Alaska 06/11/12 Anyone Sailing ?

[Maleficent59]

Hi,

I've updated the DIS list and will continue to do so as I get more information. Thanks!

Regarding the DIS meet, there is generally a ~15 minute window between the life boat drill and the sail away party. DCL no longer requires you to bring the life vest to the drill, so there is no need to return to your stateroom to return the vest. Sailaway is generally 4:30 - 5:15. Main seating starts at 5:45. So, we have 2 choices for the DIS Meet:

1: Right after Life Boat Drill (approx 4:15 to 4:30)
2: Right after Sail Away (approx 5:15 to 5:30)

Preferences? We've done both and I think option 1 is less hectic for those with main seating.

We will not, unfortunately, be able to join you for a Pre-Cruise meet (unless you want to join us at the Fairmont Empress Saturday before the cruise). We decided that the window for visiting Victoria was too short while on the cruise so we opted to visit Victoria on our own. Given the cost of hotels in downtown Seattle and the price of the Butchart Gardens tour with Disney, it was almost a wash (cost-wise). So, I'm all done with our air, hotels, and excursions - now I can concentrate on the FE exchange!

Can't Wait!
- Sarah

 

[AAshleySEG]

Hi,

I've updated the DIS list and will continue to do so as I get more information. Thanks!

Regarding the DIS meet, there is generally a ~15 minute window between the life boat drill and the sail away party. DCL no longer requires you to bring the life vest to the drill, so there is no need to return to your stateroom to return the vest. Sailaway is generally 4:30 - 5:15. Main seating starts at 5:45. So, we have 2 choices for the DIS Meet:

1: Right after Life Boat Drill (approx 4:15 to 4:30)
2: Right after Sail Away (approx 5:15 to 5:30)

Preferences? We've done both and I think option 1 is less hectic for those with main seating.

We will not, unfortunately, be able to join you for a Pre-Cruise meet (unless you want to join us at the Fairmont Empress Saturday before the cruise). We decided that the window for visiting Victoria was too short while on the cruise so we opted to visit Victoria on our own. Given the cost of hotels in downtown Seattle and the price of the Butchart Gardens tour with Disney, it was almost a wash (cost-wise). So, I'm all done with our air, hotels, and excursions - now I can concentrate on the FE exchange!

Can't Wait!
- Sarah

As far as the preference goes, I know everyone will probably be different, I would vote for after the sail-away party, but the only problem with that is that a lot of people have main seating (we have second), since it is our first cruise I was hoping to get a good spot to see (photograph/video) the sail-away party, but since the cruise is not sold out maybe it won't matter? It might not matter anyway...LOL..I just don't know, maybe you guys who have been before can tell me if there are plenty of good spots to see it. I am just so used to being early for everything at WDW.. I guess we shall see what everyone else says But then again, I would like to watch us sail out of the harbor too...ugh I have no idea!!!

 

[Maleficent59]

Hi Andrea,

You can generally get a decent spot to view the sail away if you arrive on time. However, since you want to film it and may set up a tripod, I would pick out a spot in advance. I'm not sure when everyone will be onboard, but we can have a DIS Meet before the Life Boat Drill. Folks generally start arriving at the Muster Stations before 4:00. Everyone should return to their cabins before going to their designated Muster Stations (practice for real emergencies as everyone will return to their cabins to get their Life Vests) so we can have an alternative:

3: Meet at 3:15 in the Promenade Lounge before the Life Boat Drill.

For people participating in the FE, everyone can bring their cabin list to the DIS Meet and for those who have had cabin changes, we can note it then. Thoughts?

-Sarah

 

[AAshleySEG]

3: Meet at 3:15 in the Promenade Lounge before the Life Boat Drill.

For people participating in the FE, everyone can bring their cabin list to the DIS Meet and for those who have had cabin changes, we can note it then. Thoughts?

-Sarah

3:15 Gets my vote, awaiting everyone else's replies!

 

[pixie08]

Before the drill gets my vote too!

 

[rogattdm]

3rd the vote for before the drill. Love the idea about updating the FE list since we are hoping for an upgrade!!!

 

[cyluvsdisney]

Hi Andrea,

You can generally get a decent spot to view the sail away if you arrive on time. However, since you want to film it and may set up a tripod, I would pick out a spot in advance. I'm not sure when everyone will be onboard, but we can have a DIS Meet before the Life Boat Drill. Folks generally start arriving at the Muster Stations before 4:00. Everyone should return to their cabins before going to their designated Muster Stations (practice for real emergencies as everyone will return to their cabins to get their Life Vests) so we can have an alternative:

3: Meet at 3:15 in the Promenade Lounge before the Life Boat Drill.

For people participating in the FE, everyone can bring their cabin list to the DIS Meet and for those who have had cabin changes, we can note it then. Thoughts?

-Sarah

3:15 works for me too. Hopefully everyone in the FE group goes just in case we need to update our room number...fingers crossed for port upgrade!

 

[Grumpymom73]

Another vote for 3:15

 

[plwilliams1049]

Another vote for 3:15

 

[midwestpat]

3:15 sounds like the perfect time! I agree.

 

[AAshleySEG]

It's been a little quiet around here lately! Anyone doing anything getting ready? Me and DH are 44 days out from heading to Seattle! I have been making Door Magnets and stuff for our door on photoshop and getting everything ready to go. I can't seem to stop thinking about it, worrying that I will forget to pack something, or need something etc. Hope you all are doing well! Looks like it might be a go for 3:15 in the Promenade Lounge! I absolutely cannot wait to meet all of you!!

 

[bkoehl]

Got my waterproof hiking shoes in the mail today-Keens. Now only have to order some for my hubby and we are set with the waterproof gear. Only thing left to get (other than FE stuff ) is another pair of binoculars.

Saw a couple today in the office-they leave in 12 days to DRIVE to Alaska I'm dreading the 5 hr+ flight to Seattle, can't imagine 7-10 days of driving! They plan to be gone 6-8 weeks. Ah, retirement...

Debating getting the CityPass for Seattle. We used it in Chicago over Easter and found it great but not sure we really want to see enough stuff in it in Seattle. But then don't really want to just wander around or worse, sit in our hotel board, so thinking buying it may force us to do stuff. Anyone else looked into it?

 

[AAshleySEG]

Got my waterproof hiking shoes in the mail today-Keens. Now only have to order some for my hubby and we are set with the waterproof gear. Only thing left to get (other than FE stuff ) is another pair of binoculars.

Saw a couple today in the office-they leave in 12 days to DRIVE to Alaska I'm dreading the 5 hr+ flight to Seattle, can't imagine 7-10 days of driving! They plan to be gone 6-8 weeks. Ah, retirement...

Debating getting the CityPass for Seattle. We used it in Chicago over Easter and found it great but not sure we really want to see enough stuff in it in Seattle. But then don't really want to just wander around or worse, sit in our hotel board, so thinking buying it may force us to do stuff. Anyone else looked into it?

I definitely looked into, I was going to buy it when we first started researching. I think it is a good deal if you want to do all of those things. The more I looked into Seattle the more things I found I wanted to do that was not part of the CityPass. We are going to baseball games, savor seattle food tours, hoping the Chihuly Garden & Glass will be open when we go, we are also going kayaking, and to the Olympic Sculpture Park. There are tons of things to do if you don't want to get it, but it is also a good deal if you are planning on doing all of those things

 

[plwilliams1049]

Got my waterproof hiking shoes in the mail today-Keens. Now only have to order some for my hubby and we are set with the waterproof gear. Only thing left to get (other than FE stuff ) is another pair of binoculars.


I bought a pair of waterproof Keens in January for the trip and wore them on and off through the winter. They are GREAT! Comfortable and sturdy. I tested them in puddles and they are truely waterproof.

I am anxiously awaiting my flight information from DCL. Should hear from them within the next week.

 

[Grumpymom73]

Still need to do some more shopping. I've been distracted lately. My older DS had Prom last weekend and Grad Bash at Univeral this weekend. He also had a tooth pulled this week. Other DS had a big fundraiser last night for the Jazz Band Trip to Tennessee which is next week. Right now I'm trying to get DS and myself ready for that trip. I think I might be losing my mind!!!

 

[pixie08]

We are passing on the City pass (no pun lol) We are not doing enough included in the pass. I think it is great for families because of the aquarium and museums, but we are not doing that stuff. If you can manage to fit all that in it's a great deal.

I think we have everything in terms of clothing, I just have to rent my lens!

 

[pixie08]

Still need to do some more shopping. I've been distracted lately. My older DS had Prom last weekend and Grad Bash at Univeral this weekend. He also had a tooth pulled this week. Other DS had a big fundraiser last night for the Jazz Band Trip to Tennessee which is next week. Right now I'm trying to get DS and myself ready for that trip. I think I might be losing my mind!!!

Oh no...I know what you mean. I haven't even been able to get too excited about the trip. I am finishing my master's thesis and work has been so crazy that i have been working crazy overtime hours! It's just nuts. Any free time I am trying to work out and get healthy program. It's so tough

 

[Grumpymom73]

Oh no...I know what you mean. I haven't even been able to get too excited about the trip. I am finishing my master's thesis and work has been so crazy that i have been working crazy overtime hours! It's just nuts. Any free time I am trying to work out and get healthy program. It's so tough

Sounds like we will all be ready for this vacation when it finally gets here!

We did get the CityPass. We have 3 full days in Seattle after the cruise and it seemed like a good deal to us. I did however buy them before the price went up.

 

[midwestpat]

Got my waterproof hiking shoes in the mail today-Keens. Now only have to order some for my hubby and we are set with the waterproof gear. Only thing left to get (other than FE stuff ) is another pair of binoculars.

Saw a couple today in the office-they leave in 12 days to DRIVE to Alaska I'm dreading the 5 hr+ flight to Seattle, can't imagine 7-10 days of driving! They plan to be gone 6-8 weeks. Ah, retirement...

Debating getting the CityPass for Seattle. We used it in Chicago over Easter and found it great but not sure we really want to see enough stuff in it in Seattle. But then don't really want to just wander around or worse, sit in our hotel board, so thinking buying it may force us to do stuff. Anyone else looked into it?

We have our boots (although not as completely waterproof as everyone else's sound) and we bought binoculars. Have our layered jackets and all. As excited as I am, I just haven't had time to think about pre-packing and what to do in Seattle. This is the last week of school for me, and I'm up to my eyeballs in term papers and studying for finals.

Last summer we (DH, and DD-age 7 at the time) drove from Indianapolis to Grand Canyon (actually, one night in Vegas too), and back again. Took about 2 weeks. I had pre-planned stops and hotel nights all along the way. It was a BLAST! We loved it. BUT.... it's a mental thing. You have to accept the fact that you're going to be in your car for very long stretches of time. And I had planned something fun (large or small) for DD every other day, so she always had somethign to look forward to. One day we stopped at a kids' science museum in OKC, one day we stopped to see a meteor crater, the very last day we spent at Great Wolf Lodge in KC. If you're all mentally prepared for it, and you stock your car with games to play, snacks, etc, it's not so bad.

 

[pixie08]

Sounds like we will all be ready for this vacation when it finally gets here!

We did get the CityPass. We have 3 full days in Seattle after the cruise and it seemed like a good deal to us. I did however buy them before the price went up.

For 3 full days it is a good deal... We just have 2 1/2 and we are also going to a bame and a Pike tour. I think it's going to be a blast

Pat you get a hug too... Looks like were all in the same boatLiterally and figuratively! I think we all are going to be have a good time on this vacation