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What to Expect When You Sail on Disney Wonder – A Complete Guide to A Magical Ship

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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
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.

THE STATS

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

STATEROOMS

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
Disney Wonder Family Concierge 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

Inside Staterooms

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:

  • Standard
  • Deluxe

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
Disney Wonder Inside Stateroom

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

Outside Staterooms

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
Verandah Stateroom with Queen Bed

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
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
Disney Wonder Animators Palate

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’s Place

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

Animator’s Palate

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
Palo Brunch

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:

  • Azure
  • Cadillac Lounge
  • Crown and Finn
  • D Lounge
  • French Quarter Lounge
  • Signals
  • Cove Cafe

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
D Lounge Bar on Disney Wonder

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.

RECREATION

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
  • AquaLab
  • Quiet Cove Pool

Goofy’s 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.

AquaLab

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

Quiet Cove Pool

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
Disney Wonder Quiet Cove Pool

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
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 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. 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
Walt Disney Theatre Entrance

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.

Activities

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.

  • Trivia
  • Cooking Demonstrations
  • Game Shows
  • Craft Activities
  • Expert Talks
  • Character Greetings
  • Bingo

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

Disney Cruise Tastings
Mixology Class

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
Disney Wonder Oceaneer Club

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

SHOPPING

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
  • White Caps
  • Sea Treasures
  • Diamonds and Wishes
  • Vista Gallery
  • Shutters

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
Disney Wonder in Cabo Mexico

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