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

["Got Disney"]

I could not decide about Palo all day long so went on and just booked the Brunch for the second day at 11:30. We are at Sea that day and the kids will sleep in and will just get them breakfast from the morning Buffet, than wake them up to eat.

We were going to do dinner but decided not to. Also a High Tea but decided not to also. If the cruise was longer than 7 days than yes we would have booked all 3. Remember we still have our trip to Whistler and Vancouver a week before the cruise so will be ready by day 2 of the cruise to eat without our kids.

so I booked ...

The White Pass Railway and Trail Camp for Skagway from 12:00-5
The Helicopter Glacier Walk about for Juneau 12:15-3:45
The Sea Bering Fishermen's tour in Ketchican 3:45-7:45(4-7:30 accually)
Palo Brunch on Day 2

 

[twinmom108]

[QUOTE="Got Disney";40800247]I could not decide about Palo all day long so went on and just booked the Brunch for the second day at 11:30. We are at Sea that day and the kids will sleep in and will just get them breakfast from the morning Buffet, than wake them up to eat.

We were going to do dinner but decided not to. Also a High Tea but decided not to also. If the cruise was longer than 7 days than yes we would have booked all 3. Remember we still have our trip to Whistler and Vancouver a week before the cruise so will be ready by day 2 of the cruise to eat without our kids.

so I booked ...

The White Pass Railway and Trail Camp for Skagway from 12:00-5
The Helicopter Glacier Walk about for Juneau 12:15-3:45
The Sea Bering Fishermen's tour in Ketchican 3:45-7:45(4-7:30 accually)
Palo Brunch on Day 2[/QUOTE]

Sounds like some good choices, should make for an awesome trip!
We're doing Palo Brunch the same day as you but at 11:00. That's our true anniversary day. Celebrating 20 years on the 20th on the Disney Wonder. What could be better?

Night all.

 

[scoutsmom99]

This is what we have for excursions:

Skagway - Yukon Expedition 8:15am-4:45pm
Juneau - Mendenhall Glacier by Helicopter and Guided Walk 10:00am-12:30pm
Ketchikan - Classic Misty Fjord Flighseeing 3:15pm-5:45pm

 

[wdhinn89]

The Disney Exclusive Musher for a Day is sold out

As soon as you get on the ship, go to the Shore Excursion desk. They do hold back some reservations. Also, check daily. Some people change their minds. They just hold excursions and then cancel.
Don't give up hope!!!


The only definite we have planned now is Palo Brunch on Day 6.

There are a few excursions we are splitting up for because the boys want to go fishing . I will post later when we all get together and discuss. You would think everyone would be anxious to plan but they are all too busy or PITA's

 

[Meskamooska]

Hi All,

Congrats to everyone who was able to get what they were looking for and my sincere condolences to anyone who was not. But I will keep good thoughts for you that openings with "Magically" appear at some point in the future. On the other hand, think of all the cash you might be able to save for future cruises, bingo or that nifty Dooney and Burke you know you have been eyeing

I was on the site at the stroke of midnight EST and was fortunate enough to get brunch at Palo on day two at 11 AM and dinner @ 8 on the night we are in Skagway I am super jazzed! I decided to book our train ride straight with the WPYR as they still have availability on the 22nd (as of about 3:30 pm PDT today) on the diesel (two trips 8:15 AM and 12:15 PM) and it is $112/adult versus $122/adult via DCL. Not a huge difference but a savings is a savings...

We are then planning to rent a car and drive up the pass ourselves to see the sights.

Got Disney - I couldn't find the online checkin either. I clicked that dang button over and over but all it ever did was tell me that I could start doing my online checkin on the 20th. Not nearly as helpful as I would have hoped.

On the other hand, since that still remains to be completed, it does allow me to have another pre cruise task to look forward to completing. I actually like filling out forms (yes I know I am weird). My mom hated them with a purple passion and used to say that if someone told her that they would give her a million dollars cash, tax free and all she had to do was put an X in every box at the bottom of the page, on a 100 page form and then sign and date the last one she wouldn't have been able to do it.

She once almost died (seriously!) because of her aversion to forms. She was having an critical allergic reaction to a medication she was taking and was going into shock.

When she got into the emergency room they handed her a stack of papers she needed to fill out before they could treat her (she worked at the hospital btw) and she had a hissy fit and stormed out railing.

When she continued to break out in hives and her throat began to swell to the point of closing she finally deigned to return to the ER where they mercifully condensed what she needed to fill out down to one page she had to sign before they could give her the shot to cure her.

We now depart that digression and return to the Disney Cruise related thread already in progress...

I sure am glad to have my reservations all made. Now if I would just receive my passport and then find out what cabin we have been assigned I would be extra thrilled.

And I have more FE work to do, like making our FE for one thing . I am very grateful to Schachteles for putting up a thread for ideas about teen boys as in trying to help her, I got my creative juices flowing myself. I won't be doing any of the ideas presented there (although there have been some really good ones , but I got a couple of ideas myself which have me excited. I hope everyone likes my offerings. I already know I will enjoy whatever we receive.

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

Tisza

 

[mrtobias]

I did get online tonight and made our reservations.
Palo Brunch while we view Tracy Arm
Best of Skagway
Whale Watching, Salmon Bake and Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau
Bering Sea Crab Fisherman's Tour
Dinner at Palo on the 25th (Would have been our 35th anniversary - I have been a widow for 3 years)

I don't know if we will do any Spa stuff as I just spent a bunch for this

Hope everyone got what they wanted

 

[mouseclick1]

The Disney Exclusive Musher for a Day is sold out

I'm sorry you didn't get this. It could still work out though...good luck with it!

We have the following now booked:

Juneau (on our own): Visit the Mendenhall Glacier followed by a whale watching cruise with Harv and Marv
Skagway: Takshanuk Mountain Trail 4 X 4
Ketchikan: No excursion; we plan to do the walking tour, shop, grab a beverage at one of the local establishments, then head back to the ship for a 7:00 dinner at Palo.

I was really hoping for brunch instead, but couldn't get a reservation for the four of us. I'm not sure if I'll keep the dinner, but figured I should grab it while I can since I can always cancel if I change my mind. We have been to both brunch and dinner in the past, and I wouldn't be heartbroken if we didn't get there this time around.

 

[jeepnjudy]

I am also booked on the July 19th cruise to Alaska and will be getting married on the cruise. Hope to meet some of you on the ship!

 

[1Goofy]

I've put our Palo and excursion plans in the hands of our TA; I hope I'm not too goofy for doing that!

I figured since my DS and I dodged the NC tornadoes this past weekend while cub scout camping -- either I used up all my good fortune OR I've got plenty to spare.

I'm thinking a group meeting might need to be ad hoc -- what would y'all think about meeting for a cocktail at somewhere in Route 66 area. What say y'all?

Magical experience! Our TA got 100% on our Palo and Excursions!
• Skagway : Dog Sledding and Glacier Flightseeing
• Juneau : Exclusive Whale & Medenhall Glacier
• Ketchikan : Rain Forest Island Adventure

Now on to making FE gifts!

 

[1Goofy]

I did get online tonight and made our reservations.
Palo Brunch while we view Tracy Arm
Best of Skagway
Whale Watching, Salmon Bake and Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau
Bering Sea Crab Fisherman's Tour
Dinner at Palo on the 25th (Would have been our 35th anniversary - I have been a widow for 3 years)

I don't know if we will do any Spa stuff as I just spent a bunch for this

Hope everyone got what they wanted

We've got the Tracy Arm Palo Brunch too! see you there!

 

[richmo]

I am also booked on the July 19th cruise to Alaska and will be getting married on the cruise. Hope to meet some of you on the ship!

Wow! Congratulations!

 

[Schachteles]

Sorry about the dog musher, I know how much you guys were looking forward to that


Mickey has been swimming across my screen since 11:00pm, I really hate that the DCL site can't handle all the traffic when it comes time to book things

I'm sorry you didn't get the Musher excursion. What else did you decide on?

We found another Dog Sledding one with a helicopter ride. You get like an hour and a half of less time, but at least we will be getting to do it. I am just waiting for an email back from Disney about the weight surcharge.

[QUOTE="Got Disney";40800091]Where is check in time? looked earlier and could not find it. I booked my excursions earlier today but figured they did not have up the check in time yet...does anyone know where it is on the board?[/QUOTE]

It was when you go through your travel documents and fill in your passport info, credit card info, etc. We selected 11am. I hope that means we won't have to sit in the terminal too long after checking in.

 

[Schachteles]

[QUOTE="Got Disney";40800247]I could not decide about Palo all day long so went on and just booked the Brunch for the second day at 11:30. We are at Sea that day and the kids will sleep in and will just get them breakfast from the morning Buffet, than wake them up to eat.

We were going to do dinner but decided not to. Also a High Tea but decided not to also. If the cruise was longer than 7 days than yes we would have booked all 3. Remember we still have our trip to Whistler and Vancouver a week before the cruise so will be ready by day 2 of the cruise to eat without our kids.

so I booked ...

The White Pass Railway and Trail Camp for Skagway from 12:00-5
The Helicopter Glacier Walk about for Juneau 12:15-3:45
The Sea Bering Fishermen's tour in Ketchican 3:45-7:45(4-7:30 accually)
Palo Brunch on Day 2[/QUOTE]

We are on the Bering Sea tour with you guys AND we will be having brunch at Palo at the same time as you

 

[Schachteles]

Hi All,

Congrats to everyone who was able to get what they were looking for and my sincere condolences to anyone who was not. But I will keep good thoughts for you that openings with "Magically" appear at some point in the future. On the other hand, think of all the cash you might be able to save for future cruises, bingo or that nifty Dooney and Burke you know you have been eyeing

I was on the site at the stroke of midnight EST and was fortunate enough to get brunch at Palo on day two at 11 AM and dinner @ 8 on the night we are in Skagway I am super jazzed! I decided to book our train ride straight with the WPYR as they still have availability on the 22nd (as of about 3:30 pm PDT today) on the diesel (two trips 8:15 AM and 12:15 PM) and it is $112/adult versus $122/adult via DCL. Not a huge difference but a savings is a savings...

We are then planning to rent a car and drive up the pass ourselves to see the sights.

Got Disney - I couldn't find the online checkin either. I clicked that dang button over and over but all it ever did was tell me that I could start doing my online checkin on the 20th. Not nearly as helpful as I would have hoped.

On the other hand, since that still remains to be completed, it does allow me to have another pre cruise task to look forward to completing. I actually like filling out forms (yes I know I am weird). My mom hated them with a purple passion and used to say that if someone told her that they would give her a million dollars cash, tax free and all she had to do was put an X in every box at the bottom of the page, on a 100 page form and then sign and date the last one she wouldn't have been able to do it.

She once almost died (seriously!) because of her aversion to forms. She was having an critical allergic reaction to a medication she was taking and was going into shock.

When she got into the emergency room they handed her a stack of papers she needed to fill out before they could treat her (she worked at the hospital btw) and she had a hissy fit and stormed out railing.

When she continued to break out in hives and her throat began to swell to the point of closing she finally deigned to return to the ER where they mercifully condensed what she needed to fill out down to one page she had to sign before they could give her the shot to cure her.

We now depart that digression and return to the Disney Cruise related thread already in progress...

I sure am glad to have my reservations all made. Now if I would just receive my passport and then find out what cabin we have been assigned I would be extra thrilled.

And I have more FE work to do, like making our FE for one thing . I am very grateful to Schachteles for putting up a thread for ideas about teen boys as in trying to help her, I got my creative juices flowing myself. I won't be doing any of the ideas presented there (although there have been some really good ones , but I got a couple of ideas myself which have me excited. I hope everyone likes my offerings. I already know I will enjoy whatever we receive.

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

Tisza

Tisza, you crack me up, I couldn't believe you were in my thread stealing my ideas put a smile on my face!!

I think I am getting a start on my stuff for the FE exchange soon. Of course I left my sheet home documenting what I need, but it will be fun!!

I did get online tonight and made our reservations.
Palo Brunch while we view Tracy Arm
Best of Skagway
Whale Watching, Salmon Bake and Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau
Bering Sea Crab Fisherman's Tour
Dinner at Palo on the 25th (Would have been our 35th anniversary - I have been a widow for 3 years)

I don't know if we will do any Spa stuff as I just spent a bunch for this

Hope everyone got what they wanted

We will see you on the Bering Sea Tour, people say that is the best excursion they have ever been on, I hope they are right.

I'm sorry you didn't get this. It could still work out though...good luck with it!

We have the following now booked:

Juneau (on our own): Visit the Mendenhall Glacier followed by a whale watching cruise with Harv and Marv
Skagway: Takshanush Mountain Trail 4 X 4
Ketchikan: No excursion; we plan to do the walking tour, shop, grab a beverage at one of the local establishments, then head back to the ship for a 7:00 dinner at Palo.

I was really hoping for brunch instead, but couldn't get a reservation for the four of us. I'm not sure if I'll keep the dinner, but figured I should grab it while I can since I can always cancel if I change my mind. We have been to both brunch and dinner in the past, and I wouldn't be heartbroken if we didn't get there this time around.

I was sad, but happy I found another one that is pretty close. Unfortunately my husband is a big guy and is over that 250 pound weight restriction, so we have to be watching that, because they can really nail you for surcharges on an already really expensive excursion.

I am also booked on the July 19th cruise to Alaska and will be getting married on the cruise. Hope to meet some of you on the ship!

CONGRATS that is so awesome!!

 

[poohj80]

I will be going through the booking process for our August cruise soon and need some advice from those of you who just went through it.

Which seemed to book up first...Palo or your most wanted excursions? Was Palo tea available as well as brunch and dinner? If so, what days are the tea and brunch available? I'm wondering which must do I need to try to book first in hopes of getting everything we want.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Schachteles]

So here is what we got:

July 20th - Palo Brunch @ 11:30am
July 22nd - Liarsville Gold Rush Trail Camp and Salmon Bake Featuring Exclusive Disney Character Experience
July 23rd - Dog Sledding Adventure by Helicopter @10:15
July 24th - Bering Sea Crab Fishermens Tour

I am still holding out hope for the Musher for a Day one in Juneau, but will be ok if we can't get it.

Hope everyone else had luck. I was just in the system looking at Palo stuff and there are a LOT of openings out there. I am contimplating adding a dinner.

 

[Meskamooska]

I will be going through the booking process for our August cruise soon and need some advice from those of you who just went through it.

Which seemed to book up first...Palo or your most wanted excursions? Was Palo tea available as well as brunch and dinner? If so, what days are the tea and brunch available? I'm wondering which must do I need to try to book first in hopes of getting everything we want.

Thanks for the help!

Hi!

My advice would be to treat your booking opening window like you might treat a Black Friday sale at Best Buy... As soon as you can start booking things head FIRST for the excursion or experience that is the most important to you and your family. Start there and then work your way down your list. After you have (hopefully) secured all of your "Must Do's" then work on your "Should Do's" and follow up with your "Could Do's".

That way, if you start with what matters most and it is already sold out, you don't have to make yourself crazy wondering if you could have had the Steer the Ship with Mickey Adventure had you booked it before heading off to see about the Feed the Guppies in the PetCo excursion.

Another bit of advice (I tend to overanalyze things so this might be a tad too much for some but here goes...), put the time into researching not only what is being offered by DCL but also what is being offered by the tour provider directly or by other similar companies. Compare prices, read reviews and ask questions on lots of threads here and in other places like Cruise Critic (especially helpful if it is a new itinerary for DCL but other lines have gone there frequently).

Then, once you have done all your background research and made your list of first, second and third choices for each locale, log on to the DCL website about 15 minutes or so before the window opens, get to your reservation page and refresh the page every few minutes or so.

When the window opens up you will be ready, have all your info at your fingertips, won't have to read things and try to make decisions on the fly (as much) and should have a better chance of getting some of what you hope for.

Regarding Palo, definitely try for reservations if that is important to you, but don't sweat it too much if it is not available. When you get on the ship, head for Guest Services and put yourself on the wait list. The higher up you are on the list, the more likely you are to get lucky

On our first Disney Cruise I was told that we wouldn't be able to get reservations for either dinner or High Tea. High Tea was especially difficult as it was only being offered one time during the entire cruise and our cruise was fully booked. But, I followed the directions given by fellow DISboarder's put my group on the list and crossed my fingers.

I wound up getting both reservations!

Good luck with your bookings. I am sure that whatever you do will be "Wonder"ful

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

Tisza

 

[poohj80]

Good luck with your bookings. I am sure that whatever you do will be "Wonder"ful

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

Tisza

Thanks so much Tisza!

I feel like I am overanalyzing as well so glad to see I'm not the only one.

 

[Meskamooska]

Thanks so much Tisza!

I feel like I am overanalyzing as well so glad to see I'm not the only one.

You are so very welcome. I sometimes feel like I should curtail my overplanning gene until the event comes and I realize that most of the time it works in my favor.

Except for the time that I bought a beautiful burgundy evening gown to wear to my nieces wedding and also on our first Disney cruise. I had lists upon lists and had planned and packed everything to within an inch of its life. I had even packed an emergency spare evening gown (which my DH teased me mercilessly about - old pageant training dies hard let me tell you .

I had arranged everything including the party bus to take our group to the ship and helped coordinate the welcome party the DISer's were having during sail away. We got to the ship, I unpacked everything from the suitcases, unpacked the DH's suit from the garment bag along with his shoes, shirt, tie, Mickey tie pin & silk Mickey vest... everything except... you guessed it, the beautiful burgundy evening gown which spent our vacation at home dejectedly hanging on the back of our bedroom door.

Fortunately, I had my emergency spare evening gown (see all those years of watching Batman reruns really wasn't wasted). Unfortunately, since I had no intention of actually having to wear it, I never bothered to try it on before the cruise. If I had I would have discovered that although my size had changed, the gowns had not and I was pretty uncomfortable during the gala and dinner.

Have a great cruise! I love the pictures of your little girl with Snow White. Those would make a great Disney ad

Take care,

Tisza

 

["Got Disney"]

We found another Dog Sledding one with a helicopter ride. You get like an hour and a half of less time, but at least we will be getting to do it. I am just waiting for an email back from Disney about the weight surcharge.



It was when you go through your travel documents and fill in your passport info, credit card info, etc. We selected 11am. I hope that means we won't have to sit in the terminal too long after checking in.

oh yea that's right that's where I have to do it...I never finished that part when I booked because I figured I had 2 years to do it Just went and did it....boarding time is 10:30-11:00...but we all know that really means nothing....most likely I will get a boarding time just when we are about to sail

We are on the Bering Sea tour with you guys AND we will be having brunch at Palo at the same time as you

That's because great minds think alike

I am also booked on the July 19th cruise to Alaska and will be getting married on the cruise. Hope to meet some of you on the ship!

Congrats! Do you know that when Dh and I took our first cruise back 22 years ago we sat at a table with 4 just married couples....and one of the couples is still our bestest friends and we all live in San Diego (DH and I lived in La at the time of the cruise than moved here to SD) and our kids have grown up together and are also bestest friends...more like brothers actually. And their son is like my 3rd son because he is over here almost every weekend. Maybe the same will happen to you

I will be going through the booking process for our August cruise soon and need some advice from those of you who just went through it.

Which seemed to book up first...Palo or your most wanted excursions? Was Palo tea available as well as brunch and dinner? If so, what days are the tea and brunch available? I'm wondering which must do I need to try to book first in hopes of getting everything we want.

Thanks for the help!

when I looked it seemed to be the Disney exclusive dog sledding helicopter thingy....and the Adventures by Disney(the 3 ports all in one thing)...everything else seemed to be okay but some have different times so even though they were showing not all filled up some of the times they have may have been.

What are you looking on booking? I can check to see how they are today? As for Palo the teas were gone but still had dinner and Brunch times....sat there and decided what I wanted. And was not going to even book it but went back in last night and did it. I was able to book earlier but waited till last minute to do so...and still got what I wanted.