The Disney Magic returned to Port Canaveral earlier this month, and it’s an excellent time to take an in-depth look at this, the very first Disney ship.
Built in 1998, the Magic pioneered the concept of inter-generational cruises, or what we call family cruises. This focus and the ship’s design has kept the Magic in good stead over the years. In spite of its age, it’s still a premium ship, with premium amenities and services. Refurbishments have helped to keep this Art Deco masterpiece fresh. One in 2012 added the AquaDunk, and another in 2014 moved the Edge tween’s club, added new interior staterooms, and updated the ship.
Disney Magic Deck by Deck
Disney Magic was designed with family cruisers in mind, and where that shows the most is inside the staterooms. Every stateroom on the Magic is equipped with a separate living area with a full sofa that can be divided from the sleeping area by a heavy curtain for privacy. Each bathroom is equipped with a shallow tub, when staterooms on other cruise lines’ ships are mostly equipped with showers, even recently built ships. The tub is intended for bathing infants and toddlers, but it can fit an adult as well. So as we go, if it seems like we’re describing every stateroom on the magic as a deluxe stateroom, its because we are. In comparison to other cruise lines, every cabin on the magic is a deluxe one.
Deck 1 is home to the health center, tender lobby, and Deluxe Interior and Oceanview Staterooms. Although only a small number confined to the middle and port side of the ship.
Deck 2 has many more Deluxe Interior and Oceanview Staterooms lined up along two corridors on either side of the ship.
Deck 3 is given over entirely to the ship’s public areas. Carioca’s is located at the aft of the ship and serves buffet style dining during the day, but switches over to South American cuisine for dinner. Amidships, you’ll find the Promenade Lounge. A piano bar that offers both drinks and live entertainment. Lumiere’s offers the same schedule as Carioca’s but switches over to French Cuisine. Further forward are three nightclubs. Fathoms is mainly focused on entertainment with a large stage front and center. O’gills is a pub spot. Keys is the main piano bar aboard.
Deck 4 is home to Animator’s Palate, one of the main dining rooms. On board the Magic, the décor goes from black and white, to colorful over the course of your meal. Amidships is the D Lounge, another entertainment focused nightlife spot. Preludes is another lounge but offers dinner as well as drinks. Forward is one of the real stars of the ship, The Walt Disney Theater, which hosts award winning Broadway shows like Tangled.
Deck 5 is a mix of Deluxe Interior and Oceanview Staterooms forward and aft. Amidships is the Oceaneers Lab and Oceaneers Club: The children’s play areas, home to Avenger’s academy, and other play spaces. Slightly aft of this is the nursery for the youngest cruisers. The nursery takes care of children from 3 months of age to 3 years. Towards the rear of the ship is the Buena Vista Theater which shows a mix of Disney classics, and first-run Disney films like the Avengers and Star Wars.
Deck 6 is entirely given over to Deluxe Interior Staterooms, and Deluxe Oceanview Staterooms with Verandahs. Many of the staterooms are joined with connecting doors, making this the deck popular to consider for families of more than 4 people cruising together or other large group cruises. Forward on this deck is a handful of Oceanview Staterooms without balconies. Another notable feature is that the staterooms on the corners of this deck, both forward and aft, are wheelchair accessible.
Deck 7 is largely a repeat of the staterooms on Deck 6. As the staterooms on this deck have nothing above or below but other staterooms they’re some of the quietest available on the Magic, making this the deck of choice for light sleepers.
Deck 8 is the Magic’s high rent district. The least expensive staterooms on this deck are Oceanview rooms with verandahs. Aft and amidships are concierge suites. Off of the midship elevator lobby are the Walter E. Disney and Roy O. Disney suites. The most luxurious cabins aboard.
Deck 9 is the Lido Deck. Aft is Cabana’s, the ship’s main buffet during lunch and dinner, and your alternative to your dining rotation on board the Magic. Cabana’s switched over to serving cooked to order meals during dinner hours, and you and your family can opt out of a meal at one of the showier venues and eat here. Attached to Cabana’s is Daisy De-Lites. Slightly forward on this deck is the splash zone, pool, and Pinocchio’s Pizzeria, Eye Scream, Fro Zone Treats, and Pete’s Boiler Bites. Amidships is the Cove Café, Signals Bar, and the Edge Tweens club. The adults only pool and the spa takes up the forward areas of the ship.
Deck 10 is home to fine dining at Palo at the very rear of the ship. The water slide entrance, the AquaDunk Entrance, and the entrance to the Vibe teens club. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is forward. The Wide World of Sports deck takes up the very front of the ship.
Deck 11 is home to Vibe’s second level in the false forward funnel of the ship.
Celebrate the Magic
The Disney Magic is Disney’s first cruise ship, and it is still the line’s flagship. It has stood the test of time well, despite being over a decade in service, and the ship still offers amenities that would only come with the booking of a junior suite on another line. This make is a great deal for family cruises. The Magic is sailing 3 and 4-night cruises to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral until May of this year.
After booking your cruise on the Disney Magic book a Go Port Fly Snooze Cruise or Snooze Park Cruise package. Go Port offers you choices of all suite hotels like the Embassy Suites, Staybridge Suites or Springhill Suites to take care of your family, or other large group’s, before and after cruise accommodation and transportation needs.
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