Which Disney Cruise Line Ship is Best for First-timers?

If you’re a fan of Disney Cruise Line, you’ve probably heard the news that Fall 2019 itineraries are available to book this week. Newbies to DCL can book this Thursday, May 24, 2018. DisneyCruiseLineBlog has a great recap with all the details. Even though I won’t personally be booking a cruise with this release, I still get caught up in all of the excitement of new schedules and itineraries.

Since my friends and family think of me as the “Disney Cruise lady”, I often answer questions for first-timers considering a Disney Cruise. One of the most frequent questions I hear is: Which Disney Cruise Line ship is best for first-timers?

I’ve sailed on all four Disney Cruise Line ships, and they are all great in different ways. You really can’t pick the “wrong” ship.

However, many people book a Disney Cruise as a once-and-done trip because of the high cost. So I understand the pressure to pick the perfect ship and itinerary. (Spoiler alert: Disney Cruises are addicting, and it’s hard not to book another once you’ve experienced one!)

For some folks, the “best” Disney Cruise ship is going to be the one that has ports within driving distance from your house. For families in Texas, that would be the Disney Wonder, which sails out of Galveston for part of the year. If you live closer to Miami, the Disney Magic is there part-time. However, sometimes it’s less expensive to fly to another port than drive to the ship nearest you based on cruise prices.

I have a definite opinion on which Disney Cruise Line ship is best for first-timers. But first, it’s helpful to understand the differences among the four ships.

The Two Original “Classic” Disney Cruise Line Ships

All Disney Cruise Line ships feature themed dining rooms, adults-only spaces and Disney theater shows. Each ship has clubs for kids ages 6 months to 17 years old. None of the ships have a casino.

Launched in 1998, the Disney Magic was the first ship in Disney’s fleet. With a gross tonnage of 83,338 and a length of 984 feet, it is much smaller than many of the recent mega-cruise ships. It holds up to 2700 passengers. (As a comparison, Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas has a gross tonnage of 226,963 and holds up to 6780 passengers).

Although it is the oldest Disney Cruise Line ship, the Disney Magic was refurbished in 2013 and continues to get updates to keep it in tip-top shape. The ship is known for its AquaDunk thrill slide, Rapunzel’s Royal Table restaurant and Tangled: The Musical. The Oceaneer Club and Lab (kids’ club) features a slinky slide in Andy’s Room and an interactive Avenger’s Academy. The Magic sails to the Bahamas and the Caribbean as well as to Europe during the summer.

One year later, the Disney Wonder made its debut. It is the sister ship to the Disney Magic, so it is similar in size and design. The ship had a major refurbishment in 2016 when it added Tiana’s Place restaurant and Frozen, a Musical Spectacular stage show. The Wonder sails to the Bahamas and the Caribbean as well as to Alaska during the summer.

The Two Newest Disney Cruise Line Ships

The Disney Dream launched in 2011. It is larger than Disney’s classic ships, with a gross tonnage of 129,690 and a length of 1114 feet. It holds up to 4000 passengers.

Disney added advanced technology and recreation options on the new ships. Inside staterooms feature virtual portholes that give guests a continuous live view of the outside. The hallways are full of enchanted art that come to life in the Midship Detective Agency game. The upper deck features miniature golf, sports simulators and the AquaDuck aqua coaster at sea, which I’ve ridden at least 100 times due to my kids. The Oceaneer Club features a Star Wars themed area as well as a Pixie Hollow section.

The Disney Fantasy launched one year later in 2012 and is similar in size and style to the Disney Dream. The main differences in the two ships are the color schemes and décor in the atrium as well as the names and styles of the adult bars. Also, the Dream sails shorter itineraries to the Bahamas, while the Fantasy typically sails on longer cruises to the Caribbean.

So…Which Is Best for First-timers?

Here’s my answer: the Disney Dream.

Why?

Shorter cruises. The Disney Dream typically sails on 3-, 4- and 5-night cruises to the Bahamas. For first-timers, these shorter cruises are a great way to try DCL without breaking the bank. These cruises also stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, which is a great destination and not to be missed. I recommend a 4-night cruise that includes one sea day so that you have time to use the ship’s amenities.

More amenities. The Dream/Fantasy ships have more bells and whistles than the classic ships. The virtual portholes, Midship Detective Agency, miniature golf and the extensive on-demand stateroom movies are not available in both of the classic ships. For larger families, the Dream/Fantasy have more staterooms in lower categories that can fit five people.

Bigger spaces. Since the Dream/Fantasy are bigger than the classic ships, the atrium, kids’ splash area, Edge tween club and Vibe teen club are bigger. Yes, there are more people to fill those spaces, but the areas are more functional. My oldest son first experienced the Edge tween club on the Disney Fantasy. He liked having the option to participate in the group activities or play on the computers. In the Edge on the smaller Wonder ship, the space was too small to do both, so all other activities stopped when a group activity happened.

The extra space on the larger ships also allows for more pampering options in the Rainforest Room and balcony seating at the Walt Disney Theatre.

Port Canaveral. The Dream sails from Port Canaveral, so you can combine your 3-5 night cruise with a visit to Disney World, Universal or Legoland. DCL has a permanent terminal at Port Canaveral that is “Disneyfied” all over. It has a ship model for photo opps and huge Mickey ears at the entrance to the gangway. Compared to sailing DCL from Galveston and Vancouver, the set-up at Port Canaveral is much nicer.

Bottom Line

You really can’t go wrong with any of the four Disney Cruise Line ships. After sailing on six cruises, I still can’t pick a favorite ship. But practically speaking, a 4-night cruise on the Disney Dream is a great place to start.

Veteran Disney Cruisers…do you agree? Which ship do you recommend?

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