Disney Wonder September 3, 2012. Seattle to Vancouver 7 night Alaska Cruise!

[Momma2Jax]

HollywoodGlitter, thank you so much for all your work on the list! We appreciate it so much!

I'm so sorry for those who have to drop the cruise I hope it works out to sail again soon!

 

[lil bugger]

dear hollywood, i didnt get the new list......carollewallen1965@yahoo.com. I think the email you have for me must have a letter off or doesnt have the numbers. Would you please check? I am trying to keep up without it, but i dont have room numbers. Its just better to have the official list. Thanks a million, lil bugger.

 

[jennnnnn]

Hi there! We have a 5-year old son who will be missing 5 days of Kindergarten for this cruise. He starts August 1st, but he's on year-round and we didn't know what "track" he would be on prior to booking the cruise. Oh well How old are your kids?

I keep going back and forth on the Bear Country & Wildlife Expedition. My husband says "no". There are some very bad reviews of it on Trip Advisor and HALs websites. But I've read a couple of good reviews here. We have the Rainforest, Eagles, and Totems thing booked right now. It's half the cost. But I SO want to see bears! I'm sure I'll change my mind at least 6 more times before the cruise! For Skagway we're planning to book the Chilkoot Charters Yukon Bus, Rail, and Dog cart excursion. I haven't done it yet because they want payment upfront and it's a 10% fee to cancel. Juneau we're doing Best of Juneau.

For the rental car in Seattle, National will let you drop off the car at their Downtown Hilton location. They told me, over the phone, from there they have a free shuttle to the port. That's our plan.

Anyone heard anything about the FE? I've been thinking about gifts, but the last list I got had people who aren't on the cruise anymore.

Hello Everyone! Glad to see there are a few kids on the cruise! We're bringing our boys! who will be 7 and 4 I don't know who is more excited, them or me! This is our first Disney Cruise!!!

Lots to read and learn about! It seems like the kids will be put in groups from ages 3-4 and 5-7? Any idea if we can keep siblings together? I would assume if there was a small group, they'd allow this?

Also - re: celebration cakes... we are celebrating some birthdays... is it better in your opinion to buy a small cake in advance or just do the freebie thing?

Thanks for the info!



Jennifer

 

[jenf22]

Hello Everyone! Glad to see there are a few kids on the cruise! We're bringing our boys! who will be 7 and 4 I don't know who is more excited, them or me! This is our first Disney Cruise!!!

Lots to read and learn about! It seems like the kids will be put in groups from ages 3-4 and 5-7? Any idea if we can keep siblings together? I would assume if there was a small group, they'd allow this?

Also - re: celebration cakes... we are celebrating some birthdays... is it better in your opinion to buy a small cake in advance or just do the freebie thing?

Thanks for the info!



Jennifer

Welcome fellow Jennifer!

This is our second cruise, but our first experience with the kids club. We had grandparents on our first cruise, so they kept Ryan with them whenever we needed time alone From what I understand, the kids can stay together in the club.

My 2 cents on the cake thing - Ryan turned 5 2 days before we set sail in May, so we got the Birthday celebration package (? not sure what it was called). They had streamers and the room was decorated. There was also a cake. The cake sat for days untouched because we were full the whole time we were on the ship! The last night, I cut myself a piece just because. I wasn't hungry, but figured I had to try it. It actually was really good. But there is food everywhere! I would let your server know about the birthday and see what happens. I've heard they have little freebie cakes, but I can't say for sure.

Are you joining the FE? We could use more kids!

 

[lil bugger]

Welcome....jennnnnn family!!!!!! So glad to have you all. Cant help you with info this is our first disney cruise also. However, there are many seasoned disney cruisers on this cruise, i bet they can help you out. Sincerely, lil bugger

 

[merky]

Took the leap we joined the FE

 

[lil bugger]

Hello, tell us more about you and yours. Inquiring minds want to know....LOL.

 

[merky]

Hello, tell us more about you and yours. Inquiring minds want to know....LOL.

Well Thank you !

There are just 3 of us Me my DH and DD who is 15 we all love Disney this will be our 2 Disney Cruise with another already booked for 2013 a Med Cruise . I took a bit a time to join because I'm not crafty at all , but like any good Dis member kept reading all the post and thought maybe just maybe I can do this LOL , my DD is very excited about it and will be in charge of the Teens stuff so look out kids.

 

[lil bugger]

Thats so awesome...where was your first disney cruise? I love to cruise, my mother and I thought it was the best way to vacation. But this will be the first disney cruise i have done. I so think its gonna be great... One of the questions everyone likes to know are "What are your favorite disney characters?" The fe is easy. I semi-homemade some of the gifts and bought some. And could do alot more....Gotta fix dinner...so talk to ya later. Glad to have you guys.

Well Thank you !

There are just 3 of us Me my DH and DD who is 15 we all love Disney this will be our 2 Disney Cruise with another already booked for 2013 a Med Cruise . I took a bit a time to join because I'm not crafty at all , but like any good Dis member kept reading all the post and thought maybe just maybe I can do this LOL , my DD is very excited about it and will be in charge of the Teens stuff so look out kids.

 

[lil bugger]

Hey there guys.....I was so excited to see yet another vegetarian. Did i see that Kristen is also a vegetarian? I screetched and told my husband that there was another one of us on board....He couldnt believe it either. He's wondering what disney is doing to draw vegetarians? There are at least 6 on this site and many in our fe. YEAH......sometimes i feel so alone out there. But not on this cruise!

 

[MrHappy]

Palo is $20 per person plus extra tip. People vary greatly on the "extra tip" part and God help you if you bring it up on the boards We tipped an extra $10 for brunch and $15 for dinner. The Margarita tasting was $15 per person. All the spa treatments are different. I think a manicure is around $50 while a pedicure is around $80. You can get those prices off the excursions websites. I think the "drink of the day"s were $6-$8. I know the sail-away drink was around $8.50, but we got to keep the glass. I think the only other costs we had were pictures and stuff from the gift shop. I'm guessing we're going to be spending a pretty penny on pictures this cruise

Thanks so much for the pricing info. I've been looking a bit for prices and couldn't find much. The stuff at the shops will be what breaks my bank. I'm an avid pin collector and I already have 13 people on pin trading boards sending me money to buy them pins onboard. lol. But I know the wife will want to get a few massages so I'll need to put that into the budget.

Was the Sail away cup anything good? Did it have the cruise date on it or anything?

Thanks

 

[merky]

Thats so awesome...where was your first disney cruise? I love to cruise, my mother and I thought it was the best way to vacation. But this will be the first disney cruise i have done. I so think its gonna be great... One of the questions everyone likes to know are "What are your favorite disney characters?" The feis easy. I semi-homemade some of the gifts and bought some. And could do a lot more....Gotta fix dinner...so talk to ya later. Glad to have you guys.

Our first cruise was the western Caribbean we loved it!
fav Disney me Tigger
DD is Bambi
DH is Stitch

 

[AprilN]

Hi all! We just booked this morning - couldn't resist the VGT pricing! This will be our 3rd Disney cruise, after the Eastern Caribbean on the Magic in Feb2003 and a 3-day on the Dream this past January (capping a week at WDW). This is our first trip to Alaska, and I'm so excited! I'm not sure how I'll bear to wait another ~5 weeks to find out our stateroom cat and location, that's for sure. Cruising with me is my DH and our 4-year-old son. I think I'll sit out the FE this time around, but I'm looking forward to the DISmeet.

Now to figure out port adventures. We're looking at the Chilkoot Charters Yukon Rail and Bus Tour, if it's still available (still waiting to hear back). One way or another we'll need to ride a train for sure - Thomas and friends are still quite popular in this house! Otherwise I'm not sure. After the mad rush of the 3-day cruise on the Dream, when we barely had time to look around the ship, let alone explore before we had to debark, I'm mainly looking forward to a week at a more leisurely pace, with plenty of time to have fun on the ship, explore Alaska some, and just sit and read a book while the amazing scenery floats by.

 

[Pinocchio #1 Fan]

So I have a question, and I'm not entirely sure where to ask it, so I thought I'd try our cozy little cruise group first. I'm looking for somewhere, either in a port during our cruise, or in Vancouver, where I can see a live moose. I know it sounds like a strange request, but I have a fascination with the animal, and I have never seen one in person, only in photos or on television. They have a taxidermied (is this even a word?) one at the LA Natural History Museum, but it's not the same thing.

So...anyone know where I can see a moose?

 

[jenf22]

So I have a question, and I'm not entirely sure where to ask it, so I thought I'd try our cozy little cruise group first. I'm looking for somewhere, either in a port during our cruise, or in Vancouver, where I can see a live moose. I know it sounds like a strange request, but I have a fascination with the animal, and I have never seen one in person, only in photos or on television. They have a taxidermied (is this even a word?) one at the LA Natural History Museum, but it's not the same thing.

So...anyone know where I can see a moose?

I hope someone has an answer 'cause I'd love to see one too! We've seen them in Yellowstone and saw one, one time in the dozens of times we've been there, in Rocky Mountain National Park. I'll Google it later and let you know if I come up with anything!

Hi all! We just booked this morning - couldn't resist the VGT pricing! This will be our 3rd Disney cruise, after the Eastern Caribbean on the Magic in Feb2003 and a 3-day on the Dream this past January (capping a week at WDW). This is our first trip to Alaska, and I'm so excited! I'm not sure how I'll bear to wait another ~5 weeks to find out our stateroom cat and location, that's for sure. Cruising with me is my DH and our 4-year-old son. I think I'll sit out the FE this time around, but I'm looking forward to the DISmeet.

Now to figure out port adventures. We're looking at the Chilkoot Charters Yukon Rail and Bus Tour, if it's still available (still waiting to hear back). One way or another we'll need to ride a train for sure - Thomas and friends are still quite popular in this house! Otherwise I'm not sure. After the mad rush of the 3-day cruise on the Dream, when we barely had time to look around the ship, let alone explore before we had to debark, I'm mainly looking forward to a week at a more leisurely pace, with plenty of time to have fun on the ship, explore Alaska some, and just sit and read a book while the amazing scenery floats by.

Welcome! Too bad you're sitting out the FE. We've got a 5-year old son and he's one of only a few kids in the FE.

We are doing the Chilkoot Charters Yukon Rail and Bus Tour! It would be great to know someone on it! We're doing the version with the dog sled (and train first, our son LOVES trains too!), but I think it's the same tour. I would imagine they would still have space. When I called, the lady was pleasantly surprised I was booking in advance. She said everyone seems to call with last minuet ressies.

Congrats on the GTY rates! They're awesome. I wish I could have taken advantage too!

Thanks so much for the pricing info. I've been looking a bit for prices and couldn't find much. The stuff at the shops will be what breaks my bank. I'm an avid pin collector and I already have 13 people on pin trading boards sending me money to buy them pins onboard. lol. But I know the wife will want to get a few massages so I'll need to put that into the budget.

Was the Sail away cup anything good? Did it have the cruise date on it or anything?

Thanks

I know! I keep reading about all the great Alaska specific cruise stuff. I just hope they aren't sold out of everything good since we're the last cruise of 2012.

The Sail Away cup was just a standard DCL cup - nothing cruise specific. And it's plastic too. But I still thought it was a neat cup. My mom actually kept that one. On pirate night, they had cups for sale with light up bottoms (they came with sangria). We just HAD to get one of those.

 

[DumboCollector]

Lil Bugger: Yes, Kristen is a vegetarian. I tend to eat that way but still eat meat periodically. It is neat that there are that many vegetarian Dis members on our cruise. I'm sure we'll eat well!

UKVeggie: You and my daughter should get together! She'll be turning 28 in August. While not travelling solo, she'll probably need some time away from Mom! I know she'd appreciate talking with another single person her age plus would love to hear about your time working at EPCOT and being from the UK. Kristen loves to travel and spent 9 weeks backpacking around Europe including the UK.

See you all in a few weeks.

 

[mompaq]

Hi everyone! My adult daughter and I just booked this cruise, yesterday. We have both cruised before. I have been on three of the four Disney ships and she has been on two. Hope it is not too late to join in on the FE exchange!

 

[AprilN]

All right, we're booked on the Chilkoot Charters Yukon Rail and Bus - with dogsled! (My DH insisted). Looks awesome - and great to know there will be another DIS family with a young son on the train!

Now for the other ports... I think we'll leave Ketchikan open for now, but I definitely want to see the Mendenhall glacier in Juneau. More research needed!

I can't figure out what clothes to pack. Sounds like it might be somewhat warm - possibly capris/shorts weather? What is everyone else planning for? I would rather be a bit cold in capris than too hot in pants (as I have plenty of built-in insulation ), but I don't want to freeze!

 

[jenf22]

Hi everyone! My adult daughter and I just booked this cruise, yesterday. We have both cruised before. I have been on three of the four Disney ships and she has been on two. Hope it is not too late to join in on the FE exchange!

Welcome! The FE is open until August 1, so you are more than welcome. Hollywood Glitter is organizing the whole thing, so shoot her a PM and you'll be in

All right, we're booked on the Chilkoot Charters Yukon Rail and Bus - with dogsled! (My DH insisted). Looks awesome - and great to know there will be another DIS family with a young son on the train!

Now for the other ports... I think we'll leave Ketchikan open for now, but I definitely want to see the Mendenhall glacier in Juneau. More research needed!

I can't figure out what clothes to pack. Sounds like it might be somewhat warm - possibly capris/shorts weather? What is everyone else planning for? I would rather be a bit cold in capris than too hot in pants (as I have plenty of built-in insulation ), but I don't want to freeze!

Yeah! I'm glad we'll have another train lover who can talk to our son! Are you guys doing the train first? I think they have it both ways.

We're doing "Best of Juneau" in Juneau to do whale watching and the glacier. I didn't want us to miss anything.

My plan is jeans. I figure I'll bring a couple pairs of shorts, but I'm thinking we'll all be more comfortable in jeans. I'll be checking the weather as we get closer. And it's getting closer everyday!

 

[AprilN]

Yep, we're doing the train first. Between my DH and DS, there should be plenty of train talk. I'm thinking of renting a car in Juneau, so we can visit the glacier on our own schedule, and maybe a couple other places as well - Alaskan Brewery, anyone?

And DH might go snorkeling in Ketchikan! He mentioned snorkeling on this cruise as a joke (as it has been a must-do on every other cruise we've taken), but I don't think he was expecting it to actually be a possibility!