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Guide to planning a magical cruise on the Disney Magic cruise ship

Disney Magic at Castaway Cay

Disney Magic is Disney Cruise Line's very first ship that launched in 1998. While she is one of the cruise line's smaller vessels, she offers some fantastic itineraries ranging from those visiting the Bahamas and Caribbean to Mexico and even the Panama Canal!

The ship was refurbished in 2013 and 2018. With these intensive updates, the ship was given new additions, such as the AquaDunk water slide and Rapunzel’s Royal Table restaurant.

No matter where you sail to, you are sure to have a magical voyage onboard Disney Magic. 

How large is Disney Magic?

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Disney ship at Castaway Cay

If you are hoping to sail on one of the larger ships at sea, you might not enjoy the smaller size of Disney Magic. At most, she's able to accommodate 2,713 passengers in 875 staterooms, as well as 950 crew across eleven passenger decks. 

To compare, Disney Wish, the cruise line's newest ship that launched in 2022, is able to hold around 4,000 passengers. 

Moreover, Disney Magic only measures 83,000 gross registered tons, whereas Disney Wish clocks in at 144,000. 

Disney Magic staterooms

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Disney Magic cabin

Onboard Disney Magic, you will find 262 inside staterooms and 613 outside staterooms. Interior rooms onboard any cruise ship tend to be the cheapest and smallest option available. You'll find both standard and deluxe inside rooms, with deluxe cabins being about 30 square feet larger than regular interior staterooms. 

Within the outside stateroom category, there are both ocean view and verandah rooms, as well as Concierge rooms that feature the most luxurious cabins onboard. 

Verandah rooms are a great option for families. The Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah is especially popular. It includes a queen bed, a sleeper sofa, and a pulldown bunk bed. Other stateroom amenities include a refrigerator, television set, and a split bathroom. One bathroom includes a toilet and a sink, while the other contains a shower and another sink.

Connecting staterooms are also available if you are booking more than one room for your group.

Dining options onboard Disney Magic

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Lumiere’s

Like the other Disney Cruise Line ships, Disney Magic has three main restaurants. Guests can choose between two dining times - an early one and a later one - for their entire journey. During your sailing, you, along with your serving team, will rotate through the three dining rooms:

  • Animator’s Palate - an animation-themed restaurant that is lively, fun, and offered on all ships expect Disney Wish. 
  • Lumiere’s - a French-inspired restaurant named for the candelabra character in Beauty and the Beast.
  • Rapunzel’s Royal Table - the newest of the three restaurants, this restaurant includes character viewings and music in a spirited environment.
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Palo food

You’ll never go hungry on the Disney Magic, as there are some other casual places to get food throughout the day. These include Cabanas buffet, Pinocchio’s Pizzeria, Daisy’s De-Lites, and the Duck-In Diner.

Adults can also enjoy brunch or dinner at Palo, a Northern Italian, adult-only restaurant. Palo is a more upscale restaurant, with a separate dress code and cover charge, meaning that it's not included in the cost of your cruise fare. If you want to eat there, be sure to make reservations in advance, as Palo is very popular.

Note that if your cruise has a stop at Castaway Cay, there are complimentary dining options on the private island, too. 

Things to do on Disney Magic

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Disney Magic atrium

You’ll never be bored on a Disney ship, with so many activities, amenities, and entertainment created especially for families. Every day, you’ll be greeted with activities such as Bingo (open to all ages), game shows, karaoke, and trivia. These are held in various venues including the D Lounge, which primarily showcases the family events.

You can also see your favorite Disney characters throughout the ship, as well as at Castaway Cay. A schedule of character greetings and programming is available in both the paper Daily Navigator and the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.

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Woman on Aquadunk

Deck 9 contains the Goofy’s Pool family pool, AquaLab, and Nephew’s splash zone. There’s also the exhilarating AquaDunk, a water slide that begins with a steep plunge. In fact, Disney Magic is the only Disney Cruise Line ship offering the AquaDunk! 

Read more: Guide to the AquaDuck, AquaDunk, and AquaMouse on the Disney Cruise Line

There are also a number of adult-only venues on Disney Magic, including the After Hours area on Deck 3 with three bars: O’Gill’s Pub, Fathoms, and Keys. Beverage seminars are also offered for adults for an additional fee and should be reserved in advance.

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Cove Cafe

Like the other Disney Cruise Line ships, the Disney Magic includes other adult-only venues including the Senses Spa and Salon, a quiet Cove Pool, and a Cove Cafe.

There’s also a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique onboard, where kids can choose to be transformed into a princess, pirate, captain, or knight. Like other activities on the Disney Cruise Line, it’s best to book this in advance if possible due to its popularity. It is not included in the cost of the cruise, either. 

Catch the last blockbuster from Disney-owned studios at the Buena Vista Theater. These first-run movies are all complimentary and will run throughout your sailing. Classic Disney movies are also shown on the pool deck.

Shopping opportunties onboard Disney Magic

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There are several shops onboard the Disney Magic, offering essentials and Disney-branded souvenirs. Shops include Quack’s retail shop, Mickey’s Mainsail, and White Caps. 

They are closed when the ship is in port due to local regulations but are typically open in the evenings and during the days at sea.

Kids’ Clubs onboard Disney Magic

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Disney Magic offers youth clubs that are a great place for kids to play and meet friends on the cruise. 

These include the Oceaneer Lab and Club, which feature different play areas for kids including Andy’s Room (inspired by Toy Story), MARVEL Super Hero Academy, and Pixie Hollow. The Oceaneer Lab and Club are for kids ages 3-12.

Do you have older kids? There is also a tween club called Edge and a teen club called Vibe. Teens can also relax in the Chill Spa located in the Senses Spa.

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Those with children under the age of three can take advantage of It's A Small World Nursery. Space, however, is limited, so you will want to make your child's reservations as soon as you can on embarkation day

Moreover, these services are not included in the cost of your cruise, and the minimum reservation time is one hour. 

Rates are $9.00 per hour for the first child and $8.00 per hour for every additional child. 

Disney Magic's entertaiment options 

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Tangled musical

There are several Broadway-style musicals that are featured at the Walt Disney Theatre. The current shows on Disney Magic are "Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story," "Tangled," and "Disney Dreams: an Enchanted Classic." The schedule for the shows may vary.

Deck parties, including the Sail Away party, take place throughout your sailing and may depend on your itinerary. The schedule for these is listed in the paper Daily Navigator and on the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.

Other live shows and live performances take place on every sailing. These can include bands, singers, and other musicians that can be seen in the various bars, clubs, and other public areas.

Read more: Shows You Can See on a Disney Cruise (2023)

Other amenities on Disney Magic

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In addition to the entertainment, shops, restaurants, and recreational activities, there are lots of amenities on Disney Magic. 

Guest services can assist with reservations or any customer service issues that you have on board. They can be accessed in person or through the app.

Wi-Fi is offered for an additional charge, starting at $16 per person, per day for the "Stay Connected" plan. The most expensive plan, Premium Surf, costs $34 per day!

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Disney Cruise water slide

However, guests can message each other for free using the Disney Cruise Line app. It’s best to download the app before your trip so you don’t have to worry about it once you are at sea.

Laundry facilities are available and include supplies for purchase, as well as irons and ironing boards. You can use your stateroom account for purchases, and the app lets you know when the machines are done, so you don’t have to sit there and wait.

There’s also the port adventures desk, where you can plan any excursions that you may not have booked in advance.

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Castaway Cay trikes

Once you are ready to book your next Disney cruise, you can take advantage of onboard discounts and stateroom credits by visiting the vacation planning desk. 

Where does Disney Magic sail to?

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Castaway Cay aerial

According to Disney Cruise Line's website, Disney Magic is currently scheduled to sail to the Bahamas and Caribbean, Mexico, and Panama Canal through December 2024. 

If you want to visit other destinations, such as Europe, Alaska, or the South Pacific, you'll have to look at sailings on other ships in the Disney fleet! 

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