Top 24 Disney Wonder Cruise Ship Tips

1. Plan carefully your Disney Wonder Cruise. By knowing how the Disney Wonder Cruise Ship operates, you will be able to get more time on the ship, have special experiences and souvenirs for a small investment and avoid the crowds.
2. Take your chances book a low-priced stateroom and hope for an upgrade. Book the lowest fares. Let say you book Category 11 “guarantee” stateroom. When booking this category, you will not be immediately assigned a specific cabin. Instead, Disney Wonder Cruise Line guarantees you a room at this rate and waits to see how the ship fills up.

   This means you would get at least a Category 11 standard inside cabin. Since almost everyone wants to book the least expensive fare, the lowest fare most of the time sells out. In this case, Disney Wonder Cruise Line will upgrade those who booked the lower fare first. Obviously it is highly suggested to book a lower category as early as possible. Although you are not guaranteed to get an upgrade.
   
   Another tip is to request an upgrade upon check-in. Based on how full your Disney Wonder Cruise is, they sometimes are willing to upgrade you for a small fee. Most of the time this fee is much less expensive than if you booked that category originally.

3. Wear your swimsuit or bring it with you in a carry-on bag. On an early embarkation you will be able to enjoy the Mickey’s Kids’ Pool fairly empty.
4. Shore excursions: book them in advance, online or through your travel agent. Excursions fill up very fast.
5. Use room service. It’s included in the cost of your cruise, except for drinks like soda and bottled water or specialty items. (Milk, juice, coffee and tea are free.)
6. Snacks: Order extra cookies to have on hand for snacks.
7. Pack a lunch. Use room-service since it is included. Order sandwiches and pack them for on shore excursions. You will be saving money and time! (Some ports do not allow food to be taken off the ship, so check first.)
8. Visit the characters without the crowds. During dinner once the first course has been served, go to the atrium to visit the characters without the crowds.
9. Stack your pictures daily at Shutters the onboard picture shop, as they are less likely to be discarded this way. Toward the end of the cruise it’s easier to view them all and make your final selections.
10. Get the picture package. It’s an important saving, and if you don’t purchase enough pictures to fulfill the pack, the Shutters staff will refund you the difference.
11. Get to Castaway Cay early. Have an early breakfast in your cabin and be on shore around 9:30 am. You will avoid the crowds and have your pick of chairs, no lines for character greetings and photo opportunities, and snorkeling will be undisturbed.
12. Beat the crowds. Go to Mickey’s Kids’ Pool when everyone else is off the ship, on days in port.
13. Bring a soft-sided, collapsible cooler. This is useful for shore excursions or to keep snacks handy in your cabin.
14. Bring your own bottled water. The water onboard is expensive! Pack a small suitcase only with bottled water.
15. Do not waste your time, skip the talks. Both the shopping and disembarkation talks are replayed on television all the time. Don’t attend these lectures in person.
16. Read your daily Personal Navigator. It is a daily newsletter, keeping you updated on what’s happening on the Disney Wonder Cruise Ship. By carefully reading it and planning you will get more special experiences. Highlight the activities that could be of interest to you and your family and carry the Navigator with you throughout the day not to forget what’s available.
17. Participate. Whenever you are at an activity onboard and a cast member asks for volunteers, go for it. You could just get a free souvenir, like a key chain or magnet.
18. Get a unique souvenir. Bring a new pillowcase and colored pens. Drop them off at Guest Services on the first night requesting for the characters to sign it. Pick it up on the last night of your Disney Wonder Cruise.
19. Talk to Mickey Mouse. Get a daily wake up call from Mickey Mouse personally.
20. Budget tips. Set aside tip money in envelopes before you even board so you don’t have to worry about the expense later. Note that you can take care of tipping through Guest Services, this can be done at any time. The soonest the better! There will be longer lines toward the end of the Disney Wonder Cruise.
21. Avoid lines and have more fun. Show up for dinner five minutes after they begin seating and walk right in. Same goes for the shows, except The Golden Mickeys, where the pre-show is a lot of fun.
22. Get your kids free t-shirts. Allow your children to be a part of the kids’ show, they will get them at the end.
23. Where to get free drinks. At meals you can get milk, juice, tea, coffee, lemonade and soft drinks for free. The Deck 9 self-service free drink station offers milk, juice, tea, coffee, lemonade and soft drinks all day long. Castaway Cay offers free drinks like milk, juice, tea, coffee, lemonade and soft drinks 24 hours a day. Room service offers free milk, juice, tea or coffee and charges for soft drinks and bottled water. You have to pay for all drinks ordered at the bars, including soft drinks.
24. Plan your next Disney Cruise. Book your next Disney Wonder Cruise while onboard. You will get terrific savings and generous onboard credits.

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