smsnorthup
I have OCDD-Obsessive Compulsive Disney Disorder
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2005
- Messages
- 413
We just got back yesterday from our second Disney cruise (first on the Dream) and I loved reading all the helpful trip reports so I thought I would do a short one too. First let me say that we had an amazing time! It was me, DH, DMiL, DD9 & DS3. We were in stateroom #9578 which was a 4A on Deck 9.
Embarkation: We arrived around 9:20ish and were told by the security guard to park the car and WAIT in it until 9:45 because there were still people getting off the ship and that the porters weren't there to take our luggage. As we drove passed the entrance I could see that people were still exiting and there were people waiting for shuttles but also saw a separate line of people to the left. So I headed to that line and sure enough they were already lining up to get on the ship. I probably got in line at 9:30 and there were 12 people in front of us. They let us in right at 10:00 and I marched ahead to get the health form filled out and headed to the counter lines where I saw the boarding # lady. I was ecstatic when she handed me #2!! This process was what I was most worried about. We were on the ship by 12:00 and eating lunch at Cabana's right after.
Cabanas: We went right outside to secure a table before getting food. The table we wanted sat 4 so I asked a gentleman in a crisp, white uniform if I could take a chair from another table and he said I could do anything I wanted to...nice! Then my mother-in-law notices that it was the Captain! oops! He was very nice and we snapped a pic with him. Cabanas had a great selection for lunch and the bahama mama's went down too fast!
Stateroom: We had a Deluxe Family Stateroom w/Veranda it it was wonderful! The queen bed was very comfortable and always love the split bathroom. The round tub with rain shower was awesome! My DS3 fit perfectly in the bath....great job Disney. Love, love the veranda. My only complaint is that we were on the starboard side and we did smell smoke several times. I know that it's a heated topic and that smoking is allowed on this side of the ship. I tried to see where it was coming from and on time I saw someone smoking one deck down and maybe 6 staterooms away. We were sailing at the time so I was really surprise it was reaching us. I really love the view of Castaway on the starboard side but I think we'll have to stay on the port side next time. It didn't ruin our trip by any means but it did make us leave our veranda several times.
Shows: They were wonderful! We saw Golden Mickey's (we saw this on the Wonder) and Believe. We watched most of Villians from our stateroom. We had Palo ressies that night and I also wasn't sure if my DS3 should see it. Believe was awesome and I definitely had tears at the end. It didn't help that the girl in the show is named Sophia and so is my DD9. The only matinee was Believe on Castaway Cay day.
Kids club: We used the Club and Lab. The first night I felt a little apprehensive about leaving DS3 in there because it seemed busy but I knew he had his sister with him. The next day we went in the morning and it wasn't as hectic so I felt like the CM's could give more individual attention. They both loved it and it was so nice to have a little adult time.
Restaurants: Our waitlist came through for main dining a week before we sailed. I was very undecided about which one I wanted because I liked the idea of not having to rush in the afternoon but I don't like to eat so late at night either. But what I realized was that if you had late seating (8:15) you had to go to the 6:15 show and I like to sit close to the front so I would really have to be there by 5:45 which was the same time as main dining. So, we decided to keep main. I will say that I could tell that our servers were rushed especially the first night. We had Animator's the first night and I thought it was ok. The show is cool but it's really loud and hard to talk over it. We skipped Enchanted Garden on the second night and went to Palo's (our first time) and loved the food, service and experience. Royal Palace was our last night and it felt a little more relaxed but I could tell our servers were hustling. Each night they got our kids meals out fast and then one of us took them to the club so we could finish our dinner. Our food came out quickly too so no problem there.
Pools: Yes, the pool area is busy but I remember the Wonder being busy too. I really didn't come on a cruise to be at the pool ALL day. We spent some time here on embarkation day and Nassau day. DD9 and I rode the Aquaduck together on Nassua day and waited about 20-25 minutes. I didn't think it was that bad of a wait seeing how it was around lunch and the pool was very busy. It was alot of fun!
Spa: We did the Rainforest room which was awesome! The steam room, sauna, jacuzzi on deck were all great. I went back in before my Bliss package and sat in a heated lounger....incredible! I almost fell asleep. The treatment rooms in the spa are to die for. I worked in the spa industy for 12 years so I love the aesthetics of a spa! I had a wonderful therapist named Bobbie who had a great touch and really worked out some knots in the back and shoulders.
Castaway: Always a highlight of our cruise. Perfect weather! We were off the ship by 9:30ish and had our pick of spots. The water was a little chilly for me but I'm a cold water wimp! I got warmed up by the sun and the "drink of the day" and got in right after early lunch. Beautiful day!
Debarkation: We went to Cabanas around 8am and breezed off the ship and through customs...very painless!
That's it for now...but feel free to ask any questions!
Embarkation: We arrived around 9:20ish and were told by the security guard to park the car and WAIT in it until 9:45 because there were still people getting off the ship and that the porters weren't there to take our luggage. As we drove passed the entrance I could see that people were still exiting and there were people waiting for shuttles but also saw a separate line of people to the left. So I headed to that line and sure enough they were already lining up to get on the ship. I probably got in line at 9:30 and there were 12 people in front of us. They let us in right at 10:00 and I marched ahead to get the health form filled out and headed to the counter lines where I saw the boarding # lady. I was ecstatic when she handed me #2!! This process was what I was most worried about. We were on the ship by 12:00 and eating lunch at Cabana's right after.
Cabanas: We went right outside to secure a table before getting food. The table we wanted sat 4 so I asked a gentleman in a crisp, white uniform if I could take a chair from another table and he said I could do anything I wanted to...nice! Then my mother-in-law notices that it was the Captain! oops! He was very nice and we snapped a pic with him. Cabanas had a great selection for lunch and the bahama mama's went down too fast!
Stateroom: We had a Deluxe Family Stateroom w/Veranda it it was wonderful! The queen bed was very comfortable and always love the split bathroom. The round tub with rain shower was awesome! My DS3 fit perfectly in the bath....great job Disney. Love, love the veranda. My only complaint is that we were on the starboard side and we did smell smoke several times. I know that it's a heated topic and that smoking is allowed on this side of the ship. I tried to see where it was coming from and on time I saw someone smoking one deck down and maybe 6 staterooms away. We were sailing at the time so I was really surprise it was reaching us. I really love the view of Castaway on the starboard side but I think we'll have to stay on the port side next time. It didn't ruin our trip by any means but it did make us leave our veranda several times.
Shows: They were wonderful! We saw Golden Mickey's (we saw this on the Wonder) and Believe. We watched most of Villians from our stateroom. We had Palo ressies that night and I also wasn't sure if my DS3 should see it. Believe was awesome and I definitely had tears at the end. It didn't help that the girl in the show is named Sophia and so is my DD9. The only matinee was Believe on Castaway Cay day.
Kids club: We used the Club and Lab. The first night I felt a little apprehensive about leaving DS3 in there because it seemed busy but I knew he had his sister with him. The next day we went in the morning and it wasn't as hectic so I felt like the CM's could give more individual attention. They both loved it and it was so nice to have a little adult time.
Restaurants: Our waitlist came through for main dining a week before we sailed. I was very undecided about which one I wanted because I liked the idea of not having to rush in the afternoon but I don't like to eat so late at night either. But what I realized was that if you had late seating (8:15) you had to go to the 6:15 show and I like to sit close to the front so I would really have to be there by 5:45 which was the same time as main dining. So, we decided to keep main. I will say that I could tell that our servers were rushed especially the first night. We had Animator's the first night and I thought it was ok. The show is cool but it's really loud and hard to talk over it. We skipped Enchanted Garden on the second night and went to Palo's (our first time) and loved the food, service and experience. Royal Palace was our last night and it felt a little more relaxed but I could tell our servers were hustling. Each night they got our kids meals out fast and then one of us took them to the club so we could finish our dinner. Our food came out quickly too so no problem there.
Pools: Yes, the pool area is busy but I remember the Wonder being busy too. I really didn't come on a cruise to be at the pool ALL day. We spent some time here on embarkation day and Nassau day. DD9 and I rode the Aquaduck together on Nassua day and waited about 20-25 minutes. I didn't think it was that bad of a wait seeing how it was around lunch and the pool was very busy. It was alot of fun!
Spa: We did the Rainforest room which was awesome! The steam room, sauna, jacuzzi on deck were all great. I went back in before my Bliss package and sat in a heated lounger....incredible! I almost fell asleep. The treatment rooms in the spa are to die for. I worked in the spa industy for 12 years so I love the aesthetics of a spa! I had a wonderful therapist named Bobbie who had a great touch and really worked out some knots in the back and shoulders.
Castaway: Always a highlight of our cruise. Perfect weather! We were off the ship by 9:30ish and had our pick of spots. The water was a little chilly for me but I'm a cold water wimp! I got warmed up by the sun and the "drink of the day" and got in right after early lunch. Beautiful day!
Debarkation: We went to Cabanas around 8am and breezed off the ship and through customs...very painless!
That's it for now...but feel free to ask any questions!
She wasn't crazy about the boar but she is a foodie and harder to please. The desert was awesome! Dh had creme brule' which was really good and I had the grand marnier souffle' which was incredible!
