Disney Magic - Tour and Profile

A Look at the Outside of the Disney Magic

The Disney Magic was launched in 1998 and has a classic ocean liner look on the outside, with a black hull, shining white top, and two red funnels, both adorned with Mickey heads. There's no doubt which cruise line this ship belongs to! The ship was re-imagined (significantly renovated) in 2013, and some great new features were added. Fans of this magical ship shouldn't worry, most of the great existing features were kept.

Most modern ships only have one funnel, and this one is no different--one of the two funnels is a dummy and houses the Vibe teen center. Keeping with the Mickey theme, the life boats are yellow (rather than the standard orange), making the overall look very Disney--black, white, red, and yellow. A glance at the bow will make anyone smile. The bow has intricate gold scroll-work much like classic tall ships of long ago. Mixed in with this elegant detail is Goofy, dangling from a rope and touching up the paint.

Disney Magic - Interior Common Areas

Much of the interior of the Disney Magic is done in Art Deco style, and the ship artwork includes many special Disney theme pieces. Exploring the ship is like a treasure hunt, as you will find yourself looking for the Mickey logo, which is creatively woven into the decor.

My favorite common areas of the ship were the soaring three-story lobby and the large Walt Disney Theatre. The lobby is the hub of the ship and features a wonderful bronze statue of Mickey Mouse at the helm. Topping off the lobby is a huge, crystal chandelier.

The theatre seats 977 and has some of the best shows I've seen at sea. Each production show tells a story and is like a short operetta, filled with singers, dancers, and (of course) Disney characters.

Disney Magic - Kids' Programs and Youth Clubs

Touring the youth clubs and learning about all the activities designed for kids on the Disney Magic made me want to be under 18 again! 

Click on the links below to learn more about each of the age-specific areas.

The Disney Magic youth clubs are:

• It's a Small World Nursery - 6 months to 3 years (1 year minimum on some longer cruises)
• Oceaneer Club - Pixie Hollow - 3 to 12 years old
• Oceaneer Club - Andy's Room - 3 to 12 years old
• Oceaneer Club - Mickey Mouse Club Room - 3 to 12 years old
• Oceaneer Club - MARVEL's Avenger Academy - 3 to 12 years old
• Oceaneer Lab - 3 to 12 years old
• Edge Tween Club - 11 to 14 years old
• Vibe Teen Club - 14 to 17 years old

Disney Magic - Exterior Common Areas

Many of the activities on the Disney Magic are centered on the out of doors, starting with the high energy sailaway party and continuing each day around the swimming pools. The ship has three pools, one for adults, the second for families, and the third just for kids. Each pool has attractive features such as the mega-movie screen or the Mickey slide, making them the center of daily life onboard for many guests.

A new exhilarating water slide was added to the Disney Magic when the ship was re-imagined. Dubbed the AquaDunk, this is a thrilling experience that only lasts 7 (very memorable) seconds. It's nothing like the AquaDuck found on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.

Evening events are also held on the pool deck, the highlight of which is the "Pirates In the Caribbean" party. This party starts with a pirate theme dinner and then moves outside for music, dancing, and fireworks. It's a spectacular ending to a fun-filled night onboard the Disney Magic.

Disney Magic - Dining and Cuisine

The Disney Magic has three main dining rooms--Lumiere's, Carioca's, and Animator's Palate, and guests rotate among the three rooms during the cruise, always sitting at the same table number and with the same dinner companions. The wait staff also rotates, providing continuity to the dining experience. It's a great idea and works well.

Although these three dining rooms are good, the highlight of dining on the Disney Magic is a dinner or brunch at Palo's, the adults-only alternative restaurant. Palo's sits on the top deck and has wonderful views, exceptional service, and marvelous food. It even has a private room with a large dining table for adult parties.

For families looking for casual fare, the Disney Magic has colorful Cabana's with indoor and outdoor seating, along with several take-away food outlets near the pools.

Disney Magic - Cabins and Accommodations

The Disney Magic carries 2700 passengers in 875 cabins, many of which can sleep 4. Of the 720 outside cabins, 388 have private verandas, perfect for some quiet time to enjoy the warm Caribbean weather. The cabins are brightly colored, with plenty of storage space and practicality. I loved the shelves in a vertically-place steamer trunk used as a storage cabinet.

The bath is split into two rooms, one with a sink and toilet and the other with a sink and shower tub. Each bath is tiny, but it is nice to have two separate rooms and two sinks when traveling as a family group.

The room steward was efficient and friendly, and kept the cabin clean. He also left us chocolates and towel animal creations each evening to top off the entertainment.

Disney Magic - Lounges and Bars

Although a Disney Magic cruise is centered on families, the cruise line hasn't forgotten how important it is for adults to have private time when on vacation. This factor is very evident on the Disney Magic, with several adult lounges, three of which are grouped together in the After Hours district on deck 3. My favorite was the quiet Keys, with live piano music in the evenings and those marvelous large portholes for ocean viewing. Sports enthusiasts love watching ESPN in the O'Gill's Pub sports bar, and the Fathoms night club provides adult entertainment in the late evenings.

These lounges are also used for adult-oriented activities, such as wine tastings, which were among the most well-run and interesting I've ever been to on any ship.

Disney Magic - Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean Cruise Overview

I cruised the Disney Magic to the eastern Caribbean from Port Canaveral on a seven-day itinerary that included two delightful sea days followed by two ports of call in the U.S. Virgin Islands -- St. Croix and St. Thomas. While on St. Thomas, I did a half-day shore excursion to the nearby island of St. John. We then had a final day at sea before spending the day at Disney's private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay. Although many cruise lines have private islands in the Caribbean, Castaway Cay is one of the best.

This cruise itinerary was a great mix of time at sea and time in port. With so many onboard activities for children, families, and adults, I'm glad we had three sea days to enjoy the Disney experience.

In January 2014, I did a three-night cruise on the Disney Magic from Port Canaveral to Nassau and  Castaway Cay. Although this was a too-short cruise, we still enjoyed many of the activities (like fireworks and Pirates in the Caribbean) featured on the longer Disney cruises to the Bahamas and Caribbean.

Disney Magic European Cruise Overview

The Disney Magic is a delightful way for families or adults to see parts of Europe. The ship sails the Mediterranean roundtrip from Barcelona, and the Disney Magic also sails northern Europe roundtrip from Copenhagen or London. Fans of "Frozen" get a chance to visit Norway on the London itineraries.

This detailed travel log of a Disney Magic western Mediterranean cruise provides an overview of the ports of call along with some of the special Disney port adventures for families.

Disney offers a terrific Adventures by Disney Short Escape as a pre-cruise option in Barcelona. This three-night adventure provides an excellent look at this marvelous Catalonian city. 

Disney Magic - Summary and Wrap-up

I'll be the first to admit that the Disney Magic far exceeded my expectations. I knew the ship was an excellent choice for families, but never dreamed it would be so much fun for adults traveling without kids. The highlights were the exceptional organization, the amazing Disney entertainment, dining at Palo's, and watching the faces of the children as they interacted with the Disney characters. Of course, we got our photo made with Mickey, too!