8/6/2012 - Mickey's Alaskan Adventure
- Thread starter caitlinsdad
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ayumac
Minnie Chan
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CaliforniaGirl09
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We also have 22 other people in our family that will be on the cruise. We'll probably have at least one day of bright colored matching shirts, so you may see us
Will be booking excursions in 13 days and here is what I'm looking at:
Skagway - White Pass Railway & Trail Camp
Juneau - Alaska Whales & Science Adventure (or maybe Best of Juneau)
Ketchikan - Totems, Lumberjack, Potlatch Park
Any thoughts on these would be greatly appreciated!
22 family members? WOW! What a fun trip, but I don't envy the job of organizing! There is a great Alaska excursion thread with tons of reviews of the PAs. It may take a while to go through, but I found it extremely helpful: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2723087
There were some comments comparing the ziplining adventures in the thread above, but I read it so long ago, I can't remember specifics. You can try searching within the thread...
Welcome from Tokyo--that will be a long flight in. So far no one has stepped forward to organize the FE. If I can get Calfan to help, I may do it, if no one with more experience wants to...
When hey say the booking window opens at Midnight, im assuming that's Eastern time?
I'm in Settle, so I'm trying to figure out if I need to take a nap and get up At 12/3 or if I can book before I go to sleep.
You can book before you go to sleep. The booking window is East coast, so it's 9 pm PST. It's the one time we Pacific Coasters get a benefit
CaliforniaGirl09
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The Fish Extender Post!
Since no one else has volunteered to get this going, Calfan and I (relative newbies) will do our best to coordinate the Fish Extender for our Alaska cruise.
What is a "Fish Extender" (FE), you ask? It's a little bit like an onboard "Secret Santa," but you can read more than you ever wanted about it by searching DISboards. Here's a good starter post: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1219607*
VERY IMPORTANT! If you want to participate in the FE for this cruise, please read the "rules" below and then PM me or Calfan to obtain the link for the google doc spreadsheet where you can add your information to join. We will not be incorporating information from posts in this thread. You must add the information yourself to participate.
The "Rules":
1. Have fun! That's really the only rule that matters, but since FE guidelines can vary so much from cruise to cruise, we've set out the following basics.
2. Each Stateroom that signs up is responsible for one "gift." So, if you sign up multiple staterooms, keep that in mind.
3. The "gift" can be anything you like. You can do one big gift for the entire cabin or do individual gifts for the adults, the kids, or however you want to do it. There are tons of great ideas on these boards. Many people do "locale" related gifts to highlight where they're from, some do themes . . . whatever you want.
4. There are no monetary guidelines; spend as much or as little as you like. If you are crafty, there's a number of threads devoted to handmade FE gifts on DIS, but here's a good one to start. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1980639 (note there is even a part 2 of this very long thread!) But if you prefer to buy something that's fine too. It's completely up to you! (See Rule #1)
5. You can "sign" your gift (family name, disboard name) or keep it "secret," it's up to you.
6. If someone has an allergy in your family, feel free to indicate it on the spreadsheet, but it is your responsibility to monitor the food gifts and be aware that allergic items may be included.
7. There are no set delivery dates, but it is more fun when the gifts are spread out, so keep that in mind if you don't have perishable or time sensitive gifts.
8. To keep the group manageable for deliveries, the list will be cut off after 15 staterooms and a second list (group) started if needed.
9. As many people like to personalize or hand-make items, the cut off date for joining is one month prior to the cruise or July 6, 2012. If someone would like to participate after the cut off date, their name will be added to the list with the understanding that they may not receive anything in return.
10. If your stateroom number changes please made sure to update the google doc. If it changes on the day of the cruise at port, please post a message to this thread. Participants should try to check the thread the first night. We will do our best to let people know of room changes, but there are no guarantees. If there is a DIS meet for this cruise, we can try to inform people of changes then.
Some things to think about:
--Packing space & checked baggage rules.
--Might want to bring a plastic zip tie to prevent FEs from "walking."
--Rule #1
We might be adding more information to this post, so make sure to check back!
Since no one else has volunteered to get this going, Calfan and I (relative newbies) will do our best to coordinate the Fish Extender for our Alaska cruise.
What is a "Fish Extender" (FE), you ask? It's a little bit like an onboard "Secret Santa," but you can read more than you ever wanted about it by searching DISboards. Here's a good starter post: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1219607*
VERY IMPORTANT! If you want to participate in the FE for this cruise, please read the "rules" below and then PM me or Calfan to obtain the link for the google doc spreadsheet where you can add your information to join. We will not be incorporating information from posts in this thread. You must add the information yourself to participate.
The "Rules":
1. Have fun! That's really the only rule that matters, but since FE guidelines can vary so much from cruise to cruise, we've set out the following basics.
2. Each Stateroom that signs up is responsible for one "gift." So, if you sign up multiple staterooms, keep that in mind.
3. The "gift" can be anything you like. You can do one big gift for the entire cabin or do individual gifts for the adults, the kids, or however you want to do it. There are tons of great ideas on these boards. Many people do "locale" related gifts to highlight where they're from, some do themes . . . whatever you want.
4. There are no monetary guidelines; spend as much or as little as you like. If you are crafty, there's a number of threads devoted to handmade FE gifts on DIS, but here's a good one to start. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1980639 (note there is even a part 2 of this very long thread!) But if you prefer to buy something that's fine too. It's completely up to you! (See Rule #1
)5. You can "sign" your gift (family name, disboard name) or keep it "secret," it's up to you.
6. If someone has an allergy in your family, feel free to indicate it on the spreadsheet, but it is your responsibility to monitor the food gifts and be aware that allergic items may be included.
7. There are no set delivery dates, but it is more fun when the gifts are spread out, so keep that in mind if you don't have perishable or time sensitive gifts.
8. To keep the group manageable for deliveries, the list will be cut off after 15 staterooms and a second list (group) started if needed.
9. As many people like to personalize or hand-make items, the cut off date for joining is one month prior to the cruise or July 6, 2012. If someone would like to participate after the cut off date, their name will be added to the list with the understanding that they may not receive anything in return.
10. If your stateroom number changes please made sure to update the google doc. If it changes on the day of the cruise at port, please post a message to this thread. Participants should try to check the thread the first night. We will do our best to let people know of room changes, but there are no guarantees. If there is a DIS meet for this cruise, we can try to inform people of changes then.
Some things to think about:
--Packing space & checked baggage rules.
--Might want to bring a plastic zip tie to prevent FEs from "walking."
--Rule #1
We might be adding more information to this post, so make sure to check back!
CaliforniaGirl09
DIS Veteran
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- Dec 4, 2009
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- 4,143
LOL! I just PM'd you. Hopefully you will be allowed to PM back. If not, let me know and we'll figure something out.
CaliforniaGirl09
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2009
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- 4,143
Okay, I didn't realize you wouldn't receive PMs either, sorry about that. I actually sent you two (I forgot to attach the link in the first, LOL). Here's the link to the google doc: [EDITED: *Please PM me or Calfan for link*]
I'll delete the link when you've had a chance to input your info (keeps the info a little more "private" for those that don't like their names/staterooms visible to everyone). All you have to do is type in the info and it automatically saves.
I'll delete the link when you've had a chance to input your info (keeps the info a little more "private" for those that don't like their names/staterooms visible to everyone). All you have to do is type in the info and it automatically saves.
Thanks so much, guys, for picking up the slack and organizing the FE. It looks like were going to be a pretty tiny group, so it shouldn't be too hard. On the last 2 cruises I've done we had well over 100 staterooms to give to, so this will be a piece of cake! Since the Google Doc was temporarily "public" I went ahead and entered our info on it. Hope that's okay.
I feel bad that I've been MIA for so long. We've had a crazy few months here. Alison is a senior in high school and we've had quite a year of college visits and auditions all over the country, which hasn't left me much time for cruise planning! She graduates June 2nd, so maybe life will slow down just a bit after that.
Anyway, we managed to book Palo brunch on the sea day but that's all I've even looked at, quite frankly! At this point I think I'll be happy just to sit in Cove Cafe with a good book for a week if we don't get any excursions booked! I usually don't go with the Disney excursions and just book my own but I haven't even had time to look at those! Man, do I feel like a poor excuse for a "Family Activities Coordinator" these days!
I feel bad that I've been MIA for so long. We've had a crazy few months here. Alison is a senior in high school and we've had quite a year of college visits and auditions all over the country, which hasn't left me much time for cruise planning! She graduates June 2nd, so maybe life will slow down just a bit after that.
Anyway, we managed to book Palo brunch on the sea day but that's all I've even looked at, quite frankly! At this point I think I'll be happy just to sit in Cove Cafe with a good book for a week if we don't get any excursions booked! I usually don't go with the Disney excursions and just book my own but I haven't even had time to look at those! Man, do I feel like a poor excuse for a "Family Activities Coordinator" these days!
CaliforniaGirl09
DIS Veteran
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- Dec 4, 2009
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- 4,143
100 staterooms? Wow! I can't imagine what delivery must have been like (not to mention getting all the gifts to the ship). Definitely great to go ahead and sign up! I hadn't gotten a chance to edit the post yet. It's easier to have it public, but I know some people prefer not to have their stateroom/name viewable, which is totally understandable.
Congrats on your almost graduate! Hope she found some schools that she liked!
I decided to rely on mostly Disney excursions for this cruise, although we did book the Bering crab one separately. I hear you about being the family activities coordinator. I feel like Julie McCoy sometimes.
Yes, that many staterooms can be crazy. The first two we did that were like that I had help but for the Fantasy MV I had to do it all by myself because my family were all being party poopers. It wasn't NEARLY so much fun doing it alone, let me tell you!
What I did was bring things that I could assemble on the ship. So they didn't take up a lot of space and I could tuck the individual parts in nooks and crannies of the suitcases. This trip it won't be anywhere near so hard since it's looking like we'll have less than 10 staterooms! You may all even get MORE than one gift from me!
Alison found a bunch of schools she likes, but with her particular degree it's less about which schools she likes (at first) and more about which schools like her! She had to audition for entrance (in addition to the regular application process where she had to submit all the normal essays, scores, transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc.) which is EXTREMELY competitive. For some programs there are 1000 or more kids auditioning for anywhere from 8-30 slots.
Because it's so competitive, she ended up auditioning/applying to 21 schools all over the country. (A few she decided not to apply to after auditioning. Others she decided not to audition for after applying. And a few were non-audition "safety" schools. She ended up with 8 choices when all was said and done. She is wait listed at 3 more, but she's done. She had a really difficult choice to make but ended up deciding on Otterbein University in Westerville, OH. They only take 4 girls and 4 boys out of the hundreds who audition, so it's quite an honor to be chosen. Not sure how she's going to handle the winters, coming from sunny Southern California!
Looking forward to meeting all of you on the cruise! Seems like there's probably too small a group for a Champagne Girls meet, but if anyone's interested, let me know and maybe we can try to set a time. Also with only one full sea day it might be tough to find a time.
What I did was bring things that I could assemble on the ship. So they didn't take up a lot of space and I could tuck the individual parts in nooks and crannies of the suitcases. This trip it won't be anywhere near so hard since it's looking like we'll have less than 10 staterooms! You may all even get MORE than one gift from me!
Alison found a bunch of schools she likes, but with her particular degree it's less about which schools she likes (at first) and more about which schools like her! She had to audition for entrance (in addition to the regular application process where she had to submit all the normal essays, scores, transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc.) which is EXTREMELY competitive. For some programs there are 1000 or more kids auditioning for anywhere from 8-30 slots.
Because it's so competitive, she ended up auditioning/applying to 21 schools all over the country. (A few she decided not to apply to after auditioning. Others she decided not to audition for after applying. And a few were non-audition "safety" schools. She ended up with 8 choices when all was said and done. She is wait listed at 3 more, but she's done. She had a really difficult choice to make but ended up deciding on Otterbein University in Westerville, OH. They only take 4 girls and 4 boys out of the hundreds who audition, so it's quite an honor to be chosen. Not sure how she's going to handle the winters, coming from sunny Southern California!
Looking forward to meeting all of you on the cruise! Seems like there's probably too small a group for a Champagne Girls meet, but if anyone's interested, let me know and maybe we can try to set a time. Also with only one full sea day it might be tough to find a time.
We just booked this cruise tonight!!!!!!!!!!!
We are so excited I think our family is going to explode.
We are gold CC, so I gotta get booking excursions!!!
I am interested in the FE, We are a family with myself, my wife and DS 8 and DS 6.
I will PM the FE person tomorrow.
YEAH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are so excited I think our family is going to explode.
We are gold CC, so I gotta get booking excursions!!!
I am interested in the FE, We are a family with myself, my wife and DS 8 and DS 6.
I will PM the FE person tomorrow.
YEAH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CaliforniaGirl09
DIS Veteran
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- Dec 4, 2009
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- 4,143
I did the same thing with my FEs on my last cruise, but even unpacked they still ended up taking tons of room. Should be easier this time around with a small group.
Congrats to your daughter on having so many choices and picking her school. Sounds incredibly competitive.
Champagne Girls sounds fun by the title alone, LOL, but what is it? I'm always up for Champagne
Welcome aboard! It's been a really quiet thread so far, but I'm hoping that as the cruise gets closer more people will start to post.
We're right there with you in family excitement--counting down the days until August. What excursions are you guys thinking about doing? A few posts up you can see what we signed up for. I received your PM for the FE so look for one back from me.Champagne Girls is a fun meet that happens on the ship that can be flexible. The only constant is that everyone MUST wear PINK, a feather boa and a tiara. Beyond that, it can be flexible.
Some options:
A) You book it through Disney and they provide a place, the champagne and a sommelier to talk about the different types (everyone pays a charge for this, something like $20 per person)
B) Everyone brings a bottle to share and you pick a place to meet. You can have it in someone's room (best if it's someone with a suite so everyone can hang out and have room, Obviously this can only work with a small group) or you can have it in one of the "public" spaces on the ship. The issue you run into here is getting glasses for everyone to use, unless someone wants to bring disposable plastic ones for everyone.
C) Someone calls Disney and asks if you can book time in one of the lounges that are closed, everyone brings their own champagne to share and Disney provides the glasses and staff to help serve. (I don't know if this is still an option, but we did it this way my first CG meet several years ago.
Obviously, Option B is the most cost-effective way to go, and also allows for the non-drinkers in the crowd to be accommodated easily. (They just bring soda or Martinelli's or whatever they want) Disney will also allow non-drinkers to be at the events, but they won't provide anything for them to drink, I don't think, or else they'll charge an arm and a leg.
It's just a fun way to get together and get to know each other and taste some different types of champagne. We've always done it on a sea day before, but since there's just the one this trip I don't know if there would be time. I guess it's worth pursuing if people are interested.
Welcome to MASrules! Hopefully things will pick up here as it gets closer. This is the quietest cruise board I've ever participated in! But that's been a good thing up to this point because I haven't had a lot of time.
Some options:
A) You book it through Disney and they provide a place, the champagne and a sommelier to talk about the different types (everyone pays a charge for this, something like $20 per person)
B) Everyone brings a bottle to share and you pick a place to meet. You can have it in someone's room (best if it's someone with a suite so everyone can hang out and have room, Obviously this can only work with a small group) or you can have it in one of the "public" spaces on the ship. The issue you run into here is getting glasses for everyone to use, unless someone wants to bring disposable plastic ones for everyone.
C) Someone calls Disney and asks if you can book time in one of the lounges that are closed, everyone brings their own champagne to share and Disney provides the glasses and staff to help serve. (I don't know if this is still an option, but we did it this way my first CG meet several years ago.
Obviously, Option B is the most cost-effective way to go, and also allows for the non-drinkers in the crowd to be accommodated easily. (They just bring soda or Martinelli's or whatever they want) Disney will also allow non-drinkers to be at the events, but they won't provide anything for them to drink, I don't think, or else they'll charge an arm and a leg.
It's just a fun way to get together and get to know each other and taste some different types of champagne. We've always done it on a sea day before, but since there's just the one this trip I don't know if there would be time. I guess it's worth pursuing if people are interested.
Welcome to MASrules! Hopefully things will pick up here as it gets closer. This is the quietest cruise board I've ever participated in! But that's been a good thing up to this point because I haven't had a lot of time.
I booked a Palo brunch for the last day (victoria), but did not book dinner as we have not been on the wonder in so long that we wanted to try all the dinner experiences again.
As far as excursions I guess I will have to decide soon. I usually have like a year of planning, so this is kinda tough. I was in full out research mode for our Western Carribean on the Fantasy for April 2013 before I booked this cruise.
We definitely want to do some whale watching in Juneau, but trying to decide to book through Disney or get a smaller charter.
We are likely going to do the train in Skagway, and none in Ketchikan, but neither of those are final.
Joined the FE and checked in, I am really getting psyched up for this trip!
As far as excursions I guess I will have to decide soon. I usually have like a year of planning, so this is kinda tough. I was in full out research mode for our Western Carribean on the Fantasy for April 2013 before I booked this cruise.
We definitely want to do some whale watching in Juneau, but trying to decide to book through Disney or get a smaller charter.
We are likely going to do the train in Skagway, and none in Ketchikan, but neither of those are final.
Joined the FE and checked in, I am really getting psyched up for this trip!
CaliforniaGirl09
DIS Veteran
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- Dec 4, 2009
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Thanks for the great explanation--that sounds like a lot of fun. I'm definitely up for it if others are.
I've heard a number of the Alaska cruise threads are pretty quiet. I wonder what accounts for it? I haven't seen many VGT/OGT/IGT specials on the Alaska cruises, so I'm assuming they are fairly full. I'm going on a Fantasy cruise in June and I think the thread is over 200 pages, but the FB page is even more impressive.
How funny! Calfan and I are also booked on a Western Fantasy cruise in April 2013. Wonder if we're on the same cruise. April 13th by any chance?
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