I cannot decide!!!!!

[AquaDame]

Ok, so currently I have a 7-night supposed-to-be Eastern on the Wonder booked. We're still slated to go to St. Maarten and San Juan (and Castaway), but who knows.

I've also taken a really hard look at the Magic's 5-night MDAS out of Miami departing the same day with an itinerary of Miami - Sea Day - Grand Cayman - Sea Day - Castaway - Miami and am strongly considering that, but I cannot decide.

The Magic cruise is only about $600 less for an equivalent stateroom, so that's not a huge factor. Airfare to MCO or MIA are within less than $100 difference.

Wonder Pros: it would complete my Grand Slam, hotel in Orlando would be fewer Hilton Hhonors points (my dad is giving me a ton of his which is what I'll use for my pre-cruise stay in either Orlando or Miami), I could see friends the night before the cruise, I could check out Disney Springs since I haven't been there since the change from Downtown Disney

Magic Pros: I really loved the Magic last year; I love Carioca's and the rumor that it might get turned into Tiana's makes me sad and I'd like to experience it again; Grand Cayman is a new port to me; I love Miami; I have a couple more days wiggle room at the end in case of a flight delay OR if they ask for volunteers to give up a seat

Wonder Cons: I am really not a fan of the whole supper club vibe so am NOT looking forward to Tiana's - and I've already requested Triton's on night 1 so I can book Palo then because I hate that menu (and Cabanas really doesn't work for me for avoiding Tiana's as they took my least favorite items from the menus and mushed them into the Cabanas menu; still some uncertainty about where exactly we're going - San Juan is probably a go

Magic cons: Shorter cruise; I'm not the biggest Marvel fan but I do like Guardians and feel like I can tolerate the day ok (I love the menu as far as gluten-free options other than dessert) - so it's only a slight con; shorter cruise

So they pretty much balance each other out in terms of pros and cons.

Any thoughts from the hive mind?

I'm not worried about DCL not going to San Juan personally... so many cruise lines are already using it, but you're right that it might change still. Maybe Im just trying to convince myself my Jan 28th is safe... ^^;;

I also feel like you are really beating yourself up over the Wonder's menu and Tiana's... normally Id say more nights, grand slam etc but I really feel like you've set yourself up to be disappointed. No one wants a cruddy cruise and starting halfway there... I've also heard Caricoas is not long for this world but the rumor was that it would absolutely NOT be a Tiana's clone. Each ship is going to get its own unique one here on out.

Isn't the real problem with the Wonder the reports of so-so servers?

Ours last week were great! We had Norbert and Zion-Rose (Norbi & Rose). Rose only has the 5 night and Panama left before she goes on her 10 week break though.... I was sad to hear that as I had a mind to request them both again in Jan, which I've never considered doing before.

It probably doesn’t help that Princess and the Frog is my least favorite Disney film (even beyond The Little Mermaid - that one for the message that you have to change everything about who you are for love) - probably because the one time I visited New Orleans was probably the worst vacation of my life, so anything related to it is just EWW.

We’ll see what I end up doing - I would also love to be able to help the economy in the Eastern ports...but not thrilled with the port adventures offered, especially in San Juan. (Did the Rainforest and Waterfall one last time with a guide who was lacking a LOT of luster. Got “forted out” in Cuba last Christmas with a fort in every port. So, meh.) But on the flip side, not overly thrilled with the Grand Cayman ones either - NO sting rays for me.

I’ll figure it out soon.

...I'll bite. What happened in New Orleans...?

I am not sure that the Little Mermaid is that deep. It's just about a mermaid that wants to be human. But if you want to deconstruct, the message could be more positive, like don't let your physical reality stop you from following your dreams. And then there is the usual Disney cautionary subtext. This time it is don't sell your soul to the devil, or your voice to a sea witch. Lol.

Same here. I thought LM was the opposite... she loved humans and their world and didn't let anything stop her from her goals (even though what she did was classically full of stupid growing-up mistakes).

 

[Dug720]

I'm not worried about DCL not going to San Juan personally... so many cruise lines are already using it, but you're right that it might change still. Maybe Im just trying to convince myself my Jan 28th is safe... ^^;;

I also feel like you are really beating yourself up over the Wonder's menu and Tiana's... normally Id say more nights, grand slam etc but I really feel like you've set yourself up to be disappointed. No one wants a cruddy cruise and starting halfway there... I've also heard Caricoas is not long for this world but the rumor was that it would absolutely NOT be a Tiana's clone. Each ship is going to get its own unique one here on out.



Ours last week were great! We had Norbert and Zion-Rose (Norbi & Rose). Rose only has the 5 night and Panama left before she goes on her 10 week break though.... I was sad to hear that as I had a mind to request them both again in Jan, which I've never considered doing before.



...I'll bite. What happened in New Orleans...?



Same here. I thought LM was the opposite... she loved humans and their world and didn't let anything stop her from her goals (even though what she did was classically full of stupid growing-up mistakes).

I could honestly go either way right now. I'm really hoping something like airfare cuts for ONE happens to make it easier.

As far as NO...let's just say in addition to getting violently ill because of the heat and sugar (I had ONE glass of wine, so no it was not getting drunk) - which actually probably explains why I hate beignets come to think of it, it just went downhill from there in terms of the person I was with, what we did "touring", and basically that my suspicions about something involving that relationship were confirmed not by the other person but by the reaction of other people to being introduced to me. Just way too many bad memories wrapped up with that whole ethos.

I think the big crux is I want to go on all the ships...I'm just very iffy on that one dining room.

 

[cruiser21]

I could honestly go either way right now. I'm really hoping something like airfare cuts for ONE happens to make it easier.

As far as NO...let's just say in addition to getting violently ill because of the heat and sugar (I had ONE glass of wine, so no it was not getting drunk) - which actually probably explains why I hate beignets come to think of it, it just went downhill from there in terms of the person I was with, what we did "touring", and basically that my suspicions about something involving that relationship were confirmed not by the other person but by the reaction of other people to being introduced to me. Just way too many bad memories wrapped up with that whole ethos.

I think the big crux is I want to go on all the ships...I'm just very iffy on that one dining room.

I think I've too much wine to follow this thread. I'm going to have to look up ethos

 

[closetmickey]

If I were really wanting to complete the Grand Slam, I wouldn't let one restaurant stop me- especially since you've yet to experience it. Good luck with your decision!

 

[MUN]

Ours last week were great! We had Norbert and Zion-Rose (Norbi & Rose). Rose only has the 5 night and Panama left before she goes on her 10 week break though.... I was sad to hear that as I had a mind to request them both again in Jan, which I've never considered doing before.


).

Norbert! That's was my father's name. Where was Norbert from?

 

[undertheradar]

I would sail on The Wonder. You are already deciding that you don't like Tiana's Place, without having been to it. Keep an open mind and request a rotation that only has you there twice. Request a table near the door so that you can quietly exit if it bothers you.

 

[RedStars]

To me, it sounds like you're clearly uninterested in 2 of the dining rooms (plus pirate menu) and room service. Getting the 'grand slam' should not matter if you're not going to enjoy the cruise.

A vacation is meant to be enjoyable and not such a dilemma. I get it; I was originally on the Nov 4th sailing and the unknown was killing me. Which is why I switched to Nov 25 and never looked back.

I think you need to decide what kind of vacation you want.

Also, if you haven't been to Tianas, how do you KNOW you won't like it?

 

[FigmentSpark]

If Tiana's Place is the only thing keeping you off that ship, I'd say let it go. As you know, there are other food options, like Palo. But your alternative is to 'endure' the Marvel Day at Sea, right? But no grand slam with the MDAS.

 

[darnheather]

Yeah. I'm not afraid of heights, and I liked the AquaDUCK, but that's slower and on a raft. I don't like fast body slides.

But like I said, I don't feel like I missed out on anything by not doing it this past February.

I don't do well with enclosed tubes. I can't even do that part of Pelican Plunge. I'm more than willing to try the raft slide.

 

[darnheather]

BTW we had no pirate menu on our last cruise. All the days were very mixed up. We had Captain's dinner on pirate night and Prince and Princess on Halloween night. With the app it's very easy to see what's coming for dinner and plan around it.

Also Marvel Day was IMHO very low key. Very few people in costume and no roaming agents or anything. Some shipmates said that SWADAS was way more active and intense. Marvel night menu was a refreshing change.

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

I may be the oddball here, but completing the grand slam, while it would be cool, would not be a factor for me. All thing being equal, I'd take the longer cruise.

 

[AquaDame]

I could honestly go either way right now. I'm really hoping something like airfare cuts for ONE happens to make it easier.

As far as NO...let's just say in addition to getting violently ill because of the heat and sugar (I had ONE glass of wine, so no it was not getting drunk) - which actually probably explains why I hate beignets come to think of it, it just went downhill from there in terms of the person I was with, what we did "touring", and basically that my suspicions about something involving that relationship were confirmed not by the other person but by the reaction of other people to being introduced to me. Just way too many bad memories wrapped up with that whole ethos.

I think the big crux is I want to go on all the ships...I'm just very iffy on that one dining room.

Yeah, I probably wouldn't like NO either in that circumstance...! I hated biking and camping for a long time due to an ex who was less than kind at me being slower than he was (I was new to the sport, sue me) and it took a long time with my exceptionally kind and patient boyfriend (now husband) before I was willing to exercise with him. Maybe a shorter cruise sometime on the wonder...? A 2 night to nowhere or a 3 night?

Norbert! That's was my father's name. Where was Norbert from?

Hungary! He had some insight into some of the dishes we had too, turns out some are hungarian in origin I guess. Many many times he encouraged us to go chocolate for dessert instead of... well, any of the others. It made me wonder if that was a Hungarian thing or just a Norbert thing..!

 

[Dug720]

Yeah, I probably wouldn't like NO either in that circumstance...! I hated biking and camping for a long time due to an ex who was less than kind at me being slower than he was (I was new to the sport, sue me) and it took a long time with my exceptionally kind and patient boyfriend (now husband) before I was willing to exercise with him. Maybe a shorter cruise sometime on the wonder...? A 2 night to nowhere or a 3 night?

I talked (well, emailed) with my sister who has a tad bit of insight, and she is encouraging me to try it. Combining that with my dad giving me Hilton Hhonors points to cover a pre-cruise stay, I am 99% that I will keep it. I guess at this point it’s only if the airfares to MIA drop dramatically and the ones to MCO don’t.

 

[cmph]

The CMs steered DH away from anything other than the whole fruits at Daisy's D-lites b/c of cross-contamination, so I wouldn't plan on that. Plus it's not open for dinner, unless you eat a really early dinner. DH thought the burgers on gf buns were just fine on deck though, so that's an option? I don't think he's super picky about burgers, though.

Plenty of parents have to get some portion of their meal to-go b/c they have to put a little one to bed, or someone got sick, etc. In your shoes, if the Cabanas posted menu was completely unappealing after checking it out, I would go to Tiana's, order an app to eat there, and ask for the rest of your meal to be packed up while you eat that. I found the loud music irritating, but most of the food was pretty good. I wouldn't want to miss that. If you tell them the night before that you're going to do that and pre-order, I don't think it's a whole lot of effort for them to put it together in covered dishes.

I'm not sure anyone could talk me into switching from a 7 day to a 5 day. The grand slam aspect wouldn't mean much to me, but the length-of-cruise would!

 

[MUN]

I think you will regret not completing the grand slam.

I don't think she will. Dug720 doesn't seem like a braggart, so I don't think she will go around bragging about completing a "grand slam". We completed a "grand slam" with our Norwegian Fjords cruise this June on the Magic. However, the "grand slam" was not why we chose this cruise. In fact, I never even mentioned the "grand slam" in conversation or on this forum, until now that is. Just my 2¢.

 

[cruiser21]

Why not just with the Dream since nothing on that ship irritates you.

 

[cadien]

I don't think any bragging is necessary to enjoy a grand slam. Considering how many people mention taking 20+ Disney cruises, how is just 4 anything special?

 

[abuck75]

I don't think any bragging is necessary to enjoy a grand slam. Considering how many people mention taking 20+ Disney cruises, how is just 4 anything special?

Yeah, I don't think it's for bragging, but so you could actually see and compare all four ships, especially if you're someone who loves Disney Cruising.

 

[RedSox68]

Yeah, I don't think it's for bragging, but so you could actually see and compare all four ships, especially if you're someone who loves Disney Cruising.

We didn't rejoice when we did all four for bragging rights -- but just for our own accomplishment that we could afford to do all four ships LOL I don't, however, see us being able to do the next three for that grand slam as I'm sure prices will be well out of the park for us by then!

 

[Dug720]

Thanks to the new itineraries, I have a total flip the script decision!

THIS year I'm going to Disney World and doing a land-based vacation! Staying at AKL for 5 nights!!

Next year in April I'm going to do the Wonder 7-night Mexican Riviera on 4/21 - it won't matter that it's a blackout as it's outside of the 24 month period, so... YAY!!!!!!