Alaska Excursions--post your reviews here!

[discruiser]

Actually I was able to book the Disney Exclusive one right on their website for the cheaper price and DD counted as a kid because she is 11. I wasn't originally looking to circumvent the system but my other excursion I have booked with Disney made it seem like the times overlapped even though it shouldn't. The show I think starts at 4:45 but the meeting time DCL has listed is earlier.

Unfortunately, their website is showing the Disney show as sold out for the day we're going to be in Ketchikan. I also have an 11 year old and hate to pay the adult price for her when the website would only charge a child's rate for her. I may switch to the earlier, non-Disney show and just buy the tickets on the website. I emailed the company and she said the Disney show is no longer than the regular show, even though the website makes it appear to be 30 minutes longer. We also have early dining so the Disney show would interfere with our dinner time.

 

[jilljill]

Just wondering what you thought of it. Did you enjoy it? Did your kids enjoy it? Was it worth the money?

Anyone know how this special "Disney" show differs from the regular show? For my family of 6, we could save about $50 by attending the non-Disney show (and buying tickets directly from the company). Just wondering what makes the Disney show special.

Thanks!

I merged your thread with the AK excursion thread in case others have the same questions as you on the Lumberjack Show.

 

[mmmears]

Anyone tried one of these yet?

All Aboard Steam Train (Skagway)

Mountain Point Snorkeling (Ketchikan)

I'd love to hear more about one or both!

 

[staffieri]

Skagway - Musher's Camp and Sled Dog Experience - We thought this one was pretty lame. You spent most of the time on the bus and then modified ARMY vehicle getting up to the camp. We only spent maybe 15 minutes on the sled with a guy who spent most of his time telling us that he needed to raise money and sponsors for his Iditarod (sp?) race. Would not do this one again, but some of the scenery getting up there was nice.

Is this the one thats just the Dog Sled experience? Where there puppies? Did you book through Disney? How long was the drive there? I am bringing my 5 year old girl. The ice one it too much.

 

[flexsmom]

I booked the Yukon Excursion based on the great feedback here, and then started to wonder about one aspect no one has discussed - motion sickness. Were there many switchbacks on the bus on the way up, or was there a lot of "movement" in the bus?

My DD has no issues on the ship, but she "christened" the side of Haleakala about half-way up the mountain last year when we drove up to see the inside of the volcano. She was absolutely miserable sitting in the backseat with all of the switchbacks. We had to move her to the front and turn on the a/c to blow hard in her face! I don't want to torture the poor girl with a bus trip that will set her off. At least she is limited in terms of where it hits her - she does great on trains, ships, small boats, etc. - just not in the back seat of cars!

Thanks for your feedback!

 

[Anjelica]

Still trying to find out if anyone did the Disney Exclusive Musher for a Day in Juneau?

 

[staffieri]

Hoping to hear more feedback from those returning. What tours did you take? What did you like? Thoughts? Let us hear them.

 

[MontanaDJ]

My daughter loved the show (7 years old) because she got to help...but all my kids really enjoyed it...don't know for sure what the difference was, supposedly less busy and the logs that they cut had a mickey head burned into it, that people were able to take home once they were cut for souveneirs...I would do the show again...but you will be late for dining if you go, and it is lobster night...though they seem to have switched the semi formal to the last night...but they didn't switch the food...go figure! I would ask in advance.

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

We did the Ride the Duck in Ketchikan. Booked it when we walked off the ship.
$38 pp (not sure on kids price). www.akduck.com
It was 'alright' -was fun and informative, but not the best thing I have ever done. If you want to see Ketchikan without walking around, its great for that. Then it takes you out into the water. Mostly showing you boats in the harbour. Heads over to the DCL ship so you can grab some photos from in the water.
Tour guide was sweet - young local college girl. Very outgoing and knew a lot of stuff. We were not bored, but also not overly jazzed. 2 kids fell asleep, 1 was quite restless. Lots of history talk. A few very lame jokes that are the type you would hear on jungle cruise. I would give it a 5/10.

 

[mmmears]

I booked the Yukon Excursion based on the great feedback here, and then started to wonder about one aspect no one has discussed - motion sickness. Were there many switchbacks on the bus on the way up, or was there a lot of "movement" in the bus?

I was concerned about this and called a tour operator. After talking to him for a while, I realized that we could have a problem with this. If you are really concerned, it's better to call and ask them since they can give you the detailed info that might help you decide. It's no fun being car sick on an excursion.

 

[DenverVal]

I am wondering if anyone has done the kayaking in Juneau?

 

[brentm3]

Just wondering what you thought of it. Did you enjoy it? Did your kids enjoy it? Was it worth the money?

Anyone know how this special "Disney" show differs from the regular show? For my family of 6, we could save about $50 by attending the non-Disney show (and buying tickets directly from the company). Just wondering what makes the Disney show special.

Thanks!

Kids loved it. I was told the Disney version ran an extra half hour with the audience/kid participation bits.

In early May, the roof of the main building was reflecting the sun. If you sat in the seats on your right as you entered the show area you were fine...if you walked to the seats on the left, you were warmer but had to contend with the death-ray reflection in your eyes.

 

[disneypoor]

I'm still wondering if anyone can confirm whether or not the Mendenhall Glacier Float Trip was canceled again? I had read in someone's post that on a previous cruise, it was canceled due to low water levels and ice in the river. We have this booked for Juneau, and I'm just trying to decide if maybe we should switch excursions so we don't get there and end up with no excursion for Juneau. Any input would be greatly appreciated. We leave in a little over a week. TIA!

 

[jilljill]

I'm still wondering if anyone can confirm whether or not the Mendenhall Glacier Float Trip was canceled again? I had read in someone's post that on a previous cruise, it was canceled due to low water levels and ice in the river. We have this booked for Juneau, and I'm just trying to decide if maybe we should switch excursions so we don't get there and end up with no excursion for Juneau. Any input would be greatly appreciated. We leave in a little over a week. TIA!

Are you asking about the excursion for the cruise that left on 5/17 or for the cruise that left on 5/24?
It's my understanding that any of the air excursions in AK could be cancelled at the last minute due to flight conditions. So it's possible that an air excursion can happen on one cruise and then the next cruise be cancelled.

I know this isn't much help to you on whether you should cancel and rebook. But would you be more upset to have it cancelled because of flight conditions or for you to cancel it before sailing and then when you're on the ship you find out the excursion is still scheduled? If it's something I'd really like to do I'd keep it and look over the excursions for a back up plan and then once on the ship check if it's still on or not and then go from there. I have a feeling this is going to be happening over the course of the season as flight conditions change from week to week.

 

[fliplover101]

We booked all of excursions independently and are so glad that we did!!!

Here is what we did:

Skagway: Chillkoot Charters, Yukon Rail and Bus. It was fantastic, we took a van up the white pass and into Carcross yukon. We stoped at the welcome to alsaka and welcome to yukon signs, as well as the carcross desert and emerald lake. We had lunch at caribou crossings which was yummy but the place was kind of cheesy to us (defiantly touristy). After that we drove back to the Fraser station and took the train down.

Juneau: Coastal Helicopter, we did the dog sledding on a glacier. It saved us a hundred bucks a person to book through them versus through Disney. It was amazing, I can't say enough great things about the company and the experience. Truly once in a lifetime!!!

Ketchikan: Bearing Sea Crab tour. Do not book through Disney, book it on your own, it will save you 20 bucks a person and its a five minute walk to the ship (even on the same pier) it is so easy.

We also did in Whistler ziplining at Ziptrek (5 stars) and Monkido Course through Wildplay (5 stars again)/

In vancouver we did stanley park/aquarium and the capilano suspension. I would recommend all of them.

Feel free to ask me questions on what we did and the companies we used.

I was just wondering about the Ziptrek ziplining in Whistler. Which course did you choose to take, and do you think it would be worth paying the extra to combine the two courses? Also, did you book ahead of time or when you got up to Whistler...we would book ahead of time, but are worried about inclement weather the day we go up to Whistler. Thanks! Looks like your trip was amazing!

 

[amyg1]

I was just wondering about the Ziptrek ziplining in Whistler. Which course did you choose to take, and do you think it would be worth paying the extra to combine the two courses? Also, did you book ahead of time or when you got up to Whistler...we would book ahead of time, but are worried about inclement weather the day we go up to Whistler. Thanks! Looks like your trip was amazing!

We did the Bear tour a while back. It was 5 zip lines - the first one was a line before you get on the van. The others go over a canyon, so you have a lot of walking up to get to the next line. It took us over 2 hours. We did that one because our son was 7, so we didn't do the longer one. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but after 2 hours, I was done. I couldn't see wanting to do the other 5 lines in the same group. Our son was obsessed over what the other lines were like, and kept pestering the guides about it. He would love to go again, but the excursions onboard are all 10+. There were a couple lines he did that he had to do a cannonball because of weight. The second time, he asked to go tandem with the guide.

The combined tour is literally that - just the Bear and Eagle put together.

As for the weather - they run it rain or shine. It was drizzling when we were there - really no big deal, because you are in the canopy.

It was a blast, and I would do it again.

 

[jlwhitney]

I was just wondering about the Ziptrek ziplining in Whistler. Which course did you choose to take, and do you think it would be worth paying the extra to combine the two courses? Also, did you book ahead of time or when you got up to Whistler...we would book ahead of time, but are worried about inclement weather the day we go up to Whistler. Thanks! Looks like your trip was amazing!

We did the eagle tour, because you get 5 full lines and no training line, plus it has the longest line in all of canada (2200 feet long). It was a blast. I would defiantly book ahead of time, they do fill up. I would recommend the Eagle over the Bear if everyone is old enough for it. Plus on the eagle, you dont have to take a van back to the lodge, since your last zipline ends you at the base of the mountain which was cool.

I personally see no real point in doing all 10 lines. We didn't have time for it since we were only in Whistler for a day (drove up from vancouver in the am and drove back at night) and we wanted to do the Monkido course at Wild Play (look it up www.wildplay.com) it is a complete blast (almost better than ziplining).

I wouldn't worry about weather, they go rain or shine they only thing that grounds them is lightening and forest fires.

 

[Disney Dreams]

I'm still wondering if anyone can confirm whether or not the Mendenhall Glacier Float Trip was canceled again? I had read in someone's post that on a previous cruise, it was canceled due to low water levels and ice in the river. We have this booked for Juneau, and I'm just trying to decide if maybe we should switch excursions so we don't get there and end up with no excursion for Juneau. Any input would be greatly appreciated. We leave in a little over a week. TIA!

We were not booked on that excursion, but our tablemates told us that they were booked on the "Mendenhall Float that got cancelled because the water was frozen." So, I am guessing, the answer to your question is, "Yes, it was cancelled."

We did:

Skagway - Steam train excursion: LOVED it! We had some issues with the steam and some on our train got upset and let it ruin their day. We rolled with it, knew we would be okay getting back to the ship, enjoyed the beauty and the adventure. Sometimes, it really is perspective that can make the difference.

Juneau - Dog Sledding Camp: Fun. A little cheesy, but cool at the same time. It was fun. And, lucky timing, we got to hold a 6 day old puppy!

Ketchikan - We booked the Misty Fjords boat trip (not the flightseeing). Found out it was cancelled an hour before departure. This was my birthday and suddenly we were left with no plan. With some quick action, a little luck, and some MAJOR pixie dust we got to do Totems, Lighthouses, and Eagles. LOVED IT!

- Dreams

P.S. If I goofed the titles of the tours a bit, sorry. Sleep-deprived still.

 

[mmmears]

Skagway - Steam train excursion: LOVED it! We had some issues with the steam and some on our train got upset and let it ruin their day. We rolled with it, knew we would be okay getting back to the ship, enjoyed the beauty and the adventure. Sometimes, it really is perspective that can make the difference.

Could you please tell me what went wrong on the steam train? Part of my family has this one booked and I would love to hear the good and the bad.

 

[geffric]

Anyone tried one of these yet?


Mountain Point Snorkeling (Ketchikan)

I'd love to hear more about one or both!

just booked it ...love to hear about it too..