The Disney Magic Ten Years Later-A Trip Report (Aug 15-22 Non-Tortola)w/pics COMPLETE

[Empress Room]

Day One - Introduction, A Big Surprise and Embarkation

My first voyage on the Disney Magic was back in August of 1999, back in the day when the Magic was still doing three and four day cruises only because its sister ship, the Wonder, was just being built. (As an aside, this first trip on the Magic coincided with the Wonder's maiden voyage, and the two ships met up bow-to-bow at Castaway Cay for fireworks and a little celebration, but that's long ago history and a topic for another trip report.) I traveled then (as I do now) with my DW (no kids); we have both been Disney fans over the years, but I was the reluctant cruiser, always thinking that a cruise would be too restrictive, too boring, too structured. That was eleven cruises ago, both on various DCL three and four day, seven day, Eastern, Western and Mexican Riviera and even a 10-day Southern Caribbean, both on the Magic and the Wonder, as well as on Holland America for Alaska several years back.

So I have been watching and reading these wonderful trip reports. They are informative and fun, and provide DisBoards readers with some valuable information. I suppose it's truly a good time for me to write one, not necessarily because I am any more informative or insightful as the other fine writers who have preceded me, but perhaps because I can lend a slightly different perspective. DW and I have been on a good many DCL cruises, a decade has now passed, and we are back on the Magic, cruise "veterans" who can possibly enlighten folks with some experience and a critical eye for what has changed, what has stayed the same, and, after ten years, to opine on what the Magic doing right and wrong (or perhaps different) than that first experience in 1999.

Yours Truly:

Dearest DW:


Which brings us to the August 15 Tortola cruise. Traveling with us are our good friends, Bob and Carmen, who have shared in some of these adventures. Four adults, no kids, the thoughts of food, adult beverages, sun, the Baths on Tortola, an early flight out of DTW to MCO and on the cruiseline bus by 10:15 a.m. on Saturday the 15th. I remember seeing the Magic for the first time in 1999 from the cruiseline bus on the highway outside of PC, it was massive, impressive and awe-inspiring. Ten years later and that hasn't changed. There is something about seeing that ship's stacks on the horizon...wow!

Carm, Bob and DW:


Awe-inspiring:



We pulled into port and were greeted by the DCL CM who boards the bus and tells the folks enthusiastically about the embarkation process and what awaits them in the week ahead. But this time it was different. A monotone CM boarded our bus and mumbled something about, "I have some interesting news. Blah, blah, blah, Anna and Bill, blah, blah, blah, you are not going to Tortola, you are going on a Western itinerary, possibly to Key West and Grand Cayman, Castaway Cay tomorrow, but it’s changing every moment." There was a stunned silence on that bus. Was this guy joking? He wasn't very forthcoming and a bit un-Disney-like in his delivery. It was no joke; we got off the bus and were handed a printed alternative itinerary, changed because of a tropical depression and pending hurricane.

The group was disappointed because we were all looking forward to Tortola and St. Thomas, but we all decided DCL and Captain Thord had our best interests in mind - we would gladly trade nicer whether for closed ports, high winds and 25-foot seas as the Good Captain explained (in a hushed, Seinfeld “low talker” delivery). Some in the terminal weren't so understanding, as there were a vocal few complaining that they wanted refunds, rebates or (unbelievably) insisting that the ship nevertheless travel to its scheduled itinerary (these same folks would undoubtedly head for the ill-fated bow of the ship if they had been starring in the Poseidon Adventure). (Really! Do you think that DCL would go somewhere instead of the scheduled itinerary, scramble to print new schedules, to book new and different excursions and otherwise make a seemless experience very complicated if it thought it had a choice? Of course not. DCL doesn't (also unbelievably) control the weather, so the safety of passengers and crew, the comfort and experience must take precedence over a few selfish guests who think they know better.)

Embarkation was efficient and flawless. With those #2 boarding cards in hand, a quick picture at the now-mandatory picture taking stand and we were on the ship at 11:45 a.m., somewhat frazzled, but as excited as we were the first time they called out our family name in that impressive Magic lobby on Deck 3. The first order of business was a trip to Topsiders buffet and a trip to Signals to fill up those ESPN Skybox mugs - although not necessarily in that order. (Something you should know about my ESPN Skybox mug. It was purchased on that first 4-day Magic cruise a decade ago and has logged as many cruises as DW and I. To dispel any rumor: there was no card given out with the first fill up, no double-checking of receipts. I simply walked up to the bartender, told him it was my lucky mug from more cruises than I care to count. He laughed and gladly filled 'er on up with suds and the cruise (officially) began. In case you think that the return of this mug on subsequent cruises is my way of trying to scam DCL out of the $14.95 price it now commands [it was about $10.95 back in 1999] that's not the case. It is a keepsake and a common thread to all DCL cruises, a reminder of great moments past and exciting adventures ahead and, in any event, with the number of cruises DW and I have been on, it's been more than paid for several times over!)

The one on your left is the "veteran mug:"


The buffet lunch at Topsiders was very good, maybe not as impressive as years ago when it seemed like thousands of cocktail shrimp were heaped in the middle, surrounded by glacier-like ice sculptures. The shrimp and ice sculptures are still there, maybe not as intricate or voluminous as in years past, but there and plentiful and quite good. (This is perhaps a good time to let you know that DW and I - as well as our traveling friends - are foodies. We like good food, pick quality over quantity, but are by no means food snobs. We fully enjoy Pinnochio's pizza and the chicken fingers and fries across the pool as well as Palo, although Palo and our experience(s) there will be discussed in due time.)

The remainder of our afternoon was spent in the Quiet Cove pool, my true "happy place," enjoying the beautiful sunny weather with bemused fascination at those aforementioned vocal minority folks who were still criticizing the itinerary change and complaining about why new shore excursions and definitive plans hadn't yet been established - a "mere" four hours before sailing! We checked out the All Aboard! variety show and cemented our "I am on vacation" mindset.

My happiest Happy Place(s):



Dining rotations and Palo brunch schedules of course all changed because of the itinerary change and one less sea day. We were originally APLAPLA, but that was changed by DCL to APLALPL. We spent the hours before our second dining assignment at Sessions, truly a great cocktail bar with a sophisticated atmosphere. Martinis were served with perfection by Dean from Australia, a young and energetic lad who epitomized DCL service. (Admittedly, if I had to vote on a second or co “happy place” on board that ship, this would be it.)

Sessions: sophisticated and relaxing:



Animator's is my least favorite main dining assignment. Not necessarily because of the food, but because it is exactly the same as it was 10 years ago. The black and white to color transformation is a bit tired now, the technology isn't quite as impressive as it was way back when, and the theme or commonality of the evening appears a little lost now, maybe as a result of DCL replacing some of the original movies and scenes with newer movies and scenes in an inexpensive way to update the show - they just don't seem to fit as well. I would guess that this dining room is on the short list for reimagineering at the next drydock. Nonetheless, our servers, Daniel from Peru and Kendall “Don’t Call Me Jackson” (Chardonnay), were consummate pros who cared. We still had a great meal. After dinner, we opted for a simple walk around the decks, reexploring and rediscovering those nooks and crannies that were familiar with the last cruise, but demanded a revisit. A little after 11:00 p.m., and the first (half) day was history. A full and satisfying beginning to the adventure.



Some impressions as I laid my head down on my Category 5 balcony pillow that first night, reflecting on this versus that first cruise a decade ago:

• The Magic is in great shape. It is clean, beautiful and stunning. Everything in our cabin was in working order and the addition of the flatscreens were welcomed;

• The crew and staff remain extremely friendly, helpful and genuinely happy to please and serve. Yep, they’ve gotten better over the years and the ten years under their belts have made them that much more polished;

• The food in main dining rooms is much improved, if Animator’s Palate is any indication. It used to be that ordering meat in the main dining rooms meant something always well done (no matter what temperature requested) and a bit tough. This was solid. Very tasty even. Medium rare now means medium rare, and the accompaniments are tasty too;

• Gosh, I’m really having fun.



Next up: Day Two - Castaway Cay: Clean Living And Pictures Are Better Than Words

[jbm02]

Hi!!
We were on the same cruise. I am looking forward to reading your trip report and reliving our great vacation !!! Thanks for posting so soon!!!!

[LisaSp]

Enjoying your report so far--your perspective as a true veteran is interesting! Looking forward to future installments. We can't afford another cruise any time soon so I hang out here living vicariously thru all the trip report writers LOL...

[pppiglet]

Great idea...comparing now to 10 years ago. Can't wait to read the rest!

[kaseyC]

What a cool idea to compare now to 10 yrs ago. Very enjoyable trip report.

[MagicMe]

I love the comparison of the then and now!!

[Verandah Man]

Great start, can't wait to read more!!!

[Verandah Man]

Originally Posted by jbm02

Hi!!
We were on the same cruise. I am looking forward to reading your trip report and reliving our great vacation !!! Thanks for posting so soon!!!!

Hey There Jude....... Double Dip Cruise buddy from August 2006.....so I see you got another "unplanned" Double Dip cruise this August as well.....

[my3m]

subscribing

[jenanderson]

Since we were on this cruise too, I can't wait to read your report! It is so fun to read about our cruise!

I had heard that there were people complaining at port about the change in our itinerary. We really felt that Disney was making the best choices for safety and just sat back and enjoyed the fact that we were actually cruising!

[PoohJen]

Enjoying your report! It's fun to get another perspective/experience on the same cruise! Sessions? What's Sessions?!! We're usually about the Goofy Pool and Mickey slide!

[JFHeeren]

Nice report - can't wait for more as we sailed on this cruise as well!

We are 3 for 3 with Hurricanes / Tropical Storms changing our cruise plans so this change was not unexpected. July 2005 - Disney Wonder 3 day (6 hours late into Nassua for a TS), Aug 2006 - change from Western to Eastern tour because of Hurricane, and now this one.

[uncw89]

Hi, I'm joining in too. We were on the cruise too! It's good to read other peoples views on the same cruise. We had a great time. Looks like there are 3 trip reports going from our cruise.
Can't wait to read more.
Elena

[Empress Room]

Day Two - Castaway Cay: Pictures Are Better Than Words

After an incredibly restful night of sleep and the requisite well-being massage at the Vista Spa (there is something about sleeping on that ship that is conducive to great sleep), we looked forward to another beautiful day at Castaway Cay. Now I say “beautiful” literally – whether on that first voyage on the Magic in 1999 or this instant voyage ten years later, Castaway Cay has always looked like this to me:




And this:



I have read many a trip report about high winds preventing dockings, rain and storms spoiling the island paradise experience, but we’ve never encountered it. Not once. In twelve DCL cruises, some with multiple stops to Castaway Cay, it’s always looked exactly like this:





That’s a lot of stops at Castaway Cay, with beautiful weather and nether a problem docking. And why? Blind luck? The will of the island gods? Clean living (certainly not it)? I am not sure, but DW and I always feel incredibly lucky to experience CC in its glory. And glorious it is.



A hot and sunny day at CC is always welcomed. We made a quick stop at the post office (unbelievably, despite my number of visits to CC, I had never been in the post office before) and headed directly (without passing “Go”) to Serenity Bay. On our short walk to the trams and travels to the adult-only area, it was easy to compare CC now to what it was back then. This private island has grown up...big time, and by the looks of all the construction equipment, new buildings and pylons being driven into the bay, it’s undoubtedly going to be growing up even more to accommodate the Dream and Fantasy:







Back in 1999, the foliage was much sparser and the experience less exotic. The extended bike trail and observation tower, now staples on the island, did not exist; in fact, I remember renting bikes on that first visit and feeling really cheated by the experience (I am a cyclist and was expecting to do more than ride my bike down the worn out runway and down a partial crushed limestone path past the open air cabanas that dead-ended abruptly). The experience is now much better, with a longer and more interesting bike path, and that is a good thing.

Jet skis, glass bottom boats and parasailing? Nope, not back then. I remember banana boat rides (why did they get rid of that fun adventure?) and the very immature snorkeling lagoon (no 20,000 Leagues submarines or Mickey/Minnie statues and many fewer fish). Sting ray adventure? Can’t say I remember that on the dance card. I guess what I am trying to convey is that DCL, to its credit, has made CC more than just a place to grab a beach chair or lounger and spend the day in the turquoise water (although, admittedly, there is nothing at all wrong with spending the day that way).



Cookies has remained consistently good through the years, much like it was “way back when.” I must admit, however, that I miss the “show” that the CMs used to put on at lunch time. Fresh, whole mangos, watermelons, cantaloupes and pineapples were brought to Serenity Bay and CMs would actually carve them up in front of you – it was an impressive and great show. That hasn’t happened for years now, and I miss it. A small experience that, added together with similar ones, made things just a tad more magical (more on that later).



Another observation about Castaway Cay. As beautiful as it is and how wonderful the day spent there unfolds, there is typically something in the back of your mind (mine, at least) that kicks in, usually after the Cookies lunch and right around a trip to Heads Up or Castaway Air Bar for an early afternoon drink of the day, and that little something is that, “ugh, we’re on Castaway Cay, which means that we are on our last day of vacation, we are heading home, we will have to pack our bags when we get back on the ship and by this time tomorrow, I’ll be home...or at the airport.” I hate that feeling. Which is why Captain Thord’s astute decision to change our itinerary and make CC the first day of our cruise was even more brilliant than I first imagined. A full day at CC and the whole rest of the cruise to look forward to. No “See Ya Later, Mon” for us. It was just beginning:



I squeeze out each and every second on CC. Hard to believe folks head back any time earlier than is mandated. Even when the CMs start breaking down the chairs, closing up the bars and folding up umbrellas (tasks that take time, so they start at about 2:30 or 3:00 and that kind of bugs me), we stay. And enjoy. And soak up that experience.

We have a ritual. As if spending all day in the perfect water of CC wasn’t enough, we invariably head to the pool immediately upon reboarding and spend more time there. Silly? I suppose. But the pools are usually much less crowded at the end of CC days and it’s nice to kick back (with the trusty old ESPN mug!) and unwind from the day.

After getting ready for dinner and the show, we again headed to Sessions for this:



Dinner was at Parrot Cay, which gets my vote for “most improved” restaurant. Its theming on those first cruises was a little over the top. The portholes, which are now covered with understated window treatments, used to be big ol’ portholes surrounded by parrots and macaws right out of the Tiki Room. It was really a bit too much, and the change is much appreciated. The food, too, has improved and, in keeping with my earlier comments about meat temperatures and main dining room fare, the dinner was really pretty tasty:





We took in the John Charles adult show at Rockin’ Bar D after dinner. This guy is a talented musician with clever quips. His show is almost exclusively improv – taking requests and suggestions from the audience. It was a great way to cap the evening.

(You may notice that this trip report does not include any discussions of the various wonderful regular shows in the Walt Disney Theater. The reason is that we have seen each of these shows numerous times – for the record, they are fabulous, the cast talented and productions noteworthy. But having seen them many times already, we spent our time relaxing just a bit more, shopping a bit more, exploring a bit more. Perhaps DCL should consider changing or adding shows with more frequency. Some are classics, and some have changed over the years, but others have been there nearly from the beginning.)



Some impressions from Day Two:

• Castaway Cay is a true gem, and a DCL cruise without it is really missing out on a major component of the guests’ enjoyment (read West Coast Mexican Riviera cruises);

• Service on the ship and CC continues to impress. The crew cares. Cruise director Brent spent 15 to 20 minutes just chatting with DW and me about our experience, expectations and thoughts;

• Daniel and Kendall, our servers, are efficient and thoughtful. Remember how we like our food prepared, remember our favorite wine(s) and preferences. Written notes or not, the level of service and knowledge never ceases to amaze and has improved over the last decade.

Next Up: Day Three – 3 Laps Equal A Mile; All Roads Lead To Palo

[kaseyC]

I was looking forward to your continuation of the TR and it didn't disappoint. The Martinis in Sessions are perfect. The bartenders are great.