Dream vs Magic for first timer Disney cruiser

[BeachMouse1]

So many many years ago we went on a Disney cruise and quite honestly I don’t even remember what ship it was but we’ll over 20 plus years ago. We just remember not having the best time.
We are big cruisers, just me and my wife, and Disney lovers, AP holders, DVC, etc.
We live literally walking distance to Ft Lauderdale port. With the ships coming to Ft Lauderdale and having heard so many good things about Disney cruise we figured we would go try a 3 night cruise concierge class
Looks like our options are Dream and Magic which would you recommend?

 

[CastawayCayLover]

So many many years ago we went on a Disney cruise and quite honestly I don’t even remember what ship it was but we’ll over 20 plus years ago. We just remember not having the best time.
We are big cruisers, just me and my wife, and Disney lovers, AP holders, DVC, etc.
We live literally walking distance to Ft Lauderdale port. With the ships coming to Ft Lauderdale and having heard so many good things about Disney cruise we figured we would go try a 3 night cruise concierge class
Looks like our options are Dream and Magic which would you recommend?

Since your first one was 20 plus years ago it was either on the Magic or it's sister ship Wonder. If you didn't have the best time on that one, then I'd recommend you go with Dream to experience something different.

 

[pearljammer]

Dream.

 

[Mags2002]

So many many years ago we went on a Disney cruise and quite honestly I don’t even remember what ship it was but we’ll over 20 plus years ago. We just remember not having the best time.
We are big cruisers, just me and my wife, and Disney lovers, AP holders, DVC, etc.
We live literally walking distance to Ft Lauderdale port. With the ships coming to Ft Lauderdale and having heard so many good things about Disney cruise we figured we would go try a 3 night cruise concierge class
Looks like our options are Dream and Magic which would you recommend?

I assume if your cruise was over 20 years ago, you were on the Magic or Wonder.
Would you prefer to be on a smaller ship with less Guests or try a bigger but newer ship?
Do you enjoy the theater shows? They are different on each ship so have a look at those and see which ones you might like better.
I haven’t seen the itineraries. What are the differences in ports? Is there somewhere you would prefer to visit?
I have never been on a cruise (I am a CM) but I am partial to the classics myself so I would probably choose the Magic

 

[CamColt]

Since your first one was 20 plus years ago it was either on the Magic or it's sister ship Wonder. If you didn't have the best time on that one, then I'd recommend you go with Dream to experience something different.

My thoughts exactly! And for adults, the Satellite Falls area is awesome!

 

[BeachMouse1]

I assume if your cruise was over 20 years ago, you were on the Magic or Wonder.
Would you prefer to be on a smaller ship with less Guests or try a bigger but newer ship?
Do you enjoy the theater shows? They are different on each ship so have a look at those and see which ones you might like better.
I haven’t seen the itineraries. What are the differences in ports? Is there somewhere you would prefer to visit?
I have never been on a cruise (I am a CM) but I am partial to the classics myself so I would probably choose the Magic

Thanks for listing Things we haven’t thought about. We like big ship and small ships each for different reasons. The itinerary again isn’t very important either. Living so close to the port we are fortunate to have done all these Caribbean ports many times that’s why a ship is important for us we really enjoy the ship when we cruise

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

So many many years ago we went on a Disney cruise and quite honestly I don’t even remember what ship it was but we’ll over 20 plus years ago. We just remember not having the best time.
We are big cruisers, just me and my wife, and Disney lovers, AP holders, DVC, etc.
We live literally walking distance to Ft Lauderdale port. With the ships coming to Ft Lauderdale and having heard so many good things about Disney cruise we figured we would go try a 3 night cruise concierge class
Looks like our options are Dream and Magic which would you recommend?

I did Magic for my first cruise , 7 Nights Norwegian Fjords in 2022. I did my second cruise on The Dream, 4 nights Spain August 2023.

The Magic

• Rainforest Room is all indoors, no hot tubs
• Hot tubs and adult pool were always busy, never got a chance even though it was a 7 night cruise
• MDR are Rapunzel's, Animators Palate and Lumieres
• On the 7 night Rapunzel's and Animators Palate had 2 shows
• Rapunzel's shows were Birthday Party and Thug night, on shorter cruises, its just Birthday I think
• Animators Palate were Sorcerer Micky and Animation Drawing, on shorter cruises its just Sorcerer Micky
• Shows were Twice Charmed, Tangled and Dreams, longer cruises also have featured performers and movie night
• Theme night was Frozen as it was Norway, Caribbean / Bahama / Mediterranean have Pirate Night
• Magic has sideways inside rooms, which are Forward, check out my room review 6003

The Dream

• Rainforest Room has outdoor hot tubs
• Bigger and more spacious adult areas, hot tubs and pools
• MDR are Enchanted Garden, Royal Palace and Animators Palate
• Animators Palate shows were Crush and on longer cruises Animation Drawing
• No shows in Enchanted Garden or Royal Palace
• Shows were Golden Mickeys, Beauty and The Beast and Believe, longer cruises also have featured performers and movie night
• Theme night was Pirates
• I had inside Forward non connecting room check out my room review 8515

 

[Mags2002]

I am currently onboard one of the ships and have previously done a contract on the other. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to PM me

 

[BeachMouse1]

I did Magic for my first cruise , 7 Nights Norwegian Fjords in 2022. I did my second cruise on The Dream, 4 nights Spain August 2023.

The Magic

• Rainforest Room is all indoors, no hot tubs
• Hot tubs and adult pool were always busy, never got a chance even though it was a 7 night cruise
• MDR are Rapunzel's, Animators Palate and Lumieres
• On the 7 night Rapunzel's and Animators Palate had 2 shows
• Rapunzel's shows were Birthday Party and Thug night, on shorter cruises, its just Birthday I think
• Animators Palate were Sorcerer Micky and Animation Drawing, on shorter cruises its just Sorcerer Micky
• Shows were Twice Charmed, Tangled and Dreams, longer cruises also have featured performers and movie night
• Theme night was Frozen as it was Norway, Caribbean / Bahama / Mediterranean have Pirate Night
• Magic has sideways inside rooms, which are Forward, check out my room review 6003

The Dream

• Rainforest Room has outdoor hot tubs
• Bigger and more spacious adult areas, hot tubs and pools
• MDR are Enchanted Garden, Royal Palace and Animators Palate
• Animators Palate shows were Crush and on longer cruises Animation Drawing
• No shows in Enchanted Garden or Royal Palace
• Shows were Golden Mickeys, Beauty and The Beast and Believe, longer cruises also have featured performers and movie night
• Theme night was Pirates
• I had inside Forward non connecting room check out my room review 8515

Wow thanks for all this!

 

[cvjw]

Dream.

 

[Mathmagicland]

we figured we would go try a 3 night cruise concierge class

Since you are looking at Concierge class, I would definitely go Magic over Dream. I find the concierge inside lounge area on the Dream to be darker and smaller as there no windows, and it can feel crowded. There is not a kitchen space so, for example, if you’d like an apple sliced you cannot get it done there. Sun deck is up some stairs.

The Magic concierge lounge is bigger, brighter, lighter, lots of windows, and easier access to the concierge sun deck.