What's New on the Disney Wonder: There's More on Deck Four!

Mickey Chick w/the Main Mouse in D-Lounge

      On a recent back-to-back sailing, Mickey Chick explored just about every corner of the fresh-from dry dock Disney Wonder. There was so much to share, that I needed to break it up into a deck-by-deck tour. Today's blog takes us from aft to fore along deck four:

Shutters' Portside Seating Area

       The most prominent change can be found on the port side, where Shutters has taken its cruise photo program into the 21st Century. Gone are the days where passengers crowd into the limited space searching for familiar faces on the walls. And, while the photobook library system on the Dream class ships are a more civilized step up, guests still needed to contend with a crowd in a cramped space while vying for a table to peruse their photos. The new Shutters does away with the printed pics in favor of more streamlined digital kiosks and comfortable porthole seating areas.

Disney Wonder: Shutters Re-imagined

      With a simple tap of the Key to the World card, guests can scroll through their photos, make minor edits, save their favorites, and order prints, photobooks, or flash-drives with as many or as few pictures as they wish. Package prices appear on the welcome screen and options are offered as you explore. Checkout is super simple, as the charge is made directly to the stateroom. It's also quite easy to find any pictures that haven't appeared in the account for whatever reason. By simply choosing the date, the approximate time, and the location, guest's can scroll through the photos until the wayward picture is found. We actually used this feature a few times and were able to locate every one of the photos that we remembered had been taken.

Shutters' Digital Photo Kiosks

       Due to the shorter itineraries, we decided it would be more economical to have our few favorites printed, rather than pay for a 10 print package or photobook. (We adore the photobooks and have chosen to have them made the last few times we sailed on the Fantasy, when the itinerary was longer and we had more varied photos to choose from.) We actually ordered our photos through the kiosk on debarkation morning and were able to pick them up at the guest services desk before disembarking.

Shutters' Service Desk

Shutters' Portrait Studio

    Of course there are several Shutters employees in the shop area to help guests with any questions, issues, or special purchases.

Shutters Portrait Studio

     Just forward of the photo shop we find a brand new offering: Shutters Portrait Studio. While a bit cozy, guests who would rather not wait in long lines, want pictures sans characters, or just want a more quiet, intimate, private place to have family portraits made, the new studio fits the bill. There are contact cards and brochures available for guests who might be interested in this service.

Mickey Chick posing at Shutters

Re-imagined D-Lounge

D-Lounge Carpet

       A few steps more and we reach the newly redubbed D-Lounge - formerly known as "Studio Sea." The name change is part of the homogenization of the fleet, eliminating distinctive monikers for a more streamlined presentation of offerings.

Disney Wonder D-Lounge

     The room is brighter and more open than its predecessor, with clean modern design, and flexible seating. While there are numerous nods to the emblematic tri-circle, the room does lack the thematic touches of the original. Be sure to check out the carpet, however, which has references to classic Disney stories throughout the room.

Princess Gathering from Deck 4

       Exiting D-Lounge via the forward exit brings us to the atrium balcony.

At the port side, cruisers can visit the DVC desk for information about the popular timeshare program. At starboard, just past some cozy booths perfect for passing the time on an embarkation

Deck 4 Starboard Lounge Area

morning, guests can contemplate their next Disney adventure at the Disney Vacation Planning Desk.

Disney Vacation Planning Desk

       If you've ever cruised with Disney before, you know that their future booking desk becomes busier as the days go by. While I believe the superb service and attention to detail motivates families to want to repeat the Disney Cruise experience, I'm sure the incentive flyers in staterooms outlining the 10% off plus onboard credit of $100 or more towards a future cruise doesn't hurt. The desks get so busy, that Disney has implemented a new feature only on the newly re-imagined Disney Wonder: The Check-in Kiosk.

Using the Vacation Planning Check-In Kiosk

Future Cruise Booking Slip

 
     It's very simple and intuitive to use - allowing folks to relax and enjoy their time, rather than waiting untold hours for their turn with the Vacation Planning cast member.  Guests who aren't quite sure what they want, or who don't care to wait, can fill in a booking slip and drop it in the box at the desk.  A DCL representative will send confirmation via email when the booking or placeholder reservation has been made.

       Around the corner, just beyond the bank of mid-ship elevators is what I like to call the "shopping and theater district."

Disney Wonder Shopping and Theater District

Mickey's Main Sail

White Caps

   In conformity with the other ships, "Mickey's Mates" - the shop primarily for children's items- is now known as Mickey's Main Sail and the high-end, adult-oriented "Treasure Ketch" is the latest iteration of White Caps. 

   The shopping hall opens to the expansive lobby of the Walt Disney Theater.

Walt Disney Theater Red-Carpet Ready for Golden Mickeys

     The tastefully appointed venue is host to Disney Cruise Line's most highly-anticipated Broadway-quality production, Frozen: A Musical Spectacular. As you'll find in my next blog post, the name does not disappoint.

Mickey Chick's Adventures are sponsored by Second Star Travel. 

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