August 9, 2011 (8/9/2011) Taking the Wonder to see the AMERICAN CHILD

[jilljill]

We are ready to book our Disney Cruise to Alaska - first time on the Wonder. We are a family of 5: littles will be 5, 9 and 10. Should we book connecting rooms? Family room? Travel agent? Any advice appreciated. Thanks!

You will have to price out 2 connecting cabins as opposed to 1 cat. 4 to see how the numbers work out for you to find one you can live with. We've done 5 in a cat. 4 (4 adults, 1 child) and we were fine, so everyone is different on what they feel they are comfortable with.
For our upcoming Baltics cruise I booked my friends family in a cat. 4 since it was a lot cheaper to book 1 cat. 4 instead of 2 cabins, either inside or oceanview connecting or a verandah and an inside across the hall. Typically it is cheaper to do the verandah or oceanview with an inside across the hall for the kiddos.

For booking thru a TA or not, that's a personal choice. OUr first few cruises were booked directly with DCL and then I started using a TA, 1. because I like her service and 2. she gives a really nice onboard credit.
If you have a Disney Visa you get 6 months at 0% interest for your cruise fare. They have offered an additional $50 onboard credit for using your Disney Visa to pay for your cruise, this can be combined with any onboard credit that a travel agent will give you.
If you decide to book directly with DCL you can book it on their website and get a $25 onboard booking credit.
Typically onboard credits are given per stateroom, so if you decide to book 2 cabins you will get the onboard credits for both cabins.

Hope this helps some.

 

[jilljill]

DUCK!!!!!!!!Welcome aboard! We'll figure out a way for your wife and kids to come with you, we have time!
yes, I "know" him, in case anyone was wondering!

I'm glad you put that disclaimer in. I wouldn't want people to think you were friendly to someone you didn't know. People can get a rep! I didn't run into any of those types on the monorail yesterday, so it doesn't seem like a disease that's catching.

Anyway a word of warning-I know you're all ready to go and all. I'm not sure if it's because of this global warming or the world economy, but you're aware that giraffe populations in Alaska are WAY down, right? I just don't want you to see your dreams dashed.

And for anyone else, I've done 4 Alaska cruises, and a land tour up past Fairbanks. I've seen numerous bears, humpbacks till I got bored with them, orcas once, porpoise, sea otters etc. I have yet to see a Moose that wasn't in a zoo. They're supposed to walk right down main street in these cities. I'm not buying it. Unless they vacation in the summer.

I've come to the conclusion that Caro likes to stalk DIS peeps.


Give us lots and lots of info on each port. Especially interested in any info on lumberjacks - that's for DD not me.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

I've come to the conclusion that Caro likes to stalk DIS peeps.


Give us lots and lots of info on each port. Especially interested in any info on lumberjacks - that's for DD not me.

Well nobody knows exactly what is going to happen yet, but with the speculation of no Pirate/fireworks night on the Alaskan cruises, the Lumberjacks can fill that void for some. They even have some of the same script. But they say 'Yo ho' instead of 'yo ho, yo ho'. OK..it actually SOUNDS a lot different than it looks in print.

I've done the show twice. They award people wood chips during the show and make a little chair out of a chainsaw that one extremely good looking tot gets to go on stage and sit in and the take home. We just left WDW to drive home about 2 hrs ago or I'd see if I had any pics of the chair from my back yard.

It's a fun-not overpriced tour in Ketch. Personally,for me in that port there's a little bar around the corner(well there was in '07) that has Alaskan Amber on tap. If they serve that on the ship(did in bottles on another line) give it a try if that tickles your fancy. I'm not a big mass produced domestic beer drinker but will partake in micro brews and imports on occasion.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

Can't find any pics of the lumberjack show...but I did find these pics from the whale watching tour in Juneau. Done it 4 times and will do it again. I've never not seen at least a dozen humpback whales. It's the same tour that I saw the Orcas on my very first cruise to Alaska. Only saw them the one year though.

 

[caitlinsdad]

Let the party begin
78 Weeks until the August 9 th, 2011 Alaska Cruise

 

[caitlinsdad]

Can't find any pics of the lumberjack show...but I did find these pics from the whale watching tour in Juneau. Done it 4 times and will do it again. I've never not seen at least a dozen humpback whales. It's the same tour that I saw the Orcas on my very first cruise to Alaska. Only saw them the one year though.

Amazing shots, thanks for sharing

 

[Caropooh]

I'm glad you put that disclaimer in. I wouldn't want people to think you were friendly to someone you didn't know. People can get a rep! I didn't run into any of those types on the monorail yesterday, so it doesn't seem like a disease that's catching.

Anyway a word of warning-I know you're all ready to go and all. I'm not sure if it's because of this global warming or the world economy, but you're aware that giraffe populations in Alaska are WAY down, right? I just don't want you to see your dreams dashed.

And for anyone else, I've done 4 Alaska cruises, and a land tour up past Fairbanks. I've seen numerous bears, humpbacks till I got bored with them, orcas once, porpoise, sea otters etc. I have yet to see a Moose that wasn't in a zoo. They're supposed to walk right down main street in these cities. I'm not buying it. Unless they vacation in the summer.

Nope, I'm not in the habit of talking to strangers! STRANGER DANGER!!! Strange people, yes; starngers, no!

Are you quite positive about the giraffes? I suppose I can make do with bears and whales.

 

[Macavity]

Okay, who left the freezer open? It is NOT supposed to be this cold in Texas at this time of the year... we just had sleet!!!!!!!!!!!


Am now making monthly payments to my TA for the cruise - have it all set to pay off in March of 2011. Well, actually, my TA is just billing the monthly payment to my Disney card so I can get the rewards dollars and I'm just paying that.

 

[caitlinsdad]

Okay, who left the freezer open? It is NOT supposed to be this cold in Texas at this time of the year... we just had sleet!!!!!!!!!!!


Am now making monthly payments to my TA for the cruise - have it all set to pay off in March of 2011. Well, actually, my TA is just billing the monthly payment to my Disney card so I can get the rewards dollars and I'm just paying that.

not sure but they left it open here too

 

[starwood]

No school again today. The plows finally came through about 8:00 last night. Now to finish the shoveling and clear out the end of the driveway. I want to go someplace warm! We drive down to Florida Saturday but even there it's been in the 50's and low 60's. I need Castaway Cay.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

No school again today. The plows finally came through about 8:00 last night. Now to finish the shoveling and clear out the end of the driveway. I want to go someplace warm! We drive down to Florida Saturday but even there it's been in the 50's and low 60's. I need Castaway Cay.

We were just at Castaway Cay last Friday. We had a great time, but it was low 70's, very windy and almost every tour was canc. There was just a handful of people in the water and most of them up to their knees. Then we got off the boat Sat to low 60's and mid 50's on Sun when we drove home.

We hit Megan's Bay in St. Thomas a few days before. That was warm and everyone was in the water so I know the whole planet isn't frozen.

 

[villagesbarbara]

No school again today. The plows finally came through about 8:00 last night. Now to finish the shoveling and clear out the end of the driveway. I want to go someplace warm! We drive down to Florida Saturday but even there it's been in the 50's and low 60's. I need Castaway Cay.

Sorry to say that it looks like all you can hope for is the high 60's. Make sure you pack layers. It's been cold once the sun goes down and early in the morning. Maybe it's good - get us ready for Alaska? We were in Cozumel and Grand Cayman in mid-January and had to wear sweaters most of the time. We have been here almost 6 years and this is the coldest winter yet. But, we could still be in PA or CT with our daughters, so we are thankful.

Barbara

 

[caitlinsdad]

Sorry to say that it looks like all you can hope for is the high 60's. Make sure you pack layers. It's been cold once the sun goes down and early in the morning. Maybe it's good - get us ready for Alaska? We were in Cozumel and Grand Cayman in mid-January and had to wear sweaters most of the time. We have been here almost 6 years and this is the coldest winter yet. But, we could still be in PA or CT with our daughters, so we are thankful.

Barbara

9 inches of new fallen snow in my driveway and breezeway yesterday and around 29 degress right now

Thats the report from Ct. at least at my house. I would take high 60's right now and be very thankfull.

 

[villagesbarbara]

9 inches of new fallen snow in my driveway and breezeway yesterday and around 29 degress right now

Thats the report from Ct. at least at my house. I would take high 60's right now and be very thankfull.

My DD in Ct probably had about the same. But she can count herself lucky that she's not still in PA. In PA (Just outside of Philadelphia) they had 30" over the weekend and another 15+ yesterday. The snow piles are higher than the cars, snow blowers can't throw it high enough to reach the top of the piles, and there is no more room to start new piles. Right now they both would rather be in Florida.

 

[caitlinsdad]

My DD in Ct probably had about the same. But she can count herself lucky that she's not still in PA. In PA (Just outside of Philadelphia) they had 30" over the weekend and another 15+ yesterday. The snow piles are higher than the cars, snow blowers can't throw it high enough to reach the top of the piles, and there is no more room to start new piles. Right now they both would rather be in Florida.

we got lucky here in ct, both storms went out to sea before gettinh here otherwise we would have had 30 plus here too

 

[geffric]

OK...we're in. Actually I'm the only one in currently. We're booking a BtB cruise and this is the first leg. I had to lock in the cabin on board the Magic till I figure out how I'm going to book it DVC points/cash wise. But we're going. My wife, I my son's will be 7 & 3. But then since I only have the deposit on me maybe I'll go solo. Currently being transfered from the Magic to AKV. Guess I'll have to figure it out later.

some one else from Chi???> WOO HOO !!

we must be "cousins" as I met Carolyn and family on the WB panama cruise in 2008..


the TA or not question??

I used a TA (DU in fact.) and been very happy with the onbroad credit..

As for 2 rooms, This is the first time we are doing 2 rooms but my kids will be 18 and 20 for the cruise so I need 2 bath plus they want their own room.. and so do I..

 

[jilljill]

Hi all we are back from our quick trip to FL. We were supposed to fly back Wed. afternoon and finally got a flight out this morning. it was very nice having the extra couple of days to play at WDW, but frustrating since our DD was home staying with neighbors and then with relatives.


Thanks for the whale pics. We've seen humpback whales in Australia, just came upon them while sightseeing along the coast, and they are huge.

 

[caitlinsdad]

Let the party begin
77 Weeks until the August 9 th, 2011 Alaska Cruise

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Let the party begin
77 Weeks until the August 9 th, 2011 Alaska Cruise

Yay!!!!

 

[Macavity]

<snip>This is the first time we are doing 2 rooms but my kids will be 18 and 20 for the cruise ..

They should facebook with my DD and her BF (hey, that's the first time I have not said Starwoods DS LOL).... IM me and I'll tell you her facebook name.