Just switched from the Dream to the Wonder - did I make the right move?

[Dr Gunnie]

We had a 4 night Bahamian cruise on the Dream booked for April 2017, but just switched to a 4 night on the Wonder for February 2017.

We had done a 3 night on the Dream last year and was thinking it might be nice to try a different ship, so we looked into it. We ended up getting a deluxe family oceanview with verandah on the Wonder for the same price as we were paying for a deluxe oceanview with verandah on the Dream.

Am I going to notice a big difference between the two ships? We were a little overwhelmed by the Dream last year (as most first time cruisers are) and was thinking the Wonder might be a better option. For anyone that has sailed on both (or just one of the bigger ships and one of the smaller ships), which did you prefer?

 

[thumpie's mom]

We have been on the Wonder 5 times and love her. She is a beautiful ship. I can't compare her to the Dream, but we love the size of the ship, crew are amazing and we are never bored. Enjoy!

 

[aggiedog]

I have not been on the Dream, but we did sail Magic this summer. We just got off a Merry Time cruise on Wonder. I loved Wonder. I like the styling better than the Magic. There is a very nice piano bar (Cadillac Lounge?) on one end, and the adult only bar/coffee bar over the Cove Cafe was so nice. Spacious, with great views, and quiet. I did not like Beach Blanket Buffet (it feels a bit school cafeteria in it's set up), but the Parrot Cay buffet was just fine in the mornings, and I like the Parrot Cay decor, despite it being in "outdated" colors. Everything else seemed comparable to the Magic.

I know that's not exactly what you asked for, but I was quite happy on the Wonder.

 

[jdb in AZ]

We love the Wonder too, and it's quite possible she'll be re-imagined and be the "newest" DCL ship before your cruise.

 

[Weedy]

We just sails the Magic after being on the larger ships for the last few years. It was so nice being on the smaller ship. If was so much easier getting around the ship. The restaurants were much quieter. We went to Serienty bay I think there were about 75 people there. At lunch there were 5 others there.

 

[Macmaro]

I've been on all 4 and I enjoy all of them for different reasons. I don't like any one better than any other. There are aspects of each that I like and don't like but it is always subjective. For instance, I hate Cabanas on the new ships compared to the old (including BBB). The company that helped drive queuing into our subconscious made these restaurants a free for all which still confuses people every time we go. It usually takes several days of the crew telling people before the dirty looks, huffing, and puffing subside. However, I love Animator's Pallet on the new ships much better. It's give and take. I would never regret trying all of them. Have fun.

 

[Tinked]

In 14 DCL cruises I've sailed the Dream twice. I prefer the classic ships to the new larger ones. I felt overwhelmed on the Dream and at home on the Magic and the Wonder. Especially at the elevators and the restaurants. I believe there is a piano bar on all the ships. The Wonder does have the enclosed upper coffee bar/lounge due to sailing to Alaska and that's a nice feature. I'm sure you will enjoy whichever ship you go on so relax and just think about having coffee on your verandah in the mornings. Don't forget to order it the night before.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I believe there is a piano bar on all the ships.

Sort of. The Wonder and Magic have a dedicated room for the piano bar. The Dream and Fantasy have a wide area in the passageway that has a keyboard player performing. On the Dream it's the District Lounge, sort of separated from the passageway (and across from Pink) by poles


On the Fantasy just forward of Oo-la-la, in La Piazza, are a few tables and chairs around the keyboard player (left side of this picture:

 

[missyp]

The Wonder is my favorite ship (let me preface that by saying I have been on the Dream once and the Wonder 3 times). I am in the opposite position. We are booked for the Fantasy and I am concerned because the Wonder is like home to us. Love the smaller ship, love the more personalized service, and we have gotten to know a lot of the CM's on the Wonder. Great ship, you will love her!! Not to mention she will have been refurbed by the time you go on.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

I'm the opposite of everyone else. I love the Dream and Fantasy and thought the Wonder was fine but prefer the Dream class.

I don't find navigating any easier on the smaller ships. They're only 200 feet shorter and how often does one walk from bow to stern. The only place I found the Wonder intimate is in the ridiculously small mid-ship elevators and in the chaotic Beach Blanket Buffet. I've never seen so many tables jammed into such a tight space.

As far as service goes, our best was on the Dream and worst was on the Wonder. Caveat on this statement: I was on the Dream in her first year so I think they were way over the top service wise that year.

Based on what I've read here most who started on the classic ships prefer them and those like me who started on the Dream class prefer them.

With all this in mind, would I sail the Wonder again? In a split second I would. Plus as a PP stated, she'll have gone through dry dock by then and will hopefully have had some nice improvements.

 

[MPS516]

Would totally agree, seems most of us who started out on the classics tend to like them more. We have done the Dream and did not care for it, have heard the Fantasy is laid out better than Dream and liked more - we are scheduled to find out later this year. Everyone is different and we normally look only for Wonder and Magic cruises, like Wonder best.

 

[cruisehopeful]

My first cruise was on the Dream and I loved it. My next one was on the Wonder and it was amazingly better. I was surprised that the Wonder was so much better because the Dream was terrific. I liked the short or non existent lines to everything on the Wonder. The staff knew us by name quickly and seemed to have higher standards for all aspects of customer service. The ship is smaller and it is easier to get around. I am sure I'd still have an excellent vacation on the larger ships, but I don't enjoy crowds in general, so sailing smaller works well for me.

 

[Justacruiser]

We have been on all the ships several times and find that all of the ships are great in their own way. I am not a fan of the Beach Blanket Buffet for lunch. It just doesn't have the food selection like the other ships. The Dream and Fantasy have on-demand movies in the room where the Wonder and Magic have a few movies, each on a different channel with set times. Definitely a disadvantage to watch movies. However, for a 4 night cruise I don't think you can go wrong with any of the ships. If the kids are happy trying a new ship you should go for it. I think they will be impacted most with the kids area not as up-to-date. IMHO

 

[KingRichard]

You might miss the AquaDuck?

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

We have been on all the ships several times and find that all of the ships are great in their own way. I am not a fan of the Beach Blanket Buffet for lunch. It just doesn't have the food selection like the other ships. The Dream and Fantasy have on-demand movies in the room where the Wonder and Magic have a few movies, each on a different channel with set times. Definitely a disadvantage to watch movies. However, for a 4 night cruise I don't think you can go wrong with any of the ships. If the kids are happy trying a new ship you should go for it. I think they will be impacted most with the kids area not as up-to-date. IMHO

I agree with everything mentioned here ^^^

I've sailed all ships at least two times each and as several posters mentioned, each ship and even each sailing (to me) has its own unique charm. I like each ship for different reasons and some sailings stand out more than others. The Dream was my first so I'm slightly partial to her/Fantasy as I probably prefer the newer ships but I have CM friends on the Magic and Wonder so the crew and itineraries offered (Alaska and Europe) are more special. My DS when he went to the Lab would agree he much preferred the Lab on the Dream/Fantasy but honestly he's rarely in the clubs. The one "negative" for me and my family is the Beach Blanket Buffet and we much prefer Cabanas. If the Wonder does go through re-imagineering as scheduled (depending on the PC updates) she should be upgraded to Cabanas like the other ships. Certainly not enough to change our decision to sail on the Wonder however.

I do not think you made a wrong decision at all and you should absolutely check out the beauty of the Wonder

Heather

 

[Shelley Chiarats]

I think you made the right decision to try the Wonder for the simple reason that now you will be able to say you've done two Disney ships and one step closer to maybe doing the grand slam.