Alaska on July 19th, 2011 "Where a good tan is hard to find"

[Meskamooska]

Hi Again,

I am also looking at the websites for each of the poorts of call to determine who is actually offering each excursion. These towns aren't that big so I think the odds of there being multitudes of folks offering the same trips is pretty remote. It also seems that the cost can be significantly less than booking through DCL.

I also spent some time perusing the FE pictures thread and was impressed all over again by the creativity and thoughtfulness folks have displayed. At this point I am pretty much assuming that if your family info is listed on the first page of this thread you will be participating in the FE exchange and I am planning accordingly. I have a pretty good idea what I am doing for the girls in our group but am totally at sea as to what to do for the guys. Fortunately we will be driving up from San Antonio Heights (near Mt. baldy) in Southern California so we don't have to worry about airline fees.

Well, I probably need to feed the DH and I haven't a clue what to make so I had better sign off for now. I hope everyone is having a great start to their week. Take care all, help lots of people and have a "Wonder"ful day!

Tisza

 

[MrsG]

We're thinking about the onboard Adventures by Disney "excursion". Anyone else doing this or have opinions about it?

Hmmmm, first I've heard of it. Can you give more information? Thanks.

 

[CBEB]

Hmmmm, first I've heard of it. Can you give more information? Thanks.

Here's the link to the Adventures by Disney Alaskan Wonders:
http://abd.disney.go.com/abd/en_US/destination?name=AlaskaCruiseLandingPage

Essentially you have a small group (no more than 30 I think) that stick together on the excursions, plus a dinner at Palo and a couple of other sea day things. It's pricey ($2299 each) but lets you do nearly all of the activities for a stop rather than picking just one. I priced out all of the excursions (as if you could sign up for all, which you can't) and it comes to about $1600. So the premium is your own small group to do everything with 2 ABD guides for the entire 7 days.

We're probably going to take an ABD trip next summer to China so have been reading the boards about ABD trips in general. They all sound like great fun!

 

[Schachteles]

So, we are GOING!! Yay!! I'll have to plow through the boards to see what everyone is up to and find all the threads on this trip...but in the meantime, I can't remember if I've said "hi" or not yet, so...

REALLY hoping to do another FE exchange - the kids loved that last time! Looking for inexpensive things to do, possibly an excursion or two (we didn't do any on Podcast 2.0 and didn't feel like we missed anything - but with Alaska - ??).

Welcome aboard! Lucky you, you are in Washington so it will be a hop, skip and a jump up to Vancouver.

I am heading up the FE swaps. If your family is participating, please PM me your names, ages, room number and if you are celebrating anything and I will get you added to the list.

 

["Got Disney"]

So, we are GOING!! Yay!! I'll have to plow through the boards to see what everyone is up to and find all the threads on this trip...but in the meantime, I can't remember if I've said "hi" or not yet, so...

REALLY hoping to do another FE exchange - the kids loved that last time! Looking for inexpensive things to do, possibly an excursion or two (we didn't do any on Podcast 2.0 and didn't feel like we missed anything - but with Alaska - ??).

Welcome aboard! Please look on page one and give me your info to post...like Names, ages, dining time, cabin # and so on...

I have also posted many links and info on page #1 and will be adding more. If you have anything you would like me to post just let me know by PMing me....and it will be done.

There are still some stuff I need to do...have not booked my rooms in Whistler yet...for some reason i keep forgetting to do it Also still need to get our passports....think i will start that next week... always next week

so where the heck has Tom been? I will have to go and hunt him down...Tom are you out there???????? check in so we know your ok!

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

[QUOTE="Got Disney";39793849]so where the heck has Tom been? I will have to go and hunt him down...Tom are you out there???????? check in so we know your ok![/QUOTE]

Here I am.

For a guy without a full-time job...I sure do keep busy.

 

[OKWMEMBER]

ES (Elizabeth Swan)Update!!! Parley!!!

twinmom108 got the 1399th post and therefore earns another ES!!!

Every 99th post = 1 ES
Every 499th post = 2 ESes
Every 999th post = 3 ESes

The current score is:

jlawall----------------- 6 ESes 299th,499th, 999th
twinmom108----------- 5 ESes 699th,799th,1199th,1299th,1399th
ImTooExcitedToSleep -- 2 ESes 199th,399th
MrsG------------------ 1 ES 99th
mouseclick1------------ 1 ES 599th
Meskamooska---------- 1 ES 899th
manascarfan----------- 1 ES 1099th

The next milestone is at the 1499th post and is worth 2 (Two,Dos) ESes!!!

 

[OKWMEMBER]

Pirate Update!!! Aaaarggghhh!!!

Meskamooska got the 1400th post and therefore earns another Pirate!!!

Every 100th post = 1 Pirate
Every 500th post = 2 Pirates
Every 1000th post = 3 Pirates

The current score is:

jlawall------------------4 Pirates 300th,1000th
"Got Disney"------------ 2 Pirates 500th
ImTooExcitedToSleep--- 2 Pirates 400th,600th
twinmom108------------ 2 Pirates 700th,800th
manascarfan ----------- 2 Pirates 200th,1100th
Meskamooska----------- 2 Pirate 900th,1400th
MrsG--------------------1 Pirate 100th
OKWMEMBER------------1 Pirate 1200th
Schachteles-------------1 Pirate 1300th

The next milestone is at the 1500th post and is worth 2 (Two,Dos) Pirates!!!

 

["Got Disney"]

Here I am.

For a guy without a full-time job...I sure do keep busy.

Well good to here...i was about to come and knock on your front door

ES (Elizabeth Swan)Update!!! Parley!!!

twinmom108 got the 1399th post and therefore earns another ES!!!


The current score is:

jlawall----------------- 6 ESes 299th,499th, 999th
twinmom108----------- 5 ESes 699th,799th,1199th,1299th,1399th
ImTooExcitedToSleep -- 2 ESes 199th,399th
MrsG------------------ 1 ES 99th
mouseclick1------------ 1 ES 599th
Meskamooska---------- 1 ES 899th
manascarfan----------- 1 ES 1099th

Pirate Update!!! Aaaarggghhh!!!

The current score is:

jlawall------------------4 Pirates 300th,1000th
"Got Disney"------------ 2 Pirates 500th
ImTooExcitedToSleep--- 2 Pirates 400th,600th
twinmom108------------ 2 Pirates 700th,800th
manascarfan ----------- 2 Pirates 200th,1100th
Meskamooska----------- 2 Pirate 900th,1400th
MrsG--------------------1 Pirate 100th
OKWMEMBER------------1 Pirate 1200th
Schachteles-------------1 Pirate 1300th

:

How the heck are you keeping up with all that seems I'm not doing to well getting more points....I'll have to work on that

 

[1Goofy]

1goofy & DW nancy together with Ds Andrew (21) and DS Patrick (9) will be there!

We're in for FE and will be checking the boards in the next 7 weeks for discussions about excursions. Too bad the dis podcasters aren't heading out till May... Might be too late to get word on excursions and get signed up. Also, would be interested in seeing if anyone would like to get assigned to same dinner table-- we arranged to get set up with fellow disers last year and was great fun!

 

[1Goofy]

Ok group -- you can tell I've been neglecting the boards for months...but with the excursion sign up date only 76 days away -- time for me to get serious about planning.

Any word on excursions to see THE Alaska stuff: glaciers, orcas, bears, eagles ? I'm not jazzed about "flightseeing" -- small planes creep me out and helicopters dont fly (the earth rejects them)!

Also, reading back it looks like at least half a dozen folks celebrating anniversaries ... any interest in a group booking -- maybe Palo brunch for the anniversaries crowd?

Also would be interested in coordinating dining table assignments -- great fun to share a table with fellow DISers!

Also -- yes i'm being lazy -- but says the group on good pre or post days places/activities...?

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Have a Magical Day!

 

[wdhinn89]

Hi everyone.

We finally finalized our travelling plans. We are flying from NYC on July 17th and we arrive in Vancouver at 1:30 am. We booked 2 nights at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel with DCL. The hotel is located right within the airport (like the Hyatt in MCO) and we are happy to be able to just collect our luggage and go straight to our rooms. On the 18th we will rent a car for the day and do some Vancouver sight seeing. On the 19th, we will use the DCL transfers to take us from the hotel to the port.

As of now we have transfers taking us to the airport on the 26th but I think we are going to cancel those and rent a car at the port and return it to the airport. Our flight leaves at about 11pm so we will spend the day sight seeing.

We have been trying to decide our excursions. We really wanted to go fishing in Kethikan but not having a full day or even knowing for sure when we are docking is putting a crimp in our plans.

 

[1Goofy]

What is the port time in Kethikan?

 

[1Goofy]

Seems to me the conventional wisdom is to book through DCL ... That way if things get wacky with weather .. They'll take care of you... We heard to make sure you pack rain gear...

 

[Meskamooska]

Hi All!

1Goofy And Family Welcome Aboard! I am glad to hear you are in for the FE as well. My group is looking forward to that. I think trying to put together a brunch in Palo for all the celebrants might be a blast.

As for excursions, I have been doing as much research as I can ahead of time. One good thing is that none of these towns are very big and it hasn't seemed too difficult thus far to figure out what companies are offering the excursions we can book through DCL and then investigating booking direct with them.

I have also gone to each of the city websites that we will be visiting and have registered for a visitors guide. They are free (got to love that!) and they should know what is fun to do and who to do it with.

Once again, welcome... The more the merrier!

Take care all, help lots of people and have a "Wonder"ful day!

Tisza

 

[1Goofy]

I loves me some brunch! Never had a Palo Bloody Mary ... but I'm feeling some research!

Seriously-- we need to work up a celebration!!!!

 

[Meskamooska]

Hi Again,

If you do the organizing count us in Any clue what you are looking at for excursions? I am going to book the steam train in Skagway as soon as my next deal closes escrow. I will probably try to book that direct to save the $. I am also looking at the Mendenhall Glacier and Ariel tramway in Juneau and might book that through DCL unless I can save a bundle doing it myself.

I have seen some pretty interesting fishing options (I seem to remember you mentioning fishing) available in all 3 ports both thru DCL and by booking direct.

I would consider fishing but I wouldn't be able to get the DH out there with a pole in his hand on a bet. We are also really interested in photography and that would seriously cut into shutterbug time.

Well I am going to go back to poking around on the Alaska visitors sites and might pop over to the Cruise addicts site to see if I can get more info on what others have done and liked at these ports.

Have a great evening!

Tisza

 

[1Goofy]

Still nosing around on excursions -- but main goals are to see glaciers, whales, bears, eagles ... very Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom (was that on just before/ after Disney on Sunday nights)? Also - our 9th old DS would love some sled dogging ... But i don't want to have to get in a small plane or helo...

We are going to come up through Seattle on Friday and are looking into some seattle based orca tours...

Do you know the schedule in Ketchican? I read it was a brief stop but the DCL itinerary doesn't show arrival time --- or I'm not reading it right

 

[mouseclick1]

Still nosing around on excursions -- but main goals are to see glaciers, whales, bears, eagles ... very Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom (was that on just before/ after Disney on Sunday nights)? Also - our 9th old DS would love some sled dogging ... But i don't want to have to get in a small plane or helo...

We are going to come up through Seattle on Friday and are looking into some seattle based orca tours...

Do you know the schedule in Ketchican? I read it was a brief stop but the DCL itinerary doesn't show arrival time --- or I'm not reading it right

The only way to do dog sledding on a glacier is to get there by helicopter. You can do the dog sled training excursion, which is where they train the dogs during the summer months. The dogs will take you on a ride on a cart along al dirt trail. It is the "Dog Sled Summer Camp" in Juneau and "Mushers Camp and Dog Sled Experience" in Skagway. Definitely not the same as sledding on the glacier, but the only way to do it without the helicopter/plane.

I remember reading somewhere that we have the later arrival time in Ketchikan...1:30 I believe but I'm not 100% sure.

 

[mouseclick1]

Looks like there are actually 2 different summer dog camp excursions to choose from in Juneau.