Wow! That merchant has perfected Disney's "exit through the gift shop" business model and turned it against them!These masks were made near the shipyard where the ships were built. The imagineers liked the idea of decorating Palo with them. So they went to order the masks and there was something to the story about the store keeper telling them to go next door to the “Paper store” and have a look around while they prepared the masks. It turned out that the same merchant who owned the mask store also owned the paper store. By the end of it all the menus, and leather covers for the menus for the restaurant were ordered from the same merchant.
Cool!This is a shot of the Pantages back in the day. Thanks to Disney it was restored in all it’s grandeur as a stage show theater for the opening of the Lion King in LA. Now it is a thriving location for all sorts of traveling productions. We see several musicals here each year, in fact we were just there to see If/Then.
I really don't get this. As far as I can remember Disney has marketed their cruise line as being family friendly and something you can all do together... yet they didn't expect kids under 3????We stopped outside Flounder’s Reef, and she explained about how they had never envisioned that anyone would bring infants aboard the ship, but evidently they get quite a few babies between 6 months and 3 years old.
I just don't get this. I realize they're trying to "protect his image" or whatever, but Walt was a chain smoker. I don't smoke, nor do I care to, but that doesn't make him a bad person or me any better. Back then, a lot of people smoked. It is what it is. I just don't like the concept of trying to whitewash history and hide the things that we're less proud of. It is part of who he was and a big part of Disney's history. Chances are, if he wasn't a smoker, he'd have been around to see WDW open.We went down to the Walt Disney Theater and I don’t remember what we talked about there, but she did mention that the picture of Walt in Preludes has been altered (this picture is from earlier in the TR) but if you look at his hand in the foreground, a cigarette has been photoshopped out of the picture.
Well done, Disney, well done. Throwing a kink into the plans of an experienced cruiser.I thought I knew what to expect, and was all set to order the same thing I had last time, but much to my surprise, they had completely changed the menu!
I'm glad that you found a new dish that was a hit!My dish was the surprise of the entire cruise. It was new to the menu. Tandoori Lamb Duo. There are plenty of Crew Members on the ships of Indian Descent, and I have heard that often times, when vegans are cruising, if there is no option on the menu, the chefs will sometimes make them some amazing Indian food from home recipes. I guess finally they decided to put something on the menu, though this was definitely not vegan! I love Indian food, and this dish was so tasty! I ordered another serving of the Raita, and ate every bite on my plate!
I wanted a picture in my Dalek Dress
I went to the Cove Café and got something I saw on @dizneet’s TR, a shot of espresso mixed with vanilla ice cream. It was a very hot day, and for me it really hit the spot.
For her Primi Platti, Fran went with one of my favorites, the Lobster Mascarpone Ravioli. She let me have a couple bites.
After our Palo Brunch we had a Chocolate Tasting. Why does it always seem to work out that way? I rushed off to get us some seats while Fran settled up the bill. These were the different spirits that we would be tasting today along with chocolate.
And then I got my last DotD for the Cruise.
but at this point I now have three different trip reports going
and it's a little crazy to keep track of it.
We were on our way back to the room to get packing, but first some shots on our way back to the room. Notice how peaceful and empty that this room is, and it’s not unusual for the Wonder.
Fran urged me to take the “Art of the Theme Ship tour”
So they went to order the masks and there was something to the story about the store keeper telling them to go next door to the “Paper store” and have a look around while they prepared the masks. It turned out that the same merchant who owned the mask store also owned the paper store. By the end of it all the menus, and leather covers for the menus for the restaurant were ordered from the same merchant.
This theater is reminiscent of the Carthay Circle Theater where Snow White Premiered.
We stopped outside Flounder’s Reef, and she explained about how they had never envisioned that anyone would bring infants aboard the ship
And then we reached the Atrium, she explained that Deck 3 has a very high ceiling, Deck 4 has a fairly normal sized ceiling, somewhat high, but Deck 5 has a slightly lower ceiling, and that’s not only to help the forced perspective in the Atrium, but also to make the kids feel a little better. They are more comfortable in spaces where they feel bigger and taller, so the ceiling height is on purpose.
if you look at his hand in the foreground, a cigarette has been photoshopped out of the picture.
Everyone who had played Bingo before on the ship was evidently there! I didn’t win anything this time, but we had fun.
Once thing about photographs on the Wonder is that the last day the PP Photographers aren’t out any more.
And a snack since it was at least four more hours until dinner.
While we had a great time, we were ready to get off the ship, otherwise it would have been 14 more days and we would be getting off the ship in Galveston!
I started off with the Tomato Caprese (big surprise!)
We both ordered the Lobster Bisque. It was good, but I let Fran finish mine, she really likes Lobster Bisque, I’m OK with it, but not a huge fan.
Fran got the Baked Filet of Beef Wellington, she really likes this dish and gets it any time it is on a menu.
My dish was the surprise of the entire cruise. It was new to the menu. Tandoori Lamb Duo.
And then it was sad, we went back to our lovely spacious room for the last time.
Notice how peaceful and empty that this room is, and it’s not unusual for the Wonder.
After I did some packing, Fran urged me to take the “Art of the Theme Ship tour” which I have wanted to try for quite some time.
Evidently this is a very Art Nouveau style sculpture, the reason that they replaced the one on the Magic is because that ship is Art Deco, and the new Chandelier is supposedly more in the Art Deco style.
That is neat that you got to go on the "Art of the Theme Ship tour" and hear all about the interesting things about the ship.
Very nice picture with Daisy.
The food at Til we meet again looked very nice and appetizing.
Wow! That merchant has perfected Disney's "exit through the gift shop" business model and turned it against them!
I really don't get this. As far as I can remember Disney has marketed their cruise line as being family friendly and something you can all do together... yet they didn't expect kids under 3????
I just don't get this. I realize they're trying to "protect his image" or whatever, but Walt was a chain smoker. I don't smoke, nor do I care to, but that doesn't make him a bad person or me any better. Back then, a lot of people smoked. It is what it is. I just don't like the concept of trying to whitewash history and hide the things that we're less proud of. It is part of who he was and a big part of Disney's history. Chances are, if he wasn't a smoker, he'd have been around to see WDW open.
Well done, Disney, well done. Throwing a kink into the plans of an experienced cruiser.
I love the Dalek dress and the Iron Man one too. I think at one time they also had them at Hot Topic.
Ohh, that sounds soo good. I'm a sucker for chilled coffee beverages.
That looks fantastic!
After seeing your Navigator for the day, I was hoping you two were going to this tasting. Do you remember how much the "nominal" fee was?
Thank you for posting a pic of the ingredients. That drink sounds right up my alley.
Thank you for taking us along on your cruise! It's definitely making me rethink my hesitation about taking one.
I can barely keep up with one!
Got it saved, but haven't made it over yet.
Where is everybody? On shore excursion?
nice. I wouldn't mind doing that.
I recognize it from photos and videos I've seen of it.
Really?? Do they not know their own customers?
Cool. On many levels.
(See what I did there?)
Yeah, I can see how come they'd do that.
Still. It is who he was.
Too many people. Go back when it's empty.
Why? That seems like a good time to get folks who've been procrastinating.
Sensible.
Would that really have been so bad?
Okay! Okay! I'll get one!
Not sure if I've ever had it.
Seems to me I must have, but...
Oh... just... Yum!
That looks good too! But I think I'll stick to the Wellington.
Loved the Palo brunch update! I so plan on going all out when we go in February. No holding back for us either LOL
Just catching up after getting home and picked up a virs and of course jet lag. Had a great trip though. Sorry we missed you.
Loved your halloween outfits! The Ghost Host is fab and Fran brilliant! Nice photos with characters. Cheeky those girls with Mickey!
I did not expect Cabo to look like that thanks for photos.
Yeah re Palo's love that place looks like you made some good food choices. Not that there is any bad.
I like that they still do towel animals on the cruise. They stopped doing them at resorts which I understand re the cost and timings. Rather keep the cost down.
Lovely photo of you and Fran at Palo.
I love the ship when it is like this.
I am glad that you got to do this. I loved it when I did mine.
Well, hopefully that means that they will leave this alone when they do the big dry dock in summer.
That menu has changed quite a bit. I had to smile. With the exception of the lobster bisque, Fran chose all my go to dishes on that menu.
Hmm. I thought I had commented on your update but it seems like I didn't!
You're doing a great job capturing the ship looking empty!
That's a great tour around the ship and I love the masks!
Food porn has gotten me hungry.....again!
Last full day is always sad.
Actually this was a sea day. Not sure where they all were, but it was so peaceful.
Yup. It's gone now. Only found in California Adverture.
Yeah, but if they can spin something with a sugar coating they will. They like to cover up anything (even if they did it back when) that doesn't seem totally PC and kosher nowawdays. Heck when an animator was hired at the Studios back in the day one of the things that was standard issue at the desks was ashtrays!
Something to do with collecting up all the images and preparing the CDs so that they will be ready for everyone who preordered the packages.
Well we would have missed our puddy tats.
Better wait until tomatoes are in season. They're much better then. Although are tomatoes ever in season in Canada? Can you grow them there?
However, when the boat docked, my stateroom was facing Northwest and I no longer had a view of the rising sun.
If you have the first dining rotation, you have to been in the dining room by 7AM
and knowing that we only had a 2-3 hour drive home made everything that much more easy!
We both ordered pastries, I mean why not? Really?
Oh yeah, I almost forgot! The last part of the title? Nada? Well that’s what I declared on our customs form! Since we didn’t set foot on Mexican soil, we had absolutely nothing to declare!
And then we hopped in the car and drove home! We did make a couple stops along the way. It was about 2PM when we arrived home, happy to see our kitties, and ready to plan the next adventure!
If you are staying at the Wyndham on the harbor, you don't need a taxi. You literally just need to cross the street. You may need to walk a block to a crossing light. I cannot remember, but it was right across the street from the port.So the Wyndham is just across the road? We have a room there before our PC cruise and I was thinking of taking a taxi to the port. Will we need one?
If you are staying at the Wyndham on the harbor, you don't need a taxi. You literally just need to cross the street. You may need to walk a block to a crossing light. I cannot remember, but it was right across the street from the port.
A week is a great amount of time to be on the cruise ship,
Hmmm... I'm starting to understand the power issues you've had with that scooter. She's hauling more cargo than a moving van!We didn’t rush it, but we didn’t linger either. I think once they called our group to disembark, we were ready to go, and got off the ship. We grabbed our bags and headed towards customs. This is how you do it when you don’t have a porter!