Changes to the Wonder during dry dock?

[ANGRebel]

what changes are we expecting to the Wonder during her dry dock this fall? Do we expect Parrot Cay to be replaced? Will there be a change to AP? Will they change the slide to be more like the twist and spout? What else?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

what changes are we expecting to the Wonder during her dry dock this fall? Do we expect Parrot Cay to be replaced? Will there be a change to AP? Will they change the slide to be more like the twist and spout? What else?

We don't know. And DCL isn't talking. There's lots of speculation from a full blown reimagine like the Magic, to just a few upgrades, to "basic" dry dock cleaning.

http://www.disboards.com/forums/disney-cruise-line-forum.9/
http://www.disboards.com/threads/wonder-refurbishment.3472128/
http://www.disboards.com/threads/wonder-re-imagining.3467804/#post-54829994

 

[truck1]

The major hangup is if they are going to add a Aqua Dunk like the Magics. If they do, they'll put a ducktail on. If not, she wont get it. Rumor has it that the guest satisfaction with the Magics AD is not very high for varying reasons. Its possible they will come up with something else, but we wont know until the ship gets in and pics start to emerge. But I would count on the majority of her work to be similar to the Magics, like changing Parrot Cay to Cariocas, Cabanas styled buffett replacing BBB or Topsiders (I forgot which ship had which) the shops getting reworked to be closer to the Magic and the Dream class, her normal mandatory inspections and upgrades for a drydock and cleaning and repainting the entire exterior of the ship, top and bottom. They may also add the thrust cones to her props like the Magic got. I would also pretty much count on her kids clubs to be reworked similar to the Magics also.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

What they do in dry dock also depends on whether the expansion of the Panama Canal is complete. Right now, as is, the Wonder is the only DCL ship which is small enough to go through the locks. With the addition of the duck tail, it would be too long.

 

[Flossbolna]

I think there was some speculation that they announced the Magic changes right around a late April timeframe. And this week there is a large media event at WDW. So I read some speculation that the announcement might be part of that event. However, this is pure speculation!

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

What this all adds up to is no one knows, until DCL tells us.

AKK

 

[BartmanLA]

There's a LOT of rumors floating around out there, but the one fact is another site (can't name it here) lists on the Wonder's itineraries for 2016 in Sept/Oct the transit to Cadiz, Spain and dry dock for 42 DAYS, with the 8 days transit to Spain and 8 days to return to FL that means they'll be working on the Wonder for close to 2 MONTHS! This could mean a myriad of things, but if I am remembering correctly this is the first Major refit for the Wonder in her history. They've been doing state room upgrades while underway for the past year or so, we sailed on her in Feb of 2015 and got one of the refreshed Verandah rooms complete queen bed, higher platform for storage and freshly redone decor. One major job during the refit is a complete stripping of all the paint and a brand new fresh paint job, that takes close to 3 weeks alone. But also they'll possibly be adding a water feature to the pool deck, as well as potentially eliminating the solarium area in Cove Cafe and making that into a Concierge Lounge with a deck area dedicated to those passengers, removal of one of the main atrium stair cases to open up more gathering space for meet and greets. I've seen comments that Parrot Cay is going away but that doesn't necessarily mean Carioca's is coming in it's place, DCL has been very mum on this change but there's been some chatter among CM's on the ship and they are hinting that it could be a completely new venue and cuisine to experience. I expect them to revamp the adults night time area, Cadillac Lounge, Diversions and maybe even Wavebands into something more contemporary and will include more cutting edge decor and technology. Vista Spa is supposed to get a refresh too, maybe to add more spaces for new services (probably means the steam room for the Exotic Rasul is history) as well as probably outfitting the fitness center with new equipment. Additionally rumors have said a over all refresh of the common spaces for the Wonder, new lighting fixtures, carpet, color schemes even a new chandelier for the Main Atrium. All this is a significant undertaking, but DCL isn't going to let the Wonder fall behind in upkeep and adding the new features and updating the technology, ecological green features in water reclamation, digital portholes, better (we can hope) internet access, as well as offering the guests more things to do while on board will ultimately keep the Wonder as a shining example of the quality and consistency DCL has come to be known for.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I hope they don't redo the Café Cove. It is perfect for the Alaskan cruises. Concierge gets enough, they don't need that too!

 

[truck1]

There's a LOT of rumors floating around out there, but the one fact is another site (can't name it here) lists on the Wonder's itineraries for 2016 in Sept/Oct the transit to Cadiz, Spain and dry dock for 42 DAYS, with the 8 days transit to Spain and 8 days to return to FL that means they'll be working on the Wonder for close to 2 MONTHS! This could mean a myriad of things, but if I am remembering correctly this is the first Major refit for the Wonder in her history. They've been doing state room upgrades while underway for the past year or so, we sailed on her in Feb of 2015 and got one of the refreshed Verandah rooms complete queen bed, higher platform for storage and freshly redone decor. One major job during the refit is a complete stripping of all the paint and a brand new fresh paint job, that takes close to 3 weeks alone. But also they'll possibly be adding a water feature to the pool deck, as well as potentially eliminating the solarium area in Cove Cafe and making that into a Concierge Lounge with a deck area dedicated to those passengers, removal of one of the main atrium stair cases to open up more gathering space for meet and greets. I've seen comments that Parrot Cay is going away but that doesn't necessarily mean Carioca's is coming in it's place, DCL has been very mum on this change but there's been some chatter among CM's on the ship and they are hinting that it could be a completely new venue and cuisine to experience. I expect them to revamp the adults night time area, Cadillac Lounge, Diversions and maybe even Wavebands into something more contemporary and will include more cutting edge decor and technology. Vista Spa is supposed to get a refresh too, maybe to add more spaces for new services (probably means the steam room for the Exotic Rasul is history) as well as probably outfitting the fitness center with new equipment. Additionally rumors have said a over all refresh of the common spaces for the Wonder, new lighting fixtures, carpet, color schemes even a new chandelier for the Main Atrium. All this is a significant undertaking, but DCL isn't going to let the Wonder fall behind in upkeep and adding the new features and updating the technology, ecological green features in water reclamation, digital portholes, better (we can hope) internet access, as well as offering the guests more things to do while on board will ultimately keep the Wonder as a shining example of the quality and consistency DCL has come to be known for.

Wonder has been getting regular refits her entire career. By rules and regs she has to go into drydock 2x in a 5 year period not to exceed 3 years. She gets sandblasted down to bare metal ever 2-3 years and repainted. And that is done in a matter of days. Her normal drydock is 2 weeks. This time because of the amount of work they are doing shes going for close to 2 months.

Most of what the other site is saying is a little off the mark, but the basic gist is there. The supposition, is that the Wonder will head to Cadiz dead head after her east bound pc. The 2 months is the same amount of time that the Magic had the only difference is that the Magic ended her last paying trip in Cadiz while the Wonder is ending in Fl. So shes getting an extra week for prep the Magic didn't have. The Wonder is getting most if not all of the same upgrades that the Magic got. The major lynchpin is if DCL is putting the Aquadunk on the Wonder after her lower then expected guest satisfaction reports on it. That prob will affect whether or not she gets a ducktail also. If they put the dunk on, shell get it. If not, she most likely wont.

All DCL ships have upkeep done on them while they are in service. Its not uncommon for the ships to have blocks of rooms closed off, for wiring upgrades, or carpet etc. Seen it a few times on the Magic class.

I would expect that when the Wonder is finished, shell look real close to the Magic. The removal of 1 staircase, new atrium chandelier, the buffet being redone to Cabanas style, the shops being reworked closer to the Dream class, Parrot Cay gone, redone to prob Cariocas, which is becoming the DCL norm, shell get the prop fairings that the Magic got, and her SOLAS mandatory upgrades.

 

[bcwife76]

@disneyfaninaz I agree, I hope they don't change Cove Cafe

 

[jetskigrl]

@disneyfaninaz I agree, I hope they don't change Cove Cafe

I have a feeling they will. At least the Outlook café and the enclosed seating area to the right of it. That is the area that they close off for the concierge receptions now.

Hopefully since the area to the left of Outlook has the stairwell connecting it to the Cove Café below, they will leave that side as additional seating for Cove. But if they put in the AquaDunk, isn't that area (to the left of Outlook) on the Magic where you enter the AquaDunk? I don't think that area was ever enclosed/connected to Cove Café on the Magic. Now I'm really curious to see what they decide to do since that area was enclosed for the Alaska cruises in the first place. Maybe they will decide against the AquaDunk on the Wonder.

ETA: nevermind. I just looked at pictures of the Magic and it doesn't look like the stairway up to the Aquadunk would interfere with the enclosed seating area.

 

[dcassetta]

I would expect that when the Wonder is finished, shell look real close to the Magic. The removal of 1 staircase, new atrium chandelier, the buffet being redone to Cabanas style, the shops being reworked closer to the Dream class, Parrot Cay gone, redone to prob Cariocas, which is becoming the DCL norm, shell get the prop fairings that the Magic got, and her SOLAS mandatory upgrades.

Oh, I hope not. I love the Chihuly and was disappointed in the change on the Magic.

 

[Hundredacre]

I hope they don't redo the Café Cove. It is perfect for the Alaskan cruises. Concierge gets enough, they don't need that too!

We were on the wonder 2x this past year and it seemed like every time we went in there it was being used for concierge receptions. I think it is a done deal that it will become fully concierge.

 

[RedSox68]

Oh, I hope not. I love the Chihuly and was disappointed in the change on the Magic.

I still can't understand why they took that out! It was praised in all the reviews when the Magic was launched.

 

[Hundredacre]

I still can't understand why they took that out! It was praised in all the reviews when the Magic was launched.

We took a guided tour and the cm doing it said they took it out because it made the atrium seem small. She said they would probably take the one out of the wonder too. Her big spiel on the drydock was that it was all about energy efficiency. She said the wonder is not energy efficient.

 

[RedSox68]

We took a guided tour and the cm doing it said they took it out because it made the atrium seem small. She said they would probably take the one out of the wonder too. Her big spiel on the drydock was that it was all about energy efficiency. She said the wonder is not energy efficient.

I wonder what they did with it?

 

[Hundredacre]

I wonder what they did with it?

That's a good question. I became less enamoured with it when she told us it is plastic!!

 

[RedSox68]

That's a good question. I became less enamoured with it when she told us it is plastic!!

OH NO - I thought it was all handblown glass. Oh the dreams that are dashed......

 

[Flossbolna]

OH NO - I thought it was all handblown glass. Oh the dreams that are dashed......

They told us that there is an original that is made with handblown glass. That was then copied in plastic. The reason was that it was just too dangerous if something came loose in a storm.

 

[RedSox68]

They told us that there is an original that is made with handblown glass. That was then copied in plastic. The reason was that it was just too dangerous if something came loose in a storm.

True, true.