Originally posted by bailey5697
I would love to hear your review <HINT HINT>
:animwink:
More pictures would be nice as well < HINT HINT> :animwink:
Was that subtle enough for you? LOL :lol:
Well, I did take 700 pictures while on the cruise
(Digital camera is a very good thing
) Only saved 400 and about a hundred of those are less then perfect)
Anyways, here we go....
So, I drove down most of the way the days preceeding our debarking date and stayed just outside of Orlando the night before (Had to go to the Magic Kingdom, although I didn't realize it closed at 7 and I walked in at 5:30) But I did get to see the fireworks which made it all worth it...
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/castle1.jpg
So I got up the next morning fairly early and drove over to Port Canaveral because my parents were staying in a hotel right there. (Of note, the reason for this cruise was my brother was getting married, more on that to follow) Eventually we left, fairly early, and drove on over. Back in January they were still in the midst of rather heavy construction, but even with that, it was really easy to find your way around. Pulled up, to the luggage check, dropped off the luggage (Of note, the baggage handlers are not Disney employee's and will remind you of that fact for a tip. Pull out of there go across the street to the cruiose parking lot (Was a flat 30 bucks to park) SInce we were early we got a nice first row parking space under trees. Grab our carry-on's and walk on over.
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/terminal1.jpg
Walk into the terminal and go through security, then up the escalator to the main terminal area. The desk right as you get to the top has cast members who make sure all your forms are filled out correctly before heading over to officiall check in. They go through all that, give you your key cards, and then you wait. As being one of the first people there we jumped into line to get aboard and just waited. Not much to do or see in the terminal, but they have a model and you can walk outside to see the ship (Snack stand as well)
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/wonder1.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/wondermodel1.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/wondermodel2.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/discover.jpg
Time comes, they open the doors, check onto the ship, and then aboard you go. Walk right into the atrium and they had a band playing, an announcer and already the people standing by with alcohol for those people that
really can't wait. We attempted to go up to our room, but they were still preparing it, so we went to go eat. Again, they were really about food service, but given the events of the past, I could understand. AFterwards, went back up to our room, luage was waiting and got settled. Once that was done, me and my mom (I stay with my parents as #1, they offered to pay for it, #2, how much time do you plan on spending in your room on cruise?) quickly ran up to the Spa to sign up for the Cabana massages on Castaway Cay since theytend to go quickly. At that point, I wanted to take a uick look around the ship and get some pictures before it got too crowded.
The main atrium and elevators
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/atrium1.jpg
The Beuna Vista Theater (Only for movies)
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/beunatheater.jpg
The Cadillac Lounge (Cool place, windwos to look out, guy playing a piano, cool relazing atmosphere - Great martini's as well)
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/cadillaclounge.jpg
The Cruise Logo (On the floor just outside the Walt Disney Theater where they present all the plays)
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/cruiselogo.jpg
The Walt Disney Theater
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/waltdisneytheat.jpg
ESPN Sky box (Highest point on the ship you cango, watched the first half of the Steeler's game, careful of the nacho cheese, I got first degree burns cause it was so hot)
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/espnskybox.jpg
A quick shot of Palo
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/palo1.jpg
A shot of the stack
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/stack1.jpg
You're telling me this is a ship?
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/stairwell.jpg
Wavebands danceclub type place on the Wonder
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/wavebands2.jpg
So, after that, we had to go to the civil ceremony for my brother's wedding (THey have to do it before they leave for Interneational waters) Once we get done for that, we jump back on board and head up to the top deck.
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/deck10.jpg
They had the Goofy's cast off pary, but we just hung out at the front of the ship and watched it set sail.
Of note, you can see the NASA Assembly building across the bay
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/assembly.jpg
So, the shipis now out to sea, and we were on the show first, dinner second routine. Personally, I would rather have done it the other way around. Sometimes the dinners ran really long, and we were still sitting there at 11 o'clock at night. But anyways, first show was good, a Hercules play (Dang those muses could sing). Then it was off to Animator's Palate for the first dinner. Very cool place. You'll allknow the premise, so I'll forego it, but it's done well. I took panoramic shots as teh dinner progressed. (Warning, the pictures are very large)
Small Pictures
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/animat1sm.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/animat2sm.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/animat3sm.jpg
Large Pictures
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/animatorspalate1.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/animatorspalate2.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/animatorspalate3.jpg
Of course, great food and our server was very humerous and helpful. Quick note on dinners. AS aforementioned, Palo is a must. But try to find out as early as possible which dinner it would be replacing. They will change your seatings to a different restaurant, but it depends on availability, and the people. They really didn't want to help us out, but through constant asking of many people, we finally got what we wanted. (We would have missed Ariel's due to a Palo dinner)
So, dinner is done and we were all exhausted. I stayed up for a while and went down to the 70's night at Wavebands, but relaly didn't stay up that long.
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/wavebands1.jpg
Day 2 coming up!