Just off the Wonder

[xavier2001]

And it was AMAZING!! Everyone should get to do an Alaskan adventure at some point in their life, it was awesome. I will do a full trip report once I get unpacked (and un jet lagged) but just wanted to let you all know that the Wonder is in fine condition, the food and service definitely up to Disney standards, and I will be a little sad to see them update the only true classic ship left. I did get confirmation from our server that the Wonder will get a duck tail, no aquaduck/dunk but they plan on making the Mickey slide bigger. If anyone has any questions feel free to fire away, will get a trip report going very soon!

 

[Laundress]

Looking forward to your trip report. Will you have plenty of photos?

 

[xavier2001]

Looking forward to your trip report. Will you have plenty of photos?

Absoultey! I have 450 on my camera memory card now, need to sort through and organize them, etc. etc. But I LOVED looking at others photos when trip planning so I have a ton for you all!

 

[Aby]

Glad to hear your had an amazing time! Looking forward to your report! Would also love to see all the navigators from your trip if possible!

Aby

 

[xavier2001]

Glad to hear your had an amazing time! Looking forward to your report! Would also love to see all the navigators from your trip if possible!

Aby

I didn't bother to keep the navigators b/c just 2 cruises ago someone kept them all and they are uploaded on the dcl blog. The only difference in our navigators was the Finding Dory premier at sea!

 

[Aby]

Ok, no worries! Looking forward to some great pics!

 

[Richard Howren]

We're going on the Alaskan cruise in one month. Had read some blogs about overall ship condition being one of a worn and tired appearance. Not that she isn't sea worthy or would diminish the experience any. Also, that the food was acceptable but not great. Was also a little concerned about the recent norovirus outbreak when she was about leave Miami for the Panama canal.

 

[saxmangeoff]

just wanted to let you all know that the Wonder is in fine condition, the food and service definitely up to Disney standards, and I will be a little sad to see them update the only true classic ship left.

 

[xavier2001]

We're going on the Alaskan cruise in one month. Had read some blogs about overall ship condition being one of a worn and tired appearance. Not that she isn't sea worthy or would diminish the experience any. Also, that the food was acceptable but not great. Was also a little concerned about the recent norovirus outbreak when she was about leave Miami for the Panama canal.

After reading over here I had all those same worries but am happy to report that the Wonder is in great condition. I was on the Fantasy in 2014 and despite all its technology, bells, and whistles I have to say I prefer the Wonder. Its smaller size is easier to navigate, and with less passengers/crew it is more intimate. We really got to know our servers this go around, the kids club staff knew our kids by name the second day, and even the shop employees and bartenders knew us by name (and we aren't huge drinkers). As far as cleanliness we never saw a mess and in fact EVERY time I went to use one of the public restrooms there was an attendant in there cleaning it. My big complaint about the Fantasy was the kid soup in the pools and with this being Alaska that obviously wasn't the case. There were 2 days it was warm enough for the kids to swim and the pool was not crowded either day.

 

[tankin]

@Richard Howren As I looked around the ship, I saw a lot of "deferred maintenance" issues. Lots of wood that needs to be re-varnished. At one point I had a handrail that wasn't attached on a staircase (mismatching ends all over the place). The teak decking is pretty beat up. I think "tired" is the best way to describe her right now. Not rundown. Not unsafe. Just in need of some TLC.

That being said. I can't wait to see what they do in dry dock. Both my wife and I preferred the AK cruise to anything we've done in the Caribbean (All three of the other ships). I also prefer the smaller ship.

 

[rwcmath]

Glad to read how great your cruise was. We are big fans of the Wonder. Was on her in March. We will be on 2017's EBPC, so we'll see her updated then.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

We also just got off the Wonder and thought the ship was in wonderful shape, we saw them working on deck 4 specifically a lot to keep it looking fresh. One day they even repainted the shuffleboard. It really didn't look worn to me at all. Service was excellent, every single CM we encountered genuinely seemed happy to be there. We did hear that the President of Disney/Disney Cruises was aboard so that may have contributed to the amazing service.

Our favorite by far (also did Mexico/Caribbean).

Looking forward to your trip report!

 

[xavier2001]

We did hear that the President of Disney/Disney Cruises was aboard so that may have contributed to the amazing service.

We heard the same thing, AND we had a celebrity sighting too of a certain Grey's Anatomy cast member the last night and last morning who was so very super nice!!

 

[fifthdimensiondweller]

How wonderful! I'm so glad you had a great time!

The Wonder was my first ship and it'll always hold a special place in my heart!

I'm really looking forward to your trip report! Too bad about the slides but I guess it just won't work with the Panama Canal cruises.

 

[xavier2001]

I'm really looking forward to your trip report! Too bad about the slides but I guess it just won't work with the Panama Canal cruises.

I think they could do the slides with the ducktail and the new Panama Canal locks but I think the Aquadunk does not have great reviews on the Magic and there are lots of folks who are in the 'keep the Wonder a Classic looking ship' camp. From my understanding with the new Panama Canal locks all 4 of the ships now fit, will be interesting to see how Disney changes their itineraries for 2018.

 

[fifthdimensiondweller]

I think they could do the slides with the ducktail and the new Panama Canal locks but I think the Aquadunk does not have great reviews on the Magic and there are lots of folks who are in the 'keep the Wonder a Classic looking ship' camp. From my understanding with the new Panama Canal locks all 4 of the ships now fit, will be interesting to see how Disney changes their itineraries for 2018.

That's wonderful! I agree- I'm excited to see how this changes up the itineraries. I like the Aquadunk but I really love the idea of keeping the Wonder looking classic as well- it was the first one I cruised on and I want it to always remain as close to that as possible.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

We heard the same thing, AND we had a celebrity sighting too of a certain Grey's Anatomy cast member the last night and last morning who was so very super nice!!

Yes and I was a terrible fan who bothered her for a picture She was very pleasant and I limited the bothering. She was just a normal mom, I loved it! Weird that I didn't see her until the last day, then I saw her twice.

 

[Disneybridewifemama]

Yes and I was a terrible fan who bothered her for a picture She was very pleasant and I limited the bothering. She was just a normal mom, I loved it! Weird that I didn't see her until the last day, then I saw her twice.

I have to ask...was it Meredith grey?! I would have totally been star struck! Lol

 

[xavier2001]

Yes and I was a terrible fan who bothered her for a picture She was very pleasant and I limited the bothering. She was just a normal mom, I loved it! Weird that I didn't see her until the last day, then I saw her twice.

We saw her the last evening (twice), then she was right behind us in line for the bus back to the airport after disembarking. My Dad struck up a convo with her and she was SO super sweet. I didn't ask for a photo as the whole lot of us (and her and her family) were in our grubby travel clothes LOL.

 

[xavier2001]

Ok, started the trip report, will post in the other section too: https://disneyalaska2016.wordpress.com