SPH stateroom #5520

[closetmickey]

Just booked stateroom 5520 on the wonder! Does anyone have any photos? I did a search, but is seemed that all the posts were old and the photos had been deleted. We've always traveled in a Cat 4 but daddy isn't coming this time so we could downsize. So excited for the secret porthole! Thanks!

 

[Smileneyes]

Just booked stateroom 5520 on the wonder! Does anyone have any photos? I did a search, but is seemed that all the posts were old and the photos had been deleted. We've always traveled in a Cat 4 but daddy isn't coming this time so we could downsize. So excited for the secret porthole! Thanks!

Congrats on the booking! We love this stateroom. We had it in 2007...liked it so much that we've got it for back-to-back's in June, as well as our Alaskan trip next year!

Here are a couple of pics for you!

 

[closetmickey]

Thanks! Is there a steamer trunk? Would you happen to have a photo of that area? Now I am asking a lot, aren't I?

 

[Smileneyes]

Thanks! Is there a steamer trunk? Would you happen to have a photo of that area? Now I am asking a lot, aren't I?

As I recall, 5520 doesn't have a steamer trunk. I went back and looked at other pictures from that cruise (that weren't clear enough to post), and there is nothing along that wall. I have heard that staterooms 5522 and 5524 do, but they're connecting rooms...and I believe the fact that this room doesn't connect has something to do with it (dunno the logic behind it, however).

 

[Anal Annie]

No, there is no steamer trunk in 5020 or 5520. There ARE steamers in the connecting pairs of rooms - that's the trade off to have a non-connecting. I wish they had them but they don't. We were in 5520 on our Wonder B2B's and have 5020 booked for our Med cruise in 2011. They are wonderful bargains! Enjoy!

 

[ydrj]

We were in room 5524 last August and there is a steamer trunk in there but it is the smaller one. The steamer trunk is close to the connecting door which is why they can only fit the smaller trunk because of the lost wall space. We've been in rooms with the larger trunk and I did miss the larger trunk, but it only meant I had to squeeze more clothes into a smaller space.

Aside from that it is always great to snag any of the SPH rooms. We liked it so much we also grabbed one for the Alaska cruise next year

 

[Henlady]

When are you cruising?

We are in 5520 for our May 20th cruise. We had 5024 on our first DCL cruise in 2005. That is a connecting room and it did have the steamer trunk, but it is my understanding that 5520 does not have the trunk. We really like the SPH rooms and I was so happy to get this one. DH does not know we are staying in this room. He thinks we're staying in a cat 11 inside. He will be surprised.

 

[ydrj]

When are you cruising?

We are in 5520 for our May 20th cruise. We had 5024 on our first DCL cruise in 2005. That is a connecting room and it did have the steamer trunk, but it is my understanding that 5520 does not have the trunk. We really like the SPH rooms and I was so happy to get this one. DH does not know we are staying in this room. He thinks we're staying in a cat 11 inside. He will be surprised.

We are on the Aug 23 2011 cruise.

The thing is, with connecting rooms you know it's only as quiet as your neighbors are. Well we had noisy neighbors, ONLY when they came into the room at night. They were a family that was out all day from their room and came in each night a bit after 11pm. Unfortunately that was around the time we turned in and you know, when you lay down and turn off the lights, your room is that much quieter and you're that much more aware of your surroundings. Well, they came into their rooms and talked loudly and I could tell exactly what each of them were doing in the room (showers, washing up - etc.....). But the good thing was they turned in FAST. So it was never horrible. But that was enough for my DH to say, no more connecting room again!
Also the view in 5524 is a bit more obstructed than 5520 & 5522.

When the opening to book the Alaska cruises came up and since we are gold members, I was able to get the Aug 23rd date with all 6 SPH rooms avalible when I called so I decided to try 5520- I'd rather have a happy DH than a steamer trunk - I guess

Are you planning on keeping the SPH room a secret from your DH until you guys get on the ship?

 

[Henlady]

We were lucky enough to have friends staying in the adjoining room so it wasn't too bad for us.

Yes, I am keeping the SPH room a secret from DH until he walks into the room.
He can be somewhat directionally challanged and probably won't realize it till we actually get to the room. He leaves all of the vacation planning to me so he doesn't know what he's getting till he gets it. We got the cruise docs yesterday with the luggage tags and even though he looked at it with the room number on it, he still doesn't have a clue.
He has been talking about wishing he had a stateroom with a verandah or at least a window. DD, who is going with us & knows about the SPH, has been playing along. He'll be pleasantly surprised. For our cruise next May on the Dream, I'm booking a verandah room. Maybe I'll keep that a secret too

 

[closetmickey]

Thanks, everyone, for the photos. It looks like a great catch!

 

[Timon]

We had 5520 on The Magic in October. I thought I would miss the steamer trunk but we really didn't. It was nice for my daughter to have that extra space to run around in!

You can find some pics in this part of my trip report:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=34484444#post34484444

 

[Zoom]

Great pics!!! We are booked on #5020 in Jan 2011 for the 2 night weekend getaway cruise!!!. don't think we need a steamer trunk anyways since its just a 2 nighter, but i think its cool that i was able to snag this room!!

 

[ydrj]

We were lucky enough to have friends staying in the adjoining room so it wasn't too bad for us.

Yes, I am keeping the SPH room a secret from DH until he walks into the room.
He can be somewhat directionally challanged and probably won't realize it till we actually get to the room. He leaves all of the vacation planning to me so he doesn't know what he's getting till he gets it. We got the cruise docs yesterday with the luggage tags and even though he looked at it with the room number on it, he still doesn't have a clue.
He has been talking about wishing he had a stateroom with a verandah or at least a window. DD, who is going with us & knows about the SPH, has been playing along. He'll be pleasantly surprised. For our cruise next May on the Dream, I'm booking a verandah room. Maybe I'll keep that a secret too

I like that - directionally challenged. Good way of putting it because my DH is that way also I also make all the vacation planning and all he ask me is which days he should tell his boss he is taking vacation. That is pretty much it. But I like it that way because I become very involved in all the planning. My DH has been wanting a verandah for a long time.

On our earlier cruises, we always got rooms with a window but than switched over to inside rooms when we realized how little we stayed inside our rooms. Than I was able to get the SPH room last August, my DH ended up really liking it and I especially liked it for the price

We booked the Dream for next April and August (yes we are going to do the
Dream before we do the Wonder Alaska Cruise, I know, crazy!) and was able to get those virtual portholes - I'm curious to see what they will be like.

A verandah next year? Well your surprises keep getting better and better lucky DH!

 

[closetmickey]

We had 5520 on The Magic in October. I thought I would miss the steamer trunk but we really didn't. It was nice for my daughter to have that extra space to run around in!

You can find some pics in this part of my trip report:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=34484444#post34484444

Thanks for the photos! I really know what to expect now. If you can, would you mind telling me why you disliked the location so much? Thanks....

BTW...I read through your trip report until WDW....sure do hope you were all feeling better there!

 

[remlap]

We had 5520 and loved it on the four night. The view is great. I wouldn't call it obstructed at all. The location was great for us, and price can't be breat. If I was to take DCL, I would book it again in a heart beat.

The two adjoining rooms had more of a blocked view.

 

[Anal Annie]

Thanks for the photos! I really know what to expect now. If you can, would you mind telling me why you disliked the location so much? Thanks....

BTW...I read through your trip report until WDW....sure do hope you were all feeling better there!

I'd be curious to know too...we were in 5520 last time but booked 5020 for the next time because the hallway goes straight up that side of the ship. To get to the 55___ rooms we had to cross the ship at the elevator lobby. Not a big deal but we had a lot of brain farts over that one when we came in late. My only other issue with being Forward on the ship is that the drink station is Aft so it's a trek. It would've been nice if they'd have located that somewhere in the middle.

 

[Timon]

Thanks for the photos! I really know what to expect now. If you can, would you mind telling me why you disliked the location so much? Thanks....

BTW...I read through your trip report until WDW....sure do hope you were all feeling better there!

The biggest thing for us was the very long trek to the drink station/Pluto's. With a toddler, we always had to have a supply of water/milk/juice so we made that trek 4/5 times per day. After a few days it was a huge pain, enough so that I decided I would never stay forward again until DCL makes the brilliant decision to add another drink station and put it Forward!

It was especially tough because I usually had to get drinks for all three of us and it was hard to juggle them and walk that long distance.

I know, I know....call the Whaaaaambulance, right? But after we all got sick, that journey just got tougher and tougher as the week went on.

Like I said though, LOVED the room!!



P.S.

You can see a little bit of the room on my WDW 2009 Part 4 Video

http://cassworld.ca/videos.htm

 

[tolemommy]

Is this room or similar rooms hard to book. My sister & I are planning a cruise in March of 2011. Our first cruise & our first Disney Cruise. Total DCL newbie here.

Thanks Bunches!

 

[ydrj]

The biggest thing for us was the very long trek to the drink station/Pluto's. With a toddler, we always had to have a supply of water/milk/juice so we made that trek 4/5 times per day. After a few days it was a huge pain, enough so that I decided I would never stay forward again until DCL makes the brilliant decision to add another drink station and put it Forward!

It was especially tough because I usually had to get drinks for all three of us and it was hard to juggle them and walk that long distance.

I know, I know....call the Whaaaaambulance, right? But after we all got sick, that journey just got tougher and tougher as the week went on.

Like I said though, LOVED the room!!



P.S.

You can see a little bit of the room on my WDW 2009 Part 4 Video

http://cassworld.ca/videos.htm

I agree with you. When we were in 5524, the walk was so long that after the first half of the week of getting soda, fries, ice cream etc - my DH and I started sending our kids. My kids are older than yours, DS14, DD12. I was done with making the long walks. In fact one night it was just my DD and I - we were loaded down with food and I was walking fast - I was near passing Buena Vista Theather and dang it, I dropped a cup of soda - soda and ice all over the rug. I was actually passing an officer and he was SO nice, he stopped, told me not to worry and he grabbed a worker and they both worked on cleaning up the mess I made - THAT is the DCL difference

In the end I did not mind the long walk because it was a trade off - it was QUIET that end of the hallway. No kids walking by our room knocking on our door and running, no foot/noise traffic. Worth getting the room again.

Tolemommy, there are only 6 SPH rooms on the Magic and Wonder so very often those rooms are gone pretty early when booking opens up. Or if you get lucky like we did, someone cancelled and I happen to spot the room one day when I was just looking around the website and peeked at the rooms still avaliable on our cruise date. So ask when you book, you never know.

 

[tolemommy]

Thanks ydrj. Who did you book through?