Experienced DCL cruises, how have Disney cruise experiences changed over the years?

[Jan2007]

Just curious for a little bit of Disney history here.

How has cruising on the magic for instance changed over the past decade?

Like I know they don't do the hercules show anymore, the flying dutchman is no longer in CC and so on. I'm sure some things come and go and some things stay the same. Looking for your input on how the cruise experiences have changed over time. Maybe they haven't gotten better or worse, perhaps just a little different, but what do you remember that is no longer there, and what is there now that wasn't in the past?

I've been looking for a disney cruise experience timeline kind of thing, but haven't found anything like that on the net - if there is such info, please point me to it!

[bsddsc]

Lots of little changes.

- food got better and better each year, that was very noticable. healthier fare in the fast food areas too.

- shows change. even the same ones are freshened up so repeat guests find a little something different. I really miss Hercules, I think it was their best show.

- at first, there were drink cards, then drink mugs and now the open drink station, which I LOVE.

- in room refridgerators and tvs have been updated

- adult pool area furniture was upgraded to teak and spas are now stainless steel, the big screen in the pool area

- Fireworks , who else does that on every cruise

- the one sized Castaway Club is now Silver/Gold/Platinum with slightly different perks at each level.

- some of the ports of call have change every now and again. (I didn't like St. Croix though)

 

We have found it a very pleasant experience to be repeat cruisers and seeing the old Magic change over the years. We cruise to relax, not the ports of call. So cruising the ships and knowing where everything is and knowing all the little things first timers don't, is still lots of fun.

 

I would say it has evolved nicely, and improved over the years. I am looking forward to being on the Dream in less than two weeks, and comparing the two smaller ships to the Dream.

[Host Mick]

Here's some of the things that I've noticed over the years.

 

The Disney Magic used to cruise only three and four night itineraries to Nassau and Castaway Cay. There's were often coupled with vacations at WDW creating seven night Land/Sea vacations your room card worked on land and sea, an industry first hence the Key to the World name. When the Disney Wonder entered service, the Magic went to seven night itineraries in the Eastern, adding Western later.

 

The original shows were Voyage of the Ghost Ship, Hercules the Muse-ical and Disney Dreams.

 

A seldom used conference room on deck 2 was turned into a ship bridge simulator and called Ocean Quest and subsequently renamed The Edge.

 

The Internet cafe was added to the Promenade Lounge.

 

Threeeeee- Deeeeeeee capability was added to the Buena Vista theater.

 

The forward stack used to be the ESPN Club. It was converted to a youth club called Vibe.

 

The youth club on deck 9 was moved to the stack and the space converted to The Cove Cafe.

 

The Improv comedy club whos name I don't remember on deck 3 was converted to a pub and renamed Diversions (This space was originally going to be a casino until Disney nixed the idea)

 

Arielview was added.

 

The zero depth water play area was added to the Mickey pool area.

 

The pirate night replaced the caribbean-themed "Junkanoo" party and restraunt menus.

 

They ditched the live steel-drum band on deck 9. :(

 

The first months of cruises didn't have ice carving <snicker>

[Friend100]

Not on the ship specifically, but at Castaway Cay, they added Cookie Too (a second BBQ area) and the Pelican Plunge waterslide complex last year.

[bsddsc]

another nice plus to Castaway Cay is more seating on the Adults Only Beach. The food on the Adult side is better now too, never used to eat there, now we do. The pirate ship is an interesting thing to look at out there too.

 

and the Spa's exercise area used to look down on the bridge, they extended the floor out to the windows to make more room for equipment. I like that too.

 

On the pool deck, they added the coffee bar. My husband and I have our coffee cards that we use there. Buy 5 get one free. It used to house a video game room which was moved to mid-ship I think. And when that was added, they put in a series of off set walls to tone down the noise from the family area. Nice touch.

 

They have added more evening food stations around the ship too. Just the small plate picky stuff but something they didn't have the first few years.

 

More and more times for posed photos too. And the addition of kiosks which show all of your photos from the cruise. It even shows other people sailing with you (if of course you gave them that information)

 

Now, if they would only replace those awful plastic chairs in Animator's....