I just wanted to make a few comments. I cruised on the 4-day Wonder (Jan. 20-24, 2008) with my 82-year-old mom, who rented an electric wheelchair because of her limited mobility. I had a very nice cruise, in spite of not-so-great weather as we left Port Canaveral and in Nassau, and rough seas the first night. I have 3 future Disney cruises booked! 
1. Food - the food was very good, and Palo's desserts were exceptional. But to those who think DCL's food blows other cruiselines' food out of the water - I disagree. I would place the dining room food on DCL in a 3-way tie with Princess and RCI - with the #1 spot going to Holland America.
2. Kids - LOTS of them! Even though the kids have their own activities during the day - they're much more noticeable on DCL than on any other ship I've been on - especially with all the strollers! I can see why families love cruising with Disney - as they really do cater to the kids. For adult cruisers, you need to enjoy the "Disney-ness" of the ship, as well as have a high tolerance for lots of kids onboard.
3. Handicapped cabin/wheelchair access - we had a cat. 6 handicapped accessible cabin at the back of deck 6. It was quite large, with a HUGE verandah - approx 40 feet long. The cabin itself was the size of a regular hotel room, and not typical cruise ship size, so I might be spoiled for future cruises! Our cabin had a roll-in shower as well as a tub/shower combination. I loved the cabin, but I think DCL erred by putting the HA cabins at the very front and back of the ship. Other cruiselines have them near an elevator - where they belong. Trying to get down the hall in a wheelchair past housekeeping carts several times a day was a chore. Also - maneuvering the wheelchair into an elevator was quite a task, and definitely a 2-person job. There were very few people in wheelchairs on our cruise, as I expected, and I can see why. I wouldn't recommend DCL to someone in a wheelchair, unless that person was a child.
4. Embarkation/Disembarkation - very easy on both ends. I had no trouble checking in for myself AND my mom - who was not yet at the terminal. I wondered how disembarking would work with no assigned times to leave - but the two breakfast seatings worked very well. Our assigned breakfast time was at 6:30 a.m. - yawn! The hardest part was finding an elevator that was empty enough for my mom and me to fit in with our carryon luggage.
5. Disney Customer Service - DCL definitely excels in this, as we all know. Having been to WDW many times, I expected this to be the case, and it was.
6. Shows - Hercules, The Golden Mickeys, and Disney Dreams were all excellent. I know Disney Dreams won an award for being the best show on any cruise ship, but my favorite show was The Golden Mickeys. I'm looking forward to seeing the new Toy Story show on the Wonder next December.
7. Castaway Cay - beautiful! As I'm not a fond of lying in the sun, next time I will book an activity at CC. I'm glad I was at Serenity Bay, because the family beach was quite crowded.
1. Food - the food was very good, and Palo's desserts were exceptional. But to those who think DCL's food blows other cruiselines' food out of the water - I disagree. I would place the dining room food on DCL in a 3-way tie with Princess and RCI - with the #1 spot going to Holland America.
2. Kids - LOTS of them! Even though the kids have their own activities during the day - they're much more noticeable on DCL than on any other ship I've been on - especially with all the strollers! I can see why families love cruising with Disney - as they really do cater to the kids. For adult cruisers, you need to enjoy the "Disney-ness" of the ship, as well as have a high tolerance for lots of kids onboard.
3. Handicapped cabin/wheelchair access - we had a cat. 6 handicapped accessible cabin at the back of deck 6. It was quite large, with a HUGE verandah - approx 40 feet long. The cabin itself was the size of a regular hotel room, and not typical cruise ship size, so I might be spoiled for future cruises! Our cabin had a roll-in shower as well as a tub/shower combination. I loved the cabin, but I think DCL erred by putting the HA cabins at the very front and back of the ship. Other cruiselines have them near an elevator - where they belong. Trying to get down the hall in a wheelchair past housekeeping carts several times a day was a chore. Also - maneuvering the wheelchair into an elevator was quite a task, and definitely a 2-person job. There were very few people in wheelchairs on our cruise, as I expected, and I can see why. I wouldn't recommend DCL to someone in a wheelchair, unless that person was a child.
4. Embarkation/Disembarkation - very easy on both ends. I had no trouble checking in for myself AND my mom - who was not yet at the terminal. I wondered how disembarking would work with no assigned times to leave - but the two breakfast seatings worked very well. Our assigned breakfast time was at 6:30 a.m. - yawn! The hardest part was finding an elevator that was empty enough for my mom and me to fit in with our carryon luggage.
5. Disney Customer Service - DCL definitely excels in this, as we all know. Having been to WDW many times, I expected this to be the case, and it was.
6. Shows - Hercules, The Golden Mickeys, and Disney Dreams were all excellent. I know Disney Dreams won an award for being the best show on any cruise ship, but my favorite show was The Golden Mickeys. I'm looking forward to seeing the new Toy Story show on the Wonder next December.
7. Castaway Cay - beautiful! As I'm not a fond of lying in the sun, next time I will book an activity at CC. I'm glad I was at Serenity Bay, because the family beach was quite crowded.
