Dallas to Honolulu to Melbourne (on the Wonder!) to Auckland Nov 2024

[EaridescentFirefly]

Aloha! I'm not Hawaiian, I am just a dork. My family and I are about to take our 4th DCL trip (2018: Jamaica & Puerto Rico, 2020: Key West & The Bahamas, 2022: Alaska), and our 10th Disney trip overall. This is our first trip to Hawaii, Australia, or New Zealand, and our second cruise on the Disney Wonder.

The Fam:

https://flic.kr/p/2q1D7yL

Eddie & Sue -- Both early 50s, married for 33 years, both work in Higher Ed (that's American for university).

https://flic.kr/p/2q1D7yR

Jonah: 16, only child, still into Disney.

Our Plans

Tuesday, 19 November: Fly from Dallas, TX to Honolulu, Hawaii. Stay on Waikiki Beach at beachfront hotel.​

Wednesday, 20 November: Enjoy beach, eat at Monkeypot and Duke's Waikiki. Take Hop-on-Hop-Off tour of Honolulu.​

Thursday, 21 November: Fly from Honolulu to Melbourne, Australia.​

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Friday, 22 November: Arrive in Melbourne local time 7:40 p.m. Stay at City Business District (CBD) hotel. Dinner at The Sherlock Holmes.​

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Saturday, 23 November: Take tram to Melbourne Zoo. Kangaroo Experience followed by lunch. Take the tram to the Melbourne Immigration Museum and board bus to Philip Island to visit Koala Preserve and see Blue Fairy Penguin Beach Parade.​

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Sunday, 24 November: Brunch on St. Kilda Beach, board the Disney Wonder around 4:00 P.M. This is our second cruise on the Wonder, so we're somewhat familiar (we've also sailed her sister ship The Magic). Hope we get Tiana's for our first rotational dining.​

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Sunday, 24 November-Friday, 29 November: Sail the Tasman Sea on the Wonder. Meet exciting Aussies and Kiwis, LOL. Play pub trivia, bingo, Senses Spa trips, Vibe teen club for the boy, game nights at Azure, deck time, Pirate Night.​

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Friday, 29 November: Dock in Auckland. Disembark and take bus to CBD hotel near the Sky Tower. Check-in and freshen up, tour the Auckland Sky Tower. Try to find shops selling Troye Sivan's Tsu Lange Yor scents. Dinner at Nana's Fish House.​

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Saturday, 30 November: Up super early to be picked up by a van to drive us the Hobbiton Movie Set tour, followed by Rotorua and Te Puia tours. Eat on the road, get back to Auckland and collapse.​

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Sunday, 1 December: Hop-on-Hop-Off tour of Auckland. Art Museum. Eat at hotel, early night.​

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Monday, 2 December: Fly back to Dallas, drive back back home. Attempt to cultivate Kiwi accent.​

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Back with more in December! ~ Sue

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[Agent 86]

hopefully see at least "Moana 2" at the Buena Vista theatre, have Mickey Bars for room service

Mickey Bars weren’t available for the majority of the inaugural down under sailings. Maybe they’ll fix this for the upcoming season, but it’s unknown.

Also, the movies were tied to the Australian, not the US, release dates. It looks like we might be getting it on 27/28 November, but if that changes, you may not get to see it.

I’m also not sure what, if any, Thanksgiving celebrations there will be on board as we don’t celebrate that in Australia or New Zealand.

IF Tiana’s is your first rotational dining, you may not get the show that night. I requested Tiana’s as the first dining rotation because I knew it would be my daughter’s favourite. But, there was no show the first night. Instead, it ended up being scheduled for the last night of the cruise (but, by then my daughter had caught one of the many germs going around and sadly we missed it).

 

[EaridescentFirefly]

Mickey Bars weren’t available for the majority of the inaugural down under sailings. Maybe they’ll fix this for the upcoming season, but it’s unknown.

Also, the movies were tied to the Australian, not the US, release dates. It looks like we might be getting it on 27/28 November, but if that changes, you may not get to see it.

I’m also not sure what, if any, Thanksgiving celebrations there will be on board as we don’t celebrate that in Australia or New Zealand.

IF Tiana’s is your first rotational dining, you may not get the show that night. I requested Tiana’s as the first dining rotation because I knew it would be my daughter’s favourite. But, there was no show the first night. Instead, it ended up being scheduled for the last night of the cruise (but, by then my daughter had caught one of the many germs going around and sadly we missed it).

I knew that about Mickey Bars from another Aussie cruiser and forgot. Makes total sense, though.

That’s interesting about the movie release dates.

You realize that my family and I can quietly celebrate the American Thanksgiving (as opposed to Canadian Thanksgiving) I referenced between the the 3 of us, right? It’s just a meal and gratitude. Although getting told as a history prof that Australia and New Zealand don’t celebrate a U.S. holiday will give me something to talk about at work tomorrow, LOL.

Fingers crossed for Tiana’s!

 

[Agent 86]

You realize that my family and I can quietly celebrate the American Thanksgiving (as opposed to Canadian Thanksgiving) I referenced between the the 3 of us, right? It’s just a meal and gratitude. Although getting told as a history prof that Australia and New Zealand don’t celebrate a U.S. holiday will give me something to talk about at work tomorrow, LOL.

I was only trying to be helpful. I'll certainly reconsider trying to be helpful in the future.

Many Aussie cruisers hoped that Halloween would be celebrated onboard, but it wasn't. There was also a lot of uncertainty about what, if any, Christmas decor and celebrations there would be (although there did end up being some Christmas decor). That's the only reason I mentioned it.

 

[AgentMama]

I was only trying to be helpful. I'll certainly reconsider trying to be helpful in the future.

Many Aussie cruisers hoped that Halloween would be celebrated onboard, but it wasn't. There was also a lot of uncertainty about what, if any, Christmas decor and celebrations there would be (although there did end up being some Christmas decor). That's the only reason I mentioned it.

I found your post a helpful reminder that as the location of where the ships are sailing, the holidays, cuisine, decor, and movie release dates might also change. Something some people may forget about when planning things around their own culture's holiday schedules that may not align with others. Like when we traveled to Morocco, not realizing we were there during Ramadan. Not bad, just a different travel experience than we were expecting.

***Edited for typos

 

[EaridescentFirefly]

Ramadan is a world-wide holiday, though. American Thanksgiving is not. I found it just a wee bit insulting that the commenter assumed I didn’t know that after I noted it would be an “unusual” Thanksgiving.

 

[AgentMama]

Ramadan is a world-wide holiday, though. American Thanksgiving is not. I found it just a wee bit insulting that the commenter assumed I didn’t know that after I noted it would be an “unusual” Thanksgiving.

Welcome to the DIS. Maybe don't assume the worst of the people posting here.

 

[EaridescentFirefly]

Welcome to the DIS. Maybe don't assume the worst of the people posting here.

Meh. It's not a big deal -- I just edited my post so that it won't cause further confusion.

 

[Tink_inNZ]

Hi! It sounds like you’ve got an exciting trip (very busy some days!) planned! We are from NZ and are doing the same cruise, with our princess obsessed 4 year old. we have travelled to Melbourne a bit, and St Kilda and Phillip island are fantastic experiences, especially in good weather Hobbiton and Rotorua will also be great, just brace yourself for the sulpher fumes in Rotorua we visit often and the views from the skyline luge and gondola are beautiful so recommend it if you have time. There is also a wine bar with tastings and a jelly belly shop too We also look forward to seeing if Mickey bars, Xmas decorations and some thanksgiving references are made, even if we don’t celebrate it here. Always important to show gratitude see you on board!

 

[EaridescentFirefly]

Hobbiton and Rotorua will also be great, just brace yourself for the sulpher fumes in Rotorua

LOL! I grew up in a farming area, sulfur is an old friend! The gondola sounds amazing! See you there!

 

[rainbowredpanda]

Mickey Bars weren’t available for the majority of the inaugural down under sailings. Maybe they’ll fix this for the upcoming season, but it’s unknown.

Also, the movies were tied to the Australian, not the US, release dates. It looks like we might be getting it on 27/28 November, but if that changes, you may not get to see it.

I’m also not sure what, if any, Thanksgiving celebrations there will be on board as we don’t celebrate that in Australia or New Zealand.

IF Tiana’s is your first rotational dining, you may not get the show that night. I requested Tiana’s as the first dining rotation because I knew it would be my daughter’s favourite. But, there was no show the first night. Instead, it ended up being scheduled for the last night of the cruise (but, by then my daughter had caught one of the many germs going around and sadly we missed it).

Mickey Bars already aren't currently available on the Wonder. They were available for the first night of the first sailing out of Sydney and then unavailable for the rest of that sailing. The subsequent 2, 3 nights they weren't available and are currently not available on the 4 night that is sailing now. Crew have been telling guests they might have more once they get to Melbourne.