If You See It: Eat It! Via Panama to Disneyland - Completed and Link to New Trip Report 2/24

[dolphingirl47]

I am glad that you enjoyed the stretch through Gatun Lake. I love this part of the crossing, too and I am always bemused that so many people disappear as soon as the ship enters the lake.

Thanks for posting about Swimming Through the Canal. I wondered what this was all about.

The Wiener Schnitzel looked lovely.

Corinna

 

[Poolrat]

WOW that looks so interesting. I am not sure I could anything BUT watch the ship go through the locks. Seeing how close that is I would almost be afraid to take my eyes off it.
Like there is any way that me NOT watching would make something bad happen or I have any control over how the ship is moving but I probably would be oddly fascinated.

 

[franandaj]

The pictures through the locks are quite intriguing. I want to do a PC cruise even more now just for the spectacle of what its like going through the locks, not to mention the time and days at sea.

I love a good authentic Winerschnitzel. Actually the chef at steakhouse 55 apprenticed under a German chef for his first job and he makes the best Winerschnitzel, blood sausage and other German foods that you'll find in Anaheim. You just need to get him to cook it for you. He made us a German menu last year that knocked our socks off!

 

[Flossbolna]

I remember as a young boy in school reading about the "mules" and the other things that go into making the locks work, and always thought that was so cool! I never knew they had changed the direction they moved the ships though, with going the same direction through both sides, but that does make sense.

As far as I know, the eldest hasn't had that opportunity yet, but I will confirm that with him.

Oh, I can see how in the US the Panama Canal would feature more prominently in school than here in Europe!

All locks can operate in both directions, so it is just a question of how they organise the passages. But the big ships alway run through parallel.

And on Drew being a High School Senior: When did that happen????????

 

[Flossbolna]

Will do replies tomorrow - but have another update done and wanted to post it!

 

[Flossbolna]

While we were going down through the Pedro Miguel locks, I took a picture of the process to illustrate the speed with which we went down. You can see the pole in the middle coming up:

http://vid896.photobucket.com/albums/ac166/magdaleneTR/1 Panama Canal/09 May 9/Clip8.mp4

It is about 3 minutes long.


I think after the Pedro Miguel locks I spent some time in the pool and then went up on deck for the last locks, the Miraflores locks. These are close to Panama City and have a visitor center. There were lots of people there to watch the Disney Wonder go through the canal:

People were saying that the characters would be coming out for the spectators, but I did not see them. But I heard it when they came out as you could here the crowd cheering for Mickey! The next day, Jimmy said that the characters were out at the crew pool, so you need to be up on deck 10 front if you want to have a chance to see them.

I tried to get a picture of the bridge going through the Mira Flores locks, sorry there is some plexiglas blurr:

And just a general overview of the life up on deck while going through the last locks:

And then we were approaching the large Panama port and the Bridge of the Americas:

We passed some of the construction for the new locks:

They should have opened in 2014, but as you can see, they are delayed. There were all kind of problems, but supposedly they are currently back on track. The reason why the Wonder has not been re- imagined is that she still needs to fit through the old locks. The Magic does not fit anymore as she got a “duck tail” to help with fuel efficiency and balance. The rumors are that if the new locks will be done in 2015, then the Wonder will go into dry dock in 2016 to be re-imagined. It will be interesting to see what they are going to do with her and whether they change it up a bit from what they did to the Magic. I just wish they would keep the Route 66 theme of the adult district!

You could see Panama City in the distance:

And then we passed the shipping port:

It was time for the show now – which was not a show, but a film: Captain America The Winter Soldier. Because it was longer than the average show, it started earlier. But after a day where I spent most of the time outside and in the heat, it was rather nice to go and sit in a dark and cool room for some time! Even though they were showing the film in the Walt Disney Theater as the show, we decided to head to the Buena Vista Theater to see it as it seemed to be more a real movie experience. There they were showing the film as well, 15 minutes later.

While we were watching the film (rather entertaining) our ship finished the last stretch out of the immediate canal area into the holding area. Both sides of the canal have these areas where ships are waiting for their passage. Or like us: anchoring for re-fuelling after the passage. We were positioned just outside the canal, you could see the lights of Panama City in the distance. We got fuel and also some entertainers came on board then.

After the movie it was dinner time for us. The menu today was the Panama Canal menu (link here: http://disneycruiselineblog.com/menus/panama-canal-dinner-menu/).

We were in Parrot Cay this day and I thought that this was a very good fit, if we would have a tropical or Central American menu. Well, it was neither tropical nor Central American…

As always, we started with the bread. The menu said it was going to be a Whole Sour Dough and Olive Loaf. This is what we got:

To me this does look like slices of standard white bread with a tiny amount of olive in it. I was getting more and more annoyed by the menu announcing fancy breads and then they gave me the same stuff over and over again. I would not mind it if they just served a standard bread basket every night. But not if they write something in the menu that then is just not true.

Michael started his meal with a soup, the Cream of Cauliflower Soup with tossed Almonds:

I had the Spiced Chicken Liver Mousse served with a Baguette and Caramelized Pears:

I just realise now, that those bread sticks I got with it really are not a baguette!! I guess it did not really matter to me, as I ate the mousse with bread out of the bread basket anyway. The mousse was very nice, but I like all kind of liver sausages and pates (don’t suggest I eat a fried liver though – that is disgusting!!!!!!).

I know that Michael had this salad – the Head of Iceberg Lettuce with Croutons, Roasted Walnuts and Stilton dressing. I am not sure whether I had it, too, or whether I skipped the second appetizer…

For his entree Michael had the Slow Roasted Prime Rib – USDA Choice Cut of Beef Sautéed with Green Beans, Twice Baked Potato and Madeira Sauce. I knew that he would order this as soon as I read the menu – not for the prime rib, but for the green beans!

I think he thought it was quite good.

I had the California Grill Fire Roasted Pork Tenderloin brushed with Dijon Mustard on Goat Cheese Polenta and Zinfandel Reduction:

This is NOT the same dish as it used to be served at the California Grill. The one thing that came pretty close was the polenta which was very good! And the meat was good meat. I did not like the “Zinfandel Reduction” – it tasted like the previous sauces that I had. And I have no idea what the stuff was, that was on top of the meat and the polenta. All in all it was a good to even very good dish, but it did not come close to the original.

I only have one dessert picture and I think it is Michael’s as I can’t imagine that I would have gotten dessert and he did not:

It is the Butter Pecan Sundea.

After dinner we wanted to go for a walk on deck 4, but quite a bit of that was actually closed off because of the refuelling operations. So we just stood out there, looked at the lights of the other ships and then looked down along the ship where a pelican had settled in fishing in the light of the ship’s lamps. We were wondering whether the warm hull of our ship was attracting fish? We saw the pelican having some dinner… We checked for other wild life and saw some really big fish down in the water as well. I guess with us being stationary they came quite close.

We also met Tiana hanging around the atrium after dinner:

We regularly saw the princesses just in passing and I have to say, that now those princesses that we met on the Wonder kind of have become the “real look” to me. When I now see pictures from princesses in other places who look slightly different, they always look like they are imitators. How funny, how much you can get used to a certain face with just 2 short weeks!

We were back in the cabin around 10pm and I got a picture to document out current position:

We also had a cute towel elephant:

We headed to bed and while I was reading the next day’s Navigator Michael was browsing the TV channels and watched something that appeared to be a presentation of an imaginer, George Scribner. We were really surprised as we had not seen any such talk being advertised! We were disappointed as that would have been something we really would have enjoyed. However, I found something in the next day’s Navigator which seemed to be another talk by this imaginer and we made plans to go and see that. Michael ended up watching the whole presentation, but I just was so tired that I fell asleep. It then turned out that we did not notice the previous talk because it was all about the Panama Canal. George Scribner grew up in Panama and his first presentation was about some work he is doing now making paintings of the expansion project.

Up Next: It's wet here!

 

[wilma-bride]

Magdalene, we are finally under 200 days until our cruise - and what better way to celebrate than by reading about your transit through the Panama Canal. What a fabulous lot of updates.

However, is it wrong that the thing that excited me the most was that Wiener Schnitzel

Gatun Lake really does look beautiful, it appears to be very serene and calm, probably a lot more so without the noise of several hundred people on deck I cant believe the number of people in the visitors centre, waiting to see the Disney ship. Must feel really exciting knowing you are on board the ship that everyone is there to see.

I have to say, the Panama Canal menu really doesn't look very exciting or inspiring. What a shame!

 

[lisah0711]

Just a note to let you know I am really enjoying your fabulous trip report! I am really enjoying all the pictures and details.

But I do need to know what the drink of the day was that you had pictured for future reference.

 

[mom4fun]

I love your teddy bear. Does he have a special story that he got to come with you on this trip?

 

[GoofyFan1515]

Enjoyed the update! You aren't doing anything to curb my desire to travel through the Canal sometime! I started watching the video and all I could think of was the Stretching Room in Haunted Mansion.

The food looked really good, and I could certainly go for a Butter Pecan sundae!!!

 

[dolphingirl47]

We were on the wrong side of the ship for the visitor centre so it is nice to see the other side in your photos. If I remember correctly the stuff on the meat was wild mushrooms. I would have loved to see the pelicans fishing at night. I was glad that we refuelled after the crossing. In 2011 we refuelled during the night before the crossing and we kept being woken up by announcements as at that time people were still allowed to smoke on their verandas and therefore they had to make the announcements that they could be heard in the cabins.

Corinna

 

[schmass]

Going through the locks seems like such a cool experience! Thanks for the detailed report on that!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

As the resident engineer, the Canal is fascinating! Thanks for posting so many pictures of it! It must have been really interesting to watch the ship go through.

I'm also thinking those must be some high bridges to allow cruise ships to pass underneath.

Glad you enjoyed the new Captain America movie--I thought it was great!

 

[Poolrat]

Love the video and yes it does remind me of the stretching room in HM.

I probably would be glued to the side to watch the process and taking video and pictures much to the annoyance of everybody.

Now on to Dinner.
Michael has what 7 green beans? I think the green stuff may be collard greens or something along those lines. The other stuff does look like mushrooms.

I might have gone for that prime rib ( with appropriate substitutions of course )

 

[GoofyFan1515]

Love the video and yes it does remind me of the stretching room in HM.

Great minds...........

I probably would be glued to the side to watch the process and taking video and pictures much to the annoyance of everybody.

Now on to Dinner.
Michael has what 7 green beans? I think the green stuff may be collard greens or something along those lines. The other stuff does look like mushrooms.

I'm guessing spinach.

I might have gone for that prime rib ( with appropriate substitutions of course )

You mean everything else on the plate???

 

[Flossbolna]

I guess at least for a short amount of time I get to remain caught up on your TR!!!

And it seems like you were even better caught up than I myself!!

I totally agree........Lake Gatun looks like a beautiful part of the Panama Canal crossing!

Gates Lake is very beautiful!

I think this is an interesting picture in that it shows the trail of your ship going off into the background. Of course, I guess it is debatable whether that is a good thing, or a bad one........

Yes, seeing the trail is one of the nice things of being in the back of the ship. I liked that perspective when eating at Beach Blanket Buffet as well.

Sorry you got fussed at for taking pictures, but I'm happy you were able to post this great shot!

It was just so strange... And it was such a nice and unique event!

I imagine the Goofy pool is always got the coolest things going on. So did you make the swim and earn the certificate?

I had planned to do it, but then with getting up early and all the heat I did not have the energy and really regretted it afterwards... I guess I need to go through the canal again. And the Goofy pool is certainly full of activity on a normal cruise: There were times on this cruise however, when it was quiet there while the adult pool was filled with people.

I guess with all the buoys, they don't want to leave anything to chance!

Well of course! Not like you haven't told us as much on other TRs about Biergarten in World Showcase. Do these people not read the DIS like the rest of the world???

Yes, I think my TRs need to be required reading for everyone before they board a DCL ship!

That does look yummy! Too bad Michael didn't do as well.

I think Michael was getting to the point of being tired of cruise food. It does happen... I got there, too.

I guess the No Drinking day is behind you! That does look pretty good, but you didn't tell us what it was.

According to the Navigator, the drink of the day was called Panama Hat. Not that that helps a lot, I have no idea what was in it. But I remember that it was tasty! I did not have one single drink of the day that was not good.

What a great souvenir! And WOW, that is close!!!

I think they ship had a foot on both sides between the walls of the canal. If you consider that the ship is 106 feet wide, if you set this into relation with your car - I am pretty sure no one of us would dare to park their car with that little space on both sides!

 

[Flossbolna]

Yeah! Austria in the form of a nice "Wiener Schnitzel" and made with veal as it should be. Glad you enjoyed it.

You got some great photos that day and I am learning a lot about the Panama Canal.

I just love that you ran into all those characters, even though I find it pretty rude to shout at someone for taking a photo of a character, even if they are surrounded by kids. You could take a lot more pics of kids looking down onto the kiddy pool.

I think the Wiener Schnitzel is one of the best know exports of Austria!!

I am glad that you find my TR informative!

The problem with Goofy was that this event was part of the "secure" program of the kids clubs. And I guess you are not allowed to take pictures inside the kids clubs either. But then, if they want to enforce that rule, they really should not take the kids outside...

 

[Flossbolna]

I am glad that you enjoyed the stretch through Gatun Lake. I love this part of the crossing, too and I am always bemused that so many people disappear as soon as the ship enters the lake.

Thanks for posting about Swimming Through the Canal. I wondered what this was all about.

The Wiener Schnitzel looked lovely.

Corinna

If I ever go through the canal again in this direction, I will appear when we get into the Lake. No reason to get up early for the first locks in my opinion. And I am happy I could help out to let you know how to swim through the Panama Canal.

The Schnitzel was really good! It is one of the dishes on the cruise that really stood out!

WOW that looks so interesting. I am not sure I could anything BUT watch the ship go through the locks. Seeing how close that is I would almost be afraid to take my eyes off it.
Like there is any way that me NOT watching would make something bad happen or I have any control over how the ship is moving but I probably would be oddly fascinated.

I totally get what you mean!! Seems like you need to plan to go on a a PC cruise! There were a few first timers on board who seemed to have a great time! And the good think about the repositioning cruises is that they are generally less per night than the shorter cruises, especially if you book them early.

 

[Flossbolna]

The pictures through the locks are quite intriguing. I want to do a PC cruise even more now just for the spectacle of what its like going through the locks, not to mention the time and days at sea.

It really is a wonderful itinerary! I can absolutely recommend it. And for you it has the added bonus that it would be a trip which kind of ends or starts at your home.

I love a good authentic Winerschnitzel. Actually the chef at steakhouse 55 apprenticed under a German chef for his first job and he makes the best Winerschnitzel, blood sausage and other German foods that you'll find in Anaheim. You just need to get him to cook it for you. He made us a German menu last year that knocked our socks off!

That's interesting! Actually quite a few chefs at WDW are from Germany. The head chef of Epcot who is responsible for Food & Wine is German. There are some videos with him from the Parks Blog and while his English is perfect he has such a strong German accent!

How funny that you got served your special German menu!!

Magdalene, we are finally under 200 days until our cruise - and what better way to celebrate than by reading about your transit through the Panama Canal. What a fabulous lot of updates.

I am starting to get envious of those of you that still have the cruise ahead of them! I would love to do it again - but then there are so many things I want to do as well, so if we do it again, it won't be any time soon.

However, is it wrong that the thing that excited me the most was that Wiener Schnitzel

No, not at all!! I am dreaming about eating it again on my next cruise - but I have no idea whether this menu is a standard menu or only comes out on longer cruises.

Gatun Lake really does look beautiful, it appears to be very serene and calm, probably a lot more so without the noise of several hundred people on deck I cant believe the number of people in the visitors centre, waiting to see the Disney ship. Must feel really exciting knowing you are on board the ship that everyone is there to see.

Once the ship goes into Gatun Lake, a lot of people disappear from the open decks and go wherever. So, you should be able to enjoy the serenity without the crowds! One of the things I have read that are recommended is to have Palo brunch that morning to enjoy the view from there. I think that would be a nice way to do it.

I have to say, the Panama Canal menu really doesn't look very exciting or inspiring. What a shame!

Yes, I would have thought they would theme it better... In hindsight I would say that this would have been a good day to eat somewhere else and have a break from the Main Dining Room.

 

[Flossbolna]

Just a note to let you know I am really enjoying your fabulous trip report! I am really enjoying all the pictures and details.

But I do need to know what the drink of the day was that you had pictured for future reference.

Hi Lisa, great to see you here! The drink of the day was called Panama Hat. And I have no memory of what was in it. Sorry!

I love your teddy bear. Does he have a special story that he got to come with you on this trip?

It is actually a Duffy Bear. A special WDW 40th anniversary edition. Michael "adopted" him at a Disney outlet store for me because I made a big fuss about me and WDW both turning 40 in the same year (WDW is one month and 5 days older than me ) and therefore loved all the 40th anniversary merchandise.

Enjoyed the update! You aren't doing anything to curb my desire to travel through the Canal sometime! I started watching the video and all I could think of was the Stretching Room in Haunted Mansion.

The food looked really good, and I could certainly go for a Butter Pecan sundae!!!

Sorry - should I write that everything was really horrible????

Funny that you thought about the stretching room! But it is a good comparison.