Disney Wonder Panama Canal Eastbound Cruise: Day 13 - Animation Dinner at Animator’s Palate

Date of Visit: November 20, 2019

Our last dinner in Animator’s was the night you get to draw a character that then appears in a show on the screens.

Mik didn’t mind drawing a character this time, but he did not like that “Be Our Guest” part of the dinner. He used to like it or at least not mind it, but he has grown to dislike the song because we have the “Be Our Guest” dishes and I’ve been known to sing it and even ask Alexa to play it when serving him food at home.

Mik had the Sesame Crusted Tuna Sashimi appetizer.

He also had the Lobster Bisque soup.

For his main course, he had the Chicken Schnitzel.

For dessert, he had the Very Cherry Chocolate Sundae.

Disney Wonder Panama Canal Eastbound Cruise: Day 12 - Captain’s Gala Dinner at Triton’s

Date of Visit: November 19, 2019

Our last dinner in Triton’s this cruise was the Captain’s Gala menu.

Mik had the Oysters Rockefeller on the Half Shell for his appetizer.

For his main course, he had the Pan-Seared Venison Medallions.

For dessert, he had the Chocolate Lava Cake.

Disney Wonder Panama Canal Eastbound Cruise: Day 11 - Dinner at Tiana’s Place

Date of Visit: November 18, 2019

No idea what the theme was this night, but the dessert ended up being one of our favorites.

Mik has the North Atlantic Lobster Ravioli for his first appetizer.

He also had the Chicken “Bastela” appetizer.

For his main course, he had the Braised Center Cut Osso Buco “Milanese.”

For dessert, we all enjoyed the Peanut Butter Fudge Pie.

Disney Wonder Panama Canal Eastbound Cruise: Day 10 - Port of Cartagena, Colombia

Date of Visit: November 17, 2019

From the ship and the way Dad and I boarded a bus for our excursion right outside the ship, it seemed that there was nothing at the port in Cartagena. As we also knew, the port wasn’t near town and after the annoyance of Puerto Vallarta, Mik and Mom just weren’t going to get off here.

When Dad and I returned from our Port Adventure, we discovered the port had a little ecopark/zoo along with a shop and a Juan Valdez coffee shop. However, it was crazy crowded and we still didn’t think it was worth having Mik and Mom get off the ship.

Around 3pm when we got back on the ship, I rode the elevator up to our stateroom and overheard that one lady came back to get her passport as you could get a stamp in it from the shop for $1. Thus, when I got back to the room we not only grabbed Mom and Mik’s passports, but we decided to all get off and at least get a photo in front of the ship as it was a rare time it pulled in a way you could get an up close photo with the front.

Our timing of getting off around 3:30pm with an all aboard of 5:15pm ended up being perfect as most were back on the ship (or in line as it was the longest to get back at this time). Thus, we easily got a vanilla cinnamon latte from Juan Valdez for Mom (and Mik to taste and have some coffee in Colombia) while Dad got the passports stamped.

Mik enjoyed at least seeing something and checking out the flamingos.

It was hot and sunny, so he didn’t so much enjoy us trying to get a good photo in front of the ship.

While we were only off the ship for about 30 minutes, this was our favorite experience off the ship as a family this cruise. Mik probably would have enjoyed seeing more of the eco park, but it was hot and earlier it was more crowded so the way we did it was probably still the best to experience it without overdoing it.

Disney Wonder Panama Canal Eastbound Cruise: Day 10 - Frozen Dinner at Animator’s Palate

Date of Visit: November 17, 2019

We happened to get a great dining rotation this cruise as Animator’s was fun to be in for the theme nights. For the Frozen dinner, there were different images from Frozen shown throughout the dinner.

During the dinner, they gave everyone light up snowflake necklaces.

For his appetizer, Mik had the Duke of Weselton’s Favorites (meats and cheese plate).

As his entree, Mik had the Lobster Ravioli.

He had the Oaken Warm Apple Pudding Cake for dessert.

Disney Wonder Panama Canal Eastbound Cruise: Day 9 - Panama Canal Dinner at Triton’s

Date of Visit: November 16, 2019

The dinner for the day we went through the Panama Canal was Panama cuisine themed.

This was one of the two nights Mik got a drink at dinner instead of the lounge. He enjoyed the non-alcoholic Donald Delight (vanilla ice cream, orange passion juice, and strawberry puree).

For his appetizer, Mik had the Warm Cheddar Cheese and Applewood Smoked Bacon Tartlet.

We all had the Baked Lobster Tail “Gatun” for our main course.

For dessert, Mik had the Warm Churros and was tempted to say, “Yes,” when our server asked if he wanted more, but he was too full.

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).