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

[clarefb]

Requested to join!! (Lori Hansen-Kieta)

You are in! Yes my page has my last 2 wonder cruise pics in too in case anyone wanted to get more excited than they are now!

 

[dsnydaddy]

Officially started to plan this cruise now. Last night I watched a couple of travelogues downloadable from Amazon on Vancouver and cruising Alaska. I've got a lot of ideas about things to see in the Vancouver area. The Cruising Alaska one was just so-so.

 

[Mackie Mouse]

Officially started to plan this cruise now. Last night I watched a couple of travelogues downloadable from Amazon on Vancouver and cruising Alaska. I've got a lot of ideas about things to see in the Vancouver area. The Cruising Alaska one was just so-so.

Links, please!

What is everyone bringing as far as rain gear is concerned? Would love a North Face rain shell of some sort that will zip into/over my fleece for layering, but not sure I want to drop $100+ on a rain jacket. Would love some specific recs...

 

[JeannieBlueEyes]

Links, please!

What is everyone bringing as far as rain gear is concerned? Would love a North Face rain shell of some sort that will zip into/over my fleece for layering, but not sure I want to drop $100+ on a rain jacket. Would love some specific recs...

My husband & I are bringing rain jackets. I'm hoping they will fit over our fleece jackets. Think I took that into consideration when purchasing My son has a North Face rain/fleece jacket.

 

[racingfandj]

It is official...we are booked on this cruise! I remember catching a glimpse of a private board. I'll share additional information once I get added there. I'll look for that shortly if it's something I can request access to. Here's our travelling band of crazies...

My immediate household from Arkansas:
Me - Jill
DH
DD (5)
Niece (14)
My mother (61)

The additional tag-alongs from Kansas...
Nephews (15, 10)
Niece (9)

So I learned while onboard last week that the PIF date changes to 120 days out since it's an international port. Does our excursion booking window change?

 

[Mackie Mouse]

It is official...we are booked on this cruise! I remember catching a glimpse of a private board. I'll share additional information once I get added there. I'll look for that shortly if it's something I can request access to. Here's our travelling band of crazies...

My immediate household from Arkansas:
Me - Jill
DH
DD (5)
Niece (14)
My mother (61)

The additional tag-alongs from Kansas...
Nephews (15, 10)
Niece (9)

So I learned while onboard last week that the PIF date changes to 120 days out since it's an international port. Does our excursion booking window change?

Hello and welcome!! I'll add you to the roll call and PM you details about our website. We also just started a Facebook group this week, so you can ask for an invite to that if you want. Let me know if you also want in on the FE

As far as excursion booking, from what I can see online it's the same as usual (I can book 90 days out). I've been paid up for a couple of months, as we were originally going to do Alaska in 2012, but then pushed it back a year.

 

[dsnydaddy]

Welcome Jill! I did not know that about the PIF! Luckily, I'm nearly paid off, so I should have no problem. I'm gold so my booking window opens at 105 days and I had planned to pay off early.

 

[Dancin Mom]

Welcome!! I just booked a week ago myself! We're excited! This is our second Disney cruise and we loved the last one! We're coming from California; there are just 3 of us but we're trying to convince more family to take the plunge!
Lori

It is official...we are booked on this cruise! I remember catching a glimpse of a private board. I'll share additional information once I get added there. I'll look for that shortly if it's something I can request access to. Here's our travelling band of crazies...

My immediate household from Arkansas:
Me - Jill
DH
DD (5)
Niece (14)
My mother (61)

The additional tag-alongs from Kansas...
Nephews (15, 10)
Niece (9)

So I learned while onboard last week that the PIF date changes to 120 days out since it's an international port. Does our excursion booking window change?

 

[emum]

Thanks for setting up the FB group. I've sent a request to join. I don't have any Disney cruise photos on my page, but there are a couple of Aulani snaps somewhere on there !

I'm *still* pontificating on the best way / time to do an arrival / departure into Vancouver - whether to fly direct from LAX, or to fly into Seattle, and take the train up.

As for excursions, we're going to only do the White Pass Railway through DCL. Other ports we'll do our own thing. I've been reading Trip reports for ideas.

Welcome to our other cruisers - we should all have a blast.

Oh, final note - forgot who asked, but we're first seating for dinner - worked well for us last time. A little bummed that "our" server has moved to the Fantasy, though

Cheers,
Sally

 

[clarefb]

Thanks for setting up the FB group. I've sent a request to join. I don't have any Disney cruise photos on my page, but there are a couple of Aulani snaps somewhere on there !

I'm *still* pontificating on the best way / time to do an arrival / departure into Vancouver - whether to fly direct from LAX, or to fly into Seattle, and take the train up.

As for excursions, we're going to only do the White Pass Railway through DCL. Other ports we'll do our own thing. I've been reading Trip reports for ideas.

Welcome to our other cruisers - we should all have a blast.

Oh, final note - forgot who asked, but we're first seating for dinner - worked well for us last time. A little bummed that "our" server has moved to the Fantasy, though

Cheers,
Sally

You are added Sally! Yes I think a few of us are contemplating that trip from lax - Seattle. I really need to make up my mind soon

 

[JeannieBlueEyes]

My husband(Dusty) has requested to join the FB page.

 

[Alaska2013]

Hi - my family is from the Sacramento area and we are super excited about going on our first Disney Cruise.
DW (me) - Kathy
DH - Rich
DD - (12)
DD - (9)
Would love to join the facebook page. How do I find it?
We want to go whale watching and go on a dog sledding adventure.
Looking forward to a fun 4th of July also on the ship. Do you think they will have an extra celebration that night?
Thanks,
Kathy

 

[Alaska2013]

Hi All,

Just a quick post to say "Hi" We're booked on this one, and fingers crossed it will come to fruition. Nothing is set in stone until the flights are booked, tho', so hopefully around late July I'll know for sure. Four of us will be flying on frequent flyer points, so I hope I can get the dates we're after.

We'll be a family of 6, with DH, myself, DD1, who will be days away from 16yo, DS aged 12, DD2, who will be a month shy of 11, and DD3 who will be 8.

We've booked the same two NV cabins that we had on the Panama Cruise last year, and I can't wait to start planning in earnest the other bits and bobs we'll get up to. I haven't yet worked out a firm itinerary, other than a week in Anaheim (fingers crossed again for the VGC), then a few days in Vancouver before the cruise. We can take up to three weeks to travel. Wondering if it's worth factoring anywhere else on the West Coast. San Francisco, maybe ?

Looking forward to posting more.

Cheers,
Sally

Hi Sally -
I just joined the forum and am reading your post. Alcatraz is a great tour. We went on a stormy, rainy day and it was still awesome. We heard that the night tour is the best. My only suggestion is that you get your tickets a couple weeks ahead of time. We went over winter break and ordered them a week before. We just picked our tickets up at Pier 33 but the ticket agent said that on holidays it is important to get them ahead of time. Hope you have a wonderful time on the West Coast and look forward to meeting you on the cruise.
Take care,
Kathy

 

[Mackie Mouse]

Hi - my family is from the Sacramento area and we are super excited about going on our first Disney Cruise.
DW (me) - Kathy
DH - Rich
DD - (12)
DD - (9)
Would love to join the facebook page. How do I find it?
We want to go whale watching and go on a dog sledding adventure.
Looking forward to a fun 4th of July also on the ship. Do you think they will have an extra celebration that night?
Thanks,
Kathy

Adding you to our official roll call! PM me if you also want access to our private website, which has all the FE information on it and some other stuff.

My understanding is that there won't be fireworks (due to all the wildlife), but there will be some extra decorations and some fun costuming for the characters. I'm hoping for a special menu at dinner that night or something.

Personally birthday is July 5, so that's clearly the more important holiday for me anyway

 

[Alaska2013]

Weird. The website won't let me PM until I've made 10 posts. I'm sure that will happen soon, but we do want to be part of the FE, and I'd love the password to the website.

Safe to put our last name on the FE Holder? I'm going to make/order a 4 pocket one. Do people typically give one gift to all participants?

Thanks for all the information so far on the thread. Makes me want to road trip to DL soon. I'm also trying to be good and safe $ for the excursions.

Kathy

 

[Mackie Mouse]

Weird. The website won't let me PM until I've made 10 posts. I'm sure that will happen soon, but we do want to be part of the FE, and I'd love the password to the website.

Safe to put our last name on the FE Holder? I'm going to make/order a 4 pocket one. Do people typically give one gift to all participants?

Thanks for all the information so far on the thread. Makes me want to road trip to DL soon. I'm also trying to be good and safe $ for the excursions.

Kathy

Ah, right - I should know that by now! You can get me all the info through the Facebook group if that's easier. I'll give you a holler there in just a minute.

I see "The __________ Family" all the time on people's FE's (not to mention the magnets on their doors). On others, I see each family member's name on a corresponding pocket, and on others still I see no names at all. It's really up to you how you want to set it up and what you're comfortable with. DH and I usually just stick to first names, but that's just us.

 

[clarefb]

Adding you to our official roll call! PM me if you also want access to our private website, which has all the FE information on it and some other stuff.

My understanding is that there won't be fireworks (due to all the wildlife), but there will be some extra decorations and some fun costuming for the characters. I'm hoping for a special menu at dinner that night or something.

Personally birthday is July 5, so that's clearly the more important holiday for me anyway

Ohhhh you are celebrating a birthday on board and there you were talking about making magnets for ME

 

[Mackie Mouse]

Ohhhh you are celebrating a birthday on board and there you were talking about making magnets for ME

My dad used to lie to me as a child and tell me the fireworks were for me because it was my birthday

No magnets necessary...the White Pass Railway, and the floatplane in Ketchikan the next day, and the crab legs in Palo, and the massage I will gift myself on Tracy Arm day will be gifts enough!

 

[Alaska2013]

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.

 

[dsnydaddy]

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