Magic and Wonder Questions

[allears]

Because I'm curious and because we're sailing during hurricane season, how were people transported to Key West this past weekend? Did Disney or the airlines provide transportation and accomodations, or were people on their own trying to meet the ship? We are flying down the night before, but not under the Disney air program. We are taking two relatives with us and they are flying down on Saturday using Disney air. We like to know what some of the contigencies are.

Second question, for recent Wonder passangers. Is there in fact a character breakfast on the four night cruise? I'm helping friends plan out their week and I don't want them to miss this if there is one.

Thanks for your help!

 

[soccercruiser87]

i was on the wonder in february and i was on a 4 night cruise and there wasnt a character breakfast. character breakfats are only on the 7 night cruises.

 

[femmfaerie]

Originally posted by allears
Because I'm curious and because we're sailing during hurricane season, how were people transported to Key West this past weekend? Did Disney or the airlines provide transportation and accomodations, or were people on their own trying to meet the ship?

I have a friend on the Magic, she said about 300 people boarded the ship in Key West. She said it was a mess. I am pretty sure Disney transported them, but i do not know for sure.

 

[jrabbit]

Originally posted by soccercruiser87
i was on the wonder in february and i was on a 4 night cruise and there wasnt a character breakfast. character breakfats are only on the 7 night cruises.

There's not enough time to let everyone have a character breakfast on a 3 or 4 night cruise. What DCL has done is add a Palo Brunch to the 4 nighter. Brunch is very, very good (excellent!! ) And if you do brunch you don't "have to" miss a rotational dinner to go to Palo for dinner.

 

[allears]

There was a fairly recent thread where people talked about going to a character breakfast on the Wonder. I also always thought it was only on the 7 night cruise. It didn't sound quite as structured as the Magic, but was available. That's why I'm hoping to hear from some recent or soon to be Wonder cruisers.

I know you're out there.

 

[REM-FAN]

I was on the Wonder 4-day just last week and there was NO Character Breakfast. There was a mega character autograph session in the atrium on the at-sea morning with about 8-10 characters signing autographs.

 

[CM_Mom]

If you purchase DCL transfers, then DCL "transfers" you from wherever you land within reason without additional charge. I heard they had buses coming to Key West from several airport locations last weekend, I think Tampa, Orlando, Miami and maybe others. Don't know about who picked up the tab for folks without DCL transfers but it just seems DISNEY that if they have a bus going from Tampa to Key West and there is space available they would work with non transfer folks somehow.

They go to a lot of effort to make sure you have a MAGICal experience on board and you can't have it if you're not on board.

 

[allears]

CM_Mom,

Thanks for that input. I didn't think about the transfer side of it. We all have Disney transfers, so that makes me feel a little bit more covered.

Thanks!

 

[allears]

Bumping this for any very recent Wonder cruisers. Still trying to verify what I read on another thread about a character breakfast on the Wonder.

 

[js'smom]

Delta airlines was unable to get us from Cincinnati so they got a plane to take us to Melborne, and Disney had a bus waiting. Of course we got to the ship at 6:00, so missed the announcing us on board, missed the sail away party (even though the ship was still there), and we missed the boat drill telling us what to do in the event of a problem. It was our first Disney cruise and I was very disappointed with the start of the cruise. Of course we did make the ship, and many others did not board until Key West and Cozumel.

It was not a magical experience for me. Doubt we will repeat.

 

[allears]

js'mom,

Thanks for the info. about getting to the ship from a different air port. It sounds like Disney does everything in their power to get you to the port from where ever. I'm sorry you were disappointed at the start of your crusise. But you are right, you at least made the ship that night, may people either missed the first night or the entire cruise. There is only so much even pixie dust can do in the face of category 4 hurricane.

This will be our fourth cruise, each one has been awesome, no reason to think this one will be any different.

 

[PoohJen]

What about trip insurance? Will that pick up the extra tab of Plan B arrivals?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Allears,
It's not exactly recent, but when I was on the Wonder last October there were quite a few characters at the Parrot Cay lunch the day we boarded the ship: Alice in Wonderland, Mickey, Minnie, Chip and Dale. It wasn't a full fledged Character Lunch per se but there was plenty of interaction with the guests as well as pictures and autographs.

 

[drclaws]

Originally posted by js'smom
Delta airlines was unable to get us from Cincinnati so they got a plane to take us to Melborne, and Disney had a bus waiting. Of course we got to the ship at 6:00, so missed the announcing us on board, missed the sail away party (even though the ship was still there), and we missed the boat drill telling us what to do in the event of a problem. It was our first Disney cruise and I was very disappointed with the start of the cruise. Of course we did make the ship, and many others did not board until Key West and Cozumel.

It was not a magical experience for me. Doubt we will repeat.

I don't mean to be critical, but given the circumstances of the beginning of this cruise, I think your expectations remained WAY too high. You made the ship at Port Canaveral when so many others didn't. You should count yourself very fortunate for that fact alone. What would you have had Disney do that they didn't? At least for anything that was within their ability to control....

 

[T1130]

we were on the wonder last week. we went to breakfast at parrot cay on Monday morning and Donald and Daisey duck were there. I don`t think it was a full fleged character breakfast but they were there.

 

[skyhawk]

js'smom,

I was on the same cruise as you - I have to admit it was an experience, but we can't blame Disney for the hurricane. Sure things were messed up at first, and the itinerary changed, and people came on late, or some not at all, but considering, I think it was still fantastic. The captain did an excellent job of keeping us out of the bad weather all over the area. I was looking forward to Grand Cayman, as we had some wondeful excursions set up - but I had to "suffer" with Nassau instead. I would definetly do this cruise again - but not during hurricane season.

 

[lookingforward]

js'smom, could you give details about why you most likely won't resail? I like to hear the pros and cons about DCL since it is such a huge financial investment. I am sailing in September so am very nervous about the possiblity of hurricanes. Was it the delayed sailing and first day or was there more that concerned you? I appreciate your input and opinions! Thanks,