Help me decide fantasy vs. magic

[Kay2397]

We are first time cruisers, family of 4 with 2 DDs (6&8). We are looking to cruise in April 2016. We are looking on a 7 night Eastern Caribbean Cruise on the Fantasy or a Western on the Magic. It would save us $500 if we sailed on the Magic. There are more ports on the Magi and more sea days on the Fantasy... Not sure which we would prefer. Does the magic have the magical portholes too? Anyone have a preference between the too? TIA!

 

[jenpink]

I prefer the Magic. My daughter prefers the Fantasy. Like all things preference is subjective I like the smaller size of the Magic. Easier to get around. My daughter likes the bigger newer parts of the Fantasy. Depends on what you are looking for

 

[ForMyBoys]

We like the Magic better, but have 3 boys and they had avengers and stuff like that. I noticed the Fantasy had more stuff for girls. I honestly think you can't go wrong with either. I would pick based on the ports you would like to see.

 

[Ajojo]

Any DCL cruise works for my family, but we prefer the Magic over the Fantasy. Our last Fantasy cruise seemed very crowded all the time.

 

[BelleWannabe4]

I agree with the above posters - any cruise will be great! We like the Fantasy because it is newer and we preferred the larger sundeck on deck 13.

 

[Kay2397]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Right now we are looking at booking the Fantasy but we are having a hard time finding a stateroom midship in the category that we want and we are wait listed for the early dining. I was thinking about switching over to the magic to see if we could find a stateroom that would be closer to what we wanted and perhaps the early dining as well. The ports also appeal to us....decisions!

 

[darkwing818]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Right now we are looking at booking the Fantasy but we are having a hard time finding a stateroom midship in the category that we want and we are wait listed for the early dining. I was thinking about switching over to the magic to see if we could find a stateroom that would be closer to what we wanted and perhaps the early dining as well. The ports also appeal to us....decisions!

Don't over think, just go with your first impulse. We've sailed on all 4 ships & have enjoyed each. You'll get all kinds of subjective opinions regarding which ship, which itinerary, which Cabin is the best etc., etc.. But honestly I don't think you couldn't go wrong with either ship. (JMHO)

 

[KashasMom]

I LOVE the Fantasy, Magic not so much. The Magic actually felt more crowded. Unfortunately the Fantasy's itineraries are the same old, same old. I'd check to see if you can get want on the Magic - especially if the ports are better.

 

[SwimMom2]

We were in the same position 2 years ago, and actually booked the Fantasy before switching to the Magic purely for the itinerary. I was so happy that we based our trip on the itinerary rather than the ship.

The Magic is stunning and does not show her age at all- with the exception of less technology like no magic portholes. The kids clubs are awesome, and there is a lot for both genders even though Avengers is there.

Book you favorite itinerary, then book the other ship onboard your first cruise. I loved the Magic so much that I would have booked her again if the dates worked for the itinerary we wanted.

 

[Weedy]

The Magic holds 2000 people
The Fantasy holds 4000 people.
The kids clubs will not feel as crowded.
There will be 2000 less people on Castaway Cay.

 

[Weedy]

Oops double post

 

[wajones2]

We love the Magic, love sea days and love Eastern over Western....love saving $. If Magic is 7 nights and same category cabin, I would pick that one. If fewer days, I would pick Fantasy.

 

[EPCOTatNight]

We like the Fantasy better, BUT since you will be a 1st time cruiser, I suggest the Magic. I never recommend starting "at the top".

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

The Fantasy has a higher rate of people who "Love it" than any other ship on Cruise Critic, I'm just sayin'

 

[DahliaRW]

I've sailed on both and hands down prefer the magic. It was much more of a "personal" experience due to the smaller size of the ship. I don't think I'll ever go back to the fantasy. On the magic the kids go to go up on stage (if they wanted) for the sail away party and dance, there is friendship rocks if your children are club/lab age, there was a dedicated kids area for the deck party, Mickey comes into Animator's on the first night you dine there, etc. Also, Dreams is on the Magic and it is a fantastic show, and by the time you sail the new Tangled show will be on the ship too. I bet your girls would love both of those (Dreams features Anna and Elsa as one of the acts).

 

[seacruise]

Can't go wrong with either, but we enjoyed the Magic a bit more. Felt way less crowded onboard, and Castaway Cay was much more enjoyable with 1/2 the number of people there. Also had much better service on the Magic, but that can be hit or miss on any ship.

We booked the Magic again for next year because it happened to be the ship doing the eastern itinerary the week we wanted to go.

 

[KBinCO]

My girls are 5 and 7 and I am hoping to book another cruise in 2016 but would hesitate to not book the fantasy again, only because some of the things they loved the most- BBB, detective agency, aqua duck- are on the fantasy and are absent or in a different form on the magic. I am sure that I personally would enjoy all the ships, but worry that my daughters may miss those things after experiencing them on the fantasy.

 

[cruisingmom1977]

We have sailed both and they both have their pluses and minuses. The smaller number of people on the Magic really showed during the sail away party, in the pools, trying to get a shuffle board court and on Castaway Cay. The Fantasy has an amazing Grand Lobby that I really missed on the Magic. It also has mini golf, the Aqua Duck and the pools are laid out much, much better. That being said, pick based on itinerary.

 

[lorimay]

Whichever you choose, you will become a Disney Cruise fanatic and you will be booking another cruise as fast as you can.
You can't go wrong with either ship, you will have a fantastic time.

Enjoy

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think the show in Annimation Restaurant on the Fantasy is so great, and would pick the Fantasy just for that!

Be sure to waitlist for main seating, and if you do not get it before, go to change it on embarkation day!

I pick the itinerary, not the ship, for my own sailings. However, I enjoy both East and Western Caribbean and actually have both booked. I have Western on Magic, 5 nights, and Eastern on Fantasy, 7 nights.