How is the Disney Wonder?

[Mommytofourkids]

Ooh why do you prefer the restaurants on the smaller ships?
Animators Palette is both better themed and has better shows. Rapunzel’s is much more fun than Enchanted Garden (although I enjoy both!$

Ohh I didn’t know the Animators Palette is different on the different ships. I wanted to do the Rapunzel dinner but they don’t have that on the Wonder; maybe we will have a chance next time to go on the Magic

 

[disneylandlocal]

I would adjust your expectations. The line can be long (45-60 min or longer) and the ride itself is about a minute long. It's fun, I guess, but not like amazing. Maybe worth riding a handful of times, but of ALL the incredible offerings on a cruise, I've never found it to be essential and in terms of water park amusement style rides, fairly tame. It's not like a huge thrill or anything. My family can take it or leave it. And my daughter (currently 14, who loves rides) has felt that way since our first cruise in 2014.

Completely agree, we are all waterslide fans and were underwhelmed by aqua duck. We went straight for it on boarding, rode a few times and never cared to go back. The kids much preferred midship detective. I really “wish” DCL would add more water slides to its ships. Aqua duck and from what I’ve seen of aqua mouse just seem gimmicky/ aesthetically pleasing but don’t make great rides.

 

[holula]

Ohh I didn’t know the Animators Palette is different on the different ships. I wanted to do the Rapunzel dinner but they don’t have that on the Wonder; maybe we will have a chance next time to go on the Magic

They have Tiana’s on the Wonder though! I haven’t been on the Wonder since Tiana’s was added but I’m sailing her in December and excited about it.

The Magic/Wonder version of AP is soooo much better than the newer version IMO.

 

[TestingH2O]

I would adjust your expectations. The line can be long (45-60 min or longer) and the ride itself is about a minute long. It's fun, I guess, but not like amazing. Maybe worth riding a handful of times, but of ALL the incredible offerings on a cruise, I've never found it to be essential and in terms of water park amusement style rides, fairly tame. It's not like a huge thrill or anything. My family can take it or leave it. And my daughter (currently 14, who loves rides) has felt that way since our first cruise in 2014.

OP also indicated that the kids are between 8 & 2. With height and potty training requirements, there’s no way all the kids could even ride.

Ooh nice! My kids love that kind of stuff

are there a lot of kids? From the videos I see online, it seems like the Wonder has more older people.. we are going on the 3 day merrytime cruise to Ensenada so I’m thinking it may be more older people as Ensenada isn’t the safest port for kids. I think my kids enjoy dancing if there are a lot of other little kids up there too

Yes there are kids. It’s Disney. There will be slightly fewer kids on Alaska ($$$) and lots fewer on Panama Canal sailings (length of cruise,) but generally the proportion of kids will be the same. We’ve sailed on all the ships and spent the most nights on the Wonder. My daughter has enjoyed it at age 5 and continues to enjoy it at 10.

 

[anricat]

The Magic/Wonder version of AP is soooo much better than the newer version IMO.

100% agree. I really dislike Animator's on the Dream and Fantasy. We much prefer all the dining on the Classics, honestly.

 

[JWelch62]

Wow 13 times! Did you ever do the 3 day merrytime cruise to Ensenada? That’s the one we are doing, I wonder if it’s not as popular since it only stops at Ensenada which isn’t a popular port… we don’t plan on getting off the ship though and will just stay on the ship and enjoy the amenities during that time.

This is the first season that the Wonder will be in San Diego over the winter. You will be among the first do do a Merrytime cruise from SD!

We've been to Ensenada quite a few times so we usually will just walk over to the Mercado Negro area and get some fish tacos and margaritas and micheladas.

 

[holula]

100% agree. I really dislike Animator's on the Dream and Fantasy. We much prefer all the dining on the Classics, honestly.

Me too. I hate the Crush show and always skip it.

 

[Mommytofourkids]

This is the first season that the Wonder will be in San Diego over the winter. You will be among the first do do a Merrytime cruise from SD!

We've been to Ensenada quite a few times so we usually will just walk over to the Mercado Negro area and get some fish tacos and margaritas and micheladas.

is the Merrytime cruise different from the normal cruise? Is it basically the same except they have Christmas decor everywhere?

 

[Ariel 2021]

Ooh nice! My kids love that kind of stuff

are there a lot of kids? From the videos I see online, it seems like the Wonder has more older people.. we are going on the 3 day merrytime cruise to Ensenada so I’m thinking it may be more older people as Ensenada isn’t the safest port for kids. I think my kids enjoy dancing if there are a lot of other little kids up there too

There were lots of kids when we went, it’s Disney, I would imagine that there would LsYs be another of kids!

 

[auntlynne]

Ooh nice! My kids love that kind of stuff

are there a lot of kids? From the videos I see online, it seems like the Wonder has more older people.. we are going on the 3 day merrytime cruise to Ensenada so I’m thinking it may be more older people as Ensenada isn’t the safest port for kids. I think my kids enjoy dancing if there are a lot of other little kids up there too

In the videos, the kids may be all playing in the Clubs. Or just respectful vloggers who avoid showing other people’s kids. Or just fewer kids. As posters say, it’s the longer cruises (and school-time) cruises that skew to adults. You’ll be boosting the kid count with your crowd.

is the Merrytime cruise different from the normal cruise? Is it basically the same except they have Christmas decor everywhere?

I still haven’t noticed a lot of special activities on Halloween or Merrytime cruises. They may be kid-focused. Definitely the Disney touch of decorating.

You can check out daily activity schedules from previous cruises on the disneycruiselineblog website. The schedule is called Personal Navigators (used to be paper, now on the app, so pre-pandemic sailings are about as recent as you can easily see.) But cruise activities have been similar for years, so you will get a good idea. If there hSven’s been Merrytime cruises from San Diego before, just look at the ones from the Magic or the Dream. Try to find one for the same-length cruise.

 

[auntlynne]

Click on the 3 bars



Then scroll down to find Personal Navigators




Choose your ship. Then find a date with a Christmas tree icon.


Look on the days to see Personal Navigator. (This is historical; no more paper copies / different layout will be available on your phone app and the stateroom TV.)

 

[Mommytofourkids]

Click on the 3 bars

View attachment 697690

Then scroll down to find Personal Navigators


View attachment 697691

Choose your ship. Then find a date with a Christmas tree icon.
View attachment 697692

Look on the days to see Personal Navigator. (This is historical; no more paper copies / different layout will be available on your phone app and the stateroom TV.)
View attachment 697693

Thanks for sending this to me! I just checked it out, looks like they have a lot of activities on board. Can’t wait for our cruise but still have to wait another 4 months. How many Disney cruises do you do in a year? I wish we can go more often

 

[anricat]

Thanks for sending this to me! I just checked it out, looks like they have a lot of activities on board. Can’t wait for our cruise but still have to wait another 4 months. How many Disney cruises do you do in a year? I wish we can go more often

We have gone once per year since 2014 except this year we did 2. We didn't even miss 2020 (went in Jan) or 2021 (went in Nov).

 

[Mommytofourkids]

We have gone once per year since 2014 except this year we did 2. We didn't even miss 2020 (went in Jan) or 2021 (went in Nov).

Wow that’s awesome! I want to do that too, which ships and itineraries do you normally do? I noticed that the cruises that go to Castaway Cay are couple thousand dollars more expensive than the ones that go to Mexico. Do you also have any tips on how to get good pricing for the Disney cruises? Do they have any special vacation clubs or memberships that will help us save $$ if we want to go regularly?

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

LOVE the Wonder! The Frozen show on the Wonder is terrific, very high-quality production (and I don't even like the Frozen movie). There will be lots of activities. Kids' club is outstanding (just as good as Dream and Fantasy). The dining rooms are good on the Wonder (especially love Tiana's). I do not think it's outdated feeling. It has a classic nautical feel.

 

[mlayman7]

LOVE the Wonder! The Frozen show on the Wonder is terrific, very high-quality production (and I don't even like the Frozen movie). There will be lots of activities. Kids' club is outstanding (just as good as Dream and Fantasy). The dining rooms are good on the Wonder (especially love Tiana's). I do not think it's outdated feeling. It has a classic nautical feel.

Are the Frozen shows on the Wonder and the Fantasy the same?

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Are the Frozen shows on the Wonder and the Fantasy the same?

I think so, but the last time I was on the Fantasy was before they started Frozen on that ship.

 

[anricat]

Are the Frozen shows on the Wonder and the Fantasy the same?

Yes, we've seen both and they are the same.

 

[Mommytofourkids]

LOVE the Wonder! The Frozen show on the Wonder is terrific, very high-quality production (and I don't even like the Frozen movie). There will be lots of activities. Kids' club is outstanding (just as good as Dream and Fantasy). The dining rooms are good on the Wonder (especially love Tiana's). I do not think it's outdated feeling. It has a classic nautical feel.

How do you like the Wonder compared to the Fantasy and other ships? Do the other ships feel like there’s more to do and see since they’re bigger and have more spaces to explore and options/amenities?

 

[auntlynne]

Thanks for sending this to me! I just checked it out, looks like they have a lot of activities on board. Can’t wait for our cruise but still have to wait another 4 months. How many Disney cruises do you do in a year? I wish we can go more often

2007 Wonder 3N Bahamas
2007 Wonder 4N Bahamas

2008 Magic 7N Western Caribbean

none

2010 Magic 14N Eastbound Transatlantic followed by
2010 Magic 11N Mediterranean (Barcelona)

2011 Magic 5N Double Dip
2011 Wonder 7N Alaska (Vancouver)
2011 Magic 14N Westbound Transatlantic (Barcelona - Port Canaveral)
2011 Dream 4N Bahamas
2011 Dream 3N Dream {Concierge to celebrate 10th cruise}

2012 Wonder 7N Mexican Riviera (Los Angeles)
2012 Fantasy 7N Western? Caribbean Maiden Voyage

none

2014 Magic 3N Bahamas -
2014 Magic 4N Bahamas followed by
2014 Magic 4N Bahamas
2014 Wonder 15N Westbound Panama Canal (Miami - San Diego)
2014 Dream 3N Bahamas


2021 Dream 4N Bahamas Double Dip

2022 Magic 5N Bahamas Double Dip (Miami)

That’s 19 cruises (123 days) on Disney, lifetime. I actively cruised during an 8 year period (17 sailings), so basically averaged 2 per year - or 3 per year in the years I actually sailed.

I also sailed Princess (24 nights/5 cruises) and 1 cruise each on Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, and MSC. All of these 2012 or later.

There is a big gap with no vacations between Sep 2015 and Dec 2019.

I didn’t start cruising until I was 46. Took two teen nieces with me. The youngest any niece was on first cruise was nearly 12, so I never cruised with children. And none were big fans of Edge or Vibe. They did whatever we did for the most part.

All my childhood vacations were by car. Many I don’t remember, just recognize them by photographs. It’s a childhood of happiness, but looking back, I definitely didn’t need expensive trips (and they weren’t). I appreciate things from teens and later, as those memories are more vivid. What all of us remember about childhood trips is stopping at historic markers along the roadside (non-interstate travel) and getting out to walk on trails. (mainly Southeastern US).

Some cruise memories are not as clear in years when I did lots of vacations. (There cruises only represent a part of my travel.) You can take too many vacations.

My list is not a challenge to you. Well spaced out cruising probably is a better approach. And if you chose Disney cruising, it may be a necessary with their continually rising cost.

I will never visit all the places in the world that interest me! So happy to have seen and done the things I have experienced.