You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

Disney Wonder

Where wonders never cease., onboard fun.

Be immersed in a seemingly endless stream of one-of-a-kind offerings to inspire and delight the entire family—where Disney’s world-renowned quality and service are matched only by the magic that can be found around every corner.

View All Onboard Activities on the Disney Wonder

Entertainment

Enjoy Broadway-style musicals, see your favorite Disney characters in new and exciting ways and behold a new fireworks show at sea. View More

Imaginative kids clubs, adult-exclusive hotspots, 3 themed pools—everywhere you turn, there’s something fun for everyone. View More

Amid fanciful restaurants, savor gourmet dining and casual bites—all with a dash of Disney whimsy. View More

FIREWORKS AT SEA

Character appearances, first-run movies, daily activities.

View all Entertainment on the Disney Wonder

YOUTH CLUBS

For the adults, sports and fitness.

View all Recreation on the Disney Wonder

MAIN DINING

Casual dining, adult-exclusive dining.

View all Dining on the Disney Wonder

SPOTLIGHT AT SEA

Set your sights on some of the newest onboard enhancements and must-see experiences designed to stir your entire family’s imagination and create memories to last a lifetime.

Tiana’s Place

Sup on a stirring celebration of southern cooking and live Dixieland music at this restaurant based on Disney’s The Princess and the Frog.

Crown & Fin Pub

Pull up a chair, share in a frosty pint and enjoy a round of jolly laughs at this adults-only bar resembling a classic British pub.

Marvel Super Hero Academy

Inside Disney’s Oceaneer Club, kids can see their favorite super heroes and enjoy fun-filled games and activities.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

Venture inside this enchanted beauty salon that offers magical, head-to-toe makeovers for young princesses, captains and knights.

Frozen, A Musical Spectacular

For the first time in forever, relive Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Arendelle adventure in a unique Broadway style, musical stage show.

Senses Spa & Salon

Sink into pure bliss at this relaxing retreat, home to therapeutic and beautifying services for women, men and teens.

Whether it's a cozy private retreat or an extravagantly appointed suite, Disney Wonder staterooms are tailored for families—featuring innovative comforts and modern features you won't find anywhere else.

The most spacious and luxurious accommodations aboard the Disney Wonder, boasting separate bedrooms, first-class amenities and unparalleled service.

Breathe in the ocean air from these richly appointed staterooms designed for families of 3 to 5—featuring a private balcony and sweeping sea views.

Relax in roomy quarters bedecked in a charming nautical motif with Art Deco flourishes—plus one or 2 portholes for admiring the scenery.

Sail away in a stateroom embellished with original artwork, warm wood finishes, custom fabrics and beds fitted with fine Egyptian cotton linens.

PORTS OF CALL

Drop anchor in some of the world’s most stunning destinations—from tropical locales bathed in endless sunshine to frozen wonderlands bursting with unspoiled natural splendor—on your next Disney cruise aboard the Disney Wonder.

Rugged mountainsides, sweeping glaciers and lush rainforests make Alaska a scenic utopia everywhere you look.

Inviting wineries, colorful towns, golden beaches and world-class fishing are yours to explore on the Baja Peninsula.

Sparkling waters, invigorating recreation and luxury shopping at deep discounts await you in the cities of the Caribbean.

disney wonder cruise director

Disney Wonder: A Complete Guide to What’s On Board

by Morgan Flaherty | Jan 23, 2024 | Cruise Itineraries , Disney Cruise Line , Disney Wonder

disney wonder cruise director

Discover the staterooms, dining options, entertainment, and more that await cruisegoers sailing on the Disney Wonder.

Planning to set sail on a cruise aboard the Disney Wonder? The second Disney Cruise Line ship first set sail in 1999, a sister ship to the original Disney Magic . On board, you’ll find stunning entertainment, fun characters, and fantastic dining to enjoy. We’re taking you through a full guide of everything you’ll find on the Disney Magic!

About the Disney Wonder

  • Entertainment

disney wonder cruise director

DLR Magazine Annual Digital Subscription

disney wonder cruise director

WDW Magazine Annual Digital Subscription

disney wonder cruise director

WDW Magazine Monthly Digital Subscription

The Disney Wonder had its first sailing in 1999, making it the second ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. The Wonder is a sister ship to the original Disney Magic, with a similar layout and design.

The ship had its maiden voyage on August 15, 1999, originally sailing three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas. Within the past decade, the itineraries for the Wodner have changed. Now, the ship sails on various itineraries with stops in Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean, and more. In fall 2023, the ship made history by beginning a new itinerary in Australia, sailing out of Sydney with stops in Auckland, Brisbane, and Melbourne. The ship eventually made its way back to Hawaii, with plans to return to Vancouver in 2024.

Onboard the ship you’ll find Broadway-style shows such as Frozen, The Golden Mickeys , and Disney Dreams , with restaurants inspired by The Little Mermaid , and The Princess and the Frog . In total, there are 11 decks to explore on the Disney Wonder, and we’re sharing a bit more of what you can find below!

Where Does the Disney Wonder Sail?

For 2024 and 2025 sailings, the Disney Wonder departs from ports in New Zealand and Australia, as well as San Diego, California, Honolulu, Hawaii, and Vancouver, Canada. The ship will offer cruises through Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Australia, and the Pacific Coast to enjoy, anywhere from two to fifteen nights.

Staterooms on the Disney Wonder

In total, there are 875 staterooms on the Disney Wonder, about two-thirds of what you’ll find on the newest ship, the Disney Wish. When it comes to choosing accommodations, you can choose from Concierge, which is the largest accommodation with a private verandah. Or, you can choose a non-concierge room with a private verandah, the second largest room available. There are also Oceanview rooms offering a porthole or two, as well as Inside Staterooms with no view outside.

Inside Staterooms

On the Disney Magic, you’ll have one inside stateroom option: a Standard Inside Stateroom . There is no exterior or ocean view to be found in these rooms, but they do sleep up to four adults in total. Your two options are:

  • Deluxe Inside Stateroom
  • Standard Inside Stateroom

The Deluxe Inside Stateroom has more square footage than the Standard Inside Stateroom , with 214 sq. ft. versus 184 sq. ft. Both types of rooms can sleep up to three or four, with a queen bed, single sleeper sofa, and upper berth pull-down bed available. The Deluxe Inside Stateroom also comes with a “split bath,” meaning there’s one bathroom with a vanity, sink, shower, and tub, then a half bathroom with a vanity, sink, and toilet. By comparison, the Standard Inside Stateroom offers one full bathroom with a vanity, sink, shower and tub.

Oceanview Staterooms

The Oceanview Staterooms offer a few of the sea from your room through one or two portholes. While these won’t have a deck for you to go outside, you will be able to enjoy some stunning views from a generously sized window overlooking the ocean. There’s just one option for this type of room:

  • Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom

The Deluxe Oceanview Staterooms come with either one large porthole window or two smaller porthole windows. Each room sleeps up to three or four, with a queen bed, single sleeper sofa, and upper berth pull-down bed available.

Verandah Staterooms

If you want to spend some time gazing at the beautiful ocean views, you’ll want to consider a room with a private verandah . There are two choices on board the Disney Magic:

  • Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
  • Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah

The Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah  has a queen bed, a single sleeper sofa, and an upper berth pull-down bed, meaning it sleeps three or four people. For a larger group, you’ll want the Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah , which sleeps up to five with a queen bed, single sleeper sofa, wall pull-down bed, and upper berth pull-down bed. Both options come with their own private verandah.

disney wonder cruise director

Being a Princess is Exhausting – Mermaid Solid Color Tote

Being a princess is exhausting – mermaid watercolor tote.

disney wonder cruise director

DLR Castle by Sunset Art Quality Poster With Hanger

Issue 95 – once upon a time, concierge staterooms.

The Concierge rooms are the Disney Magic’s most luxurious accommodations. T here are four  types of concierge staterooms :

  • Concierge Royal Suite with Verandah
  • Concierge 2-Bedroom Suite with Verandah
  • Concierge 1-Bedroom Suite with Verandah
  • Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom

The Concierge Royal Suites have art deco décor, with two bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a verandah, a living room, a dining salon, and more. They can sleep up to seven, making this ideal for larger families or groups. The 1-Bedroom Suite has a separate bedroom, 1.5 bathrooms, a verandah, a living room, and a wet bar, and can sleep up to five. The 2-Bedroom Suite has two separate bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a verandah, a living room, and can sleep up to seven. Finally, the Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom sleeps up to five and also comes with a private verandah.

Dining on the Disney Wonder

Just like all of Disney Cruise Line’s ships, the Disney Wonder comes with a variety of different dining options. Whether you are looking for a full meal, a character dining experience, or just a quick bite to eat, you’ll find it on board the ship.

Like all other Disney Cruise Line ships, the Disney Wonder offers rotational dining for dinners. This style of dining allows you to try each of the main restaurants onboard during your sailing, though you can choose to skip a night or two of rotational dining and secure a reservation at a different restaurant not included with your sailing instead (at an additional cost). Additionally, you can choose to order room service. Here’s a look at all of the dinner options on the Disney Wonder :

  • Tiana’s Place
  • Animator’s Palate
  • Triton’s
  • Palo Steakhouse (reservations required)
  • Royal Court Tea (reservations required)

Aside from rotational dining, you’ll also find casual dining onboard that does not require a reservation:

  • Daisy’s De-Lites
  • Eye Scream Treats
  • Pinocchio’s Pizzeria
  • Pete’s Boiler Bites

For adults, there are also different bars and lounges available on the ship:

  • Cadillac Lounge
  • Crown & Fin Pub
  • French Quarter Lounge

Entertainment on the Disney Wonder

On every Disney Cruise Line sailing you’ll find plenty to do — and the Disney Wonder is no exception! On the Wonder you can enjoy Broadway-caliber theater performances, character meet and greets, and fun for the whole family. Here’s a preview of some of the different entertainment options you’ll find during your sailing:  

  • D-Lounge offers singing, dancing, games, trivia, and more
  • Catch shows such as  Frozen, Disney Dreams , or  The Golden Mickeys
  • Watch Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story or Disney Dreams — An Enchanted Classic
  • Experience live entertainment at Azure or French Quarter Lounge
  • Character meet and greets inside the Lobby Atrium and other areas of the ship
  • Watch Disney films in the Buena Vista Theatre

For more information about the Disney Wonder, check out our full deck plans here. And make sure to catch up on all of our Disney Cruise Line coverage !

Latest Posts

Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point: Your Guide to Disney’s Tropical Island Destination

Everything we know about the disney destiny, disney cruise line reveals name and details for new ship, this is the most expensive stateroom you can book on a disney cruise, discover the disney wish’s wedding venue: the grand hall, is marvel day at sea worth it, posts by morgan flaherty.

epcot-clothing_creations-shop_chiu

Authored by Morgan Flaherty

Enjoy FREE SHIPPING on orders over $100. Dismiss

The Disney Wonder sails past a sunset

Disney Wonder Cruise Ship: Complete Guide

The Disney Wonder Cruise Ship has been part of Disney’s fleet since in 1999. Guests sailing on this vessel will find luxurious staterooms, lots of food, and of course, beloved Disney Characters. Here’s our complete guide to everything you’ll find onboard this magnificent ship.

Prefer to Speak to Someone?  Vacationeers Are Standing By!

In This Guide:

  • Ship Overview
  • Rotational Dining
  • Adult-Exclusive Dining
  • Casual Dining
  • Lounges, Bars & Snacks
  • Room Service
  • Pools & Splash Pads
  • Oceaneer Club
  • Oceaneer Lab
  • Broadway-Style Shows
  • Themed Nights
  • Spa & Salons
  • Itineraries & Ports
  • Deck-By-Deck Guide
  • How To Book

Disney Wonder Ship Overview

The Disney Wonder Cruise Ship sails in front of a Hawaiian mountain with an orange sky in the background

Image © Disney

The Disney Wonder is part of the original set of two ships that Disney Cruise Line built in the late 1990s. With a focus on family-friendly entertainment rather than belly flop contests and onboard casinos , Disney Cruise Line set a new standard that some other cruise lines are still trying to catch up to a quarter-century later. Despite the ship’s age, Disney Wonder continues to receive regular updates and improvements, including an extensive dry dock refurbishment in 2016.

The ship boasts a streamlined look that reminds passengers of the grand early oceanliners — but with a classic black, yellow, red, and white color scheme that immediately suggests the iconic Mickey Mouse. An image of Mickey as Steamboat Willie adorns the bow of the ship.

An Image of Mickey Mouse as Steamboat Willie on the front of the Disney Wonder

Bow artwork on the Disney Wonder

In back, you’ll see Donald hanging on makeshift scaffolding and trying to paint the ship’s logo on the stern. It’s going about as well as you’d expect.

How Does Disney Wonder Compare to Other Disney Cruise Ships?

The Disney Wonder is a sister ship to the Disney Magic ; the two ships are generally the same in terms of construction (though similar areas on each ship are themed differently from one another). As the original ships in the fleet, they also happen to be the smallest.

There are more new Disney Cruise ships being built , but all of them will be larger than the Disney Wonder.

One notable difference is that the Disney Wonder is the only current Disney Cruise ship which doesn’t have its own water “ride” (such as the AquaDunk, AquaDuck, or AquaMouse found on other ships). But there are still pools and a standard waterslide onboard.

Should I Pick the Disney Wonder Instead of a Larger Ship?

It’s really a matter of personal preference, but my wife and I prefer smaller ships such as the Disney Wonder because they’re just easier to get around while onboard. Remember — you’re walking to everything on the ship, and on the Wonder there’s never more than a 5-10 minute walk from your stateroom to the restaurants, theatres, and pools.

Compare that to a larger ship such as the Disney Dream, where you’ll likely need a bit more time to walk from one part of the ship to the other. And since the larger ships have more decks than the smaller ones, you might find yourself spending more time waiting on elevators as opposed to just using the staircases for a quick jaunt.

This smaller ship is also able to visit ports that are inaccessible to larger ships; that means it’s able to do things the bigger ships can’t, such as sailing right through a narrow Alaskan fjord and getting tantalizingly close to a giant glacier!

At the moment, the Wonder is the only Disney ship offering certain itineraries  such as Alaska or Hawaii; that alone could make your choice for you if you have a particular destination in mind.

Otherwise, if this will be your first time taking a Disney Cruise , a smaller ship like the Wonder might be a better bet versus a larger ship like the Disney Dream , Disney Fantasy , or Disney Wish . It’ll let you “ease into” cruising with Disney without getting completely overwhelmed.

But don’t fret too much over the choice; whatever you pick, you’re going to have a great time. Most of the Disney ships still have relatively equal offerings despite size differences. As an example, the Wonder (smaller) and Fantasy (larger) both have a number of main restaurants plus adult-exclusive dining, a night club district, kids clubs, a spa, and live shows — but there are some differences in size, layout, and theming. The larger ships might have more of each, but the overall experience is very similar.

Jump To: Overview   |  Staterooms   |  Dining   |  Water Fun   |  Kids Clubs   |  Entertainment   |  Spa & Salons   |  Itineraries & Ports   |  Deck-by-Deck   |  Fact Sheet   |  How To Book

Disney Wonder Staterooms

A bed and couch in a Disney Cruise stateroom, leading to an outdoor balcony verandah

Your stateroom (passenger cabin) is your hotel room onboard the Disney Wonder. It’s where you’ll sleep and spend most of your private time, so picking the right room is important. The type of room you choose is also one of the biggest factors in the price of a Disney cruise , because the per-person cost can increase based on the category picked.

The Disney Wonder has 875 passenger staterooms, and most of them offer some type of outside view (via either a verandah balcony or porthole windows). There are four main types of rooms on the ship; each of those four types is then further divided into multiple categories and subcategories.

Here is a brief look at the types of rooms you can choose from. We’ve listed them here generally from cheapest to most expensive, though there may be some price overlap. You are usually able to choose the exact room you’ll stay in on the ship — check out our complete guide to Disney Cruise staterooms  for more information.

Inside Staterooms on Disney Wonder

An inside stateroom with a porthole-shaped mirror on the wall

Inside Stateroom; note the round mirror in place of a porthole | Image © Disney

Inside Staterooms are just that — completely inside. They have no porthole window and no balcony. On the Disney Wonder, you’ll find a round mirror that sort of looks like a porthole, but it only offers views of yourself staring back.

This stateroom type has standard and deluxe variations. The standard is the smallest onboard (but still larger than on some other cruise lines) and has a single bathroom; the deluxe is slightly larger and has a split bathroom (toilet/sink in a separate room from the shower/sink).

  • 11C:   Deck 2
  • 11B:   Decks 5, 6
  • 11A:   Decks 6, 7
  • 10C:   Decks 1, 2
  • 10B:   Deck 2
  • 10A:   Decks 5, 6, 7

A split bathroom with toilet and sink in one room, shower and sink in another.

Split bathroom configuration on Disney Wonder | Image © Disney

Oceanview Staterooms on Disney Wonder

An oceanview stateroom with large round porthole window

A typical Oceanview Stateroom configuration on Disney Wonder | Image © Disney

Oceanview staterooms offer an outside view through one or two round porthole windows which do not open. Window sizes vary, but larger windows are more common than smaller windows. The smallest windows are on Deck 1.

  • 9D:   Deck 1
  • 9C:   Deck 2
  • 9B:   Deck 2
  • 9A:   Decks 5, 6, 7

An oceanview stateroom with two smaller porthole windows

Category 9D Oceanview Stateroom with two smaller porthole windows | Image © Disney

Verandah Staterooms on Disney Wonder

Deck chairs and a small table on a Disney Cruise Ship verandah

A typical stateroom verandah on a Disney cruise ship | Image © Disney

Verandah staterooms are the most popular room types onboard, with a private balcony just outside your stateroom. Most verandahs offer see-through railings with a clear safety plexiglass covering, but a few categories have solid metal walls or are completely enclosed except for an open-air cut-out.

  • 7A:   Decks 5, 6, 7, 8
  • 6A:   Decks 5, 6, 7
  • 5C:   Decks 5, 6
  • 5B:   Decks 6, 7
  • 5A:   Deck 7
  • 4E:   Deck 8
  • 4B:   Deck 8
  • 4A:   Deck 8

The navigator's verandah on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder cruise ships, offering an enclosed balcony area with large open-air cutout allowing views of the sea.

Category 7A Enclosed Navigator’s Verandah with Open-Air Cutout | Image © Disney

Category 6A Whitewall Verandah

Category 6A Whitewall Verandah | Image © Disney

Concierge Staterooms on Disney Wonder

The living room and bedroom of a concierge one-bedroom suite

Concierge One-Bedroom Suite | Image © Disney

As the priciest staterooms on the Disney Wonder, the Concierge categories offer additional personalized perks , access to concierge staff, and an exclusive lounge and sun deck that’s accessible only to passengers in these categories.

  • 3A:   Deck 8
  • 2B:   Deck 8
  • 2A:   Deck 8
  • 1B:   Deck 8
  • 1A:   Deck 8

Need Help Choosing Your Stateroom?

Trust the Disney cruise experts at The Vacationeer  for free, personalized advice on the different staterooms on the Disney Wonder.  The Vacationeer is an Earmarked Diamond level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and has helped plan thousands of Disney Cruises for families just like yours!

When you book with The Vacationeer , you’ll have a  dedicated travel planner from start to finish — you’ll never have to play phone roulette and explain your situation to twelve different people in a giant call center! Your Vacationeer will make sure that you get your money’s worth by finding the best stateroom at the best price — they know all the ways to save money on Disney Cruises !

The Vacationeer can even help you set up a zero-interest payment plan that usually requires only a preliminary deposit to book , followed by payments on your own schedule (just pay in full by Disney’s final payment deadline ahead of the cruise).

They even offer a generous onboard credit that can be used toward your purchases on the ship. And best of all, their planning services are free !

So take advantage of free booking help from a Disney Cruise expert — contact The Vacationeer today for a free, no-obligation quote on your dream Disney Cruise!

Disney Wonder Dining and Lounges

The dining room of Animator's Palate, with oversized art brushes and colorful light fixtures resembling an artist's paint palate.

The dining experience on the Disney Wonder includes three delightful main restaurants, an adult-exclusive dining location, several quick-service options, and even free room service! Here’s everything you need to know about dining onboard the Disney Wonder.

Rotational Dining Restaurants on Disney Wonder

The heart of the Disney Cruise Line dining experience is its nightly dinner service. And on the Disney Wonder (like all Disney Cruise Ships), dinner is scheduled through something called rotational dining . You’re pre-scheduled to visit a different restaurant each night — no need to make a reservation ahead of time — but you’ll still have the same servers each night.

Your cruise fare includes dinner at these three restaurants at no additional charge.

  • Animator’s Palate

A large video screen on the wall in Animator's Palate

A screen at Animator’s Palate | Image © Disney

Animator’s Palate is one of the most popular dining experiences throughout the Disney Cruise fleet, and the Disney Wonder is no exception. Repeat cruisers love its menu, and its whimsical and lively atmosphere is pure Disney.

Popular menu items here include one of my favorites, the black truffle pasta purseittes (I sometimes ask for a double helping — you can do that at no additional charge!). My wife enjoys their butternut squash soup. Other offerings include wild mushroom risotto, a polenta cake with tomato and mushrooms, beef tenderloin, and a lemon-thyme marinated chicken. There are plenty of other options, too, most inspired by the cuisines of California, Asia, and the Pacific.

As good as the food is, the real highlight of dinner here is a tribute to the art of animation. A finale show called Drawn to Magic tells the story of how an animated feature goes from early sketches to a full-fledged film. The dining room itself — and your servers — even take on a bit more color during the dinner service, which includes a special visit from Sorcerer Mickey.

On longer cruises, you might also experience Animation Magic , a different show which allows you to draw your own character and see it animated on the screens during the show! You’ll start by drawing your character on a special paper placemat which is whisked away before service begins; then later in the evening, Sorcerer Mickey does his stuff and your drawing leaps off the page and into motion!

Guest-Drawn Cartoons dance on a screen

My drawing (left) dances on-screen with other Guest-drawn cartoons at Animator’s Palate

Clearly I won’t be winning any awards, but it was still fun to see my name in the credits at the end of the show.

A list of guest names scrolls on a screen

I made it, ma!

Triton's on the Disney Wonder cruise ship -- A table is set for dinner in a yellow-lit room with blue circular light fixtures overhead

Triton’s is located immediately off the main atrium lobby of the ship, just behind the statue of Ariel. As you’d expect, the restaurant is themed to The Little Mermaid , though elegantly so.

For those feeling a bit adventurous, try the escargot. It doesn’t cost anything extra so you’re not out any money if you hate it — and you might be as surprised as I was to learn that you love it and want to order it on every cruise! If you’d rather stick with Les Poissons , there’s an oven-baked salmon. You might also find chilled jumbo shrimp, a crispy roasted duck breast, and other tempting entrees on the menu. Finish your meal with a dessert of the ever-popular Grand Marnier soufflé or the Instagram-worthy (though admittedly a bit underwhelming taste-wise) Apple Tarte Tatin.

Disney Cruise Food - Tarte Tatin

Outside of dinner service, Triton’s is also the non-buffet option for breakfast (French Toast, omelets, crepes) and lunch (whitefish, pork ribs, chicken breast) on most days.

  • Tiana’s Place

Performers in brightly-colored Mardi Gras costumes at Tiana's Place on the Disney Wonder cruise ship

She’s no longer just almost there — she’s made it! This lively restaurant celebrates Tiana’s journey to becoming a restaurant owner with New Orleans décor and great live jazz music and storytelling. While it’s not quite a full-fledged character dining experience , you’ll still have a chance to see Tiana and possibly say hi to her on the way in. And don’t be surprised if you see a certain musical gator galivanting about!

The menu is a tribute to southern cuisine and the flavor of Louisiana. Try the New Orleans seafood pepper pot, shrimp jambalaya, and Cajun-spiced sea bass — or steer your way toward milder fare. Dessert includes Tiana’s famous beignets and a chocolate bread pudding.

Adult-Exclusive Dining on the Disney Wonder

The Adult-Exclusive offerings onboard Disney Wonder include a famed Italian restaurant that many repeat cruisers swear by.

Palo is the perfect spot for a memorable meal featuring fine Italian food. Giant windows allow you to gaze at the moonlight reflecting on the ocean surface as your tastebuds are tempted by the restaurant’s bill of fare.

Dinner menu items at this specialty dining location include dover sole (fileted tableside), butternut agnolotti, and seared sea scallops. The restaurant’s signature chocolate soufflé is a popular finish to your meal.

A tremendously-popular brunch service is also typically offered on Sea Days, but it can be tough to snag reservations. Try to book book as early as your onboard booking window allows .

Dining at Palo requires an upcharge, around $45 as of June 2023. Adding a wine pairing costs a bit more.

Casual Dining on the Disney Wonder

Breakfast and lunch onboard your Disney cruise ship is usually a casual affair – and there are even low-key options for dinner.

Cabanas is the buffet-style restaurant onboard the Disney Wonder, which offers an eclectic menu featuring great tastes from around the globe.

At breakfast, you’ll be able to pick your favorites from nearly a dozen different food stations. There are plenty of ready-made options such as Mickey Waffles, eggs, sausage, and bacon; you can also opt to spend a few minutes to allow the professional Omeleteer to whip up a custom omelet just for you, filled with the ingredients you selectr.

Thanks to the cruise line’s international clientele, you’ll also find some breakfast offerings not typically found here in the states — rice, miso soup, smoked fish, and such. For me, this is a fun way to step out of my eggs-and-bacon comfort zone and start my day with something I can’t easily find stateside such as a bowl of muesli (“fresh” granola) topped with fruits, nuts, and grains.

Lunch at Cabanas is an ever-changing mix of menu-items. Typical choices include: a wide array of freshly-grilled meats; a carving station featuring selections such as prime rib, roast beef, or ham; jumbo iced shrimp and crab claws; sandwiches and wraps; pizza; and plenty of desserts such as cakes, pie, cheesecake, and hand-dipped ice cream.

Cabanas is also open for dinner, offering an alternative for those who want to skip their assigned rotational dining for the evening. Dinner is table service — not buffet-style — with a somewhat limited menu of items such as salmon, chicken, steak, and the like.

Lounges, Bars, and Snacks on the Disney Wonder

Disney Cruise Dining - Daisy's De-Lites service window, with a case of sandwiches and fresh fruit | Image © Disney

There’s always a place to grab a quick bite to eat or a refreshing drink onboard Disney Wonder. Here are just a few highlights:

Dance the night away at Azure, the Disney Wonder’s liveliest night club in the heart of the After Hours district onboard. Earlier in the day, all are welcome to enjoy family-friendly activities. In the evening, it’s adults-only featuring specialty cocktails and an energetic nightlife.

  • Beverage Station

Most non-alcoholic drinks are included in the cost of your cruise, so there’s no need to purchase a drink package if you just want a soda, tea, coffee, milk, or water. This soda station near the pool offers unlimited free self-serve drinks all day long.

  • Cadillac Lounge

Classic Hollywood, classic cars, and live piano combine to bring back the 50s in this moody hideaway. You can practically hear Frankie and Dino warming up.

This adults-only lounge serves specialty coffees and teas by day. At night, enjoy cocktails, wine, and a light nosh.

  • Crown & Fin Pub

Settle into this traditional English public house for a lively evening of drink and fun. Catch the latest sports via live TV (when available) while quaffing your choice of more than a dozen beer choices (including some British favorites) or other specialty beverages.

D Lounge is a family-friendly venue that hosts interactive entertainment for everyone. Play trivia here, sing Karaoke, or enjoy a live game show.

Daisy’s De-Lites, Pete’s Boiler Bites, and Pinocchio’s Pizzeria

These poolside quick service windows offer grab-&-go goodies. Pizza, hamburgers & hot dogs, tacos, sandwiches, chicken tenders, and other quick bites are on the menu here.

  • Eye Scream Treats

Cool down with all-you-can eat soft-serve ice cream from this popular location. I personally can rarely pass by here without grabbing a cone, no matter how full I am.

  • French Quarter Lounge

Not far from Tiana’s Place is French Quarter Lounge, a unique location with décor that includes a New Orleans street car. A gazebo stage and wrought-iron accents combine with hot music and hot beignets to complete the Louisiana theme. Kids are welcome earlier in the day to enjoy family-friendly games and character visits.

Room Service on the Disney Wonder Cruise Ship

Many passengers are surprised to learn that Room Service is included in the cost of your Disney Cruise.

The standard Room Service menu on the Disney Wonder includes selections such as soups & salads, hamburgers & sandwiches, flatbreads, pasta, and chicken tenders. You can also select from a few desserts, such as the cake-of-the-day and the ever-popular Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream bar.

I usually get an order of hot wings, though the journey they take from the galley to my room sometimes leaves them a bit less crispy than I’d like. I’m also fond of the All Hands on Deck , a plate of assorted cheese, fruit, and crackers that makes an enjoyable snack while sitting on my verandah watching the ocean roll by.

While all of the above is included at no additional cost, you will have to pay extra for specialty items such as beer, wine, canned soft drinks, deluxe coffees, juices, and pre-packaged snacks/candies.

Also don’t forget to tip the crew member who delivers the food to your room.

Best Bets for Each Meal on Disney Wonder

Below we list each of the main meal periods onboard the ship, and your best options for each.

  • Primary option: Cabanas is the best breakfast spot onboard thanks to its long hours, wide selection of food, and all-you-care-to-eat atmosphere. It’s not a quiet meal by any stretch, but given that almost everything is hot and ready on the buffet, you can quickly eat here and move on to a quiet lounge chair in no time flat.
  • Secondary option: One of the three rotational restaurants (typically Triton’s) usually offers a table-service breakfast most days, complete with a server who will bring your food and keep your drinks topped off. Although Cabanas will have a wider variety to choose from, dining here instead allows for a much more relaxed start to your day.
  • Other options: Room Service has a breakfast option, but you’ll need to pre-order it the night before and choose from an extremely limited menu. The offerings are more along the lines of a continental breakfast (juices, coffees, pastries, cold cereals), with no real “hot breakfast” (no eggs, bacon, sausage, or oatmeal).
  • Primary option: Cabanas is the best lunch option (and the most crowded) due to its tremendous selection. Iced jumbo shrimp and crab claws are a signature menu item most days; you’ll also find freshly grilled meats, a wide variety of side items, some interesting international selections, and plenty of dessert. Snag a table outside on the deck to enjoy a beautiful seaside lunch.
  • Secondary option: The food service windows on the pool deck are a great option at any time of day, especially if you’re enjoying the day poolside. You don’t even need to change out of your sopping-wet swimsuit to grab a meal. These windows are usually open well after Cabanas has stopped serving lunch, so they’re a great late afternoon option.
  • Other options : Triton’s usually serves a lunch option on most days if you want a sit-down meal but don’t want to wade through the crowds at Cabanas. Room Service is another good option.
  • Primary option: Your assigned rotational dining restaurant is your best bet for dinner. Dining at these locations is the highlight of each day onboard the ship, thanks to the themed menus, specialty décor, and personalized service from a dedicated wait staff who remains with you each night of the cruise. (They’re likely to become your favorite Crew Members onboard — Katie and I still talk about Potchara and Heny, our servers from a 2019 Alaska Cruise on the Disney Wonder).
  • Secondary option: As an alternative to your pre-scheduled rotational dining restaurant, you might opt to dine at Cabanas, which is totally different at night. While breakfast and lunch there can feel a bit hectic, Dinner at Cabanas is much more relaxed. No carrying around your plate and searching for a seat — a server presents you with a menu and brings food to you. This is a great option if the menu for one of your assigned restaurants doesn’t look that appealing to you, or if you’re not keen on dressing up for Formal Night.
  • Other options: Many cruisers enjoy dedicating at least one night of their cruise to an adult-exclusive meal at Palo. Otherwise, room service and the poolside quick-service windows are a good choice.

Off-Hours Eating and Snacking

  • Primary option: For cravings outside the main meal periods, I recommend the quick-service windows such as Pete’s Boiler Bites, Daisy’s De-Lites, and Pinocchio’s Pizzeria. Their grab-and-go convenience makes them a great choice to tide you over between meals. Individual portions are a bit smaller so you won’t spoil your dinner (unless you want to, because it’s still all-you-can-eat).
  • Secondary option: Room Service is available day and night, up until about 1:30 AM on the last morning of your cruise. So if it’s 3AM and you suddenly find yourself in desperate need of a hamburger, it’s the only way to go. As a slightly less extreme example, there’s something delightful about having warm cookies and milk delivered to your room just before bedtime.

Book Through The Vacationeer and Get Free Spending Money To Use Onboard

Disney Wonder Pools and Water Slides

People swim in a pool on the deck of the Disney Wonder while the ship sails through a fjord

Twist ’n’ Spout Water Slide

Part of the AquaLab (see below), Twist ‘n’ Spout is a bright yellow double-looping waterslide. You’ll twist and turn over almost 250 feet before a thrilling splashdown. Guests must be at least 38” tall to ride, and adult supervision is required for kids under age 16.

Pools and Splash Pads

This multi-level water playground is a great place for kids to cool off during their cruise. It includes a small wading pool, plenty of geysers and pop jets, pouring “paint” cans and showerheads, leaky pipes, and Donald’s Boiler (a character-shaped contraption that occasionally blows its top, drenching everyone). Intended for ages 3+; adult supervision required for those under age 16.

Goofy’s Pool

Goofy’s Pool on deck 9 serves as the family pool onboard and is the ship’s largest pool area. The giant FunnelVision video screen and a large stage are nearby, so there’s always something to enjoy while swimming. Intended for ages 3+ (must be toilet trained), with adult supervision required for those under age 16. This pool is occasionally closed so it can be covered and used as additional deck space for the sail-away party and other major events.

  • Dory’s Reef

Toddlers aged 3 years or younger can enjoy this 400-foot splash deck featuring spraying water and pop jets. Swim diapers are required, and children must be supervised by an adult.

Quiet Cove Pool

A serene oasis for ages 18+. A pool and whirlpool tubs are the main features, along with ample lounging space and easy access to the adult beverage of your choice.

Disney Wonder Kids Clubs and Teen Clubs

DCL Oceaneer Club

You might be surprised by how much time your kids will want to spend away from you during your Disney Cruise! One of the main reasons Disney Cruise Line is the best cruise line for kids is its fantastic youth activities spaces, including a substantial portion of Deck 5 which is dedicated solely to passengers under the age of 12.

  • Disney’s Oceaneer Club

The Oceaneer Club is the place where your kids will likely spend a large amount of their time onboard. This secure facility is accessible only to kids aged 3-10 and trained youth activities staff (though adults are welcome to visit during established Open House hours). Inside, kids will find specially-themed spaces and kid-friendly activities. Best of all, it’s all included in the cost of your Disney cruise!

Andy’s Room

Kids are immersed in the world of Disney·Pixar’s Toy Story movies in this unique multi-level play area including the Slinky Dog Slide.

Marvel Super Hero Academy

Kids visit a top-secret S.H.I.E.L.D. facility, and learn to summon their inner Super Hero. There’s plenty of time for freeform play, with occasional structured activities including visits and training with real Super Heroes.

Disney Junior Area

A favorite of younger Oceaneers, the Disney Junior area features games, characters, and more.

Frozen Adventures

Join Olaf for games and activities celebrating Summer, or prepare for the royal coronation with Anna and Elsa!

  • Disney’s Oceaneer Lab

The Oceaneer Lab offers hands-on activities and experiences for kids ages 3-10. It’s connected by an internal hallway to the Oceaneer Club, so it’s easy for kids to swap between the two.

Animator’s Studio

Learn how to draw your favorite Disney characters – or just entertain your own creative instincts.

Anyone Can Cook

Learn how to measure and mix ingredients and bake a batch of fresh chocolate-chip cookies.

Captain’s Workshop

Enjoy movies and video games in a spacious play area.

Pluto’s Pajama Party

This slumber party with Mickey’s pup pal Pluto is sure to be a hit.

Stitch’s Space Goo

Join Experiment 626 and the professor to make a batch of intergalactic ooze.

The Wheelhouse

Take the wheel of a large video screen navigation simulator and see if you have what it takes to steer a Disney Cruise Ship.

Tweens and young teens – ages 11 to 14 – have a space all to themselves onboard the Disney Wonder. Edge is the perfect place to relax thanks to its moody boiler room feel. There’s a huge 98″ video screen for watching Disney movies, a dance floor, plus plenty of video games and crafts. A mix of planned activities and unstructured free time leaves plenty of opportunities for socializing.

Climb right inside one of the Disney Wonder’s iconic red smokestack funnels to reach this teens-only retreat. Passengers aged 14 to 17 can enjoy a specialty coffee or smoothie while relaxing with newfound friends in a safe environment. For techy types, there are plenty of TVs, video games, and tablets. Meanwhile, active teens will enjoy dance parties, karaoke sessions, and group activities.

it’s a small world nursery!

While there’s no in-room babysitting on the Disney Wonder, infants and toddlers aged three and younger are well-cared-for onboard thanks to the it’s a small world nursery!

Youth counselors will happily feed, change, and interact with the little ones while parents and guardians enjoy other parts of the ship.

This nursery service does require a nominal fee, charged by the half-hour with a one-hour minimum. Discounts are available for multiple children in the same family.

Advanced reservations are strongly recommended.

Need Answers But Don’t Want To Wait On Hold?

Disney Wonder Entertainment and Activities

A stage show with performers wearing gold tuxedo-style costumes and dancewear. A giant silhouette of Mickey Mouse, outlined in tiny popcorn lights, forms the backdrop

With live Broadway-style shows and lively deck parties, the Disney Wonder offers a wide variety of onboard entertainment.

Broadway-Style Shows in the Walt Disney Theatre

Each night of your cruise, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a live show in the beautiful Walt Disney Theatre. The nearly-1,000-seat theatre hosts three Broadway-style shows during your cruise, with showtimes offered opposite your dinner time; if you have early dinner, you’ll catch the late show… and vice versa. You can even watch a recorded version of the shows on your stateroom television if you don’t want to head to the theatre at showtime.

Passengers on longer voyages will also enjoy other additions such as a magician, hypnotist, or family-friendly comedian on nights when the Broadway-style shows are dark.

Disney Dreams – An Enchanted Classic

A touching tale of a young girl at the age of not believing – follow along as she learns how to believe in herself thanks to the power of positive thinking along with some help from favorite Disney characters and memorable music.

Frozen – A Musical Spectacular

A lively musical retelling of Anna and Elsa’s journey. Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf are all here to join in the adventure, and of course all the familiar songs are there, too.

The Golden Mickeys

It’s awards night with all the glitz and glamor of the red carpet. Who will win “Most Romantic” or “Most Heroic”? And more importantly, who will host the show? The emcee is missing! Something tells me it’ll all get sorted out in the nick of time, and we might even learn a little bit about believing in ourselves along the way. Featuring songs from about a dozen different Disney films, this show is a fan favorite that’s sure to have you humming along.

Special Themed Nights and Deck Parties

Frozen night.

Select 7-night sailings on the Disney Wonder include a Frozen-themed evening, complete with special menus inside the dining rooms, an Anna’s Chocolate Chase scavenger hunt, and a Freezing the Night Away deck party.

Pirates in the Caribbean Deck Party with Fireworks

Some itineraries may include a Pirate night. Enjoy a special themed menu at dinner, then head up to the pool deck for a raucous live show with favorite Disney characters and fireworks at sea!

Note: not every itinerary offers a pirate night, and fireworks may be canceled due to weather. Pirate night is  never offered on Alaskan sailings due to the fireworks’ impact on wildlife and the natural surroundings.

PIXAR Pals Party

Found only onboard Alaska sailings on the Wonder (in place of Pirate Night), this party features character greetings and lively music from your favorite Disney•PIXAR films.

Disney Movies in the Buena Vista Theatre

First-run and classic favorite Disney, Marvel, PIXAR, and LucasFilm movies are shown all day long in the Buena Vista Theatre. There’s no need to buy a ticket – just drop in at showtime and grab a seat.

If your cruise falls during the premiere of a highly-anticipated Disney film, there will likely be a huge “PremEAR at Sea” showing first in the Walt Disney Theatre. After that, it’ll be shown repeatedly in the Buena Vista Theatre for the remainder of the cruise.

Disney Wonder Spas and Salons

Disney Wonder offers a full-service spa onboard the ship, plus many other health and wellness services to help you melt away the troubles of the real world during your cruise.

Senses Spa and Salon

Pamper yourself like no place else at Senses Spa & Salon onboard the Disney Wonder. Choose from a comprehensive spa menu , salon services, or rejuvenation procedures at this restful retreat on Deck 9. Offerings include aroma stone therapy, deep tissue massage, Swedish massage, facials, acupuncture, teeth whitening, shampooing & cut/style, manipedis, CoolSculpting, and more. Complimentary non-alcoholic beverages, sandals & robes, showers, and lockers complete the package. Services here require an upcharge.

This special area of Senses offers treatments exclusively for teens aged 13-17. A parent or guardian must accompany the teen for the duration of the treatment, and parent/teen combined services can be purchased if desired.

Fitness Center

Keep up your workout routine even while you’re on vacation with the Disney Wonder’s Fitness Center. Those looking for an equipment-based workout will find a nice selection of weight machines, cardio equipment, ellipticals, and treadmills. For a group experience, try yoga, Pilates, or an aerobics class. You can even arrange for a one-on-one analysis and training session with a professional personal coach.

  • Walking/Jogging Track

The Deck 4 promenade of the Disney Wonder serves as a full-circle walking/jogging track. Although I’m no runner, I do enjoy a leisurely walk here at least once per cruise to help break up that sense of “only short bursts of activity” that can set in on a longer sailing. Being on Deck 4 gives you a close-up view of the water — close enough to notice, perhaps, a porpoise breaching the surface. That makes this deck not only a great place to exercise, but also a great place to relax in a deck chair.

a wooden cruise ship deck with white metal railings, a life preserver, and lifeboat

Deck 4 Promenade

A nice side bonus of this track is that as you make the turn to circle around to reach the opposite side of the ship, you’ll get a look at some of the mechanical wizardry that keeps the ship functioning. For someone like me who loves behind-the-scenes gadgetry, it’s a neat perk that helps to nudge me out onto the track.

Large green metal winches and other equipment

Heavy Machinery

Psst… here’s my favorite super secret tip for the Disney Wonder : if you’re on a glacier day during an Alaska cruise and find that the decks are too crowded to get a good view, take the walking path on deck 4 and head toward the back of the ship. As the path transitions from an open promenade to an enclosed area behind the metal walls of the ship, you’ll encounter several giant open air portholes that offer a great view. Few folks know they’re here, so there’s rarely any “competition” for a spot. Don’t tell anyone! 😉

Open-air portholes on the Disney Wonder and Magic cruise ships

Look, ma! No tourists!

Get Free Credit Toward Spa Treatments When You Book With The Vacationeer

Disney Wonder Itineraries and Home Ports

The Disney Wonder sails through an icy fjord toward a looming glacier in the shadow of steep mountainsides

The Disney Wonder is on track to become one of the most widely-traveled Disney cruise ships, visiting Hawaii, Alaska, Australia, and New Zealand.

Disney Wonder has a busy schedule of cruises in 2024 .

  • January to early February: Australia / New Zealand Cruises from Melbourne and Sydney
  • Mid-February to mid-March: A South Pacific Cruise from Sydney to Honolulu, a Hawaiian Cruise from Honolulu to Vancouver, and a Pacific Coast Cruise from Vancouver to San Diego
  • Mid-March to mid-May: Baja, Mexican Riviera, and Pacific Coast cruises from San Diego
  • Mid-May to late-September: Alaska Cruises from Vancouver
  • Late-September to late-October: A Hawaiian cruise from Vancouver to Honolulu, followed by a South Pacific cruise from Honolulu to Brisbane
  • Late-October to end of year: Australia / New Zealand Cruises from Brisbane, Auckland, Melbourne, and Sydney

Here’s a look at the 2025 Disney Cruises onboard the Disney Wonder announced so far. Sail dates for September 23 and beyond have not yet been released.

  • January to mid-February: Australia / New Zealand Cruises from Sydney and Melbourne
  • Mid-February to early March: South Pacific cruise from Sydney to Honolulu, followed by a Hawaiian Cruise from Honolulu to Vancouver then a Pacific Coast Cruise from Vancouver to San Diego
  • Early March to early May: Baja, Mexican Riviera, and Pacific Coast Cruises from San Diego
  • Early May to late September: Alaska Cruises from Vancouver
  • Late September and beyond: Not yet released

Find a Cruise Near You and Secure the Best Possible Rate

Disney Wonder Deck-by-Deck

Here’s a look at what’s located on each deck of the Disney Wonder.

  • Health Center
  • Tender Lobbies (ship exit at ports of call)
  • Category 9D
  • Category 10C
  • Self-Service Laundry
  • Category 9B
  • Category 9C
  • Category 10B
  • Category 11C
  • Triton’s
  • Guest Services
  • Port Adventures Desk
  • Port Shopping Desk
  • Public Restrooms
  • Sea Treasures
  • Lobby Atrium
  • Walt Disney Theatre
  • Preludes Bar
  • Mickey’s Mainsail
  • Shutters Portrait Studio
  • Vacation Planning Desks
  • Vista Gallery
  • Atrium (overlook)
  • Buena Vista Theatre
  • “it’s a small world” nursery
  • Category 5C
  • Category 6A
  • Category 7A
  • Category 9A
  • Category 10A
  • Category 11B
  • Category 5B
  • Category 11A
  • Category 5A
  • Category 1A
  • Category 1B
  • Category 2A
  • Category 2B
  • Category 3A
  • Category 4A
  • Category 4B
  • Category 4E
  • Funnel Vision
  • Goofy’s Family Pool
  • Mickey’s Splash Zone
  • Pool Deck Stage
  • Quiet Cove Adult Pool
  • Whirlpool Spas
  • Daisy’s De-Lites
  • Pete’s Boiler Bites
  • Sulley’s Sips
  • Pinocchio’s Pizzeria
  • Fitness Area
  • Rainforest Room
  • Twist ‘n’ Spout
  • Wide World of Sports Deck
  • Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
  • Concierge Lounge
  • Concierge Sun Deck

Disney Wonder Fact Sheet

Shipyard (ship’s birthplace).

Fincantieri – Marghera & Ancona, Italy

Maiden voyage

August 15, 1999

Varies by time of year — see Itineraries & Ports above

Ship’s Registry

Approximately 84,000 gross tons

21.5 knots cruising speed

24 knots maximum speed

Diesel-based electric

Crew Members

Maximum capacity.

2,713 passengers

875 staterooms

  • 384 verandah staterooms (includes 22 suites)
  • 229 oceanview staterooms
  • 262 inside staterooms (30%)

How To Book a Cruise on the Disney Wonder

There are many ways to book Disney Cruise Line vacations , but we believe the best way to make your reservation onboard the Disney Wonder (or any other Disney Cruise ship ) is to work with a Disney Cruise expert at our official travel agency partners at The Vacationeer .

As an Earmarked Diamond level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner , The Vacationeer offers free help planning and booking your Disney Cruise . Their agents can help pick the best Disney Cruise Ship for your kids and discuss the differences between a Disney Cruise and other cruise lines such as Norwegian , Royal Caribbean , Princess , and Carnival (they book those, too!).

Your cruise won’t cost any more than if you’d booked it yourself — and it might even cost less ! Why? One of the many reasons to book with a Disney travel agent is their excellent knowledge of all the latest discounts and ways to save money.

Speaking of saving money — The Vacationeer offers Onboard Credit . That’s free spending money toward purchases you make while you’re on the ship: spa treatments, souvenirs, shore excursions , specialty dining, even gratuities! Booking through The Vacationeer can earn you up to $1,000 in onboard credit .

And finally, there’s the personalized service . When you book through The Vacationeer , you’ll have a single, dedicated agent who’ll handle your cruise arrangements from start to finish . Imagine — never having to wait on hold to speak to yet another agent in a giant call center!

So what’re you waiting for? The Disney Wonder is waiting to take you on the cruise of your dreams — and Vacationeers are ready to help make it a reality!

Related Posts:

A Disney Wish Verandah Stateroom

Share This Page: Choose Your Platform!

About the author: jackie steele.

disney wonder cruise director

Related Posts

What New Disney Cruise Ships Are Being Built?

One Comment

disney wonder cruise director

Your right about the smaller ships. My husband and I had only sailed on the Magic & Wonder but finally tried the Dream two weeks ago. It was a pretty boat but much bigger than we were used to. It certainly reminded us we’re getting older lol. I think we’ll stick with the Magic once it comes back to Florida next year.

Leave A Comment Cancel reply

The DIS Disney Discussion Forums - DISboards.com

  • Search forums
  • Save up to 30% on Hotel Rooms at Walt Disney World This Summer & Fall!
  • Disney Cruise Line
  • Disney Cruise Line Forum

Current cruise directors

  • Thread starter Billybob7
  • Start date Nov 13, 2021

Mouseketeer

  • Nov 13, 2021

Does anyone know who the current cruise directors are on the various ships? thank you.  

starry_solo

starry_solo

Dis veteran.

Ashley Long on the Disney Dream  

starry_solo said: Ashley Long on the Disney Dream Click to expand...

iannovich

Trent on the Disney Wonder  

Fruto76

Stephen on the Magic (Anthony was Assistant)  

<font color=deeppink>Goofylover<br><font color=tea

Leslie on Fantasy  

Sounds like that's all 4. I don't think we know who will be on the Disney Wish, or do we?  

dcassetta

lwilliam said: Leslie on Fantasy Click to expand...
dcassetta said: Others reported it was Carly. Did you sail recently? Click to expand...

TBLaube

Sailors belong at Sea

  • Nov 14, 2021
starry_solo said: Sounds like that's all 4. I don't think we know who will be on the Disney Wish, or do we? Click to expand...
Kwami said: Well, they do change every now and then. Jim was on the Dream in September, for instance. Click to expand...
TBLaube said: Leslie was on the Oct 24-30 cruise. Click to expand...

Did a b2b on the Dream in September, we had Jimmy the first leg, and another cruise director the 2nd leg, dont remember name but is was a female (wasn't Carly had her a few years back) also had an assistant cruise director the 2md leg.  

TestingH2O

KMack said: After her outstanding performance on the Disney Wonder when we were stuck at sea on the Disney Wonder at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, she deserves it. She and Mike “Boy Band” Gibbons were absolutely amazing in the most trying of circumstance. I would sail on the Wish if for no other reason but to sail with her again. Click to expand...
TestingH2O said: I second all of this. I haven’t heard anything about Mike being back on the ships yet. Or Deano. That whole staff was outstanding. Click to expand...
KMack said: I believe Ashley will be moving to the Wish. After her outstanding performance on the Disney Wonder when we were stuck at sea at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, she deserves it. She and Mike “Boy Band” Gibbons were absolutely amazing in the most trying of circumstance. I would sail on the Wish if for no other reason but to sail with her again. Click to expand...
  • Nov 15, 2021
starry_solo said: How long were you stuck at sea? I was wondering about that. There were cruise ships stuck out of CA for a while. Click to expand...
KMack said: I can honestly say that I have never watched the Cruise Directors morning broadcast on any of my cruises… but on the WBPC, it became MUST SEE TV every morning. It was too funny. The day that Ashley was all business in uniform above the waist but was still in her pyjama pants when the cameras cut away was hysterical… it was the perfect precursor to the world of work from home with MS Teams meetings. Click to expand...
TestingH2O said: We always watch the morning show, but these were definitely some of the best ever. The weather report and word of the day were both great bits. I had forgotten about the pj’s! Thanks for the smile. Click to expand...

Share this page

Dis news & updates.

  • New Flavors Arrive at Salt & Straw in Disney Springs
  • New Star Tours Merch Available at Disney's Hollywood Studios!
  • Tiana's Foods Delivery Truck Arrives in Magic Kingdom
  • Save up to 30% on Hotel Rooms at Walt Disney World This Summer & Fall
  • New 'it's a small world' 2024 Dooney and Bourke Collection

New DISboards Threads

  • Yesterday at 11:59 PM
  • DVC Resorts

Chili327

  • Yesterday at 10:48 PM
  • DVC Member Services

Ruttangel

  • Yesterday at 10:23 PM
  • Budget Board
  • Yesterday at 10:12 PM

BaymaxFan78

  • BaymaxFan78
  • Yesterday at 9:53 PM
  • Camping at Disney World

GinnyBear's_mom

  • peacefrogdog
  • Yesterday at 8:39 PM
  • Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure Forums

disney wonder cruise director

  • Walt Disney World News
  • Walt Disney World Articles
  • Disney Cruise Line News
  • Disneyland News
  • General Disney News

GET UP TO A $1000 SHIPBOARD CREDIT AND AN EXCLUSIVE GIFT!

disney wonder cruise director

Latest posts

Meriweather

  • Latest: Meriweather
  • A moment ago
  • 1 minute ago

chaoslobster

  • Latest: chaoslobster
  • 3 minutes ago

imbelle

  • Latest: imbelle
  • 9 minutes ago
  • 11 minutes ago

out and about with kids logo c

  • Australian Capital Territory
  • New South Wales
  • Northern Territory
  • South Australia
  • Western Australia
  • Middle East
  • South & Central America
  • South Pacific
  • United States of America
  • Baby & Toddler Travel
  • Caravan & Camping
  • Snow & Ski
  • Theme Parks
  • Water Parks
  • Wine Regions
  • Holiday Parks
  • Hotel & Resorts
  • Self-Contained

Disney Wonder review: Why Australia’s first Disney cruise is ‘Magic at Sea’ for kids

Angela saurine.

  • March 5, 2024

OAWK » Holiday Ideas » Cruising » Disney Wonder review: Why Australia’s first Disney cruise is ‘Magic at Sea’ for kids

Want to know what it’s like to cruise on the first Disney ship to come to Australia? Angela Saurine set sail with five-year-old Oliver to bring you all the details

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in front of the funnel on the Disney Wonder © Disney Cruise Line

We’re standing on the deck of the Disney Wonder just off Australia’s east coast when we hear the news – the ship is under attack! Evil villains have boarded the vessel and are attempting to steal the latest Stark Industries technology entrepreneur Tony Stark is unveiling at a special event on board. Fortunately Stark, dressed in his Iron Man armour, and his superhero pals are on hand to save the day. 

Angela and Oliver ready to board the Disney Wonder in Brisbane

An epic battle ensues, with a dazzling display of stunts, special effects and fireworks. At one point we hear a noise and gaze up to see Spider-Man making a spectacular entrance, ziplining across the deck above us. Marvel favourites Thor, Captain America and Black Widow soon join in the action, fighting Red Skull and Loki. With my superhero-obsessed five-year-old son Oliver sitting on my shoulders so he can see over the crowd, I am unable to see his reaction, but I can only imagine it is one of awe.

Marvel meets Mickey on this family-focused cruise

The Marvel Heroes Unite Show © Disney Cruise Line

To the uninitiated, it may seem strange to have the Marvel Cinematic Universe come to life on a Disney ship, with the company traditionally associated with more clean-cut characters such as Mickey Mouse and Tinkerbell. But since Walt Disney Company bought Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion in 2009 , the franchise has been successfully incorporated throughout Disney theme parks and cruise ships, as we learn throughout our three-day “cruise to nowhere”. 

A wave of superhero fervour has transformed Disney properties around the globe. Avengers Campus themed lands now draw families to Anaheim’s Disney California Adventure Park and Disneyland Paris, which also boasts a four-star Marvel-themed hotel .

Spider Man ziplining across the deck in the Marvel Heroes Unite Show on Disney Cruise Line © Matt Stroshane

When the Walt Disney Company dedicated a month of its Disney100 anniversary to celebrating “the Season of Super Heroes”, the writing was on the wall: Marvel is here to stay as part of Disney’s imaginative brand. Nowhere is this more apparent than on Disney Cruise Line’s five ships, where favourite heroes (and villains) feature heavily in decor, dining and entertainment offerings. 

But there are still plenty of quintessential Disney cruise experiences on offer as well, from meet and greets with Disney princesses to classic Disney films playing on a large screen above the pool throughout the day.

Departing with Mickey’s Sail-A-Wave party

Before we board, excitement outside Brisbane International Cruise Terminal is at fever pitch, with families dressed in matching Mickey Mouse shirts pulling Mickey Mouse suitcases, girls wearing tiaras and boys in Spider-Man suits. Once we’ve checked out our cabin, which is decorated with historic character sketches, Mickey Mouse lampshades and has a pull-down bunk bed underneath a starry roof, things kick off with a high-energy Mickey’s Sail-A-Wave party. 

Everyone gathers on deck to boogie with the famous mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy et al. Parents get into the spirit with their arms in the air clapping and dancing Nutbush-style routines to the instruction of the professional dancers, before the ship’s horn blows to the timeless tune of When You Wish Upon a Star. “This is the best holiday ever,” Oliver declares after just a few hours on board.

Angela and Oliver at the Sail A Wave deck party on the Disney Wonder

Many Australian itineraries have no port days, including all two and three-night trips, so the ship’s immersive experiences take centre stage. Some longer cruises have at least one port day in Hobart, Sydney or the Sapphire Coast town of Eden .

The 2024-2025 season adds the first South Pacific island cruise: a round-trip from Sydney to  Nouméa, New Caledonia. Only one day of the six-night voyage is spent on-shore, though – and that makes perfect sense. Storytelling magic and timeless branding are the drawcard here, unique from all other family-friendly cruise lines in Australia .

Restaurants on Disney Wonder’s Australian sailing

Tiana's Place © Disney Cruise Line

The first night we dine at New Orleans-inspired Tiana’s Place , where we are entertained with a supper club-style show starring none other than Princess Tiana, of The Princess and the Frog fame. The menu includes southern delights such as sautéed shrimp and grits, creole chicken and buttermilk beignet. By the end of their night, everyone is up on their feet doing a conga line through the restaurant as the band plays Going Down the Bayou. 

Passengers are rotated through the three themed restaurants on board each night, with the same waitstaff coming along. “You’re stuck with us — there’s no escape,” jokes our head server Dussell, who also entertains the kids with magic tricks between courses. “That guy’s funny!” Oliver cries.

Animator's Palate on the Disney Wonder © Disney Cruise Line Jimmy DeFlippo

The next night we dine at Triton’s restaurant , an upscale noshery named after the Little Mermaid’s father. But the most impressive experience is Animator’s Palate , where characters we draw on paper placemats when we arrive magically come to life on large screens that line the walls of the restaurant after our meal. Honestly, how do they do that?

Of course, there’s also a buffet restaurant offering everything from Mickey Mouse waffles to eggs benny at breakfast, and from prawns to roasts for lunch, as well as Pinocchio’s Pizzeria by the pool and Pete’s Boiler Bites , serving burgers, hot dogs and tacos. Kids also line up for free soft-serve ice-cream throughout the day at Eye Scream Treats . 

While most meals are included, you can also splash out on brunch or dinner at the adults-only Italian restaurant Palo at the front of the ship while the youngins are in kids’ club.

Oliver loved the Mickey Mouse waffles

Disney Wonder kids’ clubs

There are several kids’ clubs on board, catering to different ages. In the Oceaneer Club , children aged three to 10 can see an array of Marvel paraphernalia, including Captain America’s shield, Spider-Man’s web shooters and Ant-Man’s helmet. Captain America’s alter ego, Steve Rogers, even pops by occasionally to teach little ones the basics of the job. There’s also a Toy Story-inspired play area known as Andy’s Room, and an enchanting recreation of Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post from Frozen. 

Oliver in Andy's Room on Disney's Oceaneer Club

The adjoining Oceaneers Lab , which caters for children of the same age, has a more adventurous focus, with maps of the world, craft and animation studios, as well as video games. Kids wear electronic wristbands connected to sensors on the roof, so staff know where they are at all times, and wash their hands in state-of-the-art machines before they enter and exit.

It’s A Small World Nursery caters for babies aged from six months up to three-year-olds, at an extra cost. There’s also the Edge tween club for 11 to 14-year-olds offering such things as dance parties and karaoke, and teens club Vibe for ages 14 to 17, with bean bags, board games and arcade games.

Entertainment on the Disney Wonder

Frozen, a Musical Spectacular © Disney Cruise Line

There are so many things to do on board the Disney Wonder that it doesn’t really matter that there are no port visits on our cruise. Every day there’s a schedule of activities such as trivia, bingo and karaoke in various lounges, while the Buena Vista Theatre shows both classic and new Disney movies. And when Oliver needs some downtime, we retreat to our cabin to watch cartoons on the Disney Channel. 

But my favourite aspect of the experience is the stage shows performed in the Walt Disney Theatre after dinner each evening. I’ve been a fan of musicals since my dad bought me tickets to Guys and Dolls as a birthday present when I was a little girl, so it’s lovely to be able to introduce Oliver to them at a young age in a family-friendly environment.

The Disney Dreams show on the Disney Wonder © Disney Cruise Line

The shows on board include Frozen, A Musical Spectacular; The Golden Mickeys, which is like a Disney version of the Oscars, and the award-winning Disney Dreams, which features hits from movies such as Aladdin, Beauty & the Beast and The Lion King. We quickly learn it’s best to get there at least half an hour before showtime to get a seat up the front, to be in the best position possible to enjoy where bubbles and other surprises falls from the ceiling.

Verdict: Disney Wonder is truly ‘Magic at Sea’

Oliver with his Mickey Mouse toy in the Stateroom on board Disney Wonder

It’s no wonder there’s been such a positive response to Disney Cruise Line’s arrival Down Under in late 2023, following years of planning. “It’s been unbelievable,” cruise director Jimmy Lynett says. “A lot of the crew were taken aback by how Australians came on board with Mickey ears and how they’ve been decorating the cabin doors. Everybody has been blown away with what we do entertainment wise. People say, ‘I can’t believe we are on a cruise ship with the level of entertainment we’re getting’.”

It’s fair to say that, when it comes to cruising, Oliver is spoiled for life — or at least for the rest of his childhood.

All about Disney Wonder cruises in Australia

AquaLab © Disney Cruise Line

Dreaming of a magical adventure at sea? Here’s what you need to know about Disney cruises Down Under:

When is Disney Wonder sailing from Australia?

Disney Wonder will be sailing from Australia and New Zealand from October to February, with a range of short cruises from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland. The ship is based in America for the rest of the year.

Where do Disney cruises go in Australia?

Itineraries for the 2024-2025 season include round trips from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland, and one-way trips between these cities, some of which have a port day. There’s also the first South Pacific cruise: a round trip from Sydney to New Caledonia. 

How long are Disney cruises in Australia?

Disney Wonder cruises in Australia and New Zealand are two to seven nights long. The shortest itineraries are two and three-night round trips without any stops. The longest is a seven-day round-trip cruise from Melbourne, with port days in Eden, Sydney and Hobart, Tasmania .

What age is a Disney cruise best for?

Oliver with Goofy on the Disney Wonder

Kids between four and ten will get the most from a Disney Cruise — they’re the perfect age to be swept away by the immersive themed experiences on board, and old enough to participate in most activities. There’s still something for all ages on the Disney Wonder, though. Tweens and teens have their own clubs, and It’s A Small World Nursery cares for littlies under three. Adults-only venues include Palo restaurant, Quiet Cove Pool, and three themed bars. 

What’s included in a Disney cruise (and what’s not?)

Most meals are included —  that’s buffet meals and most breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Alcohol and adults-only dining options are an additional cost. Be aware that prices on board are in US dollars, so if you splash out on a few cocktails it might hurt when you get your bill at the end of the cruise.

Do you need a passport for a Disney cruise in Australia?

The Disney Wonder cruise ship at sea © Disney Cruise Line

For cruises within Australia, passports aren’t required, but they’re strongly recommended by Disney Cruise Lines . All guests do need “valid government-issued proof of citizenship” which can be a passport or photo ID. A government-issued birth certificate is accepted for kids 17 and under (original or copy).

All guests sailing to New Zealand or New Caledonia do need a passport, including children. You may also need a visa for New Caledonia , and if you’re not an Australian citizen, a NZeTA or visa for New Zealand. 

Passports need to be valid for at least six months after sailing ends. Be sure to check expiry dates and make applications well ahead of time, especially because a child’s first passport tends to take longer . 

Note that requirements may change, so be sure to confirm all travel documentation needs with Disney Cruise Lines directly .

Where to book an Australian Disney Cruise

Bookings are available for 2024 and 2025 sailings from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland. 

Tip: Keep an eye out for deals offering savings of up to 30 per cent off on select voyages on Disney Cruise Line’s website, or take advantage of Klook’s best price guarantee.

  • Icon of the Seas: what it’s really like on the world’s largest cruise ship
  • Dreams come true on a Florida Disney Wish cruise
  • 8 incredible Carnival Cruise destinations for families  

Angela Saurine

Family holidays in the Maldives: Resorts, reefs and relaxation

There’s more to the Maldives than most people know. Here’s why parents (and kids) are loving this tropical island destination.

An aerial view of BIG4 Easts Beach Holiday Park in Kiama © NEG photography

Best New South Wales family holiday parks for 2024

The votes are in! Find out which NSW holiday parks are the best for families, according to the annual ‘Out & About with Kids’ Readers Choice Awards.

A dog on the beach at Burleigh Heads © Destination Gold Coast

Dog-friendly Gold Coast: Best beaches, stays, cafes and more

Bringing your fur baby to the Gold Coast? From dog-friendly accommodation to off-leash beaches, cafes and markets, these places are pawsome for pets!

Latest Stories

Aquascene Charters Nelly Bay

17 Australian islands that are kid-friendly

Kids playing at NRMA Parks and Resorts © NRMA Parks and Resorts

Book Your School Holiday Escape and Save 10% at NRMA Parks and Resorts

The Icon of the Seas cruise ship © Royal Caribbean

An Aussie mum reviews Icon of the Seas: The world’s largest cruise ship

Nyhavn, Copenhagen

Copenhagen, Denmark: 11 Fantastic Things to Do with Kids

out and about with kids logo c

Privacy Policy

Holiday Ideas

Accommodation

Our team would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. We acknowledge that the sharing of knowledge has occurred across the lands and waterways of Australia for many thousands of years. As we continue to share stories we try to listen to the knowledge and practice that has always existed here and consider how we can contribute to the preservation of culture and Country wherever we live and work.

Elwin Media has financial relationships with some of the brands and companies mentioned on this website. We also use affiliate links to external websites. If used by the reader to purchase a service, product, accommodation, or any other item, we will receive a monetary reward at no extra cost to you, the purchaser. Read more about our policy here .

disney wonder cruise director

Smooth sailing on a family Disney cruise: Review of Concierge level on the Disney Wonder

Summer Hull

Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

Cruising with Disney , it seems, is even more fun the second time around -- especially with an upgrade to more spiffy quarters.

Almost a year ago, we had a successful sailing on the Disney Dream out of Florida, so we booked another Disney cruise to start 2020. This time we only needed a two-hour drive from home in Houston to hop aboard the ship in the Port of Galveston. No airplanes were involved on our journey across the sea to Mexico on the Disney Wonder, one of the two original ships in Disney's fleet. I can't overstate how fantastic it was to just drive to the port, board a ship and go. No TSA 3.4-ounce limits on liquids or the five-hour flight delays that had plagued our last few trips.

The Disney Wonder is noticeably smaller than the Disney Dream we sailed on previously. The Wonder has 875 cabins and room for up to 2,700 passengers, as opposed to the larger Dream's 1,250 staterooms and capacity for up to 4,000 guests. I was curious as to whether the smaller, older Disney ship would feel like a lesser experience.

disney wonder cruise director

For this cruise, we splurged on the Disney Concierge level in the hope of eliminating some of the disappointments of our first Disney cruise. To say I was excited for our trip is a dramatic understatement, and the experience largely lived up to my highest expectations.

FOR NO COST ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR NEXT DISNEY VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG'S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS .

Disney cruises are expensive and there aren't many ways to use points for booking, although you can certainly earn a ton of points by booking with the right credit card.

You can earn 3x points per dollar by putting the travel charge on your Chase Sapphire Reserve, which I did.

To use points on a Disney cruise, the easiest way is to make payments with a card that has fixed-value points you can use for travel . This includes the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (currently with a bonus of 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. (worth $750 in travel). Here are some additional tips for using points when booking a cruise .

Although deals and redemptions are scarce, you can purchase Disney gift cards at a discount and then use them toward your cruise. It won't cut the price in half, but you can save 5-10%, depending on available offers and how hard you work on stacking them.

Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises

If you have the Disney Visa , you can save on board with discounts on spa treatments, Castaway Cay packages and photo packages. You can also get a promotional 0% introductory APR for six months on select Disney vacation packages from the date of purchase charged to the card (then a variable APR of 19.24% to 28.24% applies), if you need a little breathing room to pay off all that shrimp and magic. However, in terms of earning or using points, the Disney Visa isn't actually the best card out there, even for a Disney cruise.

disney wonder cruise director

On our first Disney cruise, my family of four booked two connecting staterooms to meet our needs for sufficient sleeping quarters and living space. Two cabins aren't necessary for a family of four sailing on Disney, but they were necessary for my family's sanity. We don't sleep well crammed into one small area. On this cruise, my mom came to experience her first cruise while my husband took a different trip with his dad.

We wanted to try another approach to accommodations, so we booked a one-bedroom suite instead of two staterooms. To be clear, two staterooms on Disney are almost always going to be less expensive than a one-bedroom suite. We went this route, in part, to try out Concierge level.

For more TPG news and travel tips delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our free daily newsletter .

We've become fans of the website CruiseCompete. This site allows cruise shoppers to select the cruise that interests them and then travel agents "compete" for their business by submitting quotes via email. The base sailing price is typically the same from all sources, including Disney, but the perks and bonuses can and do vary. Our best offer was via Cruise Vacation Outlet. They offer a stateroom credit based on the cost of your cruise, which for us amounted to $750 in an onboard credit. The cruise was pricey -- very pricey -- but that's $750 we wouldn't have gotten if we'd booked directly with Disney.

Looking at prices for a similar four-night cruise from Galveston to Cozumel for next January, prices for a family of four start around $3,300 for an inside stateroom. A stateroom with a balcony starts at $3,800 and a Concierge-level stateroom starts at $5,700. A one-bedroom Concierge suite, like the one we booked, is pricing around $7,000 for the same itinerary next year -- which is about what we paid this year. These suites sleep four to five people, and are 614 square feet, including the balcony.

Related: Interesting way to save money on a Disney Cruise

disney wonder cruise director

Embarkation

We arrived in Galveston at 11 a.m. Both times I've cruised, I've been pretty confused about where to go, where to park, where to drop off the bags, etc. There are signs, but it is a little chaotic. Once we figured out where we were supposed to be, the magic began.

disney wonder cruise director

I dropped off the bags with Disney cruise tags that had been mailed to us after booking. (Our bags later appeared in the hall outside our stateroom a few hours after boarding.) I also dropped off my kids and Grandma so they didn't have to do the parking lot/shuttle shuffle with me. The nearest open parking lot in Galveston was not within reasonable walking distance of the ship, unlike when sailing Disney from Port Canaveral. After a quick trip back from the parking lot and paying $55 to park for four nights, we were all back together and ready to walk into the terminal. Note that not all parking lots at the Galveston Port Terminal accept guests sailing on Disney, so the official lot is probably your best bet.

disney wonder cruise director

Inside the terminal, guests are guided by cheerful employees wearing big white Mickey Mouse gloves. You go through a security check reminiscent of an airport, but with shorter lines and fewer restrictions.

Next up is the Disney Cruise Line check-in desk. This is where our Concierge perks kicked in. We were able to walk right up to a special section with no wait.

Related: What to pack for your first cruise

disney wonder cruise director

Our passports were checked again and we were given our "keys to the world." These keycards serve as room keys and ship IDs. They also provide kids club access and charging privileges on the ship. You don't have to wear them on a lanyard around your neck, but it's the easiest way to keep track of them. It wasn't until the end of the cruise that I realized our gold-colored cards meant Concierge level. This made them easy to spot by the crew as most of the keys are blue.

Once we were through all the formalities, we had a brief wait. The waiting areas aren't fancy, though Concierge guests do have their own area and can board first -- just after the Disney-selected "family of the day."

disney wonder cruise director

My family was the third to board the ship, at 11:45 a.m. This was hours earlier than we were able to board on our first Disney cruise . I think my mom was overwhelmed with excitement and about ready to cry, which was pretty awesome. She grew up near the water on the Gulf Coast, watching ships her whole life, but this was her first time to step foot on anything larger than a car ferry.

disney wonder cruise director

All families are greeted by name as they board a Disney cruise. We were immediately invited to have lunch in Tiana's restaurant, which was reserved for Concierge guests for this meal. However, we had other plans.

On our first Disney cruise, there was almost always a long line for the waterslide and the pools were crowded, so our goal was to enjoy those amenities first thing before the ship was full of more than 2,000 guests.

disney wonder cruise director

One quick stop for snacks in the Concierge lounge later, the girls changed into their swimsuits (kept in our carry-on bags) and away we went to start the fun.

Much more on the pools and slide later, but the plan worked. My two girls enjoyed the water features on this sailing for at least an hour and we didn't see another guest during that time.

disney wonder cruise director

Laugh if you want, but it was my turn to tear up when I saw our suite: Number 8048.

Regular Disney staterooms are more than fine (and we will probably opt for them when we are lucky enough to cruise with Disney), but the suite was special. Seeing it brought together months of anticipation about the voyage. Square footage is at a serious premium on a cruise ship, so to have two full rooms, two bathrooms and some extra nooks and crannies was really, really cool.

disney wonder cruise director

When you enter the suite, there is a bathroom with a toilet and shower immediately to your right.

On the left is a good-sized row of closets, drawers and shelves. This provides storage when the living portion becomes a bedroom.

disney wonder cruise director

Past the entry hallway, there is a dining table for four and wet bar with a minibar underneath stocked with soda and water. These are all included, so drink up. You can also refill it as much as you'd like from the large fridge in the Concierge lounge.

disney wonder cruise director

The couch was transformed into a bed each evening by the stateroom staff. They do their best to meet with you on the first day to find out what you prefer for sleeping arrangements.

disney wonder cruise director

The living room has its own balcony access and TV with Disney movies and shows on demand.

A sliding door separates the living area from the bedroom area. (The door was quite loud. Even in moderate seas, if you tried to shut it all the way, it banged in its tracks all night.)

disney wonder cruise director

The queen-size bed in the bedroom area was quite comfortable.There is room for luggage to be stored underneath. (Though that's not how I store luggage anymore .)

disney wonder cruise director

A twin-size bed is against the wall across from the TV and next to the queen bed.

disney wonder cruise director

Pro tip: You can ask your stateroom hosts to provide cartoon sheets for the twin-size beds.

disney wonder cruise director

Rounding out the bedroom is another door that opens onto the large veranda and a second TV.

Between the bedroom and the main bathroom area is a small, but extremely functional, desk area next to the main closet. We used this to store and charge all the electronics. It really helped keep the whole family's smaller items organized.

disney wonder cruise director

Finally, there is the master bathroom. The bath area off of the master bedroom features a full-size tub and vanity.

disney wonder cruise director

The shower and toilet occupy separate spaces in another section.

disney wonder cruise director

Bath amenities are provided in large bottles of the Disney's H2O+ line that you could move from the shower to the bathtub, as needed.

You can't talk about the stateroom without talking about the great stateroom hosts. They cleaned the room and put away the extra beds each morning. Then, while we were out to dinner and a show, they magically transformed it back into a clean, calm space for sleeping. Only once during the cruise did they accidentally try to work their magic while we were in the room -- and that was our fault because we changed dining times at the last minute so we could take a nap.

disney wonder cruise director

Overall, this space worked well for our party of four, but it is worth noting that on Deck 8 we heard a fair amount of noise at times, mostly from kids running on the outdoor Deck 9 area above. We were also able to hear when a young child in the room next to ours was crying, which thankfully was only a passing issue at times.

Ports of call

Our four-night itinerary on the Disney Wonder was:

  • Galveston, Texas
  • Cozumel, Mexico
  • Return to Galveston

disney wonder cruise director

Our only true port of call was Cozumel, which I was excited to see. I love much of the beautiful Cancun/Playa del Carmen area but hadn't been to Cozumel.

Day 1: Galveston

We spent the first few hours on the ship playing in the pool, eventually enjoying the Concierge lunch in Tiana's, registering in the kid's clubs and exploring. Around 4 p.m. it was time for the fun to officially begin with the "Sail Away" party.

While my mom went to the front of the ship to watch us pull away from the dock, an important moment for her, the girls and I went to a singing, dancing, laughing character-fueled party on deck.

disney wonder cruise director

I highly recommend this show; it was a ton of pumped-up fun. We missed it on our first cruise, in part because we just hadn't fully settled into the ship yet.

disney wonder cruise director

Drinks are for sale everywhere on deck leading up to this party, if you want to raise a glass to the start of your vacation.

disney wonder cruise director

Day 2: At sea

If you follow our adventures, you may already know that my youngest daughter and I both are prone to motion sickness . We were both mostly unfazed by our first Disney cruise, but not this time.

On our first full day at sea, I felt like drunk death for the first half of the day despite being 100% sober. My youngest daughter didn't feel great either. The captain described the sea as moderate in his daily announcements, but when pool water doesn't stay in the pool because the waves are so big, I call it more than moderately yucky. The remedy was some time on deck and Dramamine.

disney wonder cruise director

With our sea legs a bit sturdier, it was time to meet some characters and take in a movie. On a Disney cruise, some characters (like the princesses) require advance free reservations, while others are available for walk-up meet-and-greets.

disney wonder cruise director

The classic princesses gather in the ship's main atrium while the Frozen princesses gather in a transformed Animator's Palate.

disney wonder cruise director

To see characters for whom you don't have reservations, you can beat the lines by having one adult stand near where the character's published appearance is (arrive 10-15 minutes early) and hold the place for the rest of the family to join.

disney wonder cruise director

Day 3: Cozumel

Using some of the $750 stateroom credit, I booked a port excursion through Disney that included three stops during our one port day in Mexico: Mayan ruins, Mayan chocolate and Playa Mia Beach Club. It was $55 for kids, $69 for adults and sounded great since it had a little bit of everything.

We met our group at 10:15 a.m. and left the ship with them by 10:30 a.m. The tour operator took the group on a 30-minute bus ride to the Mayan ruins.

disney wonder cruise director

There was plenty to see to entertain impatient children for an hour, but our tour guide did more talking in one or two spots than really guiding the group to explore the area. About halfway through our time, we peeled off from the main group so we could see more of the area, which was wise given our interests.

disney wonder cruise director

Next up was a 30- to 40-minute drive to the location of the chocolate and beach break. The chocolate was very good with many varieties available for tasting in the gift shop. My favorite part was a sample of homemade corn tortillas with mole sauce -- I wish there had been more opportunities like that on the tour.

disney wonder cruise director

Finally, after spending about $40 for chocolate bars to take home, we had 90 minutes at the Playa Mia Beach Club. Lunch was not included in our package, but it was close to 2 p.m. and we were hungry. By this point in the afternoon, the buffet looked less than great to me, so we ordered off the menu. The food was served in an area that could hold hundreds of people at one time and it wasn't great (the margarita was undrinkable and awful), but we survived.

disney wonder cruise director

The last hour of the excursion was spent in the pools and on the beach. We didn't fully explore the waterpark area, and the beach was less than glamorous.

disney wonder cruise director

I didn't love the way we spent our time on Cozumel. I didn't hate it either, but there probably are better beaches and much better food in the area. Our tour returned to the ship about 15 minutes before the all-aboard time, so almost as soon as we were back on the ship, we were pulling away from Cozumel.

disney wonder cruise director

Pirate Night is held aboard ship during the evening after spending the day in Mexico, making for a pretty full day. So full that we begged to change our dinner to the late dinner so we could work in a nap before the nighttime fun.

disney wonder cruise director

You want to go all-in on Pirate Night. Trust me, your kids will love it. The meals that evening are all pirate-themed, there are pirate games and then a big pirate show.

disney wonder cruise director

There's dancing, pirating, battling and eventually, a fireworks show. Full warning, though, this fun goes on way past normal bedtime, so plan ahead with naps.

disney wonder cruise director

Day 3: At sea

On the third day we spa-ed, saw another movie, did a tequila and margarita tasting and ate Mickey bars, lots of Mickey bars. We were legitimately on vacation.

disney wonder cruise director

The tequila and margarita tasting was in the Cadillac Bar and Lounge and wasn't quite what I had hoped for. It was much more tequila and much less margarita. Only go to this one if you are a fan of hard liquor, which I'm not.

disney wonder cruise director

Even if you are on a shorter cruise, be sure to devote a full day just to exploring the ship and enjoying movies and more. Other than the big-ish waves at first, I was thankful to have two sea days on this cruise; our first cruise had none.

disney wonder cruise director

You are paying a premium to cruise with Disney, so make the most out of what is included on the ship.

disney wonder cruise director

You don't actually have to get off the Disney ship at all to have a full family vacation. From basketball to pools and waterslides to shows to the spa to kids clubs and more -- there are tons and tons of amenities, most of which are included in your base sailing price.

Pools and slides

On the Disney Wonder, there are three main pool areas for guests. There's the adults-only pool, the main pool and a smaller kid-friendly pool nearest the waterslide and splash area. Children still in diapers are not permitted in the pools, but can go into the splash area with swim diapers.

disney wonder cruise director

Here's the thing: The pools are small and they aren't as useable as you might think. We headed straight for the pools as soon as we got onboard this time around to avoid the crowds we experienced on our first Disney cruise. That strategy worked great, and indeed that first hour was the only hour we spent in the pools on our cruise. I won't post the photo of what it looks like when 15 people are in one hot tub, but you can imagine it for yourself.

disney wonder cruise director

Not only did the pools and slide get much busier at times, but on our first full day at sea, the water essentially sloshed out of most of the pools because it was so choppy. As shown below, the waterslide was still open on that sea day, but the line stretched all the way down the stairs.

disney wonder cruise director

Only one person at a time can go down the slide and you must be 38 inches or taller. My 4-year-old was tall enough by several inches, but the solo-sliding requirement made her decide to stay in the splash zone.

disney wonder cruise director

The adult-pool area had lots of swimmers and hot-tubbers at some times but was generally less busy than the family areas.

disney wonder cruise director

There are four or five different kids clubs on the Disney Wonder, depending on how you count. The largest, busiest two clubs are the Disney Oceaneer Club and Lab -- designed for children ages 3-12.

disney wonder cruise director

The two clubs are on Deck 5 and are connected by a "secret" passageway. The clubs are free for kids in that age range, though they do need to be potty-trained and one-on-one care is not provided. These connected kids clubs have a slide, a video-game area, a Marvel-themed area, Andy's playroom area, craft areas, movies, games, activities and character visits.

disney wonder cruise director

Your child's exact location within the club is tracked with what looks like a Disney Magic Band, and you can check them in and out at will. The only time parents are allowed to actually hang out in this club is during designated open-house hours.

disney wonder cruise director

On our first cruise, my girls (then 3 and 9) had a blast in these clubs and begged to return together again and again. However, I made a strategic error this time.

disney wonder cruise director

The tween club, Edge, is for kids 11-14, but I made the mistake of discovering that 10-year-olds can go to Edge with parent approval. I gave that approval and then my 10-year-old never wanted to go back to the "little kid club." Ever. This created lots of heartache for my 4-year-old who felt left behind. As a result, kids club time for her was not nearly as easy a sell on this cruise.

disney wonder cruise director

My 10-year-old, however, never wanted to leave Edge; she enjoyed hanging with the "big kids." Note that Edge is a come-and-go space without a parental check-in process. We did have some issues with my daughter not being where I thought she would be courtesy of that newfound ship freedom.

Lesson learned: Perhaps you should hide the fact that 10-year-olds can visit Edge, especially if you have a younger child still in the main kids clubs.

disney wonder cruise director

For teens, there is also Vibe, for ages 14-17. Consider yourself warned: Once your kid gets a taste of the clubs for older children, they may want nothing to do with the more supervised clubs for the young ones.

disney wonder cruise director

There are two types of shows on the Disney Wonder, the nighttime Broadway-caliber shows and Disney movies. The nighttime shows are scheduled opposite your dining time. This means if you have early dinner, you go to the late show, and vice versa. Of course, you are free to mix this up by not going to your regular seating for dinner and instead ordering room service, going to a grab-and-go food station or the Cabanas buffet.

On our cruise, nighttime shows included "Golden Mickeys" and "Frozen" -- both of which are excellent.

disney wonder cruise director

The Walt Disney Theatre has open seating, so you should get there 15-20 minutes before shows start for better seats. But here's a problem for families: There's no way to enjoy meals in the regular dining rooms (which are very good), see the shows and get to bed at a reasonable hour.

Some pretty cool offerings, like Pirate Night, don't even start until 10 p.m. or later. This isn't a big deal the first day or two of the cruise, but by the end of the cruise, I saw full-scale meltdowns everywhere. I'd love to see more matinee showings of the nighttime shows so families can make the most of their cruise and still get kids to bed at reasonable times. This was offered once, with "Frozen," but typically those with early dinner times (like us) end up going to shows that don't start until 8:30 p.m.

disney wonder cruise director

One of my favorite things to do on a Disney cruise is see a movie. It feels luxurious to walk right in and enjoy a first-run movie. On this cruise they were showing movies such as "Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker," "Maleficent 2" and "Frozen 2." Those in Concierge level can pick up sodas in the lounge and free popcorn at the shop right outside the theater. Otherwise, a bucket of popcorn is about $3.50.

There are two movie theaters on the Disney Wonder and some of the showings are in 3-D.

disney wonder cruise director

The Senses Spa is located in the forward area of Deck 9 on the Disney Wonder, which means that parts of the spa -- like the salon area -- have some great unobstructed ocean views.

Although I've seen some discounts on the spa during port days in the past, I didn't notice any this time. However, we still had some of that stateroom credit to use, so we happily made a few spa appointments for the last full day of the cruise.

My 50-minute massage was, in short, exceptional. It's hard to judge a whole spa on one service, but it really was great.

disney wonder cruise director

The spa treatment room wasn't overly impressive, nor was the area where you change clothes and shower. In fact, there was a line for the two showers at one point. However, the treatment was good enough that I didn't care about the rest. A small warning: They will try to sell you products unless you make it clear you're not interested.

My mom and I also had shampoo/blow-dry appointments in the spa and we both enjoyed them.

If you want some relaxation without paying for full spa services, you can purchase access to the Rainforest area of the spa. During our cruise, it was $29 per day if you purchased access onboard. It is likely cheaper if you buy access online ahead of time. This will also protect you from a potential sell-out which wasn't an issue on this cruise, but can happen. You can also buy a multi-day pass if you want to make this a part of your daily cruising routine.

disney wonder cruise director

This tranquil room has heated stone loungers, aromatherapy steam and showers with different temperatures and pressures. But wait, there's more.

disney wonder cruise director

Since you're already at the spa, you can use the full-size showers in the spa dressing rooms to clean up instead of relying solely the smaller showers in your stateroom. Beware that there may be a wait for the changing-room showers as there are only two in the women's dressing area of the spa on the Disney Wonder. It is a solid option if you get claustrophobic and want a larger shower space.

Adult-only area

The spa isn't the only kid-free area on the Disney Wonder. You can also head to the Quiet Cove area located on Deck 9.

Here you'll find plenty of comfy lounge chairs, a main adult-only pool and two hot tubs.

disney wonder cruise director

There's also an adult coffee shop that transforms into a bar as the day goes on.

disney wonder cruise director

This is where you can get your cold brew fix each morning. If you plan to make multiple visits, pick up a frequent-sipper card that gives you a free specialty drink when you buy five on that particular cruise.

disney wonder cruise director

The beverages in this shop are sold for a fee, but the pastries in the display case are free.

disney wonder cruise director

Concierge lounge

I'm going to do a whole separate article on whether the Disney cruise Concierge level is worth it, so stay tuned for a deep dive into the service and access it conveys. But here's an overview of the lounge itself.

disney wonder cruise director

The Concierge lounge is open from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. and serves meals and snacks at the following times:

  • Continental breakfast (7 a.m.-10:15 a.m.)
  • Lunch snacks (11:00 a.m.-1:45 p.m.)
  • Afternoon offerings (2:45 p.m.-4:15 p.m.)
  • Dinner snacks (5:00 p.m.-8:15 p.m.)
  • Dessert (9:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.)

disney wonder cruise director

For breakfast in the lounge you will often find smoked salmon, diced fruit, muffins, pastries and these truly addictive Mickey-shaped cinnamon rolls. There's also a great coffee machine and sugar cubes shaped like Mickey's head.

disney wonder cruise director

At lunch you'll generally find wraps, small sandwiches and single-serve desserts.

disney wonder cruise director

In the evening, there are complimentary beverages from 5 p.m.-10 p.m. This is a big deal as alcohol is not routinely complimentary anywhere else on the ship. The bartender on our ship knew everyone's name by the second evening and was a true joy to see each night.

disney wonder cruise director

During the evening (and during the day on the first day of the cruise), you have your pick of wine, liquor and beer. Available brands include, Tito's, Bombay Sapphire, Crown Royal, 1800, Jack Daniel's, etc.

disney wonder cruise director

For evening snacks, there are small salads, cheese, bread and more.

disney wonder cruise director

Having complimentary wine in the evening in a private lounge is pretty great. You can get a glass to take to dinner or your stateroom too.

disney wonder cruise director

Second perhaps to the adult beverages, my favorite lounge offering was the stocked fridge -- which you can raid. This means you can have drinks on hand in your stateroom, to take on excursions and enjoy around the ship. There's bottled water, sparkling water, Coke products, juice and juice boxes. I didn't count how many drinks we consumed over the course of a four-night cruise, but a couple dozen is a fair estimate.

disney wonder cruise director

A cool event in the Concierge lounge was a special meet-and-greet with a surprise Disney character after the Cozumel port day. On our cruise, the special character was Stitch, but I believe it varies from cruise to cruise. There was a line to meet the character, but it was no more than five minutes while we were there.

disney wonder cruise director

In addition to the main indoor area, the Concierge lounge on the Disney Wonder has a private bathroom just outside the entrance, as well as an upper-deck outdoor area that overlooks the adult-pool area.

disney wonder cruise director

Food and beverage

Main restaurants.

The Disney Wonder has three main restaurants. These are included in your cruising price and your serving team rotates with you each night. For example, they remembered that my oldest daughter likes barbecue sauce with virtually everything and had it ready at subsequent meals.

The newest restaurant option on the Disney Wonder is Tiana's, a New Orleans-themed restaurant.

disney wonder cruise director

This restaurant is an absolute party. We enjoyed shrimp and grits, lobster salad, beignets and way too much fluffy bread.

disney wonder cruise director

But that's not even the best part. The best part is the live music, dancing and general merry-making that is the theme of this restaurant.

disney wonder cruise director

We missed the main meal in Animator's Palate as we dined at the adults-only Palo that night. We were able to enjoy Animator's Palate during Pirate Night, but it's not the same experience. Rumor has it that the restaurant transforms from black and white to color as the main meal goes on. We'll have to catch it next time.

disney wonder cruise director

We enjoyed Animator's Palate during the pirate-themed night with shrimp, crab cakes, noodles, jerk chicken with red beans and rice ... and the requisite kid meal: macaroni with chicken strips. Your kids can order whatever they want from the menu, but my 4-year-old happily stuck to a narrow list of options.

disney wonder cruise director

All the restaurants were good, but Triton's was probably my least favorite. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't as fun or themed as the others. If you want to skip one, this is it.

disney wonder cruise director

Still, we managed to eat our weight in seafood.

disney wonder cruise director

As you are ordering your courses, know that on a Disney cruise, included dessert is never more than a request away. In fact, the servers often insist you at least try it. And in that case, we all know calories don't count.

disney wonder cruise director

Quick service

There are a multitude of included quick-service dining options -- pizza, chicken fingers, burgers, hot dogs, chili bowls, ice cream, salads, gyros and more. Basically, no one will ever go hungry.

disney wonder cruise director

For lunch, we usually went to the Cabanas buffet which is open for three meals per day -- plus late into the night on Pirate Night. Cabanas has everything from chicken fingers to ham, stir-fry, seafood, salad, fruit, calamari and dozens of other selections.

disney wonder cruise director

Room service

I'm a sucker for room-service breakfast and thankfully it's included for all guests on a Disney cruise. The only catch is that the menu is continental. Donuts, muffins, beverages and cereal are no problem, but there's nothing hot (or particularly healthy) on the included menu.

disney wonder cruise director

However, a perk of Concierge level is that Concierge guests can order from the Triton's breakfast menu and have hot items delivered to the room. We ordered omelettes, Mickey waffles, bacon, sausage, yogurt parfaits, hashbrowns and more.

disney wonder cruise director

Note that although normal room service was always delivered during the time I selected on the door hanger the night before, our one special room-service order from Triton's took a long time to arrive. That may be a fluke, but budget at least an hour for delivery. Once it arrived, it was perfect.

disney wonder cruise director

Last, but far from least, ordering ice cream Mickey bars from room service is a must-do. There's no fee for this (other than an optional tip) -- so your kids may want to make this a part of your daily cruise routine. Our oldest daughter learned how to order the bars herself on our previous cruise ... and put those skills to use on this one. (Just be careful what you wear when eating a melting Mickey bar -- something in these bars is very hard to get out of clothes.)

disney wonder cruise director

There's no better meal on the Disney Wonder than Palo. This is an 18-an-up restaurant that requires reservations and costs an additional $40 per person. We couldn't get into Palo on our first cruise as Disney newbies because it was already booked by passengers who had access to advance reservations. First-time cruisers are at the bottom of the advance-booking food chain. But this time, Concierge-level access made it happen, and with the kids together in the kids club (at my insistence) my mom and I dined so well that we went into a legit food coma.

disney wonder cruise director

Our reservation was at sunset, a visual treat. People also dress up more here, which raised the ambience a notch or two over Pirate Night.

disney wonder cruise director

The service was out-of-this-world exceptional. And the food, well, I'll crave it forever.

disney wonder cruise director

Palo is an Italian-themed restaurant. On the menu you'll find everything from heirloom tomatoes and mozzarella to tableside antipasti to grilled lobster with pasta, to calamari to handmade gnocchi to scallops to the best meat on the ship (per the chef) -- the prime beef tenderloin.

disney wonder cruise director

Every bite was rich and succulent, but my favorites were the butternut squash agnolotti and chocolate souffle (both shown below). Once you pay your $40 fee, you can order away at no additional charge, which can be quite the bargain considering some items on the list. What a wonderful experience this was.

disney wonder cruise director

Finally, the ship has bars and an entire area devoted to adults, though kids can enter some of these spaces at times. Outside Tiana's restaurant is the French Quarter Lounge which has live music in the evenings. Kids were welcome here during our visit, though the area was never busy when we stopped by.

disney wonder cruise director

There's an English pub, Crown & Fin, that was lively during some football playoff games. There's typically a selection of complimentary bar food at the buffet in this pub.

disney wonder cruise director

Also in the "After Hours" portion of the ship is the previously mentioned Cadillac Lounge, where we did the tequila tasting. There is some fun live piano and jazz here in the (kid-free) evenings.

disney wonder cruise director

Overall impression

There's a lot to take in on a four-night Disney cruise. Nothing is perfect, but our sailing was pretty darn awesome. It was admittedly very expensive, even by Disney standards. However, it was worth it. We had no worries, my mom got to come with us and it has even piqued the interest of my dad and extended family now taking their first cruises . As for me, it makes me think even bigger when it comes to cruising. Alaska is now on my radar, though likely not in Disney Concierge level as that would probably cost as much as a small car.

The Disney Wonder is a perfectly sized ship. It was large enough to keep us entertained for multiple days, but small enough that my 10-year-old could navigate it pretty well by the second day. The elevators were laughably small (we logged many flights of stairs), but otherwise it didn't feel small in any way.

I wouldn't hesitate to return to the Disney Wonder for this or a longer sailing. The only thing that may get in my way is the temptation of booking a sailing on the all-new Disney Wish when it enters the fleet.

  • CruiseMapper
  • Disney Cruise Line

Disney Wonder

Disney Wonder cruise ship

Cruise line Disney Cruise Line

  • San Diego (California)
  • Sydney (NSW Australia)
  • Vancouver (BC Canada)
  • Melbourne (Victoria Australia)

Disney Wonder current position

Disney Wonder current location is at North America West Coast (coordinates 32.24371 N / -117.26840 W) cruising en route to Ensenada. The AIS position was reported 7 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Disney Wonder

Disney Wonder current cruise is 4 days, round-trip Baja Cruise From San Diego . Prices start from USD 2412 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 07 Apr, 2024 and ends on 11 Apr, 2024 .

Specifications of Disney Wonder

  •   Itineraries
  •   Review
  •   Wiki

Disney Wonder Itineraries

Disney wonder review, review of disney wonder.

The 1999-built MS Disney Wonder cruise ship is Walt Disney 's second liner with sistership Disney Magic (1998).

The vessel (IMO number 9126819) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 308457000) and registered in Nassau .

History - construction and ownership

DCL-Disney Cruise Line is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company (shipowner). The company was incorporated in 1996 as "Magical Cruise Company Ltd". Walt Disney also owns the Bahamian private island Castaway Cay (exclusive port of call - for Disney ships only) and an exclusive Cruise Terminal at Port Canaveral (Orlando Florida) . Disney cruises are marketed as "family vacations" and feature unique and exclusive activities, such as costumed Disney Characters, adults-only deck areas, dedicated facilities for teens, kids and infants-toddlers, signature (trademarked) shipboard facilities and activities, themed live entertainment.

MS Disney Wonder cruise ship

The 1750-passenger ship Disney Wonder caters mostly to families with small children, so the adults-only "quiet places" and entertainment areas are your special place to be if running and screaming little angels and devils are not your kinds of fun.

One of the best cruise ships for families with kids, the Disney ship Wonder features a classic 1930's ocean liner design - an elongated black hull and two bright red funnels. The Disney cruise ship Disney Wonder is mostly associated with its Art Nouveau decor, Disney characters all around, "Mickeys" everywhere, amazing onboard children's programs with age-proper activities, excellent service and really great family fun cruises for kids.

Probably the best thing about this Disney fleet mate is that the Disney Lines Wonder ship sails Alaska since 2011 - the newest Disney cruise ship destination with the best Disney deals on Alaska cruises and excursions.

The Disney ship Wonder was launched in 1999 to double company's passenger capacity with another set of nearly thousand of some of the best equipped, largest staterooms at sea. Like all Disney ships, the Disney Cruise Line Wonder ship's primary market is families with small kids (mostly younger than 8). Besides them, the Disney Wonder ship CLIENTELE consists also of an ever-growing number of honeymooners and travelers without kids, simply enjoying the oversized Disney ship accommodations, the adults-only areas, and all the Disney details - both on board and on Castaway Cay.

The Disney Wonder ship DRESS CODE is day resort casual (all ship areas) and evening cruise casual (no shorts-jeans-swimwear), for men pants and jackets (no ties), and summer dresses for women. One semi-formal night (the Captain's Reception), one formal night (not mandatory; most passengers don't participate in it) and one "Pirate Night" (people dress in pirate attire).

Disney Wonder TIPS are the US $12 PP per day (charged to passengers' onboard accounts automatically or pre-payed), given respectively to waiters $8 (dining room servers $4, assistant servers $3, head servers $1) and cabin stewards $4. Additionally, bar drinks and deck service areas have a 15% tipping added to your bill.

MS Disney Wonder cruise ship Panama Canal new locks transition

Decks and Cabins

Most Disney Wonder staterooms (877 total, in 22 grades) are 225-260-ft2 Balconies. The ship has 22 Suites, 362 Balcony, 235 Oceanview and 256 Inside cabins. The largest accommodations are the Royal Suites (845 ft2 / 79 m2 plus 185 ft2 / 17 m2 terrace).

All cabins boast sizes larger than the industry average, with the majority of them offering a separate bedroom and living room areas, a deep convertible sofa, a bunk bed (folding down from the ceiling, with safety rails, 2 beds convertible to a queen.

Additionally, Disney Wonder family cruise cabins for families of 5 have a Murphy bed (wall-mounted). Plenty of storage space (the suitcases store well under the bed), subtle maple furniture, a closet with a dresser, a desk/dressing table, a smart HDTV with all Disney channels, 2 portable "Wave Phones" (you can text and talk on them throughout the ship), 2 bathrooms (one with toilet-sink, one with tub-shower-sink), a hairdryer. Balcony cabins also have 2 chairs and a small table on the veranda. Standard bathroom amenities by the premium H2O Plus cosmetics (soap-shampoo-lotion, suite guests get additional offerings), Euro-top mattresses, Egyptian cotton linens, luxurious bath towels, upon request - cribs and diaper genies.

Disney Wonder suites are of 3 types (1 and 2-bedrooms), featuring dining tables, Jacuzzis, huge balconies. The Walt and Royal Suites are the Wonder ship's biggest accommodations. In addition, suite guests can enjoy a memory foam pillow, comfortable duvets, robes, and slippers, plus the main dining room's menu available as a room service option.

The boat has 11 decks , of which 6 are with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Disney Wonder ship dining experiences include the Disney Line's rotational dining system pertaining to the ship's 3 main restaurants (you dine each night in a different restaurant, accompanied by the same companions and waiters), with 2 dining times (6:15 and 8:15 pm, table number, and rotations are on your dining tickets). The "Animator's Palate" room features numerous special lighting effects and animations (including the menu holograms, scenes transform from B&W sketches to full-color animated images), the "Parrot Cay" is Caribbean-themed (a delicious seafood buffet and great salad choices) and the most formal of the three is the upscale "Triton's" restaurant (the last two are also open for breakfast and lunch). All main dining rooms offer free drinks during dinner, a wine purchase program.

MS Disney Wonder cruise ship

Disney Wonder food is really wondrous - all is made on the ship, quality ingredients, beautifully prepared, with "light" choices at dinner, a separate kids menu.

"Palo" is the Wonder ship's specialty dining option - an adults-only elegant restaurant (Northern Italian (Med) cuisine), open daily for Champagne brunch and dinner (reservations are required, guests are allowed to book only 1 brunch and 1 dinner per sailing).

On Deck 9 is located the "Beach Blanket" buffet - an indoor/outdoor casual dining venue (breakfast and lunch) with salads, sandwiches, Mickey waffles, cookies, and fruits, with a made-to-order omelet station. Other excellent venues to dine casually are the "Pinocchio's Pizzeria", "Pluto's Dog House" (burgers and hot dogs, chicken tenders) and the Goofy's Galley (wrap sandwiches, a great selection of fruits, ice-cream). The Deck 9 self-serve beverage station offers free juices and sodas.

24-hour room service (Continental breakfast, soups, and salads, cheese, chicken, etc). Suite guests can order from the main restaurant's menus.

Follows the complete list of Disney Wonder restaurants and food bars.

  • Triton's Restaurant / Lumiere's (462-seat forward Dining Room, serving Breakfast and 3-course menu for Lunch; with 2 Dinner seatings 5:30 p.m.-6 p.m. and 8 p.m.-8:30 p.m.)
  • Parrot Cay Restaurant / Carioca's (462-seat aft Dining Room for Breakfast and Buffet Lunch; with 2 dinner seatings/4-course menu).
  • Animator's Palate Restaurant (462- seat aft Dining Room, animator's studio design, features favorite Disney-character dinner shows; serves complimentary drinks; Rotational Dining with two fixed Dinner seatings - at 5:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.)
  • Tiana's Place (dinner-only main dining room drawing inspiration from Disney's "The Princess and the Frog.")
  • Cabanas (self-service complimentary restaurant with American cuisine, pasta, sushi)
  • Pinocchio's Pizzeria (outdoor complimentary restaurant, poolside)
  • Beach Blanket Buffet (indoor/outdoor fast-food eatery, complimentary
  • Pluto's Dog House (quick service fast food restaurant, complimentary)
  • Goofy's Galley (quick service outdoor fast food restaurant, complimentary)
  • Palo (130-seat Italian specialty restaurant; adults-only, reservation-only; aft location; bookings via the internet or on board).
  • O'Gill's Pub (open from about noon to midnight, sports bar/Irish pub, with English decor, live music, large TVs, classic table games, full bar service, Martini Tastings).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Most of the Disney Wonder kids facilities and public rooms are located on Decks 3-4-5 and are interconnected by its 3-deck high atrium, while the Wonder ship's 3 pools are on Decks 9 and 10. Four locations onboard offer Internet access: the teen-only "Vibe" club (Deck 11), the children-only "Edge" club (Deck 2), the "Promenade Lounge" (Deck 3, all ages, open 24-hours) and the adults-only "Cove Cafe" you can borrow a laptop from the cafe).

MS Disney Wonder cruise ship

The Disney Lines Disney Wonder ship spa, sport, and fitness fun starts with Deck 9's pool area (3 age-specific swimming pools) and the 200-ft long waterslide. The "Mickey's Pool" (aft) is kids-only, with a 385 sq. foot pool extension for not yet toilet trained kids in swim diapers). The "Goofy's Pool" is for families (located in between the funnels, alongside the big LED screen), 2 adjacent Jacuzzis and the "Quiet Cove" (forward) is adults-only, with 2 large hot tubs, and a specialty coffee house). Deck 10 has a basketball court and a volleyball area. The "Aft Overlook" (Deck 7) is another "quite" place on the ship (unless when a wedding is officiated there by the captain).

Ship's promenade (Deck 4) offers a walking-jogging track and lounge chairs. The Vista Spa & Salon complex offers massages, facials and treatments, and its "Tropical Rain Forest" area has a sauna and steam rooms. The Wonder ship also features 3 new spa villas for the most expensive spa services (a spa suite with its own private veranda and a Jacuzzi). The recently expanded fitness center is well equipped (Life Fitness equipment) and also has a small room for personal training sessions.

Disney characters appearances are one of the highlights of all the best Disney Wonder cruises for kids with the ever best age-specific activities at sea. The Disney Wonder kids cruise programming and the unique Disney-themed entertainment are the main reasons for the Disney Wonder line's high popularity and loyalty passengers ratio. Like all Disney ships, Wonder has no casino, instead, it has innovative offerings, like the "Studio Sea" (family dance parties and karaoke, scavenger hunts and funny game shows) and the "Buena Vista Theatre" (all the newest Disney company releases and the best Disney 3D movie experience). Another popular day activities for families are the basketball and karaoke tournaments and the ship tour. Some of the greatest advantages on board are the "Wave Phones" (2 per cabin, with text-messaging capabilities and ship-wide coverage).

Disney cruise water park for kids Aqua Lab

Unique for MS Disney Wonder Alaskan kids cruise specials are the "Junior Ranger" programs (about Alaska's wildlife, environment, etc, held in the children's clubs, Studio Sea and in the Disney Theater) and the "Base Camp" held whenever the ship sails into Tracy Arm Fjord (all kids programs move on deck for Alaskan themed games and crafts).

All Disney ships also feature the Little Mermaid-themed "Flounder's Reef" nursery (babies and toddlers up to 3 yo), the "Oceaneer's Club" (3-7 yo), the "Oceaneer's Lab" (8-12 yo), the "Edge" club (11-13 yo) and the "Vibe" club (teens ages 14-17).

Singles and couples may attend wine or martini tastings, Alaska seafood-themed cooking classes and demonstrations or a sophisticated art auction. The main area for the Wonder ship's adult-only evening entertainment is "Route 66" (located Deck 3 forward). This dance club features video dance parties, karaoke, and dancers from the crew performing skits to certain songs. Deck 3 also has its "Cadillac Lounge" piano bar and the "Diversions - the sports bar with large comfortable chairs and huge plasma TVs. The "Overlook Cafe" is a unique Disney ship venue (located upstairs from "Cove Cafe") for adult guests to quietly enjoy all the amazing views during an Alaskan cruise.

The 3-decks high Walt Disney Theatre (capacity 977 most comfortable seats) boasts some of the best large production shows at sea, like "The Golden Mickeys" (with all the famous and infamous Disney characters) and "Toy Story The Musical". Another great hit is the "Pirates in the Caribbean" deck party, beginning in the dining room (a pirate scroll menu and bandannas for all), then follows the pool-deck party - and all is on camera and on the huge LED screen (24x14 ft, located on Deck 9, the forward funnel, near the Goofy Pool). Know that the law forbids the fireworks on all Disney Wonder Alaskan cruises.

Follows the complete list of Disney Wonder lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

  • Walt Disney Wonder Theatre (977-seat, 3-decks high; offers live shows, aerial acrobatics performances, grand-style productions, 3D movies; with two evening shows - at 6:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.)
  • Wonder's Atrium (3-deck high central ship area, with "The Little Mermaid"'s Ariel bronze statue)
  • Route 66/Beat Street (3 clubs' entertainment district, adults-only after 9 pm; Cadillac Lounge, Diversions, WaveBands)
  • WaveBands Lounge & Bar
  • Studio Sea (kids & families entertainment)
  • Diversions Pub (adults-only sports bar, with large TVs and live music)
  • Mickey's Mates (Disney brand logo shops for postcards, souvenirs, DVDs, toys, clothes, games)
  • Treasure Ketch (duty-free crystal, brand jewelry, watches, precious stones, Disney merchandise, underwear, sport, and swimming apparel)
  • Radar Trap (duty-free brand jewelry, perfumes, liquor, and tobaccos)
  • Promenade Lounge (104-seat family venue with full bar service, specialty coffees, and drinks; with the Internet Cafe)
  • Buena Vista Theatre (268-seat 4D cinema, features 3D movies, Dolby Surround 7.1, and Dolby 3D movie technology)
  • Fathoms / WaveBands Lounge Disco & Nightclub (family- in the day and adults-only in the nightclub)
  • D Lounge (family day bar and nightclub, games, dancing, shows, karaoke; full bar service)
  • Keys (adult-only piano bar, live piano and vocals music, full bar service/additional charge)
  • Preludes Bar (quick wait-service snacks & beverages bar)
  • Shutters PhotoShop (photo packages, accessories, photographic services); Art Gallery
  • Vibe Disco & Club Lounge (teens only)
  • Flounder's Reef Nursery (for 3 months to 3 yo infants and toddlers; reservations required)
  • Wonder's Oceaneer Club (kids 3-12 yo; with four play areas with themes from Disney films); Wonder's Oceaneer Lab (play area for kids 3-12 yo)
  • Vista Spa & Fitness Complex (with Treatment Salon, Thermal Bath, Sauna, Relaxation Room, Garden Area; Fitness Centre /health and wellbeing seminars; Beauty Salon)
  • Vista Spa Villas (private suites with own hot tub, private verandah, Roman bed with canopy, open-air shower)
  • Quiet Cove Pool (adults-only swimming pool, served by Cove Bar; with 2 Whirlpools)
  • Cove Cafe (adult-only, with big TV screen; Wi-Fi spot)
  • Signals Bar (adults-only bar for snacks and beverages, poolside)
  • Scoops (ice cream parlor)
  • Goofy's Family Pool; Mickey's Pool; AquaDunk Water Slide; AquaLab (kids interactive water play area)
  • Quarter Masters (video games arcade)
  • Edge Lounge (11-14 yo teens-only club area, with a giant video wall, interactive games, Internet)
  • Outdoor LED movie-screen (24x14 feet)
  • Wide World of Sports Court (basketball, volleyball, soccer); Shuffleboard, Walking/Jogging Track
  • Radio Studio (live radio programs for Disney Wonder itinerary-related news and onboard events)
  • Outlook Bar (retreat area with a piano and full bar; hosts weddings receptions).

Itineraries

Disney Wonder itinerary program is based on 7-day Alaskan voyages (departing from homeport Vancouver BC Canada ), Mexican Riviera roundtrips (out of San Diego CA ), Bahamas with Western-Eastern Caribbean roundtrips (from Galveston TX ). Port destinations also include DCL's private Bahamian island Castaway Cay .

Wonder is also the DCL ship that operates Panama Canal transition cruises (on repositioning) before and after its Alaskan deployment during summer.

In Spring 2020, for the first time from New Orleans , DCL scheduled a total of 5x roundtrips on the homeported there Disney Wonder.

  • The 7-day Bahamian Cruise (Feb 7-14) visits Nassau , Castaway Cay Island , Key West FL .
  • The 7-day Western Caribbean Cruise (Feb 14-21) visits Mexico (Cozumel) , Grand Cayman (George Town) , Jamaica (Falmouth) .
  • The 6-day voyage (Feb 21-27) visits Cozumel and Grand Cayman.
  • The 4-day voyages (Feb 27 - Mar 2, and March 2-6) visit Cozumel.
  • Followed a 14-day Panama Canal repositioning to San Diego .

In September 2022 (at D23 Expo 2022 in Anaheim CA) DCL announced the company's inaugural season in Australia and New Zealand (Nov 2023 thru Feb 2024). Disney Wonder's 2-3-4-6-night itineraries in the region depart from 4 homeports - 3x in Australia ( Brisbane QLD ,  Melbourne VIC ,  Sydney NSW ) and 1x in New Zealand ( Auckland NZ ). Disney's maiden Australian voyage departed on October 28, 2023, out of Sydney.

Disney Wonder - user reviews and comments

Photos of disney wonder.

MS Disney Wonder cruise ship

Disney Wonder ship related cruise news

DCL-Disney Cruise Line's summer 2025 fleet deployment (Europe & Caribbean itineraries)

DCL-Disney Cruise Line's summer 2025 fleet deployment (Europe & Caribbean itineraries)

DCL-Disney Cruise Line has unveiled its summer 2025 itineraries, promising families unforgettable voyages to beloved destinations worldwide. Among...

Canada Place Cruise Terminal (Vancouver BC) anticipates record year amid sustainability focus

Canada Place Cruise Terminal (Vancouver BC) anticipates record year amid sustainability focus

Preliminary forecasts indicate another potentially record-breaking year for cruise passenger visits to Port Vancouver's Canada Place Terminal, as...

DCL-Disney Cruise Line deploys in Australia (2024-2025) Disney Wonder ship

DCL-Disney Cruise Line deploys in Australia (2024-2025) Disney Wonder ship

Following a successful inaugural season in Australia, DCL-Disney Cruise Line is set to return for a second season of 2- to 7-night cruises, offering...

Cyclone Jasper disrupts Queensland cruise itineraries: Carnival and Royal Caribbean alter plans

Cyclone Jasper disrupts Queensland cruise itineraries: Carnival and Royal Caribbean alter plans

Cruise itineraries along Queensland Australia's coast are facing disruptions as Cyclone Jasper approaches, causing rough seas and storm surges. CCL...

DCL-Disney cruise ship sails in Australian waters for the first time

DCL-Disney cruise ship sails in Australian waters for the first time

MS Disney Wonder arrived in Sydney Harbour on Friday morning, October 27, in anticipation of her inaugural Australian season. This marks the...

Bumper cruise season in Australia kicks off with Celebrity Solstice

Bumper cruise season in Australia kicks off with Celebrity Solstice

Australia's busy cruise season officially commenced on October 19 with the arrival of the first overseas ship in Sydney Harbour NSW. The 2800...

DCL-Disney Cruise Line increases cost of dining

DCL-Disney Cruise Line increases cost of dining

DCL-Disney Cruise Line has recently implemented price increases for its optional adults-only restaurants, including Palo, Palo Steakhouse, Enchante...

DCL-Disney Cruise Line announces Halloween and Holiday voyages in Fall 2024

DCL-Disney Cruise Line announces Halloween and Holiday voyages in Fall 2024

DCL-Disney Cruise Line is bringing back the popular Halloween on the High Seas and Very Merrytime Cruises in late 2024. Families can enjoy these...

First cruise ships plug into newly completed shore power expansion at Port San Diego (California USA)

First cruise ships plug into newly completed shore power expansion at Port San Diego (California...

On January 13th, 2023, two large cruise vessels plugged into the newly completed shore-power expansion at Port San Diego (California USA) passenger...

DCL-Disney Cruise Line to celebrate 25 Years with summer voyages

DCL-Disney Cruise Line to celebrate 25 Years with summer voyages

When DCL-Disney Cruise Line turns 25 next year, the fleet's 5 ships will host specially-themed anniversary voyages over the summer months with...

  •   show more news

Other Disney Cruise Line cruise ships

  • Disney Adventure
  • Disney Destiny
  • Disney Dream
  • Disney Fantasy
  • Disney Magic
  • Disney Treasure
  • Disney Wish

Disney Wonder Wiki

The Walt Disney ship Wonder is the company's second vessel, with sistership Disney Magic . They are each 40% smaller in size compared to the newer Disney ships ( Dream and Fantasy ). Wonder's first cruise was a Transatlantic crossing from Italy to Florida - leaving from the shipbuilding yard Marghera ( Venice ) to Port Canaveral (Orlando) with 2 stops - in the UK ( Southampton England ) and the Azores ( Ponta Delgada ). Liner's Godmother was Tinkerbell - a popular Disney character from the "Peter Pan" movie (1953).

The vessel (Fincantieri Marghera yard/hull number 5990) is powered by Wartsila-Sulzer marine diesel engines (model 16ZAV40S) with total power output 58,25 MW. The propulsion system is diesel-electric.

Wonder has Disney's signature sleek design, black hull, two matching red funnels and yellow Disney insignias. The indoor decoration is in both Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles. Wonder is among industry's best family-friendly passenger ships, with numerous entertainment and dining options and regularly scheduled programs targeting not only the kids but the whole family. Families can go together to the evening stage revues, game shows or themed workshops.

On August 15, 1999, the vessel started its Caribbean cruise service with 4-night itinerary from homeport Port Canaveral (Orlando) Florida to Bahamas. The ship originally operated on 3- and 4-night Bahamas cruises, but in 2011 was relocated through Panama Canal from the Caribbean Sea to the US Pacific Coast. There, it operated on 7-day Mexico Riviera cruises leaving from Californian homeports (mainly Los Angeles , but also out of San Diego and San Francisco ) to call ports Vallarta , Cabo and Baja Ensenada .

In 2012 (April through October), MS Disney Wonder became DCL fleet's first to visit Hawaii (ports Hilo, Kahului, Honolulu). In 2012 (May through September), this was again the first Disney ship with Alaskan cruise itineraries (leaving from homeport Seattle WA ) to Ketchikan , Skagway , Juneau , and Victoria BC (Canada) .

This Walt Disney ship has as namesakes the cruise liner Wonder of the Seas ( Royal Caribbean International ) and the cruiseferry Moby Wonder ( MOBY LINES ).

Disney Wonder refurbishments review

The list of deck plan changes after the 2016 drydock refurbishment in Cadiz Spain (September 9 through October 23) included:

  • Upper decks were redesigned, adding AquaDunk (new waterslide), AquaLab (interactive water play area with the Twist n' Spout waterslide), Dory's Reef (splash zone for toddlers).
  • Animator's Palette restaurant (ex-Studio C) with new HDTVs, lights, walls, speakers
  • new Carioca's (Brazilian-themed restaurant replacing Parrot Cay)
  • Tiana's Place is a new restaurant named after Princess Tiana from the Disney animation "The Princess and the Frog". The new eatery is Disney Wonder ship exclusive and features a stage for live jazz-swing-blues performances and street party style events. The themed decor includes Tiana's family photos and framed culinary awards on the walls, water lily-shaped candleholders. The menu is influenced by southern USA cuisine (Louisiana bayou).
  • new Cabanas (replacing Topsider Buffet, hugely enlarged)
  • new lounge (D Lounge) is dedicated to family games and themed entertainment.
  • On deck 10, Palo Restaurant was renovated (new fixtures, glass artwork, stone floor, new Venetian decor).
  • Mickey's Mainsail (new shop)
  • (Deck 3) After Hours (adult district) receives Fathoms (new disco nightclub), Keys (piano bar, replacing Cadillac Bar) and O'Gills (new English pub). The new pub has an authentic tavern menu (incl selection of specialty and British beers, draft beer, cocktails), dark wood paneling, brass accents, plush leather furniture, artworks (incl scenes from Disney movies set in London).
  • (Deck 4) Animator's Palate Restaurant (dining room) was updated with two dinner shows - "Drawn to Magic" and "Animation Magic".
  • expanded Senses Spa and Salon (by 725 ft2 / 70 m2), now with Barbershop, "Chill Teen Spa" and "Smile Spa".
  • "Small World Nursery", "Nephews"
  • renovated and redesigned passenger rooms (elevated beds for more storage space)
  • Lobby Atrium changes (2nd staircase removed, the Chihuly chandelier replaced with an Art Deco one)

Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab changes - now with Marvel's Avengers Academy (Marvel Super Hero Academy/the first at sea), Andy's Room (Toy Story-themed, now has the Slinky Dog slide, Mr Potato Head, Hamm the piggy bank, regular Woody and Jessie character visits, scavenger hunts), Club Disney Junior (Disney Junior characters, games, storytelling, Doc McStuffins character visits), Frozen Adventures (play and activities, via digital screen Olaf leads games and singalongs, Anna and Elsa character visits). Also changed are the interiors of the rooms Pixie Hollow and Mickey Mouse Club. The upgraded programming offers more live interactions (Disney character visits).

Disney Wonder's next drydock was at Damen Shiprepair Brest France (conducted in October 2020). The project included mainly general/routine maintenance works and minor upgrades.

The ship's last drydock was in 2023 (September 17 through October 3) conducted at Seaspan Victoria Shipyards in Victoria BC Canada . The 2-week drydocking project was mainly for regular maintenance (technical overhaul and hotel upkeep).

Itineraries review

Follows the ship's concise service history (former itineraries):

  • [1999-2011] sailed on 3- and 4-day Bahamas cruises from Port Canaveral (Orlando) Florida
  • [2011] relocated to Los Angeles CA for round-trip departures to Mexican Riviera, Baja Ensenada , and the Hawaiian Islands. During summer, Disney Wonder operates on 7-day round-trip Alaskan cruises leaving from Vancouver BC (Canada) or Seattle WA .
  • In 2016, the ship was home-ported in Galveston TX (November 14 through January 20) and in 2017 relocated back to Orlando. Galveston departures offered 8-day Western and Eastern Caribbean cruises to Key WestFL, Castaway Cay, Nassau, Mexico (Cozumel, Costa Maya), Jamaica (Falmouth), Grand Cayman.

On April 30, 2017, Disney Wonder became the world's first-ever cruise vessel that passed through Panama Canal's new locks.

Disney Wonder cruise ship Panama Canal (new locks) transition

Disney Wonder was on a 14-night repositioning voyage from Florida to California ( Port Canaveral to San Diego ). From San Diego, the ship operated several Baja Mexico itineraries before its summer Alaskan season with departures from Vancouver BC Canada .

Disney cruises in Australia 2023-2024 (inaugural season)

In September 2022 (at D23 Expo 2022 in Anaheim CA) DCL announced its inaugural season in Australia and New Zealand (Oct 2023 thru Feb 2024).

Disney Wonder's voyages (2- to 6-night itineraries) departed from 4 homeports - 3x in Australia ( Brisbane QLD , Melbourne VIC , Sydney NSW ) and 1x in New Zealand ( Auckland NZ ).

Disney's maiden Australian voyage departed on October 28 (2023) out of Sydney Harbour.

Most departures are from Sydney (12x), followed by Melbourne (10x). The homeporting in Brisbane and Auckland was scheduled for Nov-Dec 2023.

The program also included Transpacific crossings (RepositionCruises.com) from Alaska to Australia via Hawaii (Vancouver-Hilo-Nawiliwili-Kahului-Honolulu-American Samoa-Fiji-New Caledonia-Sydney) in 2023, and on the reverse route (Australia-Hawaii-Alaska) in 2024.

Call ports included Eden (NSW AU) , Hobart (Tasmania) , and Noumea (Grande Terre/New Caledonia) visited on the longest sailings. Cruises to Nowhere (portless roundtrips) were offered as 2-night voyages from the Australian homeports as well as 3-night roundtrips from Auckland.

Bookings for Disney's Australia and New Zealand voyages opened on Sept 26, 2022.

Fat Mum Slim

7 things that surprised me on the Disney Wonder cruise

disney wonder cruise director

There are emails we all hate to get, the spam, the notifications that you’ve forgot to pay a bill, and the dreaded email that nits are going around the school, again. And then there are the emails that have you jumping around the room, and that’s just what I did when I received an email with an exclusive invite to be one of the lucky people to jump aboard the Disney Wonder, the first Disney Cruise in Australia.

Very early yesterday morning Disney Wonder entered Australian waters for the first time ever, sailing all the way from Hawaii. I popped on one of my favourite dresses, a pair of Minnie ears, and headed out to discover what Disney Cruise Lines had to offer, with my trusty fellow Disney fanatical husband, Shane, at my side.

disney wonder cruise director

We started with a welcome party in the terminal, with drinks, canapes, a DJ, we were given our lanyards with our ID, and our Key to the World card that we use to scan us on and off the ship. We all eagerly awaited our groups to be called so we could board the Disney Wonder and start our magical adventure.

We entered onto the ship, walking right into the Atrium, with beautiful decor, the glass lifts, and an iconic statue of The Little Mermaid (each Disney Cruise Line has a different statue). We then spent an hour walking from floor to floor with our tour guide, exploring everything the ship had to offer, from theatres, to pubs, to shops (oh my!), pools, spa, kids clubs, slides, and so much more… and I have a feeling we didn’t even scratch the surface.

disney wonder cruise director

7 things that surprised (delighted) me about sailing Disney Wonder

There are five kid’s clubs on the disney wonder, and they’re huge.

I’ve cruised quite a lot in the past with my family, and I’ve never seen a kid’s club quite like what Disney Wonder has to offer. While most ships I’ve experienced have a room for kids that is fun, and decorated suitably, they’ve never been vast in space. Well, definitely not like the Kid’s Club we experienced on Disney Wonder. There are 5 Youth Clubs in total, including a very cool (I think even my teen would totally approve) hangout for teens, called Vibe. It’s equipped with oversized pillows, music, TVs and they even have dance parties, and karaoke sessions. For the younger kids, the Oceaneer Club has a replica of Andy’s Room (Toy Story) but with an added slide. On the tour this was one of the most exciting experiences, everyone’s inner child came out and they didn’t want to leave.

disney wonder cruise director

The Cruise Director is actually an Aussie

With anything Disney, whether you’re in the parks or resort, you’ll see the cast or crew are wearing badges with their names, and also the country or state that they come from. It’s great way for guests to connect with the cast and have conversations, and is really intentional on Disney’s part. As we heard the Safety Briefing on our visit, I noticed that the voice was an Australian accent, which I thought they may have done because we were in Australian waters. Turns out, no. The Cruise Director, Trent Hitchcock, is an Australian who has been working with Disney Cruise Lines for over 17 years. It was moving to see him so excited about being in Australia, his home country, while aboard the Disney Wonder.

disney wonder cruise director

The dining room is interactive (and the food is delicious)

As we arrived into Animator’s Palate, we were taken to our designated tables. For cruisers who are staying onboard longer than we did, they’ll have the same servers for every night of their sailing experience. This means that you’ll get to bond with your servers, and they’ll remember what your favourite drink is, and how much ketchup/tomato sauce your kids like with their meal. Guests will visit a different restaurant each night, and their servers will magically appear at their table ready to serve them.

We were met by Richard (from the Philippines) and Lulu (from India) who were so excited to be in Australian waters for the first time. As we sat down there was a piece of paper on the table, and Richard asked us to draw a character, not telling us much more than that. So we all got drawing, being as creative as possible, and the pictures were promptly collected and we got busy ordering our meal; for me it was a truffle pasta for entree, and a herbed pork chop for main. After mains the lights dimmed, and the screens dotted around the room lit up, and suddenly the characters that we’d drawn earlier started dancing across the TV screens, coming to life. It was a magical moment, and everyone was so excited to spot their own character.

disney wonder cruise director

The staff were as excited about Australia as we were about the ship

It’s so easy to forget, in all the excitement of being on the Disney Wonder, that people would be just as excited to be visiting Australia for the first time. Our server at dinner, Richard, was so excited to tell us that he’d spent his day exploring around the Sydney Opera House and how it was a dream to see it in real life.

We docked at Circular Quay, with the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge in perfect sight, and it was so fun to see the cast and crew pose for their own photos with our iconic Aussie landmarks in the background.

disney wonder cruise director

Turning a corner and seeing Mickey is as delightful as you imagine

As Shane and I strolled around the ship we kept running into Disney Characters, which never, ever gets old. We first ran into Pluto, then Goofy, quickly followed by Mickey and Minnie. By the end of the night we’d encountered most of the gang (just not Chip and Dale, they might have been exploring Bondi Beach or beyond, who knows!). It was so great to give them a cuddle and catch up, like old friends. We do love a character cuddle! I loved that we never knew when we’d see a Disney character, so it kept us on the lookout (something I think we’ll really enjoy when we cruise properly in the future).

The shows are like nothing we’ve seen before

Before dinner we headed down to the Walt Disney Theatre to catch a show, and I thought it might be a remake of some of our favourite shows, like Lion King, but instead it was this beautiful medley of all our favourite shows brought together. I loved that we were singing along, and were part of the show itself, but also seeing something for the first time, that Disney has never brought to us before. TIP: When visiting the show, sitting in the first third of the theatre – preferably to the left or right, not so much the middle – is the most ideal position for a little extra magic (that’s all I’ll say!).

The ship’s horn is the Disney theme, of course

I don’t know if it’s a ship rule to do this, but every time we’ve sailed under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the ship’s horn will be activated, and usually it’s a heavy monotone ship horn that echoes around the harbour. As we went under on the Disney Wonder the horn played “When you wish upon a star” and audible gasps could be heard around the ship (it was really moving!), and yes, I may have cried. It’s those magical moments that make any experience with Disney special, whether it’s at the Parks, or one of their Resorts, or like for us last night, on the Disney Wonder.

disney wonder cruise director

We only got to experience Disney Wonder for half a day – where we cruised out of the harbour for a short while, but from what we experienced, we’re in love already. Disney Cruise Lines has all the magic that we’ve come to expect and love from visiting their Parks & Resorts, and I just know that so many lucky Australians are going to be making magical memories now that we have Disney Wonder in our waters.

I can’t wait to get the girls on board and start our own family Disney Cruising adventure. Disney Cruise Lines officially start sailing out of Australian waters on Saturday October 28th, 2023. You can book your own adventure here.

We traveled as guests of Disney Cruise Lines. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

disney wonder cruise director

Copyright © 2023 Fat Mum Slim

The luxury cruise ship Disney Wonder arrives in Progreso for the first time

The governor mauricio vila dosal and the captain of the ship, andrew mcronald, exchange commemorative plaques for this achievement..

Progreso, Yucatán, (December 27, 2021) .- Cruise tourism recovers its dynamism, as the Port of Progreso received, for the first time in its history, the luxury cruise ship Disney Wonder from the Disney Cruise Line shipping company, which boosts the economic reactivation of the state, through an important economic spill, for the benefit of local families.

From the International Cruise Terminal at the Height Port of Progreso, Andrew McRonald, captain of the Disney Wonder, pointed out that they would not be here without the help of many collaborators present, mainly the Governor of Yucatan, who has made a reality of welcoming Disney Cruise Line.

“On behalf of my crew, I tell you that it is an honor to bring the Disney Wonder cruise ship to Progreso; It was wonderful to arrive sailing this morning and we are excited to come to this port, knowing everything there is to see and do for our guests, whether they visit Chichén Itzá, decide to explore the crystal clear waters of the cenotes of the region and we know that our guests are going to enjoy exploring the state, ” he assured.

During his message, the Governor pointed out that, today, a longing that we had in Yucatan for a long time came true, because definitely, Disney Cruise Line is a shipping company that everyone wants to have in their port, which shows that the territory is at its best.

Accompanied by the director of the Disney Wonder Hotel, Alberto Besco, Vila Dosal recalled that the local epidemiological traffic light is green, but with a high guard, and tourism comes at a great moment, especially due to the transformation of Progreso, where “ We have a remodeled International Boardwalk, new tourist attractions, a beach that is certified as clean and this is only a little of what is coming because the last stage of the Malecón remodeling we are going to start in January ”.

Within this framework, Vila Dosal and the captain of the Disney Wonder, Andrew McRonald, exchanged commemorative plaques of the first arrival, an event in which the Operations Manager of SSA Mexico in this port, Carlos López Vivas; the representative of the Administration of the National Port System of Progreso (Asipona), Alicia Lara Alcocer, and the General Director of Aconsur, José Enrique Molina Casares.

Also, it was reported that, since activities were resumed with the arrival of cruise ships, last July, a total of 21 have arrived in Progreso.

The Disney Wonder arrived at the Progreso Maritime Terminal at 7:56 am, with 1,380 passengers and a crew of 962 onboard; From Galveston, the cruise ship sailed to the island of Cozumel, to later include Progreso in his trip of 5 days and 4 nights.

The cruise will stay until 6:00 in the afternoon of this day, and then return to his departure point and finish the experience.

Upon arrival, the passengers and crew were received by the Friends of Health, who provided them with antibacterial gel and face masks, if required, as part of the care provided by the State Government, to achieve an economic recovery with safety and responsibility.

Before retiring, Vila Dosal boarded the Ship of the Mexican Navy Secretariat (Semar), ARM Veracruz PO-154, in the company of Rear Admiral General Corps of the General Staff, Sergio Reyes Rodríguez, and together, they toured the interior of the ship, where the Governor signed the distinguished visitors’ book and spoke with the crew.

TYT Newsroom

disney wonder cruise director

Yucatan Times

Grupo xcaret started its ferry service between cancun and isla mujeres, after weeks walking, mexico migrant caravan splits up on buses headed north, you may also like, federal government expropriates 93 properties in campeche, yucatán, and quintana roo for the maya..., mérida mayor visits the san antonio kaua ii aquapark, yucatecan businessman burned to death inside his vehicle, renán barrera promises to boost tourism in the region, six-year-old drowns while celebrating birthday in a yucatan cenote, municipal police officer saves a teenager who was drowning in el cuyo, leave a comment cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Our Company

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consect etur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis.

  • 01 Central Park, US, New York City
  • Phone: (012) 345 6789
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Support: [email protected]

About Links

  • Advertise With Us
  • Media Relations
  • Corporate Information
  • Apps & Products

Useful Links

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Closed Captioning Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Personal Information
  • Data Tracking
  • Register New Account

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept

Keep me signed in until I sign out

Forgot your password?

A new password will be emailed to you.

Have received a new password? Login here

Are you sure want to unlock this post?

Are you sure want to cancel subscription.

The Disney Cruise Line Blog

An unofficial disney cruise line news, information, weather, and photo blog..

The Disney Cruise Line Blog

Tag Archives: Cruise Directors

DCLBlog Captains Cruise Directors

Captain & Cruise Director Schedules: March – October 2019

Wondering who will be Captain and Cruise Director on your upcoming Disney Cruise? Below you will find the scheduled captain and cruise director for each ship into the fall as Continue Reading →

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Captain & Cruise Director Schedules as of October 2018

Captain & cruise director schedules as of june 2018.

DCLBlog Cruise Directors

2018 DCL Cruise Director Schedules as of February 2018

Curious who will be your cruise director on your upcoming Disney Cruise? As a follow-up to our post on the Captain schedules, we now have the cruise director schedules for Continue Reading →

EverythingMouse Guide To Disney

Disney Wonder Cruise – A Complete Guide

Cruising with Disney is a dream for many. Once you make the decision that you are going to take the plunge and book a Disney Cruise it can take a whole lot of research to find the perfect ship for your vacation.

Disney Wonder is one of the smaller ships. She was second to join the fleet in 1999 and is, with her sister ship Disney Magic, known as one of the Disney Classic Ships.

disney wonder atrium

She may be getting on a little in years, but you absolutely would not know it. DCL has a very rigorous commitment to keeping all the fleet ship shape and she has undergone many upgrades over the years.

Having spent many months and visited many different ports on Disney Wonder, in pretty much every category of stateroom, I wanted to share my experience of this very special cruise ship.

Any questions? Be sure to Join the Disney Cruise Group and you will get the answers you need.

First the details. Just so you can see the basic info about Disney Wonder.

Gross Tonnage : 83969 GT Ship Length : 984 feet Beam : 106 feet Draft : 25 feet Max Speed : 25 mph (22 knots) Launched : 1998 Capacity : 2,713 passengers Crew Members : 945 Total on Board : 3,658 Total Staterooms : 875 Registered : Bahamas Ship Cost : $450 Million

The most important choice you need to make is which Disney Wonder stateroom to book.

I have sailed in every type of stateroom on Disney Wonder, with the exception of the Walt or Roy Disney Suite (but I can still dream)!

disney wonder concierge family stateroom

There are essentially four main choices of staterooms. Usually these range from the least expensive to the most expensive:

Inside Staterooms

Outside staterooms.

  • Verandah Staterooms
  • Concierge Staterooms

There are 9 different categories of staterooms on the Disney Wonder. 

These are Categories 11 to 4 for Staterooms and 3 Categories for Disney Wonder Concierge Staterooms and Suites.

The staterooms are also divided into subcategories according to which deck they are on and for some according to the view they have from the window or balcony.

Don’t worry, this isn’t quite as complicated as it sounds!

You will see a number and a letter which describes each different type of stateroom.

The letters go from A to E with A being the higher of the subcategories.

Higher decks are seen as more desirable so they will usually be in a higher-priced subcategory.

Here we give you an overview of the different types of staterooms available on Disney Wonder. If you want a much more detailed guide, including where the “secret staterooms” are go to:

Disney Wonder Staterooms – The Ultimate Guide

If you are looking for the best value staterooms on Disney Wonder then you need to look to see if an inside cabin is the right choice for you.

By inside, this means that the stateroom does not have a window.

There are 2 types of Inside Stateroom on Disney Wonder:

The difference between them is that the Standard has one bathroom, and the Deluxe has what is known as a split bathroom.

The split bathroom was a cruise industry first that has the shower, bath and sink in one room, and the toilet and sink in another.

disneyinsidestateroom

The standard inside stateroom is 184 square feet. Each has a Queen size bed with a single convertible sofa bed.

The deluxe inside stateroom is 214 square feet, which is quite a big upgrade of space compared to the standard inside stateroom.

The standard inside staterooms are usually the least expensive on the ship. I have stayed in a standard inside stateroom and they are absolutely fine if you are sailing with just 2 people. They would be a bit of a stretch if you have 3 adults or a teenager.

Choose a Deluxe Standard cabin on Disney Wonder is you are looking for great value and a little more space as it has the split bathroom.

These staterooms are located on Decks 1, 2, 5 and 7.

Related: Staterooms to Avoid on your Disney Cruise

These are the same size and design as the Disney Wonder Inside Staterooms, but they have portholes. A lot of guests like these as they offer good value and a view of the outside.

They have a Queen and a single sleeper sofa. There is a split bathroom.

Navigator’s Verandah

This is a rather unusual design of stateroom, which is only seen on the Classic Ships, the Magic and the Wonder.

They have an enclosed private verandah, so you have more space and view. But this is an enclosed space, so not a “true” verandah.

All are located on decks 5, 6, and 7 and are Category 7 Staterooms.

There are another 4 staterooms (6134, 6634, 7120, 7620) which are category 7 and are described as Navigator’s verandah staterooms, but they do not have the enclosed verandah. 

They have verandahs with obstructed views as they are located on Deck 6 aft and wrap around the hull.

They can be a good choice though if you are aware of this, and want to  save some money  instead of going to a Category 6 or 5 Verandah stateroom.

The Navigator’s Verandah staterooms are 268 square feet including the verandah. 

They sleep up to 4 guests and have a Queen Bed with a single sofa bed. Some have a pull down bunk over the sofa.

Verandah Staterooms on Disney Wonder

The verandah staterooms are some of the most popular cabins on the ship. Imagine having your own private outside space to sit and just enjoy the view.

All balcony cabins have 268 square feet of space including the verandah. 

All Deluxe Oceanview Staterooms with Verandahs have a Queen size bed and a single sleeper sofa. Some also sleep 4 as they have a pull down bunk above the sofa.

There are 114 Category 5 Staterooms and they are all of Deck 7. 

Category 6 are on decks 5 and 6 and have slightly larger verandahs.

disneydreamverandah

Which deck is best? Really none is any better than the other. I have stayed on all decks and prefer whichever one I can get the best price for!

One way to save some money is to book what is known as a white wall verandah. These are Category 5E.

Most of the verandahs on the ship have clear plexiglass. However, the white walls have solid white walls. This means that when you are sitting down on the balcony your view is restricted.

I have never had a problem with this – often it saves hundreds of dollars and personally I would rather take the savings and have the balcony whether or not I have to stand up sometimes to get a better view!

Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah

Have 5 in your party? Or just want some extra space and don’t mind spending more money?

The Deluxe Family Oceanview Staterooms with Verandah are a rare thing in the cruise industry – a cabin sleeping 5 guests.

Each Family Oceanview balcony stateroom has a Queen bed and a convertible sofa with a pull-down bed over it. 

There is also a pull-down Murphy bed at the end of the stateroom, across the balcony door.

You can see my complete review of the Disney Wonder Family Oceanview Stateroom  if you click here .

There aren’t many of these staterooms on Disney Wonder. The ship was not built with many, and over the years some have been converted to Concierge Staterooms.

So if you want one of these it is best to book as early as you can, and be prepared to pay a premium. Often if you have a party of 5 it is more economical to book 2 staterooms.

Disney Wonder Concierge Staterooms

If this is in your budget then I highly recommend Concierge Staterooms.

There are many perks to sailing Concierge on Disney Wonder including access to the fabulous indoor lounge and outdoor sun deck.

disney wonder concierge lounge

These different types of staterooms are available in Concierge:

  • Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah – exactly the same design as non concierge but with upgraded amenities and concierge perks.
  • One bedroom suites
  • Two bedroom suites
  • Walt and Roy Disney Suites

RESTAURANTS ON DISNEY WONDER

A huge part of your Disney Wonder experience is the food.

And you certainly will have no chance to go hungry!

You may already have heard about the concept of Rotational Dining.

Disney does things a little differently with regard to dining.

Each ship has 3 main dining rooms – you will dine there at least once if you have a cruise of 3 days. If you are cruising for more than 3 days you will visit restaurant more than once.

Disney Wonder Restaurants

However, the innovative part is that your wait staff moves around with you.

Therefore you always have the same Head Server, Server, and Assistant Server.

This means that your dining team get the chance to know you better so that they can serve you better.

Related: How To Request a Private Table

Many guests on Disney Cruises are surprised by how important this is to their dining experience. It is very common to request specific servers when you return as you get to “bond” with your serving team.

The tree rotational dining restaurants on Disney Wonder are:

Tiana’s Place

  • Triton’s

Animator’s Palate

Tiana really does get her own restaurant here at Tiana’s Place on Disney Wonder.

This Princess and the Frog themed restaurant has a Mardi Gras party atmosphere and of course you get to try those famous Beignets!

tianasplacemenus

Tiana performs with the Crawfish Crooners and makes sure that she makes all her guests welcome by visiting their table.

This is a high energy (and loud) restaurant. Take some time to look around the restaurant to see the wonderful details and remember to join in with all the celebrations!

Review of Tiana’s Place with Menu and Pictures

Triton’s Restaurant on Disney Wonder

The most elegant of the main dining restaurants, Triton’s is themed for Disney’s Little Mermaid Movie. And with all the ship restaurants make sure that you spend some time looking around the dining room to see all the details that the Imagineers included.

There is a huge mosaic at the back of the restaurant that you have to take a look at.

tritons Disney Wonder

Triton’s is one of my favourite Disney Cruise ship restaurants. It may not have the show and entertainment, but it does have one of my very favourite menus. And also, not to be overlooked, the chairs are really comfortable!

Remember too that Triton’s serves breakfast and lunch if you want to have a sit down meal instead of heading to the buffet.

Review of Triton’s With Menu and Pictures

This is a classic Disney Cruise restaurant which is found on each of the first four ships.

It was very innovative when Disney Magic and Wonder were first launched, and it has most definitely stood the test of time.

The theme, of course, is animation. When you walk in you will see all the black and white drawings in the corridor at the restaurant entrance. Then in the main restaurant the walls are covered in classic Disney animation art.

disney wonder animators palate

As the meal progresses the lighting changes.

I am not going to spoil too much for you here as you really need to experience things for yourself, but safe to say this will be an entertaining dining experience.

If you want to know more:

Complete Guide to Disney Wonder Animators Palate

ADULT RESTAURANTS

If you want to experience some adult only time on Disney Wonder then make sure that you snag a booking for Palo.

Palo is an Italian themed adults only restaurant on Disney Wonder.

Brunch is served on Sea Days and Dinner is served every day.

You really should indulge in at least one Palo dining experience on your cruise.

Both Dinner and Bruch at Palo cost $50 per person.

disneypalobrunchmenu

There is also an a la carte menu in Palo for dinner .

At Palo Bruch, this includes a glass of sparkling wine or a Mimosa. An extensive wine list is available for both Palo Brunch and Palo Dinner .

If you get the chance you really should experience at least one meal at Palo.

I usually choose Brunch but that is only because I enjoy the rotational dining rooms so much that I don’t want to miss the dinner there.

BARS ON DISNEY WONDER

There are bars on Disney Wonder:

  • Cadillac Lounge
  • Crown and Finn
  • French Quarter Lounge

Azure, Cadillac Lounge and Crown and Finn are all located on Deck 3 in an area called After Hours. They each have a different theme.

Disney Wonder Bars – The Complete Guide

Azure is the largest of them all and is used for a lot of the entertainment including bingo, some gameshows and the adult entertainment in the evening.

disneywonderbars

Cadillac Lounge is the piano lounge. It has limited opening hours, but is one of the best places to spend the evening listening to the entertainment.

Crown and Finn is themed as a British Pub. As a Brit I can say it does a pretty good job of this!

D Lounge is more of a family entertainment space. It does have a bar, but really this is not the main focus of the space. This is on Deck 4.

French Quarter Lounge is located on Deck 3, in the space between Tritons and Tiana’s Place. This bar is beautifully themed. It is also very much a space where families go most of the day. It is often used for trivia and craft activities in the daytime. There is live music at times in the evening.

Signals is the pool bar in the adult area of Deck 9 at the side of the pool. The indoor Cove Cafe also serves adult beverages as well as coffee and tea. Don’t miss the free pastries here as well!

Disney Cruise Drinks – The Complete Guide

Most of the bars welcome children. The Disney Cruise Ships are very much designed for families to spend time together. The exceptions to this are that children are never allowed in Cadillac Lounge, Cove Cafe or Signals. They are welcome in Azure and Crown and Finn up until 9 pm. Promenade Lounge and French Quarter are open to children at any time.

There is a lot to do on a Disney Cruise. You really can be as active as you want. Or you can sit at the pool all day and read a book. The choice is yours!

One of the main attractions is the pool deck. You are probably going to spend a lot of your time here!

Disney Wonder Pools

There are three pools on Disney Wonder that are all located on Deck 9:

Goofy’s Pool

Quiet cove pool.

This is the family pool on Disney Wonder. This is the main deck area with plenty of lounge chairs.

Goofy’s Pool is the centre of activity for families and it can get rather crowded.

There are 2 whirlpools in this area too.

disneycruisepool

This is the place where you will find all the deck parties including the location for the Pirate’s Night Celebrations.

There is a huge screen, known as Funnel Vision. This is a great place to watch Disney movies as you soak up the sun around the pool.

This is for the younger set and features 1,800-square-foot of recreation space. 

There is a water play area inspired by Donald Duck’s nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie for guests aged 3 and under.

There is a small, shallow pool which is suitable for younger kids. This are also has the Twist ‘n’ Spout slide.

Disney Wonder Slide

These areas of Deck 9 are also where you will find the quick service eating areas on Disney Wonder.

  • Pete’s Boiler Bites
  • Eye Scream Treats – yes that is all included ice cream as well as some pay options.
  • Pinnochio’s Pizzeria

If you want some adult quiet time and are aged 18 and over then the Quite Cove Pool is the place for you,

Featuring a pool with 2 hot tubs, sun loungers and table seating this is a place where you can relax.

disneywondercruiseforadults

You can enjoy a beverage from the outdoor Signals Bar or enjoy some time in the indoor Cove Cafe.

Drink of the Day – The Easy Way to Save

Sports and Fitness

If you want to keep up with your fitness program on Disney Wonder there are plenty of ways you can do that on Disney Wonder.

Take a stroll, or a run around the promenade deck on Deck 4 of Disney Wonder.

This is a true traditional promenade deck that you can walk all the way around. A complete circuit is 1/3 mile. This is an often forgotten area of the ship but is a wonderful place to take in the scenery, exercise, sit on a steamer chair lounger, or play shuffleboard.

Disney Wonder promenade deck

There is a well equipped gym on Disney Wonder . This is a very good space with up to date equipment.

Head on up to the Sports Deck which you will find on Deck 10. There is a basketball court, foosball and table tennis tables.

You can also walk right around the deck, or relax on one of the many sun loungers here.

The Spa on Disney Wonder

All of the Disney Ships have a full service spa.

Senses Spa and Salon on Disney Wonder offers a whole range of spa treatments including massages, facials, hair styling, and cosmetic treatments.

Spa Price List

The Rainforest Room is part of the spa area.

disneycruiserainforest

The Disney Cruise Rainforest is a limited-access area where you will find steam rooms, showers, and stone lounge chairs.

Complete Guide to the Rainforest on Disney Wonder

If you are interested in purchasing a pass for the Rainforest, head to the spa as soon as you board and ask about availability. Length of cruise passes are available, and sometimes day passes are available. I used to publish prices here, but they tend to change quite a bit, so it is difficult to be consistent. Just ask at the desk about prices.

ENTERNTAINMENT

You have probably heard that the shows on Disney Cruise Ships are “Broadway Quality”.

They really are.

One of the highlights on a Disney Cruise is the stage shows in the Walt Disney Theatre.

The live stage shows on Disney Wonder are:

  • All Aboard: Let the Magic Begin
  • Disney Dreams: An Enchanted Classic
  • Frozen, A Musical Spectacular
  • Golden Mickeys
  • Remember the Magic, A Final Farewell

Schedules to vary according to the itinerary you are sailing on, but usually you will get see at least one of the “big” shows which are Frozen, Golden Mickeys and Disney Dreams.

There are two shows each day, which fit around the two different rotational dining times so that everyone has a chance to see the show.

waldisneytheater

On some itineraries there are other performers such as magicians, hypnotists and jugglers. These acts are always very high quality and are usually well worth seeing.

Sometimes, on longer sailings, there is a movie which is shown in the Walt Disney Theatre in addition to the movies which are shown all day in the Buena Vista Movie Theatre all day.

You will definitely never be short of entertainment on your Disney Cruise. You can do as much or as little as you want to, but there are plenty of activities throughout the day to keep you busy if you want to join in.

  • Cooking Demonstrations
  • Craft Activities
  • Expert Talks
  • Character Greetings

One very popular activity for the adults is the Beverage Tastings.

Disney Cruise Tastings

These reservation only activities are scheduled every day, and are available to book prior to your cruise, as well as on board.

Complete Guide to Beverage Tastings

PIRATE NIGHT

Pirate Night is a themed deck party, menu and fireworks party on select sailings.

Many, but not all of the cruises on Disney Wonder include Pirate Night.

The Alaskan cruises do not include Pirate Night. They have Frozen Night instead.

Only select Australian and New Zealand cruises include the full Pirate Night, but some include fireworks but not the full show. Always check with Disney Cruise Line directly to see if this is included on your cruise as each itinerary varies.

Here is a Complete Guide to Pirate Night.

A lot of people dress up for Pirate Night and join in with the theme!

Disney Pirate Night Best Outfits

KIDS CLUBS ON DISNEY WONDER

As you would expect, the kids clubs on the ship are an excellent facility for all ages from 6 months to age 17. 

There are different spaces on all of the Disney Cruise Ships for children of all ages.

disneycruisekidsclub

There are 5 different Kids Clubs on each Disney Ship:

  • It’s A Small World Nursery 6 months to 3 years – this is the only one with a fee
  • Oceaneer Club ages 3 to 12
  • Oceaneer Lab ages 3 to 12
  • Edge ages 11 to 14
  • Vibe ages 14 to 17

The Oceaneer Lab and Oceanner Club are separate spaces but children can go from one to the other via a safe corridor.

Take advantage of the Open Houses which happen every day so that you can see just how much fun the clubs are and participate in some activities with your child.

Related: Disney Cruise Kids Clubs – All You Need to Know

Disney Wonder is a relatively small ship, but there are some stores on board that have some great items to purchase:

These are the Disney Wonder stores:

  • Mickey’s Mainsail
  • Sea Treasures
  • Diamonds and Wishes
  • Vista Gallery

The first 3 on this list are in the same area, just before the entrances to Walt Disney Theatre on Deck 4. There is one store area on either side of the corridor here.

Mickey’s Mainsail is probably my favourite store as this is where you will find most of the unique Disney Cruise Line themed merchandise. If you see something on the first day then get it, as stocks often run low.

White Caps is the place to pick up your favourite Dooney and Bourke or Loungefly bags, as well as other Disney themed merch.

There is a small selection of sundry items if you forget such things as toothpaste or basic supplies. Always try and remember to bring your own, because the prices are pretty high here!

Diamonds and Wishes is a relatively new feature on Disney Wonder, having been created in the space where Shutters used to be on Deck 4, during the dry dock prior to her first sailings to Australia.

This is the place to go if you want to see watches, jewellery and Pandora Charms. If you are a Pandora collector, each ship has its own special charm. Make sure you get to the store early as these tend to sell out quickly.

Remember to check out the Vista Gallery. It is a little bit of a stretch to call this area a gallery but this is where the Disney art is displayed. This is on the wall outside D Lounge as you are walking towards Diamonds and Wishes (formerly Shutters) on Deck 4.

Shutters used to take up a large space on Disney Wonder, but now that things are so easy to see on your phone, most of this space is taken up with the new Diamonds and Wishes. There is still a Shutters stand so that you can talk to the staff about any questions you have about the Disney Cruise Photo Packages.

ITINERARIES

Disney Wonder has some of the most varied of all of the Disney Cruise Ship itineraries.

disneycruisemexico

In 2024 she is sailing Australian, New Zealand, Transpacific, Pacific Coast, Alaskan, Mexican Riviera, and Baja Cruises.

We know that she is returning to Australia and New Zealand in late 2024 and will continue to sail there until she sails repositioning cruises from Sydney to Hawaii and then Hawaii to Sydney in early 2025.

Complete List of All Disney Wonder Sailings 2024

Disney Wonder cruise ship tips

MORE GUIDES

Want to know more about Disney Cruises? There are hundreds of guides on this site – all written with over a decade of personal experience on all the ships. Here are more Disney Cruise tips for you so that you can have the best experience:

The Huge List of Helpful Disney Cruise Tips

What To Do As Soon as You Board the Ship

What To Pack on a Disney Cruise

How to Pack Your Carry on Bag Like an Expert

IMAGES

  1. Disney WONDER Cruise Director Christian Abbott

    disney wonder cruise director

  2. What It's Really Like to Work for Disney Cruise Line

    disney wonder cruise director

  3. Disney's Cruise Director Gets To Sail The World & Share Her Love Of

    disney wonder cruise director

  4. Disney Wonder

    disney wonder cruise director

  5. Disney Wonder Cruise Ship Unveils Its Major Upgrades

    disney wonder cruise director

  6. Disney Wonder Ship Review

    disney wonder cruise director

VIDEO

  1. Disney Wonder Cruise Ship #shorts #disney #cruise

  2. Disney Wonder Cruise Tour Part 2 (HD)

  3. 21 November 2023 disney wonder cruise ship@ Auckland #cruiseship #disneywonder

  4. Disney Wonder Cruise 2023

  5. Disney Wonder Cruise 2023

  6. Disney Wonder Cruise Ship On Sydney Harbour, 1 November, 2023

COMMENTS

  1. Cruise Directors • The Disney Cruise Line Blog

    In 1998, rachel began working for Disney Cruise Line, where she has served as Cruise Director on Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. Disney used her experience to help plan the Dream. She spent more than a year working with Walt Disney Imagineering in Celebration and six months during the construction in the shipyard in Germany.

  2. Disney Wonder

    Disney Wonder is a cruise ship operated by Disney Cruise Line.She was the second ship to join the Disney fleet on entering service in 1999. Disney Wonder is of the same class as Disney Magic.The other three ships in the fleet are the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish.The interior of Disney Wonder is decorated in the Art Nouveau style, in contrast to her sister ship, Disney Magic ...

  3. Disney Wonder review: What to expect on the Disney Cruise Line ship

    Director of Content. Summer Hull has been covering (and using) travel tips, rewards credit cards and loyalty programs for over a decade. She has flown close to a million miles, often on points and miles and with her family in tow. ... I enjoy the food on all Disney Cruise Line ships, but Disney Wonder is a step or two behind the new Disney Wish ...

  4. Disney Wonder

    Search for Cruises Aboard the Disney Wonder. View Prices. SHARE. (800) 951-3532. Home to roomy staterooms, unique entertainment and delectable dining, the Disney Wonder is the second ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet.

  5. Disney Wonder cruise makes magical Australian debut

    Disney has already committed to three seasons off the back of strong interest, with Australian ports booked until 2026. Disney executive cruise director Trent Hitchcock, who was born and raised in ...

  6. The Walt Disney Company on LinkedIn: Disney Wonder: Cruise Director Trent

    Oh, boy! 📣 An all-new, first-of-its-kind, bronze statue of Walt Disney sitting on a park bench with Mickey Mouse was unveiled at Hong Kong Disneyland in front of the Cinderella Carousel. 🎠 ...

  7. Disney Wonder Cruise Ship Review

    Disney Wonder Cruises: Read over 500 Disney Wonder cruise reviews. Find great deals, tips and tricks on Cruise Critic to help plan your cruise.

  8. Beginners Guide to the Disney Wonder Cruise Ship

    The next ship we'll be covering in the planDisney Pocket Guide series is the Disney Wonder!The Disney Wonder joined the Disney Cruise Line fleet in 1999 alongside its sister ship, the Disney Magic, and is home to 11 decks of one-of-a-kind entertainment, recreation, and dining offerings for the whole crew to enjoy!While you may recognize some similarities to its sister ship, here are some of ...

  9. Disney Wonder: A Complete Guide to What's On Board

    The Wonder is a sister ship to the original Disney Magic, with a similar layout and design. The ship had its maiden voyage on August 15, 1999, originally sailing three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas. Within the past decade, the itineraries for the Wodner have changed. Now, the ship sails on various itineraries with stops in Alaska ...

  10. Disney Wonder Cruise San Diego Trip Report Day 1

    Disney Wonder Cruise San Diego Review. Find out what a Disney Cruise sailing from San Diego is really like. ... She has been the Cruise Director for my last three Disney cruises and is one of my favorites. The Pre Show for Golden Mickeys is always fun. They have the presenter outside the Walt Disney Theatre to "interview" guests on the red ...

  11. Disney Wonder Cruise Ship: Complete Guide

    The Disney Wonder is part of the original set of two ships that Disney Cruise Line built in the late 1990s. With a focus on family-friendly entertainment rather than belly flop contests and onboard casinos, Disney Cruise Line set a new standard that some other cruise lines are still trying to catch up to a quarter-century later.Despite the ship's age, Disney Wonder continues to receive ...

  12. Current cruise directors

    After her outstanding performance on the Disney Wonder when we were stuck at sea at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, she deserves it. ... and another cruise director the 2nd leg, dont remember name but is was a female (wasn't Carly had her a few years back) also had an assistant cruise director the 2md leg. TestingH2O DIS Veteran ...

  13. Disney Wonder review: Why Australia's first Disney cruise is 'Magic at

    Verdict: Disney Wonder is truly 'Magic at Sea'. Oliver with his Mickey Mouse toy in the Stateroom on board Disney Wonder. It's no wonder there's been such a positive response to Disney Cruise Line's arrival Down Under in late 2023, following years of planning. "It's been unbelievable," cruise director Jimmy Lynett says.

  14. Disney Wonder Cruise Ship Review

    Disney Wonder Cruises: Read over 500 Disney Wonder cruise reviews. Find great deals, tips and tricks on Cruise Critic to help plan your cruise. ... Natalie Bailey was our Cruise Director, bringing ...

  15. Disney Cruise Line review: Sailing on the Disney Wonder

    Director of Content. Summer Hull has been covering (and using) travel tips, rewards credit cards and loyalty programs for over a decade. ... The Disney Wonder is noticeably smaller than the Disney Dream we sailed on previously. The Wonder has 875 cabins and room for up to 2,700 passengers, as opposed to the larger Dream's 1,250 staterooms and ...

  16. Disney Wonder Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review

    The 1999-built MS Disney Wonder cruise ship is Walt Disney's second liner with sistership Disney Magic (1998).. The vessel (IMO number 9126819) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 308457000) and registered in Nassau.History - construction and ownership. DCL-Disney Cruise Line is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company (shipowner). The company was incorporated in 1996 as "Magical Cruise Company ...

  17. Disney Wonder Reviews, Ship Details & Photos

    Disney Wonder is a midsize cruise ship with 875 cabins in 24 categories. Passengers can choose from interior, oceanview, and balcony cabins as well as 22 Concierge-class suites. Outside staterooms represent more than 70% of the ship's accommodations, although some have obstructed views. On the plus side, most cabins provide more than 200 square ...

  18. Disney Wonder Cruise: 7 Surprises That Will Make You Smile

    Turns out, no. The Cruise Director, Trent Hitchcock, is an Australian who has been working with Disney Cruise Lines for over 17 years. It was moving to see him so excited about being in Australia, his home country, while aboard the Disney Wonder. The dining room is interactive (and the food is delicious)

  19. The luxury cruise ship Disney Wonder arrives in Progreso for the first

    The Disney Wonder arrived at the Progreso Maritime Terminal at 7:56 am, with 1,380 passengers and a crew of 962 onboard; From Galveston, the cruise ship sailed to the island of Cozumel, to later ...

  20. Cruise Directors • The Disney Cruise Line Blog

    Captain & Cruise Director Schedules: March - October 2019. Posted on April 17, 2019 by Scott Sanders — 15 Comments ↓. Wondering who will be Captain and Cruise Director on your upcoming Disney Cruise? Below you will find the scheduled captain and cruise director for each ship into the fall as Continue Reading →.

  21. Disney Wonder Cruise

    The Rainforest on Disney Wonder. The Disney Cruise Rainforest is a limited-access area where you will find steam rooms, showers, and stone lounge chairs. Complete Guide to the Rainforest on Disney Wonder. If you are interested in purchasing a pass for the Rainforest, head to the spa as soon as you board and ask about availability.