Differences between Wonder & Magic

[Holldoll777]

For some reason I thought we were booked on the Magic so for the last 3 weeks I've been researching and planning for the Magic - I had to call about the booking tonight and they told me we are on the wonder (which I confirmed on the Disney Cruise site). I am not terribly disappointed.

Everything I've read about the Wonder says it's falling apart and a mess. Is that true? Does it have a slide like the Magic does?

Help me not be disappointed please! This is our first Disney Cruise and I want it to be perfect!

 

[Birdie dog]

I'm sure the Wonder isn't a falling apart mess. I honestly haven't sailed her in quite a while but will be boarding on Sunday and I'm not the least bit concerned even though my most recent cruises were the Magic in Norway and the Dream and Fantasy CL.

 

[JMHDisney]

The wonder is definitely not falling apart! It is very well maintained and a fantastic ship! It does not have a slide but otherwise is very similar to the Magic. There are differences in things I consider minor - restaurant themes, atrium design, kids clubs are a little different, etc. I have a slight preference for the Magic because I have a son and he likes to see Captain America on the Magic, but I would not be sad about being on the Wonder.

 

[SpaceSquirrel]

following

 

[aggiedog]

(raising my hand, wiggling in my seat) I can answer that!!

We were on Magic this summer and Wonder over Christmas. First off, Wonder is in great shape. No worries there. I actually like the overall styling better on Wonder. There is a really nice adult only bar/coffee bar over the Cove Cafe only on Wonder, with great views. I would have lived in it on Magic (if it existed there), which was a longer cruise for us with more down time. It is WAY better than just the Cove Cafe on Magic, which seemed impersonal and drafty. I personally liked the adult only lounges on Wonder more also, especially the Cadillac lounge, which is a really classy piano bar. And honestly, we spent very little time in either, these spaces just left an impression. We had verandah rooms both times. The rooms are almost identical, with the exception that Magic had dressers with drawers and Wonder had a steamer trunk-on-end sort of contraption with one large door and shelves inside. There is no large slide on Wonder. Not sure how old your kids are. Vibe was identical. Edge was identical. Oceaneer's Lab was much darker, almost with a dance club vibe, on Wonder. I didn't look at Oceaneer's club. (perhaps I have them reversed - the "older" kid one is dark, the "younger" we didn't use.) Animator's Palette was better on Magic, as far as the wall show goes. I actually liked the "old" colors of Parrot Cay on Wonder over the restyled Carioca's. I did not love the buffet setup at Beach Blanket Buffet - too much like a school cafeteria, though the food was basically identical , and good, to Cabana's. I do think our servers were better on Magic, but I think part of that was the shorter cruise on Wonder, and part may be due to DCL-wide changes in staffing duties from what I've read, so that might have affected Magic now also. Wonder has a secret aft sundeck on 7. Magic does not. Our stateroom attendant was great on both.

Overall, I really liked Wonder over the Magic and would cruise her again in a heartbeat.

 

[RedHatDisney]

Loved the Wonder on our Alaskan cruise last summer.......lovely ship, great service, excellent food.

 

[JeanfromBNA]

Disney constantly maintains their properties; I would be shocked if it was falling apart. i board Sunday, so I can tell you more then.

 

[thinkoflaura]

This is all comforting to me as well -- we've sailed the Magic three times and will going on the Wonder this summer to Alaska. My daughter (who turns 11 on the cruise) is planning to go back to the Oceaneers Club / Lab as she does on the Magic. Hopefully the dark/dance club vibe will appeal to her!

 

[xlxo]

The Wonder is slim and lacks the Magic's add-on baggage to fit through the Panama for Pacific ports.

 

[Hundredacre]

The wonder is a beautiful ship but yes it needs renovation. We were on it in december. It does not have much of a water slide. The kids clubs are also not as cool as those on the other three ships. But don't worry any disney cruise is a great cruise.

 

[Jessie Tanner]

It is very well maintained and a fantastic ship!

 

[mom4fun]

There is a smaller slide for kids 12 and under.

 

[aggiedog]

The kids clubs are also not as cool as those on the other three ships

Can't speak to Fantasy or Dream, but like I said, on Wonder and Magic Vibe and Edge are identical.

 

[Hundredacre]

The thing about the kids club (oceaneers lab or club) is if your child has seen any disney promotional material or utube videos, the wonder does not feature anything seen there. So even though we had been on the wonder before, my kids were still disappointed that there was no "Andy's room," " star wars area," or infinity computer games. There is very little theming at all on the wonder kids club. Of course the kids still had a great time. But try not to expose your kids to material showing the kids club ahead of time.

 

[Hundredacre]

And yes, your kids will ask, "Where is the big waterslide?" So if you have not been on the other ships, do not show them disney marketing ahead of time. Disney does not feature the wonder kids club or waterslide in any of these materials.

 

[KMovies]

The Wonder just hasn't had the updates that have occurred on the Magic. The updates included the updated Animator's restaurant, redesigned clubs, the water slide, the changing of the theme at Parrot Cay, the removal of one of the lobby's staircases. Those changes may come to the Wonder one day once larger ships can sail through the Panama Canal. While I always did prefer the Wonder, the reimagined Magic beats it for now ... in my opinion. But "run-down" only comes from those that seek out things to find wrong. And, in my opinion, they have to look hard.

 

[krisinparis]

I've also been on both within the past 7-8 months. The staterooms have been updated on the Wonder and to me seemed identical to those on the Magic. A few things I liked better about the Wonder--- I like the double staircase, I think the Magic looks a little weird with the stairs only on the one side. If you go to the "Until We Meet Again" farewell it is really cool to see the characters lining both staircases on the Wonder. I also love the Chihuly chandelier on the Wonder. We also liked how the Wonder had a sheltered outdoor seating area off of the Beach Blanket Buffet. (My kids really liked the round booth options too). I do like the Magic's restaurants better, Animator's Palace definitely has the better show of the two ships and personally I like Carioca's more than Parrot Cay. I think that the bathrooms on both ships need an update. To me, that is the one area where you really see the age of the ships. I wouldn't hesitate to sail on either ship again.

 

[Hundredacre]

Our stateroom

I've also been on both within the past 7-8 months. The staterooms have been updated on the Wonder and to me seemed identical to those on the Magic. A few things I liked better about the Wonder--- I like the double staircase, I think the Magic looks a little weird with the stairs only on the one side. If you go to the "Until We Meet Again" farewell it is really cool to see the characters lining both staircases on the Wonder. I also love the Chihuly chandelier on the Wonder. We also liked how the Wonder had a sheltered outdoor seating area off of the Beach Blanket Buffet. (My kids really liked the round booth options too). I do like the Magic's restaurants better, Animator's Palace definitely has the better show of the two ships and personally I like Carioca's more than Parrot Cay. I think that the bathrooms on both ships need an update. To me, that is the one area where you really see the age of the ships. I wouldn't hesitate to sail on either ship again.

Our state room was not updated on the wonder as of last december. They had switched out the bed (so that it no longer separates into twins) and nighttables. But the other furniture, art etc was the same. Bathroom was very much in need of a redo. Faucet in shower not holding in place, problems with hot/cold mechanism, casement around tub separated from tub and wall with evidence of many so-so repair attempts. Tile work in the bath is old fashioned but in good shape and I like the old fashioned style.

 

[Holldoll777]

Thanks so much! I feel much better!
My kids don't even know we are going so they've seen nothing so they can't be disappointed. They are only 4 & 7 so the small slide with suffice for them. I figure it's better we go on the Wonder now and then we can upgrade ships with each cruise as they get older.

 

[thumpie's mom]

We were on the Wonder in October and she was in great shape. As others have noted, DCL maintains their ships beautifully. We have been on the Wonder 5 times and are booked for #6 and have never had any major issues. Don't worry and enjoy the cruise!