Battle of the Ships: Dream Vs. Magic?

[princessnikitaa]

Okay, so I've been on the Disney Dream 4 times already, and I completely love it (why wouldn't I?), but I needed my Disney Fix, so I booked a cruise in February on the Disney Magic. Obviously I'm totally excited, and really don't care which ship I'm on, but I wanted your opinions on each ship.

1.) Are they really different from each other? What are the main differences?
2.) How are the staterooms?
3.) How is the dining?
4.) Anyone have preferences if they have been on both?
5.) Any other thing you may have to say about both of these ships.

Anyone just care to give an opinion? Even if you haven't been on them and have done research, I'd still love to hear what you have to say!

Have a great day!

 

[MickeyD]

Well I haven't been on the Dream, but I have been on the Fantasy and they are similar. I have also been on the Magic 5 times, so obviously have a love for her.
The main differences are of course, size and age. The Dream/Fantasy is/are much bigger (and you notice when walking the stateroom hallways..lol) and you will notice crowd differences in the atrium, at sail away, and around the pools. People say they notice a difference on Castaway Cay, but I honestly didn't. The Dream/Fantasy ships are newer and "glitzier" (LOVE those chandeliers!), while the Magic is more sedate, yet still beautiful. Keep in mind though, i have not been on her since the reimagination upgrades.

Staterooms on both are similar. The only big difference I noted on the Fantasy is that we needed a card in the light slot, and the bed was higher...but i hear they re did that on the Magic now too.

Dining is the same, other than the dining rooms have different names and are decorated different. They have since upgraded Animator's on the Magic, so I believe it is more like the Dream class ships. The buffets and quick serve places are similar, again, i think they re did part of this on the Magic, so the buffet is more like the Dream class ships.

As far as preferences, when I first saw the Fantasy, I literally was in awe. She is beautiful. After sailing for a week, I noticed the larger crowds and that there are several areas that don't make sense. Like the aft stairs and elevators taking you to Cabanas instead of by the pool area, and deck four having to walk through that weird night club "stone" area. I love the smaller size of the Magic and it seemed like we got to know our serving team better, our Palo server was much better, and we didn't hear kids running in the hallway every night. Both ships creak and groan, but the Fantasy seemed to make more noise, which is odd being a newer ship, but we were aft, so that might have something to do with it??

I don't think you can go wrong with either ship. They both have pluses and minuses, but seriously the minuses are miniscule. I am still trying to plan a Dream cruise so I can get that grand slam and have sailed all four ships. As of right now, the Dream is the only one I have not sailed.

Hope this helped.
Lisa

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

We have been on the Magic (post refurbishment) and the Fantasy within the same year. We found the stateroom décor to be the same, the main difference are the Inside cabins. No Magic porthole on the Magic . Cabana's was the same. The rotational restaurants are different, especially Animator's Palate - no Crush on the Magic, but we still loved the AP just as much as we did on the Fantasy. Maybe slight edge to the Fantasy restaurants for us (also loved the Enchanted Garden).
Our DS preferred the Kids club on the Magic as they have the Avengers Academy. We liked how close we were to the kids clubs when enjoying a drink in the Atrium pre-dinner, we would just run up one flight of stairs to go get him.
The pool deck felt less crowded on the Magic than it did on the Fantasy, we preferred the Magic pool deck. There is no Aqua duck on the Magic, but the yellow twist and spout slide is so much better than on the Dream class. There is also the more thrilling Aqua Dunk, but we didn't try it. . We also liked that the aqua lab area was right next to the kids pool and slide. On the Fantasy we didn't visit the Aqua lab much because it was out of the way and isolated. I believe it's the same on the Dream.
The lobby does feel smaller on the Magic, but to me it was the only area where I really noticed the difference.
The night clubs did feel more crowded on the Fantasy too, if there was a show going on.
I will also second the above posters opinion that we got to know the team on the Magic better even though we were there for a shorter amount of time than the Fantasy. Just felt like the service was outstanding on the Magic, and very good on the Fantasy.. if that makes any sense.. These are just our opinions, I don't think you can go wrong with either ship. We just booked the Magic again, and the only things we'll miss are the aqua duck and maybe midship detective agency.

 

[jburge12000]

We have been on all 4 ships, having just cruised on the Magic for the first time this past August and loved it. It is my kids and mine favorite ship. My wife prefers the Dream/Fantasy, she says the spa is better on those, it not located directly under the sports deck so she says she does not hear the basketball bouncing while she is getting a massage like she can on the Magic/Wonder. Especially since the refurbishment the restaurants are very similar. We prefer the smaller amount of people on the Magic/Wonder. The first time we went on the Wonder, after being on the Dream and Fantasy multiple times, were were kind of taken back at how small it looked at the dock. We were used to seeing the bigger Dream class ships. Once on board, never even noticed it again. We are off on the Wonder in a few weeks and very excited to visit CC for the first time on the smaller Magic/Wonder ship. Especially with 1000 less people at CC then when we have gone on the Dream/Fantasy.

 

[anricat]

We cruised the Dream last year and just got off the Magic last week. We definitely preferred the Magic hands down.

The serving team thing I think is completely dependent on who you get. We loved our servers on both ships. Same for stateroom host. They were great on both ships. The Dream wins when it comes to sheer impressiveness and the atrium is really sort of teeny on the Magic. It's not a great gathering space for large groups of people. The Dream has the AquaDuck, as others have noted and Midship Detective, which I sort of missed.

However, it all more than made up for by the fact that if I forgot something in my room it took me less than 5 minutes as opposed to the 15 minutes on the Dream. Our whole family really preferred the Magic to the Dream. I don't think the things the Dream has to offer outweigh the things we loved about the Magic. It just felt much more intimate and comfortable. The rooms were the same, really. The restaurants were all just as great. Now, as far as Castaway Cay, it's funny, I noticed almost no difference. In fact, the area we were set up in at Pelican Point seemed more crowded than on the Dream. I remember last year on the Dream, at the Scuttles Cove tram stop, nearly everyone got off and I continued on to Pelican Point and had my pick of chairs to plop down on. This year, on the Magic, hardly anyone got off at the first stop and I had a heck of a time finding a chair at Pelican Point. Maybe just a different bunch of people with different preferences. If we hadn't already arranged to meet up at Pelican Point, I might have headed back over to the other beach to see if it was less crowded.

Bottom line, though, is that I'm pretty much going to be looking at the Classics from now on when booking a cruise. We're on the Wonder next year and I can't wait to give her a try!

 

[SillyInventor]

Dream is:
Bigger (2 decks, many cruisers)
Has the Mid Ship detective
Has Remy and Palo (Magic/Wonder don't have Remy)
Has the AquaDuck
Only sails 3 and 4 night Bahama cruises
Features magic portholes in the inside staterooms
Features several tunes on her horn

Magic:
Smaller (less crowded)
Vannelope's Sweets (probably misspelled that)
Avengers Academy
Aqua Dunk
Much bigger choice of itineraries and home-ports (including the European cruises)
Only plays "When you wish upon a star" on her horn

Both have great staterooms and the lifted beds (that don't split)
If you like DCL cruising you will love both ships.

 

[jrabbit]

to echo what SillyInventor said, you will not have on the Magic:
AquaDuck, but you will have the AquaDunk - NOT the same ride
Mini Golf
Sports Simulator
Mid Ship Detective Agency
Remy

What you will have on the Magic that you didn't have on the Dream
Fewer crowds - yes they are smaller on the Magic, but they are bigger for the number of people on board
larger staterooms
yea, that's about all I can come up with

What you will have on both ships is a great cruise experience, great service, wonderful shows, good food and the opportunity to make new friends.

the Magic has always been my favorite ship and after the re-imagining of it a few years ago, its even better.

What I don't like about the new Magic is the "mini me" feeling in the atrium. The "chandelier" is yucky, the carpet has not worn well and is yucky, and I miss the second staircase.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

to echo what SillyInventor said, you will not have on the Magic:
AquaDuck, but you will have the AquaDunk - NOT the same ride
Mini Golf
Sports Simulator
Mid Ship Detective Agency
Remy

What you will have on the Magic that you didn't have on the Dream
Fewer crowds - yes they are smaller on the Magic, but they are bigger for the number of people on board
larger staterooms
yea, that's about all I can come up with

What you will have on both ships is a great cruise experience, great service, wonderful shows, good food and the opportunity to make new friends.

the Magic has always been my favorite ship and after the re-imagining of it a few years ago, its even better.

What I don't like about the new Magic is the "mini me" feeling in the atrium. The "chandelier" is yucky, the carpet has not worn well and is yucky, and I miss the second staircase.

Also, different shows on the Magic - including the new Tangled show.

 

[holula]

I prefer Magic class over the Dream class. I have sailed on the classics five times (2 Magic, 3 Wonder) and the new ships four times (both ships 2 times). The Magic is smaller and more intimate than the Dream. We have had much better service on the Magic than we did on the Dream, but this can really vary depending who your MDR team is and who you see at guest services. I find the crowds much more manageable on the Magic, ESPECIALLY between dinner seatings. I prefer the Aquaduck to the Aquadunk, which favours the Dream. The Magic has a better adult pool area and IMO a better pool deck for the number of passengers. Palo is a little nicer on the Dream as all of the tables face the windows and has a better brunch selection than the Magic.

I agree with one of the previous posters that the atrium on the Dream is nicer but only because the Magic has the ugliest chandelier known to man and it is TINY. I wish they had kept the original chandelier.

 

[anricat]

Dream is:
Bigger (2 decks, many cruisers)
Has the Mid Ship detective
Has Remy and Palo (Magic/Wonder don't have Remy)
Has the AquaDuck
Only sails 3 and 4 night Bahama cruises
Features magic portholes in the inside staterooms
Features several tunes on her horn

Magic:
Smaller (less crowded)
Vannelope's Sweets (probably misspelled that)

Vannelope's Sweets is on the Dream.

 

[MickeyEarrings]

Dream is:
Bigger (2 decks, many cruisers)
Has the Mid Ship detective
Has Remy and Palo (Magic/Wonder don't have Remy)
Has the AquaDuck
Only sails 3 and 4 night Bahama cruises
Features magic portholes in the inside staterooms
Features several tunes on her horn

Magic:
Smaller (less crowded)
Vannelope's Sweets (probably misspelled that)
Avengers Academy
Aqua Dunk
Much bigger choice of itineraries and home-ports (including the European cruises)
Only plays "When you wish upon a star" on her horn

Both have great staterooms and the lifted beds (that don't split)
If you like DCL cruising you will love both ships.

The Magic has Vannelope's Sweets, too?...not just the Dream?! Where is it located?

 

[JoyB-UK]

I have just returned from a 3 night dream cruise having previously been on the Magic 5 times. I was expecting the Dream to be better but I found that I still prefer the Magic. The rooms are so similar there isn't really a difference unless you only sail insides then obviously there are the magic portholes. I much prefer the Avengers to Star Wars. Castaway Cay felt crowded as did the rest of the ship in public areas. I found it harder to get around on the dream. To me the age difference between ships isn't really noticeable. The staff on the Dream didn't seem so friendly, l'm not really talking about the servers and room hosts but staff you just meet in passing. Many didn't talk, hold doors open, let guests go first or even smile sometimes. I suppose the main problem is that the Dream generally does much shorter cruises and the staff don't have time to get used to people.

 

[Trera]

I prefer Magic class over the Dream class. I have sailed on the classics five times (2 Magic, 3 Wonder) and the new ships four times (both ships 2 times). The Magic is smaller and more intimate than the Dream. We have had much better service on the Magic than we did on the Dream, but this can really vary depending who your MDR team is and who you see at guest services. I find the crowds much more manageable on the Magic, ESPECIALLY between dinner seatings. I prefer the Aquaduck to the Aquadunk, which favours the Dream. The Magic has a better adult pool area and IMO a better pool deck for the number of passengers. Palo is a little nicer on the Dream as all of the tables face the windows and has a better brunch selection than the Magic.

I agree with one of the previous posters that the atrium on the Dream is nicer but only because the Magic has the ugliest chandelier known to man and it is TINY. I wish they had kept the original chandelier.

Funny, we found the Palo experience for Brunch nicer on the Magic as Palo takes up the whole back of the boat and not just the rear starboard side. We also like to serve ourselves and on the Dream, they plate the food and carry it to the table for you.

 

[holula]

Funny, we found the Palo experience for Brunch nicer on the Magic as Palo takes up the whole back of the boat and not just the rear starboard side. We also like to serve ourselves and on the Dream, they plate the food and carry it to the table for you.

We haven't had anyone plating our food for us on any of the ships and we have done Palo brunch on all four of them. I find the area they have the food in on the Magic is really too small. I much prefer the dedicated room that the Dream and Fantasy have.

 

[Trera]

Our few observations:

Dream
1. Larger and nicer lobby. Plenty of room for pre dinner entertainment
2. We prefer the Enchanted Garden over Cariocas
3. Pool level feels larger and more spacious
4. Now has satellite falls
5. Adult pool area is nicer in our opinion.
6. Nemos reef is always a big hit with our DD

Magic
1. Our DD loved the show at Animators
2. Palo experience was exceptional for both brunch and dinner
3. Concierge experience was amazing with one host that came to our room every night as well as set up our activities.
4. at the time we cruised on the Magic, it didnt have a concierge lounge but now that they have one.........that will be nicer.
5. Boat feels more intimate
6. We noticed a bad sewer smell near the adult pool as well as various other spots around the ship.

Both ships are amazing and we look forward to many more trips on them. You cant go wrong.

 

[Trera]

We haven't had anyone plating our food for us on any of the ships and we have done Palo brunch on all four of them. I find the area they have the food in on the Magic is really too small. I much prefer the dedicated room that the Dream and Fantasy have.

We had never experienced the Plating that others had talked about either until our cruise a couple of months ago on the Dream.

 

[anricat]

The Magic has Vannelope's Sweets, too?...not just the Dream?! Where is it located?

No, this poster was mistaken. It's only on the Dream.

 

[anricat]

Funny, we found the Palo experience for Brunch nicer on the Magic as Palo takes up the whole back of the boat and not just the rear starboard side. We also like to serve ourselves and on the Dream, they plate the food and carry it to the table for you.

From what I've read, this doesn't have to do with the Dream, but instead, if there's recently been infectious outbreaks. During these times, pin trading is suspended and you're served from the buffet.

 

[KristiMc]

I have sailed on all 4 ships. Love them all and would pick the itinerary that I like the best. With that said, I do prefer the Magic/Wonder.

 

[princessnikitaa]

Wow! Thank you so much everyone! I didn't expect to get this much of a response, but everything is super helpful! I'm going to be a little bummed out about the lobby area on the Magic, as it's one of my favorite parts but I can live without! And as for the crowds, I never minded them, I think it comes with the territory, but it's going to be nice to know that the on deck stuff won't be so overstuffed with people. I'm excited for the new shows definitely!

I have just returned from a 3 night dream cruise having previously been on the Magic 5 times. I was expecting the Dream to be better but I found that I still prefer the Magic. The rooms are so similar there isn't really a difference unless you only sail insides then obviously there are the magic portholes. I much prefer the Avengers to Star Wars. Castaway Cay felt crowded as did the rest of the ship in public areas. I found it harder to get around on the dream. To me the age difference between ships isn't really noticeable. The staff on the Dream didn't seem so friendly, l'm not really talking about the servers and room hosts but staff you just meet in passing. Many didn't talk, hold doors open, let guests go first or even smile sometimes. I suppose the main problem is that the Dream generally does much shorter cruises and the staff don't have time to get used to people.

I think that getting around quicker is something I will like a lot! Especially the way my family works. We are always forgetting something or needing to get back to the room. And I've received such wonderful service on the Dream that I am excited to see if the Magic is any different!

We cruised the Dream last year and just got off the Magic last week. We definitely preferred the Magic hands down.

The serving team thing I think is completely dependent on who you get. We loved our servers on both ships. Same for stateroom host. They were great on both ships. The Dream wins when it comes to sheer impressiveness and the atrium is really sort of teeny on the Magic. It's not a great gathering space for large groups of people. The Dream has the AquaDuck, as others have noted and Midship Detective, which I sort of missed.

However, it all more than made up for by the fact that if I forgot something in my room it took me less than 5 minutes as opposed to the 15 minutes on the Dream. Our whole family really preferred the Magic to the Dream. I don't think the things the Dream has to offer outweigh the things we loved about the Magic. It just felt much more intimate and comfortable. The rooms were the same, really. The restaurants were all just as great. Now, as far as Castaway Cay, it's funny, I noticed almost no difference. In fact, the area we were set up in at Pelican Point seemed more crowded than on the Dream. I remember last year on the Dream, at the Scuttles Cove tram stop, nearly everyone got off and I continued on to Pelican Point and had my pick of chairs to plop down on. This year, on the Magic, hardly anyone got off at the first stop and I had a heck of a time finding a chair at Pelican Point. Maybe just a different bunch of people with different preferences. If we hadn't already arranged to meet up at Pelican Point, I might have headed back over to the other beach to see if it was less crowded.

Bottom line, though, is that I'm pretty much going to be looking at the Classics from now on when booking a cruise. We're on the Wonder next year and I can't wait to give her a try!

This was super helpful! Thank you so much. I'm just taking my cousin with me for the first time on the Magic, and I'm hoping she gets the wow factor with the Magic, as I did with the Dream!