Cruise Spotlight
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Disney Wonder vs Disney Magic
The Disney Wonder was built in 1999. It was renovated in 2016. Disney Wonder's exterior has a old-school steam boat feel while the interior leans into the Art Nouveau styling. Outside the ship, you'll see Donald Duck painting the name on the stern. It's 1 year newer than the Magic, which was built in 1998 and renovated in 2013. Disney Magic's exterior has a old-school steam boat feel while the interior leans into the Art Deco styling. Outside the ship, you'll see Goofy painting the name on the stern.
Comparison Overview
- Ship Size
- Number of Passengers
- Food and Restaurants
- Bars and Drinks
- Pools and Hot Tubs
- Ship Features and Activities
- Cruise Costs
- Onboard Costs
Ship Size
The Wonder is considered a small size ship. Coming in at 964 feet long and 106 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.7 football fields, as wide as 2 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 11-story building. The Wonder and the Magic are in the same class, which means they're sister ships. For the most part, they're similar in terms of size and layout; although they may have different features and attractions on board.
Number of Passengers
Disney Wonder holds about the same number of passengers as the Magic based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you look at the "Space Ratio," or tons of ship compared to number of passengers, the Wonder has the same amount of space per person as the Magic.
| Disney Wonder | Disney Magic | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Magic | Magic |
| Gross Tonnage | 84,000 | 84,000 |
| Length | 964 | 984 |
| Beam/Width | 106 | 106 |
| Passenger Decks | 11 | 11 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 1,750 | 1,750 |
| Crew | 950 | 950 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 48 | 48 |
Food and Restaurants
Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.
The Wonder has ten different dining options like Palo, Triton's, and Daisy's De-Lites. Of those options, eight are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other two options have an additional fee.
The Magic has the same number of dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Duck-in Diner, Lumiere's, and Palo. eight of these restaurants are complementary and the other two have an additional fee.
The Disney Wonder has about the same number of dining options as the Disney Magic.
Both ships have a similar number of paid versus included dining options.
Restaurants on Disney Wonder & Magic
| Disney Wonder | Disney Magic | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Animator's Palate | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Cabanas | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Daisy's De-Lites | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Duck-In Diner | ✗ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Eye Scream Treats | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Lumiere's | ✗ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Palo | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Pete's Boiler Bites | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| Pinocchio's Pizzeria | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Preludes | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Rapunzel's Royal Table | ✗ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Tiana's Place | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| Triton's | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.
There are also plenty of bars available on these ships. Alcohol is not included in the base price of this cruise ship. To see if you would save money with a drink package, try our Drink Package Calculator.
Pools and Hot Tubs
Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The Disney Wonder has a total of 3 pools and 4 hot tubs.
The Disney Magic has the same number of pools as the Wonder and the same number of hot tubs.
Tired of loud kids and splashing? One of the pools and two of the hot tubs are adults only on Wonder.| Disney Wonder | Disney Magic | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 3 | 3 |
| Pools - General Access | 2 | 2 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | 1 |
| Pools - Exclusive | ||
| Total Hot Tubs | 4 | 4 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 2 | 2 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 2 | 2 |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive |
Ship Features and Activities
Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. On both ships, 83% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare.
| Disney Wonder | Disney Magic | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Only Relaxation Area | ✓ | ✓ |
| Basketball | ✓ | ✓ |
| Character experiences | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Jogging Track | ✓ | ✓ |
| Movie Theater | ✓ | ✓ |
| Salon | ✓ | ✓ |
| Shows - Broadway play | ✓ | ✓ |
| Shows - musical review | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Splash park | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water slides | ✓ | ✓ |
| Learn more | Learn more |
Cruise Costs
Disney is a premium cruise line. Premium cruise lines typically offer upscale food, accommodations, and service. These typically cost about $150 - $400 per person per day.
Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. To get a good idea of how the pricing compares, visit Disney's website to price out the separate cruises or consult a travel professional.
Onboard Costs
Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.
Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.
The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Disney ship.
| Disney | |
|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $14.50 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 18% |
| Soda Price | Included |
| Domestic Beer Price | $6.50 |
| Drink Package Price | No drink package available |
| Internet Plan | $12 - $36 per device per day |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | |
With Disney Cruises, soda is included for meals, but will have an extra cost at bars and throughout the day. While no drink packages are available, you can preorder bottles of wine or beer at a discount.
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Founded in 2020, Cruise Spotlight's goal is to help people understand every aspect of cruising. Plenty of sites focus on the perfect Instagram pictures and marketing fluff. We focus on what really matters: onboard expenses, tips for cruise ships, detailed cruise reviews, and more. Our goal is to provide helpful, unbiased information to new and established cruisers. Over the years, we've helped millions of people get the most from their cruise vacation.
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