Alaska ~ 8/13/12 ~ Midnight Sun Mouseketeers!

[Jack'sGirl5]

Is anyone thinking of buying cold weather gear on sale at the end of winter? I may need to invest in gloves and hats for us thin blooded Californians.

We are from Michigan where the winters are cold and the springs are colder but I think Alaska could make even us feel thin blooded!

I actually did just get some gear on sale at Eddie Bauer. I ended up going with layers based on what I have been reading from last year's Alaska cruisers. I think we will bring a fleece jacket, a heavy rain jacket and maybe a vest -- that way we can mix the layers and be ready for anything. We also invested in some waterproof hiking boots, hats and gloves. I got all excited when the stuff was delivered last week -- made the trip seem that much more real!

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

OK, I have to admit that I am a little jealous of you guys all talking about Palo -- it sounds great! Since it is just dd and I though, I will have to opt out. Being a single mom is like most other things, some good stuff and some not so good. The good news on this trip is that since it is only two of us I can afford some of the pricier adventures but the bad news is that I need to opt out of some of the "adults only" stuff. I will just have to vicariously live through you guys on the Palo thing -- you'll have to give me food details later!

Beth --Congrats on your Disneyland trip! Although we do the World more often, we have been to the Land a few times too and love it just as much for totally different reasons. Have a ball!

Liz, You are welcome to join me and Steve for brunch if you'd like! That is, if there are any brunch openings available when I am able to book it on my silver status. In fact, now that I'm thinking about it, if enough of us wanted to participate, we might be able to request the private dining room for brunch on one of the days it is being offered and make it a mini Midnight Sun Mouseketeer meet. Would anyone be interested in attempting to do that, and if so, does anyone know how to arrange it? On my first cruise, someone in our Dismeet group set it up. It was super fun getting to have brunch with people we'd already been chatting with over the course of many months! I think that private dining room had enough space for at least 12, maybe 15? people. While we were eating and talking, the children were having a bang up time in the Kids Club. Everyone was happy and the brunch at Palo was amazing!

Beth

 

[OC_stacylace]

In fact, now that I'm thinking about it, if enough of us wanted to participate, we might be able to request the private dining room for brunch on one of the days it is being offered and make it a mini Midnight Sun Mouseketeer meet. Would anyone be interested in attempting to do that, and if so, does anyone know how to arrange it? On my first cruise, someone in our Dismeet group set it up. It was super fun getting to have brunch with people we'd already been chatting with over the course of many months! I think that private dining room had enough space for at least 12, maybe 15? people. While we were eating and talking, the children were having a bang up time in the Kids Club. Everyone was happy and the brunch at Palo was amazing!

Count us in for the group reservation to Palo. I only have one cruise under my belt, so I'm silver level castaway club as well. Maybe we can get someone to join us who can reserve the room early. I do believe the needed min is 12 for the private table. I will see what I can find out...

 

[OC_stacylace]

As for the group room...

From what I've gathered from other threads, you can first try to reserve the group room at Palo starting 30 days out. The min amt of people is 12. They will let you know if the room is available and at what time, and you can choose 10:30 for brunch or 6:00 or 9:00 for dinner. You call DCL directly. If you have reservations at Palo, those are cancelled if the group one is reserved.

 

[Jack'sGirl5]

Liz, You are welcome to join me and Steve for brunch if you'd like! That is, if there are any brunch openings available when I am able to book it on my silver status. In fact, now that I'm thinking about it, if enough of us wanted to participate, we might be able to request the private dining room for brunch on one of the days it is being offered and make it a mini Midnight Sun Mouseketeer meet. Would anyone be interested in attempting to do that, and if so, does anyone know how to arrange it? On my first cruise, someone in our Dismeet group set it up. It was super fun getting to have brunch with people we'd already been chatting with over the course of many months! I think that private dining room had enough space for at least 12, maybe 15? people. While we were eating and talking, the children were having a bang up time in the Kids Club. Everyone was happy and the brunch at Palo was amazing!

Beth

Beth,
That is so sweet of you to offer. If the group brunch does not work out I may take you up on that. I think doing the mini Midnight Sun Mouseketeer meet sounds terrific. I would love to be a part -- dd won't even miss me if it's a brunch -- more sleep for her!

As for the group room...

From what I've gathered from other threads, you can first try to reserve the group room at Palo starting 30 days out. The min amt of people is 12. They will let you know if the room is available and at what time, and you can choose 10:30 for brunch or 6:00 or 9:00 for dinner. You call DCL directly. If you have reservations at Palo, those are cancelled if the group one is reserved.

Ok ladies, here is where I may be able to help. We are lucky enough to be staying concierge this trip and I get to book at 120 days plus I get the assistance of the friendly concierge crew. If we can get our 12 to 15 people interested and agree on a brunch day, why don't I ask for the room when I chat with the concierge at around 130 days? I'm sure they can tell me what I need to do and help facilitate. What do you think?

Liz

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

Beth,
That is so sweet of you to offer. If the group brunch does not work out I may take you up on that. I think doing the mini Midnight Sun Mouseketeer meet sounds terrific. I would love to be a part -- dd won't even miss me if it's a brunch -- more sleep for her!



Ok ladies, here is where I may be able to help. We are lucky enough to be staying concierge this trip and I get to book at 120 days plus I get the assistance of the friendly concierge crew. If we can get our 12 to 15 people interested and agree on a brunch day, why don't I ask for the room when I chat with the concierge at around 130 days? I'm sure they can tell me what I need to do and help facilitate. What do you think?

Liz

Hi Liz, Great! Count Steve and I in if you are able to get the private dining room for Palo brunch. We're completely flexible about the day. It would be wonderful to be able to eat and chat together in that great space! Just let us know what you need us to do if it does work out.

Thank you for alerting me to the issue of the large boat for whale watching. I went over to that thread and started reading the 40+ pages and that issue does get mentioned over and over. So I'm on the hunt for another alternative. The Alaska Whales and Rain Forest Trails sounds interesting and educational for the girls, but not sure that 5.5 hours without lunch would work with my kids. Also looking at Gold Panning at the Creek that Stacy mentioned. So the hunt continues.

Must say that the cruise in August seems more real now!

Beth

 

[Disnylvr77]

Beth,
That is so sweet of you to offer. If the group brunch does not work out I may take you up on that. I think doing the mini Midnight Sun Mouseketeer meet sounds terrific. I would love to be a part -- dd won't even miss me if it's a brunch -- more sleep for her!



Ok ladies, here is where I may be able to help. We are lucky enough to be staying concierge this trip and I get to book at 120 days plus I get the assistance of the friendly concierge crew. If we can get our 12 to 15 people interested and agree on a brunch day, why don't I ask for the room when I chat with the concierge at around 130 days? I'm sure they can tell me what I need to do and help facilitate. What do you think?

Liz

Liz & beth,

How nice of both of you guys to coordinate this! That would be awesome to put some faces with some names! LOL

Alex & I would be up for Brunch on any of the days as well. We will be gold at the end of the alaska sailing so we to are in the Silver booking range for this trip. Our stateroom #is 8538. I'm happy to help in any other way that I can!

Thanks,

Stephanie

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

Hey everyone,

I searched through some threads about the Palo private dining room and some posts mentioned a minimum of 12 and a maximum capacity of 14 people. So IF Liz is able to reserve the private dining room when she speaks to the concierge people 130ish days out, here are the people who have said they'd like to be counted in:

(Jacksgirl5 - Liz) , (tinkerbelltwins - Beth and Steve), (OC Stacylace - Stacy and Dennis), (Disneyluvr - Stephanie and Alex).

We have 7 people now and need 5-7 more. Are there any more Midnight Sun Mouseketeers who would like to join us? Seems like the fairest way to handle this is for the slots to go to whomever expresses interest first by posting on our meet thread. It also appears that everyone is flexible as to the brunch day. Does this all sound okay?

Beth

 

[Disnylvr77]

OMG I'm getting so excited! This will be so fun!

Stephanie

 

[Davebuck]

Hi,We are new to the board. We were on the Wonder last year with our three grand children and had such a great time that we are going again this year. The only differance is it will just be me and the DW this time. We would like to participate in the FE. A couple of questions. We are not familiar with Seattle. What is a good hotel close to the docks with transportation to the docks? Also where can I leave my car till we return? Thanks in advance...We are really looking forward to this trip. We are signed up for the early dining seating.

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

Hi,We are new to the board. We were on the Wonder last year with our three grand children and had such a great time that we are going again this year. The only differance is it will just be me and the DW this time. We would like to participate in the FE. A couple of questions. We are not familiar with Seattle. What is a good hotel close to the docks with transportation to the docks? Also where can I leave my car till we return? Thanks in advance...We are really looking forward to this trip. We are signed up for the early dining seating.

Welcome Aboard! You've been added to our Roll Call!

Let me know if you want to add any more particulars to your roll call entry. If you are doing the FE, I will need to add your stateroom number so that people will know where to leave the loot. No one is really in charge of the FE since the organizer had to drop the cruise. So right now since there are so few of us participating (I think 6 or so families), the plan is to use the roll call information to distribute things to people who said they wanted to do the FE. But if more people join before the July 1st cut off date, then maybe we'll get more sophisticated!

As for your questions about Seattle hotels, transportation, and parking, I can't really offer anything as I've never been there before. Check out the first page in the post that has Seattle links. The first one is a major thread on Seattle that has lots of great information. You can also ask questions on the main cruise board and I'm sure there is someone out there who has some answers!

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

Here is a link that discusses the dining rotations on the first Alaska cruise that leaves from Vancouver. This might be a precursor for things to come on the later cruises out of Seattle....

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2892022

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

We sail for Alaska in 22 weeks!

 

[OC_stacylace]

There seems to be some confusion as to whether there will be a pirates menu on our cruise. Based upon last year's sailings, there was a pirate night, where cruisers were encouraged to wear their pirate gear, however there was no pirates menu. As for the menus, again based upon last year, I would expect the 3 rotational menus, golden mickeys, taste of alaska, captain's gala, and till me meet again. Is it too early to call DCL to find out?

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

There seems to be some confusion as to whether there will be a pirates menu on our cruise. Based upon last year's sailings, there was a pirate night, where cruisers were encouraged to wear their pirate gear, however there was no pirates menu. As for the menus, again based upon last year, I would expect the 3 rotational menus, golden mickeys, taste of alaska, captain's gala, and till me meet again. Is it too early to call DCL to find out?

Go for it ...and let us know what you find out from DCL!

 

[Canadacruise]

Hi,
From what I remember from last year there was definitely a pirate party but the menu that night was the Taste of Alaska. We had the late dinner and actually ours ran into the Pirate party but we had lots of fun in our costumes anyway. I think there might be a midnight pirate feast that night too but we were really too full to look into it. The weather was splendid that evening -- I hope we are so lucky this year. https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/315975_10150292811700283_648980282_8304982_2129049464_n.jpg

We would like to be added to the Palo brunch list too (Troy and Andrea -- rooms to come shortly -- and if we end up short of people I can draft in my mom and dad who are also on the cruise). We can scoot all the kids off to the clubs and really enjoy.
Andrea

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

Hey everyone,

I searched through some threads about the Palo private dining room and some posts mentioned a minimum of 12 and a maximum capacity of 14 people. So IF Liz is able to reserve the private dining room when she speaks to the concierge people 130ish days out, here are the people who have said they'd like to be counted in:

(Jacksgirl5 - Liz) , (tinkerbelltwins - Beth and Steve), (OC Stacylace - Stacy and Dennis), (Disneyluvr - Stephanie and Alex).

We have 7 people now and need 5-7 more. Are there any more Midnight Sun Mouseketeers who would like to join us? Seems like the fairest way to handle this is for the slots to go to whomever expresses interest first by posting on our meet thread. It also appears that everyone is flexible as to the brunch day. Does this all sound okay?

Beth

So now we have two more: Troy and Andrea (Canadacruise) and they can pull in their parents if need be!

 

[Jack'sGirl5]

That is great! I see Palo and it is within our grasp!

 

[OC_stacylace]

Can we make the palo room request at 120 days out? If so, that's coming up...next month!

 

[Jack'sGirl5]

Hi Everyone,

To get some clarity around what we need to do to book the private room in Palo for our group brunch, I called the shoreside concierge group today to discuss. What I learned was that they will take my request now which will probably give us the distinction of being the first group to request the room which will give us a little advantage. After I send them the request details they want me to reiterate the request when I talk to them at 120 days to book other activities and it will be officially submitted at that point.

One thing to note is that we do not find out until 30 days prior to sailing if we were able to book the room or not. With that being the case, they suggest that any of the group that absolutely want Palo brunch ressies still make them at their window. If we do get the room then they can be released at the 30 day mark -- that way everyone will have a Palo brunch regardless.

Also, they noted that the room holds between 10 and 14 people with a minimum of 10. I think that means that we will have enough but could still take a couple of others if anyone who has not joined yet still wants to do so.

Sooo, to make the reservation I need to submit a request to the concierge group with my reservation number and then the full name of each guest that will be attending. Could I have everyone that wants to join please PM me with that info in the next 3 or 4 days? I will plan on submitting our request mid-week.

Getting in the cruise frame of mind now -- it seems so much closer now that we are planning fun stuff!