Magic or Fantasy??? Quick responses please...

[GatorMomInNC]

Been on both, love both, but Magic is my favorite. If this is first cruise of many, I would do Magic first. If your only cruise, AND you don't mind lots of people -- not "crowded" just more people, busier, louder... Then go for the Fantasy.

 

[Amw1064]

I have been on both numerous times. I like the less people and the dining rooms better on the Magic. Although I prefer the Fantasy's Aqua duck over the Magic's Aqua dunk. I would go with the better price and the better itinerary to chose from.

 

[Jaybear]

In my book, this is a toughie! I've been on one-week cruises on the Fantasy (twice) and the Magic (once pre-reimagineered, once post-reimagineered). We were in family veranda staterooms each time. There's not much in the way of difference between the staterooms on the ships. I have kids who are currently ages 8, 5 and 2.5.

First, you will not and cannot make a bad choice between the two boats!

We really enjoyed our January 2015 cruise on the Magic.

• We had a blast during our stop in Key West, which cannot accommodate the Fantasy. We took the kids to the Key West aquarium, had stone crab claws at the Hog's Breath, ate Key Lime Pie at Kermit's and did a little shopping. Given some of the negative reviews of Key West, I was a bit surprised that we liked it so much.
• The pools on the Magic are great, and our youngest one loved the Huey, Dewey and Louie ducks. Our older two kids really liked the kids' waterslide, which is much longer than the one on the Fantasy. Downside is that they were too small to ride on the AquaDunk.
• We loved Carioca's, mostly because Brazilian/South American cuisine really appeals to us. I had my best standard dining room meal on Disney Cruise lines there.
• The Magic is smaller, and the crowds are less intense. The recently redone kids club, along with the Avenger's Academy area, seemed a bit less insane that the kids' clubs on the Fantasy.
• Castaway Cay was much more sane with fewer people visiting.
• I thought the dining room service on the Magic was more attentive.

We were on the Fantasy in April 2014, and we will be back on the Fantasy in April 2016.

• The shops on the Fantasy are far superior to the shops on the Magic. They are 2-3 times the size and have a better selection.
• The dining rooms are just gorgeous on the Fantasy.
• AquaDuck. If your kids are tall enough to ride it, they will love it. It will be a highlight of the trip for them, particularly if you go for it at night! The AquaDunk on the Magic is fun, but I like the AquaDuck so much better.
• The ship is quite a bit newer, so everything seems a bit cleaner and more up-to-date.
• The public areas are a knockout. Just beautiful.
• The kids club is also fabulous (albeit a bit more crowded), with a few more options and areas for the kids to mess around than the Magic.
• The spa is outrageously nice. The spa on the Magic needs a bit more remodeling pixie dust.
• We did Remy once, and it was fabulous. We don't often do the standalone restaurants because our kids are pretty clingy, which means that we must be doing something right!
• Our kids LOVE the Midship Detective Agency. To be brutally honest, so do I. It's a ton of fun, particularly if you're on a three sea day cruise.
• We like Animator's Palate better on the Fantasy.

Again, you cannot make a bad choice. Have a great time!

 

[over50visits]

If it's about the kids, then I really disagree with the advice to choose whichever itinerary you prefer. At their age, it does not matter what ports you visit. So, considering their enjoyment:

My vote is for the Magic. The kids clubs will be less crowded, the pools will be less crowded when you take them there, and the ship itself is less overwhelming to a small person. The dining rooms, for example, will not be as filled with people. For family time, the lounge right off the atrium is wonderful for families, they often have music or games there, and it isn't closed in at all (it is open to the walkway going past making it feel very welcome). I understand the Frozen Show is updated and better on the Magic, something the kids will love. And the theater seating area isn't as cavernous on the Magic, everyone (especially little ones) has a chance to get closer to the action.

Castaway Cay will be much less crowded with the Magic than with the Fantasy.

The benefit to you is you will have a balcony if you choose the Magic, and that's pretty cool; I really like the adult clubs on the Magic; as long as you aren't going to Nassau (I assume neither option goes there) the ports Disney visits are all pretty nice (we all have our favorites, but most of them have really cool excursions and ship dock areas); the lunch buffets are less hectic; lines at GS will be shorter,

I agree with everyone that either one will be lots of fun. I just offer considering something other than the itinerary, as that seems down the totem pole in importance for this cruise.

 

[AP77]

we are looking at the Western Caribbean itinerary (key west, Cozumel, cayman, castaway) vs Eastern (tortola, st. Thomas, virgin islands, castaway). Does anyone have strong preferences for itineraries? We don't know anything about any of them so we weren't too concerned about where we were going.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

we are looking at the Western Caribbean itinerary (key west, Cozumel, cayman, castaway) vs Eastern (tortola, st. Thomas, virgin islands, castaway). Does anyone have strong preferences for itineraries? We don't know anything about any of them so we weren't too concerned about where we were going.

I like sea days better than port days so I'd go with the eastern we did Maegans Bay beach in St Thomas and it's a great beach day. The restaurant there has excellent pizza!

We did the western too but hit Jamaica instead of Key West. That was a great cruise for us but mostly because the awesome excursion we did in Jamaica. I was completely mesmerized sailing by Cuba though but I still don't know why I was so intrigued by it.

 

[anricat]

For me, I'd choose the Eastern, but only because I've been to all the places on the Western itinerary at this point.

I'd love to go to Tortola, it's looks GORGEOUS. We did Grand Cayman for the first time this year and it was a lovely place. We really enjoyed it. Key West is fine. Cozumel is also...fine. Not my favorite places, but I haven't been to the places on the Western, so I can't compare.

Maybe look at the various excursions offered for both and see what your family is more interested in doing. There's going to be some overlap (beach, snorkeling, etc.) but there may be things offered at certain ports that really strike your fancy that aren't offered elsewhere.

 

[MUN]

I am planning on booking a cruise in the next day or two. We have never done a Disney cruise. Our choices are Magic or Fantasy. Which one should we do? We are planning on a 7 day cruise. We have 3 kids (age 7, 6, 4). Is there a big difference? Has anyone done both that can provide a comparison?

On the Magic we would have a room with a Verandah. The Fantasy would be a window. Prices are the same.

Fantasy, but you can't go wrong with either.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Personally, I like the fantasy. However, you can't go wrong with either ship. I would base my decision on the ports of call rather than the ship class.

 

[bethy]

we are looking at the Western Caribbean itinerary (key west, Cozumel, cayman, castaway) vs Eastern (tortola, st. Thomas, virgin islands, castaway). Does anyone have strong preferences for itineraries? We don't know anything about any of them so we weren't too concerned about where we were going.

Wild guess: are you deciding between 12/10/16 and 12/11/16? Just wondering because we narrowed it down to those two also with those same itineraries.

We've done the Magic - once and for our first ever cruise - and LOVED it and wanted to try the Fantasy next. But we ended up choosing the Magic again because we strongly prefer the Eastern over the Western. I've been to the Western ports already via land vacations. Plus I've learned that I adore Sea Days. And then we preferred the Sunday sailing so our kids would have to miss one less day of school. We have to fly in the day before. We are booked for 12/11. Can NOT wait!

(I do kind of hope the Fantasy continues to be more popular than the Magic so the Magic will be a little cheaper . . . )

 

[QuiltTeddy]

Been on all four ships......Magic is our favorite -- Wonder comes in second, Fantasy third and Dream last.....but we won't go on the larger ships now that we've done them all. Much prefer the smaller ships.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

EITHER!


AKK

 

[JJsmama]

Been on both and This one isn't even close IMO, the Fantasy by far. Bigger, newer, nicer. The restaurants better theming, more to do, much larger adult area, aqua duck and other additional water features, etc. Go on Cruise Critic and look at the ratings of the % of people that "love it", Fantasy wins by a pretty large margin.

can you explain what you mean by Larger Adult Areas? which areas? I am trying to make this same decision. I can even get the same price and the same itinerary on both ships. this will be an adult only cruise for us. Others have stated that the Adult Pool area is better on the Magic. ??? Thanks in advance

 

[AP77]

Wild guess: are you deciding between 12/10/16 and 12/11/16? Just wondering because we narrowed it down to those two also with those same itineraries.

We've done the Magic - once and for our first ever cruise - and LOVED it and wanted to try the Fantasy next. But we ended up choosing the Magic again because we strongly prefer the Eastern over the Western. I've been to the Western ports already via land vacations. Plus I've learned that I adore Sea Days. And then we preferred the Sunday sailing so our kids would have to miss one less day of school. We have to fly in the day before. We are booked for 12/11. Can NOT wait!

(I do kind of hope the Fantasy continues to be more popular than the Magic so the Magic will be a little cheaper . . . )

Actually it is the week before that we are looking at. Either Dec 3rd or 4th. Why do you prefer the Eastern?

 

[OKW Lover]

We've been on all four sips multiple times. I wouldn't rate any one as better than the others. They are all great. I'd just go with which one has the more appealing itinerary and price.