Would love info/tips (Disney Magic) from experienced DCL cruisers

[Lizzie67]

Hi everyone. My family and I have cruised many times but never on Disney. If this were RCL, I could map out our itinerary with my eyes closed. I know NOTHING about DCL and I’ve got a bad case of FOMO. A few years ago, I asked for input on a trip to Disneyland and I swear, I had people put together a ride itinerary that was so incredible, we got to ride everything with extreme efficiency. So, I’m hoping some of the Disney-Planning-Lovers are cruisers as well.

Are there formal nights? (Seven day, Western Carib itinerary). How many? Which nights?
Do I have to make dinner reservations or just indicate early/late and they switch me to the different rooms?

How do you go about character meets/movies etc? Do you have to reserve or just show up at the places indicated?

I guess my main questions are about how the dining works, what reservations (vs just showing up at the time the Navigator says) need to be made and what are not to miss things. The Disboards have been a life saver every time I’ve visited DL or WDW so I’m hoping ya’ll can give some great input

THANK YOU!!!!!

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Disney cruise offers formal and semi formal nights for 7 nights longer.

characters you just show up to outside of the princess gatherings which you have to make prior to sailing in your account.

No reservations for diner outside of a speciality dining.

 

[soniam]

I think Day 2 should be formal night. Only 1.

You need to pick main/early or secondary/late dining. It will default to secondary dining, so you need to either change it after booking or try to change it during booking if you want early.

Everyone, including servers, rotates with a unique rotation order for each cabin. You will repeat all of the dining rooms (3) twice and one of them 3 times. Your rotation will be assigned once you board.

Not sure about all character meets; we don't do them. There are many where the characters are out and about, possibly listed in the app schedule, and you just get in line with everyone else. Some may be reserved in advance, but not sure which ones.

Movies are first come/first serve. I don't think I have seen one fill up. The previews at sea might fill up though.

Assuming this is the Fantasy/Dream, then there are only 2 restaurants for which you can make reservations: Palo and Remy. Both do brunch on sea days and dinner every night. Remy does a dessert experience about 3pm on the last sea day/Day 6. It's incredible. You can only make reservations for each meal at each restaurant once, unless you book the dinner for the first night. You can't do dinner at Palo on Day 2 and Day 4, for instance. However, you could do the Palo brunch and dinner, even same day. You could also do dinner at Palo and at Remy. Does this make sense?

The Disney Cruise Line Blog (https://disneycruiselineblog.com/) is indispensible, especially the Personal Navigators under cruise planning. Just find a similar itinerary to yours.

 

[auntlynne]

You are in for a new world of cruising. I hope you enjoy it as much as most of here do.

I have never seen chair hogs. There are plenty of loungers and umbrellas on Castaway Cay.

No reservations for shows - and rarely too full to get seats. As they will announce, “there is no seat saving in the a Walt Disney Theater.” Each night the show will be different.

If there is a Disney company movie premiere on land, it will also occur on the ship and be shown in the big theater.

You might notice a lack of things to do if you are used to surf simulators, climbing walls, belly flop contests or deck dance parties …

Dinner - no big decision-making other than which items to order. Your dining room rotation through the 3 Main Dining Rooms (MDRs) is pre-assigned. All guests will order from the same menus used over the course of the cruise. If you choose room service (24 hours), there is no fee (just a tip for the food runner). The buffet has not been open for dinner since the shutdown.

Breakfast and lunch - most go to the buffet, but there is also a designated dining room for a sit-down meal. Pool-side quick service and pizza in available for lunch until the start of dinner. Pizza reopens from ~11-midnight.

Soft-serve ice cream is in the pool deck, as is the included self-serve drink station (fountain coke products, coffee, tea).

No unlimited alcohol packages. Plenty of bars. Specialty coffee and tea is available in the Cove Cafe, also on the pool deck, in the adults-only area. They have a case of complimentary little snacks available - sweet during the day, more savory in the evening.

Lunch is served on Castaway Cay for a few hours, perhaps 11:30-2. Cokes and soft-serve included.

Pool and beach towels are located on the pool deck and as you exit the ship on Castaway Cay. No check-out or return verification required.

I also recommend the disneycruiselineblog as a resource. (It also includes menus for the restaurants.)

 

[Cheburashka]

I recommend you rent bikes on Castaway Cay and ride around the island. If you pre-reserve that, it looks like you have to pick up the bikes at a certain time, but you don't. Show up any time, get the bikes, and ride them for as long as you like without worrying about the time.

In general, though, Disney cruises don't require the anywhere near the level of planning that Disney parks visits now require. That's the beauty of a cruise: that you can relax and enjoy it without stress. You'll miss the pleasure of the cruise if you don't relax a little and just let yourself enjoy what comes along.

 

[Cheburashka]

I have never seen chair hogs. There are plenty of loungers and umbrellas on Castaway Cay.

This certainly can be an issue on the family pool deck, though.

 

[bigAWL]

Things you can make reservations for (with an extra charge) include:
(edited to remove things that aren't available on the Magic)

• Port Adventures (excursions)
• Castaway Cay cabanas (you really have to sail concierge to get one of these before they sell out, though)
• Adult brunch at Palo or Remy (sea days only)
• Adult dinner at Palo or Remy
• Spa treatments
• Personal trainer session
• Alcohol tastings (e.g. wine, beer, rum, whiskey, bourbon, Champaign, chocolate and liquor, martini, mixology, etc.)
• Sports and/or golf simulator
• Portrait studio sitting
• Photo packages

And specifically for kids:

• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique makeovers
• Royal tea with Disney Princesses (sea day)

Note, the most popular events and times will be snatched up by concierge and frequent DCL cruisers, since they will have booking windows much earlier than first-time Disney cruisers. But there will be things available.

 

[Geomom]

Also wanted to add that you will have unique menus every night. (Despite dining in the same restaurant 2-3x).

For a western Caribbean cruise formal night is first day at sea, semi formal the last sea day. There will also be a pirate night with fireworks.

Character interaction is awesome on the ship. In addition to listed meet and greets (lots in the atrium, multiple floors, character changes every half hour and a cast member will tell you if you enter the line if you'll be seeing the next character instead of the one currently meeting. There are characters wandering the ship. On our last cruise my kids encountered Dr. strange near the shops and took a pic,Thor was by the movie theater, Pirate Stitch was in a hallway. We've seen sleepwalking Goofy by the shops after a theater show, and been on elevators with characters/handlers.

 

[disneygeek401]

Hi everyone. My family and I have cruised many times but never on Disney. If this were RCL, I could map out our itinerary with my eyes closed. I know NOTHING about DCL and I’ve got a bad case of FOMO. A few years ago, I asked for input on a trip to Disneyland and I swear, I had people put together a ride itinerary that was so incredible, we got to ride everything with extreme efficiency. So, I’m hoping some of the Disney-Planning-Lovers are cruisers as well.

Are there formal nights? (Seven day, Western Carib itinerary). How many? Which nights?
Do I have to make dinner reservations or just indicate early/late and they switch me to the different rooms?

How do you go about character meets/movies etc? Do you have to reserve or just show up at the places indicated?

I guess my main questions are about how the dining works, what reservations (vs just showing up at the time the Navigator says) need to be made and what are not to miss things. The Disboards have been a life saver every time I’ve visited DL or WDW so I’m hoping ya’ll can give some great input

THANK YOU!!!!!

There are formal and semi formal nights, usually formal on day 2 and semi formal on day 6. DCL generally does not enforce the dress code, unless it is at Palo or Remy. Some people go all out, some people don't. However the characters are out in their formal wear, so if you want to get photos with all in formal wear that is a cool opportunity.

Speaking of characters, most you just show up for and get in line. They are only out for 15 minutes or so, so if there is a character you really want to meet I advise trying to get there a few minutes early to try and be at the front of the line. The professional photographer will take photos, however the CM there will take photos on your phone too. They typically do a princess gathering in the atrium that requires reservations, however it is free. There are usually 4-5 princesses and you go down the line and you get to meet all of them.

Most things in the navigator require no reservations. Things like trivia, crafts, movies, game shows, etc do not require reservations, just show up at the time and location listed in the navigator. The only things that do require reservations are things like adult specialty dining, royal tea, port adventures, spa, drink tastings, stuff like that. You do not need a reservation for the shows in the main theatre, the showtimes are opposite of your dining time. As long as you show up 15 minutes or so before the show you can get a good spot. Speaking of dining, you rotate through the 3 main dining rooms with the same serving team for the duration of the cruise. It is all included and you get a different menu every night. Other food that is included are the buffet for breakfast and lunch, 24/7 room service, and various food on the pool deck.

Have a great trip!

 

[NAB]

Soda is free from the machines on top deck. Also free in dining rooms.

Not free from bars, outside theatres ( popcorn and candy costs extra) and room service.

A lot of people like to bring refillable cups because the cups are small at the drink station. You also can get water at the drink station if you need water . Some people buy cases but they are so expensive. You also can bring on a case but would have to carry it on the ship and carry it around until your cabin opens first day.

You can bring the drink from top deck into the movie theatres to save some money…lol Not sure about the Walt Disney Theatre used to but I think the last time we were on they made me finish before I went in. Maybe a Covid thing?

 

[dhutchin12]

Soda is free from the machines on top deck. Also free in dining rooms.

Not free from bars, outside theatres ( popcorn and candy costs extra) and room service.

A lot of people like to bring refillable cups because the cups are small at the drink station. You also can get water at the drink station if you need water . Some people buy cases but they are so expensive. You also can bring on a case but would have to carry it on the ship and carry it around until your cabin opens first day.

You can bring the drink from top deck into the movie theatres to save some money…lol Not sure about the Walt Disney Theatre used to but I think the last time we were on they made me finish before I went in. Maybe a Covid thing?

We brought drinks from the deck 9 drink station into the Walt Disney Theater last week.

 

[MomOTwins]

For a first time cruiser I don’t recommend prebooking anything except port excursions and maybe a spa appointment if that is your thing. There is so much to do on the ship, characters, activities etc. are all happening frequently and the schedule is in the app. I like being able to have an unplanned vacation where I can go with the flow and do what I feel like in the moment not having a rigid schedule like you do in the parks.

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

You didn’t say when you are going but the Magic is going into dry dock next year so if you are cruising after, onboard experiences may be different.

 

[disneygeek401]

You didn’t say when you are going but the Magic is going into dry dock next year so if you are cruising after, onboard experiences may be different.

when is the dry dock? i did not see a time frame for it.

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

when is the dry dock? i did not see a time frame for it.

When we were on Fantasy concierge team said they’d been told early 24. We are doing southern cruise April 24 and we’re told that would probably be 1st or 2nd cruise.

 

[disneygeek401]

When we were on Fantasy concierge team said they’d been told early 24. We are doing southern cruise April 24 and we’re told that would probably be 1st or 2nd cruise.

interesting, that would be awesome as i know my family is looking to potentially sail on the magic in may of 2024

 

[71 Truck]

My question would be what time of the year did you want to go.

Disney dose or did themed cruises.
Very Merrytime for Christmas
Halloween on the High Seas
Star Wars day at sea
Pixar Day at Sea
Marvel Day at Sea

Everyone above has also given great advice.

Some pictures from our past Merrytime and Halloween on the High Seas cruises.

 

[longboard55]

One thing not to miss is the farwell party, which is in the lobby around 9:30 on the last night. All the characters show up and it is free self pictures for about 20 minutes, Super fun and a great way to end the trip

 

[Travel60]

I quickly read through above and didn't see the following that I think might be helpful.

You will want to download the DCL app before you get on board. It won't seem very helpful until you get on board. Then it will be your guide to all activities and your dining schedule and menus. One part shows all activities by day/hour. You can "heart" the ones you like and then when you go to "my plans" you see what you hearted. I usually heart more than I actually do.... sometimes I just want to sit on deck.

Once on board, CMs will show you how to set your phone to airplane (so you don't get charged for random internet) but then turn on Disney intranet so you can use the app. (Varies by phone brand). This doesn't give you internet access.....for that you have to pay and it's pretty slow, spotty and expensive.

Much less planning involved in cruising than parks. Sometimes we do nothing except maybe dinner at Palo.

Magic is our favorite ship.

 

[TikiThunderPirates]

Here is my fun piece of advice. If you like soft serve ice cream, make sure you go by the soft serve machine each day and check what flavors are being served. On many cruises, especially those 7 nights or longer, they rotate a flavor of the day which can be anything from strawberry to banana to mango. It's fun to check each day to see what your flavor choices are. And it's all included in your cruise fare, so give that handle a good long pull (or more recently ask the cast member for a second cone!).