Disney cruise - booked!

So excited we booked a Disney cruise with friends. We got a deluxe oceanview state room on the Disney Magic ship. It's a repositioning cruise so we got a great deal. Leaves NY and then ends in San Juan.

Obviously have a lot of time since it's not till Nov. Works out bc it's the week the kids are off in school.
We took the 2nd seating bc that's all that's left. Worth trying to get the earlier seating? My boys will be 7 and 5 at the time so figured they'd be fine and we don't have to rush back on the ship to get ready. Our friend's kids will be 7 and 4.

Anyone been on the Magic ship? Any recommendations? Reviews or excursions?

Thanks!

Message edited 3/22/2016 8:52:13 AM.

Disney cruise - booked!

Fun!!!

We have not been on the Magic, only the Dream. But, as far as seating, first time we did first seating, I felt rushed to get there! We skipped dinner one night and just did room service. Second cruise we did 2nd seating, and I felt it was too late, but, we did the dine and play with my DD so they brought her food quickly and then went to the kid's club a couple of nights. You can also tell them to "speed up service" in a polite way obviously. I have just told them my kids don't like to sit for a long time, so we like to eat quickly!

You still stop at Castaway Cay right? It's amazing there! Definitely rent floats/tubes there. The Jet Ski excursion looks great, as does the parasailing, but both were cancelled due to winds when we went. Rent bikes and explore! Unfortunately that isn't something we could do since my teen requires a 3 wheeled bike (special needs), and they only had training wheels on the little bikes. But we have always wanted to. I need to email Disney to suggest tandem bikes for families in our situation!

IF you can get a cabana, (you probably can't, they book up fast), then jump on it. Looks amazing, and you can split the cost with friends!

We are going to Puerto Rico this weekend, so if you are looking for things to do there after you disembark, I can give you the low down when we get back

Message edited 3/22/2016 9:38:41 AM.

Re: Disney cruise - booked!

I have only cruised with Disney once, we had the earlier seating, my kids are young, but most days it did feel early.

However, I had heard if you couldn't get the first seating when you make your reservation you can ask on the ship and they generally can make it work.

The nice thing I heard about the later seating, at least on the Fantasy, is that the kids camp comes to pick up kids about 45 minutes into dinner. So at the second seating the servers get the kids meals out first, so they can eat and go play at the club. If I had known that I might have done the second seating. Its a long sit down dinner for kids, and most nights we had them eat and my husband would walk them downstairs when they were done so we could enjoy our meal. Maybe see if they do that on the Magic.

Have a great trip.

Re: Disney cruise - booked!

We always eat late - mine were 3 and 5 when we did the curise and we had the late seating. I liked it better b/c there was no rushing. Eveyone could relax after running around all day etc.

Disney cruise - booked!

so fun!!! we were just on the magic in january. loved it! its one of their smaller ships... but that was actually nice bc it was easy to get around, quick to get wherever you needed to go. we ate dinner one night at Palo, and left DS in the kid's club- that was nice! (it costs about $30 pp extra- but worth it. and no kids are allowed, so it makes for a nice night out). DS is 5 and really liked the kid's club- they did super hero training (he came out with a paper cape and mask, and stickers on his hands to look like Iron man's gloves they do mousketeer training and a bunch of other fun stuff. The shows were great- my son liked the Disney Dream show, and actually wanted to see it twice HAHAHA and the Tangled the Musical was good, too. You'll LOVE castaway Cay, too! We booked about 2 months before we left- so we got second seating, too- BUT you can put in a request to be moved to first seating if you want. WE've been on 2 Disney cruises, and got moved to first seating both times when we requested it. (although- theres only 3 of us... so not sure if it would work to get you guys and your friends all moved. the first seating is a little early- but to me i'd rather eat early than eat at 8:30.... thats just too late for me. either way, you'll have an AWESOME time!! it really is the best family vacation let me know if you want to know anything else about the Magic

Re: Disney cruise - booked!

Re: Disney cruise - booked!

Posted by ml110

so fun!!! we were just on the magic in january. loved it! its one of their smaller ships... but that was actually nice bc it was easy to get around, quick to get wherever you needed to go. we ate dinner one night at Palo, and left DS in the kid's club- that was nice! (it costs about $30 pp extra- but worth it. and no kids are allowed, so it makes for a nice night out). DS is 5 and really liked the kid's club- they did super hero training (he came out with a paper cape and mask, and stickers on his hands to look like Iron man's gloves they do mousketeer training and a bunch of other fun stuff. The shows were great- my son liked the Disney Dream show, and actually wanted to see it twice HAHAHA and the Tangled the Musical was good, too. You'll LOVE castaway Cay, too! We booked about 2 months before we left- so we got second seating, too- BUT you can put in a request to be moved to first seating if you want. WE've been on 2 Disney cruises, and got moved to first seating both times when we requested it. (although- theres only 3 of us... so not sure if it would work to get you guys and your friends all moved. the first seating is a little early- but to me i'd rather eat early than eat at 8:30.... thats just too late for me. either way, you'll have an AWESOME time!! it really is the best family vacation let me know if you want to know anything else about the Magic