Disney Magic vs. Disney Dream with 2 year old and 5 year old

[Burgermom]

I am considering a Disney Cruise with my DH and 2 kids. DS will have just turned 5 and DD will have just turned 2.
I am comparing the 4 nights on the Dream vs. 5 nights on the Magic.
I would prefer the 5 night cruise but am having difficulty learning the differences between the 2 ships.

One of the main concerns I have is re: the splash play area for non-toilet trained toddlers. What is the difference between these 2 ships? I want to make sure that my 2 year old has something to do. I doubt that she will be toilet trained by then so pools will be a no-go.

Is there a big difference between the restaurants on these ships? I heard that enchanted gardens and animators palate are just not as impressive on the Magic. Any thoughts?

The adults only areas, is there a big difference between MAgic and Dream?

Thank you for any thoughts or links to relevant Trip Reports or Threads.

 

[Barbydoll8]

My experience which is not nearly as extensive as others here is 2x's on Dream & once on Magic.
IMO the kids area was just themed differently in the splash zone. I think there's plenty of play action on both ships for little ones.

Restaurants - The wow factor is definitely there in the theming on the Dream but I personally liked the food better on the Magic (The Wonder actually being better than both ships IMO) but both were fun, beautiful and the food was good. Enchanted Garden isn't on the Magic.
Animator's Palate are two different experiences completely. Both are fun.

I saw very little differences in the adult areas other than the spa. The Dream has personal hot tubs in the Rainforest room and the Magic does not. I felt it was easier to maneuver through the Magic with it being smaller and more intimate. But the Dream does have more wow. Not a tremendous amount but it does.

 

[hanscarlet]

I think both ships are fantastic so the biggest factor for me would be the length of stay where longer is always better in my opinion, especially with kids who are great when they learn the routine so I would opt for the Magic. The splash area is larger and more extensive on the Dream but it's also more crowded. I liked the set up of the kiddie pool area on the Magic better because it was more isolated from the bigger main pool crowd and therefore felt less crowded than the Dream, where everyone is all on the main deck together. There is a covered splash zone on both ships (Magic's is smaller) but there is also a splash zone that is uncovered on the magic where the buckets drop water on people, I don't see a 2 year old being there by himself but if the parents where there, it's like an extension of the splash zone.

I love the restaurants on the Magic - they just did the new AP where you get to draw your animation and it shows up on TV screens so that is really cool. I really also enjoyed the new Cariocas and we loved lumieres. I also found the adult area to be much more desireable on the Magic, bigger and less crowded.

All these things being said, we are going on the Dream next year (just got off the Magic this past April) because we miss the big ships, we love the Dream! You can't go wrong on any of the ships and so that's why I always usually base my decision on itinerary.

 

[85glht]

The BIG difference between the two ships are is the size of them. The Dream is bigger. I know the Magic just went through a dry dock upgrade and some features enhanced. I have been on the reimagined Magic and the Fantasy (sister ship to the Dream.) The Dream is newer so it's amenities are better.... The Aquaduck may be the biggest pro vs. the Magics version, which is a water slide that drops you from a trap door.
So, now that I confused you even more.... I wouldn't hesitate to go on either ship. If the most important thing is the length of the cruise, I would go with the Magic.

 

[amanda ek]

We've sailed on both the magic and fantasy (but it's similar splash area on the dream) and the splash areas are very different. At 14 months our daughter was completely happy with the tiny Huey, Dewey, Louie area on the magic. At 2.5 she was disinterested after 5 mins.
On the fantasy when my daughter was 2 she would spend at least an hour everyday in the Nemo splash area...even older kids (like too old to be in there) were in there all the time on the slide.
I actually love the aquadunk (magic) way more than the aquaduck (fantasy and dream) --more thrilling. And the aqualab is way more convinietly located on the magic. Plus there's tangled musical (very fun) and you cannot beat the service in the dining rooms on the magic. I don't think you could go wrong on either ship.

Edit: need to be potty trained for aqualabs

 

[Weedy]

With young kids I feel the smaller ships are better. The Magic holds 2000+ people on the ship the Dream 4000.

 

[CB Ace]

I agree that the smaller ships are good with little ones. There's not as much walking around. Also my DD liked the kids areas on the Magic better than the Dream. If you'd prefer the 5-night cruise, you can't go wrong with the Magic.