Help me choose- Dream or Wish

[Meem93]

My first Disney cruise was on the wish in Nov 2022 with my husband and we had a great time and really didn’t have issues.

We have since sailed the fantasy with our at the time 13 month old and loved it. My husband says it was better than the wish for him. I’m unsure. My son loved the Nemo splash pad and Andy’s room toddler time.

We have also sailed the magic when my son was 19 months. We had a great time but I was underwhelmed with the toddler areas (lame splash pad and nursery underwhelming). We both agreed we would do the magic again if it worked out, but wouldn’t pick it for a toddler.

We are looking to book another when my son will be newly 2. We are leaning towards the wish again because we want to try it with a toddler and now that we have other DCL experiences. I think my son will love the Toy Story splash pad and the nursery looks more exciting than the other ones visually. Plus, he will love toddler time in the captain Mickey and Minnie’s area.

I have a goal to sail on all ships, but the dream is almost identical to the fantasy, which we loved, but I was thinking of trying the wish again since it’s been a few years.

The dream is cheaper but not a ton, and we are looking at similar itineraries. We have been to both islands and are happy going back to either.

What is drawing me to the wish is- trying it again after we have others to compare, we just did the fantasy in Dec 2024 so I don’t necessarily want to eat the same restaurants a year later, and the kids theming and offerings for my toddler seem better on the wish.

If you’ve read this far- thanks! Please give me your feedback!

 

[sponica]

For me it comes down to which port is easier to get to...my first cruise was on the dream, and I have fond memories of the Dream....but FLL is a harder airport for me to fly into whereas MCO is a nonstop from the airport 15 minutes away from my house.

Book the ship you want to sail on, your kiddo is still young enough to not "know" what he's missing out on.

 

[CamColt]

It's sounds to me you are leaning toward the Wish, so I'd say do that. I would personally choose the Dream as I prefer that ship but you know what both are like and if your top priority is your son, it sounds like you think he would enjoy the Wish more.

 

[Dug720]

so I don’t necessarily want to eat the same restaurants a year later,

My question whenever I read comments like these (not just on DCL boards) is this: Do you not eat out at home? Or are there enough restaurants that you never eat at the same one twice?

I know personally my repeats at home are FAR more frequent than my repeats on a cruise. Certainly more frequent than once every year.

As to which one...I haven't been on the Wish yet. I was slated on the Dream (and then changed to the Magic) for later this month, but changed to the Wish after my parents went on her and talked about how beautiful she is. I'm cautiously hopeful...I'm much more a Classic/Dream Class girl just in terms of the overall design I've seen. But I'm willing to give her a chance.

 

[Disneyworldlocal]

In your scenario I would do the Wish. I think the kids stuff would be better. The only challenges I would have against that is the Beauty and the Beast show is considered one of the best DCL shows. Also your goal of doing each ship. This would tick that off the list. But having not been on the Wish since November 2022 is also a factor in going back to that class of ship that you all seemed to like. We haven’t been on the Wish since September 2022 and are going back at the end of August and we can’t wait. We canceled a September Magic cruise when Disney release the Visa card promotion. We had also sailed on the Magic earlier in May

Either way you all will have a great time

 

[Meem93]

My question whenever I read comments like these (not just on DCL boards) is this: Do you not eat out at home? Or are there enough restaurants that you never eat at the same one twice?

I know personally my repeats at home are FAR more frequent than my repeats on a cruise. Certainly more frequent than once every year.

As to which one...I haven't been on the Wish yet. I was slated on the Dream (and then changed to the Magic) for later this month, but changed to the Wish after my parents went on her and talked about how beautiful she is. I'm cautiously hopeful...I'm much more a Classic/Dream Class girl just in terms of the overall design I've seen. But I'm willing to give her a chance.

Good point- we do have our favorites at home we eat at frequently. I guess I just think the dining would be more entertaining for my son on the wish with the dinner show and the marvel theme. Plus, I didn't LOVE the fantasy dining. No complaints, but not a huge draw for me vs the magic's dining rooms were a draw.

I thought the wish was beautiful when I sailed on her!

 

[sponica]

Good point- we do have our favorites at home we eat at frequently. I guess I just think the dining would be more entertaining for my son on the wish with the dinner show and the marvel theme. Plus, I didn't LOVE the fantasy dining. No complaints, but not a huge draw for me vs the magic's dining rooms were a draw.

I thought the wish was beautiful when I sailed on her!

My kids (3 and 7 at the time) HATED the Marvel restaurant, it's very loud and the story was just too intense for them. My youngest loved when Spidey ran through the restaurant though. They liked Frozen and were entertained enough by their coloring books/kids menu in 1923.

 

[Meem93]

In your scenario I would do the Wish. I think the kids stuff would be better. The only challenges I would have against that is the Beauty and the Beast show is considered one of the best DCL shows. Also your goal of doing each ship. This would tick that off the list. But having not been on the Wish since November 2022 is also a factor in going back to that class of ship that you all seemed to like. We haven’t been on the Wish since September 2022 and are going back at the end of August and we can’t wait. We canceled a September Magic cruise when Disney release the Visa card promotion. We had also sailed on the Magic earlier in May

Either way you all will have a great time

Yes I am sure we will love either option! When we first sailed the wish people were telling us how much better the other ships were. Now that I have been on some of the other ones I might need to go back to the Wish so I can compare better. Plus, we are at a different life stage now that we have a ch

My kids (3 and 7 at the time) HATED the Marvel restaurant, it's very loud and the story was just too intense for them. My youngest loved when Spidey ran through the restaurant though. They liked Frozen and were entertained enough by their coloring books/kids menu in 1923.

My son met spiderman on the Magic and ever since then loves spiderman, so I think he would be excited by seeing him in the restaurant. Plus, he loves Olaf.

Did your children enjoy the kids areas? The captain Mickey and Minnie's play area I think my son will Love

 

[sponica]

Yes I am sure we will love either option! When we first sailed the wish people were telling us how much better the other ships were. Now that I have been on some of the other ones I might need to go back to the Wish so I can compare better. Plus, we are at a different life stage now that we have a ch

My son met spiderman on the Magic and ever since then loves spiderman, so I think he would be excited by seeing him in the restaurant. Plus, he loves Olaf.

Did your children enjoy the kids areas? The captain Mickey and Minnie's play area I think my son will Love

My 3 year old wasn't potty trained, so we had to book her in the nursery for our Palo brunch, she was not impressed (THAT PLACE WAS FOR BABIES). She found the oceaneer's club open house too loud and over stimulating, but she did like the play area the one time we got to it. She LOVED the splash pad. We spent most of the time with her there...or eating ice cream or meeting characters.

I barely saw my 7 year old the entire cruise. We'd have to haul her out to eat and then she basically lived in the kids club. I had to put a disclaimer up that we did take her on vacation with us, even though there were almost no pictures of her.

 

[Meem93]

My 3 year old wasn't potty trained, so we had to book her in the nursery for our Palo brunch, she was not impressed (THAT PLACE WAS FOR BABIES). She found the oceaneer's club open house too loud and over stimulating, but she did like the play area the one time we got to it. She LOVED the splash pad. We spent most of the time with her there...or eating ice cream or meeting characters.

I barely saw my 7 year old the entire cruise. We'd have to haul her out to eat and then she basically lived in the kids club. I had to put a disclaimer up that we did take her on vacation with us, even though there were almost no pictures of her.

My son turns 2 at the end of October, so I am hoping that the nursery isn't too baby like for him since the kids club won't be an option, which is also why I am trying to pick a ship that has the "best" nursery option. I am thinking since the wish is newer the nursery will be more visually appealing.

On the Magic in June he loved open house in the kids clubs, but it wasn't that crowded or loud. But the magic splash pad was lackluster.

 

[sponica]

My son turns 2 at the end of October, so I am hoping that the nursery isn't too baby like for him since the kids club won't be an option, which is also why I am trying to pick a ship that has the "best" nursery option. I am thinking since the wish is newer the nursery will be more visually appealing.

On the Magic in June he loved open house in the kids clubs, but it wasn't that crowded or loud. But the magic splash pad was lackluster.

A 2 year old probably won't have a problem, she was 3.5 and it was mostly babies/small toddlers so she was one of the oldest kids in the nursery.

 

[Joanna71985]

Definitely the Dream

 

[Disney_lost_it]

My first Disney cruise was on the wish in Nov 2022 with my husband and we had a great time and really didn’t have issues.

We have since sailed the fantasy with our at the time 13 month old and loved it. My husband says it was better than the wish for him. I’m unsure. My son loved the Nemo splash pad and Andy’s room toddler time.

We have also sailed the magic when my son was 19 months. We had a great time but I was underwhelmed with the toddler areas (lame splash pad and nursery underwhelming). We both agreed we would do the magic again if it worked out, but wouldn’t pick it for a toddler.

We are looking to book another when my son will be newly 2. We are leaning towards the wish again because we want to try it with a toddler and now that we have other DCL experiences. I think my son will love the Toy Story splash pad and the nursery looks more exciting than the other ones visually. Plus, he will love toddler time in the captain Mickey and Minnie’s area.

I have a goal to sail on all ships, but the dream is almost identical to the fantasy, which we loved, but I was thinking of trying the wish again since it’s been a few years.

The dream is cheaper but not a ton, and we are looking at similar itineraries. We have been to both islands and are happy going back to either.

What is drawing me to the wish is- trying it again after we have others to compare, we just did the fantasy in Dec 2024 so I don’t necessarily want to eat the same restaurants a year later, and the kids theming and offerings for my toddler seem better on the wish.

If you’ve read this far- thanks! Please give me your feedback!

We've sailed on the Fantasy 8 or 9 times. We just left the Treasure on 8/9, a sister to the Wish. I was ready to get off the Treasure less than an hour after getting on. We'll never sail any of the new ships again. Who ever designed the ship should be fired.

The layout is awful. A couple of quick examples, no central elevator, no running or walking deck. Who ever thought that was a good idea is simply clueless. Although the ship is listed as larger, it seemed cramped.

You mentioned kids. Another thing that was disappointing was the characters. Seems to have a lot fewer character times than we recall from just last year on the Fantasy.

So disappointed in the trip.

 

[Mom2Anna&Elsa]

We've sailed on the Fantasy 8 or 9 times. We just left the Treasure on 8/9, a sister to the Wish. I was ready to get off the Treasure less than an hour after getting on. We'll never sail any of the new ships again. Who ever designed the ship should be fired.

The layout is awful. A couple of quick examples, no central elevator, no running or walking deck. Who ever thought that was a good idea is simply clueless. Although the ship is listed as larger, it seemed cramped.

You mentioned kids. Another thing that was disappointing was the characters. Seems to have a lot fewer character times than we recall from just last year on the Fantasy.

So disappointed in the trip.

I couldn't agree more. It felt so cramped and chaotic on the Treasure and did not have the proper sized spaces for activities that we were used to from our previous sailing on the Dream.

We're doing the Magic in November out of Galveston and will buy a placeholder for a future DCL cruise. No desire to ever sail the Wish class ships in the future.

 

[Disney_lost_it]

I couldn't agree more. It felt so cramped and chaotic on the Treasure and did not have the proper sized spaces for activities that we were used to from our previous sailing on the Dream.

We're doing the Magic in November out of Galveston and will buy a placeholder for a future DCL cruise. No desire to ever sail the Wish class ships in the future.

It's really sad. I watched folks in wheelchairs really struggle, in particular with elevators. I measured them, basically 4x8. I asked another guest if they had trouble with space and getting around in their chair, they said they did at times.

I will say the pool deck food offerings were better on the Treasure and the indoor basketball\game room. But that was about it. We're back on the Fantasy at T-giving and next summer. I can see the situation becoming no more cruises as the older boats show their age, which is inevitable.

The second person who should be fired, the person who bought the second ship, and those that follow.

 

[jrez]

This is may not be helpful, but when we decide on a cruise we typically prioritize things in this order:

1. Date
2. Itinerary
3. Cost
4. Ship

I would recommend prioritizing those and others and using that to help decide.

 

[asgur5]

We've sailed on the Fantasy 8 or 9 times. We just left the Treasure on 8/9, a sister to the Wish. I was ready to get off the Treasure less than an hour after getting on. We'll never sail any of the new ships again. Who ever designed the ship should be fired.

The layout is awful. A couple of quick examples, no central elevator, no running or walking deck. Who ever thought that was a good idea is simply clueless. Although the ship is listed as larger, it seemed cramped.

You mentioned kids. Another thing that was disappointing was the characters. Seems to have a lot fewer character times than we recall from just last year on the Fantasy.

So disappointed in the trip.

So within an hour of getting on a ship you go to the walking track? But you cant stand walking 50 metres down the hall to an elevator and desperately need it in the lobby? And this all makes the cruise unbearable for you in an hour?

 

[asgur5]

This is may not be helpful, but when we decide on a cruise we typically prioritize things in this order:

1. Date
2. Itinerary
3. Cost
4. Ship

I would recommend prioritizing those and others and using that to help decide.

If you priortise in this order then no one would ever choose disney ships. Disney has terrible itineraries and is far too expensive. Its the ship why you choose disney.

 

[jrez]

If you priortise in this order then no one would ever choose disney ships. Disney has terrible itineraries and is far too expensive. Its the ship why you choose disney.

Well I do prioritize them that way and do choose Disney…so I guess that kinda negates your opinion.

I don’t compare to other lines. We want to cruise Disney and so when we do that is how we figure out what our next Disney cruise will be.

 

[Disney_lost_it]

So within an hour of getting on a ship you go to the walking track? But you cant stand walking 50 metres down the hall to an elevator and desperately need it in the lobby? And this all makes the cruise unbearable for you in an hour?

Settle down, take a breather. Much like jrez stated, maybe, to your surprise, someone else has opinion.

The list of nuances encountered are quite long. I'll start it for you:

1 - had an 11:45 check in. Did that last year on the Fantasy and enjoyed several hours of deck time and Aqua Duck before being shut down for the mandatory training. Felt like we actually got the vacation day we paid for. On the Treasure, we were expecting to have the same opportunity. But they don't open the water rides until AFTER sailing.
2 - pool deck about half the size, with about half the seating. None of which was under cover. So if you wanted to sit out of the sun, but be on the deck with your family you were pretty much SOL.
3 - The restaurant was packed by 12:30, as with the balance of the cramped open spaces on deck 11. Since the water slides were closed, move to option two. Also, at every port the back dining deck was closed. No outside eating and viewing of the islands. Was not the case on the Fantasy.

The lack of an running\walking lap was pointed out as a major failure from countless other people I spoke with. That includes the waiter that served us a Palo. He noted that many on the staff have to share a treadmill down in the bottom of the boat vs having the outside laps.


All 3 family members are runners, so YES, trying to get into the gym each day and get 3 of the 11 treadmills was a hassle. Try it sometime. It's good for your health.