Disney Magic Review & Guide
The Disney Magic is one of four and the oldest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet entering service in 1998. Despite this, the ship has kept its magic with extensive dry docks and regular changes and upgrades. This was our third sailing on the Disney Magic and it was a 2-night UK Stay-cation cruise from Tilbury near London.
The ship is small compared to today’s cruise ships and has a very traditional feel. The nautical decor, colours and grand atrium all hark back to the old ocean liners of the past. Disney attention to theming is very subtle and the Disney touches are not loud on in your face. It all feels very elegant and grand.
There are some spaces, mainly the children’s areas, that are fun and playful. The is of course aimed at families and Disney Magic does a good job of catering to everyone. Children have access to the over the top Kids clubs and the D-Lounge family club. Adults, and non-Disney fanatics, can relax in the adults-only pools, spa, Cove Cafe coffee shop or After Hours bars.
The focus on service and magical touches that you can find in Disney theme parks are also onboard the Disney Magic. Crew, or Cast Members, all have that Disney flair where everything is served with a smile.
The whole experience starts with a very Disney welcome onboard the ship. Each group is announced onto the ship with a round of applause before Mickey and Minni greet you onboard with a song and dance. We love this and is definitely a unique way to start a cruise.
Accommodation
Disney Magic has five main stateroom classes: Inside, Oceanview, Verandah and suites. There is also “secret” verandahs and porthole staterooms which are a lower price, as well as mini-suites and oversized rooms. We booked into a Deluxe Ocean View Stateroom with a verandah.
Our Disney Magic Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Veranda.
Photo: Ben & David
The cabins are instantly welcoming and homely with nautical décor and more Disney touches all the way around. The Disney references are plenty but subtle. Our favourite touch is the lampshades that show a map depicting the Disney parks around the world - minus the new Shanghai Disneyland!
Been only two of us we can’t comment on how well a family fit in but you can see Disney has designed them with families in mind. Each cabin has ample storage wide wardrobes, plenty of draws, shelving and elevated beds that can easily store your suitcases.
The separate bathroom and toilers are also a nice feature which makes it easy for two people to get ready at the same time. The bathrooms also feature a small bath which is handy for smaller children. We particularly love the H2O products in each bathroom.
The cabin is divided with a curtain separating the living area from the double bed meaning the room can be divided when children are sleeping on the sofa beds.
TVs in the room are small by modern-day standards but mightily. They show a wide mix of Disney programming, a limited number of live channels as well as radio channels playing Disney classics all day long. There is also an on-demand section with a large catalogue of Disney content. The on-demand library is not quite as extensive as Disney+ but enough choice to keep the family happy.
All cabins also feature a mini-fridge, safe, hairdryer, phone, U.S. and European outlets.
The balcony was a good size and features two chairs and a table.
Our balcony which featured two chairs and a table. Photo: Ben & David
Standard Inside Cabin
These cabins are 184 square feet (18 square metres) and can fit up to four passengers, except for those on Deck 2, which sleep only up to three.
Deluxe Inside Cabins
These cabins offer the same amenities as the Standard Inside Cabin but are slightly larger at 214 square feet.
Deluxe Oceanview Cabins
All oceanview cabins are classed as Deluxe cabins. There are no standard oceanview cabins on Disney Magic. Deluxe Oceanview Cabins are 214 square feet (approx 20 square metres). Most deluxe oceanview cabins feature a large porthole window that also had a seat to enjoy the view. Cabins on deck 1 feature two small portholes.
Deluxe Balcony Cabins
All balcony cabins are classed as Deluxe cabins. Deluxe Balcony Cabins are located on Decks 5, 6, 7 and 8. These offer 268 square feet (including the balcony) of space and sleep three or four guests. Some cabins on Deck 7 have obstructed views.
Deluxe Family Balcony Cabins
These cabins are larger than Deluxe Balcony Cabins at 304 square feet including the balcony. These cabins can sleep up to five people.
Concierge Suites
The Concierge Suites on Disney Magic come in a number of configurations and all include balconies. These include; Family Balcony Cabin (as above but with concierge benefits), 2-Bedroom Suites, 1 bedroom suites, 1 Bedroom Accessible suite and the 2 bedroom Royal Suite.
The Concierge Suites offers a number of additional benefits to standard and deluxe cabins. These include priority check-in, embarkation and disembarkation, a concierge host that will help with any reservations or queries and access to the Concierge Lounge. The lounge, located on Deck 10, offers complimentary alcoholic drinks for 1 hour a day, non-alcoholic drinks and food all day long.
Our Disney Magic Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Veranda.
Photo: Ben & David
Dining
Included Dining
Cabanas is the onboard buffet open during Breakfast and Lunch. There is a wide choice of food to suit all tastes and a huge selection of fresh fruit and seafood. It can get a little crowded at breakfast but if you head up a deck from the staircase at the back of cabanas to there is also tables upstairs that we found is always quiet.
Other quick-service locations are located around the pool on deck 9. These include;
Daisy's De-Lites is open for breakfast and throughout the day. It serves sandwiches, salads and fresh fruit. The station also had a make-a-bowl station that includes items such as noodles, chilli and soups.
Duck In Diner is split into two halves. One window serves schemas (kebabs) while the other serves classic hot dogs and burgers.
Eye Scream Treats is a soft-serve ice-cream station. The flavours change daily. You can get ice cream in a cone or a cup.
Pinocchio’s Pizzeria serves different flavours of pizza all day.
Cove Cafe has a small snack stand that features complimentary small tapas bites and sweet treats.
Disney Magic has three main dining rooms which guests, and their servers, rotate around each night; Lumiere's, Rapunzel's Royal Table and Animators Palate. Everyone has a set dining time and table. While some cruises dislike this, it did not bother us. We actually liked rotating with the same servers each night.
During the cruise, one dining room is also open for a table service breakfast. There are no set tables or dining times for breakfast except on disembarkation day where all guests are assigned a dining room and time for breakfast before disembarking.
We can’t say enough how amazing the wait staff are in the dining rooms. They get to know your tastes and pace of dining. You really get to know your wait staff and they get to know you.
The Main Dining Rooms on Disney Magic are;
Lumiere's. Located on deck 3. The restaurant has beautiful décor inspired by the movie Beauty and the Beast. The restaurant feels elegant with nods to the movie all around. The menu is French-inspired with classics such as french onion soup and Escargot.
Animator's Palate. Located on Deck 4. A spectacle in itself as the whole restaurant transforms from black and white to a sea of colour. The meal starts with each guest creating their own animation which comes to life on the screens around the restaurant. The menu is described as pacific inspired.
Rapunzel's Royal Table. Located on Deck 3. The newest addition to the ship. The restaurant is beautifully themed around the movie tangled and features a dinner show with characters from the movie. The menu is german inspired and while it is our least favourite, it was not terrible. The show is fun and interactive but if you are located towards the back you will struggle to see the stage.
If you don’t fancy the formality of the main dining rooms Cabanas is available as an alternative on some sailings. This is not a buffet but an alternative sit down restaurant option for anyone to walk up to with no reservations.
Room Service on Disney Magic is free of charge and avilable 24 hours a day. Lunch and dinner options are available all day and night with a continental breakfast avilable in the mornings. Breakfast must be be pre-ordered the night before.
Speciality & extra charge Dining
Palo - The only speciality restaurant onboard is Palo. This is an extra charge that serves brunch and dinner. Palo is adults only and is a must-do. The food is outstanding with remarkable service and atmosphere. It’s perfect for couples wanting a meal for two or anyone who loves food. Palo is incredibly popular and is often fully booked so make a reservation as soon as you can. If you are unable to get a reservation prior to sailing, with the onboard reservations team as soon as you board.
Preludes - Two snack bars located next to the entrance of the Walt Disney Theatre on Deck 4. These are open prior to theatre shows and serve snacks and drinks. All items are an extra cost.
O’Gills Pub - The Irish bar serves pub classics such as burger sliders, chicken wings and pretzels for an extra charge. Prices start from $8 USD.
Royal Court Royal Tea - An extra-charge afternoon tea party held in Lumiere's for kids 3 to 12 years. The experience includes character visits, juice in teacups, sandwiches, cupcakes and little gifts. The Royal Court Afternoon Tea is $279 USD for two passengers (one adult and one child) and $69 USD for each additional child.
Drinks, Bars & lounges
Soft drinks are complimentary from soda fountains located poolside on deck 9-aft, in the Cabanas buffet and at meals in the dining rooms. These include Coca-cola, diet Coke, Sprite, Ginger Ale, unsweetened ice tea, filter coffee, hot chocolate and a selection of teas. We recommend bringing a refillable mug so that you can easily take a drink back to your cabin or sunlounger. Soft drinks from the bars are not free.
There is also the Cove Cafe coffee shop. This is a quiet space to read a book, enjoy some cake or have a relaxing coffee. The coffee here is an extra charge but the cake is included. The coffees include a wide range of espresso drinks, alcoholic blends and cold brews. The cold brew is excellent! Remember to get a coffee card on your first purchase as If you buy 5 coffee you get your 6th free.
Alcoholic drinks are quite expensive and Disney does not offer any drinks packages. There is a cocktail of the day which is offered at a reduced price and an offer on draft beer when you buy a Disney beer mug. You can have your mug refilled for a discounted price. The glass is quite heavy and awkward but you can exchange it for a token whenever you want so you don’t have to carry it around. You can also use the token on your Disney next cruise to save you from carrying the glass home. It does make for a nice souvenir though!
There are also happy hours at various bars during various times of the day. Check the daily planner for happy hour times and locations. Discounts vary depending on the bar but expect things such as 50% off beers or 2-4-1 cocktails.
Each bar at Disney is unique and there wasn't one place that we didn’t enjoy. Most of the bars are located in the After Hours area that is a adults only space from 10 pm.
The bars on Disney Magic are;
Promenade Lounge - A good spot for pre-dinner cocktails with live music.
Signals Bar - A poolside bar located in the Adults Only area that is popular during the day. Happy hour is usually in the early evenings.
Keys - an upscale venue with amazing cocktails and a wonderful live pianist.
O'Gills Pub - An intimate and relaxing Irish bar that has a wider range of beers on tap. Happy hour here is usually in the early and late evenings. During happy hour free snacks are served. On "Tangled: The Musical" nights the bar transformed into the Tangled themed Snuggly Duckling.
Fathoms - A nightclub that also hosts games, live music, quizzes and a late-night DJ. Usually, it was very quiet after 10 pm.
The Adults pool and Signals Bar on Disney Magic. Photo: Ben & David
Pools & Recreation
Disney Magic has three pool areas all located on deck 9; an area for smaller children, a family pool area and an adults-only pool area. The adult’s area is our favourite spot with live relaxing music at various points throughout the day, plenty of space and sunbeds with lots of shaded areas.
AquaLab - The pool area for smaller children includes a splash-n-play zone, a small pool, and the Twist n Spout slide.
Goofys Family Pool - This is the main pool area onboard. The space includes a pool, two hot tubs and is overlooked by the Funnel Vision TV screen. On a night the pool is covered and deck parties are hosted around here.
Quiet Cove Pool - Adults only pool for passengers aged 18+. Includes two hot tubs and live music at various times during the day.
The Aquadunk slide on Disney Magic. Photo: Ben & David
Disney Magic also has two slides.
Twist n Spout slide - A smaller slide for the younger children, it’s fun… we have tried.
Aquadunk - A thrilling slide where you stand in an upright coffin and the floor below you disappears…. No joke. The Aquadunk is incredibly popular and while Ben loves this… I was not a huge fan and found it slightly terrifying.
Enjoying the Prominade on Disney Magic. Photo: Ben & David
Sport Court & Deck Games
A sports court is located on Deck 10 towards the front of the ship. There is also table tennis and table football games near the sports court on Deck 10. Te Promenade Deck 7 includes a walking track and deck games. The Promenade Deck is a popular spot on evenings in between shows.
Gym
The gym is located within the Senses Spa at the forward of the ship on deck 9. It has a wide range of equipment and a great view across the bow of the ship. The gym is free to use and has changing rooms with saunas that are also free to use.
Spa
The full-service Senses Spa includes treatment rooms, a salon, a relaxation room, a thermal suite and spa villas with a private hot tub. Treatments are an extra charge and can be booked prior to sailing or onboard.
Entertainment
As you would expect from Disney, entertainment is top-notch. The nightly broadway-style shows in the Walt Disney Theatre feature Disney storylines, characters and magic. During the day and into the evening the Buena Vista Theatre shows the newest movie releases from Disney and its associated studios. You can see films the same day they are released in the US which for many Brits is months before its UK release. More popular screenings and 3D movies will sometimes be shown in the main Walt Disney Theatre. The movie theatre is fantastic but a little tight on legroom in some rows. We never had any trouble getting a seat. Popcorn is offered just outside (for a small charge). On our sailing, this was also a meet and greet spot for some characters.
An alternative to the cinema is the “Funnel Vision” big screen on deck the open deck. This shows movies all day and on an evening the staff set up loungers with blankets to enjoy a film under the stars. It’s perfect with a cup of hot chocolate!
There is plenty of live music thought out the ship and quizzes during the day. The nighttime venues after dinner can be quiet but fun with some adult-only game shows and comedians.
The Walt Disney Theatre is the main theatre showing Broadway-style productions. Photo: Ben & David
Youth & Kids Clubs
As you would expect the kid’s clubs on board are the best on any cruise line. While we did not have children travelling with us, I can say we are impressed just looking around the kid’s clubs! We had a look around on our first day as the clubs had an open house and we even tried the kids slide... for research of course! All the children’s clubs are free of charge. The clubs are divided into three different age groups;
Oceaneeer Club & Oceaneer Lab is located on Deck 5 for children aged 3 to 12. This is a vast space that is connected. Generally, the Oceaneers Club is targeted towards younger children while the Oceaneers Lab is aimed at older kids. Children can choose which activities from either programme they want to attend.
Edge located on Deck 9 is for tweens aged 11 - 14. The space includes computers, video games and a variety of activities.
Vibe located in the funnel on deck 11 is for teenagers aged 15 - 18. The space is like a coffee shop with its own bar serving complimentary coffees and non-alcoholic drinks. Activities include parties, crafts and video-game tournaments.
There is also the Its A Small World Nursery for babies under 3. This is a babysitting service that is an extra charge.
Andy’s Room is inside the Oceaneers Club for children aged 3 - 12. Photo: Ben & David
Final Thoughts
Overall Disney Magic holds a special place in our hearts. Not only was she the first ship we sailed on and our honeymoon, Disney Magic feels like coming home when stepping aboard. I love that she is small and how beautiful she is. The ships food offerings are fantastic, entertainment immersive and the children’s activities are unparalleled. On top of this, there is a level of service on-board that is a step-up compared to cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line. Unlike other cruise lines, Disney offers very few to no discounts on its sailings.
Disney Cruise Lines sailings are pricey and onboard spending can too be expensive. Especially if you drink alcohol. This is something to factor in when weighing up the price against other cruise lines.
