Live From the May Repositioning Cruise

[JenKatt]

It can't be 800 since the Christmas cruise had 1100 kids on it

I know we don't actually care how many kids are on the cruise. We'll be bringing 3 of our own....but, I still doubt that there will be 1200. I also don't see how anyone, captain's asst included, can say how many kids will be on a cruise that is 90 days away (at that time)....given cancelations and new bookings.

Also..we don't know the breakdown of how many kids per age group. Even if there are more kids than usual, that could translate to a lot more 15-17 year old kids than typical or more infants. Neither of these age groups would really affect most "kid" activities."

I did, out of curiousity because of this thread, find a few websites that say the maximum # of kids on the Magic is roughly 800. I know that doesn't mesh with what people have reported on other cruises. I guess we'll all just have to wait and see.

Jess

 

[mickeyfan1]

I certainly didn't mean to start anyt arguments, but lets think of some facts.

Final headcounts will not be available until at the earliest 60 days from sailing.

Personally, I believe that DCL may be advising the ship to expect more kids on the eastbound, but if they gave numbers, it is based on a single snapshot, probably taken with in the first 24 to 48 hours of bookings opening up. Room inventory is changing daily, people are cancelling, others are booking, all with different numbers.

All that being said, we may or may not get a night in the lab for adults only. The total number of kids on board will not affect that, it is how the counselors decide to break up lab time, where the kids may be, I know they have activites other than the labs, etc. If we do get lab time, it will be really neat, if not, there are plenty of other things to do.

Please, lets not argue over who said what, lets agree to disagree and see what the total numbers are on August 20.

 

[jrabbit]

Since the ships passenger capacity is around 2600, and there are 877 rooms you could very well have 1200 people on board that are 17 and younger (that is only 1.4 youth per stateroom - OR about 1.7 youth for every 2 "adults" -- quite easily done IMHO)

 

[JenKatt]

The numbers quoted for me the day we asked were based on the numbers at sailing. So approx 90 days out for your cruise. Not at initial booking. The cruise staff was almost 100% sure there will be no adults night at the Lab since there will be too many kids.

I certainly didn't mean to start anyt arguments, but lets think of some facts.

Final headcounts will not be available until at the earliest 60 days from sailing.

Personally, I believe that DCL may be advising the ship to expect more kids on the eastbound, but if they gave numbers, it is based on a single snapshot, probably taken with in the first 24 to 48 hours of bookings opening up. Room inventory is changing daily, people are cancelling, others are booking, all with different numbers.

All that being said, we may or may not get a night in the lab for adults only. The total number of kids on board will not affect that, it is how the counselors decide to break up lab time, where the kids may be, I know they have activites other than the labs, etc. If we do get lab time, it will be really neat, if not, there are plenty of other things to do.

Please, lets not argue over who said what, lets agree to disagree and see what the total numbers are on August 20.

 

[icunurse_celeste]

The numbers quoted for me the day we asked were based on the numbers at sailing. So approx 90 days out for your cruise. Not at initial booking. The cruise staff was almost 100% sure there will be no adults night at the Lab since there will be too many kids.

I would agree with Jen-
I heard around 1000 to 1100 kids on the August trip- I heard this from the kids club, Rachel the cruise dir., and the servers...

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

This is just a quick post...will post more later when I have had time to sink in all my memories.

Mom & I arrived home safe & sound at 12:15 am this morning. I did a pretty good job packing because I got everything home and didn't go over Air Canada's weight limitations (thank goodness for 4 bags at 70 lbs each!!!!!!!)

I miss you all so much.....we went for groceries this morning and I found myself looking down the aisles for everyone. It will be so weird to not see you all at dinner time.

I want to thank EVERYONE (there are just too many to name individually) for a very MAGICal vacation and a trip that neither my Mom nor I will ever forget. Our door is always open to my new found DisBoard family and if any of you are planning a trip to Ontario Canada, send me a PM...we'd love to show you around.

Elaine & Margaret

P.S. Kelli....glad to hear that you, Keith and Etta made it home. I miss you so much!!!!!

P.P.S. Leslie....I hope you are feeling better and you didn't do any serious damage.

 

[cali4niacruisin]

From my research on various cruises I have found that the listed capacity of a ship usually does not reflect the actual maximum capacity of the ship. Many cruiselines use a simple 2 people per cabin to figure the capacity and then the 3rd and 4th passengers are added to that for maximum capacity if all beds are full. It does not look like Disney uses that exact formula, but all the ship stats I could find seem to agree that the capacity listed for the Magic is 2400. They also agree the total number of cabins is 875. This would equate to less than 3 people per cabin. I am not 100% sure but I don't believe there are any cabins on the magic that sleep less than 3, so obviously the maximum is much larger than 2400. Also, 1200 kids would represent less than 1.5 kids per cabin, which seems entirely reasonable on a Disney cruise. If I had to guess, I would say the true maximum number of guests on the Magic would be close to 3000, but I am sure there are Disers who have access to a more exact total.

 

[JenKatt]

From my research on various cruises I have found that the listed capacity of a ship usually does not reflect the actual maximum capacity of the ship. Many cruiselines use a simple 2 people per cabin to figure the capacity and then the 3rd and 4th passengers are added to that for maximum capacity if all beds are full. It does not look like Disney uses that exact formula, but all the ship stats I could find seem to agree that the capacity listed for the Magic is 2400. They also agree the total number of cabins is 875. This would equate to less than 3 people per cabin. I am not 100% sure but I don't believe there are any cabins on the magic that sleep less than 3, so obviously the maximum is much larger than 2400. Also, 1200 kids would represent less than 1.5 kids per cabin, which seems entirely reasonable on a Disney cruise. If I had to guess, I would say the true maximum number of guests on the Magic would be close to 3000, but I am sure there are Disers who have access to a more exact total.

The maximum capacity for the staterooms isn't the maximum booking capacity, that's actually judged by the dining room capacity. 2400 is roughly the capacity of the dining rooms.

 

[JenKatt]

I just want to say about the kids on the August cruise, the number vbery well might fluctuate by the finally day of embarkation for your cruise, but I highly doubt 200-300 kids that are cruising now won't be cruising come August. The fact is, as of mid to late May, 1100-1200 kids are scheduled to cruise on the Aug cruise, whether anyone person wants to believe that is up to them. The probablity is a few of those kids may not be cruising by then. And don't use your list as a typical example for the cruise. Our cruise was not typical of our DIS board list, there were many older retired couples than I had ever seen before on DCL, which was not indicative on our list.

And we might have been a "practice cruise" in your eyes, but we ventured into unknown teritory, smiling the whole way, having fun, and enjoying hurricane free waters (except for Adrian ) Plus, we brought the Magic home since Disneyland is where it all started.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Please, let's not argue over trivial things. The true number won't be known until we set sail in August.

 

[JenKatt]

Please, let's not argue over trivial things. The true number won't be known until we set sail in August.

I don't see us argueing on this thread, I see this as a lively discussion. I apologize if anyone feels I am being hurtful or spitful, not my intention, just trying to give the information I was given onboard to help people plan accordingly.

 

[Lisa F]

I don't see why anyone cares how many kids are on the ship. It is what it is, and there are pros and cons to everything (more kids means more room in the adult only activities I'd expect). I'm not sure what additional "planning" needs to take place between having 900 kids and 1200 kids on board, all of those numbers sound pretty high to me! In either case I trust Disney will keep them duly entertained, which is why I have pretty much given them a direct line to my wallet!

Glad to hear everyone had a good time. Wish I could've been there, but I'm glad I still have a cruise to look forward to. Like I said, there are pros and cons to everything.

 

[Amberle3]

From the DCL brochure:

Capacity: 2400 (1754 double occupancy)

 

[JDSski]

From the DCL brochure:

Capacity: 2400 (1754 double occupancy)

As a mother of one who is going on the August Repo and knowing another additional 4 children going on the August Repo, it doesn't matter the amount, the true Disney "Magic", is that the children will get to know other chidren and maybe make new friends during these two weeks.

 

[Bmwdsny]

As i am reading these last few posts, i am scratching my head wondering why are we talking about how many kids are going to be on Aug. Repo cruise and going on and on about it. Is there some kind of competition going on between the May and August Cruise that i am not aware of?? So there will be alot of kids on the cruise, whether it is 500 or 1200, WHO CARES???? Besides, Been there done that, with my prior disney cruises having loads of kids. As long as i know my 2 kids are safe in the clubs with an aproporiate ratio between children and counselors, what is the big deal?? The fact is that my family are going on the once in a lifetime Repo DISNEY cruise crossing the Panama Canal, you can't get anything better than that, no matter who or how many are on board.

Now let's get on with the posts and hear about your trip report.

 

[jlawall]

I totally agree.......I'm sure the May cruise was so amazing and peaceful,.......but seriously,,,,,,,,..............only DCL has to worry about the # of kids, not the rest of us!

 

[airtime247]

Not that I care one way or the other how many kids are on which cruise but I actually wish there were more kids on our westbound repo cruise. The adults-only areas were too crowded for my liking!

I could have never imagined we would spend the day at the deserted family beach and spent most of our Deck 9 time near the quiet Mickey pool which was also smoke free, another plus! Those were the opposite of our plans going into the trip.

-steve

 

[kellib36]

Mickey pool which was also smoke free, another plus!
-steve

Is anyone else bothered by the atmosphere (literally) of the adult area. All its turned into, in my opinion is a cigar smoking place. Unless we were really moving, the air was so stale I could hardly even walk through. I'm very disappointed in how that area is working out. The Mickey pool was a great place to be, Steve!!

 

[kpgclark]

I think a lot of times smokers don't realize that the smoke is bothersome to non-smokers even when outside.

 

[SandraLee]

The cigar smoke on the mid-ship side OUTSIDE of Cove Cafe was overwhelming. My kids even said something about it. It was really awful. It was so bad, I didn't even get to try out those great chairs!

It seemed to me to be MANY MORE smokers on this cruise than my previous two cruises.