Having sailed on Disney Cruise Line as a child, I couldn't resist booking a 3-night cruise aboard Disney Magic to the line's brand-new private destination in the Bahamas.
Launched in July 1998, Disney Magic is Disney's first cruise ship. Her sister ship, Disney Wonder, joined her one year later. Following Wonder, Disney didn't expand its fleet for over a decade until the debut of Disney Dream in 2011.
Despite being over 25 years old, Disney Magic feels as fresh and whimsical as ever. The ship's classic Art Deco design is complemented by modern updates and amenities thanks to several refurbishments over the years.
From character parties to immersive rotational dining rooms and high-quality production shows, the Disney cruise experience was just as magical as I remember. As an adult, however, I am more skeptical of my cruise vacations than I was as a child.
For example, the quality of the Main Dining Room's food wasn't up to par with other cruise lines. While some of the dishes were good, most fell flat, such as the crispy shrimp I ordered dining at Rapunzel's Royal Table. The shrimp didn't pair well with the bland pea purée and lacked a burst of flavor.
Despite the few minor setbacks, my experience aboard Disney Magic was so memorable my fiancée and I didn't hesitate to book a placeholder reservation for a future Disney sailing!
Disney Magic's production shows were the best I've seen at sea
If you enjoy Broadway-caliber productions, look no further than Disney Cruise Line. Typically, older cruise ships aren't known for their theater shows, with most mainstream cruise lines reserving their best productions for newer vessels. Disney, however, defies that expectation.
Each night after dinner, we made our way to the Walt Disney Theater to watch one of three shows: Tangled: The Musical, Disney Dreams - An Enchanted Classic, and Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story. Tangled and Twice Charmed are exclusive to Disney Magic, while Disney Dreams can also be seen aboard Disney Wonder.
The latter is a wholesome story about a young girl named Anne Marie who struggles to believe in herself. One night, she's visited by Peter Pan who guides her through an adventure that helps her rediscover her confidence. During the production, many beloved Disney characters—including Aladdin, Ariel, and Belle—make an appearance and sing classic songs.
Tangled: The Musical follows Rapunzel after she's been kidnapped by evil villainess Mother Gothel and grown up hidden away from the world. The story remains true to the Disney movie; however, cruisers should expect small twists to bring the story to life in front of an audience.
Finally, Twice Charmed rewrites the original Cinderella story. Instead of everything falling into place, Twice Charmed introduces an alternate reality where Cinderella’s happily ever after is threatened by a twist of fate—also known as the evil godfather.
Each show featured elaborate sets, impressive choreography, and talented performers who brought Disney magic to life. Previously, I would have argued that Royal Caribbean had the best production shows at sea; however, after experiencing the caliber of the performances aboard Disney Magic, I’m not so sure anymore.
Disney’s commitment to top-tier entertainment is evident in every detail. These shows were the closest I've seen to Broadway-style productions on a cruise ship, and I've sailed on some of Royal's newest ships with shows like Mamma Mia, Hairspray, and Cats!
Read more: Shows You Can See on a Disney Cruise
Speedy and attentive service
From sailaway drinks to service in the Main Dining Rooms, Disney's service is one of the things that sets them apart from other cruise lines.
For example, when we wanted a pre-show drink in the theater, we never struggled to locate a bartender. And instead of taking multiple orders at once, the bartender focused on one guest at a time, ensuring they received their order in minutes.
Additionally, our waitress Donna told us she only served three tables during our dining rotation. Whenever we needed something, she was readily available. She provided a level of personalized service that felt genuinely attentive, quickly learning our preferences despite only being onboard for three nights.
Even our cabin steward went above and beyond to make sure our cabin was clean and comfortable. Whenever we returned to our stateroom, we were greeted by little surprises, whether a perfectly arranged blanket character (not a towel animal!), chocolates, or extra towels. Plus, when I had an issue connecting to Wi-Fi, I was immediately helped at Guest Services without waiting in a lengthy line.
Read more: 20 questions to ask your cruise ship cabin attendant
Great adult-only venues
As someone in their mid-20s and childless, I was worried the experience on Disney Magic would feel overly geared toward families with younger children. I anticipated crowded play areas, long lines for character meet-and-greets, and tons of noise. While the latter two were true, Disney created a balance that caters to families and adults seeking a more serene experience.
For example, we spent most of our sea day lounging by the adults-only Quiet Cove Pool, rather than the Goofy Pool. Plus, there was an entire district of bars and lounges for adults at night. Fathoms, for example, hosted Krazy Karaoke and "Match Your Mate." Additionally, O'Gills had a lively pub vibe and was perfect when we wanted a specialty cocktail (or play 2000s music trivia!).
Whereas most cruise ships have an adult-only sun deck, Disney took it one step further by creating an entire adults-only zone tucked away from the family-centric hubs of the vessel. They also have adult-only specialty restaurants for those who want a romantic dining experience away from kids. As such, even if you're cruising sans children, I wouldn't immediately eliminate a vacation on Disney Cruise Line.
Read more: Palo Disney Cruise: is it worth it for brunch?
Updated and refreshed cabin
Having sailed on two ships built the same year as Disney Magic, I expected my stateroom to feel outdated with few outlets and a cramped bathroom.
However, I was pleasantly surprised by how well Disney had maintained my inside cabin. While the design retains the classic charm of the ship's original style with a darker color palate, the room felt fresh, comfortable, and equipped with modern amenities, including over ten outlets.
The bathroom, in particular, stood out with its shower-tub combo and amenities. In fact, the shower was perhaps the most spacious I've had on a cruise ship. Though I wasn't a fan of the curtain, I didn't have to worry about my elbows colliding with the wall. Disney also provided high-quality products, including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, and liquid hand soap.
The only disappointing aspect of the bathroom was the lack of storage. Outside a single hook on the door and one shelf above the sink, there wasn't much space to store products.
Mandatory in-person muster drill
All cruise lines have to conduct a mandatory safety briefing before sailing away. However, most have adopted virtual drills, allowing guests to watch safety videos from their mobile devices or on their cabin's television.
That said, Disney requires all passengers to report to their assembly stations at the same time. Once the emergency signal has been broadcast, crew members conduct a brief but thorough in-person safety drill, and officers are stationed by the exit to ensure guests don't leave before the drill has been concluded.
As our assembly station was in Animator's Palate, we watched a short video, rather than listening to crew members. Thankfully, we didn't have to stand in the Florida heat for our drill since we were inside. However, I can imagine parents with young children or those with mobility concerns might find the process uncomfortable.
Moreover, with the drill ending at the same time, thousands of passengers flock to the elevators at once, trying to make their way to the top deck for the sailaway party. Instead of contributing to the chaos, we let those who needed the tiny elevators have them and opted to take the stairs from Deck 4 to 9.
Read more: 8 things Disney Cruise Line does backwards
The food didn't live up to expectations
While the food was definitely better than recent experiences on Royal Caribbean and Carnival, it didn't quite justify the high price tag. The dishes were generally well-prepared, and there were some standout meals, like the filet mignon at Animator's Palate. However, the dining experience felt inconsistent.
For example, my fiancée didn't love the grilled chicken from Animator's Palate or conchiglie pasta from Lumiere's, claiming the sauce had an overly shrimpy taste. I also found the Chateaubriand-roasted filet from Lumiere's bland and didn't enjoy the pea purée that accompanied the crispy shrimp at Rapunzel's Royal Table.
Additionally, the pizza from Pinocchio's Pizza was similar to Sorrento's on Royal Caribbean ships. It was serviceable, but it wasn't anything special. The crust was rather chewy, and the toppings were basic. Having recently sailed with Princess Cruises and being impressed by the dining experience, I was disappointed that Disney's dining didn't meet my expectations.
I was worried we wouldn't like being seated with other guests
Unlike other cruise lines where you can usually get a table for two, Disney typically seats smaller parties with other guests. Each night, we dined with a couple from Florida celebrating their 10th anniversary, and we loved getting to know them during our 3-night cruise.
Whether showing each other pictures of our children (including furry children) or talking about the day's activities, we felt like we were dining with old friends by the last night! In fact, we got along so well we didn't just meet up during dinner. We cheered each other on during Krazy Karaoke and even teamed up to win the adult-only scavenger hunt in Fathoms.
Slow Wi-Fi
Unlike many mainstream cruise lines, Disney has yet to bring Starlink to all of its ships.
As such, the internet on Disney Magic was frustrating at best. While I could use iMessage without issue to talk to friends and family, uploading images and videos to social media was painstaking. What made it even more disappointing was that I paid over $40/day for the premium package.
While most passengers go on a cruise to disconnect, I often work remotely while onboard. The slow speed of the Wi-Fi made it nearly impossible to get tasks done promptly.
Impressive buffet offerings but limited hours
It was nice to see that Disney had a mix of kid-friendly options like chicken tenders and mac and cheese, alongside more sophisticated dishes such as crab legs, shrimp, carved meats, and a variety of fresh salads and pasta dishes—parents with fussy children didn't have to worry about eating the same things as their kids! However, I saw plenty of children loading up their plates with shrimp and crab.
My biggest gripe with the buffet was the size. While on a smaller ship, the hallways were too narrow to accommodate the multitude of strollers present during breakfast and lunch.
Plus, Disney's buffet isn't open for dinner in the traditional sense, so parents with kids who can't sit through multi-course meals had to order room service, grab a slice of pizza, or venture to the Duck In Diner for burgers, chicken tenders, or hot dogs. That said, the buffet is open for sit-down service.
Manageable lines for character meet-and-greets
Even though the lines to meet beloved characters like Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Ariel, and more were long, they were shorter than what you'd find at Disney parks. Still, if meeting characters is important, you'll want to plan ahead and line up before the greeting is scheduled to begin.
For example, we lined up fifteen minutes in advance when we wanted to get a picture with Mickey on Pirate Night. If you arrive too late, you may be told by a cast member that you're in line for a different character than you thought.
You will also want to arrive early at the character parties, whether the Sail-A-Wave party or Pirate Night show. Due to inclement weather, our Pirate Night party was moved into the Atrium. Thirty minutes before showtime, all spots on the banisters on Deck 4 and 5 had been taken. Moreover, after the muster drill ended, most parties made their way to the pool deck to claim a good spot for the sailaway party.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
