A WONDERful way to celebrate Independence Day! - Disney Wonder July 1, 2013

[Mackie Mouse]

So I spent about 4 hours online yesterday reading all the posts and signing up for the FB page and the webpage. So relaxing and a great way to spend part of my Saturday! I then told my daughter Stephanie (11 almost 12 year old) about how I was making new friends.
Now she can't wait to make new friends. Hopefully as we get closer, we'll be able to share photos on FB and interests. If anyone's child is interested in being a penpal with Stephanie, she's love that. Maybe we can PM each other or message on facebook and exchange addresses. Stephy (and Nicole) love everything Disney. They also love to swim and try new foods. Stephanie is also amazed that there are so many people from around the US and from other countries. It will be such a cool experience for them.
Have a great week everyone.

Glad you're having a great time so far! I'm so, so glad that our meet-up group has picked up since the new year. It's been super getting to know everyone, and I'm sure over the next six months things will only get more fun.

I'm sorry that Stephy (too funny - I have a "Stephy" in my class this year!) and Nicole can't be pen pals with anyone from our family...we only have Mac the Wonder Corgi, who is 5 in people years and 35 in dog years, so not really in her age range anyway Hopefully she will find a pen pal! That said, I'm happy to keep being adult pen pals and looking forward to seeing everyone at all the grown-up activities (and some of the family ones...DH and I are reigning potato-car-building champions!).

 

[clarefb]

Well, she is welcome to pen pal with my 9 year old son? I'm not sure how fun he would be he's a lot of fun in real life but his emailing skills are lacking! In saying that he totally will if she wants to just pre warn her that he's not über email chatty!!!

 

[Dancin Mom]

My Violet is going on 7, so Stephy might find her too young to be very interesting. I'm sure though, as everyone keeps updating and catching up there will be more choices for her!


Lori

So I spent about 4 hours online yesterday reading all the posts and signing up for the FB page and the webpage. So relaxing and a great way to spend part of my Saturday! I then told my daughter Stephanie (11 almost 12 year old) about how I was making new friends.
Now she can't wait to make new friends. Hopefully as we get closer, we'll be able to share photos on FB and interests. If anyone's child is interested in being a penpal with Stephanie, she's love that. Maybe we can PM each other or message on facebook and exchange addresses. Stephy (and Nicole) love everything Disney. They also love to swim and try new foods. Stephanie is also amazed that there are so many people from around the US and from other countries. It will be such a cool experience for them.
Have a great week everyone.

 

[Mackie Mouse]

I am proud to announce that excursions are all set and ready to go! After much research and deliberation, DH and I opted to book everything on our own.

Juneau: This is where we're really going it alone. We needed to save money in one of the ports, and we decided it would be here, as most of what we wanted to do was cheaper to do on our own and easily accessible from the port. The plan is:
-Take the blue buses from the port to Mendenhall Glacier ($16 round-trip), spend some time at the Visitor's Center ($3) and do a few short hikes
-Bus ourselves back and take a ride on the Mt. Roberts Tramway, since the buses drop off near there ($30 pp)
-Either have lunch at the top of Mt. Roberts, or somewhere less touristy if we can figure that out
-Hop on the bus near the port to the Alaskan Brewing Company ($7.50 each) for a free tour and tasting

Skagway: Booked a Yukon Bus and Rail excursion through Chilkoot Charters (http://www.chilkootcharters.com/). The trip includes a ride on the White Pass RR, as well as stops by bus at Emerald Lake, Carcross Desert, and some waterfalls and such. We'll have lunch at Caribou Crossing, which should be a classic cheesy Alaskan tourist trap, but at least there wil be puppies.

Ketchikan: Misty Fjords Floatplane trip through Island Wings (http://www.islandwings.com/). I'm kind of peeing my pants with excitement over this one.

Onto waiting for a fare alert for flights!

 

[dsnydaddy]

That's a great plan. I've finally settled on my excursions as well. Laura really likes the floatplane/ salmon bake in Juneau, so that's where I'm dumping most of my money.

 

[Mackie Mouse]

That's a great plan. I've finally settled on my excursions as well. Laura really likes the floatplane/ salmon bake in Juneau, so that's where I'm dumping most of my money.

Is that at the Taku Lodge, or is that a different trip? Originally I was thinking about whale watching in Juneau, but DH wasn't terribly enthused and I think we'll have just as much fun more cheaply this way, so I'm still pretty excited.

 

[dsnydaddy]

Yeah, at the Taku Lodge. The Plane flys over 5 glaciers then lands for the salmon bake at the Taku lodge. I did whale watching in Mexico, it was fun but, I must have been expecting a far cooler trip because it wasn't much more than seeing an occasional fin in the water. Besides, It sounds like the whale watching from the ship will be pretty exciting. I like your plan for Juneau, though. It's pretty well-rounded.

 

[Mackie Mouse]

Yeah, at the Taku Lodge. The Plane flys over 5 glaciers then lands for the salmon bake at the Taku lodge. I did whale watching in Mexico, it was fun but, I must have been expecting a far cooler trip because it wasn't much more than seeing an occasional fin in the water. Besides, It sounds like the whale watching from the ship will be pretty exciting. I like your plan for Juneau, though. It's pretty well-rounded.

Sounds beautiful

Your issues with whale watching in Mexico are exactly the same as DH's. He's from New England and has done whale watching there and off the coast of Canada before and felt pretty "meh" about random fins sticking up out of the water every so often. I'm sure its more exciting than that...but glaciers/tramways/BEER is really exciting enough to me.

Let's just face it, though - you guys will want us to bring back a case for you
(For the record...I'm happy to do that if you'll help us drink it

 

[Dancin Mom]

One of the best things about the DIS. Meeting those who you are going to be vacationing with before the vacation!

So true!!!! It's nice to have others to be excited with, rather than the jealous people who aren't going, to chat/plan with!! I tell them to just come on and join us!

 

[dsnydaddy]

So true!!!! It's nice to have others to be excited with, rather than the jealous people who aren't going, to chat/plan with!! I tell them to just come on and join us!

Hilarious! My wife says the same thing. She can talk with her friends about our vacations because they make her feel guilty. Well, I work my butt off for these vacations, I'm darn well going to enjoy them!

 

[Dancin Mom]

Hilarious! My wife says the same thing. She can talk with her friends about our vacations because they make her feel guilty. Well, I work my butt off for these vacations, I'm darn well going to enjoy them!

Heck yeah!! Hubby and I both work hard to have these fabulous opportunities! The truth is, some people are able to, but they wait, too. We have learned through my mother in law, who traveled all over, and went out a lot, and really made memories in her life, thank goodness because it was too short. She kept telling us to travel, and take Violet to more places, she definitely influenced us! My parents are the opposite, especially my dad, my mom is trying to hard to convince him that they should join us. He is sooooo stubborn!!! We'll keep trying!!

 

[Mackie Mouse]

A couple of planning updates for those not on the Facebook group:

I think DH and I found a sure bet for lunch on our "day on our own" in Juneau! http://www.kingcrabshack.com/. Thanks, DISBoarders, for the recommend.

Additionally, since we'll have some time to explore Ketchikan on our own, I found a nifty walking tour map that's available there, but also uploaded to the Internet. Supposedly you can walk to all the sights over the course of about 2-2.5 hours.

http://www.experienceketchikan.com/ketchikan-walking-tour.html

As for being able to get my vacation geek on here...even DH sometimes can't take my obsessive planning. Thank goodness for all of you!

 

[amybethchristiansen]

Hi all--

We just cancelled our Med cruise because the airfare was OUTRAGEOUS this year. We rebooked to come on the Wonder with you all! We were on the Wonder to Alaska last summer and just adored it so much. Travelling will be:

Me: Amy, age 35, public defender
Husband: Eric, age 45, desktop support
Son: Bennett, age 11, intrested in bowling, snakes, trains, and most of all, bowling
Daughter: Lindsay, age 9 (celebrating 9th birthday on ship), interested in cheer, dance, tumbling, and anything girly
Son: Grant, age 5, interested in superheros, and anything his big brother does

I see there are many other children on board this trip. If anyone's kids have email and want to correspond with mine before the trip, that would be great! My son met a very good friend on the last Alaska cruise and it would be wonderful to happen again!

We are from Aurora, Illinois, which is a suburb of Chicago.

 

[Mackie Mouse]

Welcome, Amy! Adding you to the roll call, etc. Can't wait to see all your past adventures in Alaska from last summer.

Incidentally, since I just learned that Amy's DD will be turning 9 during our cruise (and I will be turning 9 for the *coughcough*th time), will anyone else be celebrating anything? I'll make sure to add it to our roll call/FE list...I remember back when we honeymooned on the Magic people seemed to love sticking extra magnets on our door as a surprise

 

[dsnydaddy]

Welcome Amy! We're glad you joined us!

 

[babeogeorge]

Hello Everyone,


Been off for awhile, busy with new job, move and son starting college. Ready to start full force ahead. We are celebrating my sons 19th birthday early on the cruise, we had originally books for his BDay but had to change, August 2nd is the special day. Also noticed tonight on the roll call we do want to be included in the FE. We would defiantly want to participate. Right now, for job purposes only, we are living in Deming NM. Planning to start the Vacation early by driving to the CA coast up hwy 1. I really like the ocean and my family has never seen that side yet, with the redwoods. Found a hotel in Vancouver BC right on the cruise term, but I am open for suggestions. Need someone to park the car while on the cruise. Thanks for everyones post, really in the mood again for planning, all free time is on the internet now

 

[barefootmark]

We are booked, and everyone is very excited! We'll be celebrating my wife's birthday!

Barefoot Mark
Kathy DW
Tyler Anne (DD 8 years)
Xander (DS 4 years)
plus grand ma and grandpa!

Hope to meet everyone! This will be our 2nd cruise, and want to meet more people- last cruise was a bit overwhelming!

 

[dsnydaddy]

Welcome Mark. I remember my first cruise and I felt very overwhealmed. There was a wonderful group of us at that time and the cruise meet thread went on over two years and hundreds of pages. The second cruise we went in was with many of those same people and that was really nice because I had know those people for both in person and online for nearly four years. I've found that having a built in group if friends before a cruise makes for a wonderful experience.

 

[dsnydaddy]

Hello Everyone,


Been off for awhile, busy with new job, move and son starting college. Ready to start full force ahead. We are celebrating my sons 19th birthday early on the cruise, we had originally books for his BDay but had to change, August 2nd is the special day. Also noticed tonight on the roll call we do want to be included in the FE. We would defiantly want to participate. Right now, for job purposes only, we are living in Deming NM. Planning to start the Vacation early by driving to the CA coast up hwy 1. I really like the ocean and my family has never seen that side yet, with the redwoods. Found a hotel in Vancouver BC right on the cruise term, but I am open for suggestions. Need someone to park the car while on the cruise. Thanks for everyones post, really in the mood again for planning, all free time is on the internet now

 

[Mackie Mouse]

We are booked, and everyone is very excited! We'll be celebrating my wife's birthday!

Barefoot Mark
Kathy DW
Tyler Anne (DD 8 years)
Xander (DS 4 years)
plus grand ma and grandpa!

Hope to meet everyone! This will be our 2nd cruise, and want to meet more people- last cruise was a bit overwhelming!

Hello and welcome! I'll add you to the roll call..and feel free to join us on Facebook, as well (people have been chatting quite a bit over there). I remember being overwhelmed a bit on that first cruise, as well - there was also a huge group and a huge thread to go with it. We also stood out from the crowd quite a bit as the resident honeymooners on that trip...so although we didn't know everyone, they all knew us!

So far this has been a really nice, laid-back group. I'm so excited to meet everyone in a few months.