Well, let me say first...this is my 1st trip report ever. Sorry if I don't know proper etiquette! My dh and I have cruised w/ RCCL twice...so comparisons are a fact of life. Unfortunately for Disney, they are compared against RCCL and RCCL by default, is the standard.
I will try to do this in some kind of order. Embarkation...EASY...we already had our key to world card due to our 3 nites at WDW prior. I went to the spa and had a VERY easy time booking 2 appointments. Also booked a Palo's reservation (took about 20 minutes to do it, but in retrospect...Palo's was worth the wait). However, overall... I really don't like this ressie rush. If I knew who to complain to...I would. I want to make all ressie's ahead of time (just like shore excursions). It is a pain to do it on board.
Complaint #1!!!
Showed the kids the Oceaneer's club...filled out forms...got a pager...kids wanted to stay right away, but we couldn't since they didn't officially open till later. So, we went to the Mickey slide for awhile (GREAT slide...my kids loved it!!!).
Then went to safety drill. My dh thought this was a "joke". Probably due to space constraints...we met in the Animater's Palate instead of near a life boat (like RCCL). I talked to 2 families later (there 1st time cruising)...they also said they thought it was odd that we wouldn't at least be shown where our life boat was. I could say more, but I am sure you get my concern.
We already had our luggage (GREAT room steward! Sheetal was very attentive!) so we changed and went to Hercules. It was a good show (not great, but good).
After the show we walked around until our 8:30 dinner at Animator's Palate. Loved the food and the atmosphere. Great
waiter's (Vicki & Gabor!!!)...who were very kind to our exhausted kids. DS-4 and DD-7 could hardly keep their eyes open...let alone eat! It was a BIG mistake to have late seating! Vicki said 1st seating was full so I didn't try to change our time (I wish now I would have at least asked...the next 3 nights were just as bad for the kids.) My dh finished his meal quickly and then took the kids to bed...they were asleep by the time I got to the room (after eating a yummy dessert).
In Nassau we did the Blue Lagoon/Dolphin Encounter...Fabulous! LOVED Blue Lagoon...just beautiful...would do it again in a second. My kids loved the dolphin encounter, although DS was a little scared. If anyone wants more details on this excursion just ask. We didn't do anything else in Nassau except get some braids for my DD. (I forgot that Castaway is the best place to do this!)
That evening they showed Monsters Inc. as the "entertainment". We had already seen it, but it's a fun movie so I didn't mind seeing it again. Dinner at Parrot Cay was great...no complaints about food from me! We never participated in any activities after 9:30...we were all too tired!
In Freeport we did some minor shopping at the Int'l Market...it wasn't that great (and I am a shopper!). I wasn't feeling well so I spent time in our room (I really liked our room...navigator's verandah!) and our kids swam w/ Dad. One thing...this ship REALLY rocks compared to the Voyager of the Seas. I felt nothing on the Voyager in May...I felt the Wonder move...a lot! I took ginger and migraine medicine a lot that day! Complaint #2
I needed to feel better fast 'cause I had booked the surial bath for DH and I. It was a surprise for him (he's really not a spa kind of guy)...but he liked it. I loved it! Wish I could have a set up like that at home! So we recommend it highly!
That evening we had dinner at Triton's after "Who wants to be a Mouseketeer?" It was a good show (but again...I say...just good). My ds-4 was VERY bored...I wish I would've realized ahead of time...he would've liked the kids club more than this show.
The kids club also had characters stop by...that was good for videoing...my opinion is that we don't get enough time to see the "unusual" characters. I saw Minnie/Mickey a lot, but we seldom saw Donald or any of the princesses. They had the princesses lined up one night, but the line was huge and we needed to go to dinner. Honestly, I was VERY disappointed because my kids saw more characters/got autographs at our 3 WDW days then the cruise.
Castaway Cay was next...WOWWWWW...we had a GORGEOUS day (80 degrees). It was great. We rode bikes (not really that many trails to ride around on) and then borrowed some toys (from Scuttles Cove) for the kids to play with. After seeing/playing with the hula hoops on the path...we had a good lunch w/ GREAT big cookies. The kids went to Scuttles Cove and we went to the adult beach. It was gorgeous. Clear blue water & sky made for an idyllic setting. I could've stayed forever! But, my dd wanted to have corn rows done, so we had a no haggle hairdo done for her (prefer CC over Nassau hairdo!).
We hated to leave, but we had to get ready for dinner. My dh and I took the kids to their club so they could be in the kids show...I am glad they did...they seemed to enjoy being on the theater stage! Then my dh and I squeezed in a quick workout before the 6:30 show. We workout regularly at home. The healthclub is not much on the Wonder. I was disappointed in the size of the club as well as the amount of equipment. We definitely had 3 times the equipment on the Voyager.
We rushed back to get the kids for the Dreams show, but the kids were still at supper...so we saw Dreams...again a good show...probably even a great show...but I was tired of Disney shows (please don't throw stones...I just am not overly in love w/ Disney stuff). Again a comparison, but I enjoyed the shows on the Voyager more than the Wonder. Same quality of shows IMO. (Just my opinion...I know some of you are already picking up your stones!) My dh had told me before we left that he read somewhere "You really need to love Disney to do this". I replied that I did love Disney...but after sitting in 4 Disney shows...I understood the comment...it's ALL Disney ALL the time! About 15 minutes into the show I ran up to the club to see if my dd was back...she would've liked the show...but she was on another deck doing some sports stuff. She still had fun!
The final evening in Palo's was superb...great attention to detail/service, etc. After eating we raced back to our rooms to get our bags packed by 11 pm.
The next a.m. we had NO problems disembarking...very easy (and I didn't attend the disembarkation talk...just watched some stuff on tv).
OVERALL...would recommend the Wonder...w/ the understanding that if I was traveling w/o my inlaws...I would do RCCL again. We really did the Wonder because my inlaws are not into the casino's or adult entertainment stuff. They are strictly "G" rated and so the Wonder did exactly what I wanted for the group of us that traveled. Mr. Disney should be proud.
Any questions please let me know.
Kendra
Although I will seldom cruise w/ Disney I still thought it was a good cruise (if not great!)
I will try to do this in some kind of order. Embarkation...EASY...we already had our key to world card due to our 3 nites at WDW prior. I went to the spa and had a VERY easy time booking 2 appointments. Also booked a Palo's reservation (took about 20 minutes to do it, but in retrospect...Palo's was worth the wait). However, overall... I really don't like this ressie rush. If I knew who to complain to...I would. I want to make all ressie's ahead of time (just like shore excursions). It is a pain to do it on board.
Complaint #1!!!
Showed the kids the Oceaneer's club...filled out forms...got a pager...kids wanted to stay right away, but we couldn't since they didn't officially open till later. So, we went to the Mickey slide for awhile (GREAT slide...my kids loved it!!!).
Then went to safety drill. My dh thought this was a "joke". Probably due to space constraints...we met in the Animater's Palate instead of near a life boat (like RCCL). I talked to 2 families later (there 1st time cruising)...they also said they thought it was odd that we wouldn't at least be shown where our life boat was. I could say more, but I am sure you get my concern.
We already had our luggage (GREAT room steward! Sheetal was very attentive!) so we changed and went to Hercules. It was a good show (not great, but good).
After the show we walked around until our 8:30 dinner at Animator's Palate. Loved the food and the atmosphere. Great
waiter's (Vicki & Gabor!!!)...who were very kind to our exhausted kids. DS-4 and DD-7 could hardly keep their eyes open...let alone eat! It was a BIG mistake to have late seating! Vicki said 1st seating was full so I didn't try to change our time (I wish now I would have at least asked...the next 3 nights were just as bad for the kids.) My dh finished his meal quickly and then took the kids to bed...they were asleep by the time I got to the room (after eating a yummy dessert).
In Nassau we did the Blue Lagoon/Dolphin Encounter...Fabulous! LOVED Blue Lagoon...just beautiful...would do it again in a second. My kids loved the dolphin encounter, although DS was a little scared. If anyone wants more details on this excursion just ask. We didn't do anything else in Nassau except get some braids for my DD. (I forgot that Castaway is the best place to do this!)
That evening they showed Monsters Inc. as the "entertainment". We had already seen it, but it's a fun movie so I didn't mind seeing it again. Dinner at Parrot Cay was great...no complaints about food from me! We never participated in any activities after 9:30...we were all too tired!
In Freeport we did some minor shopping at the Int'l Market...it wasn't that great (and I am a shopper!). I wasn't feeling well so I spent time in our room (I really liked our room...navigator's verandah!) and our kids swam w/ Dad. One thing...this ship REALLY rocks compared to the Voyager of the Seas. I felt nothing on the Voyager in May...I felt the Wonder move...a lot! I took ginger and migraine medicine a lot that day! Complaint #2
I needed to feel better fast 'cause I had booked the surial bath for DH and I. It was a surprise for him (he's really not a spa kind of guy)...but he liked it. I loved it! Wish I could have a set up like that at home! So we recommend it highly!
That evening we had dinner at Triton's after "Who wants to be a Mouseketeer?" It was a good show (but again...I say...just good). My ds-4 was VERY bored...I wish I would've realized ahead of time...he would've liked the kids club more than this show.
The kids club also had characters stop by...that was good for videoing...my opinion is that we don't get enough time to see the "unusual" characters. I saw Minnie/Mickey a lot, but we seldom saw Donald or any of the princesses. They had the princesses lined up one night, but the line was huge and we needed to go to dinner. Honestly, I was VERY disappointed because my kids saw more characters/got autographs at our 3 WDW days then the cruise.
Castaway Cay was next...WOWWWWW...we had a GORGEOUS day (80 degrees). It was great. We rode bikes (not really that many trails to ride around on) and then borrowed some toys (from Scuttles Cove) for the kids to play with. After seeing/playing with the hula hoops on the path...we had a good lunch w/ GREAT big cookies. The kids went to Scuttles Cove and we went to the adult beach. It was gorgeous. Clear blue water & sky made for an idyllic setting. I could've stayed forever! But, my dd wanted to have corn rows done, so we had a no haggle hairdo done for her (prefer CC over Nassau hairdo!).
We hated to leave, but we had to get ready for dinner. My dh and I took the kids to their club so they could be in the kids show...I am glad they did...they seemed to enjoy being on the theater stage! Then my dh and I squeezed in a quick workout before the 6:30 show. We workout regularly at home. The healthclub is not much on the Wonder. I was disappointed in the size of the club as well as the amount of equipment. We definitely had 3 times the equipment on the Voyager.
We rushed back to get the kids for the Dreams show, but the kids were still at supper...so we saw Dreams...again a good show...probably even a great show...but I was tired of Disney shows (please don't throw stones...I just am not overly in love w/ Disney stuff). Again a comparison, but I enjoyed the shows on the Voyager more than the Wonder. Same quality of shows IMO. (Just my opinion...I know some of you are already picking up your stones!) My dh had told me before we left that he read somewhere "You really need to love Disney to do this". I replied that I did love Disney...but after sitting in 4 Disney shows...I understood the comment...it's ALL Disney ALL the time! About 15 minutes into the show I ran up to the club to see if my dd was back...she would've liked the show...but she was on another deck doing some sports stuff. She still had fun!
The final evening in Palo's was superb...great attention to detail/service, etc. After eating we raced back to our rooms to get our bags packed by 11 pm.
The next a.m. we had NO problems disembarking...very easy (and I didn't attend the disembarkation talk...just watched some stuff on tv).
OVERALL...would recommend the Wonder...w/ the understanding that if I was traveling w/o my inlaws...I would do RCCL again. We really did the Wonder because my inlaws are not into the casino's or adult entertainment stuff. They are strictly "G" rated and so the Wonder did exactly what I wanted for the group of us that traveled. Mr. Disney should be proud.
Any questions please let me know.
Kendra
Although I will seldom cruise w/ Disney I still thought it was a good cruise (if not great!)