Exploring Disney Cruise Line's Magical Ship, the Disney Wonder

Disney Cruise Line's Disney Wonder is full of surprises and well thought out spaces. The ship keeps guests entertained and creates perfect areas for kids and adults alike, as only Disney magic can. Plus the Disney Wonder recently received a perfect health score. Mostly known for it's Alaskan, Hawaii and Panama Canal itineraries, here are some of the highlights you'll find while sailing aboard the Disney Wonder.

Walking onboard the Disney Wonder gives you your first taste of the magic that comes from being on a Disney Cruise Line ship. Crew members will announce your party and clap as you make your way through the atrium. Guests Services, with a beautiful mosaic of The Little Mermaid, is located off to the side, along with the Port Adventures Desk. But probably the most important event that will take place here are all the Character Meet & Greets. From Disney Princesses and Mr. Incredible to Captain Hook and Mickey and Minnie, there are tons of chances for you and your family to meet your favorite characters-and with the added bonus of only having to wait in a short line unlike at the Disney Parks.

One of the featured restaurants-and my personal favorite-onboard the Disney Wonder is Tiana's Place. Unique to the Disney Wonder, Tiana's Place is themed to the movie The Princess and The Frog. With live music and fantastic New Orleans style food, the wait staff will have you up and dancing along to The Crawdad Crooners.

What's really special about sailing on a Disney Cruise Line ship is the rotating wait staff. Every party will be assigned to one of the three main restaurants each night, rotating through each dining room throughout your cruise. But your wait staff will stay with you. This is great for the added convenience of them getting to know you and your preferences. They'll even have drinks ready for you when you sit down.

A perfect area to relax, the Promenade Lounge often hosts trivia and bingo competitions for guests. There is also a bar area, board games and a place for occasional live music. Be sure to check the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App for a full list of the day's activities. You'll even be able to message other members of your party without needing to be connected to the ship's WIFI.

Pretty soon this area will receive a full renovation to change the theme to The Princess and The Frog at the ship's next drydock.

Triton's is another of the main dining restaurants guests will rotate through during their cruise. With a different menu every night, Triton's feels more like the dining you can find on other cruise ships. The restaurant is also open for breakfast and I would highly encourage anyone to make sure to eat there at least one morning during their trip. There is an array of options-including Mickey waffles-and servers walking around with fresh pastries.

Throughout the day, Azure hosts a mixture of events, from live entertainment to serving as a meeting spot for excursions. At night it becomes an adults-only club with dancing and signature drinks.

Crown & Fin Pub is an English-styled pub with board games like backgammon and chess and hidden Disney relics like Mary Poppin's umbrella. Serving as a hangout spot during the day with occasional trivia games, which are sometimes age-restricted, and TVs to catch up on your favorite sports team, Crown & Fin Pub also becomes an adults-only area at night.

Cadillac Lounge is a great place to sit back and relax. With comfy chairs and live music, it's easy to unwind here after a full day of excursions.

Looking to get some shopping in? There are three main shops onboard the Disney Wonder-Sea Treasures, Mickey's Mainsail and White Caps. Sea Treasures has Alaska-specific merchandise that you won't be able to find anywhere else. Mickey's Mainsail and Whitecaps are loaded with Disney Cruise Line exclusive goodies.

One thing is for sure-you don't want to miss the nightly shows at the Walt Disney Theatre. Currently, on a 7-night Alaskan cruise, there are three Broadway-quality productions-The Golden Mickeys, Frozen, A Musical Spectacular and Disney Dream - An Enchanted Classic. There are two showings of each of the nightly performances-one before dinner if you have the later dinner seating and one after dinner if you have the earlier dinner seating. Just be sure to arrive early to get a good seat. These shows fill up quickly.

Additionally, there are also comedic presentations and a hypnosis act. Another exciting feature on Disney Cruise Line ships is they will premier movies onboard the day new Disney movies debut. Normally with special meet-and-greet characters before the movie too!

The D Lounge is a family-friendly area with dance parties, karaoke and trivia. It also serves as one of the meeting spots for excursions. There are even fun movies quotes swirled around the carpet.

Animator's Palate is the third dining room on the Disney Wonder. Filled with sketches and an interactive element where you get to see your drawing come to life onscreen, Animator's Palate really brings the wow factor. Be on the lookout for a special parade led by none other than Sorcerer Mickey himself!

The Buena Vista Theatre-modeled after the art deco styled theatres from the 1920s and 1930s-allows guests to catch up on recent and popular Disney releases. There are also special live presentations on the Disney Wonder that focus on the wildlife and nature that you'll be seeing during your voyage.

The Disney Oceaneer Club and Lab are the children areas located onboard the Disney Wonder. Perfect for kids aged 3-12, the multi-themed rooms offer special Character interactions, games and activities. Parents will feel safe dropping their kids off here as all children must wear magic bands to tap in and out of the area. And open houses allow parents to join in on the fun.

At the Oceaneer's Club, there are four main themed rooms-Andy's Room, Disney Junior, Frozen Adventures and MARVEL Super Hero Academy.

There's a special hallway that leads from the Oceaneer Club to the Disney Oceaneer Lab which is styled after Disney's Society of Explorers and Adventurers (S.E.A.). With an Animator's Studio, Captian's Workshop, Craft Studio and Wheelhouse, kids will spend their day being creative and conducting experiments.

For the Alaska cruise, I can't stress enough how worth it it is to get a Stateroom with a Verandah. You are constantly sailing by wildlife and beautiful scenery, and having your own private balcony allows you to get the best views. From our balcony, we saw whales, dolphins, seals and even a black bear with two cubs. Plus, we got an awesome view of Dawes Glacier without the crowds of the upper deck!

The staterooms themselves are spacious with more storage than normal cruise ships. It's easy to fit a family of four in one room with the pull-out couch and hidden bunk bed. But one of the best features is the divided bathroom. One side is the toilet with a sink and mirror, while the other side is the shower (with bathtub!) and another sink and mirror. That means it's a breeze for two people to get ready at the same time, and you'll have plenty of room to lay out all your toiletries.

Ready to really relax on vacation? Senses Spa and Salon is for you. With an array of massages, facials and salon services, you'll get the ultimate in pampering here. Or choose to relax in the Rainforest Room with heated chairs, saunas and showers.

Or if you're worried about gaining weight from all the delicious food onboard, be sure to check out the fitness area where there is a full assortment of gym equipment and classes to keep you active while on vacation.

Disney Cruise Line is often thought of as a family cruise, but it's just as much fun as an adult getaway too, with entire areas of the ship dedicated to adults only-including the Quiet Cove Adult Pool, Cove Café and Signals Bar. Relax on the top deck in the private pool or hot tubs, grab specialty drinks at the Signals Bar or just enjoy the coffee-house style atmosphere of Cove Café. There are even specialty beverage tastings at Cove Café.

If you'd rather spend a day at the pool with your family, Goofy's Family Pool is the perfect option. With a big-screen TV playing Disney movies, hot tubs and plenty of chairs, this is the perfect spot to relax in the sun. It's also where many of the fun activities like the Sail-A-Wave Deck Party and the Frozen Deck Party happen.

Food is always close by on the Disney Wonder, and guests can grab a quick bite during most of the day from Daisy's De-Lites, Pete's Boiler Bites and Pinocchio's Pizzeria. Daisy's De-Lites offers salads, sandwiches and wraps, fruit, soups, cookies and make-your-own craveable bowls. Pete's Boiler Bites offers traditional American favorites like hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken fingers and fries. There's also a special of the day and gyros. Pinocchio's Pizzeria offers an assortment of pizza made fresh throughout the day.

Perhaps the most popular place on board is the Eye Scream station, where you can pour your own soft-serve ice cream. Get a cone of the classic vanilla, chocolate or vanilla and chocolate swirl. Or try one of the daily specialties like pineapple or mango. Right next door is Sulley's Sips-a bar for specialty drinks, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic alike, that you may be craving.

The Aqualab is a fun mini waterpark with water jets and a splash pad great for families. Be sure to catch a ride on the two-story water slide the Twist 'n' Spout! For smaller children-those three years old and younger-there is the less intense Dory's Reef.

Cabanas is a buffet-style dining area perfect for grabbing breakfast or lunch. With a multitude of food options, it's easy to find something for everyone at this spot. At night it changes to a sit-down restaurant, perfect for if you'd rather go to dinner at a different time than what you're scheduled for.

One handy trick to know for sailing on a Disney Cruise is to bring your own thermos or water bottle. It's perfect for filling up at the beverage station on deck 9. The station has a full assortment of soda fountains, coffee, hot tea and hot chocolate, which is perfect for the Alaskan itinerary. But having access to free soda whenever you want means that ordering soda for room service will result in an extra fee.

Palo is the Italian-themed, adults-only specialty dining option aboard the Disney Wonder. The food will have you second-guessing that you're on a cruise ship and not in a fancy restaurant. Just be sure to save enough room for the soufflé at the end of your meal. And check out the brunch during one of your days at sea-it's a culinary masterpiece of brunch favorites.

Wanting to do something extra special for your child while onboard the Disney Wonder? Check out the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique where they cann dress up-including hair, makeup and nails-as a Disney Diva, Fairy-Tale Princess, knight or captain. Be sure to check out each package to see what all is included.

Ready to test your family members in a friendly game of basketball or Ping-Pong? The Wide World of Sports Deck, located at the front of the ship, is the perfect area for family tournaments and making sure to get out all of that extra energy your kids may have.

This is also a great spot to view Dawes Glacier if you do not have a room with a balcony. Just be sure to get here early as it does get crowded.

For kids over the age of 12, there are special areas of the ship just for them. Edge is dedicated to tweens and is the perfect spot for dance parties, games, movies and scavenger hunts. Vibe is for teens and made to look like a loft apartment-a perfect hangout for lounging around and playing games.