helpful planning tool - Disney Wonder - Alaska

[CanuckOnaBoat]

Thanks to so many of you on this forum (and other Disney forums)- I was able to put together a ' guide' for my family since they are first time Disney Cruisers. For months I've reviewed forums, blogs, Disney website etc... collecting little nuggets of information that could help us get the most out of our trip.

As you can imagine - I found a lot of great info. I hope that others can find this helpful. jUST NOTE -that some information might not be accurate - as some information was found on older threads. I did not personally validate all of the information.

Thank you again - to all who have started new informative threads and to those who have shared their expertise!!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2w6u1ga77m...share.doc?dl=0

I couldn't get it to upload due to size - so I hope the dropbox link will work for you! I would love any feedback to help improve the document!

 

[MMR]

Thanks to so many of you on this forum (and other Disney forums)- I was able to put together a ' guide' for my family since they are first time Disney Cruisers. For months I've reviewed forums, blogs, Disney website etc... collecting little nuggets of information that could help us get the most out of our trip.

As you can imagine - I found a lot of great info. I hope that others can find this helpful. jUST NOTE -that some information might not be accurate - as some information was found on older threads. I did not personally validate all of the information.

Thank you again - to all who have started new informative threads and to those who have shared their expertise!!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2w6u1ga77m...share.doc?dl=0

I couldn't get it to upload due to size - so I hope the dropbox link will work for you! I would love any feedback to help improve the document!

This is AMAZING!!! Thank you so much! We are on the same cruise and it will be great to give this to my parents.

 

[MichyMich]

This is wonderful! I am a total newbie, both to cruising and to Alaska. You are an angel for doing this - thank you!!

 

[ShelleyTaylor]

Love this, thank you!!!!

 

[CanuckOnaBoat]

i'm so glad to hear this. thank you! if it's not my own family reading it- i'm happy that others will find it useful ;p I love doing this stuff. wish i had the guts to try to make a business out of it!

 

[uncw89]

Thanks!! I'm going the week before you!! See you at the port!! You'll be happy and I'll be one of the sad ones leaving.

 

[Misty V]

Wish you could do one for 7 night bahamas Jan 2017 lol

 

[Viviene Anthony]

Thank you! It's awesome knowing all this information is in one place and I don't have to keep going back to search for it!

 

[Snowwhyt]

Thanks to so many of you on this forum (and other Disney forums)- I was able to put together a ' guide' for my family since they are first time Disney Cruisers. For months I've reviewed forums, blogs, Disney website etc... collecting little nuggets of information that could help us get the most out of our trip.

As you can imagine - I found a lot of great info. I hope that others can find this helpful. jUST NOTE -that some information might not be accurate - as some information was found on older threads. I did not personally validate all of the information.

Thank you again - to all who have started new informative threads and to those who have shared their expertise!!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2w6u1ga77m...share.doc?dl=0

I couldn't get it to upload due to size - so I hope the dropbox link will work for you! I would love any feedback to help improve the document!

You more than earned your ears with me! Thank you.

 

[TJA]

This is going to be very helpful - thank you for doing this .

 

[thinkoflaura]

this is awesome!!!!

Would love to see your packing list (mentioned as a separate document!) I am packing this week (leaving for Vancouver on Friday) - would love to see it!

 

[CanuckOnaBoat]

Here is the packing list. THIS IS NOT MY CREATION - i found it on one of the threads and then tweaked it for our use. I have two small kids (16 months and 3 year old) so there is stuff for them too. I'm sorry that I don't remember who the original author is to give them proper credit.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/btumy9oxrjmgfsi/Cruise_Packing_and_Tip_List revised_share.xls?dl=0

 

[xlxo]

Good start.... Thoughts....

• That $35 cab fare is Canadian for the cruise terminal or Pan Pacific.... it's about $28 USD at today's currency prices. Huge bargain for door to door convenience. For hotels away from the cruise terminal... the cab fare is cheaper at $31 CDN!
• check the latest alcohol DCL polcies. You may be able to fill up that carry-on with liquid gold to avoid the higher prices aboard. You also have more control over the selection.
  
• Typo on Blue Horizon.... it's "cab ride", not "can ride"
• The fish hatchery needs some planning to get to. There is no shuttle... it's a significant distance from the suspension bridge. Public Transit requires a walk. The salmon is not running year round.
• The petting zoo at Stanley Park has been gone for years.
• Stanley Park is very large.... you need several hours to do everything you described properly.
• Your Lookout ticket is good for 24hours. I like to go at twilight or sunset to see both night and dark at the same time. If you decide to have dinner at the Lookout.... your admission is free.
• Your Grouse gondola admission is free if you plan to have dinner at the Observatory. Warning.... make reservations and check menu prices before committing.
• The largest Chinatown North of San Francisco title may be challenged in recent years.
• Plan you visit to Granville Island when the Public Market is open. Activities may be limited at night.
• The Harbour Center liquor store is not open Sundays pre-cruise... a problem for Wonder cruisers departing on Monday's.
• There is also the Android the Navigator. The Android version also works partially with BB10 Blackberries w/ Snap.
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.disney.cruise.sept_goo
• Procedures for embarkation can change for multi-ship days (especially when it's more than two)
• When choosing a PAT time.... go for the earliest one you can get. This maximizes your opportunity at the welcome trough before it closes at 1:30pm. Some will skip the welcome trough and get the latest PAT time to avoid embarkation congestion. The earlier PAT times allows first chance at the spa's, tickets and reservations.
• Your dining rooms names will change after the Fall reimagination.
• Deck 4 is great for Tracy Arm viewing on rainy days. There's photographers down there too.
• Tracy Arm BBQ entrance is the Beach Blacket buffet
• For your ship terminology... The "head" of the ship is not the Captain.... nor the mouse.
• Bring your personal camera to the embarkation party after the muster drill..... unlike other cruse lines, there are no cruise photographers when you sail under the Lion's Gate.
• Second seating cruisers can wait in their dining room after breakfast for their debarkation time. I like second feeding as it gives me an extra hour to sleep on debarkation day.... especially when I need to turn my clocks forward!
• Looking through the document... I get 70 pages. After getting to page 35.... it repeats a second time.

 

[CanuckOnaBoat]

I also put together a " daily plan" with the activities I know ahead of embarkation - https://www.dropbox.com/s/z17mope0auih6n8/daily plan.xlsx?dl=0

 

[CanuckOnaBoat]

This is great!! THANK YOU! I've updated the document with your comments. When I open it though - I don't see 70 pages..i still only get 36 pages.

Good start.... Thoughts....

• That $35 cab fare is Canadian for the cruise terminal or Pan Pacific.... it's about $28 USD at today's currency prices. Huge bargain for door to door convenience. For hotels away from the cruise terminal... the cab fare is cheaper at $31 CDN!
• check the latest alcohol DCL polcies. You may be able to fill up that carry-on with liquid gold to avoid the higher prices aboard. You also have more control over the selection.
  
• Typo on Blue Horizon.... it's "cab ride", not "can ride"
• The fish hatchery needs some planning to get to. There is no shuttle... it's a significant distance from the suspension bridge. Public Transit requires a walk. The salmon is not running year round.
• The petting zoo at Stanley Park has been gone for years.
• Stanley Park is very large.... you need several hours to do everything you described properly.
• Your Lookout ticket is good for 24hours. I like to go at twilight or sunset to see both night and dark at the same time. If you decide to have dinner at the Lookout.... your admission is free.
• Your Grouse gondola admission is free if you plan to have dinner at the Observatory. Warning.... make reservations and check menu prices before committing.
• The largest Chinatown North of San Francisco title may be challenged in recent years.
• Plan you visit to Granville Island when the Public Market is open. Activities may be limited at night.
• The Harbour Center liquor store is not open Sundays pre-cruise... a problem for Wonder cruisers departing on Monday's.
• There is also the Android the Navigator. The Android version also works partially with BB10 Blackberries w/ Snap.
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.disney.cruise.sept_goo
• Procedures for embarkation can change for multi-ship days (especially when it's more than two)
• When choosing a PAT time.... go for the earliest one you can get. This maximizes your opportunity at the welcome trough before it closes at 1:30pm. Some will skip the welcome trough and get the latest PAT time to avoid embarkation congestion. The earlier PAT times allows first chance at the spa's, tickets and reservations.
• Your dining rooms names will change after the Fall reimagination.
• Deck 4 is great for Tracy Arm viewing on rainy days. There's photographers down there too.
• Tracy Arm BBQ entrance is the Beach Blacket buffet
• For your ship terminology... The "head" of the ship is not the Captain.... nor the mouse.
• Bring your personal camera to the embarkation party after the muster drill..... unlike other cruse lines, there are no cruise photographers when you sail under the Lion's Gate.
• Second seating cruisers can wait in their dining room after breakfast for their debarkation time. I like second feeding as it gives me an extra hour to sleep on debarkation day.... especially when I need to turn my clocks forward!
• Looking through the document... I get 70 pages. After getting to page 35.... it repeats a second time.