Disney Magic/Wonder or the new Disney Dream

Hello, my family and I have never been on a cruise before however our 5 yr old daughter has recently seen a video on the Disney cruiseline and is constantly asking us to take her. Our little one, had a pretty tough couple of years in and out of hospital and we havent been on a proper family fun holiday for a few years, so i would really like to grant her, her wish. We have travelled extensively around the world with her, been too Disney numerous times, and have lived in Europe and the Caribbean however we have never been on a cruise before. We use to watch the ships come into Port and always wondered if we would enjoy them, get seasick etc. The Disney Dream does look beautiful when it sailed in however i also like the idea of the smaller Magic vessel as it seems to be more classic Mickey? Our daughter is still interested in Mickey and friends not so much the newer characters.

Anyways back to the original question, what are the opinions from seasoned cruisers on the older Disney ships vs the newer ones? Quality of Food is very important to us, and medical and safety for our daughter. I was looking at RCI freedom of the Seas, my husband was looking at Holland America or celebrity, and the little one has somehow got the Disney line in the running now too, which I think may win for a first time cruise. Im so confused from reading all the reviews. Help would be very much

appreciated. This family really just needs some fun in the sun. Thank you in advance.

We've been on both the Wonder and the Magic, but not the newer ones & absolutely love them. Believe me either would be fine & the whole gang is there Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald etc.

The ships are classic beauties and have what you need. The service is absolutely amazing on Disney ships. While we haven't had any special needs, I have heard from people that Disney does an amazing with any special needs assistance.

I'd say with your daughter being 5 you don't need all the bells and whistles of a Royal Caribbean ship. We took the boys on Disney when they were 4 & 6 and they had a fantastic time. More recently as teens we tend to Royal with the rock wall, flowrider etc.

I hope your daughter is well and you get to take that cruise.

We've been on both the Wonder and the Magic, but not the newer ones & absolutely love them. Believe me either would be fine & the whole gang is there Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald etc.

 

 

 

The ships are classic beauties and have what you need. The service is absolutely amazing on Disney ships. While we haven't had any special needs, I have heard from people that Disney does an amazing with any special needs assistance.

 

 

 

I'd say with your daughter being 5 you don't need all the bells and whistles of a Royal Caribbean ship. We took the boys on Disney when they were 4 & 6 and they had a fantastic time. More recently as teens we tend to Royal with the rock wall, flowrider etc.

 

 

 

I hope your daughter is well and you get to take that cruise.

Agree. If it's her first cruise, the older smaller ships would be perfect for her. Everything will be new and exciting, and then as she grows, you can move up to the bigger ships with all the bells and whistles.

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My response from your earlier thread with the same question:

We've sailed on both the Disney Wonder and Dream. Both have the same amount of "classic Mickey". I'd go for whichever has a 7-day (or longer) itinerary. Our cruise on the Disney Dream was a 4-day cruise. We won't do one that short again. :eek:

 

The Disney cruises are more $$$ than the other lines you mention. First, you are paying for the Disney name. Also, the Disney ships have large areas devoted to specific ages of children - and the staff/crew to attend to them. All of the other lines mentioned also have children's areas & crew, but Disney has a higher percentage. A number of parents have posted here that their children actually preferred the more personal attention on lines with smaller numbers of children. Our DCL cruises had at least 600 children/cruise and usually over 900. Another reason that DCL costs more is that there isn't a casino on their ships. Cruise lines make very good money each week from the gamblers. Disney just charges everyone for the money they don't make from gamblers.

We've been in the Magic and the Dream and felt the Dream was just too darned big to enjoy. We also preferred our suite in the Magic. The ONLY thing we preferred in the Dream was Remy.

One thing to think about is the cost of the fare. If you can afford it, that's one thing. I've always noticed that Disney cruises would often cost twice as much as the other ones for the same itinerary and date (you are paying for the Disney name, and also for the lack of casino).

All of the mass market cruise lines offer a full children's program, especially if you go when kids are out of school (a few exceptions will be some of the smaller ships such as on Princess and HAL, etc.). You'll find kids who enjoy the program on Holland, Celebrity, RC, Princess... There's pools, movies, big production shows on every ship. There just won't be Mickey or Cinderella.

One thing to think about is the cost of the fare. If you can afford it' date=' that's one thing. I've always noticed that Disney cruises would often cost twice as much as the other ones for the same itinerary and date (you are paying for the Disney name, and also for the lack of casino).

 

All of the mass market cruise lines offer a full children's program, especially if you go when kids are out of school (a few exceptions will be some of the smaller ships such as on Princess and HAL, etc.). You'll find kids who enjoy the program on Holland, Celebrity, RC, Princess... There's pools, movies, big production shows on every ship. There just won't be Mickey or Cinderella.[/quote']

 

 

Obviously plenty of people "can afford" it as the ships seldom sail anything but full--without having to deeply discount fares to fill cabins like Carnival and some others do.

Obviously plenty of people "can afford" it as the ships seldom sail anything but full--without having to deeply discount fares to fill cabins like Carnival and some others do.

Disney only has 4 ships to fill compared to 20 something that Carnival has to fill, so not a fair comparison. :).

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Disney only has 4 ships to fill compared to 20 something that Carnival has to fill, so not a fair comparison. :).

 

 

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I disagree. Disney also has more of a niche market.

I disagree. Disney also has more of a niche market.

Agree. Disney has a niche market...but, the question is could they fill 20+ ships at their current prices. I would say probably not. On the other hand, if Carnival reduced their fleet to their best 4 ships, I bet they could increase their prices and still fill the ships. The same is true of all the mass market lines.

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Agree. Disney has a niche market...but, the question is could they fill 20+ ships at their current prices. I would say probably not. On the other hand, if Carnival reduced their fleet to their best 4 ships, I bet they could increase their prices and still fill the ships. The same is true of all the mass market lines.

 

 

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Again I disagree. Carnival couldn't raise prices, as it would simply drive passengers to other lines.

Again I disagree. Carnival couldn't raise prices, as it would simply drive passengers to other lines.

You may be right. Basic economics would say if you drastically reduce inventory and demand stayed roughly the same, prices would go up. But Carnival might prove the exception...lol

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Uh, DCL has discounted some cruises. Our second DCL cruise was part of a group our TA offered (last minute type) because Disney needed help filling the ship. We have family who have also sailed on DCL, on a different cruise, who were part of another discounted group. DCL isn't immune from offering discounts. Unlike other cruise lines, they don't advertise them and so far I've only seen them through that one TA.

Uh, DCL has discounted some cruises. Our second DCL cruise was part of a group our TA offered (last minute type) because Disney needed help filling the ship. We have family who have also sailed on DCL, on a different cruise, who were part of another discounted group. DCL isn't immune from offering discounts. Unlike other cruise lines, they don't advertise them and so far I've only seen them through that one TA.

They haven't been forced to give away free cruises like Carnival has been doing lately. When DCL discounts, it's generally still more expensive than the typical fare on Carnival, MSC, HAL, NCL, RCI, etc.

They haven't been forced to give away free cruises like Carnival has been doing lately. When DCL discounts, it's generally still more expensive than the typical fare on Carnival, MSC, HAL, NCL, RCI, etc.

In our case it was about $100/pp/day - including air, transfers, and gratuities. Also, that wasn't an inside cabin. ;). Yep, DCL discounts, just not as often as cruise lines with more (and larger) ship.

Carnival would cost half that, non-discounted.

Carnival would cost half that, non-discounted.

Not including our air.

Deeply discounted airfare can be had during certain times of the year. I just found $198 r/t MCO to LAX.

Deeply discounted airfare can be had during certain times of the year. I just found $198 r/t MCO to LAX.

I'd like to get back onto the actual topic of the thread. I'm sure the OP is quite aware that Disney cruises are usually more expensive than a comparable cruise on just about any other mass market cruise line.

OP, given that this is your family's very first cruise, I think that you would all be very happy on one of the smaller ships. Personally, I find the new big ships TOO big. Pick the one that has the itinerary that you find more appealing. Your little one will love the children's activities, and if the Disney characters are important, then they'll be there in force.

Yes, you can have just as good a time on just about any other mass market cruise line, since almost all of them have extensive children's clubs and activities. You just won't have the "Disney".

My husband and i would prefer a longer itinerary and understand that the disney is more expensive due to the lack of a casino, however we are limited to the two weeks surrounding easter and i have noticed that there are not too many ships leaving in and out of the dates that accommadate us. The only others are the liberty of the seas, independence of the seas and or the princess ruby. However flights into fort lauderdale from toronto are almost dbl the price for this time. Im also not too sure of the beaches of labradee and or falmouth. Or on the princess cruise taking the chance of having to be tendered into a port. Im really desperate for day on a nice beach, especially after the continuous winter season we are having. I have to admit my husband says im spoiled as we have spent time on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world such as the maldives, australia, caribbean etc. As we use to live in the Bahamas i know the outer islands are very beautiful, i love the ideal of being able to pull straight up to port in abaco (castaway cay) and not have to worry about if we get on or off or not by tender. Nassau, i could give a miss as we lived their for 3 years, however it would be kind of neat to see the progression of the new Bahia mar hotel project on Cable beach and visit the cricket club for a nice cold Kalik. Carnival, rci and probabuly all the other ships offer yes a better price for a longer cruise, however to be honest i sort of like the idea of a family cruise, bring your own alcohol, maybe same quality of

food, a very nice beach day have top notch entertainent that we would all enjoy while our daughter is still in the very innocent stage of her life, disney

offers that experience. Not sure what we will do in the end, hence why i want to hear the opinions of ppl who have cruised.

QUOTE=Bobster17;41847534]Hello, my family and I have never been on a cruise before however our 5 yr old daughter has recently seen a video on the Disney cruiseline and is constantly asking us to take her. Our little one, had a pretty tough couple of years in and out of hospital and we havent been on a proper family fun holiday for a few years, so i would really like to grant her, her wish. We have travelled extensively around the world with her, been too Disney numerous times, and have lived in Europe and the Caribbean however we have never been on a cruise before. We use to watch the ships come into Port and always wondered if we would enjoy them, get seasick etc. The Disney Dream does look beautiful when it sailed in however i also like the idea of the smaller Magic vessel as it seems to be more classic Mickey? Our daughter is still interested in Mickey and friends not so much the newer characters.

Anyways back to the original question, what are the opinions from seasoned cruisers on the older Disney ships vs the newer ones? Quality of Food is very important to us, and medical and safety for our daughter. I was looking at RCI freedom of the Seas, my husband was looking at Holland America or celebrity, and the little one has somehow got the Disney line in the running now too, which I think may win for a first time cruise. Im so confused from reading all the reviews. Help would be very much

appreciated. This family really just needs some fun in the sun. Thank you in advance.

My husband and i would prefer a longer itinerary and understand that the disney is more expensive due to the lack of a casino, however we are limited to the two weeks surrounding easter and i have noticed that there are not too many ships leaving in and out of the dates that accommadate us. The only others are the liberty of the seas, independence of the seas and or the princess ruby. However flights into fort lauderdale from toronto are almost dbl the price for this time. Im also not too sure of the beaches of labradee and or falmouth. Or on the princess cruise taking the chance of having to be tendered into a port. Im really desperate for day on a nice beach, especially after the continuous winter season we are having. I have to admit my husband says im spoiled as we have spent time on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world such as the maldives, australia, caribbean etc. As we use to live in the Bahamas i know the outer islands are very beautiful, i love the ideal of being able to pull straight up to port in abaco (castaway cay) and not have to worry about if we get on or off or not by tender. Nassau, i could give a miss as we lived their for 3 years, however it would be kind of neat to see the progression of the new Bahia mar hotel project on Cable beach and visit the cricket club for a nice cold Kalik. Carnival, rci and probabuly all the other ships offer yes a better price for a longer cruise, however to be honest i sort of like the idea of a family cruise, bring your own alcohol, maybe same quality of

food, a very nice beach day have top notch entertainent that we would all enjoy while our daughter is still in the very innocent stage of her life, disney

offers that experience. Not sure what we will do in the end, hence why i want to hear the opinions of ppl who have cruised.

Again, having sailed on the Wonder and the Dream, we noticed no difference in the quality of the food between the ships. The only difference food wise is that the Dream has Remy, an adult only specality restaurant. The menu isn't our taste so we didn't try it. We have eaten at Palo (another adult only restaurant) on both ships. It is much larger on the newer ships, but the food quality was the same. The water slide on the newer ships may, or may not, make a difference to your family.

Castaway Cay is very nice. The only other private island we've been to is HAL's Half Moon Cay. We'd return to either. Both have incredibly soft sand. CC is more developed, in typical Disney excellence. I don't know what the family area is like as we had a cabana in the adult-only area. HAL doesn't have the seperation of adults/families on HMC, but there is a children's area.