INTRO
Family of 4 (myself, DW, DS age 9 and DD age 5), WDW veterans but new to cruising. Passporter guide was very helpful, as was this forum, plus we booked thru CruisingCo and our agent Annette was very informative.
We flew from Allentown, PA to Sanford on Southeast Airlines on friday 6/18, rented a car and spent 2 nites at the Raddison at the Port.
RADDISON
Pre-booked 1-BR unit at internet price. Very happy with resort. Good value for price paid. Nice tropical theming, good pool. Excellent location.
PORT AREA DINING
Don't bother with restaurants on route A1a. Take cruise terminal "B" exit to "The Cove" and visit dockside restaurants. We ate at Rusty's on Saturday nite and got to see the Magic depart at 5:00 -- what a great way to get ready for your sunday departure on the Wonder!!
GETTING TO THE PORT EARLY
Drove to Port at 10:00 a.m. but we didn't need to be so early. After check-in, sat around for an hour and I didn't even bother getting on the boarding line until after 11:15. Boarding began at about 11:45. Immediately had lunch at Parrot Cay, then went to Wavebands at 12:40 to reserve Palo. Only 2 people in front of me. Began taking ressies at 1:00 and long line formed behind me since mostly everyone wanted Palo ressies for Wednesday (last nite of cruise w/ repeat restaurant).
STATEROOM 8066
Had cat 4 family stateroom w/ Verandah which we absolutely loved. Location was great (not far from aft elevators). Being one deck below the pools and beverage station was awesome. I could make a quick walk down the hall, up one flight of stairs, refill our mugs, and be back in our stateroom in under 2 minutes.
Pleasantly surprised by the amount of room we had. Also glad to discover that because we are a family of 4, there was no need to use the fold-down bed. Our stateroom host simply lowered the top bunk-bed from the ceiling above the sofa each evening. I was expecting to have access to the Verandah blocked each evening by the fold-down bed.
DINING
Had PTAP dining rotation with main seating (6:00 p.m.)
Big revelation -- the distinction between Parrot Key, Animator's Palate and Triton's is highly overblown. I couldn't tell the difference between the quality and variety of food at any of the restaurants (they probably use the same kitchen!!!), and since you have the same waitstaff you will have basically the same experience at all 3 places (exept for change in atmosphere which again is overblown IMO).
We dressed casual for Parrot Key and AP. I wore a dress shirt and tie at Triton's and I was ridiculously over-dressed. It was 'resort casual' for 95% of the people at Triton's.
Waitstaff was very good. My 5-yr. old daughter fell in love with our assistant server -- his name was Fabio and he is from Brazil.
Palo was altogether different -- wonderful food, great service (our server Katerina from Croatia was wonderful). 75% of men wore jackets, but some just wore polo shirts. I wore dress shirt and tie and felt perfectly comfortable. Restaurant was less than half-full at 6:00 p.m. seating.
BLUE LAGOON BEACH DAY
A bit overrated. Met in Wavebands at 9:15 but didn't arrive at BL until 11:00 because you walk to ferry, take 15 minute ride to Atlantis, wait for 10 minutes, then ride 25 minutes to BL. Kids were impatient on ferry. It was packed so we had to stand. No live music. Next time we'll get a day room at Atlantis.
CASTAWAY CAY
Gorgeous island. Absolutely wonderful adult beach.
KIDS CLUBS
Also overrated IMO. We only used for adult beach on CC and Palo dinner. You drop-off/pick-up on their schedule, not yours (they have 'transition times' when you can't drop-off). It was fine, but our kids would rather stay with us (they've both been in corporate-sponsored group daycare, and have stayed at Neverland Club at Poly resort, so the Oceaneer's Club/Lab was nothing new/exciting for them).
SUMMARY
We absolutely loved the Wonder and will definitely cruise again. Next time we won't visit WDW after our cruise -- we were used to a more relaxed pace on the cruise and then the parks were more hectic.
Family of 4 (myself, DW, DS age 9 and DD age 5), WDW veterans but new to cruising. Passporter guide was very helpful, as was this forum, plus we booked thru CruisingCo and our agent Annette was very informative.
We flew from Allentown, PA to Sanford on Southeast Airlines on friday 6/18, rented a car and spent 2 nites at the Raddison at the Port.
RADDISON
Pre-booked 1-BR unit at internet price. Very happy with resort. Good value for price paid. Nice tropical theming, good pool. Excellent location.
PORT AREA DINING
Don't bother with restaurants on route A1a. Take cruise terminal "B" exit to "The Cove" and visit dockside restaurants. We ate at Rusty's on Saturday nite and got to see the Magic depart at 5:00 -- what a great way to get ready for your sunday departure on the Wonder!!
GETTING TO THE PORT EARLY
Drove to Port at 10:00 a.m. but we didn't need to be so early. After check-in, sat around for an hour and I didn't even bother getting on the boarding line until after 11:15. Boarding began at about 11:45. Immediately had lunch at Parrot Cay, then went to Wavebands at 12:40 to reserve Palo. Only 2 people in front of me. Began taking ressies at 1:00 and long line formed behind me since mostly everyone wanted Palo ressies for Wednesday (last nite of cruise w/ repeat restaurant).
STATEROOM 8066
Had cat 4 family stateroom w/ Verandah which we absolutely loved. Location was great (not far from aft elevators). Being one deck below the pools and beverage station was awesome. I could make a quick walk down the hall, up one flight of stairs, refill our mugs, and be back in our stateroom in under 2 minutes.
Pleasantly surprised by the amount of room we had. Also glad to discover that because we are a family of 4, there was no need to use the fold-down bed. Our stateroom host simply lowered the top bunk-bed from the ceiling above the sofa each evening. I was expecting to have access to the Verandah blocked each evening by the fold-down bed.
DINING
Had PTAP dining rotation with main seating (6:00 p.m.)
Big revelation -- the distinction between Parrot Key, Animator's Palate and Triton's is highly overblown. I couldn't tell the difference between the quality and variety of food at any of the restaurants (they probably use the same kitchen!!!), and since you have the same waitstaff you will have basically the same experience at all 3 places (exept for change in atmosphere which again is overblown IMO).
We dressed casual for Parrot Key and AP. I wore a dress shirt and tie at Triton's and I was ridiculously over-dressed. It was 'resort casual' for 95% of the people at Triton's.
Waitstaff was very good. My 5-yr. old daughter fell in love with our assistant server -- his name was Fabio and he is from Brazil.
Palo was altogether different -- wonderful food, great service (our server Katerina from Croatia was wonderful). 75% of men wore jackets, but some just wore polo shirts. I wore dress shirt and tie and felt perfectly comfortable. Restaurant was less than half-full at 6:00 p.m. seating.
BLUE LAGOON BEACH DAY
A bit overrated. Met in Wavebands at 9:15 but didn't arrive at BL until 11:00 because you walk to ferry, take 15 minute ride to Atlantis, wait for 10 minutes, then ride 25 minutes to BL. Kids were impatient on ferry. It was packed so we had to stand. No live music. Next time we'll get a day room at Atlantis.
CASTAWAY CAY
Gorgeous island. Absolutely wonderful adult beach.
KIDS CLUBS
Also overrated IMO. We only used for adult beach on CC and Palo dinner. You drop-off/pick-up on their schedule, not yours (they have 'transition times' when you can't drop-off). It was fine, but our kids would rather stay with us (they've both been in corporate-sponsored group daycare, and have stayed at Neverland Club at Poly resort, so the Oceaneer's Club/Lab was nothing new/exciting for them).
SUMMARY
We absolutely loved the Wonder and will definitely cruise again. Next time we won't visit WDW after our cruise -- we were used to a more relaxed pace on the cruise and then the parks were more hectic.
