Just back from the Disney Wonder - Any questions?

[maui2k5]

We just returned from our cruise on the Disney Wonder out of Galveston from Dec 3-7 with a stop in Cozumel.

Few quick notes:
1) Fury excursion was fantastic and quite possibly the highlight of the trip. We were the only excursion on the beach that holds 900. We had 34 on on our catamaran.
2) 900 Guests and 500 Crew members
3) Character interactions were intermittent and masks required indoors unless using Shutters on Deck 3
4) Food was great
5) Servers were excellent
6) No Sail Away Deck Party
7) No party on deck 3 for the end of the cruise
8) Frozen was shown on Day 1/2 and Disney Dreams on Day 3/4
9) Seating was 3 seats separating parties and a row left empty in both Walt Disney Theater and Buena Vista Theater
10) No food/drinks in Walt Disney Theater or Buena Vista Theater
11) Shuffleboard, ping pong, foosball is available if you get the equipment from the front desk for 45 min at a time
12) Many of the activities were light on guests participating (such as trivia)
13) You could take photos with no mask outdoors with characters at a distance
14) Tall plexiglass dividers at the excursions desk and no plexiglass at Guest Services (strange)
15) Plexiglass in the shops at checkout
16) Kids pools have barriers to limit the number of people in the pool at any one time.

 

[our two princesses]

Do you know how many people were on your cruise? We are on the same itinerary 1/24-28. Hope you had a great time!

 

[maui2k5]

900 Guests for our cruise. 700 on the one departing today. 1400 on the one after that. Max guest capacity is 1600 right now.

 

[DisneYE]

Thanks for posting this.
Who is the cruise director and club host?
Any adult activities beside bingo?
Any entertainment/variety acts like John Charles ?

 

[Hadley23]

Did you happen to notice any kids looking like they had a pirate makeover from Bibbidi Bobbitt Boutique on pirate night? I know the make up won't be done but im wondering if they will still be selling the costumes and accessories on pirate night if I make my son and appointment.

 

[dancebum]

Did you go with kids? If so, did they enjoy the kids clubs with the current restrictions?

 

[maui2k5]

Did you go with kids? If so, did they enjoy the kids clubs with the current restrictions?

We have kids ages 11/12 (almost 13) and they did go to the kids club once. For them, the activities paled in comparison to what they remember from their past experience and we cancelled the second day at the Oceaneers Club/Lab. I know they are about to age out of the kids clubs, but they said the activities were kind of boring, no cooking (think chocolate chip cookies), no going between the clubs when you want and you have to schedule the time they are to be there (in groups).

Overall, if I were telling someone who is thinking about a once in a lifetime Disney Cruise with kids under the age of 10, I would hold off until the COVID policies are lifted and the actives are more abundant.

 

[maui2k5]

Did you happen to notice any kids looking like they had a pirate makeover from Bibbidi Bobbitt Boutique on pirate night? I know the make up won't be done but im wondering if they will still be selling the costumes and accessories on pirate night if I make my son and appointment.

I did not notice any kids with a pirate makeover, but there may have been some that I just missed. The Pirate Night was actually quite a letdown. The cast members in Tiana's wore some pirate outfits and there was a short pirate themed show in the restaurant, but that was about it. The fireworks were "holiday themed" (why can't they say Merry Christmas if they have signs that say Happy Hanukkah?). No Jack Sparrow which was a letdown also.

 

[maui2k5]

Thanks for posting this.
Who is the cruise director and club host?
Any adult activities beside bingo?
Any entertainment/variety acts like John Charles ?

I am not sure who the Club Host is, but the Cruise Director is Peter Hofer
There were other adults only activities such as Karaoke, wine tasting and crafts
No entertainers or variety acts on the ship.

 

[maui2k5]

Also, there were very noticeable vibrations, noises, creaking and squeaks on the way to Cozumel and to a lesser extent on the way back to Galveston. There was a 25 knot wind on the way to Cozumel and the officers said that they had to run all 5 engines which is why there was so much vibration on the ship. We were located in the Aft of the ship in room 7106.

 

[dancebum]

We have kids ages 11/12 (almost 13) and they did go to the kids club once. For them, the activities paled in comparison to what they remember from their past experience and we cancelled the second day at the Oceaneers Club/Lab. I know they are about to age out of the kids clubs, but they said the activities were kind of boring, no cooking (think chocolate chip cookies), no going between the clubs when you want and you have to schedule the time they are to be there (in groups).

Overall, if I were telling someone who is thinking about a once in a lifetime Disney Cruise with kids under the age of 10, I would hold off until the COVID policies are lifted and the actives are more abundant.

Thanks for the info! We have done three cruises prior to COVID. My kids will be 10 and 4 when we go in April and it's important for us that we be able to have a break from them here and there. We loved that they would come get the kids during the second dinner seating and whisk them away for fun in the club which I imagine they aren't doing anymore. I'm so anxious about it being not as good as before although the decrease in occupancy is tempting since it will be less crowded. Unless that changes and its crowded with restrictions, which would really suck. We are really torn.

 

[Princess and Queen]

Do they have photo stations with backdrops set up jn the atrium before dinner?

 

[sethschroeder]

Few quick notes:

What time did boarding start? Was there many people waiting to board or did you get right in?

 

[Akck]

What time did boarding start? Was there many people waiting to board or did you get right in?

Boarding started right about noon. We had a PAT of 11 am and waiting in line, testing and waiting for results took about 45 minutes. We then waited in the departure area for our group (6), to be called for about 15-20 minutes.

 

[maui2k5]

Do they have photo stations with backdrops set up jn the atrium before dinner?

Yes

 

[BlueBayou]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. We are 8 days out from sailing on the Wonder, so super excited.

 

[sethschroeder]

Yes

How packed was it getting pictures? Can you just walk up? Are therw photo people around for all character meets?

 

[Akck]

How packed was it getting pictures? Can you just walk up? Are therw photo people around for all character meets?

While we didn’t get any photos, the lines were longer at the beginning of the cruise. On the last days, they were shorter. We saw Mickey and Minnie take a photo with a group and then wait around for 5 minutes before leaving with no action.

 

[sethschroeder]

What movies are playing right now?

 

[maui2k5]

I recall Encanto, Shang Chi, Eternals and Raya and the Last Dragon in Buena Vista Theater