REAS - 9/30 Wonder

[Kalypso]

Part 1:

Well...after my first Disney cruise? (first EVER cruise for that matter!) I will be hard pressed to go to another cruise line.

And mind you...this is coming from someone with no kids and no plans to have any at the age of 42, thanks very much! My DBF and I have 3 cats and 3 horses and that's quite enough children - LOL.

We arrived at MCO off the red-eye from LAX at 6:30a.m. on Thursday, 9/30 - I went down to baggage claim just to be sure our luggage made it to DCL - I was worried no one would be there that early - but there was Ann Marie in the striped shirt (yes, they are ugly - LOL) and blazer just as cheerful as she could be telling us not to worry and to go get some breakfast, which we more then happily did! We were pretty tired - first lesson learned - no more red-eyes since DBF doesn't sleep on them and I do. Not fair to him, poor guy.

We went to the Hyatt (first piece of the endless stream of great information I got on this board...) for breakfast, watched the sunrise from the Hemisphere's restaurant and then went back into the airport to stroll around for a bit. We ran into Ann Marie again and she escorted us down to wait for the DCL bus. We relaxed for about an hour watching the different CMs show up at the counter - it was fun. I was getting really excited. At last we boarded the bus at 9:20 and about 9:45 we pulled out for Port Canaveral - we were still being told at this point that Castaway Cay was on the itinerary but that would be told to us definitely at the port...

We watched the video on the bus and I just couldn't wait for my first glimpse of the Wonder! Yes, I did in fact get a little choked up when she finally came into view. The terminal was everything everyone said it would be and Dorothy checked us in without a hitch but had to deliver the disappointing news that CC was not going to happen on our cruise....oh well She said "bless your little heart, you'll just have to come back!" when she found out it was our first time. I don't need to tell you that I will most definitely be back to DCL

Okay - I'm going to quickly post this and then continue since I got bumped the last time I tried to do this....

 

[Kalypso]

Part 2

Okay - I'm not taking any chances because I wrote this HUGE trip report and tried to post and it said I wasn't logged in - which I WAS! - ARGH. Anyway, that's why I'm doing this in little segments so bear with me

We sat down and watched cartoons with the rest of the kids and watched the folks in the terminal. It was just adorable when 'Captain Mickey' appeared and all the kids went wild. Finally it was time to get in line.

Let me just say that our first views of the ship were breathtaking and so exciting - I knew where our stateroom was so I pointed out the porthole to DBF - we were in 6500 - the most forward cabin on the starboard side - handicap accessible - it's very large and quite comfy - neither of us needed a handicap accessible room but we were in a GTY Cat 8 so that's what we were assigned - we were very happy with our room - and that old saying "how much time do you spend in the room?" was very true of us...we were in the spa or by the pool, taking runs on Deck 4, relaxing in the comfy Deck 4 chairs - MARVELOUS - with a nice Bellini...but I digress - LOL.

So it was finally time to board and we got our picture taken - which I swore I would NEVER buy and of course LOVED and bought - LOL. We had our handy day bags with us so we changed into our suits after the wonderful boarding experience in the atrium and headed straight to the adult pool area We were all alone there for about a half and hour with our delicious rum runners. Then...it got to be about 12:45 so using my info gathered on the wonderful DISBOARDS, I went to line up for the spa I was first in line to book more appointments when they opened! If you can, I recommend enjoying that spa as much as you can - we just LOVED it. The Exotic Rasul was a blast and my skin felt marvelous - and the massage therapists were just top notch. And I'm a massage junkie so believe me, I'm very fussy.

After booking the spa appointments, DBF was surprised to see me dash back by him at the pool. "where are you going??" "Palo ressies!" I called back, scurrying off to take the stairs down to Studio Sea which is where they were doing the new Palo ressies.

Well...because there was no CC? There was a brunch so we booked it! I didn't book another dinner...until Friday night after we ate our first Palo dinner and HAD to go again!! But more on that later...

Posting so as not to lose...stand by

 

[Kalypso]

Okay...looks like I'm still safe

Moving along...

I came back up to the adult pool and DBF finished our delicious rum runners and thought it might be a good idea to go see if the bags were at the stateroom so down the stairs we went to forward Deck 6 - our stateroom was ready but the bags were not there yet - we were a little worried that they might've ended up outside 5644 (our original cabin on the 9/9 Wonder we had to reschedule) but they were not. So...we didn't want to bother Guest Services knowing they were probably swamped so off we went back to Deck 9 for some of the famous shrimp at the Beach Blanket Buffet - which of course I heard about where??? Yes, you guessed it, the dear old DISBOARDS!

I cannot tell you how many times I BLESSED these boards.

We gorged on shrimp and then went back to the pool to relax until boat drill time.

We met lilpritch04 and her new hubby - she was an early poster on the 9/30 thread - we also met SSPrincess and her hubby and goofyforlife - who's hubby we would later meet at Palo the next evening - I have great pics if you guys are reading this

Okay - need to stop and get work done for a sec - more later

 

[Kalypso]

So we went back down to the stateroom and there was our bag! I knew DCL would get it right

We donned our attractive vests and headed for Station G on Deck 4. It was VERY hot on deck with the vests on and some of the young ones were a bit restless and upset bless their little hearts trying to wear those uncomfortable vests! Anyway, it was fairly quick and painless and we went back to our stateroom and quickly put things away to go back up for the sail away party!

I have to say, as corny as this may sound, I am very proud to work for this company. I was so impressed watching all the CMs and how they worked with the kids and put on a great party - it was just wonderful! I am a true Disneyphile - I've been with this company five years now and there's not a day that goes by when I don't find something else to love and this cruise was no exception.

We went downstairs to our stateroom after the party - yes, it WAS a thrill listening to the ship's whistle -- we needed a little R&R from the long day and the long overnight flight - so we took a little nap before dinner. Slept like babies for about an hour or so - just LOVED looking at the water going by outside the stateroom - it was actually odd sleeping on land the first night back - LOL - we got up at about 7:00 and got cleaned up for our first "night out on the ship" We went to the Cadillac Lounge for a nice pre-dinner drink - VERY civilized as my stepmother would say - I had a cosmo - very yummy We had Animator's that night - it would actually end up being our last night of dining rotation as we ended up spoiling ourselves with Palo for the rest of the cruise...what can I say? One meal there was all it took...we will stick to our dining rotation more religiously on the NEXT cruise because I promise it will be a longer one....I had the goat cheese and duck flatbread and the butternut squash soup which was just FABULOUS. DBF had the seafood wrap and the same soup - I had the veal chop and he had the steak - I was very happy with the veal - he was not thrilled with the steak and thought it was just "okay" - oh well, can't please everybody! LOL...our dinner companions Linda and Greg were very nice and we had a lively dinner conversation...after dinner we just walked the decks and enjoy the evening and then...we just went downstairs and collapsed, happy to FINALLY be on the Wonder!!!

I will try to post about Day 2 tomorrow
Sorry for rambling...
will try to get pics soon too

I sure do wish we were still on board...well...maybe not now that the Wonder is in dry dock - LOL!!

 

[daisy112878]

Thanks for the trip report. Can't wait to read the rest of it. When DH and I go on our first DCL cruise I will be exactly like you. THese boards are awesome.

 

[jrp]

Hi Kalypso
Good report.. Sounds like the trip is going well for you and yours.. Anytime on a Disney cruise is better than being land locked..Look forward to your reports.
James

 

[westjones]

Great Report!

And each trip just gets better and better!
DJ