May 18, 2003 Wonder

[Disneyfan37]

I got the ziploc bags for ice idea from someone on here,and it worked great for us in September as it kept our drinks cool.I packed some away last night.I am starting to pack the things that won't get wrinkled.I know I have to iron too.I hate ironing!
I am sure all the children are getting excited.Hey us adults are too<G>.I can't wait!This time next week we will be in Freeport!

Maria

 

[tlens]

Just bumping us back to page 1!!!

 

[luvstiggertoo]

Morning all!!!
Guess what I woke up to this morning?
A scratchy throat and stuffy head!

True to form for our vacations, someone has to get sick!

Not to worry...I'm drinking my juice and popping my cold meds. I'm making everyone else take their C and Echinacea and stay away from me!

We should all be healthy by Sunday!!
Weather is looking much better too!

 

[Disneyfan37]

Oh no!Hope you are all better by Sunday,and the others don't get sick!I am glad to hear that the weather is looking better.

Maria

 

[disneygal58]

Drink lots of juice and get some rest. There's alot of allergy/cold symptom/sneezing going around.
Due to circumstances beyond my control, we cancelled our night at the Radisson (we have out of town guests staying until Sunday am). So, if anyone is up for it, we will be hanging out around the area by Scoops after the drill and before the Sailaway Party on Sunday.
To those of you travelling over the nexr day or two, be careful and enjoy the journey.

See You Soon!
Dawn

 

[Disneyfan37]

Dawn that sounds great!We are planning on sitting up in that area around that time as last time we sat on the other side of the ship,but this time I want to make sure we actually can see us sail away from port.I can't wait!I actually started packing last night at least the stuff I can pack.I can't believe we leave in two days for the cruise.
I am sorry that you had to cancel your Radisson reservations.I wish in a way we weren't leaving here till Sunday morning as I am not ready.We are onlly like two hours from port.We are staying on Disney property,so it is too late to cancel those any way I am sure.Hopefully,I can get everything done by the time Saturday rolls around.

Maria

 

[disneygal58]

Maria,
I look forward to meeting you onboard. Have a great time at Disney - ride Tower of Terror for me , if you get a chance.
Leaving Sunday morning will actually give me more time to pack after work instead of before. We live about 2 and a half hours from the Port - will drop friends off at TIA at 7, then head over. We will probably visit Ron Jon's for a bit before heading to the ship.

See You Soon,
Dawn

 

[luvstiggertoo]

Disneyfan....it sounds like Scoops is a good place to be for sail away??? Why is that?

Dawn....sorry you had to cancel your Saturday night plans.
We're leaving from Tampa around 7:30-8:00. We just might see each other on I-4!!!

See you all Sunday!!!

 

[Disneyfan37]

luvstiggertoo-Scoops is good for some ice cream as we sail away.DH and I really would like to see the port as we sail away as last time we didn't have that experience.I believe scoops is on that side plus what better excuse then to be right by the ice cream<G>.
Disneygal58-I look forward to meeting you also.DH and I will be wearing white tshirts with a pic of us together on it which we took on our first cruise back in September on Disney.I am not sure if we will do the parks at all on Saturday as it all depends on what time we leave Gator town.If we do,I will ride TOT just for you.We do have dinner reservations though for the Clambake at the Disney Beach Club.
See you all in three days!

Maria

 

[tlens]

I'll meet at Scoops too but I am having a terrible time finding a lime green ribbon so if someone tries to crash your get together without the ribbon it'll be me!

Tracey

 

[disneygal58]

Maria,
You'll enjoy the clambake at the Beach Club - a good preview for things to come.
I'm also running out of time to find the lime green ribbon. I have no idea what I will be wearing, but I will be with a group consisting of myself - very youthful early 40 something redhead with two teenaged daughters, another single mom with 2 young daughters. We'll be the ones perusing other Dis members with ribbons - we will also have our bubbles.

Luvstiggertoo - If you see a brown PT Cruiser with a pink Minnie Head antenna ball, that's us!

See Everyone In Just A few,
Dawn

 

[luvstiggertoo]

Disneygal...how old are your friend's daughters?
My DD is 12 and is really hoping to hook up with some friends in the kids programs.

 

[minniecarousel]

I'm having sooo much fun reading your posts! I don't cruise for another 2 months. I hope to read trip reports from some of you when you get back.
I have one favor to ask. If someone is going to shoot some hoops - could you check and see if they have a ball pump? I understand that there is no organized basketball activities & we're willing to bring our own basketball, but we don't want to have to lug a pump along too. (Although I think we could find a cheap, small one to bring if we had to.) My DSs are 23 & 21 and that day at Nassau would be more fun onboard instead of even getting off the ship. Thanks for any help.
Have fun!

 

[disneygal58]

luvstiggertoo,
Anne Marie's daughters are 4 and 6. Happy packing and have a safe drive over on Sunday morning.

Dawn

 

[mcfamily]

Anyone know why the person was airlifted off the ship by the Coast Guard at Castaway Cay?

 

[disneygal58]

Hello Everyone,
It's taken me this long to find the heart (and time) to revisit the boards. We hung out in the vicinity of Scoops for about 15 minutes prior to the Sailaway Party, but saw no one. We then headed up to Deck 10 to watch Mickey "handed" people wave from the Port.
How was your cruise? We had a great time, as always. The only thing that was off, was our dining room team. The service was dissappointing at best. Gavin, the assistant server let it be known that he could not wait for his contract to be up and be off the ship. We choose to view it as a comedy of errors and not let it deter from the balance of the experiences.
In Nassua we did the obligatory (brisk) walk through the Straw Market. In Freeport, spent about a half hour at the mini shopping area outside the ship. Of course,while at Castaway Cay, we spent every possible moment soaking up the ambience as well as the sun. More than anything else we enjoyed the shipboard activities.
We plan to book the 7 night Western the first week in January as soon as the FL Resident rates appear. Now that my girls are technically young adults, a cruise is the best Christmas gift imaginable.
Looking forward to reading your reports,
Dawn Hope

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Hey Dawn

I've just been reading through the posts made after I left and I now know why I never saw you at the Radisson - sorry you had to change your plans.

After the cruise we headed back to Orlando for one night at the Swan our flight left home bound late Friday afternoon and we arrived home early Saturday morning.

We had the most beautiful time aboard the Wonder. Our stateroom was fantastic and was on the left side of the ship so we got great views of the Atlantis and Castaway Cay from our Verandah. We loved our towel animals. We went to the Cadillac Lounge every night before dinner and the new pianist Tony Payne was brilliant. Our meals were lovely and we spent them with a great couple from West Virginia. All the food was fantastic and certainly on a par with some of the fine dining restaurants at WDW. Palos was fabulous we did this on our last night. Parrot Cay was our first night.

Nassau we strolled down Bay street and the straw market, taxi to Atlantis where we lost $40 at the casino and then back to the boat for the American Buffet - scrummy. Freeport we stayed on the boat also apart from stroll around the straw market. Castaway Cay - it's beautiful but I have to tell you I'm just not a good beach person so we stayed there from ALL-Ashore until midday-ish.

We're so glad we did the 4-night rather than the 7-night so that we could experience it as I feel that it'll be the 7 nights from now on, 4 wasn't near long enough even after are 9 night vacation at WDW beforehand.

Sorry I never got a chance to bump into any of you.

Hugs

 

[tlens]

Hi all!

We also didn't have the best serving team. I was very surprised they put us in a TAPT rotation with a 3 YO. Our first dinner took over 2 hours!!! We were always one of the last ones to leave the dining room. Every night we had to leave dinner at 7:15 to take our DD to the clubs as her main program started (tea with Wendy, Dancing with Snow white). By the time one of us got back, we had missed the "show portion" of dinner.

Other than that, the ship was beautiful and debarkation was the simplest I've ever seen! (even having to get up at 5:30 am to clear customs)

 

[Disneyfan37]

I am sorry that we didn't make it to scoops.We kept busy from the moment we got onboard till we got off.We had a great time though.We finally made to Deck 10 as we the boat turned to hit the waterway.I didn't bother to go to scoops as I figured everyone would be gone by then. We are going to be waiting for the FL residents special to come out again to book another one.
Our servers were Dennis and Julia which I highly recommend.They made my birthday and our anniversary extra special.We sat with great people as well.
In Nassau,we went to Atlantis where I doubled my money at a Reelin Machine.We went to the Del Sol Store which was great and straw market.Straw market I probably won't be going back to it.I prefer to do the International Bazaar in Freeport instead of it which we did this time.We also played at the casino in Freeport where I doubled my money again.My husband didn't do anything at either casino.We loved castaway cay just like last time.That night I had tons of red bites all over me.I still have them,but they don't itch like this did.It was probably sand fleas.
About the incident on Castaway Cay,we heard through the grapevine that the person had a heat stroke.We saw the whole thing after the Castaway Club cocktail hour which was great.
The spa is great!We got the rainforest package which we enjoyed very much.I have asthma,and after going in there after we docked I felt a lot better.I believe that helped me as the first Day I didn't think it was going to be as great as last time.
I am sorry that you didn't have the best serving team.I will try my best to get the servers we had again.The two we had in September are no longer with Disney.We were sitting at table 20 at the late seating which we tried to change to early with no luck.It worked out best in the long run as we had a great table.
We want to do the 7 day next time as well.We way take a 3 or 4 day one in September before doing the 7 day one early next year.
Yes,those great shipobard activities.We managed to enjoy them more this time.The only thing we missed was bingo which we will have to check out next time.
I want to go back so bad!One is pampered so much!I don't see us crusing on anyother ship besides Disney.


Maria

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Wow Maria you had better luck in the casino than we did

I'm surprised to hear that people didn't have much luck with service. Our serving team was Ary and Yolande and they were fab, we were on 2nd seating table 4.

tlens we were also surprised by our seating rotation - PTAP - we were so sure that we'd get Tritons first night being a couple. That said we were somewhat relieved as it meant that I didn't have to press anything on the first night.