We experienced the Magic

Trip aboard Disney cruise ship shows they know how to please travelers of all ages By Debbie Gardner PRIME Editor February 5, 2005 Well, this is it. It's 5:15 a.m. and we are sailing back into Port Canaveral. Our cruise is over, and I'm already ready to get back on the ship. What a vacation... From my journal, written aboard the Disney Magic Jan 29-Feb. 5, 2005 I'll admit it. The Magic cast a spell on me. Just as the Wonder had done the winter before. In fact, when my husband and I recently started thinking about a winter getaway for 2006, both my son, Evan, and I voted for another cruise with Disney. And this time, we may ask Grandma and Grandpa to join us. Why? Because we had so much fun. And ...because in my opinion, Disney really knows how to take care of the needs of everyone in the family. First off, there's no question a Disney cruise is the pefect choice if you're travelling with kids. From the bigger-than-average staterooms (with a divided bath so two people can get ready at once) to the storylines of the ships major shows to the assortment of kid-friendly entrees, extensive slate of fun and educational programming in the children's Oceaner's Club (plus teens-only Common Grounds coffeehouse) and the one-on-one attention of every staff member, it's obvious kids come first on a Disney ship. (For example, I've witnessed a very busy chef hurrying through our passageway pause and kneel down to discuss macaroni and cheese with my 5-year old, just because my son said "Hi" to him. That's truly above and beyond the level of guest courtesy that's standard on any good cruise line I've sailed on multiple ships with multiple lines and know!). But that doesn't mean Disney has forgotten about the grown-ups. There's an upscale coffee-and-cigar bar by the adults-only quiet pool and hot tub (great specialty coffees and decadent pastries!), a grown-ups-only-after 9 p.m. suite of clubs mid-ship (the comics on our cruises were outstanding), an ESPN bar (my husband said the Wonder had the best SuperBowl party he'd ever seen), plenty of health club offerings, great shopping and a five-star, reservations-only (and grownups only) Italian restaurant on the 11th deck (more about this later). Combine the two and its clear Disney is concerned that everyone in the family has a super time every time a family sets sail on their cruise line. February 3, 2005 Never let it be said that Disney isn't a fun ship. Line dancing, pirates dropping from the stack, a silly pirate contest, and ... fireworks on a cruise ship! Pirate party sendoff as the Disney Magic left Cosumel, Mexico Our four-day cruise to the Bahamas and Castaway Cay aboard the Disney Wonder in January 2004 had only given us a taste of what it was like to be their guest. On her identical sister ship, the Magic, we got the full Disney experience, all while visiting such great places as Key West, FL., Grand Cayman Island, Cosumel, Mexico, and Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. There were more big musical shows Disney Dreams, where Peter Pan teaches Wendy how to believe in herself and fly again made me cry more chances to rotate through the ship's three themed restaurants (a Disney hallmark), a chance to have breakfast with some of the Disney characters (Evan loved it!), more opportunities for the kids to meet and greet their favorite Disney characters at autograph signings/photo shoots, more chances for the grown-ups to let their hair down at the clubs and savor dinner at the11th deck restaurant, more contests, more activities, and of course, the Pirate Party during which Disney is the only cruise ship afloat with the technology to shoot off fireworks (what a show!) And there was plenty of time at sea this time to let Evan learn to master the two-story Mickey Mouse water slide, get his fill of the Oceaneer's Club programs (by the third day, he was asking to go back to the Club after dinner - and Mommy and Daddy happily had to re-adjust to being a couple again!), and just enjoy the ship (it was hard to believe there were close to 2,400 passengers there was barely a wait for anything, even at Topsiders (Wonder) and Beach Blanket (Magic), the buffet-style restaurants where we enjoyed breafast and lunch most days of both cruises). As my sister-in-law had observed when we cruised on the Wonder the year before, even a couple without children could find plenty to do on a Disney ship. In fact my brother-in-law spent many restful hours in the hot tub by the Wonder's quiet pool that first trip! Palo ...what an exquisite meal ... from the bread to the appetizer ... to the chocolate souffle! Our night at Palo, the Northern Italian restaurant on the Disney Magic Playa Mia beach in Cosumel was outstanding, the shopping in Grand Caymen was addictive, Evan and I petted our first shark in Key West, and the beach day at Castaway Cay was all that we rememberd from the year before (so beautiful, so easy to get to with the ship docked a short walk from everything, and so much fun!) But for John and I, the highlight of our voyage aboard the Magic was the dinner we shared at Palo on the last night of our cruise. We put ourselves in the hands of our waiter, Marco, and he created a dining experience unequalled by anything in our neck of the woods. From his selection of toppings for our pizza appetizers to his suggestion of wines to complement my red snapper and John's filet mignon to the extra chocolate souffle he packaged up for me to take back to Evan, he made sure everything was prepared to and presented with, perfection. I'd get back on the ship just for another chance to dine there! (Thre is an additional charge of $20/person to dine at Palo, and wine, liquor and gratuities are not included). It seemed all too soon that we were back in port, collecting our luggage and boarding the bus to the airport. We've shared the Wonder, experienced the Magic, and you can be assured this family will sail with Disney again. For information on the 2005-2006 itineraies for the Magic and Wonder, call you travel agent or visit www.disneycruise.com