First Disney Cruise - Magic August 2025

[hockeydad21]

We recently sailed on the Disney Magic with our two young kids (2.5 and 4.5 years old), and overall, it was a fantastic experience that delivered on the Disney magic we were hoping for. We told ourselves we were taking a break from the parks this upcoming year, but towards the tail end of summer we started to get an itch to get away for a little bit. We live in the northeast, and were hoping for a cruise to Bermuda, but Royal and NCL didn't have any availability left for a family of 4, so we had to get creative. When we eventually saw the price drop pretty significantly on the 5 day Disney Magic cruise that was just 3 weeks away in hurricane season, we jumped on it and booked our way to paradise!

Pre-Cruise:

• Airport Transportation: Away We Go transportation always does such a great job. I book them any chance I can. Our driver was funny and kind, and great about asking the kids all about their favorite Disney movies, Characters, rides, etc. Highly recommend if you're looking for a ride for a family.
• Hotel: Saratoga Springs never disappoints. This was our second time staying here, and I gotta say it is such a fantastic resort for a staycation or a pre-cruise stay where you're not necessarily going to the parks. Kids absolutely loved The Springs pool and could swim there for hours upon hours.
• Dinner: We knew if we waited until a few hours before dinner that we'd be able to get a reservation at The Boathouse, and sure enough we got a 6:45pm dinner reservation. Everyone says this place is great for a reason - it is. The food is delicious, the drinks are spot on, the service is fantastic, and there's nothing better than looking out over the water to the boats and Saratoga.
• Transportation to the cruise terminal: Disney bus was as advertised. 60-70 minute ride with no issues - clean, on time, had everyone's luggage taken care of! Not much more you can ask for.

Highlights:

• Entertainment: Absolutely top-notch. The shows were Broadway-caliber and kept both adults and kids fully engaged. Disney really knows how to put on a performance.
• Staff: The crew was exceptional—kind, accommodating, and always willing to go the extra mile to make our family feel welcome. They really are such hard working people just trying to provide for their families back home. Remember to tip tip tip tip tip if you can! Chances are you'll never notice that extra $300-400 missing from your account, but you'll truly be making a difference in their families' lives back home.
• Private Islands: Both Disney’s private islands were stunning and well-maintained. These were easily the best stops on the itinerary. Slight edge might go to Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point if I had to choose one vs the other, but it's close.
• Character Interactions: This is what makes the cruise worth every penny. Our kids were starstruck, and the frequent, high-quality character meet-and-greets made the cruise feel truly magical.
• Ship Condition: For being over 25 years old, the Disney Magic is in fantastic shape. Our stateroom (#2526, Oceanview with one porthole) was clean, well-kept, and the bunk beds with a TV were a huge hit with the kids going to bed after the 8:15pm show.

Room for Improvement:

• Food: Good, but not great. We’ve had better culinary experiences on other cruise lines like Celebrity. It's probably on par was the main dinning rooms on Royal these days. I kind of thought it was going to be better than it was though, so maybe i just had higher expectations than I should have. I just thought since it's Disney it'd have to be great. Word of advice - stick to what your waiter/waitress recommends and you should be set up for a pretty good meal!
• Bartenders & Cocktails: Just okay. The drinks didn’t quite meet the standards we’ve come to expect from other lines - especially at the pool bars.
• Pools: The family and kids pools were a bit underwhelming. We didn’t get to try the adults-only pool because of the 2 kids, but it looked much nicer.
• Nassau Stop: Meh. We did a day pass at the Margaritaville Hotel, which was fine but not memorable. The beach was disappointing—dirty and right next to a littered public beach. Also, surprisingly, there were no servers circulating the pool area offering drinks or food.

Final Thoughts:

We’d definitely consider sailing Disney again, especially for the character experiences and entertainment. However, we’ll wait until our youngest (currently 1 year old) is at least 3.5 and fully potty trained so she can enjoy the kids’ pool and club with her siblings. Disney cruises are a premium experience, and for families with kids old enough to appreciate the magic, it’s absolutely worth it.