August 9, 2011 (8/9/2011) Taking the Wonder to see the AMERICAN CHILD

[jilljill]

Thought I would start a thread for this sailing.
I've already emailed my TA to book us on this sailing when bookings open on 9/21.

Meet your cruisers:

1. jilljill - Barb
DH Jay
DD Alexa will be 17 when we sail

2. Caropooh - Carolyn
alanapapa - Andrew (DH)
DD Alana will be 17 when we sail
DD Kathryn will be 12 when we sail

3. Pongo&Perdita - Nancy 47
DH - David 48 (atoc)
DD - Megan 14
DD - Emma 8 (atoc)

This will be our 9th DCL cruise:
1,2,3,4 Bahamas
5 Panama Canal Eastbound Crossing
6 Western Carribean
7 Mediterranean
8 TransAtlantic Westbound
9 Alaska

4. starwood
31Buzz - Mike (DH)
Darthvader92 - DS will be 19 when we sail

5. JLSE50 - Jan
DH Tom

6. JoeSchmieg - Joe (FE Organizer)
DW - Andrea
Celebrating 7th Anniversary

7. USUKMama - Sophia
DH - Rich
DS-10
DS-7
DD-4

8. MagicMe - Melodie
Mom (aka Nana/Bernice)
This cruise will make #5 so once completed - I'm gold!!!!!


9. TheDisneyGirl02 - Amy
DBK1029 - Dave (DH)
This cruise will make #3 for them. Dave is my DS and Amy will be my DIL in less than 3 weeks!

10. Janet
DH - Walter
DD - Beth (eeyore10479)
Janet and Walter are Amy's parents and Beth is her twin sister. They are newbies to DCL (although they did cruise the Big Red Boat once).

(8-10 are a happy family that will be sailing together)

11. alexandmaddie - Kristi
DH Gerald
DD Alexandra (16)
DD Madeline (11)
DS Benjamin b(9)

12. amy2girls - 37
DH- 40- (WOW!!! big year in 2011!!!)
DD- 11
DD- 9

13. Mulan's Ma - Linda and
DD - 11 at time of sailing
It's our 3rd Disney Cruise--we sailed on the Magic both times it came to LA. This is our first time on the Wonder.

14. Mulan's Ma parents

15. Mulan's Ma friend
DS (7)
DD (11)

(13-15 are friends and family sailing together)

16. disney06 - Allison
DH - Ken
DD - Cassidy (will be 9)
DD - Caitlyn (will be 11)
Cabin 2 - Grandma

17. Bzzelady-Chris (the great vacation planner...my DH calls me Mrs. Disney!)
DH - Brian (willing to go along for the ride but already fretting because this trip means that he will have to give up Mustang Week in Myrtle Beach for 2011)
DD - AJ (will turn 12 on the last night of the cruise-when told of the cruise plan, her official comment was, "I don't think so...I'm a tropical girl!")

18. DM - Jane (wanted to see Alaska but her idea of roughing it is a hotel without room service...thank heavens for DCL)
DD - Dave (Alaska outdoors veteran but never been on a cruise ship)

(17 and 18 are travelling together)

19. rsjj -
DH
DS - 12 at time of sailing
DS - 9 at time of sailing

20. Disney Fans - Kelly
DH - Stefan
DS - Christian aged 9 as of 10/1/09
DS - Daniel aged 7 as of 10/1/09
From Dallas, TX booked 2 cat. 11's on deck 6, main dining

21. vacationsitis - Sumita
DH - Chris
DD - Asha (13 during the cruise)
DD - Amy (11 during the cruise)

22. disneytraceyl - Tracey
DH - Bill
DD - Kayley (age 7 at time of booking)
DD - Kyley (age 3 at time of booking)

23. akeogh - (turning 40 2 weeks after cruise)
DH - (40 at time of cruise)
DS - (10 at time of cruise)
DD - (almost 8 at time of cruise)
DD - (5 at time of cruise)
2 deck 2 inside cabins

24. dato63 - John
DW - Deb
DD - Makayla (will be 7 when we cruise)
DD - Madison (will be 7 when we cruise)

25. aimay73 - Aimee (36)
DH- Dennis (38)
The Alaskan cruise will be our 4th DCL, and my first trip to Alaska (DH has cruised there once)!
Cruising with DH's parents and brother

26. Rat-a-too-ee: Dyan (38)
DH David (45)
This will be our 4th Disney Cruise:
#1 = Bahamas
#2 = Mediterranean
#3 = Western Caribbean
#4 = Alaskan!
#5 = ???

27. MassDisLovers - Karen
DD - Meaghan, college-aged
Friends Jody and Julie

28. Pooh667 - me - Susan 43
DH - Carl 43 - our 20th wedding anniversary is during this cruise.
DD - Cassandra - 13
DS - Zachary - 13
We are travelling with our family, another 14 people (#30-35).

29. LaWalz23 -sister of Pooh667 - Lori 49

30. Mom of Pooh667 - Mary 76
Dad of Pooh667 - Ronald 79

31. Aunt of Pooh667 - Theresa 79
Aunt of Pooh667 - Carmela 77

32. Cousin of Pooh667 - male 42
Cousin's wife - 40
Cousin's daughter - 7

33. Cousin of Pooh667 - female- 43
Cousin's husband - 42
Cousin's daughter - 11
Cousin's daughter - 9

34. Cousin of Pooh667 MIL - 71
Cousin of Pooh667 FIL - 80

35. Elfinjojo - Jo
DH - Rob
DD - Holly - 9yo
DS - Evan - will be 7 at time of sailing
Gold Castaway Club members from the UK

36. geffric
DH
DS - 20
DS - will have just graduated HS

37. taramoz
DM - my mom
DD - 7 at time of sailing

38. sister of taramoz
DH
DS - 7
DD - 3

39. Dlandfan - Stacey
DH
DS- 11 at time of trip

40. Teriyaki (formerly Smackeralchick on VMK) Laurie
DH--Lindsay
DD--Chelsea, 16 at sail time
DD--Kaitlin, 16 at sail time

40A. Disney-ite - Deb (cousin of Teriyaki)
traveling with Eric

41. cdnmomof2 - Cathie
DH
DS 9
DS 5

42. DizC1288 - Cyndi ~ 5th disney cruise
Sharon ~ 1st disney cruise
Marcy ~ 1st disney cruise
Lucinda ~ 4th disney cruise
Group of mom's from MN

43. Makorin - Makoto - 54
DW - Kazumi - Our 25th wedding anniversary
DD - Kenji aged 13 - 3rd disney cruise

44. DustBunny (Corey)
DH (Ray)
DD (Holly, age 12)

My sister, Dland Fan, and her family and our mom are on the cruise also.



Useful links for Alaska:

Lumberjack show in Ketchikan http://www.lumberjackshows.com/alaska/alaskaticket.html
Bering Sea Crab Fisherman's Tour in Ketchikan http://www.cfishadventures.com/default.asp?pageid=2
http://www.alaska.com/


Vancouver FAQ thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2283011


American Child by John Denver: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOekV_rDQWU


LA to Seattle is at least 20 hours of drive time. There are plenty of places to see, but you really would not be able to enjoy them. I (alanapapa) would recommend coming to Seattle a few days early and seeing the sights around here. Mount Rainier and Mount St Helens are easily accessible. You might want to stay overnight at Rainier. Or go down to Portland Oregon. In Seattle itself is the Pike Place Market, The Klondike Gold Rush National Monument, a fantastic Underground tour, and of course the Space Needle.


Seattle area info

Here is quite a bit of touristy stuff to do in the Seattle area! I also included a link to Sea-Tac Airport.

http://www.citypass.com/city/seattle.html

http://www.graylineseattle.com/

http://www.portseattle.org/seatac/

http://www.museumofglass.org

http://www.spaceneedle.com/

http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/frameset.asp?flash=false

http://www.undergroundtour.com/

http://www.ridetheducksofseattle.com/

http://pugetsoundwine.org/vineyardswineries.aspx

http://www.ste-michelle.com/winery

http://www.empsfm.org/

http://www.futureofflight.org/

http://www.museumofflight.org/

http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=sea

http://www.pioneersquaredistrict.org/

http://www.rei.com/stores/11

http://factorytoursusa.com/TourDetai...ate=WA&Search=

http://www.nws.usace.army.mil/Public...ename=mainpage

http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/tour/water.htm

Mount Rainier and Mount St Helens would both require a car to get there and would each take most of a day to get to and see.
http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/mshnvm/

http://www.nps.gov/MORA/index.htm

Most anything over on the Olympic Peninsula would require a car and a whole day.
http://www.olympicpeninsula.org/
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/


VANCOUVER NEWS ABOUT WONDER
http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/en...se_season.aspx



ALASKA WEB CAMS
VANCOUVER - August 9 and 16
http://www.northvancouver.com/webcams/cruisecam/
(I hope we can get a better one than this, but so far everything else I have found is out of service.)

SKAGWAY - August 12
http://www.wpyr.com/

JUNO - Aigust 13
http://www.webcambiglook.com/fullscreen/juneau2full.htm

KETCHIKAN - August 14
http://webcamketchikan.com/mega-view-cam-3/

 

[geffric]

We are getting a quote on this.. if we take the kids.. will let you know if we decide ...

 

[caitlinsdad]

We are thinking of this one too, but I have to wait to sept 28 booking window, only have 2 cruises under our belt

Hopefully the rates will not be thru the roof by then.

 

[jilljill]

We are thinking of this one too, but I have to wait to sept 28 booking window, only have 2 cruises under our belt

Hopefully the rates will not be thru the roof by then.

According to my TA there are not all that many people that are in the 6+ group of cruisers that get to book early. I don't expect the rates to change much if at all from the 21st to the 28th.

 

[caitlinsdad]

So much to learn for getting to vancouver
Flying from Ct, may also go to Calif either before or after cruise.

Thinking of flying into San Diego, renting car driving up to San Fran stopping a few days along the way. Then flying into Vancouver or Doing the other way around, Not sure but at least just under 2 years to plan

 

[jilljill]

Very ambitious plan for CA, I admire you for thinking on it that much this far out. I've read is much cheaper to fly into Seattle and either drive or take the bus/train up to Vancouver. If you do that you will be able to see Seattle a little bit as well.
Not sure I'd want to do the drive from San Fran down to San Diego after the cruise, that's a tiring trip. We've driven from LA to east of San Fran then to Lake Tahoe then back to San Fran after a Mexican cruise and 3 days at D'land and it was tiring to say the least. If I had to do it again I'd do the touring part before the cruise.

We'll fly in a couple of days early to see Seattle and Vancouver. Gotta save some vacation time for DH to enjoy our vacation house near WDW.

 

[caitlinsdad]

Very ambitious plan for CA, I admire you for thinking on it that much this far out. I've read is much cheaper to fly into Seattle and either drive or take the bus/train up to Vancouver. If you do that you will be able to see Seattle a little bit as well.
Not sure I'd want to do the drive from San Fran down to San Diego after the cruise, that's a tiring trip. We've driven from LA to east of San Fran then to Lake Tahoe then back to San Fran after a Mexican cruise and 3 days at D'land and it was tiring to say the least. If I had to do it again I'd do the touring part before the cruise.

We'll fly in a couple of days early to see Seattle and Vancouver. Gotta save some vacation time for DH to enjoy our vacation house near WDW.

I would most likely do something the cruise, Been to Seattle before, but never to Calif. Thinking 8 or nine days in Calf. so could spend a couple days in San Diego, Anihem and San Fran, But who knows, just throwing out ideals, depending on money issues could be just cruise. I have heard the train from Seattle to Vancouver is very nice.

Lots of ideals, maybe just San Fran to Yosimite, then cruise. Lots of time to plan( thankfully)

 

[jilljill]

We love San Fran, were just there for a week last month. I'd definately make that part of the CA trip plan if I was doing the planning. Might as well add in D'land since you haven't been there either.

The prices will be interesting to know for this cruise. Plus, they are going to be reclassifying the cabin categories so we have to get used to that too.

 

[caitlinsdad]

We love San Fran, were just there for a week last month. I'd definately make that part of the CA trip plan if I was doing the planning. Might as well add in D'land since you haven't been there either.

The prices will be interesting to know for this cruise. Plus, they are going to be reclassifying the cabin categories so we have to get used to that too.

I wonder what the new categories will be and how will they work

 

[geffric]

The prices will be interesting to know for this cruise. Plus, they are going to be reclassifying the cabin categories so we have to get used to that too.

Proces will make a difference for us.. i hadn't heard about the cabin cat changes.. do you know what gives??

 

[jilljill]

I know that the 11C they are advertising is what we now know as a cat. 12. Basically there will be the same cat. 4-11 and then A - B - C sub-categories below that will represent different locations on the ship. This will start for the 2011 bookings for the Magic and the Wonder, so I'm guessing it will be in line with how the cabins will be categorized on the new ships.

 

[jilljill]

I've added a link in the first post for a Lumberjack show in Ketchikan.

For the Baltics cruise I'm going on next year we've found it helpful to put all links and useful info in the first post so I'm going to do that again for this thread. It makes life easier when looking up things.

 

[caitlinsdad]

I've added a link in the first post for a Lumberjack show in Ketchikan.

For the Baltics cruise I'm going on next year we've found it helpful to put all links and useful info in the first post so I'm going to do that again for this thread. It makes life easier when looking up things.

Thanks, I did the same thing on our Tortola cruise, at least until we created a web site .

 

[jilljill]

I've added this link to the first post: Bering Sea Crab Fisherman's Tour in Ketchikan http://www.cfishadventures.com/default.asp?pageid=2

 

[caitlinsdad]

One step closer to booking, spoke with my TA today, Now heres hoping the prices are not Thu the roof.

 

[jilljill]

I need to email my TA to see if she has my credit card number or if she needs it. She has our Castaway Club numbers and the ressie number that needs to be transferred from the dummy booking I made onboard this summer.

 

[jilljill]

The TA now has my credit card number and the authorization to place the deposit on a cabin MOnday morning. She only has 9 clients that are gold or platinum, not many in the grand scope of things. Since I was the first to email her she will do my booking first.

 

[caitlinsdad]

Sadly mine has to wait until the 28th for me.

 

[jilljill]

I'll let you know what I find out Monday. What cat. are you looking at booking and for how many people? Also, have you see the thread on the main boards that has the new deck plans and reassigned cabin categories? Here's the link in case you missed it: http://www.yourmagicaljourneys.com/dcl/newcabincat.htm

 

[caitlinsdad]

In the past we have had a Cat 6 mid ship
We hope for this again, Looks like it will be a 5B now.