First disney cruise- help!

[dismebro]

Hi dissers, in September I'll be going on my first disney cruise! (woohoo!). I've been on 3 carnival cruises around the Caribbean. I am going again on a 4 day on the magic. What is there to expect? Have any of you been on a carnival cruise to have something to compare this one to? I'm going with my grandparents (61&64) who are not in the best of shape, will they be okay?
Thanks!

 

[stacieps]

I have cruised both. Some differences that quickly come to mind:

1. On DCL you will rotate thru 3 dining rooms for dinner, not eat in same room each night as you do on Carnival, you will have the same servers.

2. On DCL there is no buffet available for dinner - dinner is available at the same place where the breakfast and lunch buffets are, but is service, not buffet at dinner. This is NOT an option on the first or last nights of your cruise.

3. No casino.

4. DCL shows - great shows, very different than Carnival.

5. DCL has movie theater (if a Disney Co. movie is released in theater, it is released on ship on same date).

Magic and Wonder are my favorite Disney ships (didn't like the Dream as much) - I wouldn't think your grandparents would have any trouble getting around.

6. DCL room service has hot items (depnding on ship - mac n' cheese, pizza, etc) - Carnival did not have hot items, mostly sandwiches.

 

[McDonald5]

Also, you can bring alcohol, bottled water and other snacks on board with DCL.

 

[MikeAndNick]

1. Find you DISboard meet where you can talk to the people you are cruising with.
2. Your DIS Meet group should be doing a FE Gift Exchange. That is a fund Disney thing.
3. Room service has Mickey Mouse Cream Bars that is not on the menu. They are the best.
4. The Shows are Disney... do not miss them.
5. The dinners are an experience not just dinner. Do not miss them.
6. If you have kids carry a camera because you can see Disney characters anywhere
7. There are no Soda cards. There is a soda fountian on the pool deck and you can order soda at meals for free. If you get soda at a bar or room service you pay for it.

 

[abdgeek]

I've cruised both and DCL is by far the better of the two!! Everyone in your group, regardless of their age, will be able to find something to do. Check out some of the cruise navigator's(on this site) that people from previous cruises have posted. That will give you an idea of the different types of activities you can choose from on DCL.

 

[MPS516]

We too have cruised both and have to believe that you are really going to enjoy DCL especially with grandparents. They should have no problem getting around, the nice thing about the Magic and Wonder is everything is just over there. The late night funnel-vision movie is always enjoyable and like the pp mentioned new release Disney movies appear on the ship at the same time. A first release will be shown in the big Walt Disney Theater at least once before going back to the Buena Vista Theater, and they are fun. The staterooms are bigger and if you have a split bathroom even more better than Carnival. The adult area in the ship is a great escape so don't forget to check it out when you need some quite time, the food in the glassed chillers is complimentary (well included i guess) so if it looks good try it, coffee and drinks are a charge. On boarding day the Parrot Cay is open for lunch so you don't have to go up to TopSider unless you want to catch the view and sun. If you stop at castaway cay, look around don't just grab the first beach chair and stay there.

Most important have fun, there are enough different things happening that you can find something to enjoy together or independently.