The Disney Magic: An Overview of Disney Cruise Line’s First Ship

Disney Cruise Line’s first vessel to hit the high seas, the Disney Magic, set a precedent for a fleet designed with families in mind, including signature offerings such as rotational dining, Broadway-style shows, themed dining, character encounters, and fireworks at sea. With plenty of activities for families, kids, and adults, guests feel the Disney ‘magic’ every second of their cruise vacation. The Disney Magic was our first Disney Cruise Line ship and will always have a special place in our hearts. Keep reading to learn everything you need about Disney Cruise Line’s first ship!

1 – Disney Magic

The Disney Magic is the first ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. Its maiden voyage was July 30, 1998, but it has received several refurbishments to keep the ship up to date. It’s a relatively small ship with 875 staterooms and a capacity of 2,713 passengers. The Disney Wish, Disney Dream, and Disney Fantasy hold 4,000 passengers and have around 1250 staterooms. Check out the breakdown of the staterooms below.

• • 262 Inside Staterooms (30 percent)
  • 613 Outside Staterooms (70 percent)
  • 229 ocean view
  • 384 verandah (includes 22 suites)

2 – Youth Spaces

As you might expect, Disney Cruise Line excels in its youth programming. During our Disney Magic cruise in January 2019, we had the opportunity to tour the youth areas of the ship with Beth, the Manager of Youth Activities, to hear about Disney’s youth programs. Disney has five different youth clubs for various age ranges, from small babies to seventeen-year-olds. Each space has a unique theme tied to a specific story for that particular area. 

• Disney’s Oceaneer Club transports kids ages 3 to 10 to the magical lands of Disney fairies, courageous Super Heroes and adventuresome toys.
• Disney’s Oceaneer Lab is a nautical wonderland where children ages 3 to 10 embark on a journey of discovery with arts and crafts, gaming and counselor-led activities.
• It’s a Small World Nursery is a whimsical world for infants and toddlers up to age 3 where they are safely cared for by trained Disney counselors.
• Vibe (ages 14 to 17) and Edge (ages 11 to 14) are ultra-cool teen and tween hangouts with comfy couches, music, video games and other chill-out necessities.
• At Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, aspiring young princess and knights become Disney royalty with the help of a fairy godmother-in-training. When the pirate deck party is on the evening schedule, the space transforms into The Pirate League, where young sailors can unleash their inner buccaneer with a piratical makeover.

3 – Upper Deck Fun and Pools

A highlight of any cruise vacation is spending time on the pool deck. Like all Disney Cruise Line ships, the Disney Magic boasts separate pools for children, families, and adults. Options on the Disney Magic include:

• AquaDunk, a 37-foot-tall body slide that begins with a surprise launch.

• AquaLab, an interactive water playground open to kids age 3 and older.

• Nephew’s Splash Zone, a special splash-and-play area for little ones up to age 3, starring Donald Duck’s mischievous nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie.

• Twist’ n’ Spout water slide.

• Goofy’s Pool, a relaxing pool for families of all ages to enjoy.

• Wide World of Sports Deck, the ideal spot for a pick-up game, ping-pong match or enjoying breathtaking ocean views.

• The Funnel Vision screen is in the midship area and features movies and show entertainment.

• Finally, in the forward section of the ship, is the Quiet Cove Adult Pool for guests over the age of 18. This area is quiet and away from the excitement of the family pool, a nice place to relax.

4 – Quick-Service Restaurants

It is true that you’ll never go hungry on a cruise ship! There are so many fantastic dining options to be found all over the ship. Cabanas is a casual indoor/outdoor breakfast or lunch buffet-style dinner. The beach-themed dining room, colorful surfboards, beach umbrellas, and teak Adirondack chairs create a sunny setting for guests.

On deck 9 in the pool area of the Disney Magic, you can enjoy three quick-service type restaurants: Daisy’s De-Lites, Duck-In Diner, and Pinocchio’s Pizzeria. Nearby, you’ll find an endless supply of ice cream at Eye Scream.

5 – Rotational Main Dining

Enjoying the three uniquely themed family restaurants aboard the Disney Magic is convenient and hassle-free, as guests “rotate” through the restaurants each night accompanied by the same serving team for a variety of menus and cuisines and friendly, personalized service.

Rapunzel’s Royal Table, inspired by the beloved story of Disney’s “Tangled,” transports Disney Magic guests to the kingdom of Corona for an evening of music and interactive fun featuring Rapunzel and the mischievous Snuggly Duckling Thugs.

Animator’s Palate, one of the most popular restaurants on the Disney ships, features animation-adorned walls and larger high-definition flat-screens to provide the best views of the animation magic that takes place all around. Animator’s Palate inspires creativity with “Drawn to Magic,” a black-and-white to color animation show that surrounds guests in the swirling colors of animated classics and transports their dining experience into a dramatic story of heroes and villains.

Lumière’s invites passengers to “be our guest” in a grand dining room with French elegance reminiscent of classic transatlantic ocean liners.

An adult-exclusive restaurant – Palo, specializing in modern Italian cuisine, features stunning ocean views and a formal, romantic ambiance. We highly recommend this special meal for adults. It’s worth every penny.

6 – Family Entertainment

From dazzling stage shows to over-the-top deck parties, entertainment aboard the Disney Magic is designed to delight the entire family. Broadway-style stage spectaculars delight audiences in the lavish Walt Disney Theatre, two of which are exclusively presented aboard the Disney Magic.

Exclusive to the Disney Magic, “Tangled: The Musical” follows the thrilling adventure of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider as they face ruffians and a budding romance on an exhilarating journey of self-discovery. “Disney Dreams… An Enchanted Classic” is a signature Disney Cruise Line show that tells a bedtime story featuring popular Disney characters who together teach a young girl the power of her dreams. Exclusive to the Disney Magic, “Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story” immerses the audience in a story that begins where the original ended and features Cinderella, Prince Charming and other favorites from the animated fairy tale classic.

There are also movies shown in the Walt Disney Theatre, as well as up on deck by the family pool and in the Buena Vista Theatre, a cinema with plush stadium-style seats that screens first-run movies and digital 3-D films.

On select itineraries, there’s an evening brimming with buccaneer fun during the “Pirates IN the Caribbean” celebration. An interactive show featuring Jack Sparrow culminates in a fireworks spectacular choreographed to the dramatic musical score from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies. As the night rolls on, guests unleash their inner pirate and dance their boots off during a swashbuckling deck party, a family-friendly bash featuring electrifying music, stunning visuals and special effects.

7 – Shopping

It should be no surprise to hear that you’ll find plenty of shopping options onboard the Disney Magic. Mickey’s Mainsail and White Caps are the two main gift shops that are similar to the shops you’ll find at Disney World Resorts. They feature exclusive Disney Cruise Line merchandise and other Disney merchandise. Sea Treasures was transformed into a Marvel store during our sailing. Finally, Shutters Photo Gallery and The Crown Jewelry round out the shopping options on the Magic. Note that DVC members do receive a 10% discount on their purchases at the Disney gift shops.

8 – Nightly Adult Entertainment

Even after a long day, you’ll want to check out some of the entertainment that is offered to adults in After Hours, Disney Cruise Line’s adult entertainment district that features trendy and sophisticated bars and lounges.

Also, be sure to check out the Silent Dance Party. If you’re not familiar with silent dance parties, everyone is wearing headphones, offering four different music options. Pick your music and start dancing. The room has all the energy of a club, but it’s completely silent. It’s hilarious to watch as well. You’d be wrong if you think a Disney Cruise is just for kids. There is a steady stream of programming throughout the day for the 18+ crowd in addition to the nighttime adult entertainment district.

9 – Disney Magic is Amazing

There are so many things to see and do on the Disney Magic. We hope this article gives you a better idea of what she offers. The Disney Magic sails from a variety of ports across the United States, including voyages from South Florida, San Diego, Galveston, and the port of New Orleans. Select itineraries on the Disney Magic stop at Castaway Cay, Disney’s tropical private island in the Bahamas, or the new private island destination, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.

If you’re thinking about booking a Disney Cruise and want some help, we highly recommend booking with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner to ensure you are well taken care of and get all the discounts available to you. For more details and help booking your vacation, call (407) 442-0227. You can also get a no-obligation, FREE vacation quote by clicking here. Their services are free to you, and they can answer any questions you may have.

Editor’s Note: Disney Cruise Line provided us with a complimentary cruise on the Disney Magic in June 2024 with special media-specific events and tours during the cruise. However, as always, the thoughts and opinions about Disney Cruise Line contained in this article are entirely our own.