Disney Wonder Panama Canal Eastbound Cruise: Day 9 - Panama Canal

Date of Visit: November 16, 2019

While it may have been interesting to watch going through the locks from the front of the ship, we decided it wasn’t worth being in the crowd. Instead we spent most of the day on Deck 10 starboard near the Concierge Lounge. Dad mostly was on the sun deck for the lounge, which does have a lift so Mik could have gone up there, but it was easier for him to get a good view right on the edge of the ship and with the style of the railing on Deck 10.

I got Mik about 5:25am when I knew we were getting close to the Bridge of the Americas. We easily found a spot for him right by the railing. It was at that point too crowded for more than just him and me to be up front, but it was only one person deep along midship and we could have gotten more space if we moved more between midship and aft.

We went under the Bridge of the Americas around 5:40.

We enjoyed the sunrise as we were between the bridge and the Cocoli Locks.

Mik particularly liked the spot we ended up with at midship because it was a good view to watch one of the tugs go along with us as we approached the locks.

We entered the Cocoli Locks around 6:30am. From the starboard side, we were able to watch the reservoirs.

While in the first Cocoli Lock we took Mik back to the room. From our verandah we had  a great view for watching us leave locks.

Due to fog, we ended up with an hour or so delay and sat in the second lock waiting for it to clear and the cargo ship in front of us to leave the last lock. This was the one opportunity that Dad and I took to go up front to get a photo. You could also get a somewhat forward view from the Concierge Lounge sun deck, but you could also just watch it on the Bridge View channel, which was shown in the lounge as well as the Funnel Vision.

Around 9:30 when we left the locks, I got Mik from the room to watch as we went under the Centennial Bridge. By this time, less people were watching on Deck 10 and we had plenty of room to pick a spot around midship Deck 10.

After the Centennial Bridge, we enjoyed the scenery as we went through the Culebra Cut.

Around 10:45am it rained and we appreciated being able to go into the Concierge Lounge and continue to enjoy the view and stay dry.

The Concierge Lounge was also a good place to have lunch and stay cool as we exited the Culebra Cut and entered Lake Gatun.

After lunch, Mik went back to the stateroom. Dad and I enjoyed the view from the Concierge Lounge sun deck most of the way through the lake.

As we approached the Agua Clara locks around 2pm, we got Mom and Mik and we watched from Deck 10 as we went through the first lock.

After enjoying a popsicle that they came around handing out as we were going through the locks, I took Mik inside to sit in the lounge with Mom.

Dad and I then soon joined them as it poured rain again around 3pm.

After the rain, we all went back to the stateroom and enjoyed the view from our verandah as we were in the last lock.

Dad and I then watched exiting the locks and going under the bridge from the sun deck.

The Panama Canal day was long, but definitely a great experience, especially since we ended up with great weather as there was minimal rain while remaining mostly cloudy so we also didn’t have too much sun. We knew Dad and I would experience the Panama Canal crossing view a lot, but surprisingly Mik also really experienced all parts of it even more so than Mom (she saw most if not all parts, but spent more time in the room than Mik).

Disney Wonder Panama Canal Eastbound Cruise: Day 8 - World of Flavour Dinner at Tiana’s Place

Date of Visit: November 15, 2019

Mik had the Argentinian Empanadas for his appetizer.

We enjoyed that this night’s bread service included soft pretzel sticks.

For his entree, Mik had USA Prime Rib of Beef.

He had the Irish Warm Guinness Pudding for dessert.

Disney Wonder Panama Canal Eastbound Cruise: Day 7 - Pirates In the Caribbean Dinner at Animator’s Palate

Date of Visit: November 14, 2019

Normally we aren’t a fan of Pirate Night, but eating in Animator’s is fun as they show different pirate movie sketches and scenes on the walls during dinner.

For his appetizer, Mik had the Deep Fried Calypso Crab Cake.

He had Tia Dalma’s Jerk Chicken for his entree.

He also ate most of Mom’s entree - Jack’s Treasure-of-the-Seas.

For dessert, he had the Caramel Macadamia Nut Cheesecake Tart.

Disney Wonder Panama Canal Eastbound Cruise: Day 6 - Dinner at Triton's

Date of Visit: November 13, 2019

I have no idea if this night was a regular Triton’s menu or some other theme as I know the main regular menu for here was the one with escargot we had on Day 3.

Mik had the Red Lentil and Coconut Soup to start.

For his entree, he had the Roasted Venison Lion.

He had the Caramel Apple Cheesecake for dessert.

Disney Wonder Panama Canal Eastbound Cruise: Day 5 - Dinner at Tiana’s Place

Date of Visit: November 12, 2019

Overall I’m all for going away from the paper navigators and the menus being just paper put in the restaurants holders instead of different laminated versions for all the me nights. However, it is annoying that I then have no idea what theme menu we had as even though we did still get paper navigators they no longer list the dinner theme and neither does the app. The only way I could occasionally figure it out is that it’s a theme we’ve had before or if I noticed on the dessert menu. Bottom line the menu served this night seemed to be a California/Pacific Coast theme and its probably one of our favorites we’ve ever had.

Except Dad, we all started with the California Rolls.

Mik also had the Coriander and Tomato Soup.

For his main course, Mik had the Golden State Beef Tenderloin.

For dessert, Mik got the Citrus Flavored Cheesecake.

When he saw my Long Beach Sundae and he remembered he had originally meant to order that because of the rainbow sherbet, he ended up also getting a sundae.

Disney Wonder Panama Canal Eastbound Cruise: Day 4 - Dinner at Animator’s Palate

Date of Visit: November 11, 2019

This was our night for the regular Animator’s Palate menu.

As we were concierge this trip, Mik only got a drink at dinner this time because it’s his favorite dinner menu drink he has ever tried is the Bora Shake. He did often get the drink of the day in Concierge Lounge and could have gotten this, too, but he didn’t think of before dinner and didn’t want to miss getting it this cruise.

For the appetizer, Mik had the Black Truffle Pasta Purseittes.

He had the Lemon-Thyme Marinated All Natural Chicken Breast for his entree.

For dessert, Mik had another of his favorites - the Cookies ‘n Cream Sundae.

Disney Wonder Panama Canal Eastbound Cruise: Day 4 - Puerto Vallarta

Date of Visit: November 11, 2019

As Mik could get off in Puerto Vallarta, Dad and I chose not to do a port adventure and get off to explore as a family. The main area is three miles from the port, though, and we didn’t feel like dealing with a taxi or walk with the hot humid weather and rather short port call. However, there was a Starbucks in the mall next to Walmart right across the street from the port.

Walking from the port to the mall was overall easy. It is longer than it seems, though, as you have to walk in the port the opposite direction of the mall to the exit and then outside the port back past the ship to the mall. Not really that much of a walk for us, but the weather was hot and humid. There were cutouts the whole way and the only awkward part was the crosswalk not having a walk signal to cross back over to the port side.

The mall has a ramp up to it on the far left. Inside the Starbucks is right there on the second floor. As soon as we entered, someone pointed out the elevator for us, but it is also very easy to notice behind the escalator.

We enjoyed getting some different holiday drinks including Cranberry Mocha Blanco Frappuccino and Christmas Punch.

In the end, we all felt we could have enjoyed the port just as much by never leaving the ship, but at least we did get unique Starbucks drinks. Also, it was worthwhile getting photos of Mik and Dad with their Day of the Dead shirts in Mexico.

Disney Wonder Panama Canal Eastbound Cruise: Day 4 - Brunch at Triton’s

Date of Visit: November 11, 2019

The Puerto Vallarta All Ashore time was rather late (10:30), which made having brunch in Triton’s a great option they offered before going ashore. In particular, wee enjoyed that you could get lunch food early (Mik had a burger).

One of my favorite desserts of the trip was the cherry crepe at the brunch.

Disney Wonder Panama Canal Eastbound Cruise: Day 3 - Dinner at Triton’s

Date of Visit: November 10, 2019

Our first night in Triton’s was the regular menu for this restaurant.

Mik enjoyed his favorite appetizer here - the escargot.

For dinner, he had the Roasted Rack of Lamb.

For dessert, he had the Apple Tart Tatin.

Disney Wonder Panama Canal Eastbound Cruise: Day 2 - Dinner at Tiana’s Place

Date of Visit: November 9, 2019

We really enjoyed Tiana’s last trip, but it was even better this time as we had a table right by the stage. Our first night at Tiana’s was one of the restaurant theme nights with a New Orleans theme menu and the live music.

Mik had the Louisiana Hot Crab dip, which he enjoyed. It came out very hot and he was smart enough to notice and let it cool and not burn the top of his mouth like I did.

For the entree, he had the New York Sirloin Steak.

He had the Banoffee Cream Pie for dessert.

I got the Louisiana Root Beer Creme and this is I think the only dessert we’ve ever been totally disappointed with on a cruise. It wasn’t bad tasting, but it definitely didn’t taste like root beer and it was a very odd stretchy texture.