The Disney Wonder cruise ship is the perfect way to sail with your whole family this summer! Read this Disney cruise line review for tips, pack your bags, and start planning your amazing family vacation.
I have seen plenty of cruise ships dock in San Diego’s harbor in the past, but never a Disney Cruise. I was under the impression that most of the Disney Cruise Line routes were on the east coast. Imagine my excitement to marvel at the massive and elegant Disney Wonder cruise ship!
If you have never been able to experience a Disney Cruise ship or might be planning a family cruise, this is the one to take! I was able to climb aboard the Disney Wonder and take in all of it’s attributes. Catering to both families and adults, the Disney Wonder cruise ship is a cut above. I have been on various cruise ships in the past, and trust me, their atmosphere, activities, dining, service and attention to detail takes the cake!
Disney Wonder Cruise: An Amazing Family Vacation You Will Never Forget!
The Disney Wonder cruise ship detail
I have always been a Disney fan, so I was delighted to be greeted by Disney classics playing through the ship decks as we boarded. The whole group was constantly in awe with every little feature of the ship. The stair cases are lined with Disney character detail. The halls, windows, ceilings and doors are lined with beautiful colors, artistic detail and trim. Everything from the pool, restaurants, and the guest rooms are themed with a touch of sophisticated style.
The Staterooms
The Disney Wonder Cruise Ship has 877 rooms and can comfortably hold 2,700 passengers. Each stateroom is designed to fit the whole family. Extended suites and smaller private rooms are available, they all boast modern furnishings and style. I love the nautical decor, art and amenities! Many rooms can comfortably sleep 5, featuring queen or twin beds, convertible sofas and wall or upper berth pull-down beds. Larger families can take advantage of side-by-side connecting staterooms if necessary. The exterior staterooms have walk out verandahs or large port holes, dependent upon what deck you’re on. Also to note, the toilet and shower/bath tub areas are separate, allowing family members to use both sides at the same time without crowding each other. Another perk: 24-hour in room dining service.
Dining on board the Disney Wonder cruise ship
Whether you are looking for a casual, quick service restaurant, a buffet, or for fine dining options for adults, you will find it on the Disney Wonder. Each restaurant is themed to a different Disney adventure, serving a variety of cuisine to match. Fresh ingredients and tasty dishes make for a lovely dining experience at sea!
The Disney Wonder has a few main dining rooms that work on a rotational dining schedule. This way, guests can experience each restaurant and it’s offerings during their trip. There is a special theme each night, so expect to see awesome decor and lighting effects, a fun show with song and dance, and even character appearances! Vegetarian and gluten free options are available at all restaurants.
There are a couple of dining options for adults to enjoy a child-free experience. Palo is the main adults only restaurant, and each of the other restaurants have a “dine and play” option, where the kids’ meals are expedited and the ship’s staff takes all of the kiddos out to play while the adults finish.
As far as casual, fast dining service, guests can hit the Beach Blanket Buffet or stop at Goofy’s Gallery, Pinocchio’s Pizza, Pluto’s Dog House or Preludes for a quick bite.
The Activities and Entertainment
Oh, where do I begin?! 3 swimming pools, one with a water slide. Full length Disney movies, new films, too. Live Broadway style shows in theaters. Surprise character appearances. Pirate Night deck dance parties. Night time fireworks shows. Massage services and fitness room at the Vista Spa and Salon. Wide World of Sports Deck with basketball, ping-pong, soccer, and foosball. Nightclubs, bars and lounges. What on earth will you choose first?
Youth Clubs – For Kids Only!
One of the things I like best about Disney’s cruises is that there are significant options for kids to play, while the adults are away! I love my babies, but after 7 days on a cruise boat, we’d definitely need a break! While the adults romp around the ship, eat, drink, catch an adult show, and even just relax at the pool, you can count on these fantastic supervised activities for kids of all ages. On the Disney Wonder cruise ship, infants and toddlers ages newborn to 3 years can receive great care and stimulation at the Flounder’s Reef Nursery. Kids 3 -12 years old can enjoy their day at the Oceaneer Club, which is like an indoor playground, or at the Oceaneer Lab, which is an imaginative, hands-on activity center. Tweens ages 11-14 years will enjoy Edge, and older teens can hang at Vibe. Both of these are equipped with age appropriate video games, music, TV programming, and more. There is also an arcade, Quarter Masters will be a hit with the whole family!
Note: Children are thoroughly kept track of with ID bracelets and parents are given handsets so that can be contacted by staff at any time, any where on the ship. Peace of mind!
There is a Route 66 area of the ship on Deck 3 that is dedicated to nightlife. Cadillac Lounge, WaveBands, Promenade Lounge and Diversions can be a nice retreat to enjoy a cocktail, unwind, grab a small bite to eat or even sing a little karaoke!
Interesting Facts about the Disney Cruise Line
- The Disney Wonder cruise ship is the smallest of the ships on the Disney Cruise Line. It has 11 decks, stretches 964 feet in length and weighs a whopping 83,000 tons!
- There are 950 cast and crew members onboard the Disney Wonder, a ratio of about 3-to-1.
- The atrium is located on the gangway deck of each ship and has it’s own distinct design, giving the ship it’s character. The Disney Wonder has a gorgeous art sculpture on the ceiling (pictured above) and it’s signature restaurant is King Triton’s, showcasing a lovely statue of Ariel right in front.
- Disney Imagineers selected distinctive design elements to make this ship a true Wonder. Special paintings, sculptures and woodwork, murals and framed pieces, fixtures and furnishings that fill the ship were all chosen to bring about a unique, majestic sea experience.
- There are more than just Broadway shows in the Walt Disney and Buena Vista Theatres. You can expect comedians, magicians, ventriloquists, and other Disney character favorites.
- People decorate their stateroom doors to personalize their cruise experience.
- There are 5,390 pillows on board the Disney Wonder cruise ship.
- Pack and Play beds are available for infants who cannot sleep in traditional beds.
Come and sail with your family on the Disney Wonder Cruise ship!
After touring the Disney Wonder, I got the vacation itch. You have no idea how jealous I was to see families splashing it up in the pool. I wanted to stay on the ship so bad! It is definitely etched into our future plans to take a family cruise on one of the Disney Cruise Line ships. Such fun activities, cozy accommodations, delicious food, unparalleled service and the majestic Disney touch make for an unforgettable experience.
For an itinerary sample and upcoming sail dates, visit the Disney Cruise Line website here.
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Now I really want to go on a Disney Cruise. The pictures are breathtaking and the fact that it is family friendly is definitely a plus. Great job on describing every aspect of the ship.
My whole family had the opportunity to go on vaxation on the Disney Dream Cruise in May and we did not want to get off the ship at the end. Everything is just amazing, the staff, the food, the shows and all the amenities are just amazing. We have been to two previous cruises with Royal Caribbean, but Disney is by far our best trip ever! I am actually looking into the next one. And the best thing is that if you buy in advance you’ll get a great deal.
I would love to see the Disney Dream ship! I know it was an amazing time.
Im so jealous!! lol
I would love to go on a Disney cruise!
I LOVE cruising! I have not done Disney yet, but we hope to soon! The ship is beautiful! Isn’t it amazing how big they are and how much there is to do!
This looks AWESOME! We’ve never been on a cruise before!!! It looks amazing! Thanks for sharing!
wowow sooo nice! disney leaves out of houston as well (Galveston) and i have been wondering if this was doable with small kids, knowing their was a nursery for the smallest kids definately makes me want to do this cruise even more…now off to convince El Cheapo! lol
Girl I only got to tour the ship for 2 hours and I did NOT want to get off! LOL at “El Cheapo”, such a fitting name for him!
Wow! Those little Disney details gave me chills. This would be my dream vacation to take the family on. What amazing memories.
I want to go on a Disney cruise so bad. They have one leaving from the port in Galveston now (I’m near Austin) and I want to take the kids. We are saving up to do it some day when my daughter is a little bit older. Hopefully they’ll do some fun theme cruises from here, too!