The Magic or The Fantasy? Thoughts?

[staffieri]

Help! Love to get your thoughts. I have been on the Fantasy 3 times. But would like to go on the Magic this year. I like to see new shows. I'm thinking the Eastern, since I've never been on that side. However, this means we are on the boat one more day. What do you like about the Magic? How does it compare? Is there a character meal on the Magic? Whats different about the Magic? Pros/Cons

Thanks!!!

 

[jdb in AZ]

Help! Love to get your thoughts. I have been on the Fantasy 3 times. But would like to go on the Magic this year. I like to see new shows. I'm thinking the Eastern, since I've never been on that side. However, this means we are on the boat one more day. What do you like about the Magic? How does it compare? Is there a character meal on the Magic? Whats different about the Magic? Pros/Cons

Thanks!!!

I would love to see "Tangled" on the Magic. What's wrong with being on the ship one more day? We like the smaller, classic ships -- the Fantasy is just too large for us. Castaway Cay will have fewer people when the Magic is in port.

 

[Stasia5]

Our first sailing was on the Magic. My family really enjoyed the ship both before and after the dry dock changes. The only thing I can say I honestly missed on the magic after sailing on the Fantasy was the mickey detective agency. My daughter and I love doing that each cruise.

 

[sambycat]

Try a different ship just to try it!

 

[jrabbit]

I just wrote this in another post - someone worried about the Wonder .....

I have been on the Fantasy 3 times. But would like to go on the Magic this year.

I am just off of the Fantasy - lovely ship, cool features and the best server we've had ever in the MDR's. And consistently the best MDR food on any DCL ship in a long time!

But I have sailed every ship more than once except for the Dream (only once).

• The Magic and Wonder are older ships, but DCL
• does a great job in maintaining them
• Consistently better service than on the larger ships
• Opportunity to actually meet the cruise director (I only saw CD Invisible Darren up on stag on the Fantasy, I have always spoke with the CD's on the Magic and Wonder several times per cruise)
• sometimes the captain is out and about and will stop and chat
• Staterooms are larger on the classic ships (it's amazing what a foot or two difference makes on the Dream / Fantasy - so much smaller on them)
• Pick a deck except for 1 and you can get from forward to aft without having to zig, zag or sometimes change decks.

I really hope that my next cruise are on the classic ships - Magic or Wonder

Don't worry. Be happy that you will be on vacation on a Disney Ship!!!

Hakuna Matata

However, this means we are on the boat one more day.

There are MUCH worse things. On our first Panama Canal cruise we wondered if 14 days would be too much. Easy Answer: NOPE

What do you like about the Magic?

besides what I wrote above, I like the AquaDunk and the Twist and Spout slides .... Weeeeeeeee!
Service - generally better on the smaller ships
Crew - Actually get a chance to meet and talk with them
It is very easy to get around on

BUT I am not a fan of the Abomination that is the new atrium on the Magic. I like the double staircase and I really liked the Chihuly chandelier - the new one is simple awful!! But it will NOT ruin your cruise, just don't look at it

 

[krisinparis]

Totally agree with JRabbit's thoughts on the atrium. The single staircase looks really weird, but the Magic is an awesome ship!!!

 

[taishartrueblood]

I think that the main dining rooms are better (including the food being better) on the newer ships.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I think that the main dining rooms are better (including the food being better) on the newer ships.

I think the dining rooms are "better" on the classic ships. Much smaller, with more space around the tables. I find the food on all the cruise lines we've been on to be comparable.

 

[mlayton14]

The fantasy is nicer in just about every way possible, but, you might enjoy a change just to switch things up.

 

[staffieri]

Thanks. Love the feedback. I love the fantasy. But different shows are a big draw. Does anyone know if the magic has a character meal?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks. Love the feedback. I love the fantasy. But different shows are a big draw. Does anyone know if the magic has a character meal?

The character breakfast is typically on those cruises of 7 nights and longer. So, if your cruise is 7 nights, probably.

 

[Bella29]

Help! Love to get your thoughts. I have been on the Fantasy 3 times. But would like to go on the Magic this year. I like to see new shows. I'm thinking the Eastern, since I've never been on that side. However, this means we are on the boat one more day. What do you like about the Magic? How does it compare? Is there a character meal on the Magic? Whats different about the Magic? Pros/Cons

Thanks!!!

I assume you mean the Eastern itinerary has one more sea day and one less port day compared to the Western Caribbean.

We have sailed on the Magic 6 times, the Fantasy only once (it was in the middle, I think maybe 4th or 5th)?. Pros to the Magic: we prefer the smaller ship because it's easier to get around, less people at Castaway Cay, and Tangled is really fabulous - the best show we have seen on DCL! We also love many of the crewmembers (especially CD Clayton), and having a bit more space in the dining room - I wouldn't call it spacious, just not as extremely cramped as the Fantasy dining rooms. My kids also like the Aqua Dunk waterslide the best.

For our 8th (and possibly 9th, may be doing a b2b) cruise we're going back to the Fantasy because the schedule worked better for our limited travel window, and we are ready for a little change. The kids are looking forward to the things Fantasy has that Magic doesn't: minigolf, the sports simulator, and they will probably do the midship detective agency again for old times sake.

However, after that we'll probably return to the Magic if it fits our schedule. We also want to try Wonder, but we are hoping to wait until after (if/when?) she gets re-imagineered, which I understand won't happen until the Panama Canal lock upgrade is finished. Dream we would only try if they changed to longer itineraries. Basically I don't think you can go wrong with any DCL ship!

 

[staffieri]

thanks. I really nervous about the change to the magic. But excited about the shows.

 

[Flossbolna]

My first two cruises were on the Wonder and I was so much in awe of the ship. Then we sailed on the Fantasy and I was in awe again. Could not wait to get back on the Fanatsy. But my next cruise then happened to be the Magic because I wanted a cruise closer to home here in Europe. I was worried about being spoiled by the Fanatsy, but once I was on the ship this was no issue at all. I loved the Magic as much as the other ships I experienced.

One bonus of the Magic and the Wonder is that the adult pool is bigger and less closed in than the Fantasy's one. Really prefer the whole adult pool area on the classic ships.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

One bonus of the Magic and the Wonder is that the adult pool is bigger and less closed in than the Fantasy's one. Really prefer the whole adult pool area on the classic ships.

I agree.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

thanks. I really nervous about the change to the magic. But excited about the shows.

Our first 3 cruises were on the Dream and Fantasy and I love the Fantasy beyond belief. We tried the Wonder this past September and had a great time. There were a couple things I didn't like as much as the Fantasy but I'd sail her again in a heartbeat. With that in mind, I think you'll be fine on the Magic, my whole family can hardly wait until we can book a trip on her. Enjoy your cruise.

 

[ForMyBoys]

Our first cruise was on the Magic, it was fantastic! I like the fantasy but felt the service we received on the magic was more personal, so I did miss that. The waiters seemed to have more time to talk and overall it was a more relaxed vibe. I never used the spa on the magic but I love the rainforest room on the Fantasy and I've read the one on the Magic is awful. I liked the pool/movie set up on the Magic better. You could sit in the hot tub and see the movie and it was less distracting not having the slide. I would def go on the Magic if you've been on the Fantasy a few times.

 

[hanscarlet]

I have neither been on the Fantasy or Magic but have been on Wonder and Dream and a few points I agree with that have been mentioned above:
- prefer the dining rooms on the smaller ships, seemed big enough but not a huge huge space
- prefer the food on the Dream over the Wonder, surprised at how lacking the food was on the Wonder (except Palo) , hoping the Magic doesn't have bad food
- couldn't believe the difference in adult pool areas... the Dream you felt like a sweaty can of sardines on sea days and at least on the Wonder, there is a bigger pool and generally more space to relax
- the service definitely was better on the Wonder than the Dream
- I had the Fantasy booked for 2016 and after going on the Wonder and really appreciating the smaller ship, while on the Wonder we booked the Magic for 2016 and cancelled the Fantasy... I am hoping to go on the Fantasy in 2018 but I am just pointing this out because I originally was worried about going to a smaller ship and so that's why I had booked the Fantasy but after getting on the Wonder and really enjoying ourselves and the experience we went with the Magic.... the other reason is because I don't like crowds all that much