Dear Follower Travelers 
(Western Crusise 3/22-29/08 Ship Magic)I am new to the boards and my wife
is somewhere in here. But I tend to give what I see type of information. I was on the Magin for a Four night cruise back in 2000. So it eight years later and notice a few changes.We stay overhight before boarding the ship. We stay at an Orlando's Hotel at the airport. Our flight was delayed a few hours out of New York and we did not get into the Hotel till near 12 Midnight and having to get up very early the next morning to catch the bus is kind of pushing it. The only reason was you don't know how the weather going to be in the Fall or Winter. So the next morning it was flooded downstairs with people as many had the same idea was we did. So planned you traval and give much time to get to the boat. Use the disney bus service it worth the cost, especially coming home where you don't see your bags till you get back to your home airport. That was great. Some people missed the boat, but caught up to it later.
The Check in.
My wife did all the paperwork online and we book one shore event. She kept a eye on any changes or added events. A passport is a must and/or added ID you may need them to get back on the boat after leaving the boat. Have many $1 bills also. These people working on the boat are very hard working people and from many parts of the world. They bent over backward to do their best to serve you. So treat them with kindness and respect. We did this. They give you everything you want and stateroom is alway clean when you come back. We had a inside room on the 7th Alt Deck. It was small, no place to put all the luggage and limit drawers for cloths. Bathroom only one person and half of tub. You really need a nightlight, Disney does not supply you one. We could not plug anything into the outlet in the bathroom. You need a six way thin plug. I pulled out the TV and plug it in the outlet behind the TV. The TV is original to the ship and old. Picture was fair at best. All disney company channels only. The pull down bed is mainly a board and offer not back support. Ouch. The two beds were OK. You could put one big suitcast in the closet. I put all the life preservers under the beds after the drill. You need narrow suit cases if you going to put them anything under the bed. Move slowly in the room and take your time. The toilet on all the ship is standard navy "small" toliets. You be in there alot during the trip.
Because we were going during a holiday you expect the cruise to be fully booked and it was. No where were we able to get close to any of the pools or find a place to sit. Unless you get there very early. There many other stuff to do on the boat. But if you are Sun Goddness
better look on the upper decks for a chair. There too many people and no room. But the food stands were great for meal and Ice Cream machine was the best.The food is fair to good. Do check your meat before eating to see if it cooked. There so much you could eat in one day. Bring every form of Ant-acid you could find. The heat, boat rocking and over eating you may be kneeing down. I did twice. All the place to eat are standard disney. You at the same table number the whole trip and you will notice on your room key were you go that day by the first letter in the restaurant on the key.
There had Wine/Water/Beer plans. We got one case of water. That all you need and for three people you would never use them all (24 bottles). If you are Duff Beer lovers the beer plan is your deal. Wine is overpriced. But surprising good vintage on the the ship. Get a good glass at your meal. By the end of the week after all the eating, I was drinking Mineral Water to carm my belly. The tropical drinks have a tasted of the liquor. Understand every drink is added to the bill, it add and add and your eyes will open at the end of the trip when you get the bill. Everyting is added to your bill and you don't need your wallet on the boat. There no cash transaction what so every. No place has cash, even all the shops. Only the guest realtion deck does.
The shows are first run production two/three shows per day and not every night. But one show I saw eight years ago and has not changed. The movie theatre was great and we saw a couple of pictures in the Movies right now. Save you $30 right there. They all free. Popcorn was not.
My duaghter is into Disney Pins. They had pin trading as they do in the parks. You find one kid with possible every pin and is the head trader. Your kids are going to hit you on getting pins and that add up. The kids will keep busy in their clubs. There no lack of disney characters. Purchased their photo plan for multi 8 x 10 photo. The single 8 x 10 go for $20 each. You save money if you get their photo plan. You know you going to take home a number of photos. There bingo on the ship. Understand every passing bingo the jackpot increase and the number of people playing it. Lucky we won twice, but that was on the first two sessions. There are four games. three simple games and then the whole card jackpot. The cards are punch out so you need nothing to mark them. The standard four cards cost $35 each. The final jackpot was near $8,000.
There is an Internet Cafe on board. But lowests charge is 75c per minute. Also every floor has a Laundymat Wash/Dryer for $1 each load or dry. Cheap. Disney would do it for you for a cost. 
There a nice gym and you could walk and run on the 4th deck outside. There are service for the adults and the teens got their own "dance" club for all those Hannah fans. 
There were a few topside parties. Alot of fun everything hang out and loose up. The shore stops are your main reason for going. If the kids don't want to go to shore, put them in the club they be fine, don't worry. Key West was full of people. It has it good history and Mel Fisher Museum is one stop. Save your money and eat on the boat. Everything is very overprices and the place is mainly run down. Never got to shore in Grand Cayman. But five other ships did. Disney just turn around and when to next port. There were high winds. That where I wanted to go. It a British Port and this place is considered the best shopping place in all the Islands. Cozumel Mexico was nice, all that damged from the 2005 Grade 5 Hurricane hitting the island could still be seen. There no lack of shopping here. We when on the Dolphin Encounter. Which my daughter loved. petting the dolphin was fun. You have to take a taxi to the event and disney arranged everything. But due tip the guide and drive on the way back from the encounter. This take up three hours. They have food there and the place is very new. 
The last stop is Disney Casaway Coy. This is the best. You could sky ride or sea drive. So much to do. Believe it the water was very cold. It took sometime to warm up. The sun is hot and direct and do find shade whene with temp of 75. Disney crew comes ashore They serve lunch and it was very good standard. Burgers, Dogs, Chicken and Ribs. After long hours on the beach. You going to feel it later and when you eat dinner. If you using disney transportation service. Your bags have to be outside your room by 11PM the night before leaving. If you want them to take them to the airport. Otherwise you have to pick them up offdock and bring them to the bus and then check then at the airport. More delay.
Orlando airport sercuity is alway in full alert. You are going to wait a long time to get thru the check point to get to your plane. So get there early and get online. I lost my jacket there. It was so overcrowd and not organized. You are going to get very annoyed by it. Thank 9/11 for this. You can't avoid it.
I hope some of this could be some used to anyone plan on going. Give you a little feel what could happen and what going on. It worth the money to do once. Try the short cruise before the long one. My only thing I hated being confined on a samll boat for a week. But I make good use of everything.
Bob B.
