Disney Wonder Galveston Halloween Cruise October 26th to November 2nd

[RonningFamilyCrusin]

Very nice trip report. Thanks for posting it!

 

[BigJon]

On the first day of our cruise, I dropped 2 pillowcases off at guest services, along with a bag of individually wrapped Skittles (and 2 black markers). You can select Classic Characters (All Star), or Princesses. The lady at Guest Services asked me if I wanted all the characters to sign the pillowcases, and I said "Sure". With 2 days left on our cruise, the pillowcases were delivered to our room. A lady I go to church with, embroidered the names on my pillowcases. She does a great job, and it makes the pillowcase look so much better. I took the pillowcases to 2 little girls at church (2 sisters), and they loved them. A great, inexpensive gift for a small child.

Here's the final result.....

 

[BigJon]

After our dinner, on our last night. We went to the Walt Disney Theater, and watched the "Remember the Magic" show. It was good, and David Williamson performed again (Magic Dave). After the show, we went back to the room and packed, and set our luggage outside the door. I think we went to grab some pizza and sodas, but that was the only thing we did. These were on our bed when we got to our room, after the show.

 

[BigJon]

We had a late flight (around 1:30) out of IAH, so instead of getting up real early, and going to our scheduled restaurant for breakfast, we decided to sleep a little later, and eat at Beach Blanket buffet. I think we got out of bed around 7:45am. We were woke up by an announcement that came over the speaker in our room, "The Disney Wonder is refueling, please do not smoke on the open decks...", or something like that. Anyway, we showered and made our way up to deck 9. We grabbed our breakfast, and sat down. As you can see from the previous "Welcome to Galveston" document, the breakfast buffet was scheduled to close at 8:30. I think it was around 8:35, or 8:40, the buffet was closed and covered up.

After breakfast, we walked along deck 9, and as we walked by the pool areas, the towels were laying out, waiting on the next set of guests. We took the elevators back down to the atrium, and made our way off the ship. Once we entered the terminal to claim our luggage, I noticed that it wasn't as busy as Port Canaveral. Which was probably because we were getting off a little later than we normally do. There were Disney employees giving instructions as we entered the luggage area. We quickly found our luggage, and then we walked toward the left, center of the building, along the wall. This line went clockwise around the wall, and led to the Custom agents. Just to let you know, if you are using a Porter (a guy that loads your luggage on a cart, and carries it for you), you get to go in a different line, that is quicker than the line I went through. We were probably in line 8 or 10 minutes, before we made it through customs. I took this picture while I was in line for customs. At the far end of this room, is where we entered, after we left the ship. On the right side, is where you first entered the line for customs. On the left is the area where the custom agents were located. Notice the Donald Duck banner in the middle, right of the picture. On your bag tags that they leave in your room on the last night, it has a Character, and a color. We had gray, Tinkerbell as our bag tags (Tinkerbell!.....how embarrassing!!!)

 

[levenhopper]

On the first day of our cruise, I dropped 2 pillowcases off at guest services, along with a bag of individually wrapped Skittles (and 2 black markers). You can select Classic Characters (All Star), or Princesses. The lady at Guest Services asked me if I wanted all the characters to sign the pillowcases, and I said "Sure". With 2 days left on our cruise, the pillowcases were delivered to our room. A lady I go to church with, embroidered the names on my pillowcases. She does a great job, and it makes the pillowcase look so much better. I took the pillowcases to 2 little girls at church (2 sisters), and they loved them. A great, inexpensive gift for a small child. Here's the final result.....

I love the TR! Question about dropping items off for signing: do they need to be in a bag or can you just leave the item? I have a plain, white Vinylmation that would be awesome to have signed, but because of its shape I doubt it'd fit in a ziplock...

 

[BigJon]

I love the TR! Question about dropping items off for signing: do they need to be in a bag or can you just leave the item? I have a plain, white Vinylmation that would be awesome to have signed, but because of its shape I doubt it'd fit in a ziplock...

The only thing I've ever had signed, are the pillowcases, and I've always left them in the plastic bag they came in. With that said, I'm sure they would take your item, and I would think they have a "bag", or something to place it in. I'm sure someone else that reads this, will have some better information that I do. Also, I'm pretty sure that the lady at Guest Services said you can do 2 items per stateroom......jonathan

 

[BigJon]

As we exited the port terminal, we were directed to the left exit, for Disney Transportation. As we approached the bus, a Disney rep asked me what airline I was flying. Another guy took our bags, and loaded them under the bus. Before we boarded the bus, I took this picture looking back toward the terminal, where we exited.

Then I turned toward the buses, and took a picture. You will see the cargo doors are lifted on the buses, and that is where they put our luggage.

And I had to take one last picture of the Disney Wonder.

 

[jenseib]

We got off the ship late too when we sailed out of Galveston. But we had the opposite experience. I was planning on getting a porter, but the line for that was practically backed up to the ship. So we walked through and got our luggage and carried it through ourselves and got through so fast. I was surprised. But we were on the first sailing out of Galveston, so maybe they hadn't found their "groove" yet.

WE have done the character signings too. I send it all in a 2 gallon size ziplock. For pillowcases, fabric markers are the best, because sharpies fade when washed.

 

[BigJon]

Once we boarded the bus, we probably sat there about 5 or 10 minutes waiting for the bus to fill up. Once we left, a video regarding different DCL intineraries was shown. It only lasted about 5 minutes, and no other video was shown after that. Once we got to IAH, the first stop for our bus was terminal A. We got off the bus, and walked to the side where our luggage was stored. Someone got our luggage out, and we grabbed it and walked inside the terminal. This is the hallway we walked in to terminal A, and this was also the same hallway we walked out of a week earlier to catch the Disney transportation. (Notice the "South" exit sign)

I've got a few more pictures I want to post, but this concludes my trip report. I read the trip report by UKINTHEUS before we took our trip, and I enjoyed it , and for anybody who read her report (or any other trip report), and mine, it just goes to show you, that everyone likes doing different things on their trip (and some things were similar) But when you take your Disney Cruise, it should be about what you want to do. That's what's so great about it. Our tablemates Brian and Jenny, who were great to sit with each evening at dinner, enjoyed hanging out at the Rainforest room at the Spa. I say all of that to say this, take a few "tidbits" from each trip report you read, and take those items that interest you, and make your Disney Cruise better. Brian and Jenny don't have any kids, and they said that people will ask them, "Why are you going on a Disney Cruise, since you don't have kids". There are people at work that ask me the same thing, now that my kids are in college, "your kids are not going, and you're STILL going on a Disney Cruise!" Well, my tablemate Brian said it best. He said he doesn't go on a Disney Cruise for the characters, he goes for the Quality. Brian, you are exactly right. It is the Disney quality that keeps me and my wife coming back for more. Thanks to all the people who left "thank you" reply's for this trip report. If I can find a decent price on a flight, my next trip report will be the Disney Magic Transatlantic in May of 2014!!!!

 

[ukintheus]

Awww...so sad to see your TR come to an end, sadly vacations are over all too quickly after all our careful planning and waiting. I always enjoy seeing how other people cruise. As you say, not everything is for everyone, but I truly feel that there is enough to do that it is possible to please everyone, even if you have different cruising styles. We also choose to cruise Disney even though we don't have children and we feel that the service is enough to keep us coming back. We are contemplating trying another cruise line if the DCL prices stay high out of PC. When we won't have the luxury of having them so close to home it may be harder to justify the pricing. We shall see!!

Thanks again for taking the time to put together a very thorough TR, especially of the transportation out of IAH as so many people have asked about it.

 

[BigJon]

When we did our Art of the Theme show tour, our host JD asked us had we been to the restroom near the forward elevators on deck 3. He said it was his favorite bathroom on the ship. For all you first time cruisers, make sure you check it out. From the atrium, walk along Route 66 past Wavebands main entrance, and you'll see the elevators to your right. These restrooms are directly in front of the elevator (port side).

I also like the restroom near Palo, which is directly in front of the entrance to Palo. Notice the stripped poles (Palo).

Also notice the real cloth towels at the sink. It's the only public restroom on the ship, that uses real cloth towels. (that I know of)

 

[zimaaaaah]

Thanks for the great trip report! All the pictures were awesome!

 

[SeattleSuz]

Awesome TR! I have loved reading and looking at all your pics!

One question about the pillowcase signing: Can we put a couple of different colored pens in there for them to use??
Oh and do we need to bribe them with candy? ha ha

I love the idea of having the name embroidered on the case, I think I might have my MIL or GMIL do that for my DD's case!

 

[jenseib]

Awesome TR! I have loved reading and looking at all your pics!

One question about the pillowcase signing: Can we put a couple of different colored pens in there for them to use??
Oh and do we need to bribe them with candy? ha ha

I love the idea of having the name embroidered on the case, I think I might have my MIL or GMIL do that for my DD's case!

I always include a box of mulitcolored fabric markers and then they use them and it is very colorful. I always send candy too.

 

[BigJon]

Some Palo pictures...........
As you get off the aft elevators on the 10th deck, and look left, toward the Palo entrance.......

Standing outside the entrance.....the doors to Palo are on the right. The menu is posted to the left of the door.

Entrance to Palo.....

As you walk in, this is along the wall, on the right....

Kinda creepy, if you ask me!

 

[Ajojo]

This was a fantastic trip report. I felt sad when it was over, like my vacation had ended. We will be taking this cruise on Dec 7th

 

[BigJon]

Here's our door. I made these magnets 3 or 4 years ago. I use to make "specific" magnets, that had the particular dates of the cruise we were on at that time, and/or the name of the ship. But now, I don't do that. I just keep it simple. Having a couple of magnets helps to identify our door, as we're walking down the hall.

 

[Pittsburghguy]

Fantastic trip report Jonathan. Jenny and I so enjoyed being your table mates and are so glad we got to meet you and Michelle. Looking forward to your transatlantic report next year! Cheers and hopefully we will see you on another cruise '!

 

[BigJon]

Make sure you grab a slice of pizza BBQ chicken pizza. It's actually in the top, right side of this picture. The pizza shown on the left side of this picture is the Hawaiian.
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Looking from Mickey's Mates, towards Treasure Ketch...(Kid's gift shop to Adult gift shop)

Inside the elevator...(I took pictures on this cruise, that I normally do not take!!!)

Inside of the Cadillac Lounge, along the wall on the left, as you enter. Notice the Cadillac tailfins mounted vertically on the wall.

 

[BigJon]

A half steamer trunk was in our room. Nice to store some items in. Also supports towel animals! Love the Pirates of the Caribbean artwork.

Well, I've combed through all the photos, and I'm officially out......