Disneypoor's Alaskan Cruise June 7th, 2011

[disneypoor]

Hi Susan!

I really enjoyed reading about your Alaskan adventure and I can't wait til August when I finally get to do mine!

I have two questions for you.

First is about your hike to Nugget falls in Juneau. Did you embark on the hike from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center or was it from someplace else? I was really interested in doing this hike but not everyone in my party wants to do ziplining. So we were going to do the Blue Bus up to the visitor's center and hopefully hike from there.

Also, on the Suspension Bridge part of your Railway adventure in Skagway, do you have to go across the bridge? My mom is not into heights but the rest of us thought that looked awesome!

Thanks so much!

Hi, Sarah! I think you're going to like my answers for your questions! First, we got dropped off right at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor's Center, so you most definitely could do the hike to Nugget Falls without doing the ziplining, and I suspect that if you just do the glacier tour, you will have a lot more time than we did, and you won't have to leave anyone behind.

Secondly, you do not have to go across the bridge at all. There is a visitors lodge at the site of the bridge, and as you walk thru, they give you a sample (atleast they did for us) of something (we got these yummy cookies and even bought some to take back to the ship with us), and you can look around, go to the concession area, or just walk around outside without crossing the bridge. You can still check out the beautiful scenery without crossing the bridge at all.

Let me know if you have any more questions. I'm guessing August is going to be a fabulous time to be visiting Alaska!

Susan

 

[stitch'sgirl]

Hi Susan,
My office buddy and I just read your whole report - on our lunch hour of course - and thoroughly enjoyed hearing about your Alaskan Adventure. I'm trying to talk her into that being our next DCL adventure. Our families have made it to the Bahamas and MR together so far.

Did I miss where you mentioned who your head waiter was? Just wondering because we too gave our head waiter Witt on the Wonder a bigger tip too - we loved him.

Welcome to DVC! I bet my husband embarassed me just as much as yours did. Let me just say he was VERY skeptical. Thank goodness he finally caved about 7 years ago. I'm glad he's the one with a sense of responsibility or I would have gone way overboard. We have 200 points, and haven't (yet) added on. But I can see how easy it is to do, especially on a cruise...

 

[disneypoor]

Hi Susan,
My office buddy and I just read your whole report - on our lunch hour of course - and thoroughly enjoyed hearing about your Alaskan Adventure. I'm trying to talk her into that being our next DCL adventure. Our families have made it to the Bahamas and MR together so far.

Did I miss where you mentioned who your head waiter was? Just wondering because we too gave our head waiter Witt on the Wonder a bigger tip too - we loved him.

Welcome to DVC! I bet my husband embarassed me just as much as yours did. Let me just say he was VERY skeptical. Thank goodness he finally caved about 7 years ago. I'm glad he's the one with a sense of responsibility or I would have gone way overboard. We have 200 points, and haven't (yet) added on. But I can see how easy it is to do, especially on a cruise...

Hi! Thanks for reading! I'm so glad you were able to get thru it all during your lunch hour. I know I can be a bit windy! I'm a teacher, and don't tell on me, but sometimes I have to check the DIS while I'm at work. I know, probably bad, but a happy teacher equals happy kids. Besides, I teach technology, and they need to know what forums are and how they work anyway.

This is so terrible, but I cannot remember our head server's name. Too much time has passed, and my memory is getting worse every year. He was truly wonderful though, and it was the first time we tipped extra for that position and felt really good doing so!

Glad to hear you are DVC also. How have you felt about your membership? I know what you mean about going overboard with the points. I was ready to start right out with at least 320 points so we could do two contracts of 160, but my DH had to remind me that although we were traveling like rock stars, back at home we were simply just farmers and teachers, so no can do. I don't know if we'll ever add on, but it sure does sound enticing! I'm anxious to begin using it to see if we're as happy with it as the other DISers appear to be.

Good luck talking your co-worker into the Alaska trip! It's truly a wonderful experience, and the beauty of that place cannot be described in words!

Take care!

Susan

 

[goslingl]

Nnn
Now you have me nervous! Is BLT that bad or just a resort you aren't interested in? Do you mind me asking why you wouldn't be interested in that one? Too late for me, but I'd love to know what I got in to. Thanks!
Susan

I just found your report and I was sad when it was over. It is nice to see others with OCDD (Obsessive Complusive Disney Disorder)

We are also DVC Bay Lake and Animal Kingdom. We love Bay Lake but we love all of the DVC resorts. The only regret I have is that we did not do it when our kids were younger. Both kids are gone. One married and one getting married in Oct. The good thing is we can take DGD if I can figure out how to get her with out her parents going.

We are on the Aug 22 cruise and your excursions sound great! We are not doing any excursions because of that darn wedding in Oct. I would love to have the name and number of the limo driver in Vancover. I tried to tell DD we could pick flowers from the back yard for the wedding but she would not agree.

 

[goslingl]

Thanks to everyone for the replies on DVC and cruising! I'm trying to make sense of all of this, but I think I'm finally seeing the light. Although I've read that it isn't cost effective to book the cruises with your DVC points, I figure that as long as I'm traveling on points and we're happy with our vacations, then my DVC was worth it. I really appreciate the help in understanding how DVC and cruises works though because I'm sure eventually we'll want to cruise again whether it's with points or good old cash!

Susan

We have done both booking cruises with point and paying cash. We have added points to have enough to cruise if we want too. The accountant in me says it is not cost effective but the rest says if that is what you wnat to do with the point then go for it. We actually booked the Alaska cruise using points because of the airfare and other additional expenses. My husband was not a DVC plan until we bought our first contract and no I can not let him go to a presentation because he will talk me into it. We are so weak. Our son had the nerve to ask how many points he got to use a year. After we stopped laughing hysterically we told him 0. They are mine all mine and DH too.

 

[disneypoor]

We have done both booking cruises with point and paying cash. We have added points to have enough to cruise if we want too. The accountant in me says it is not cost effective but the rest says if that is what you wnat to do with the point then go for it. We actually booked the Alaska cruise using points because of the airfare and other additional expenses. My husband was not a DVC plan until we bought our first contract and no I can not let him go to a presentation because he will talk me into it. We are so weak. Our son had the nerve to ask how many points he got to use a year. After we stopped laughing hysterically we told him 0. They are mine all mine and DH too.

So glad you enjoyed my TR! You'll have a fabulous time even with no excursions. Everything is just so beautiful there! I've never seen so many mountains with huge waterfalls flowing down them!

When my husband and I first started thinking we might buy in to DVC, our plan was to possible do this so that we could let our kids use our points later in life. Not sure that will really happen. Afterall, I'm in love with Mickey Mouse, and I think my DH is too although he won't admit it.

I'll send you the info on the limo driver. Take care!

Susan

 

[goslingl]

So glad you enjoyed my TR! You'll have a fabulous time even with no excursions. Everything is just so beautiful there! I've never seen so many mountains with huge waterfalls flowing down them!

When my husband and I first started thinking we might buy in to DVC, our plan was to possible do this so that we could let our kids use our points later in life. Not sure that will really happen. Afterall, I'm in love with Mickey Mouse, and I think my DH is too although he won't admit it.

I'll send you the info on the limo driver. Take care!

Susan

My husband and kids say if I ever leave him it will be for Mickey. Thanks for the limo info.

 

[disneypoor]

My husband and kids say if I ever leave him it will be for Mickey. Thanks for the limo info.

Sounds like some discussions in my house! My husband says he needs to dress up like Mickey to get any attention. We were going to a Halloween party last year, and I seriously almost ordered him a Mickey costume. He wouldn't have worn it, but it sure would have been funny!

You're welcome for the limo info. I hope it all works out for you!

Susan

 

[womanredress]

Thank you Susan!

You were right, I do like those answers!

We are traveling with my Grandma who we often take around in a little fold up wheelchair if there is a lot of walking. So we were planning on leaving her at the Glacier Visitor Center and then choosing a hike from there that appealed to us.

And then for the suspension bridge, I know my mom would not want to cross that thing, but would love the views of the area. We all wanted to do the train too so that excursion your family took seems like a perfect fit for us.

I've heard from a lot of people that August should be lovely. Not hot by any means, but certainly not freezing. I hope!

Thanks again!

 

[stitch'sgirl]

Hi! Thanks for reading! I'm so glad you were able to get thru it all during your lunch hour. I know I can be a bit windy! I'm a teacher, and don't tell on me, but sometimes I have to check the DIS while I'm at work. I know, probably bad, but a happy teacher equals happy kids. Besides, I teach technology, and they need to know what forums are and how they work anyway.

This is so terrible, but I cannot remember our head server's name. Too much time has passed, and my memory is getting worse every year. He was truly wonderful though, and it was the first time we tipped extra for that position and felt really good doing so!

Glad to hear you are DVC also. How have you felt about your membership? I know what you mean about going overboard with the points. I was ready to start right out with at least 320 points so we could do two contracts of 160, but my DH had to remind me that although we were traveling like rock stars, back at home we were simply just farmers and teachers, so no can do. I don't know if we'll ever add on, but it sure does sound enticing! I'm anxious to begin using it to see if we're as happy with it as the other DISers appear to be.

Good luck talking your co-worker into the Alaska trip! It's truly a wonderful experience, and the beauty of that place cannot be described in words!

Take care!

Susan

Hey Susan - Now I am seeing why I could totally relate - I too, am a teacher with OCD! I totally get the cleaning thing too. It is already such a let down coming home from a good vacation. Who wants to come home to a messy house?

Things have been pretty good with our membership. I'm finding though, that it is getting harder to get the resort/dates that we want. It's great if you can plan ahead, but sometimes that just doesn't do it for us. I can only take Michigan winters for so long, and then I have to get out of town asap. The last couple of trips we've taken to WDW we have switched resorts (due to unavailability for all the nights) in the middle of our stay. It's worked out okay for us - I try to plan a park day on the switch day so the bell service can transfer our luggage whlle we are at the park and I don't have to obsess at the pool about when our room is ready.

The only time I have used points for a cruise is for the member cruise. We paid cash for the two adults and points for our son. I can usually get a better deal for a cruise if I pay cash vs. points. (btw, the member cuise is great! We haven't been able to go the last few years because they have changed the cruising date to September)

I also sold points this year on the boards. I never thought I would have extra, but with the cruises, and only short trips to WDW, somehow we came out ahead. A lovely family bought the points and stayed at BLT. That was a lot of work, but it was nice to get that check!

I'm just wondering what the selling point for your husband was on the DVC. We had listened to the talk before too, and my husband refused. But then one year we talked to some "white hatters" from the UK (back then they were "red hatters"). They told us all about their vacations but also they used their points to send their son on a honeymoon. My husband thought that was so sweet. Our little boy was 2 at the time, and it was hard to picture him walking down the aisle, but for some strange reason, that tugged at his heart strings!

Well, thanks for replying! So glad you had a great time in Alaska - your pictures are beautiful, and so is your family!

 

[disneypoor]

Thank you so much, Stitch'sGirl! Yes, I'm a teacher also. I taught 3rd grade for 14 years and then woke up one day and decided I wanted to leave the regular classroom on a good note and didn't want to grow to be "that old, grumpy teacher that everyone was praying would retire soon", so I switched gears. My district decided to add technology teachers at the elementary level, and I thought it sounded like tons of fun, so I quickly began my master's in technology, applied for the job, and the rest is history. I love my job!

I'm a total long range planner, so I'm hoping I won't encounter too many issues with booking reservations with DVC. My husband is a dairy farmer, and it is so hard to find help, so we always have to have things very planned out. I'm hoping to get Vero Beach at the 7 month mark in order to take all of my sisters and their families next summer, but we'll see if it works out or not.

What finally sold my husband on DVC? I think I must scare him as I get older. He's finally figured out that Mickey Mouse is just in our blood, I think. Neither of us ever imagined we'd travel Disney style as much as we do way back when my 16 year old daughter was a little thing and our 13 year old son was just 1. Like your husband, when I mentioned being able to take the kids and their families as they grow into adults and possibly leave our points to our children some day, it tugged at his heart. He's a proud daddy and prays the kids will always want to vacation with him.

Take care and thanks again for taking the time to read my report!

Susan

 

[Doingitagain]

We are at the Fairmont Pacific Rim, until our Cruise on Tuesday!

We were picked up at the airport by Nick, the limo driver recommended by Susan. He was very nice. We have him scheduled for a tour this afternoon. He was trying to find this thread on online and he couldn't and his office couldn't, so I found some key words he could try using Google.

I am disappointed that breakfast is not included with our room. Concierge said it would be, but the hotel said it is not. Concierge won't be open until Tuesday and by then it will be too late. Oh well, we will get enough food on the ship!

We celebrated Canada Day yesterday and it was great! The hotel is in a good location. The only thing I don't like is the lobby is a lounge/bar with live music and it is very loud. I am used to elegant, quiet lobbies.

Thanks again for leading the way and helping us out, Susan!

 

[ariel39]

We are at the Fairmont Pacific Rim, until our Cruise on Tuesday!

We were picked up at the airport by Nick, the limo driver recommended by Susan. He was very nice. We have him scheduled for a tour this afternoon. He was trying to find this thread on online and he couldn't and his office couldn't, so I found some key words he could try using Google.

I am disappointed that breakfast is not included with our room. Concierge said it would be, but the hotel said it is not. Concierge won't be open until Tuesday and by then it will be too late. Oh well, we will get enough food on the ship!

We celebrated Canada Day yesterday and it was great! The hotel is in a good location. The only thing I don't like is the lobby is a lounge/bar with live music and it is very loud. I am used to elegant, quiet lobbies.

Thanks again for leading the way and helping us out, Susan!

I so want him too.....Do you know what he charged from the airport and how many people can fit in the limo......

 

[goslingl]

We have Nick booked to pick us up at the port on 8/31 after our cruise and give us a tour. We are so excited!!! Thanks Susan for the recommendation.

 

[disneypoor]

We are at the Fairmont Pacific Rim, until our Cruise on Tuesday!

We were picked up at the airport by Nick, the limo driver recommended by Susan. He was very nice. We have him scheduled for a tour this afternoon. He was trying to find this thread on online and he couldn't and his office couldn't, so I found some key words he could try using Google.

I am disappointed that breakfast is not included with our room. Concierge said it would be, but the hotel said it is not. Concierge won't be open until Tuesday and by then it will be too late. Oh well, we will get enough food on the ship!

We celebrated Canada Day yesterday and it was great! The hotel is in a good location. The only thing I don't like is the lobby is a lounge/bar with live music and it is very loud. I am used to elegant, quiet lobbies.

Thanks again for leading the way and helping us out, Susan!

Oh, I'm so jealous! Wish we were back there right now! I'm so glad you were able to book Nick. Let us know what all you end up doing! Have a fabulous time and give that mouse a hug for me!

You're welcome for the limo information. We just thought it was money well spent. Otherwise, we might have just walked up and down the sea wall by the Fairmont and wouldn't have gotten to see all the cool stuff Nick took us to! Again, have a super trip and let us know how everything goes!

Susan

 

[disneypoor]

We have Nick booked to pick us up at the port on 8/31 after our cruise and give us a tour. We are so excited!!! Thanks Susan for the recommendation.

You are very welcome!

Susan

 

[disneypoor]

I so want him too.....Do you know what he charged from the airport and how many people can fit in the limo......

Kathie--I can't help you on the cost since Nick showed up as part of our Disney transfers, but I will say that we had five people, and we fit just fine in the limo. In fact, I'm sure you could fit more than that, but the issue would be the luggage. We had a total of 7 suitcases in all, and that's how we ended up with Nick in the first place. The original limo that was going to transport us wouldn't hold all of our luggage, so they called for a stretch limo, and that's how we ended up with Nick. Even with the bigger limo, Nick had to tie down the trunk when taking us to the airport because 7 suitcases fills it pretty full! Maybe DoingItAgain will see this and can have more insight than I do. Good luck!

Susan

 

[mickeycruisemaniac]

Thanks Susan for the great info and trip report, it has been very helpful! Can you please PM me with Nick's info, we may try him for the day we get back from the cruise, we have most of the day before the train back to SEA.

 

[Doingitagain]

I so want him too.....Do you know what he charged from the airport and how many people can fit in the limo......

I think he charged 57 CAD (before tip) for the trip from the airport. The limo can fit probably six adults, it is the luggage that is the issue. We had six bags, and he stacked them up and tied down the trunk to make it work.

 

[ariel39]

I think he charged 57 CAD (before tip) for the trip from the airport. The limo can fit probably six adults, it is the luggage that is the issue. We had six bags, and he stacked them up and tied down the trunk to make it work.

ok we have 11 of us flying in so will need 2 limos maybe he works with someone else thanks