So we have done two carnival trips in the last two years and Disney the year before. Before i get in to the details, you should still have a good time. Stops are the same, and if your looking for down time... cruising is still cruising.
However, Carnival will not meet the level of service you have received on Disney.
Dining;
One Disney, our dinner cast members knew our name, our preferences, the preferences of our kids and went out of their ways to make everything perfect. On carnival... Food was pre-made catering, barely eatable most nights and our wait staff on both ships was mediocre. Pool food was better on our last Carnival ship, as was the cafeteria. But we still ended up eating in the steak house a couple of nights just to have a decent meal.
Kids club
When we were on Disney my wife and I thought the kids club was amazing...But our kids wanted to hang with us and run the aquaduck over and over and do the scavenger hunts. On Carnival, the space was much smaller, hours that they were open were not a nice, but our kids made friends and they wanted to hang there
(could be due to the next section)
The ship,
We were on one of the new Disney boats and found it to be amazing. First thing my wife tells me (as it was my first cruise) don't expect other ships to be like this. The amount of items for the kids to do, well you've been on it. Carnival had an obstacle course that was rarely open due to wind, some shuffle board, and a few over crowded pools. So this is why we assume our kids hung in kids camp. Also with no Casino on Disney we did not notice the smoke or as many drunks wandering around, as we did on Carnival.
The Staff.
Disney. 0 Issues. Like most Disney resorts they are selling the name, and are trained to push amazing customer service.
Carnival, Casino staff told my 10 year old daughter that she was a cheater and made her cry. Let me clarify, She won a set of Beats headphones in the arcade. A set had been won about 30 min earlier, so he told my wife it was statistically impossible to win again in a short period of time, and that she must have cheated to win. Her reply was so its rigged? A crowd formed, they checked Video and... she got the beats. But a grown man accusing a 10 year old girl of cheating
So when i head to Customer service i am told they are not Carnival employees, they outsource the casino and there is nothing they can do...so have a nice day.
Other than that, some staff on Carnival was great (alchemy bar
), Most other staff was so so..
Rooms,
Disney was Very nice, Carnival was also pretty nice (but we upgraded to a suite)
Over all, its still a cruise you will have fun. But With Disney new ships and amazing staff... Hands down Disney wins. (Cant wait for our cruise next Month)