ELEVATE! Is that a whale out there? A three-generation cruise to Alaska!UPDATE 8/29

[revwog1974]

I've been reading along with you for a while and I had to de-lurk to wish you a happy anniversary. We celebrated my younger daughter's adoption day on Saturday. Both of our girls are domestic adoptions, so we celebrate the days we went to court and finalized our adoptions. We don't have any gifts to bring back from another country, but our youngest is 1, so she was delighted with an Elmo balloon.

I've really been enjoying your trip report. I'm trying to convince my husband, and my parents that we should take a family cruise to Alaska next year. I'm getting lots of ammunition from your report! Thank you for sharing so much and I hope that things get better for you.

 

[pas130]

You're welcome! DIS peeps rock!!!! I find my bestest support is here on the boards

 

[Trish82]

love the sail away with mickey really cute idea

 

[Clotho]

Oh, that's right - I have read about Crush. I just didn't realize that it had replaced the color show; I thought they would have both!

Maybe it depends on how long your cruise is? But I have read reports where the THIRD night is the color show. Crush is the first night. Then there is something else the second. But that the color show still happens. Hrm!

 

[RGirl]

You're welcome! DIS peeps rock!!!! I find my bestest support is here on the boards

My TR friends are so great!

love the sail away with mickey really cute idea

Thanks!!! We love countdown calendars.

Maybe it depends on how long your cruise is? But I have read reports where the THIRD night is the color show. Crush is the first night. Then there is something else the second. But that the color show still happens. Hrm!

Oh, that would make sense! I hope that's the case!

 

[RGirl]

26. A Little Doulson, A Little Exploring (Day 5)

This morning (which was tinged with the realization that the week was more than half over ), we slept in until about 8:00 and woke up in Juneau. DD and I headed to Bleach Blanket for breakfast again - this really was the best option for DD. The Judies went to, wait for it………. Triton’s!

DD and I picked up our trays from the CM at the front of the line and had just set them down on the ledge to start perusing our breakfast options when I looked up, and there was Doulson! He was standing right next to DD. He followed us all the way through the line as we got our food - helping DD with her tray. When we reached the end, he took DD’s tray. I got some coffee and turned to ask DD if she would like some juice. She points up at Doulson holding her tray and says, “No thank you - I already have chocolate milk.” And she was right - there was already a chocolate milk on her tray!

Doulson then proceeded to find us a beautiful table by the window despite all the crowds, cut up DD’s pancakes for her and visited with us for a bit. We found out that he had a fiance at home and would be getting married in November.

DD and I then decided to go look for some more Hidden Mickeys since we had some time to kill before our excursion. I really enjoyed looking for the HMs, but some of them on the ship were just ridiculous because they were things that you would not think of as HMs so I was always checking the “cheat sheet” in the book. You will see what I mean.

The kind of HM you would expect:

A not-quite-hidden HM, but this is what the cheat sheet said we were looking for.

Another one that didn’t seem quite like a true HM:

And more of what we are all accustomed to:

I got some shots of the shop windows I had missed previously as well.

Seriously, the golf course picture is supposed to be a HM! I mean, I could see it if I was AT the golf course, but a PICTURE of it seems a bit questionable.

Up next: 27. Sledding with the Dogs (Day 5)​

 

[amandaw]

I'm completely shocked that the Judies had breakfast at Triton's.

That Doulson.....he really knows how to pamper a lady! No wonder he's getting married. I'm sure he had the women lining up at his door back home.

That's funny about the "not so hidden" Mickeys. I completely agree with you. I just bought a HM book for our upcoming trip. I figure it may be fun to do with Reid while either Ed or I is resting up for the late race night.

I really can't wait to hear about the dog sledding!

 

[megan511]

I got behind but I'm caught up now.

First I'm sorry to hear of family/medical issues. I do hope things get better soon. Take your time, we will all still be here! I do understand that talking about Disney can be a great stress relief and distraction. I would love to read another PTR from you.

How sweet about you & Willow's family day! I love that you give her gifts from Guatemala every year. How special.

Back to the cruise!

Palo looks great, again. The Judies seem like my kind of ladies!

I'm glad Willow caught up with Ariel. I wonder what she had to tell her!

Doulson seems like such a nice guy.

I can't wait for the dog sledding update!

ETA: Some of those Hidden Mickeys made me laugh. I think I would just call those Mickeys as they are not really "hidden."

 

[pas130]

Doulson then proceeded to find us a beautiful table by the window despite all the crowds, cut up DD’s pancakes for her and visited with us for a bit. We found out that he had a fiance at home and would be getting married in November. ​

Of course he's taken, he's charming...I guess asking him to wait 20 years for Willow is a bit much ​

 

[shan23877]

Oh that Doulson!!! He's a real gem isn't he? I'm practically swooning just reading about him!

I'd have to agree about the Hidden Mickeys. I imagine that Maddie would like that type of 'hidden' Mickey better though.

Bryan has a pic of the golf course one on his phone--it did seem like a HM to him when he played the course.

I cannot wait to hear about the dog sledding!

 

[Fratthouse]

Just came across your trip report and am so excited to read it! We are doing a three-generation cruise next month with both my in-laws, my parents, my husband and I, and our one-year-old son. It's not Disney (boo), but we'll still have a good time! Can't wait to read up on your adventure and hopefully get some ideas for our trip, too! Thanks for sharing!

 

[LindaBabe]

You are doing a FABULOUS job with this report - and I'm loving your DD! What a cutie pie. (I'm taking notes on what to eat - we don't do wheat, either.)

 

[RGirl]

I'm completely shocked that the Judies had breakfast at Triton's.

That Doulson.....he really knows how to pamper a lady! No wonder he's getting married. I'm sure he had the women lining up at his door back home.

That's funny about the "not so hidden" Mickeys. I completely agree with you. I just bought a HM book for our upcoming trip. I figure it may be fun to do with Reid while either Ed or I is resting up for the late race night.

I really can't wait to hear about the dog sledding!

Later in the cruise, Doulson shared some pictures of his fiancee with us - a beautiful girl - and he was so clearly excited to get home and get married. So sweet.

You know, Willow has always enjoyed the HMs at WDW, although we have never dedicated time specifically to them, but she was just not terribly keen on the ship. Maybe because the HMs were so weird!

I got behind but I'm caught up now.

First I'm sorry to hear of family/medical issues. I do hope things get better soon. Take your time, we will all still be here! I do understand that talking about Disney can be a great stress relief and distraction. I would love to read another PTR from you.

How sweet about you & Willow's family day! I love that you give her gifts from Guatemala every year. How special.

Back to the cruise!

Palo looks great, again. The Judies seem like my kind of ladies!

I'm glad Willow caught up with Ariel. I wonder what she had to tell her!

Doulson seems like such a nice guy.

I can't wait for the dog sledding update!

ETA: Some of those Hidden Mickeys made me laugh. I think I would just call those Mickeys as they are not really "hidden."

Thanks.

Palo really was great - again! And Doulson really helped make our cruise the wonderful experience that it was.

Dogs coming up soon!

Of course he's taken, he's charming...I guess asking him to wait 20 years for Willow is a bit much

*sigh* Yeah, too bad. I hope, if Willow gets married some day, it will be to someone that sweet. Heck, I wish I could find someone that sweet!

 

[RGirl]

Oh that Doulson!!! He's a real gem isn't he? I'm practically swooning just reading about him!

He is an amazing young man. We want to go back on the Wonder just to see him again!

I'd have to agree about the Hidden Mickeys. I imagine that Maddie would like that type of 'hidden' Mickey better though.

Bizarre, aren't they????

Bryan has a pic of the golf course one on his phone--it did seem like a HM to him when he played the course.

That is awesome!!!!

Just came across your trip report and am so excited to read it! We are doing a three-generation cruise next month with both my in-laws, my parents, my husband and I, and our one-year-old son. It's not Disney (boo), but we'll still have a good time! Can't wait to read up on your adventure and hopefully get some ideas for our trip, too! Thanks for sharing!

Oh, how exciting - it is really special to get to do these three-generation trips. I'm so glad that you are joining into the TR too!!!

You are doing a FABULOUS job with this report - and I'm loving your DD! What a cutie pie. (I'm taking notes on what to eat - we don't do wheat, either.)

Thank you! And thanks for joining in! I hope that I am able to give you some good info for your trip.

 

[RGirl]

27. Sledding with the Dogs (Day 5) (Part 1)

When I last left you, DD and I had done some Hidden Mickey searching. Eventually, it was time to head back to our stateroom and collect Judy 2 for our excursion. Once again, Judy 1 did not go for fear that the activity would be too jarring for her back (and it very well probably would have, so that was a good call).

This time, I believe we met up in Wave Bands. We were given Nemo stickers for our group.

When we left the ship, we got on a shuttle bus that took us into the world’s largest temporal rain forest.

Some views of our journey:

Before too long, we arrived at the musher’s camp for our dog sledding excursion. Now this was a fun excursion, but there was definitely too much talking and standing around for a five year old. Well, at least for my five year old (and, really, I think MOST five year olds). When we first arrived, we were split into small groups. Our group went over to an area where we met a sled dog and were told all about how they feed them on the trail, what the sled is like, etc. It was very interesting, but it was also quite lengthy.

We watched another group head out on a sled ride:

Then we got to go over this lovely suspension bridge (I generally hate these bridges, but this one was pretty short and not too high).

[continued in next post]
​

 

[RGirl]

27. Sledding with the Dogs (Day 5) (Part 2)

Finally, it was our turn for a dog sled ride. And DD loved this part!

Our driver stopped to rest the dogs, and took some pics with everyone’s cameras.

Back at camp, we saw some puppies and heard some more lectures about dog sledding. DD was asking every five minutes to go back to the ship and swim.

DD got to experience her first out-house. She was NOT thrilled.

Eventually, we headed back to the Wonder.

Up next: 28. Braving the Waters (Day 5)​

 

[shan23877]

Yay for the dog sledding!

I'm sorry that it wasn't as fun for Willow as you'd hoped it would be. I'm pretty sure that Maddie wouldn't have been very patient either.

What gorgeous views! That alone might have been worth going on the excursion.

Love the pictures of all the dogs. I'm pretty sure that I would have wanted to take them all home with me.

Poor Willow in the outhouse! I don't blame her at all. Those things really skeeve me out. She's clearly a young lady who's used to the finer things (like indoor plumbing).

 

[LittleGirlGrey]

Did you know Alaska has all four major climates!? Barrow AK is a desert! I forget what the others are though.

I bet Willow just wanted to get back to Doulsen! *sorry if I spelt his name wrong!*

Can't wait for more! Hope you're doing well!!!!!

 

[amandaw]

I can't get over how pretty the scenery is! Really!

I think all the talking & standing around would be too boring for any young kid. I know Reid would have been very impatient with that & whining to go back to the boat for sure.

The dogs are all so cute!!

 

[RGirl]

Yay for the dog sledding!

I'm sorry that it wasn't as fun for Willow as you'd hoped it would be. I'm pretty sure that Maddie wouldn't have been very patient either.

What gorgeous views! That alone might have been worth going on the excursion.

Love the pictures of all the dogs. I'm pretty sure that I would have wanted to take them all home with me.

Poor Willow in the outhouse! I don't blame her at all. Those things really skeeve me out. She's clearly a young lady who's used to the finer things (like indoor plumbing).

You know, I thought Willow did as well as any kid her age without siblings to blow off steam with could do. To be totally honest, I might have been getting a little antsy to be done and return to the ship myself.

Yes, the views in Alaska are beyond amazing. It was worth the price of an excursion just to get views of the beautiful Wonder with mountains in the background. And we really did enjoy the excursion a lot - it just went on a bit longer than it probably should have.

The outhouse situation was hilarious. She was whining that she had to go potty - which is a common antic when bored. So I showed her the potty, and she insisted that she absolutely did not have to go potty. However, the lecturing and talking went on so much longer that I had to admit the child was going to need to go potty. At that point, I had to basically FORCE her to go. That kind of sucked, but we eventually worked out a deal where I would hold her over the horrifying "situation" with the door open enough that we were not enclosed in there but closed enough that no one was going to see, etc. It was quite an ordeal! But no one peed her pants on the way back to The Wonder, so all was good.

Did you know Alaska has all four major climates!? Barrow AK is a desert! I forget what the others are though.

I bet Willow just wanted to get back to Doulsen! *sorry if I spelt his name wrong!*

Can't wait for more! Hope you're doing well!!!!!

I did not know that! But I am not surprised - Alaska is amazing and, I think, completely unique. Being able to experience a tiny bit of it was right up there with my trip to Kenya as one of my absolute top dream vacation destinations.