First-timer questions (Wonder this summer)

[shosh1530]

We are 6 weeks out from our first Disney cruise (and first-ever cruise too!).

Some questions I haven't been able to figure out:

• What time do the quick service places typically close? Trying to figure out my back up plan if my kid doesn't eat anything at the main dining
• Do you have to sign up for kid's clubs? My son is 11 and could go to either the Oceanear club or Vibe. Do we have to choose one? Can he go to both?
• Is there a minimum age for the gym? My son loves to go with his dad.
• There is a sporting area? Can you do basketball? Where do you go?
• Can you get mint juleps (non-alcoholic) on the ship? Tiana's or French Quarter Lounge? My son loves them so much along side a beignet.
• I know many of the bars/lounges are adult only at night, but are all of them open to families during the day? Any that are always adult only?
• We just got our first Magic Bands at WDW this year. Any reason to bring them? I know they are rolling out something this summer with the Wish, but I don't think that will be on the Wonder by June?

So excited!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are 6 weeks out from our first Disney cruise (and first-ever cruise too!).

Some questions I haven't been able to figure out:

• What time do the quick service places typically close? Trying to figure out my back up plan if my kid doesn't eat anything at the main dining

Generally beween 10-11 pm

• Do you have to sign up for kid's clubs? My son is 11 and could go to either the Oceanear club or Vibe. Do we have to choose one? Can he go to both?

You do register you child for Oceaneer's, but he can participate in both Oceaneer's and Vibe.

• Is there a minimum age for the gym? My son loves to go with his dad.

The Fitness Center is Adult only (18+)

• There is a sporting area? Can you do basketball? Where do you go?

Wide World of Sports is on the Sports deck (deck 10)

• Can you get mint juleps (non-alcoholic) on the ship? Tiana's or French Quarter Lounge? My son loves them so much along side a beignet.

Haven't tried, but I'm going to guess yes.

• I know many of the bars/lounges are adult only at night, but are all of them open to families during the day? Any that are always adult only?

Adult only lounges: Crown & Fin Cove Cafe, Cadillac Lounge, Azure, Signals.
Family: D Lounge, French Quarter (daytime)

• We just got our first Magic Bands at WDW this year. Any reason to bring them? I know they are rolling out something this summer with the Wish, but I don't think that will be on the Wonder by June?

So excited!

 

[Geomom]

We are 6 weeks out from our first Disney cruise (and first-ever cruise too!).

Some questions I haven't been able to figure out:

• What time do the quick service places typically close? Trying to figure out my back up plan if my kid doesn't eat anything at the main dining
• Do you have to sign up for kid's clubs? My son is 11 and could go to either the Oceanear club or Vibe. Do we have to choose one? Can he go to both?
• Is there a minimum age for the gym? My son loves to go with his dad.
• There is a sporting area? Can you do basketball? Where do you go?
• Can you get mint juleps (non-alcoholic) on the ship? Tiana's or French Quarter Lounge? My son loves them so much along side a beignet.
• I know many of the bars/lounges are adult only at night, but are all of them open to families during the day? Any that are always adult only?
• We just got our first Magic Bands at WDW this year. Any reason to bring them? I know they are rolling out something this summer with the Wish, but I don't think that will be on the Wonder by June?

So excited!

1. Not sure, but they do have kids menus as well as adult menus in the MDR and anyone can pick items from both menus. Usually some of the quick service shuts down for dinner time and reopens later, finally shutting down around 11pm...I think something might still be open, possibly the pizza place? You can also order free room service anytime (except after 1am? on the last night)...just be sure to tip the delivery person--we do $1/item.

2. Your son does not need to choose. He can go to both Oceaneers Club/Lab and Edge. Vibe is for 14-17. Oceaneers will give him a special magic band to keep track of where he is in the club/lab--return it the last night or you'll be charged for it (used to be $12.99). You'll also want to give him sign out privileges for Oceaneers since he can come/go from Edge without permission.

3. The gym is for ages 18+ only. But the deck 4 promenade is also a jogging/walking track if your son (and Dad if desired) want to jog together.

4. There is a basketball area, ping pong, and foosball up on deck 10? Not sure where you get equipment from though. Take a look at the deck plans. Shuffleboard is on the deck 4 promenade.

5. No idea!

6. The Cadillac Lounge is always adults only, as is Cove Cafe on the pool deck. The others are usually family friendly until 9pm, but occasionally have adult only activities where children can't enter until that program is done. The D Lounge and Promenade lounge are always family friendly...again, unless there is an adult activity...as an example, we did adult only napkin folding and anyone can cook in the D lounge before.

7. Nope, no reason to bring magic bands...as I said, the kids club uses a special type, so yours wouldn't work for that yet.

 

[auntlynne]

Here were the food and lounge hours for a Sea Day in March 2023 on a Wonder Baja cruise. Hours tend to be pretty fixed from year to year. I imagine Alaska cruises are similar / the same. The ones in the yellow boxes are the counter service venues & Room Service.

Room Service is included, available 24/7; just tip the food runner. You can get milk, coffee, cookies cake of the day In addition to what’s on the menu. And frozen Mickey Bars. Sodas are canned and cost extra from Room Service.

D-Lounge has the physical bar area, but is not on the list of hours. I have seen it used in the past during cooking demonstrations. I think it is physically present, but not used anymore. (At some point, they offered Mocktails there during family events.)

Crown & Fin is the pub, sit-down, often used for adult trivia (family trivia is usually in D-Lounge). It is essentially the sports bar, with TVs around the room (not too obtrusive, though). It is a nice place to play games with your family, too.

Preludes - think concession stand at the movies / theater. With alcohol. It is at the entrance to the Walt Disney Theater, where you see the evening shows. (I believe they might bring drinks to you?). They also sell popcorn there when open.

You can take drinks from area to another.

This has been the Room Service menu on all ships for years. The Wish has a different menu.

 

[shosh1530]

Thanks for all the details! It helps me prep my son as he doesn't deal well with the unexpected and particularly gets riled up about things he is too young to access. Hopefully dad can sneak off to the gym if he ends up liking kids club.

And glad to know that the quick service places are open late. I was worried they closed before dinner. I'm pretty sure my child will live on pizza, mickey bars, popcorn and fruit on the cruise.

 

[Geomom]

Thanks for all the details! It helps me prep my son as he doesn't deal well with the unexpected and particularly gets riled up about things he is too young to access. Hopefully dad can sneak off to the gym if he ends up liking kids club.

And glad to know that the quick service places are open late. I was worried they closed before dinner. I'm pretty sure my child will live on pizza, mickey bars, popcorn and fruit on the cruise.

Just to let you know, popcorn is not free on the cruise. They sell it outside the theaters if you want some. If there's anything your son really wants for dinner, just ask your server and maybe they'll be able to get it for him, and if not the first night, maybe the next night.

You can explain to your son that he has access to places you are too old to go to! Adults are only allowed in kids clubs during open house times. So while there are some adult only places there are also kids only places (other than the youth counselors.)

 

[SeanSD]

Thanks for all the details! It helps me prep my son as he doesn't deal well with the unexpected and particularly gets riled up about things he is too young to access. Hopefully dad can sneak off to the gym if he ends up liking kids club.

And glad to know that the quick service places are open late. I was worried they closed before dinner. I'm pretty sure my child will live on pizza, mickey bars, popcorn and fruit on the cruise.

Buy the popcorn bucket and get cheap refills (even when you bring it on future Disney cruises)

 

[shosh1530]

Buy the popcorn bucket and get cheap refills (even when you bring it on future Disney cruises)

My son collects Disney popcorn buckets so will definitely get it!

 

[auntlynne]

Kids (and adults) are not restricted to their age-specified menu. You usually can get a bowl of fruit. Also, regular salad and Caesar. You can see the menus on Disneycruiselineblog website.

My teenage niece spent 3 weeks mainly having a dinner of sirloin, rice, and broccoli (it’s called the lighter side offerings, seen on the adult menu. They typically offer chicken breast, sirloin, and edit- salmon).

 

[Calantha]

My teenage niece spent 3 weeks mainly having a dinner of sirloin, rice, and broccoli

Yeah, my son is a salmon, rice, and apple slice kind of kid.
But plenty of pizza at lunch.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Yeah, my son is a salmon, rice, and apple slice kind of kid.
But plenty of pizza at lunch.

Salmon is often on the lighter fare menu. I'm certain that your server can get apple slices added. The kids menu will have pizza on it occasionally, also.

I also suggest you take a look at the menus on https://disneycruiselineblog.com/menus/ to see what sort of items are offered.

 

[Calantha]

Salmon is often on the lighter fare menu. I'm certain that your server can get apple slices added. The kids menu will have pizza on it occasionally, also.

Sorry I wasn't clear, that's what I meant. He orders that on the ship and they are very accommodating.

 

[shosh1530]

I'm hoping my DS will experiment and try some things off the regular menus (he has never tried salmon). But I'm also prepared that me will mostly do the rolls and dessert! The only meat that he regularly likes is BBQ ribs, which I haven't seen on any of the recent menus. Other than that he mostly sticks with with rice, tofu, plain pastas, cheese pizza, and quesadillas. I'm sure we can request at least some of those!

DH and I are both vegan, so we'll likely be requesting special order foods anyway. Hopefully he'll try some of those too.

 

[auntlynne]

On the Pirates Night menu, look for this:

Lighter Note Offerings

• Braised Barbecue Beef Rib Salad
  Slowly Braised Barbecue Beef Rib with Romaine Leaves, Spinach, Macadamia Nuts, Carrots, Roasted

If he doesn’t want all the ”stuff,” simply ask for the ribs. I know BBQ sauce is subjective, but at least it’s experimenting with something - without it being a totally new concept.

 

[shosh1530]

On the Pirates Night menu, look for this:

Lighter Note Offerings

• Braised Barbecue Beef Rib Salad
  Slowly Braised Barbecue Beef Rib with Romaine Leaves, Spinach, Macadamia Nuts, Carrots, Roasted

If he doesn’t want all the ”stuff,” simply ask for the ribs. I know BBQ sauce is subjective, but at least it’s experimenting with something - without it being a totally new concept.

Thanks! We unfortunately don't get a pirate's night on our Alaska sailing, but maybe they will do something similar one of our nights. And I can always ask!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks! We unfortunately don't get a pirate's night on our Alaska sailing, but maybe they will do something similar one of our nights. And I can always ask!

Have you checked the menus? I'm sure there's something that can be tweaked to get what you need. I know most nights the kid's menu has pizza and also chicken tenders (with BBQ sauce).

 

[shosh1530]

Have you checked the menus? I'm sure there's something that can be tweaked to get what you need. I know most nights the kid's menu has pizza and also chicken tenders (with BBQ sauce).

I have checked the menu's that I've seen posted on the disboards (maybe Scott's blog). The most recent ones are May 2022, but the often the children's menus are much older so not sure how accurate they are. I'm hoping some folks will start posting trip reports from the Wonder once the Alaska sailing start mid-May.

I do think I've seen BBQ chicken so that is promising (not that he would eat that, mind you). I've seen tofu you on the menu for Triton's so that will also be good for protein. And he does sometimes tries new foods on vacation. In fact, he discovered his love of BBQ ribs at Legoland and only ever wants to eat them on vacation. Kids!

 

[auntlynne]

Thanks! We unfortunately don't get a pirate's night on our Alaska sailing, but maybe they will do something similar one of our nights. And I can always ask!

Unfortunately, we did have Pirates IN the Caribbean night on our Alaskan cruise back in 2011. Mainly, because it is our least favorite menu - and our choice for dinner in Palo.

You have gotten the take-away for this topic - ask if something is available. Indian curries are the big surprise; they are available on so many cruise lines (but not always on the official menu).

 

[OpieDoodle]

We are 6 weeks out from our first Disney cruise (and first-ever cruise too!).

Some questions I haven't been able to figure out:

• What time do the quick service places typically close? Trying to figure out my back up plan if my kid doesn't eat anything at the main dining

They vary. Something good tho is you can order multiple things off the menu for them in the MDR. Tons of kid friendly stuff on the kids menu or they can even order off the adult menu. Maybe they really want something from the restaurant the night before then you can usually even order that!

• Do you have to sign up for kid's clubs? My son is 11 and could go to either the Oceanear club or Vibe. Do we have to choose one? Can he go to both?

If he's of age he can go into whichever club he'd like.

• Is there a minimum age for the gym? My son loves to go with his dad.

Yes and they are very strict on it

• There is a sporting area? Can you do basketball? Where do you go?

Yes I believe so, not sure where on that ship. I've never been on that ship but FYI if its on the top deck and its windy it's REALLY hard to play basketball. LOL

• We just got our first Magic Bands at WDW this year. Any reason to bring them? I know they are rolling out something this summer with the Wish, but I don't think that will be on the Wonder by June?

I wouldn't bring them. They just started testing super recently. I'd bet its a while out before its good to go on all the ships.

 

[Nike4000]

My son has ordered cheese pizza, french fries (no ketchup), a Mickey bar, and a glass of milk every night in the main dining room on just about every Disney cruise he's been on so far.