deck 8 (category 4B) or back of boat deck 8 (cat 4E)

Other option would be midship on the off chance of sea sickness. Deck 8 Midship (cat 4A)

Verandah is a must have.

Booking Friday...

Thanks!

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

The 4 Category has an additional 30 square feet than the other verandahs. The difference between the 4E and the 4B is the 4b has a plexiglass verandah, while the 4E's are solid white walls.

Personally, I like the plexiglass.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

We had a Cat 4 midship and did not enjoy it due to the nosie from the Goofy pool. The verandah was quite loud with things being dropped, chairs being moved, kids running, etc. You could even hear it in the room. It was the noisiest room we've ever been in.

We have also had a Cat 6 on Deck 6 mid-ship and thoroughly enjoyed it. Quiet location and very quiet verandah! Yes, it is smaller, but since you seem to be deciding between a regular verandah room and a Cat 4, I assume you don't have 5 guests and need the extra bed.

 

[Nicsmom]

Thanks for the reply and info. The plexiglass would be a big plus.

Does the square feet really make that much difference? Do you know if it's in the room itself or is the verandah larger?

 

[Mrs. Gumdrop]

I have traveled in both a Deluxe and a family deluxe, both solid veranda and plexiglass. You didn't mention how many people are sailing with you, and that could be a factor, since the family deluxe sleeps 5.

The extra space is in the room, and allows for space to pull down a Murphy bed. There is also an extra chair between the sofa and veranda.

My DH and I sailed with out children and really didn't need the extra space in the family deluxe room. I do however prefer the plexiglass veranda wall. More light comes in the room and you can see what is going on outside from a sitting position. The railing is quite tall and you can really only enjoy the view with the solid wall if you are standing.

 

[Nicsmom]

We are traveling with 3 adults (daughter 18) and 1 child (7).

I'm leaning toward the plexiglass for sure.

We're looking at 4B deck 8. These are at the front of the boat under the spa area on deck 9. I'm thinking the noise level from above will be low and possibly a better view towards the front.

Cat 4A deck 8 is about $150 more and located midship, why the increase in cost? Because it's midship? Room details look the same.

Any negatives with my thinking on 4B, deck 8?

 

[3Mickeys]

We were in a 4B last week, room 8020 in the forward part of the ship. As far as location, I think it was a great choice. The adult areas were over us so it was not noisy as I suspect it would be with family areas over you. The only noise we heard was wheeled carts. Such as a crew member pushing a cart of towels or a trash bin. We never heard running or chairs. We rebooked and discussed if we would want a different location and we all decided we liked where we were. We were close to the forward elevators which were less busy than the mid elevators. But overall, any room on the boat is a good room when the alternative is no room!!

 

[scrapbookmomma74]

I personally don't like being only 1 deck down from the pools. I have sailed on the Magic twice. The first time, deck 6, room 6056 right by the midship elevators...TOO NOISY and too much traffic. The second time, we had deck 6 again, room 6610. I LOVED this location...near enough to elevators, but far enough so we didn't hear noise. Also, right below the family pool areas and the buffet (but down a couple of levels).
I was on the deck right below the family pools on a different cruise line, and they would move chairs around and powerwash the decks starting at abouth 5am. NOT a relaxing vacation when I'm awake at 5am from scraping pool chairs.

Both of our rooms on the Magic were Deluxe Oceanview staterooms with verandah, with 4 of us, and we had plenty of room. Even adding an extra adult's clothes, we would have been fine.

A tip: put out all of the clothes you THINK you need, then CUT it in half! lol

Good luck!

 

[Mrs. Gumdrop]

When I sailed in the category 4 we were on deck 8 aft, stateroom 8566. Sailing for 14 days, we never had any issues with noise. I will admit that the ship wasn't exactly full, so that might effect the noise level. I really liked being aft, just a quick flight of steps up to Topsiders, and the drink station.

Oh! A plus of booking below the spa -- the forward stairs leading up to the spa smell heavenly! The wonderful "spa" smell wafts through the upper stairs. Very relaxing. But, it might not be as convenient to take the steps up to the pool deck for DD7. Having children walk through the adult pool area can be a contentious topic, just an FYI.

Your 18 year old might appreciate the Murphy style bed more then "bunk bed" set up you would be restricted to in a cat. 5.

And yes, all of the category 4s will be the same room size and layout, the letter just indicates how "desirable" the location of the room is. But only you know what works best for you.

 

[RedSox68]

We have sailed 8 Disney cruises -- 7 in verandah rooms and one in an oceanview. All I can say is (1) we choose a verandah over anything else if pricing is good; (2) we had a room at the front of the ship once and hated it -- got seasick (which I never do) and really didn't like the feeling (felt every surge and wave).

Midship and back is our favorite locations.

 

[ll_california]

Would you consider cat 5C on deck 6? nice location; balcony with plexiglass; save $$$...

 

[Nicsmom]

We have sailed 8 Disney cruises -- 7 in verandah rooms and one in an oceanview. All I can say is (1) we choose a verandah over anything else if pricing is good; (2) we had a room at the front of the ship once and hated it -- got seasick (which I never do) and really didn't like the feeling (felt every surge and wave).

Midship and back is our favorite locations.

When did you cruise? We are going in Feb and have been told the weather is generally good so calm seas.

 

[Nicsmom]

Would you consider cat 5C on deck 6? nice location; balcony with plexiglass; save $$$...

Thanks for the suggestion but we don't want to be above the kids areas for fear of noise and like the idea of the bigger stateroom.

 

[Magic3forme]

we have done 2 cat 4's on the Magic

room 8060, was midship and super quiet.. great location!!

we did cabin 8576.... it was awful!!! right under the Goofy pool, and there were chairs being dragged all night long!!

this past cruise we did 2 rooms, cabins 6598 and 6599 , it was a lot cheaper for us.. family of 5.

 

[seasideliz]

We cruised in FEB on the Magic Cat 4B - room 8014 - we LOVED this location.
The verandah was nice - it was right up the stairs to the Spa/Gym (cool cucumber and lemon water), and the kids could go up one level to go to pool or to get snacks/arcade on deck 9.

We had very rough seas on the 4th day - and could really feel it - but I think everyone did - the winds were at 28 knots or something like that. I personally enjoyed it LOL, while my 9 yr old DD was quite ill, and DH took some natural gravol to combat anticipated seasickness

 

[kcashner]

There have been a lot of noise complaints from deck 8--moving of deck chairs at night with cleaning, noise while pools in use, etc.

Unless you need the cat 4 (in order to sleep 5 people in the cabin), you'll save serious money by dropping to a cat 5 or 6 and still have your balcony. Most people do prefer the plexiglass balcony--that's whey the solid is a little cheaper.

 

[Nicsmom]

There have been a lot of noise complaints from deck 8--moving of deck chairs at night with cleaning, noise while pools in use, etc.

Unless you need the cat 4 (in order to sleep 5 people in the cabin), you'll save serious money by dropping to a cat 5 or 6 and still have your balcony. Most people do prefer the plexiglass balcony--that's whey the solid is a little cheaper.

I think this is the case only if you are midship under the pools and areas where there is "activity". The front of the ship under the spa should be much quieter with less "activity" or at least quieter activity.


DH likes space to move, actually wants to do the 1 bed suite but I won't let him as I can't get past the cost...

 

[RedSox68]

When did you cruise? We are going in Feb and have been told the weather is generally good so calm seas.

We sailed in September a few years back (on the Wonder 10-day). There were no hurricanes going on - I just think it was the fact that the room was all the way at the front.

 

[noladave]

Just got off the Magic yesterday, and we were in 7602, with connecting room 7600 (DSIL family).

We loved it, as we were on the "right" side for most of the port adventures - beautiful views in all of the ports - especially Castaway Cay. We were right down the hallway from the laundry, 2 flights down from Topsiders (breakfast and sodas), and had rooms above us, and below us. Very quiet.

Category 5B, or 5C, can't remember...

Good luck on whatevery you decide..

CC from our cabin (using iPhone. I will have better pics later)..

 

[clawmachine]

If you decide to go for a cat 4E, I highly recommend room 8090 or 8594. They are the two that are priced lower as "solid verandahs" but the verandah is actually half plexiglass and half solid and it worked out perfectly. I cannot say enough good things about this location. Very quiet, super easy to get to the food and pools, aft elevators were less crowded and so on.. If you pm me an email address I'd be glad to send you pics of the half and half verandah.