Advice please- fantasy or magic?

[BZMomNJ]

Hi all!

I would love your opinions/advice please

Right now my family is booked on an SWDAS EC out of PC for 4/17. The dates coincided with spring break so we booked even though the price is kinda outrageous. This will require us to drive from NJ to PC- looked into flights and the airfare is too much to add.

My husband and son are casual Star Wars fans so I figured this would be an added bonus and we liked the itinerary (CC, Tortola and St Thomas) and ship- very interested in the Aqua Duck and the Aladdin show, and looking forward to checking out the bar that changes scenery as well as oh la la champagne bar.

However, I just took a closer look at the new fall dates. Looks like the magic out of NYC in October is a less expensive option for us (about $2k less) and requires no driving/flights/hotel. However the ship is smaller and the dates would require our kids to miss a full week of school. My son will be in 2nd grade and my daughter in a paid pre-school program. So it's not the end of the world to miss school but we wanted to avoid if possible.

I also just realized that the cruise fare includes admission and transportation to WDW-which is fantastic. We have been to DL but not WDW as a family. The 2nd date option in Oct would be over Halloween so that could be a fun time on the ship, although a very crowded day in WDW. TheOct trips have one more day at sea than our currently booked trip but the ship leaves NYC during a colder time of year. I wonder if we will even be able to use the pools the 1st or last sea day?

What are your thoughts on this? Is fantasy better than the magic? Or vice versa? I'm tempted to switch to the magic in Oct and use the saved money for another trip over our original spring break dates. BUT I already had shirts made that say Fantasy 2017. First world problems I know.

If we switched we'd also be waiting much longer to travel. Oct 2017 seems like a million years from now.

Let's hear your thoughts on the ships, itineraries and WDW. Go!

 

[MUN]

I don't think missing school is a big deal for children that age. The Magic is a beautiful ship, and being smaller is a plus for many. If you can stand being on a ship full of people from NY/NJ, than I vote for the Magic as it is closer and less expensive.

MUN

PS, the pools are heated and there will be plenty of kids in them.

 

[Quellman]

It looks like you are primarily concerned about cost, then weather, and then the amenities of the Fantasy vs. the Magic, then finally missed school. Based on this years reports, the Star Wars cruises were hit or miss. Most people thought they were over promised based on what you got. Sounds like your youngest won't care which ship they are on at all. I would check to see if your son is tall enough (48") to ride the aquaDunk on the Magic. I think you will have a great time either way, plus you get a day at Disney with the Magic.

I vote keep it simple logisitcally with the Magic. Maybe you can find someone to sell your Fantasy shirts to in one of the cruise meet threads!

I don't think missing school is a big deal for children that age. The Magic is a beautiful ship, and being smaller is a plus for many. If you can stand being on a ship full of people from NY/NJ, than I vote for the Magic as it is closer and less expensive.

MUN

PS, the pools are heated and there will be plenty of kids in them.

 

[Mr. Drauer]

October is one of the least crowded times at WDW, if there is such a thing anymore. The pools are heated, but the air temperature for the days at sea might preclude you from wanting to be up on the top deck in the pools in October. The fantasy is bigger, which means more people. SWDAS is only one day which many have said doesn't live up to the hype, and the Magic cruise will have Halloween on the High Seas, which is fun too. Many prefer the more cozy re-imagined Magic over the more crowded Fantasy. Both have good shows - the new Tangled show is on the Magic, and they have the associated take-over of O-Gills by the Snuggly Duckling, which many have said is great. The Fantasy does have Remy, so if you were looking at eating there, you can only do so on the Fantasy, but both have Palo. I think you might want to go with the Cheaper Magic and do a day at WDW, but it's your money.

 

[TCARON]

We loved the Fantasy and Magic for different reasons. As adults we liked the pub on the Magic. Nice evening snack spread in O'Gills.

Other than that the Fantasy would be our preference due to the larger size.

 

[WishUponAStarryNight]

FWIW, I'm booked on the earlier 10/17 sailing out of NY and likely will cancel a RCCL sailing on the Allure (Eastern) currently booked for June 17 (no way I'd pay DCL summer rates). Though the Allure per stateroom cost (we've got 2) is significantly less than the Magic ($1K per stateroom), when I consider the costs for airfare, hotel costs and excursions that we won't need if we stick with the Magic, the Magic is coming out to be almost $2K less than the Allure, not including beverages or any casino expense on the Allure. Although I'm not thrilled with the idea of pulling DS from school (he'll be in first grade), it's not the end of the world. The worst part is the waiting! You're right - October 17 seems like forever away. I'm eagerly anticipating trip reports from those on the NY sailings this year.

 

[rwthompson82]

FWIW, my family has booked on the 10/28/2017 sailing, and we are looking forward to it. My daughter has sailed on the Magic and the Dream, and she much preferred the kids clubs on the Magic. The new kids clubs on the Dream are too video-gamey for her. My daughter will be in grade 1 and my son in preschool.

We will miss Mid-Ship Detective Agency and the 5E rooms, but the Magic also has Tangled the musical, which we are looking forward to seeing.

We are coming from Toronto, so still have to fly, but it is much cheaper and faster (1.5 hrs vs 3.5 hrs), and we haven't taken the kids to NYC before.

We really like the 4 sea days, Castaway Cay, WDW as an itenerary (and this will also help keep costs down since there will be no excursions, basically just need to buy food at WDW). I believe the day at WDW is actually November 1st (Halloween is on Castaway Cay).

All that said - I think you would have a great trip no matter what you decide.

 

[Ofinn]

Whichever is cheapest.

 

[CScott095]

Hi all!

I would love your opinions/advice please

Right now my family is booked on an SWDAS EC out of PC for 4/17. The dates coincided with spring break so we booked even though the price is kinda outrageous. This will require us to drive from NJ to PC- looked into flights and the airfare is too much to add.

My husband and son are casual Star Wars fans so I figured this would be an added bonus and we liked the itinerary (CC, Tortola and St Thomas) and ship- very interested in the Aqua Duck and the Aladdin show, and looking forward to checking out the bar that changes scenery as well as oh la la champagne bar.

However, I just took a closer look at the new fall dates. Looks like the magic out of NYC in October is a less expensive option for us (about $2k less) and requires no driving/flights/hotel. However the ship is smaller and the dates would require our kids to miss a full week of school. My son will be in 2nd grade and my daughter in a paid pre-school program. So it's not the end of the world to miss school but we wanted to avoid if possible.

I also just realized that the cruise fare includes admission and transportation to WDW-which is fantastic. We have been to DL but not WDW as a family. The 2nd date option in Oct would be over Halloween so that could be a fun time on the ship, although a very crowded day in WDW. TheOct trips have one more day at sea than our currently booked trip but the ship leaves NYC during a colder time of year. I wonder if we will even be able to use the pools the 1st or last sea day?

What are your thoughts on this? Is fantasy better than the magic? Or vice versa? I'm tempted to switch to the magic in Oct and use the saved money for another trip over our original spring break dates. BUT I already had shirts made that say Fantasy 2017. First world problems I know.

If we switched we'd also be waiting much longer to travel. Oct 2017 seems like a million years from now.

Let's hear your thoughts on the ships, itineraries and WDW. Go!

My family has been on 4 DCL cruises and 3 of them have been on the Magic. We booked one over Spring Break and made the decision to pull our daughter out of school for the week instead. We love the Magic and loved our cruise that include WDW! I highly recommend going when school is in session as the lines can be insane!

 

[bethy]

Another option: I would shift the week on the Fantasy so it doesn't coincide with Spring Break - maybe late April or Early May. Save the big bucks of having to travel during school vacations for when your kids are older and you literally have no other choice. Your kids are so, so young that missing a week of school will be nothing. Do it while you can! Bonus: the flights would be more affordable too, because no way would I do that drive!

I've only sailed on the Magic so far and am booked on the Fantasy to try it out next. I think kids that age will be absolutely and completely satisfied with the smaller ship. There is a ton going on - all marvelous things. Our whole family was in heaven!

What makes a Disney cruise special is not the individual activities or locales or features, but instead the entire cultural experience. It's truly unique and can be had on any of their ships.

 

[DISNEYFAN3260]

I know for me cost is the biggest factor, but you have to weigh that for you and your family. That being said, I'm about to go on my 10th DCL cruise (the Dream again this time) later this year, with 4 trips on the Wonder, 2 on the Fantasy, 2 on the Dream, and the last one (in March 2016) on the Magic. To my GREAT surprise, my husband and I were extremely disappointed with the Magic - I don't mind the smaller ships at all (hence 4 trips on the Wonder), but despite the recent refurbishments, the condition of our room, the service, food quality, and even the cleanliness/maintenance of the public areas didn't compare to the other ships, in my opinion. Hands down the Magic is my least favorite boat after our experience. We had a nice cruise overall, and it certainly didn't turn us off to DCL, but it just wasn't up to par and we have no intention of sailing the Magic again unless the itinerary and date we want is not available anywhere else. When it's an option, I'll take the Fantasy over any other.

 

[hanscarlet]

I haven't been on the Fantasy yet but based on your needs I would do the Magic. The Magic is a lovely ship and sailing out of NYC is going to be so much easier than driving down to FL. Also the SWDAs are priced higher than other cruises.... if you really want to go on the Fantasy then pull the kids out and send them to Fantasy 2 weeks after spring break and no star wars cruises and then the prices may be more reasonable in that the cost of a flight won't be an issue... ( I found the cost difference to be between $1500 an $2000 which is your airfare right there)

 

[kerry1379]

Did you get a special deal through a travel agent for your cruise fare to include a day at Disney? I haven't heard of this before. We have a cruise book in 2017 and am wondering I missed something important!

 

[Flossbolna]

OP, I think for a first cruise with smaller kids, you will love the Magic. The ship has recently been updated and the kids clubs have some new cool features.

Also, while I don't have any personal information, I often read that people comment on that a lot of the excursions in the Caribbean are limited to older kids and that it is difficult to find something to do with smaller kids. So, more sea days and WDW as an easy excursion option might be better for your family right now anyway.

With regards to crowds: The MK usually is most crowded on the days when there is no Halloween Party. The Halloween Party is always on the same days of the week (I think Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday? But you can check the 2016 dates and find out) and if you are at WDW for one of those party days, the MK will close at 7pm. This might not be an issue for your family at all, since with smaller kids you most likely will not be able to spend 15 hours in a theme park anyway. Epcot is most crowded on the weekends.

Also keep in mind that WDW is quite a different place from DL. I loved how close everything is together at DL and DCA. Park hopping is really easy as you just walk across to the other park. At WDW going from one park to the other involves some kind of transportation and is not that easy. Also, the attractions are far more densely packed at DLR than at WDW. I think if you count all the attractions at both resorts, both offer about the same number, at WDW spread through 4 parks, at DLR in 2 parks. I am not saying that WDW is not worth it, just trying to give you a better feel about how touring there for one day would be like. If you only know DL your expectations of what you can cover in one day with kids might be much higher than what you can realistically see at WDW. However, I think a family with kids your age most likely will be able to happily spend a full day at the MK and have a blast without even hopping to another park!

Did you get a special deal through a travel agent for your cruise fare to include a day at Disney? I haven't heard of this before. We have a cruise book in 2017 and am wondering I missed something important!

This cruises start from New York and have Port Canaveral as one of their ports. For these cruises, DCL offers transportation to WDW on that port day in Port Canaveral as well as a one day ticket for WDW.

If your cruise starts in Port Canaveral, then there is no option of having a free day at Disney.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I would definitely do the Magic cruise! I've been on both the Magic and the Fantasy and they are both lovely, but I actually prefer the size of the Magic! We live in CT and I would ABSOLUTELY choose driving to the NYC port over DRIVING to Port Canaveral - especially with young children. I, too, think the SWDAS cruises were vastly overpriced. I would do the Magic in October and save the $2K. We sailed NCL out of NY a few years back and, yes, your first day and last sea day may be a little cold to swim, but there is SO much to do on the ship. We were on a B2B on the Magic last summer for 20 nights in Norway, Iceland and Scotland and only swam one day - there is a TON of other stuff to do on the ship. And I don't think WDW will be too bad in Oct., even on Halloween. You would be there during the day and will miss the MNSSHP crowds. I would absolutely save the money and save the driving!

 

[Canadian Girl]

We took the Magic on the May TA last year for 15 days and loved it. I didn't find it worn or "less" in any way and loved the fact it was far less crowded than the Fantasy cruise we had taken a year prior. In fact, I have booked a second TA for 2017. Each ship has its charms. Staff on each of our cruises have been amazing.

 

[BZMomNJ]

Thank you everyone for your input! I really appreciate all the thoughtful advice!

 

[New England Mickey]

I've sailed on both Magic and Fantasy and I personally myself like the Magic better and with the Magic being the cheaper option I would pick it. Magic is the way to go IMHO.

 

[Rabb it]

Tangled Musical!!! My vote is for Magic

 

[tink1970]

Magic pros-
don't have to fly or drive to Orlando
cheaper
smaller ship
while not as exotic, the itinerary is nice (if it weren't so expensive to fly to NY from FL I'd be tempted!)
a day in MK/EPCOT/AK/HS (I'd just do one or two of the parks though...it will most likely still be hot and schlepping kids around is tiring...as PP noted, the parks aren't too convenient to each other except HS and EPCOT-and they're still a hike!)

Fantasy pros-
newer ship with whatever that means to you...including Midship Detective Agency
nice itinerary
SWAS
spring break is sooner so less waiting

Just looking at the list gives a slight edge to Magic but I don't think you can go wrong with either. Enjoy your planning!