Beginner’s Guide to the Disney Magic

Beginner's Guide to the Disney Magic blog header

The planDisney Pocket Guide series is back by popular demand and expanding to Disney Cruise Line! We’ll kick off this series with the first ship in the fleet. The Disney Magic is home to 11 decks of onboard fun that the whole family will enjoy! As you board the ship, crew members will greet your party by name and none other than Captain Mickey himself will welcome you into the atrium.

Room Accommodations

Staterooms aboard the Disney Magic are designed with families in mind, prioritizing comfort and relaxation. Split bathroom layouts in most staterooms make it easy for larger crews to get ready to “seas” the day. The bedframes are just high enough to slide your suitcase under, providing maximum storage space. See the line where the sky meets the sea with stateroom views ranging from two small porthole windows, one large porthole window, or a private verandah. 

Dining

Rotational dining ensures that all guests can enjoy all three themed dining experiences while on board. Your party and service team will rotate to a different table service restaurant each night. As part of your rotational dining experience, you’ll be our guest at Lumiere’s, spend an evening at Animator’s Palate sketching your favorite Disney characters and enjoy a delicious meal with live entertainment from some familiar friends at Rapunzel’s Royal Table!  

planDisney Tip: The Disney Magic offers a collection of experiences that cater exclusively to adults on board. The centerpiece of a romantic evening is Palo, an elegant adult-exclusive dining experience that serves northern Italian fare with a modern twist. Reservations are required and can be booked online or while boarding the ship. For late-night drinks, dancing and entertainment, adults can enjoy a variety of nightclubs and lounges: Fathoms, Keys, Promenade Lounge and O’Gills Pub.

Youth Clubs 

While adults take advantage of the After Hours excitement, there are several themed spaces for the rest of your crew to enjoy age-appropriate, supervised fun. The “it’s a small world” nursery is an interactive childcare center for kids ages six months to 3 years old, inspired by the nostalgic Disneyland attraction. Kids ages 3 to 12 can immerse themselves in imagination in one of several themed spaces at Disney’s Oceaneers Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lab, including Andy’s Room. Shrink down to the size of a toy and slide down the Slinky Dog slide! Tweens ages 11 to 14 can kick back at Edge, a lounge with flat-screen TVs, video game consoles and a dance floor. There’s also Vibe, a super cool teens-only space for guests ages 14 to 17 to socialize at the ship’s highest point.

planDisney Tip: For families with young adults, the 1820 Society is a group for cruisers that are too old for the Youth Clubs, but not quite old enough for the over 21 activities. Activities hosted by the cruise staff often include game challenges, smoothie time, ice cream socials, lunches and more.

Entertainment 

There is no shortage of activities onboard the Disney Magic! The D Lounge is the perfect spot to come together and enjoy family-friendly entertainment. Put your Disney knowledge to the test with a round of trivia or embrace your inner superstar during a karaoke session.

planDisney Tip: Be sure you have the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app downloaded so you can check the activities schedule. You’ll also use the app to stay connected with your party while onboard.

Don’t miss the Broadway-quality entertainment offerings happening at the Walt Disney Theatre. Follow along on Rapunzel’s journey to find her new dream in Tangled: The Musical or pick up where the classic Cinderella film ends in Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story. Catch a showing of Disney Dreams – An Enchanted Classic for a new and exciting show featuring music and characters from beloved favorite films.

Recreation

Families can make a splash together at Goofy’s Pool! Join in on poolside games and on-deck dance parties hosted by the Disney Magic crew members. You may even catch a movie on the Funnel Vision as you swim. For even more aquatic fun, families can experiment at the AquaLab interactive splash zone and slide down the double looping waterslide. The littlest in your crew can cool off in the Nephews’ Splash Zone, created just for infants and toddlers 3 and under. If you are up for the thrill, head to the highest point of the Disney Magic and slide down the AquaDunk waterslide.

Guests 18 and over can enjoy the Disney Magic’s best-kept secret: the Quiet Cove Pool. This adult-exclusive pool area is complete with two whirlpool spas for some much needed rest and relaxation. Lay back on a lounge chair and sip on a cocktail from Signals pool bar while enjoying the secluded serenity. 

planDisney Tip: If you are a coffee connoisseur, you must make a point of visiting Cove Café, right beside the Quiet Cove pool in the adult-exclusive area. Don’t forget to ask for a Café Fanatic frequent coffee reward card for those delicious specialty coffees.

To learn more about additional offerings and planDisney tips, be sure to swipe through our planDisney Pocket Guide:

You can also download a copy of the Disney Magic planDisney Pocket Guide here.

Stay tuned for more planDisney pocket guides as we explore all the Disney Cruise Line ships. 

Be sure to check out the complete collection of Disney Resort hotel pocket guides to help you plan your next vacation ashore! For more fun tips and great advice for planning your next Disney vacation stop by @planDisneyPanel on Instagram, @planDisney on Twitter or planDisney.com. We look forward to answering your planning questions.

Panelists receive compensation for their participation on planDisney.