Disney Wonder Alaska past cruisers...I NEED YOUR Input!

[AngelDisney]

Thanks for the tips!

I would like to go on the dogsledding on glacier excursion in Skagway. How likely is it for this excursion to get cancelled due to inclement weather in late August? I am planning to book it for the afternoon hoping any fog would clear up later in the day, but it seems that the weather can be quite unpredictable in Skagway so there is no advantage in booking an afternoon one over a morning one. Any experiences on this?

Thanks again and have fun planning!

 

[Four Swampers]

If you do an internet search for "Our Travels on Disney Cruise Line," you would find a lot of photos with captions about our Alaska cruise, as well as some other cruises.

 

[xlxo]

we are planning to travel to Seattle on Fri, and drive to Vancouver on Sat or sunday! And stay in a Hotel closer to the port.

I enjoy all the tips! Thanks a lot!

Some thoughts...

• I recommend making the border crossing Saturday. There is so much to do in Vancouver.
• ideally cross the border before 5pm going Northbound. Border crossing are heavy between 5pm and 10pm Northbound on the weekend. You could be waiting a few hours. Use this website on your phone to see how long the wait is going to be as you approach Bellingham.
  http://www.wsdot.com/traffic/border/
• consider renting Alamo and National. These car rental agencies allow you to drive your car into the terminal to drop off. Hertz has you walking 3 blocks and Avis has you waiting long for a shuttle.
• Consider airport hotels that offer free parking (I like the Raddison). Downtown hotels can charge $30 or more to park for the day.
  http://www.expedia.ca/Vancouver-Hotels-Radisson-Hotel-Vancouver-Airport.h14039.Hotel-Information
• If you want to skip the hassle of driving and car rental... Quick Shuttle can take you from Seattle airport to downtown Vancouver for $50. There's 5 or 6 buses a day to fit your airline schedule.
  http://www.quickcoach.com/fares.htm

 

[silverangel879]

Some thoughts...

• I recommend making the border crossing Saturday. There is so much to do in Vancouver.
• ideally cross the border before 5pm going Northbound. Border crossing are heavy between 5pm and 10pm Northbound on the weekend. You could be waiting a few hours. Use this website on your phone to see how long the wait is going to be as you approach Bellingham.
  http://www.wsdot.com/traffic/border/
• consider renting Alamo and National. These car rental agencies allow you to drive your car into the terminal to drop off. Hertz has you walking 3 blocks and Avis has you waiting long for a shuttle.
• Consider airport hotels that offer free parking (I like the Raddison). Downtown hotels can charge $30 or more to park for the day.
  http://www.expedia.ca/Vancouver-Hotels-Radisson-Hotel-Vancouver-Airport.h14039.Hotel-Information
• If you want to skip the hassle of driving and car rental... Quick Shuttle can take you from Seattle airport to downtown Vancouver for $50. There's 5 or 6 buses a day to fit your airline schedule.
  http://www.quickcoach.com/fares.htm

Wow! Thanks a lot for the tips! We are meeting with our travel buddies to see the pros and cons of both and make all the reservations needed! I'll share all the info you gave me!

 

[Donald & Daisy Duck]

Thanks for all the tips...we are going this august

 

[silverangel879]

Thanks for all the tips...we are going this august

When it's yours? Ours is August 31st

 

[disneypoor]

Hi! We sailed Alaska with DCL back in 2011, but I did write a trip report. Here is the link to it: http://www.disboards.com/threads/disneypoors-alaskan-cruise-june-7th-2011.2732013/. We did several awesome excursions, and I tell about all of them in my report, but our most memorable is the sea plane. It was amazing! Definitely the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen. Our plane landed on a small lake that was only accessibly by plane, and we were allowed to get out and explore a bit. While we were there, we were lucky enough to get to witness a small avalanche. My kids still talk about it! I'm more of a warm weather vacationer, but I would definitely go back to Alaska! It was probably one of the best cruises we've ever taken!
Susan

 

[DVCTX]

When it's yours? Ours is August 31st

We are also on the Aug 31st cruise. This is our second Alaska cruise, we went last June on the Wonder. There was so much to do and we felt we missed a lot, so repeat!

My favorite excursion was the flight to Taku Lodge, highly recommended... It was the only place we saw a bear since it was too early for the Salmon to be running. However the smell of freshly grilled Salmon brought them out of the woods. Best grilled Salmon I have ever had.

 

[silverangel879]

Hi! We sailed Alaska with DCL back in 2011, but I did write a trip report. Here is the link to it: http://www.disboards.com/threads/disneypoors-alaskan-cruise-june-7th-2011.2732013/. We did several awesome excursions, and I tell about all of them in my report, but our most memorable is the sea plane. It was amazing! Definitely the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen. Our plane landed on a small lake that was only accessibly by plane, and we were allowed to get out and explore a bit. While we were there, we were lucky enough to get to witness a small avalanche. My kids still talk about it! I'm more of a warm weather vacationer, but I would definitely go back to Alaska! It was probably one of the best cruises we've ever taken!
Susan

Great Report! Thanks for sharing! I've always wanted to visit Alaska and note sure why...maybe nature calls me. lol...Although the chance to see humbacks is a pretty nice excuse.

We are also on the Aug 31st cruise. This is our second Alaska cruise, we went last June on the Wonder. There was so much to do and we felt we missed a lot, so repeat!

My favorite excursion was the flight to Taku Lodge, highly recommended... It was the only place we saw a bear since it was too early for the Salmon to be running. However the smell of freshly grilled Salmon brought them out of the woods. Best grilled Salmon I have ever had.

That would be a super highlight for my hubs, since Bears are his favorite animal...

 

[Donald & Daisy Duck]

When it's yours? Ours is August 31st

We are going on the 24th so we will just miss you

 

[silverangel879]

We are going on the 24th so we will just miss you

So close!

 

[Claireywalsh]

We are going on the 24th so we will just miss you

We are also 24th cruisers! Can't wait

 

[Donald & Daisy Duck]

We are also 24th cruisers! Can't wait

Yay

 

[sharksfinatic17]

@xlxo - We have three days in Vancouver before our cruise (6/19-21) and one morning/afternoon after the cruise (6/29). We are taking the train from Seattle Friday morning, so we have Friday afternoon to begin seeing this city. I was thinking of spending the afternoon at Granville Island (maybe grabbing dinner there), Saturday we plan to do the hop on hop off bus for Stanley Park and then head to Robson Street for dinner and purchasing alcohol (at Alberni & Bute based on your previous recommendation). Sunday we are planning on Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain.

Now to my questions - What is the best way to get to Granville from Hastings St. (which is where our hotel is)? Which should we do first Bridge or Mountain? And is there another area of Vancouver we should hit for dinner on Sunday (I know you mentioned there is something going on that day in the city)? There are 10 of us ranging from 11-72. Finally any suggestions for the Monday? We have a day room at the Fairmont/Vancouver airport and a 4:30 flight.

Thank you for all of your help that you have given so far and for any future help!

 

[mylittlebuttercup]

I have done Alaska but not with Disney, but no matter who you go with, it is an amazing destination! I know you can do the railroad in Skagway with Disney too, and that is definitely worth checking out. We also had an amazing crab feast at the George Inlet Lodge in Ketchikan, but I am not sure if Disney offers that. Hope you have a fabulous time! (And be sure to pack lots of layers!)

 

[silverangel879]

@xlxo - We have three days in Vancouver before our cruise (6/19-21) and one morning/afternoon after the cruise (6/29). We are taking the train from Seattle Friday morning, so we have Friday afternoon to begin seeing this city. I was thinking of spending the afternoon at Granville Island (maybe grabbing dinner there), Saturday we plan to do the hop on hop off bus for Stanley Park and then head to Robson Street for dinner and purchasing alcohol (at Alberni & Bute based on your previous recommendation). Sunday we are planning on Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain.

Now to my questions - What is the best way to get to Granville from Hastings St. (which is where our hotel is)? Which should we do first Bridge or Mountain? And is there another area of Vancouver we should hit for dinner on Sunday (I know you mentioned there is something going on that day in the city)? There are 10 of us ranging from 11-72. Finally any suggestions for the Monday? We have a day room at the Fairmont/Vancouver airport and a 4:30 flight.

Thank you for all of your help that you have given so far and for any future help!

I've been doing some research and found out that Vancouver public transportation is very good. Not sure if there is exactly what you need but maybe somebody else can help us here?

 

[xlxo]

@xlxo - We have three days in Vancouver before our cruise (6/19-21) and one morning/afternoon after the cruise (6/29). We are taking the train from Seattle Friday morning, so we have Friday afternoon to begin seeing this city. I was thinking of spending the afternoon at Granville Island (maybe grabbing dinner there), Saturday we plan to do the hop on hop off bus for Stanley Park and then head to Robson Street for dinner and purchasing alcohol (at Alberni & Bute based on your previous recommendation). Sunday we are planning on Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain.

Now to my questions - What is the best way to get to Granville from Hastings St. (which is where our hotel is)? Which should we do first Bridge or Mountain? And is there another area of Vancouver we should hit for dinner on Sunday (I know you mentioned there is something going on that day in the city)? There are 10 of us ranging from 11-72. Finally any suggestions for the Monday? We have a day room at the Fairmont/Vancouver airport and a 4:30 flight.

I've been doing some research and found out that Vancouver public transportation is very good. Not sure if there is exactly what you need but maybe somebody else can help us here?

With the taxes the locals pays.... yep transit is great compared to other cities I've travelled to. Downtown transit frequency is excellent compared to the rest of the city.

• subways
• trolley buses
• GPS tracked/beaconing buses
• http://www.news1130.com/2014/05/23/...best-transit-systems-in-north-america-author/

Grouse vs Bridge first?

1. Get on the shuttle to Grouse first from Canada Place. Enjoy the a few hours on the mountain top (lumberjack show, bears, birds, theatre in the sky, food?)
2. When coming back, there is an optional stop at the Bridge... no need to return to Canada Place (confirm with Grouse shuttle driver). This can save you a few hours trying to return to the bridge on a second bridge shuttle from downtown, especially if there there is a two or three shuttle wait.
3. When you finish the bridge, return on the Bridge shuttle and ask to be dropped off at Stanley park if the day is still young. Check out the aquarium and/or railway.

If you try to do the Bridge first (rain? low-cloud over Grouse? pollution?), trying to catch the overloaded Grouse shuttle is near impossible from the Bridge. Public transit is not much help... I would be calling for a cab.

Hastings to Granville Island? The #50 will get you there http://infomaps.translink.ca/Route_Diagrams/100/r050.pdf. However, I may catch two or three cabs to maximize your first afternoon in the city. Except for restaurants, I think much of the island shuts down around 6pm.

Which hop on service are you using? I think some serve Granville Island.

Did you say 10 of you? I would call ahead to a premium Chinese restaurant to see if there is a lonely King crab that wants to meet you. Ginger? Garlic? Spicy? Deepfried? Baked? All of the above to the same crab? Forget the frozen stuff in Alaska, Vancouver will bring you the squirming animal for pictures before your feast!
http://www.followmefoodie.com/2014/04/dynasty-seafood-restaurant-alaskan-king-crab-dinner-vancouver/

 

[disprincess4ever]

Which Hop on Hop off company would you recommend? The Big Bus or the Vancouver Trolley?

 

[KatieMill]

xlxo, you rock!!!!

 

[AngelDisney]

xlxo, you rock!!!!

Ditto!