Disney Magic lack of "Pixie dust"

[seawyse]

Have just completed Disney Magic Transatlantic, our third, and the standards are slipping.

Our wait staff did not work as a team, it should not have been difficult, they only had seven people to serve, this also happened on out EBTA in May!

It was brought to the attention of the Food and beverage manager who confirmed that more training was needed. Things improved for two days and then tailed off!

It is a pity as we love Disney but have now booked our next cruise with Celebrity.

It was like ground hog day with little changing with regard to guest entertainers and the the same films on TV from May EBTA.

I spoke with several people who only cruise Disney and agreed with me that the ship needed a good sprinkling of Pixie Dust to bring it back to the way things used to be.

We enjoyed the cruise and the interaction with the majority of the crew.

To quote Disney Cruise Line President -The number one differentiator of all the things we do is our cast and crew members. we train them on guest service guidelines and intermix this with with something we call aggresive hospitality, you only have a short time to build a meaningful and special relationship with guests and we have a primary focus on finding the best crew members and investing in training them.

Lets hope the training improves.

Regards

Chris and Yvonne

 

[princesskayla]

Wow- that's not the best report. Especially if you have sailed many times before. Hope they improve!

 

[carolsherman]

Chris and Yvonne

I was on that same cruise and also did the transatlantic in May. I agree with you this cruise was definately needed alot of pixie dust. This was my 17t disney cruise and I was definately disappointed. Not alot for adults to do during the day. Movies were not that great usually have new releases on the ship. Dining teams were not up to par food was not that great. Shows were repeats of May but were very tired so to speak. Cast members were just not up to par with questions or answers that guests asked or needed to know. I just didn't get it I was really disappointed this time.


Also as a travel agent it bothers me some of the stuff that did go on on this cruise from a customer standpoint.

 

[Webmiester]

We will be on the Magic on 10/22. This is very disheartening.
I'll keep a close eye on these things and report back when we are done.
With the massive volume of employees, there will always be a few that aren't 'great'.
On our last cruise, we spoke with some of the crew on a personal level. Things like when people get breaks, vacations, rotated to different ships, especially with the Dream coming online soon...
It seems like most repositioning cruises are a big turnover time for the crew. Almost like all the seasoned crew get to go home and the ship is run by the benchwarmers.
Let's hope so anyway.... like I said, I'll post what I see when we return.

 

[Silverfox97]

We board the Magic Sat AM for our 4th DCL cruise and will report back then

 

[GrumpyGoat]

We will be on the Magic on 10/22. This is very disheartening.
I'll keep a close eye on these things and report back when we are done.
With the massive volume of employees, there will always be a few that aren't 'great'.
On our last cruise, we spoke with some of the crew on a personal level. Things like when people get breaks, vacations, rotated to different ships, especially with the Dream coming online soon...
It seems like most repositioning cruises are a big turnover time for the crew. Almost like all the seasoned crew get to go home and the ship is run by the benchwarmers.
Let's hope so anyway.... like I said, I'll post what I see when we return.

We just got back from a five day repositioning cruise on the Wonder and there was nothing about the cruise we didn't like. I was even told there were 900 kids on the cruise and I'd sure like to know where they were because I sure didn't see them. The crew must have kept them well entertained...

 

[valbob89]

We just got back from a five day repositioning cruise on the Wonder and there was nothing about the cruise we didn't like. A was even told there were 900 kids on the cruise and I'd sure like to know where they were because I sure didn't see them. The crew must have kept them well entertained...

I person who was on the Wonder last week - great!! Did you see any changes that were made while the ship was in dry dock or just maintence? Was Parrot Cay changed? Route 66 updated for the west coast? Thanks

 

[Webmiester]

We just got back from a five day repositioning cruise on the Wonder and there was nothing about the cruise we didn't like. I was even told there were 900 kids on the cruise and I'd sure like to know where they were because I sure didn't see them. The crew must have kept them well entertained...

Yeah I doubt the 2 always go hand in hand.... was just sharing what some of the staff told us.

 

[kcashner]

WOW...we were on the May TA and first Med and had a Magical time. OK, in part is was because we were treated like royalty, and in fairness we did miss some of our "old favorite" CMs who have been sent to the Dream.

Our dining team was....as you said, not a team. It was actually rather funny. The assistant server was sort of like a little kid who needed a hug. He REALLY couldn't keep his mind on his work, however the server more than made up for him. And our head server was totally the best. We are hoping to have him on our next cruise.

Our stateroom had a small problem, but this was repaired as soon as I reported it. The housekeeping manager for our floor checked with me at least 3 times to be sure that all was well. Our stateroom host was great. They were refurbishing some cabins on the ship during our cruise, but the noisy work was confined to normal daytime hours and really didn't bother us. I felt that the ship was in good shape, and saw some cleaning and repainting in areas that I'd never seen before!

Shows...well, we all have our preferences. I wasn't overwhelmed with some of the entertainment, but some was excellent. They had a team (male/female) dance teachers who did classes for adults only and for families. Unfortunately they were on for only that cruise as they were truly excellent--personable and good teachers, and didn't make a clutz like me feel like an idiot. Charo...I didn't expect to like, and didn't really like the beginning of her show. However, she is a decent classical guitarist! I don't think she would have the performance venues she has without her more well known antics, but it did make the show worth listening to. I'd like to see less of Alfred and Seymore, but again, that's personal. And honestly, Peter was not my favorite CM and I cringed when I learned we'd have him for 25 nights...but he really started to come into his own. He is much better when he is being Peter than when he is imitating Christiaan.

Movies...not impressed. Cruise staff...excellent. Guests...don't get me started on the father who wheeled a sleeping baby in a stroller into the Cove Cafe area and LEFT IT THERE! Seriously, first he shouldn't have brought the kid in at all, but to leave for 15 or 20 minutes? I reported the unattended stroller/child to the Cove staff and they called some officers who were looking for the father when he finally returned. They still are not in any way enforcing kids not traipsing thru adult only areas.

So...could the do with some staff training? Yes. Was it bad...not in my opinion.

We did one "new to us" thing on this cruise. We ate dinner in Topsiders one night. This is a training time for both kitchen and serving CM, and it was totally excellent. Seriously, the food was better than in the main dining rooms. There aren't as many selections, but the atmosphere, the service, the food quality was superb. Will definitely do this again.

 

[StephenKay]

Hi there,

I have too agree with the OP, we have just disembarked from the same WBTA cruise as the OP and having cruised on both the Magic in the Med and then the Dream then WBTA, Disney has lost it's MO-JO and I wouldn't have a bad word said about our servers. The main problem was a total lack of interest by some CM's and then the CD "Peter" dropped the classic phrase of characters appearing in all there costumes, at least he remembered his "lines" that night where on most he forgot.

I had a long chat to the Chief Engineer after water was pouring in the stairwell of deck 10 fwd for most of the trip blocking at least one or no more stairwell and many decks had buckets near the lifts to catch water leaking from various sources throughout the two weeks. When I asked him, he admitted that they had tried repairs in the summer in the Med, but none worked even placing new steel plate, it was embrassing to see the ship in such a poor state even the deck 4 fwd men restrooms have a central support structure rusted through.

The CM's that were those we new and loved have all moved on to different ships or shore side and the overall product is so diluted that DCL is a shadow of it's former self. I have cancelled 4 cruises this evening with Dreams as I don't want to go back until things have settled down in years to come.

Please don't get me started about the adult entertainment, if I have Ricky Kalmon and John Charles anymore I shall have throw them overboard. lol PS: I thought Charo was fun, she could have fun at her own expense, however many thought she was not playing the guitar!!!!!

I would say we had excellent tablemates who made up for all of the short comings of this once classic ship
,

 

[Aisling]

Charo...I didn't expect to like, and didn't really like the beginning of her show. However, she is a decent classical guitarist! I don't think she would have the performance venues she has without her more well known antics, but it did make the show worth listening to.

Charo was on your cruise???????????? The real Charo?????

 

[WilliamK99]

I am about to get flamed, but the problem isn't Disney persay, it's the Disney "addicts", those who cruise on Disney 3 or 4 times a tear seriously, quite a few did the EBTA and multiple other cruises and that is fine, but how much do you think is really going to change in 5 months? They definitely aren't going to change a major production or add a truck load of entertainment while in Europe.

I was on the same cruise and had a great time with my family and so did many others I talked to who don't have 10 to 15 Disney cruises under their belts. I for one enjoyed Viva Voce, and thought they were a refreshing addition to 15 days of entertainment.

Those complaining about the lack of new releases? Blame that on the movie releases schedule, very few new movies are released in September, although they did get Lion King 3D which was a plus.

My wife and I felt there was plenty of adult entertainment, from Art of Entertaining nearly twice a day, and the showing of classic Disney movies in the theater there was plenty to do.

The one major complaint I had was with John Charles, many say he is a great entertainer, but he was very annoying IMO. I actually filed a complaint against him as his attitude towards me after the show was very poor.

Fantastic cruise and not as bad as some would lead you to believe. I don't plan on cruising Disney again for awhile, but that is because I am living in Europe, otherwise I would be back at it next year.

 

[WilliamK99]

Charo was on your cruise???????????? The real Charo?????

Yes the real Charro was on the cruise, she was pretty funny, one of the highlights IMO.

 

[kcashner]

Yes, the "real" Charo has been on several DCL cruises now...We actually saw her get on with her 34 (or was it 43?) suitcases! No kidding.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I am about to get flamed, but the problem isn't Disney persay, it's the Disney "addicts", those who cruise on Disney 3 or 4 times a tear seriously, quite a few did the EBTA and multiple other cruises and that is fine, but how much do you think is really going to change in 5 months? They definitely aren't going to change a major production or add a truck load of entertainment while in Europe.

I was on the same cruise and had a great time with my family and so did many others I talked to who don't have 10 to 15 Disney cruises under their belts. I for one enjoyed Viva Voce, and thought they were a refreshing addition to 15 days of entertainment.

Those complaining about the lack of new releases? Blame that on the movie releases schedule, very few new movies are released in September, although they did get Lion King 3D which was a plus.

My wife and I felt there was plenty of adult entertainment, from Art of Entertaining nearly twice a day, and the showing of classic Disney movies in the theater there was plenty to do.

The one major complaint I had was with John Charles, many say he is a great entertainer, but he was very annoying IMO. I actually filed a complaint against him as his attitude towards me after the show was very poor.

Fantastic cruise and not as bad as some would lead you to believe. I don't plan on cruising Disney again for awhile, but that is because I am living in Europe, otherwise I would be back at it next year.

No flame from me. I have often wondered when the non magical cruise threads pop up that perhaps the "magic" has been lost to those that have cruised DCL several times. It's like going home for sure but it becomes ho hum after so long. I am platinum and still love DCL. I was on the maiden voyage of the Dream and so many people complained about everything from A-Z. I didn't have a problem with food, CM's, adult only area, or whatever. I didn't like how merchandising was handled however. I think it is what you make of it. I don't think that comparing your cruises is a good idea. Go with the flow and don't look for the flaws.

 

[disneydreamer82]

No flame from me. I have often wondered when the non magical cruise threads pop up that perhaps the "magic" has been lost to those that have cruised DCL several times. It's like going home for sure but it becomes ho hum after so long. I am platinum and still love DCL. I was on the maiden voyage of the Dream and so many people complained about everything from A-Z. I didn't have a problem with food, CM's, adult only area, or whatever. I didn't like how merchandising was handled however. I think it is what you make of it. I don't think that comparing your cruises is a good idea. Go with the flow and don't look for the flaws.

Very well said!!!!

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

I am about to get flamed, but the problem isn't Disney persay, it's the Disney "addicts", those who cruise on Disney 3 or 4 times a tear seriously, quite a few did the EBTA and multiple other cruises and that is fine, but how much do you think is really going to change in 5 months? They definitely aren't going to change a major production or add a truck load of entertainment while in Europe.

I was on the same cruise and had a great time with my family and so did many others I talked to who don't have 10 to 15 Disney cruises under their belts. I for one enjoyed Viva Voce, and thought they were a refreshing addition to 15 days of entertainment.

Those complaining about the lack of new releases? Blame that on the movie releases schedule, very few new movies are released in September, although they did get Lion King 3D which was a plus.

My wife and I felt there was plenty of adult entertainment, from Art of Entertaining nearly twice a day, and the showing of classic Disney movies in the theater there was plenty to do.

The one major complaint I had was with John Charles, many say he is a great entertainer, but he was very annoying IMO. I actually filed a complaint against him as his attitude towards me after the show was very poor.

Fantastic cruise and not as bad as some would lead you to believe. I don't plan on cruising Disney again for awhile, but that is because I am living in Europe, otherwise I would be back at it next year.

Good to know you guys had a good time, sounds like you got home OK.

And no flames from me, I totally agree, we're set to do our 5th cruise on the Magic in 2 1/2 weeks and I'll have a great time!

 

[Webmiester]

Yo Colorado! Don't dirty the ship too much now! We'll be on the cruise following yours...

Anyway, no flame here either. I think it is what you make of it.
For us, with a 4 year old and now a 4 month old, it is all about spending time with the kids.
We both work, so we have little precious time with them evenings and weekends. We take a cruise so that we don't have to worry about things we did when we rented a beach house... where/what to eat, shopping, driving around, yadda yadda.
We walk to dinner. If we don't care for the dinner we get, we can run up to Top siders and get something else...or the grill...or whatever.
Since we go 1-2 times a year, the shows might be repeats, but that is perfect because then we don't feel guilty about wanting to do something else because we'll miss something we hadn't seen. (best part of a back to back in my opinion)
Like I said previously, I'll pay a little closer attention to what's going on...but honestly I'm there to spend time with my loved ones. If the asst server has trouble focussing...I probably won't notice.
( Stepping off soapbox )

Cheers!

 

[Aisling]

Yes the real Charro was on the cruise, she was pretty funny, one of the highlights IMO.

Yes, the "real" Charo has been on several DCL cruises now...We actually saw her get on with her 34 (or was it 43?) suitcases! No kidding.

How exciting! I'd never expect her to be on a Disney ship, it isn't the Love Boat kind of ship!

I hope I'm lucky enough for her to be on the ship when I cruise.

 

[nick262]

No flames from me either. I was on the WBTA and saw none of these issues, and I took every stairwell repeatedly each day of the cruise. Sure there is are some areas that need some TLC but there is only so much they can do with guest aboard. I had more issues with other annoying guests then I did with any CM. All of the CM's we were in contact with were more that gracious and a couple went out of their way to ensure we had a great time. I have to agree that some people expect too much sometimes. It will be hard to top the experiences we had on this cruise, but it will not stop me from trying to on all my future cruises.