CAA travel consultants Dayna Guay and Becca Baechler share one important passion: their Disney cruise experience! Their enthusiasm bubbles like champagne and it doesn’t take long for them to dive into a detailed description of their time aboard the Disney Magic.
The two shared a veranda stateroom, with a queen bed and a sofa bed. With the help of good weather, the two enjoyed sightseeing from their balcony.
While sunning was fun, Becca and Dayna were determined to make the most of every minute afloat. Though they had been strategic in planning their character meet-ups, Becca and Dayna were pleasantly surprised to find that there were no lineups.
“All we had to do,” says Dayna, “was look on the Disney cruise app to see where the characters would be. We’d even get 15-minute reminder texts so we could pick our [favourite characters] and be there to meet them when they arrived.”
Designed for much more than planning character meet and greets, the app made it easy for Dayna and Becca to plan every activity, every meal and every spa treatment.
“The app is fabulous,” says Becca. “It works seamlessly using the ship’s Wi-Fi – and you can even use it to message your friends and family on the ship.” Because Wi-Fi for the Disney app is included in your cruise price and offers you a running total of your on-board charges, there are no surprises at the end of your cruise. Cards come with handy wearable lanyards so you can charge any purchases to your account and never need to carry cash.
Although Magic offered a wide range of à la carte restaurants, Dayna and Becca were so pleased with the restaurants and buffets included with their stay that the pair didn’t feel the need to go anywhere else. Because the Disney system has the servers, bartenders, and maître ds moving with each group of guests each night, Becca and Dayna felt they received personalized and intuitive service as they cycled through the included restaurants.
Did they love their specialized dining experience? The pair reports that they are “still giddy months later!”
Animator’s Palette, a popular restaurant aboard the Magic, was an immersive experience that made Dayna cry. “The images were so beautiful. People were given pieces of paper with outlines of people. They drew on them and suddenly, their pictures were animated and added to a screen in the restaurant. It was magical!”
Becca loved Rapunzel’s Royal Table where one evening all the assistant servers came out carrying lanterns, while Rapunzel and Flynn Rider sang romantically to one another. When an assistant server invited Becca and Dayna to join him for a dance around the restaurant, they did. These two CAA women take their assignment to explore every aspect of a Disney cruise very seriously!
Our CAA detectives also report that the shows were incredible – all Broadway caliber, if not better. They were even serenaded by Prince Charming! The on-board musicals were all Disney, but there were other acts – a comedian/juggler and a magician – that were also excellent. Fathoms Lounge offered entertainment with slightly more adult humour but Dayna and Becca felt there was nothing inappropriate for families.
While exploring all the on-board options was the big priority, Dayna and Becca also made sure to experience the shore excursions, including a walking tour on their own through Quebec City and a trip to Peggy’s Cove. Misty weather made for some great photos and a stop at a food truck for lobster rolls provided the energy they needed for a visit to the Titanic cemetery.
Because our CAA Niagara pair knew in advance to bring costumes for pirate night and Halloween on the High Seas – they were ready to suit up and become Maleficent and Mrs. Potato Head when the big moment arrived. While those were great events, the entertainment seemed to be non-stop.
Says Becca, “we even had servers setting off fireworks at our table!”
You don’t have to listen to Becca and Dayna for very long before you start to plan your own Disney cruise – and the pair has some great advice to offer:
- Book early – right now, they’re booking into 2020 – so you’ll get the savings and the stateroom you prefer.
- Book spa treatments, shore excursions, meet and greets and character breakfasts as soon as you book your cruise. While there’s no extra charge, you do need reservations. Dayna and Becca recommend choosing the prepaid gratuities.
- Disney allows you to decorate your stateroom door so bring colourful magnets, photos or perhaps a whiteboard and marker for messages.
- There are no beverage packages on Disney – all drinks have to be signed for. Ask for water at the bar instead of paying for bottles.
- Don't forget costumes for a special pirate-themed night.
Interested in planning a Disney Cruise or Resort vacation?
Contact an Enchanted Vacations Specialist here or by visiting your nearest CAA Niagara branch.
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