Fantasy / Dream v Destiny

[jess2022]

We've never cruised before and have a 4 night sailing booked on the Destiny, but after booking I started thinking about how new it will be. Does it take DCL some time to work out kinks? Also, I'm reading that the Wish can feel more crowded than the Dream / Fantasy, and we don't do great in crowds. (We do fine in the parks but have figured out how to navigate it and take breaks.) I know fully avoiding crowds is not possible but I'm wondering if a certain ship class feels less crowded than others. I'm starting to think maybe I should swap the trip for the Fantasy or Dream. Thanks!

 

[kiford]

I didn't, in general, find the Wish to be any more crowded feeling than the Fantasy or any other ship but it obviously depends on how many people are on board at any time and where you are and at what time. For example, on the Wish, when the show gets out, the shop becomes overwhelmingly busy, but go a half hour later, and it's normal.

However, I don't personally plan to sail on any of the new ships within at least the first 6 months of launch. They do take time to work out kinks, both technical and service. Also, it will be new to everyone, so everyone will want to get into the Haunted Mansion lounge, etc., so it may feel crowded. We first sailed on the Wish in January of 2023 (7 months after launch?), and that was just at the point that you didn't need to pre-book time in the Hyperspace Lounge, but it was still very busy. In September of 2023 it wasn't nearly as busy nor was it on our recent cruise.

 

[tvguy]

Old time cruiser here, 44+ years. The thinking used to be not to book a cruise on a ship until it had been in service six months, and wait a month after a dry dock.
Can't speak to Disney, but if you look at how many ships are going into service these days, I do see online that there can be kinks the first few months. With the ship, and sometimes some of the shows are not ready right away. But I have never been on a ship that wasn't at least 2 years old.

 

[OKW Lover]

We've sailed on all 5 of the current ships. We didn't find the Wish to feel any more (or less) crowded than the previous ships. I don't expect our January sailing on the Treasure to be any different than that.

 

[JM_97]

Would you go to a new restaurant in town ASAP or are you okay with waiting to let them get over their growing pains? That's one way to look at it.

I'm perfectly fine with waiting, but some people want the latest and greatest ASAP.

 

[jess2022]

Would you go to a new restaurant in town ASAP or are you okay with waiting to let them get over their growing pains? That's one way to look at it.

I'm perfectly fine with waiting, but some people want the latest and greatest ASAP.

That's a great way to put it! I'm definitely in the wait until things settle down.

 

[disney2you]

I think there were less people on the Wish when I went (1st week of December) so Wish felt much less crowded than the Fantasy to me (mid-October). Fantasy also felt like it had more dead ends, smaller hallways, and didn't utilize both doors in some areas (had to wait for people entering/exiting of Cabanas as only one door would open).

Also if you hate crowds, make sure you get a muster drill in one of the restaurants (nice open, lots of space, there are some charts online for the older ships for where the drill is for each room) or if you are outside, let a cast member know you have issues and need to be on the outside of the crowd and near a door. I never did a muster drill outside before till the Fantasy and I got squished in so much behind 3 other rows of people that I had get out of there and talk to cast member cause I couldn't stay back there (I think it was the touching, I hate touching strangers and on both sides it was constant arm touching cause we were sardined so much).

 

[jess2022]

I think there were less people on the Wish when I went (1st week of December) so Wish felt much less crowded than the Fantasy to me (mid-October). Fantasy also felt like it had more dead ends, smaller hallways, and didn't utilize both doors in some areas (had to wait for people entering/exiting of Cabanas as only one door would open).

Also if you hate crowds, make sure you get a muster drill in one of the restaurants (nice open, lots of space, there are some charts online for the older ships for where the drill is for each room) or if you are outside, let a cast member know you have issues and need to be on the outside of the crowd and near a door. I never did a muster drill outside before till the Fantasy and I got squished in so much behind 3 other rows of people that I had get out of there and talk to cast member cause I couldn't stay back there (I think it was the touching, I hate touching strangers and on both sides it was constant arm touching cause we were sardined so much).

Found it... that's really helpful. I didn't realize I could look up the drill locations! Thank you.

How is the theater for crowds for the muster drill? I see that assigned to one of the rooms I am considering.

 

[JM_97]

I think there were less people on the Wish when I went (1st week of December) so Wish felt much less crowded than the Fantasy to me (mid-October). Fantasy also felt like it had more dead ends, smaller hallways, and didn't utilize both doors in some areas (had to wait for people entering/exiting of Cabanas as only one door would open).

Also if you hate crowds, make sure you get a muster drill in one of the restaurants (nice open, lots of space, there are some charts online for the older ships for where the drill is for each room) or if you are outside, let a cast member know you have issues and need to be on the outside of the crowd and near a door. I never did a muster drill outside before till the Fantasy and I got squished in so much behind 3 other rows of people that I had get out of there and talk to cast member cause I couldn't stay back there (I think it was the touching, I hate touching strangers and on both sides it was constant arm touching cause we were sardined so much).

Many years ago, our station was outside on the Wonder. Squished together like sardines in the Florida heat in late May. And kids screaming because they didn't want to be there. Thank god things only got better from there!

 

[Mommb]

How is the theater for crowds for the muster drill? I see that assigned to one of the rooms I am considering.

There will be lots of people in the theaters (and restaurants) used for muster drills, but if you arrive a bit early you can take a seat, and then it’s just like being at a show (or meal).

 

[kiford]

When we were assigned to the theatre, they were directing people into seats as they arrived just like they do with cars in the parking lots as WDW (i.e., you don't pick a seat, they fill up a row, then move to the next one).

 

[mmouse37]

Found it... that's really helpful. I didn't realize I could look up the drill locations! Thank you.

How is the theater for crowds for the muster drill? I see that assigned to one of the rooms I am considering.

I have Assembly Station B on the Wish which is in the theatre....I can let you know after my cruise next month. But I have done the drill in the theatres on the other ships and they use a good portion of the theatre. But it will be less crowded than when seeing a show. You will be seated next to others as they fill every seat in the row for the drill.

MJ

 

[jess2022]

Thank you for all your help everyone! We ended up choosing the Wish and a room that musters at Worlds of Marvel.

 

[sponica]

Thank you for all your help everyone! We ended up choosing the Wish and a room that musters at Worlds of Marvel.

We mustered in 1923 and it wasn't that bad. You probably spend more time waiting in line outside the restaurant than in the actual drill.

I know people complain about the in person musters, but I did one that wasn't in person and watching a video a month before you board the ship isn't helpful at all...

 

[jess2022]

We mustered in 1923 and it wasn't that bad. You probably spend more time waiting in line outside the restaurant than in the actual drill.

I know people complain about the in person musters, but I did one that wasn't in person and watching a video a month before you board the ship isn't helpful at all...

Good to hear!

 

[JM_97]

We mustered in 1923 and it wasn't that bad. You probably spend more time waiting in line outside the restaurant than in the actual drill.

I know people complain about the in person musters, but I did one that wasn't in person and watching a video a month before you board the ship isn't helpful at all...

If you can snag a station in a restaurant or in the theatre, it's not that bad.

 

[Skippyboo]

It’s the outside on the deck muster stations that stink. On Fantasy, I had J outside on Deck 4 and it was hot. Then next Fantasy cruise D in Walt Disney theater. A/C with a seat wonderful. Going on the Wish on Friday, I think I have 1923 as muster station.