Just back from the Wonder!!!

[Dayna]

We just got back last night from our Land and Sea vacation. I won't say too much on WDW since this is the cruise forum, but we had 4 beautiful days in the parks with not so long lines and smiling friendly people. The Beach Club Resort was unbelieveable. Stormalong bay is the best pool I have ever seen. I think my kids liked it better than WDW itself.

On to the cruise. This was our 4th cruise. 2 on Carnival and 1 on the Norweigain Sun last year. Disney by far had the best food and the best service I have ever recieved. I was especially concerned travelling with my 2 year old daughter. I have never left her with strangers before and the staff at Flounders Reef were absolutely fabulous. I paln on writing a very nice letter abot the Nursery staff. My daughter settled in and was comfortable the whole time she was there. We left her for 3 or 4 hours each evening of our 3 night cruise, and we never even got paged. My 5 year lod son had a blast at Oceaneers Club.

We got to enjoy Palo. What a wonderful dining experience. The food was spectacular and the chocolate souffle was out of this world. Even my husband, who is not big on dessert said it was the best he has ever had.

I have nothing but love for DCL now and will definitely travel again. Unfortunately we couldn't book a 7 day yet , but I cannot wait to experince the "Magic" again. Well I could be here for hours raving about Disney and the memorable family vacation we just had but I have tons of laundry to do ..... hi ho hi ho it's off to work I go.....

Till next time,

Dayna
PS thanks for all of your help on the boards, there is such a wealth of knowledge here. It really helped me out.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

SO glad to hear you had a great time!
Welcome home!

 

[Wishing on a star]

Welcome Home!

Just loved reading your quickie cruise report!!! Everytime somebody happens along who has a not-so-great review, then a cruiser like you pops up with such a happy review, and really gets me looking forward even more to our first cruise!

Glad you had a Wonderful-Magical time, and that you get to return soon!

 

[bahama97]

Glad to hear about your great vacation & your positive experience at Flounder's Reef. We're going to try to leave our 2 yr old there while we go to Palo. She's not used to being left, so I hope she will do okay. Thanks for posting!

 

[carone0318]

As you can see, I am doing the single digit dance and I have a couple of questions regarding Flounder's Reef. We are planning on using the nursery for our ds, who turned 2 in Feb. We are also doing the 3 night cruise and I was thinking of putting him in every evening if possible. I figure that he goes to sleep at 8pm, so we could check him in at 8 until 11 or 12. Did you make ressies for Flounder's when you immediately got on the ship for all the evenings or did you do it day-to-day? Also, were there toys that were age appropriate for your dd? If she wasn't sleeping, did the counselors play with her? I am only planning on using the nursery for when ds sleeps, but if by chance he is awake, I would like to think that they would play with him. Thanks for your help!

 

[fredms]

Glad to hear you had a good trip!

Couple questions as I too am doing the single digit dance-

1- How did you get from ship to hotel? Did you use DCL or a private service?

2- What times was Disney Dreams playing on the last day. Just trying to decide what to do with Palo ressies on the last day?

3- Did you go to the spa?


Welcome back!

 

[Dayna]

We booked Flounders as soon as we boarded and chose 2 time slots for the evenings, then I decided to add some time for the first night so I called from my room and we accomidated. Later that first night I wanted to drop her off a little early and they were completely swamped. So I waited for my time and things went smoothly from there on. They do have toys and movies playing, and the counsellors are great with the kids, but a lot of what I saw was that they had to console some children who were not so happy. They hold them and rock them in the chair. We only used evenings, I am sure in the daytime there are not as many fussy kids and they do play more with them. But my daughter has never been with strangers and was immediately comfortable. Good Luck. I hope you have a wonderful cruise.

Disney Dreams plays at 8:30 for the early seating and runs for almost 1 hour. I wouldn't make ressies for before 9:30. We had 9pm ressies the night Hercules was playing and we had to leave early. We were really enjoying the show too.

We used Disney transpotation and it was worth it. We did the land and sea and not having to deal with our luggage for most of the trip was great. There were 11 of us total on the cruise. That is a lot of luggage.

Hope this helps.

Dayna

 

[goodstarr]

Going on the Wonder in June? What movies were playing on the ship?

 

[Dayna]

The movies on the Wonder were:

Holes
Bringing Down the House
Lizzy McGwire Movie
Piglet's Big Movie
Chicago

I am sorry but that is all I can remember right now. I have some of te navigators at home. I'll read through and if there are more I'll write back.

Have a great trip. We sure did.

Dayna

 

[txadmin]

Thanks for asking the question and for the list of movies. I'm looking forward to some of them.

 

[dizneeluvr]

I believe there was a 2:30 Disney Dreams as well as the evening presentations...

 

[minniecarousel]

OK, Dayna - the question I am obsessing over: when you went to Palo's were there some men without jackets? My DH & DSs don't want to haul their sportcoats along, but will wear slacks, dress shirts with ties. Did you notice if some men were dressed this way?
Glad you had a WONDERful time (so great that your little one had no problems at Flounders!)

 

[Dayna]

My husband and BIL both wore sports jackets without ties, but there were men with shirts and ties. I think it would be totally appropriate.

Dayna

 

[momofqandl]

Minniecarousel,
We just got back from the Wonder and had dinner at Palo. There were definitely men without sport jackets. A shirt and tie seemed to be fine. ALthough I might add . there were photographers there, and it was sure nice to have a "formal " picture taken of just my husband and I.

My theory is they want you to wear a jacket for the photographers so you will buy more pictures because you look good
just a theory though. (there are also photographers at Tritons, where a jacket is also recommended)

 

[mmmom]

We did the land-sea package the same week and as 1st time cruisers were thrilled by the ship experience. If we could swing it, I would have signed up for the 7 day cruise while aboard but it definitely gives us something to save up for!! My kids did the club and lab and enjoyed thier time there. There is just so much going on all over the trip you wish you could do it all!The only negative of our trip was our parks stay. If I had to do it over, I would skip the EE days and avoid the only once a week performance of Spectromagic. The crowds from my perspective were bigger than our previous trips and with the record heat made things harder. It just goes to show though that each person has their own view.

 

[Dayna]

I also wish we could have signed up for a 7 day cruise while on board. We absolutely loved this cruise. I will not be doing Disney for a while, until my kids are a little older. They are 2 nd 5 and seemed to be frightened of quite a bit. Also the heat was crazy. This was our fourth cruise and by far Disney gives the best service and had the best food we have experienced so far. I was totally impressed.

Dayna