Disneyzellin through the Panama Canal,12/9 - 12/23 on the Wonder Updated 6/9/13

[iloverags2]

Fun stateroom crawl! We had a 1-bedroom suite on the Magic, with the different layout (there are two different layouts for those suites on the Magic/Wonder). Now that I have seen this one, I'll have to be sure I book a room with the layout I prefer (if we ever fall into some money and I can book one again!).

Sounds like you had an awesome group of DISers on your cruise!

[Linda67]

What a great idea a stateroom crawl is

You certainly had some well organised DISers on your cruise!

[4everluvDisney]

It was great to do the stateroom crawl and see all the different cabins available. Loved the huge verandah with the HC accessible cabin.....
The Walt and Roy suites were okay...

[HeyyCali]

I'm joining in and catching up on the fun! And it sounds like you all had loads of fun!

[LindaBabe]

Thanks for writing some more! I love reliving it through your eyes

[Dixielady908]

Another great addition.....enjoyed looking at all the cabin pictures...especially the suites.....since I will never be able to afford to stay in thoes...

Looking forward to the rest of your report

[DisneyZell]

Originally Posted by iloverags2

Fun stateroom crawl! We had a 1-bedroom suite on the Magic, with the different layout (there are two different layouts for those suites on the Magic/Wonder). Now that I have seen this one, I'll have to be sure I book a room with the layout I prefer (if we ever fall into some money and I can book one again!).

Sounds like you had an awesome group of DISers on your cruise!

I'd love to take credit but it was Jeff and Susan that did most of the work on this stuff. It was huge to have them on our cruise...we were very lucky!!

I did like to Stateroom crawl...we noted that the ocean view rooms with the big porthole were very nice...and actually have a better view of what is going on outside than Verandah because the Verandah view is blocked by the railing. Would have never known that without the crawl!

Originally Posted by Linda67

What a great idea a stateroom crawl is

You certainly had some well organised DISers on your cruise!

Ditto from above!!

Originally Posted by 4everluvDisney

It was great to do the stateroom crawl and see all the different cabins available. Loved the huge verandah with the HC accessible cabin.....
The Walt and Roy suites were okay...

ha! I agree...the Walt and Roy suites were mediocre at best.

Originally Posted by HeyyCali

I'm joining in and catching up on the fun! And it sounds like you all had loads of fun!

hi! welcome aboard!

Originally Posted by LindaBabe

Thanks for writing some more! I love reliving it through your eyes

you are welcome

Originally Posted by Dixielady908

Another great addition.....enjoyed looking at all the cabin pictures...especially the suites.....since I will never be able to afford to stay in thoes...

Looking forward to the rest of your report

I know, me too. sadly regular rooms in my future. but it is what it is. Just great to be on the ship!

Thanks for the comments everyone!

DZ

[tokyodisneydad]

Originally Posted by DisneyZell

I did like to Stateroom crawl...we noted that the ocean view rooms with the big porthole were very nice...and actually have a better view of what is going on outside than Verandah because the Verandah view is blocked by the railing. Would have never known that without the crawl!



DZ

That is exactly why I booked a room with 2 of those huge portholes for NYE on the Dream.

[Kirbo]

I'm really enjoying your TR. Thanks for taking the time to do them; you're reports are always a fun read.

My family and I sailed with you on the MR back in 2011. It was our first cruise and we had such a great time. I loved coming back and then finding your report about it. I never did post on that thread, so I'm thanking you for it now.

We were really thinking about taking a PC cruise and actually had the upcoming one booked. We ended up canceling it for the EBTA, but someday we're going on a PC cruise.

Anyway, back to your report.

[DisneyZell]

Originally Posted by tokyodisneydad

That is exactly why I booked a room with 2 of those huge portholes for NYE on the Dream.

That's what I'm saying. just have to decide if I can give up on the ability to walk out on the balcony...and read a book on the balcony with privacy. tough call!

Originally Posted by Kirbo

I'm really enjoying your TR. Thanks for taking the time to do them; you're reports are always a fun read.

My family and I sailed with you on the MR back in 2011. It was our first cruise and we had such a great time. I loved coming back and then finding your report about it. I never did post on that thread, so I'm thanking you for it now.

We were really thinking about taking a PC cruise and actually had the upcoming one booked. We ended up canceling it for the EBTA, but someday we're going on a PC cruise.

Anyway, back to your report.

Thanks, and welcome aboard. Glad you are enjoying my reports. Always good to have another person along for the ride.

DZ

[DisneyZell]

HI everyone! Back again. I have to warn you there are not a ton of pictures over the next few days. Don't take that personally.

As was pretty much par for the course, Disney screwed us out of yet another hour, forcing us to move our clocks ahead. We got up, grabbed breakfast and headed to the Panama Canal presentation again. This time we talked about the costs of going through the canal and he figured that it would cost $355,000 for the Wonder to go through. yikes! Not sure how they ended up with the cheap cabins with that price. But I also guess it shows you how much money DCL makes given that it can do that twice a year and still make a profit! I don't think I'm too worried about the mouse.

After that we hit our one and only Art of Entertaining session where we got to learn how to make Crabcakes. Yup, you guessed it, this was my new thing for the day. Not sure why we didn't do any others as we really enjoyed this. The chef that was doing the demonstration did a nice job...we all got to taste a crab cake and had a glass of wine to boot. No charge for this one! Free alcohol! Always a good thing.

We then went an sat outside on Deck 4 reading our books for a bit while we waited for the animation class. If you are not already aware of deck 4, it has these comfy chairs that you can sit on.
This is not from this cruise (that's DS10 right there), but you can see the comfy chairs.

Then it was time to animate. Another thing I had never done before. We were going to learn to draw stitch. This was very nicely done, I think, and even I was able to draw a pretty good stitch IMO!

This is DW's stitch.

This is my stitch. You can be the judge of the *ahem* artistic talent! But I'm at a disadvantage..not sure why it is sideways. It isn't on Photobucket. Don't know what's up with that! Probably user error!!!

After drawing it was off to the DVC presentation. We are always hopeful that we will win the $300 OBC, but we never do. Oh well, it is what it is. Because we put Doug and Audrey down as a referral I think they won some stuff later in the cruise, so at least that is nice! My opinion on DVC? If you are crazy, nutty Disney, stay on property every time you go, and you go at least once a year it is worth it. Mainly because of the cost of the hotel rooms vs. the timeshare. If you are crazy, nutty Disney, do not stay on property and are frugal when you travel to Disney...in my opinion it is not for you. We own Marriott Timeshares so we are a bit biased in our opinion, but to me it comes down to this...Marriott you own forever, Disney you own for something like 25 years. That is significant to me...but again I don't usually stay on property when I go...so it isn't as big a deal to me as it is to others. This is NOT to knock on anyone that owns DVC...again if you stay on property all the time this is a great choice. Extra magic hours and all that.

oh! we did get a cool DVC shopping bag and portfolio for our trouble...so that was nice.

We headed up to the goofy pool (why even check the adult pool!), got some lunch and hung out to watch Toy Story 2 on funnelvision. Nice way to spend some relaxing time!

Then it was time to get ready for dinner. I hate to do this to DW...but I just have to. She was starting to feel not so great (sick-sick, not flu-sick), so she was taking my liquid dayquil before dinner. Dw has issues when she takes medicine, providing a funny picture opportunity for me.

ah, man, I just can't do it. Sorry kids...no picture on that one. it will just have to live in my brain.

Dinner was at Animators...and was a Mexicali menu. It really wasn't that good and everyone was disappointed. They had some things that seemed like they would be good (little rolls and such), but no go unfortunately. Again, not sure what is up with the food.

After dinner we changed and went to the first ever Disney Flash Mob rehearsal. Yup Disney was going to do a flash mob. This was going to be one of my new things. It was in Wavebands and they took us through each of the different dances we would do, and assigned us spots on Deck 9 so that we would be interspersed throughout the deck...and throughout the other guests. This would all take place at the Farewell to the Pacific party the next day.

They gave us this sheet of paper explaining it all...thought you guys might want to see it.

Front page

Back page

We headed off to the show which tonight was the Comedy and Juggling of Ivan Pecel. He was a good juggler...but did have some awkward part of his act...where he was harassing an older gentleman about his hair. Oh man do I hope that the guy knew about it in advance. To me it wasn't really that funny, and was more uncomfortable than anything else.

After the main show we went to Cove Cafe to relax and read our books for a while. Again, a great spot to just hang out.

Tonight's adult entertainment were Alfred & Seymour. Holy cow these guys were absolutely hilarious...they used music, comedy (both slapstick and verbal), made fun of each other, and clearly have a great time putting on the show. I ran into one of them several times through the rest of the cruise and had a couple quick conversations with him. They were doing a family show the next night...but more on that later.

Again, it's late...time to hit the bed. Sorry about how few pictures I had on this one...once we hit the Panama Canal that will all change and you will wish I didn't post so many pics!

our towel animal:



Thanks everyone, let me know if you have any questions.

DZ

[aan1701]

When it comes to the time changes, that's why I only do the WBPC. Not only is it three hours backward but I get dropped off at home.

Sent from my iPhone 5 using DISBoards

[pharmjenn]

Thanks for the flashmob instructions. I loved watching everyone, and attempted to record with our new (cheap) camcorder.

[Linda67]

Wow, a DCL flashmob, what a ton of fun that must of been

I however have two left feet so you have probably been booted off my team

[PizzieDuster]

I saw on you tube a flash mob...was that you guys? Looked like so much fun!