5/31/11 -- Chilling on the Wonder

[plyeng2ff]

We just booked this cruise and we're so excited. Santa is actually bringing this to our family for Christmas. I haven't worked out all of the details yet, but I think we will be flying into Seattle to spend a few days, take the Amtrak to Vancouver, cruise, stay in Vancouver for a few days, take the train back to Seattle, and then fly home.

Me - Elizabeth
DH - Geoffrey
DS - Preston 11 at the time of the cruise
DD - Wilson 5 at the time of the cruise

Welcome Aboard

 

[auntlynne]

With only 3 pages in this thread, I was able to beat the crush and gather up the info (to date) on those Chilling on the Wonder

4boons
Bill
DW Laura
Katie (17)

auntlynne
Lynne (50th b'day June 2)
DS Ann
DSIL Judy
DN Susan
DN Julie
DN Karen
DN Linda

boyspapa
Carl (me)
Donna (DW)
grandsons (14 and 11)

catislander
SoCal
Early dining
Sherri
DH and
DD (6 at sailing)


disney minnie
Elizabeth
DH Geoffrey
DS Preston (11)
DD Wilson (5)

Disneyfalcon
5 cabinsful

golfcane from FL
DH Mark
DW Danielle
DD Lexi (12)
DS Zac (10)

inspcramer
Bob
DW

ksoehrlein
6542
Late dinner
Kim
DH Chuck
DD Mary Elizabeth (11)
DS Richard (8)

nostalgic4disney
Late dining
self
DH

plyeng2ff
Arthur
DW Danielle

wifeofgrumpy
Tammy (me)
David (DH)
DD Hunter (15)

 

[ag73]

Hi! All
I'm a single mom of a 4 years old, I love to travel and wanted to go to Alaska. Do you think this would be a good choice for us? If we choose to book the cruise it would be for her 5th birthday. Thanks for any advice, comments, recommendation...

 

[ksoehrlein]

Lynne, thanks for putting the list together. Our group is getting bigger and bigger!

AG73, you might not find completely unbiased advice here. I think this would be a wonderful way to spend your daughter's 5th birthday, and you are a wonderful mom for even considering it!

 

[4boons]

Hi! All
I'm a single mom of a 4 years old, I love to travel and wanted to go to Alaska. Do you think this would be a good choice for us? If we choose to book the cruise it would be for her 5th birthday. Thanks for any advice, comments, recommendation...

We went on our 1st Disney cruise in 1999 only 5 days after Katies 5th birthday. Katie and her big sister loved the cruise so much we had to keep going back.

During dinner in Animators Katie was having too much fun standing on her chair and pointing at all the paintings as they came alive. This caught the eye of a film crew that was on board and they came and asked us to be in the 2000 DCL marketing video.

Don't be upset if you can't get her out of the kids club long enough to see Alaska. In 2005 when she was 11 we had to keep dragging Katie out to see the Panama Canal.

Bill

 

[auntlynne]

Hi! All
I'm a single mom of a 4 years old, I love to travel and wanted to go to Alaska. Do you think this would be a good choice for us? If we choose to book the cruise it would be for her 5th birthday. Thanks for any advice, comments, recommendation...

Seems that a lot of children enjoying spending time in the kids' clubs - sometimes from morning to night, parents dragging them out to have "family time" at meals. And every child, each cruise, can change and do other than you expect. You may be alone much of the time or you could have a lot of mom entertaining daughter time.

I'd ask a few questions -

1. Do you (the adult) want to see the Inner Passage of Alaska for yourself? (I don't remember anything from when I was little)

2. Do any of the ports and their excursions interest you? and have activities that would entertain your 5 yo?

3. Have you gone on any vacations together recently - what were activities you enjoyed singly or together? were they action activities or more relaxing?

Just some things to get you thinking or more to muddle your decision.

 

[CrazyBoutDisney]

Hello, hello!! Can't believe I only just looked for a thread for this cruise today--we booked the day they opened up the reservations! (Of course, a holiday trip to WDW in December, a grueling tax season at work, and a 4 day cruise 2 weeks ago might have something to do with it) It's just me (Beth--the grandma wanna be) and my DH (Dave), but we love Disney, kids and all.

Been researching Alaskan cruises for about a year and when Disney finally announced they were definitely going, we just couldn't use a different cruise line. This will be our 5th or 6th cruise on DCL, all depends on whether or not we add the 4-day before the 3-day we have scheduled for December. Just gotta see the boat all dressed up for Christmas!

In my previous life, I was a military wife and we were stationed in Ketchikan for 2 years. Of course, that was nearly 30 years ago So when I saw the current pictures, I barely recognized the place. But I never got to see the whales while we were there and you can bet I'm signing up for that excursion!!

Can't wait to meet you all and Disneyfalcon, you can put us on the FE list--I've already started stockpiling some stuff for the kidlets. We're down on Deck 2, but that could always change if we can swing an upgrade. We are also planning to fly into/out of Seattle, but haven't settled on transportation to/from Vancouver yet.

 

[plyeng2ff]

ONE YEAR TO GO


:

 

[disney minnie]

When will we know what excursions are offered?

 

[auntlynne]

ONE YEAR TO GO

Wow! I was going to check the weather for each day of our cruise; this time next year we'll be at our next-to-last night. I checked the weather for the past few days and found this:

May 31, 2010 - Vancouver Hi 63 Lo 52 sunrise 5:12 am set 9:09 pm
June 1, 2010 - At Sea - ?
June 2, 2010 - Tracy Arm Fjord
June 3, 2010 - Skagway Hi 58 Lo 41 partly cloudy sunrise 3:52 am set 10:08 pm
June 4, 2010 - Juneau Hi 63 Lo 43 showers (0.01 in) sunrise 3:58 am set 9:55 pm
June 5, 2010 - Ketchikan Hi 58 Lo 45 sunrise 4:09 am set 9:22 pm
June 6, 2010 - At Sea
June 7, 2010 - Vancouver sunrise 5:08 am set: does it matter? you're off the boat

This will be the "dry season" in the inner passage, but this is a comparative term - we could have beautiful days or overcast/rainy. And still rather cold for us not used to colder climates.

 

[plyeng2ff]

Wow! I was going to check the weather for each day of our cruise; this time next year we'll be at our next-to-last night. I checked the weather for the past few days and found this:

May 31, 2010 - Vancouver Hi 63 Lo 52 sunrise 5:12 am set 9:09 pm
June 1, 2010 - At Sea - ?
June 2, 2010 - Tracy Arm Fjord
June 3, 2010 - Skagway Hi 58 Lo 41 partly cloudy sunrise 3:52 am set 10:08 pm
June 4, 2010 - Juneau Hi 63 Lo 43 showers (0.01 in) sunrise 3:58 am set 9:55 pm
June 5, 2010 - Ketchikan Hi 58 Lo 45 sunrise 4:09 am set 9:22 pm
June 6, 2010 - At Sea
June 7, 2010 - Vancouver sunrise 5:08 am set: does it matter? you're off the boat

This will be the "dry season" in the inner passage, but this is a comparative term - we could have beautiful days or overcast/rainy. And still rather cold for us not used to colder climates.

My wife will love if we get weather like what they have this year. She has trouble walking when it really warm out, but high 50s and 60s will be heaven for her. The sunrise times are a little early for me. On our last cruise, my wife would wake up in the morning and see the time then wake me up to take pictures of the sunrise. I would go up on deck and she would go back to bed.

 

[ksoehrlein]

It is with a heavy heart that I have to abandon ship. The good news is, my family will still be doing a DCL cruise next year, but we're going with a 4-night on the Dream in March instead. It's the right thing to do money-wise and vacation-dates-wise, but I'm sorry I won't get the chance to meet you guys in person. I hope you all have a WONDERful time.

 

[plyeng2ff]

It is with a heavy heart that I have to abandon ship. The good news is, my family will still be doing a DCL cruise next year, but we're going with a 4-night on the Dream in March instead. It's the right thing to do money-wise and vacation-dates-wise, but I'm sorry I won't get the chance to meet you guys in person. I hope you all have a WONDERful time.

Sorry to hear the news, but I hope you and your family has wonderful time on the Dream. Please let us know how everyone likes the Dream. I am think of booking on board and the Dream is my first choice.

 

[auntlynne]

Sorry to see Kim go, but this long-term vacation planning is sure to create changes in plans down the road.

I am getting more excited after changing our cabin plans. We were booked on Deck 6 (2 Cat 11s and 2 Cat 6s), but have dropped my dad and SIL from our party, leaving my sister, her four daughters and me to celebrate. After hearing about the sideways 11s (and doing a cabin tour during the Transatlantic), I was able to book the 6 of us in 3 of the sideways: 5505, 5509, 5513 (3-in-a-row, despite the number jumps). Our initial cruise was in 5522 on the Wonder and we really like that area of the ship; sort of a private hallway. I think anywhere on Deck 5 would suit me fine.

Been thinking about a graphics logo for this cruise - anyone creative enough to make a Disney totem design? Seems like the right thing for this area of Alaska; maybe lumberjacks (seems there should be a picture of Goofy as one).

Lynne

 

[CrazyBoutDisney]

Hi Lynne! I couldn't agree more that we need a graphics logo we could put in our signatures for this cruise!! I've been hanging out on this magnet thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2440038 There are 3 people on that thread who create the most wonderful graphics for folks! Milliepie is in the midst of moving and won't be able to do any DISigning until August, but I'm sure tjbaggot or jordak could come up with something for us. jordak seems to be exceptionally brilliant at creating great DISigns from just a few suggestions and he's already done a few large ones for Alaska. Why don't you take a turn asking?

We're finally at less than a year out!!! Only 11 1/2 more months till we sail!!!

 

[Anjelica]

Hi - my name is Anjelica (far stretch on my DISname..lol) and I am a Disney Cruise-a-holic.

My family and brother will be joining you folks on the May 31st, 2011 cruise. We booked this several months ago but we have another one scheduled for October of this year so I have been spending most of my cruise information time over there.

At the time of the May 31st trip our family/ages will be:

Myself - 33 **Just shy of turning 34 on the trip
DH - 38
DD - 7 turning 8 on the cruise - June 6th
DS - 4

My brother who has his own cabin room, etc. will be 26. This is actually a special trip for him as he has wanted to visit Alaska for awhile but since he is Army (Combat Engineer) it is/was hard for him to schedule time. He was severely injured in Iraq in September 2008 (He lost his right leg above the knee) so this is a trip for him and our family to spend together. He is VERY excited to go - although I was surprised he agreed to do a Disney Cruise - but as we all know it can be very adult like at times.

 

[auntlynne]

Welcome Anjelica and family! and another Gemini birthday person (I'm June 2nd, but the big 5-0 on the cruise).

We didn't start cruising until my youngest niece was almost 12 - so we missed out on using the kids' clubs as the reason for doing Disney cruising. My 17 yo niece says she actually prefers DCL to WDW. She was ready to get back on the Magic in Barcelona and do another 11-night Med after 25 nights of B2B TA and Med in April when volcanic ash threatened our flight home.

CrazyBoutDisney - I see you are "crazy about Star Trek," too. I asked the 2 youngest (15, 17) if they wanted to decorate the door with a Star Wars theme, and they said Yeah! but actually Star Trek.

Since Alaska is the "Last Frontier" state, I want to use that and the "Final Frontier" together for them (or let them do the creating).

I would never inflict Star Trek/Wars on the unsuspecting Disney crowd, but will have magnets for that for the girls. I know Jordak has a few Star Wars + Disney character license plate designs that will fit in nicely with this.

 

[CrazyBoutDisney]

CrazyBoutDisney - I see you are "crazy about Star Trek," too. I asked the 2 youngest (15, 17) if they wanted to decorate the door with a Star Wars theme, and they said Yeah! but actually Star Trek.

Since Alaska is the "Last Frontier" state, I want to use that and the "Final Frontier" together for them (or let them do the creating).

I would never inflict Star Trek/Wars on the unsuspecting Disney crowd, but will have magnets for that for the girls. I know Jordak has a few Star Wars + Disney character license plate designs that will fit in nicely with this.

What a great idea!! Now you've got my creative juices flowing! I will have to go through my graphics folders and see what Trek stuff I've got. Or maybe just:

"Alaska......the Last Frontier.......These are the voyages of the cruise ship Wonder, whose 7-day mission, to explore new waters, to seek out wildlife and native civilizations, to boldly go where no Disney ship has gone before..."
....with apologies to Gene Roddenberry!

 

[inspcramer]

Seems that a lot of children enjoying spending time in the kids' clubs - sometimes from morning to night, parents dragging them out to have "family time" at meals. And every child, each cruise, can change and do other than you expect. You may be alone much of the time or you could have a lot of mom entertaining daughter time.

I'd ask a few questions -

1. Do you (the adult) want to see the Inner Passage of Alaska for yourself? (I don't remember anything from when I was little)

2. Do any of the ports and their excursions interest you? and have activities that would entertain your 5 yo?

3. Have you gone on any vacations together recently - what were activities you enjoyed singly or together? were they action activities or more relaxing?

Just some things to get you thinking or more to muddle your decision.

Apparently the Wonder will not be doing the "Inside Passage" out of Vancourver according to another thread. The days at sea will be offshore not in the passage. Personally I don't care but some people are unhappy about it.

 

[auntlynne]

What a great idea!! Now you've got my creative juices flowing! I will have to go through my graphics folders and see what Trek stuff I've got. Or maybe just:

"Alaska......the Last Frontier.......These are the voyages of the cruise ship Wonder, whose 7-day mission, to explore new waters, to seek out wildlife and native civilizations, to boldly go where no Disney ship has gone before..."
....with apologies to Gene Roddenberry!

That is great! Karen should love it. Stateroom 5509 will have that on the door magnets.

Somebody has a trekkie crescent shape insignia with a Mickey Mouse head on it - that will play right into it. I found a photo of Spock eating a Mickey bar - more fodder.