Heading to the Buffet
Our second full day on the Disney Wonder began with the breakfast buffet (to catch up on our previous adventures click here). I usually avoid the buffet because I have seen too many things that raise my blood pressure. Between people touching food with their hands, pushing their bacon around with the serving spoon for the egg, it’s not pretty, especially if you have dietary restrictions. However, our disastrous experiences in the dining room led us to give the buffet another chance.
The organization of the buffet impressed me. The staff monitored people very closely, which made me feel safer about food safety and cross-contamination. Disney also required that parents attend their children at the buffet, so I didn’t have to worry about little rogue hands. To my surprise, the breakfast was delicious, particularly the Mikey Churro Waffles.
Oh, those waffles! I’ll be dreaming about those for a while. I ate way too many of them. The entire meal surprised me and I wish I had gone to the buffet sooner. It was my first substantial meal of the trip. I guess the way to this gal’s heart is with cinnamon, sugar, and a toasty, golden carb-loaded waffle.
Let’s Promenade
After our breakfast indulgence, we decided to go for an easy walk around the Promenade Deck. Most cruise ships have a walking deck for guests who prefer fresh air over the gym. Many ships utilize the upper deck, but Disney uses a lower deck for the track. Unfortunately, we couldn’t complete the entire loop because the deck also includes docking equipment and is closed off when the ship is in port.
Our exercise tempts foiled, we decided to explore the ship so I could practice my photography. We had visited Ensenada many times, so we did not feel we were missing out by staying on board.
Finding a Quiet Spot, but Not Really
We grabbed the camera and a deck of cards and went on an adventure. Our plan was to take photos for a while and then find a quiet corner to play Canasta. Yes, I am an old lady at heart. We eventually found a spot in the pub, but a crew safety drill was happening at the same time. We heard loud horn blasts from the speakers throughout the pub during our game. By the time we finished and headed to our brunch at the adult-only restaurant, Palo, my ears were ringing
My best friend and I were really excited for this meal. We heard wonderful things and hoped we wouldn’t be disappointed since our dining experiences were lackluster so far. We even dressed up before heading to the restaurant.
Now We’re Talking
Palo was located at the front of the ship and offered stunning views. Let me start by saying, the food was spectacular!!! There was so much of it. They started us out with pastries; my friend chose a classic croissant while I selected an almond one. They are absolutely a weakness of mine. I even tried to figure out how to take the leftovers back to my room. Unfortunately, there were no to-go containers onboard.
All of this deliciousness before our main entrees even arrived!
Brunch and a Show
While waiting for our entrees, we got some unexpected entertainment. Palo has one-way windows so diners can enjoy the view without onlookers. We laughed when a young boy walked up to the window next to our table and tried to peer inside, and an even bigger laugh when he puffed his cheeks and placed his mouth against the window, making silly faces. We had the biggest laugh when he started licking the window before his mother called him away. Awww… children 🤣
More Fishy Disappointment
For our main courses, I ordered fish, and my best friend had the ravioli. I will admit the fish was dry. I am not sure what Disney does, but it can be improved. It really didn’t matter; we were so full and still had dessert to try. I do not think you will be surprised that the desserts were not good, but I enjoyed everything else so much that I was not going to complain; it just meant I could get some soft serve later, which, like all the other ice cream onboard, never disappointed.
After such a significant lunch, we decided to change and head back to the upper decks and soak up a little peace, quiet, and sunshine. We hung out until it was time for the “all aboard” call to watch for runners. It is a time-honored activity while on a cruise ship. And yes, the ship will depart without you, so watching people sprint back is always exciting and comical. Everyone on this particular cruise was actually punctual, and there were no stragglers to watch, so we headed back to the room.
Watching Little Toot
I was glad we returned when we did because we got to watch tugboats guide the ship out of the harbor. It’s a fascinating process. Some ports require a harbor pilot to guide ships in and out. I even managed to photograph the harbor pilot boarding the pilot boat while the cruise ship sailed out to sea. After all that excitement, we decided to relax until we got ready for Pirate Night.
A Pirates Life For Me
Pirate Night is a special Disney tradition, and they go all out. They give each guest a red Mickey bandana to wear. Having heard about Pirate Night, we decided to come prepared with our own Mickey ears to partake in the festivities. I felt severely underdressed compared to some of the other guests who wore full-blown pirate costumes. The staff was also dressed to match the theme.
We had dinner at Triton’s, which featured a Caribbean-themed menu for the night. The best menu in the main dining room. We ate very well the entire day. We had fried brie, chilled mango soup, and a delicious noodle stir-fry. As for desserts, let’s just say the ice cream sundae still won the day.
Party at Sea
We finished the night with a deck party and fireworks. It was colder than heck, but a very enjoyable experience. I paid little attention to the characters dancing, but was excited we had haphazardly picked the best spot to view the fireworks. After that, we headed back to our room, found our Davy Jones towel “animal” waiting for us, and fell asleep to another Disney classic.
Check back next week for more on my adventures at sea!
Churro waffles!!!!!!!!!!! Yum!!!!!!! 🤤