Alaska * May 24, 2011

[fireplug]

We DVR the North to Alaska shows with Larry Czonka and then watch a marathon of them when we get time. Today we have time. 3 hours of ALASKA!

Only 30 days... ordered the tux for dress up nght AND Palo!

Squid

 

[jrp]

Hi All
Thank You fro doing the FE list.. Things have been overwelming lately.. Short timers we are all.. HOPPY Easter to everyone..NO bunnies available? Can't wait to do some people watching and pin trading on the cruise.. I have to remember not to over pack this time even though we are going for 2 weeks.. Sweat pants are a must with the 50 to 60 temps with a few dress shirts and pants .. Can't forget a dinner jacket for formal night. Leaving the tux at home this time around.. See you all later on the board..

James

 

[gonecrusin]

Hi All
Thank You fro doing the FE list.. Things have been overwelming lately.. Short timers we are all.. HOPPY Easter to everyone..NO bunnies available? Can't wait to do some people watching and pin trading on the cruise.. I have to remember not to over pack this time even though we are going for 2 weeks.. Sweat pants are a must with the 50 to 60 temps with a few dress shirts and pants .. Can't forget a dinner jacket for formal night. Leaving the tux at home this time around.. See you all later on the board..

James

I just know my luggage is going to be overweight being we have to bring warmer clothes. No shorts and sundresses this trip. Any day we have 50 to 60 degree weather I think, it's Alaska weather. But, is it going to feel the same? All I can say is, LAYERS.

 

[NWmom]

Any day we have 50 to 60 degree weather I think, it's Alaska weather. But, is it going to feel the same? All I can say is, LAYERS.

Casualness
While shopping yesterday I heard more than one person mentioning they were wearing jeans to church today- not an unusual thing here on the west coast. It just surprised me for Easter attire.

One of the hardest things for me to get used to when we moved here was the informalness of it all. East coast/southern clothes for church on Sunday were Christmas attire here. I felt overdressed until I figured it out and modified.

That's not to say people do not dress nicely here, just that there is a chic casual look. So be prepared for things to be more casual from our family.

Hubby doesn't even own a suit anymore. Except on Christmas he would be overdressed wearing one. There has been no need to replace his old one. Since his gallbladder surgery, he has been shrinking sizes. Hate to invest in a suit until he is done shrinking. Still thinking about tux rental (if I can find a nice dress.)

For ds17 that means we can get him to wear dress pants and a nice shirt. On formal night that will include a tie, no jacket. His interview look. We're happy he will wear the tie.

Both the guys found flannel dress shirts for their Alaskan look in case there is no pirate night.

DD9 will wear any dress that swirls when you turn, any chance she gets. Typical 9 yr old that loves dress up. A friend is into ballet so she inherits her "benefit event" dresses on a regular basis. She did not need dinner dresses, just everything else got too short in the last two months.

Me- I still have not even seen a dress I would wear to church back east let alone anything to wear if hubby was in a tux. Those mall stores are over an hour farther away. I will try, but the clock is ticking.

Weather
Yesterday was the first day Seattle hit 70 this year. It was a beautiful day with not a cloud in the sky. The news commented that it was the warmest day so far this year.

It was also one of the few times we have been over 60 so far as well.
I've been wearing short sleeves since we started hitting the low 50's.

So how does that translate--I went shopping for new clothes as the kids have grown again. Bought shorts and short sleeved tops. By May, my kids are usually trying to wear shorts. Shorts here means capris except for July and August when it hits the 80's. Then it really means shorts.

For me, I am thinking layers means short sleeves and a nice light shawl in the evenings. Maybe a fleece for when we go to the glacier. I will pack one sweater just in case.

Lands End sells a coat called the navigator. It's good for rain. My dd9 has one with a removable fleece liner.

My winter raincoat is jacket length with light liner. I add a fleece during winter. In spring I skip the fleece. Now it is short sleeves and this raincoat.

Light drizzle all day for rain in rainforests, not the heavy deluge you get when it rains down south.

My mom from Florida calls it "damp cold" from November to April. She borrows a sweatshirt jacket when she visits from April to June.

I hope that helps in the packing department.

I saw someone buying rain pants on the main boards- even hubby who works outside only uses his for work maybe three times a year. You won't need them.

Skye

 

[jrp]

Hi All
Thank you Skye for the info on the weather your way.. The problem for us is that it is getting real warm, well down right hot.. We have had tornado's all around us here just North of Dallas, TX I am more than sure My DW will be cold as she puts a blanket on her at night as I kep 2 fans going all night in the bedroom.I am going to spruce up the list a little so when it is printed it will look easier..Talk soon

James

 

[NWDAD]

Jim,

Were you planning on going to Whistler after the Cruise? If so be prepared for lots of snow still. As of today it is still snowing in the Cascades and most of the Ski Resorts are extending the Season int June. 10" more of the white stuff today.

Kevin

 

[jrp]

Hi All
Brrr.. With snow on the ground in Whistler I don't know if we will go or not.. We are not planning on taking a heavy jacket with us, just layered clothing with a hoody for the cruise..Watching the news with all the tonado wanings going out around us here on TV right now.. The news chopper caught the wall clloud form and touch down while 3 miles away. The news caster in the chopper said they were geting small hail and were being buffeted? What the hey are you doing that close in a helicopter to a tornado. DUH.. I worked over 5 years on a BK 117 and cringed when we went out in bad weather.. Maybe they make the big bucks for it though..lol I am going to post on one of the first cruises out of Vancouver and hope someone will save and pos their navigators for us.. ( got to take a picture of my button/pin from our last cruise)

James

 

[Dawncala]

Hi All
Brrr.. With snow on the ground in Whistler I don't know if we will go or not.. We are not planning on taking a heavy jacket with us, just layered clothing with a hoody for the cruise.

We were just in Whistler the first week of April and the skiing was awesome. They kept getting snow at night and were definitely predicting an extended season, but don't worry, it is confined to the mountains. If you're not planning to ski you shouldn't need any warmer clothing than you bring on the cruise. It is really clear, much warmer, and not snowy in the village. I bet it'll be gorgeous by the end of May/early June. The village is fun, scenic and sometimes has awesome events going on.

 

[Christy May]

Looking forward to the cruise. We are so excited.
We would like to do the fish extenders we are in room 6026.
DD will be turning 24 on the boat. We are from Texas.
Flying into Vancouver on Monday the day before.

 

[gonecrusin]

Looking forward to the cruise. We are so excited.
We would like to do the fish extenders we are in room 6026.
DD will be turning 24 on the boat. We are from Texas.
Flying into Vancouver on Monday the day before.

Welcome!

 

[fireplug]

Looking forward to the cruise. We are so excited.
We would like to do the fish extenders we are in room 6026.
DD will be turning 24 on the boat. We are from Texas.
Flying into Vancouver on Monday the day before.

Welcome to our little group!

Squid

 

[NWmom]

For the person doing the FE list-- there is a possibility our room number may be changing.

We realized we had one of the coveted (by families) connecting rooms and do not need a connecting room.

So we called DCL and told them if it helped out someone we would be willing to switch rooms.

We will find out at check in if we have been moved out of 7007 or not.

We will be at the meet and greet to give the update so everyone has our room number for the FE.

 

[NWDAD]

I trust all are doing well. It seems that alot of folks are getting hit hard with storms and bad weather. Stay safe and I am looking forward to meeting everyone.

Kevin

 

[disnanny]

I count 11 so far for the list, there are some stateroom numbers missing. I have taken the liberty of putting together a FE list.

1. jrp#7136 FE=Y
2. Slam_C #6605 FE Y
3. NWmom*#7007 FE=Y NOTE room number may be changing
4. Tearem*# 1038FE-Y
5. Amy Fran #6082*FE-Y
6. disnanny#7528*FE-Y
7. Dawncala#8000*FE=Y
8. gonecrusin*#7122*FE=Y
9 Diannah #2588*FE-Y
10. RCDisneyFan#7612*FE=Y
11. frozenmickey*#7524*FE-Y
12. Christy May #6026

This should be the cut off, so everyone can get ready. Thoughts???

 

[RCDisneyFan]

Cruise docs finally arrived today!

So much still to do...

 

[jrp]

HI All
I agree disnanny with the cut off.. We were going to cut off at 30 days but I feel confident that one more is not going to put us in jeopardy of sinking..lol We have been collecting all the odds and ends for the trip ( over the door organizer,shoe organizer, etc...) Going to pack them this weekend to see what the weight is going to be so we don't go over the 50-70 range for the flight to the great white north,kachukookoK Dave EH.. "The 3 Hour Alaska Tour" is getting closer to a reality and is it any WONDER that the DISer group always makes it easier.. Find I hope the attached pin/button I made for last cruise on the Mexican Riviera..Ole//

James

 

[emmielou]

I've been to Disney World many times, but this is my first Disney cruise. I'm looking forward to Alaska and not sure what to expect from my cruise experience. I'm travelling with friends. I think we're on deck 8. Any tips...suggestions...must dos?

 

[disnanny]

I've been to Disney World many times, but this is my first Disney cruise. I'm looking forward to Alaska and not sure what to expect from my cruise experience. I'm travelling with friends. I think we're on deck 8. Any tips...suggestions...must dos?

Welcome, we went on our first Disney cruise in Jan through Panama Canal. the best tip I could give you is "you will have the time of your life"

 

[emmielou]

Welcome, we went on our first Disney cruise in Jan through Panama Canal. the best tip I could give you is "you will have the time of your life"

Thanks for the advice Can I ask a question? What is a fish extender?

 

[emmielou]

Okay, we have a hotel for Sunday to Tuesday at Sutton Place.

Is anyone else there? Good deal for our room through hubby's work.

He may be sneaking on here soon. If he does you'll know because he is NWDad.

Still have to get our Amtrak tickets, but will do that at the station this week. I have some questions to ask so we will have a field trip there, (beautiful building)

Now I still have to arrange the doggie babysitter. This one might be the hardest of them all.

Skye

We too are at the Sutton Place for the weekend before the trip! I hear it's a great place to stay.