2015 DVC Alaska Member Cruise 5/25-5/31/15

[poison ivy]

I'm particularly interested in the late May Alaskan cruisers to get an idea on weather and clothing.

I have done the Alaska cruise three times now in late May, mid-June and late August. May is very cold on the boat if you are outside. In late May, I wore layers including hat, head band (to cover my ears), scarf, ski coat, jeans, wool socks, hiking boots and gloves with heat inserts. It was cold. I would estimate it was 40-45 degrees outside and maybe a little cooler with the wind chill factor.

The key to Alaska is lots of layers. We had great weather when we were in port as the weather was 55-65 degrees with no rain (which was unusual).

right. this confirms what I'm reading. I'm not used to travelling by air with our winter stuff so this is a definite planning exercise. I did see photos of guests on the ship wearing hats/scarfs/gloves and coats at times so it looks like we will be bringing all of the above.

thanks

ohil - I'm going to check out that video. We were looking at a helicopter glacier / dogsledding experience. Did you use a private company?

 

[nunzia]

Whew! I read all 17 pages. Hello! Booked this cruise kind of late. We had planned on doing a short cruise with DS and family but they had to cancel, so called to see if room was still available on this. I've always wanted to do a members cruise and always wanted to do Alaska so tada! perfect fit for both. When I called, only cat 4 and 10 were open, so I booked a 4 at a staggering rate and got on a waitlist for 5, which came through less than a week later. Hurray. I'm going to go for the whole FE thing since I've never done that either..is there a primer for that somehwere? I'd imagine 1 gift per cabin & a little something extra for kids would do? I'm concerned about suitcase space for these since we also have the gifts and have to pack cold weather gear.
We are coming in by train from New Mexico, will stay the night in Seattle, then train to Vancouver the next day, on Sunday, so a day there and then Monday to ship. Any suggestions for hotels in Seattle by the train station?
Very excited!

 

[nunzia]

Hmm..why can't I PM Autum? It just gives me options outside of Dis...if someone could help me along the way? Seems it used to be when I checked on a name the Messgae link would come up?

 

[Ariel93086]

Hmm..why can't I PM Autum? It just gives me options outside of Dis...if someone could help me along the way? Seems it used to be when I checked on a name the Messgae link would come up?

Have you made 10 posts yet? That's the only way to pm someone. If that's not it, I know Autumn has been having some problems with disboards. You can actually find her email address on the first message in this thread.

Welcome to the group!

 

[nunzia]

Have you made 10 posts yet? That's the only way to pm someone. If that's not it, I know Autumn has been having some problems with disboards. You can actually find her email address on the first message in this thread.

Welcome to the group!

Thanks! I have over 7,000 posts so that can't be it.

 

[Ariel93086]

Thanks! I have over 7,000 posts so that can't be it.

Hahahaha oh ok. That can't be it then!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Hi...I am not on this cruise, I'm on the one in August, but want to mention the special DVC entertainment that was available on this past August's Member Cruise.

I do not go for the gifts, I go for the events...this is not from My memory, they gave out an Experience Guide.

From the Experience Guide 2014 that was given out:

Walt Disney and the World's Fair*
Up Late with Disney Legend Tony Baxter*
Phineas and Ferb:Star Wars
Planes Fire & Rescue (behind the scenes)*
The Comedy of Maryellen Hooper
Walt Disney Animation Studios: the Art of the Story*
Disney Artist Academy*
Neighborhood Goofy Games
Animated Adventures with Stacia Martin*
ESPN Club Live*
Broadway and Beyond, the Originals*
Community Cook off*
Vacations You Never Outgrow*
Adventures by Disney

* means I went to it.
There were also presentations by RCI...I did not go to any of those.
My cabin mate went to the Comedy of Mary Ellen Hooper and enjoyed it a lot!!...I forget why I was late, no seating left for me, so I went to Up Late with Disney Legend Tony Baxter, which I had missed previously.

I enjoy playing games at DVC events...did at Vacations You Never Outgrow...won a small personal fan..as we left that event, we each got an Aulani resort pin. I like to collect pins like that.

Also, I enjoy movies, and on the cruise saw Maleficent, The Hundred/foot Journey, Planes Fire and Rescue with Bonus Material and Frozen. Wanted to see Guardians of the Galaxy, but would not give up seeing Stacia Martin. If Stacia is doing something, I will be there!

As a nice souvenir, we each got an exclusive Disney Files Magazine which outlined the highlights of the cruise, August 24-28, 2014.

The last MC I was on was only 3 nights....this was much better.

Bobbi

PS..any questions?
PPS. There were normal DCL things like Bingo, Trivia, Family Games, Kareoke, and of course the 3 Disney productions..Golden Mickey's, Villains Tonight and Disney's Believe. The special show Broadway and Beyond was beyond my Expectations!
__________________

 

[Jay Kat]

THANK YOU for the review of the latest MC. We were wondering what this year;s featured, as we were on last year's. We are hoping the Alaska cruise will pull from the West Coast and have something special, as this is a first. Sounds like a great time!

 

[nunzia]

Thank you for listing all of the events! I go the D23 Expos and am always so impressed with the presentations, that this is the main reason I decided to do this cruise. I have an original Stacia Martin..on my ABD Backstage magic trip she did a character drawing for each person, all while explaing the rich history behind the character.. I have Jiminy Cricket. I also have a signed litho by her from one of the Expos and will definately attend ANYTHING she presents..she is a gem. I'm excited that this is the first Members Cruise to Alaska and also the first 7 night (I think?) so am hoping they do some special things. Looking very forward to it!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thank you for listing all of the events! I go the D23 Expos and am always so impressed with the presentations, that this is the main reason I decided to do this cruise. I have an original Stacia Martin..on my ABD Backstage magic trip she did a character drawing for each person, all while explaing the rich history behind the character.. I have Jiminy Cricket. I also have a signed litho by her from one of the Expos and will definately attend ANYTHING she presents..she is a gem. I'm excited that this is the first Members Cruise to Alaska and also the first 7 night (I think?) so am hoping they do some special things. Looking very forward to it!

I have an original, personalized sketch by Stacia too! I have Thumper. I won that on the East Bound Trans Atlantic in 2013!

On this trip I did not win anything by Stacia, but my cabin mate and I each won a sketch. Mine is Pooh by Alex Maher, Cheryl's is Jiminy Cricket by either Alex or Mark Seppala.

 

[DisneyBelle99]

Can we get a cap on the FE exchange? Stop at 25 cabins, and start a new list? Or stop at 75 people? What does everyone think?

 

[DisneyBelle99]

Hi...I am not on this cruise, I'm on the one in August, but want to mention the special DVC entertainment that was available on this past August's Member Cruise. I do not go for the gifts, I go for the events...this is not from My memory, they gave out an Experience Guide. From the Experience Guide 2014 that was given out: Walt Disney and the World's Fair* Up Late with Disney Legend Tony Baxter* Phineas and Ferb:Star Wars Planes Fire & Rescue (behind the scenes)* The Comedy of Maryellen Hooper Walt Disney Animation Studios: the Art of the Story* Disney Artist Academy* Neighborhood Goofy Games Animated Adventures with Stacia Martin* ESPN Club Live* Broadway and Beyond, the Originals* Community Cook off* Vacations You Never Outgrow* Adventures by Disney * means I went to it. There were also presentations by RCI...I did not go to any of those. My cabin mate went to the Comedy of Mary Ellen Hooper and enjoyed it a lot!!...I forget why I was late, no seating left for me, so I went to Up Late with Disney Legend Tony Baxter, which I had missed previously. I enjoy playing games at DVC events...did at Vacations You Never Outgrow...won a small personal fan..as we left that event, we each got an Aulani resort pin. I like to collect pins like that. Also, I enjoy movies, and on the cruise saw Maleficent, The Hundred/foot Journey, Planes Fire and Rescue with Bonus Material and Frozen. Wanted to see Guardians of the Galaxy, but would not give up seeing Stacia Martin. If Stacia is doing something, I will be there! As a nice souvenir, we each got an exclusive Disney Files Magazine which outlined the highlights of the cruise, August 24-28, 2014. The last MC I was on was only 3 nights....this was much better. Bobbi PS..any questions? PPS. There were normal DCL things like Bingo, Trivia, Family Games, Kareoke, and of course the 3 Disney productions..Golden Mickey's, Villains Tonight and Disney's Believe. The special show Broadway and Beyond was beyond my Expectations! __________________

Thanks, Bobbi! I heard Josh Strickland and Ashley Brown were repeated again, from the 2013 cruise....weren't they great?

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thanks, Bobbi! I heard Josh Strickland and Ashley Brown were repeated again, from the 2013 cruise....weren't they great?

Yes, what a show! I had recently been to a dinner theater show of Mary Poppins, so those wonderful songs were already in my head and Josh Strickland is amazing!

Added was MC Robert Creighton...he had a role in The Little Mermaid on Broadway, and he was a marvelous singer as well! He also added light comedy to the show.

Ashley Brown brought everyone to their feet with her rendition of "Let it Go!" How did Disney ever decide who to pick for that? She was fabulous!

The pianist played show tunes for about 30 minutes before the actual show.

It was just great!

 

[Ariel93086]

Can we get a cap on the FE exchange? Stop at 25 cabins, and start a new list? Or stop at 75 people? What does everyone think?

Breaking it up into groups (I.e. Adult only, age specific, and/or cabin location) might be a little easier. Just a suggestion! so excited!

 

[Johnny Quest]

Breaking it up into groups (I.e. Adult only, age specific, and/or cabin location) might be a little easier. Just a suggestion! so excited!

I second that. On our last Member Cruise we had a family FE and 2 adult groups of no more than 15 and it worked great.

 

[Johnny Quest]

Thread Role Call in alpha-order. Last Updated post number 262.
FE update: Bold names in the Role Call are on FE List . From looking at the list it seems cabin 2594, 6581 & 8000's Disboard names are missing?
If you sent in info and your name isn't bold please PM me?

Number of cabins 24
Number of people 66

Ariel93086
Aunt Peggy
BinkYABT
bobbiwoz (not on cruise)
Daffydee
Deanna1221
DisneyBelle99
Duckieluckey
ExpeditionEverest
eeyorejanet
Jay Kat
JimmyL47
Johnny Quest
juliek16
Let'sGoToDisney
leslienish
LOLA2
looksliketink
lukikam
maburke
MarthMouse
Mathmagicland
MMouse2
mommacat56
monorialrider
myxdvz
NJMermaid
nunzia
nrexxma44
ohil
OKraysLoveDisney
Pamelalouise
pjstevens
poison ivy
scruffiee24
slmjam
stayfos
suzysharp
therina
TheSoderquackers
Tidefan
Tigger1313
Windermere

looking at that list - the following members have posted an interest to join on this thread but are not shown in bold.

maburke
BinkYABT (cabin 2105)
suzysharp (cabin 5150)
stayfos
Tigger1313 (cabin 2629)
Ariel93086
nunzia

 

[poison ivy]

It's a miserable morning in Jersey. Wish I was doing this right about now!



or This!!



I know. I know. We're cruising to Alaska! But that's Months AWAY! A little Caribbean is always a good idea.

Maybe I should post some food porn from the Magic. I don't have any pics from the Wonder since we've never sailed on her. This cruise will complete our grand slam!

 

[nunzia]

looking at that list - the following members have posted an interest to join on this thread but are not shown in bold.

maburke
BinkYABT (cabin 2105)
suzysharp (cabin 5150)
stayfos
Tigger1313 (cabin 2629)
Ariel93086
nunzia

Thanks for noticing me.. I have messaged Pirate Princess with my info, so hope I go bold We are in cabin 6592 and we are just 2 adults. An adult only FE would be fine with me, but I'll participate in whatever group I'm put in.
PS saw Josh Strinckland at a concert and the Expo and he is so talented. Loads of fun..

 

[Ariel93086]

looking at that list - the following members have posted an interest to join on this thread but are not shown in bold. maburke BinkYABT (cabin 2105) suzysharp (cabin 5150) stayfos Tigger1313 (cabin 2629) Ariel93086 nunzia

Thanks Johnny, I also pm'ed pirate princess. So hopefully we will have all sorted out soon enough. oh and I'm cabin 8000 with 3 adults.

 

[ExpeditionEverest]

Can we get a cap on the FE exchange? Stop at 25 cabins, and start a new list? Or stop at 75 people? What does everyone think?

25 is a good number. But I am totally flexible on the number since I am driving to the port so no extra baggage fees for me. If I can fit it in the SUV, then I can take it onboard.