Please talk to me about your experience on Wonder to Mexican Riviera

[iloveeeyore]

Hi, all! We are considering what to do with our recently purchased placeholder...

I really would love to give the Wonder a try, but Alaska and Western Caribbean are out of the discussion right now as we have already done those. I'm toying with the idea of doing a 5 or 7 night Wonder to Baja/Mexican Riviera in April, 2023, and trying to combine one of those with a few days in Disneyland (we are from the NY Metro area, it's a long flight for 2 separate trips).

If you have done one of these cruises, please tell me about it! If you have combined it with DL, how did that work for you logistically?

Thanks for your input! I'd love some info before I present this brilliant idea to DH.

 

[wideeyedwonder]

We did the Mexican riviera some years back and loved it. Loved Cabo San Lucas.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

We did a week at Disneyland and then a 7 night Mexican riviera cruise in 2011. At the time they are cruising out of San Pedro so it was very close to Disneyland. We just took a town car from our hotel to the port. I think it’s further now.

 

[iloveeeyore]

We did the Mexican riviera some years back and loved it. Loved Cabo San Lucas.

Thanks for the input. Did you do an excursion in Cabo?

We did a week at Disneyland and then a 7 night Mexican riviera cruise in 2011. At the time they are cruising out of San Pedro so it was very close to Disneyland. We just took a town car from our hotel to the port. I think it’s further now.

Yes, it's about 100 miles now. I guess our strategy would be fly into LA, spend a few days at DL and rent a one-way car to the port. Or maybe do it in reverse. More likely DL, then cruise. IDK if DCL offers shuttles from DL to the port in SD. Would love to hear from some who have experience with this.

 

[Kwami]

I'm not aware of any DCL transportation from DL to the port in San Diego.

However, there is a train that runs from Anaheim to San Diego and it runs right along the coast with great views! You can take a taxi or something to the Anaheim Depot, then walk from the train the port in San Diego (it's only about 3 blocks away). Or, taxi again.

 

[iloveeeyore]

I'm not aware of any DCL transportation from DL to the port in San Diego.

However, there is a train that runs from Anaheim to San Diego and it runs right along the coast with great views! You can take a taxi or something to the Anaheim Depot, then walk from the train the port in San Diego (it's only about 3 blocks away). Or, taxi again.

Thanks so much for this tip! We love trains! Looking into it right now...

 

[bedgraynexl]

We did a five night back in 2019 with stops in Cabo and Ensenada. It was a fun cruise. We flew into San Diego and stayed at the Springhill Suite right across the street from the port. We could see the Wonder from our hotel. We did the Salsa and Salsa excursion in Cabo which was a lot of fun. You make salsa and get lots to drink. Afterwards we walked to the locals beach which was about a half a mile from the tender drop-off.

We did not get off the ship in Ensenada.

Afterwards we drove up to Anaheim (we rented a car at the airport after getting a taxi from the port. It is like a 10 minute car ride away) and did about three days at DL then drove back to San Diego. It is very easy to do that kind of combination trip.

 

[iloveeeyore]

We did a five night back in 2019 with stops in Cabo and Ensenada. It was a fun cruise. We flew into San Diego and stayed at the Springhill Suite right across the street from the port. We could see the Wonder from our hotel. We did the Salsa and Salsa excursion in Cabo which was a lot of fun. You make salsa and get lots to drink. Afterwards we walked to the locals beach which was about a half a mile from the tender drop-off.

We did not get off the ship in Ensenada.

Afterwards we drove up to Anaheim (we rented a car at the airport after getting a taxi from the port. It is like a 10 minute car ride away) and did about three days at DL then drove back to San Diego. It is very easy to do that kind of combination trip.

Yes, that is what I was thinking about but in reverse. How was going from relaxed cruise mode to the parks? Also I don't know if Covid testing will still be a thing 15 months from now, but I'd be a little scared of catching it in the parks and more likely to test positive before boarding. How was the drive up and back? Do you remember how long it took?

Thanks for responding!

 

[bedgraynexl]

Yes, that is what I was thinking about but in reverse. How was going from relaxed cruise mode to the parks? Also I don't know if Covid testing will still be a thing 15 months from now, but I'd be a little scared of catching it in the parks and more likely to test positive before boarding. How was the drive up and back? Do you remember how long it took?

Thanks for responding!

Going from cruise mode to park mode wasn't really a big deal. Disneyland just has a different vibe than Disney World so we didn't try to wear ourselves out.

The drive up and back wasn't too bad. It is SoCal so you deal with traffic no matter where you are but taking I-5 was relatively painless. I want to say the drive was about 2.5-3 hours but it probably varies each time depending on traffic. To me the drive was uneventful and stress free but your mileage may vary. There is some really beautiful scenery along the way too.

 

[KatieKepic]

We did this in 2018 and loved it. We flea into LAX and used a car service to get to our hotel in Anaheim that was walking distance to DL. We took the train from Anaheim to San Diego the day before the cruise. We enjoyed the train ride and would do it again. Our itinerary originally included Ensenada and Cabo but due to a hurricane, we ended loosing Ensenada. We really enjoyed Cabo. We spent a few days after the cruise in San Diego (got a rental car) before flying home.

 

[iloveeeyore]

We did this in 2018 and loved it. We flea into LAX and used a car service to get to our hotel in Anaheim that was walking distance to DL. We took the train from Anaheim to San Diego the day before the cruise. We enjoyed the train ride and would do it again. Our itinerary originally included Ensenada and Cabo but due to a hurricane, we ended loosing Ensenada. We really enjoyed Cabo. We spent a few days after the cruise in San Diego (got a rental car) before flying home.

Sounds like this was a 5-day? What time of year was your Pacific hurricane? I'm looking at 5 day with Ensenada or 7 day with Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. Both have Cabo. I really think I prefer the 7 day itinerary but it won't leave us much time for DL.

 

[bcwife76]

We did the 5 night in March 2019 then took the train up to Disneyland afterwards. We flew to LAX, rented a car and drove down to San Diego (flight prices direct to SD were horrendous for us). Stayed at the Bayside right across the street (also stayed there in 2018 when we did the SD to Vancouver cruise). We stayed on the ship in Cabo and got off in Ensenada and regretted both choices. Ensenada was not nice, we did the excursion to LaBufadora which was a LONG drive and it was NOT worth it. We had just been to Cabo 6 months prior to an AI which is why we chose to stay on the ship this time and now I regret that. I was hoping to correct that mistake (as I wanted to do the camel excursion) in October 2020 but alas it was not meant to be.

 

[iloveeeyore]

We did the 5 night in March 2019 then took the train up to Disneyland afterwards. We flew to LAX, rented a car and drove down to San Diego (flight prices direct to SD were horrendous for us). Stayed at the Bayside right across the street (also stayed there in 2018 when we did the SD to Vancouver cruise). We stayed on the ship in Cabo and got off in Ensenada and regretted both choices. Ensenada was not nice, we did the excursion to LaBufadora which was a LONG drive and it was NOT worth it. We had just been to Cabo 6 months prior to an AI which is why we chose to stay on the ship this time and now I regret that. I was hoping to correct that mistake (as I wanted to do the camel excursion) in October 2020 but alas it was not meant to be.

Ugh it sounds like such a disappointing trip. I'm sorry you didn't have a chance to make it up to yourself! Hope you can in the future.

 

[bcwife76]

Ugh it sounds like such a disappointing trip. I'm sorry you didn't have a chance to make it up to yourself! Hope you can in the future.

The cruise itself was actually fantastic. Basically our fault for the port choices/gettingoffnotgetting off. We sailed concierge as we were celebrating a couple of big milestones in our relationship and the price was 'right' (out of 8 cruises so far it's the only one we've done concierge) and it was just an amazing experience. So that is what I remember that cruise for Plus the weather was spectacular the entire time.

 

[iloveeeyore]

The cruise itself was actually fantastic. Basically our fault for the port choices/gettingoffnotgetting off. We sailed concierge as we were celebrating a couple of big milestones in our relationship and the price was 'right' (out of 8 cruises so far it's the only one we've done concierge) and it was just an amazing experience. So that is what I remember that cruise for Plus the weather was spectacular the entire time.

OK, phew! Sounds MUCH better now!

 

[KatieKepic]

Sounds like this was a 5-day? What time of year was your Pacific hurricane? I'm looking at 5 day with Ensenada or 7 day with Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. Both have Cabo. I really think I prefer the 7 day itinerary but it won't leave us much time for DL.

Yes, it was the 5 night. It was late September/early October. I wanted to do the HotHS and being from south Florida, didn’t want to chance cruising from Fl that time of year with hurricanes. I never expected to get rerouted due to a hurricane sailing from California . We opted for the 5 night so we could do both DL and San Diego with the cruise and only have the kids miss 5 days of school (we planned it with a school holiday and 2 weekends so our trip was 12 days total.

Also, if you can fly into/out of (depending on when you do DL) Long Beach or John Wayne airports, they’re much better then LAX. We need Long Beach our last trip and will do that every time from now on.

ETA: our cruise was 9/30-10/5/18. Had to go look that up .

 

[iloveeeyore]

Yes, it was the 5 night. It was late September/early October. I wanted to do the HotHS and being from south Florida, didn’t want to chance cruising from Fl that time of year with hurricanes. I never expected to get rerouted due to a hurricane sailing from California . We opted for the 5 night so we could do both DL and San Diego with the cruise and only have the kids miss 5 days of school (we planned it with a school holiday and 2 weekends so our trip was 12 days total.

Also, if you can fly into/out of (depending on when you do DL) Long Beach or John Wayne airports, they’re much better then LAX. We need Long Beach our last trip and will do that every time from now on.

ETA: our cruise was 9/30-10/5/18. Had to go look that up .

Thanks for all this great info! Noted about Long Beach and John Wayne. We are thinking of April 2023, so hopefully...we avoid a hurricane?!

 

[KatieKepic]

Thanks for all this great info! Noted about Long Beach and John Wayne. We are thinking of April 2023, so hopefully...we avoid a hurricane?!

definitely shouldn’t have to woody about hurricanes in April!

Both of those airports are closer to DL and much smaller/easier. I don’t have 1st hand experience with John Wayne since we couldn’t get a direct flight but we loved LGB.

 

[iloveeeyore]

definitely shouldn’t have to woody about hurricanes in April!

Both of those airports are closer to DL and much smaller/easier. I don’t have 1st hand experience with John Wayne since we couldn’t get a direct flight but we loved LGB.

Just checked and we have direct from JFK to John Wayne at reasonable prices! LGB would take a stop, but I won't rule it out if it gets us closer to where we need to be. Thanks again for the tip!

 

[Ariel 2021]

Thanks for the input. Did you do an excursion in Cabo?



Yes, it's about 100 miles now. I guess our strategy would be fly into LA, spend a few days at DL and rent a one-way car to the port. Or maybe do it in reverse. More likely DL, then cruise. IDK if DCL offers shuttles from DL to the port in SD. Would love to hear from some who have experience with this.

Try checking out the Amtrack Pacific Surfliner as an option from Disneyland to San Diego. Great ocean views along the way!