June 14, 2011 - Father's Day on the Wonder in ALASKA!

[ward3]

How does transportation of people and luggage happen when we have booked everything with disney? Do they take us to the hotel even though we are arriving a day early? Do we have to arrange when we want to go to the ship or do they tell us a time.

 

[Smileneyes]

How does transportation of people and luggage happen when we have booked everything with disney? Do they take us to the hotel even though we are arriving a day early? Do we have to arrange when we want to go to the ship or do they tell us a time.

I was wondering the same thing myself; however, I would imagine that DCL arranges for transportation from airport to hotel (provided that you've paid for it) based off of the flight information that they have. If they are providing your air transportation, they'll already have it. If you arrange your own flights, then it needs to be completed online so they have the needed info.

From the hotel to the cruise terminal, it may vary. We're at the Fairmont, which is within walking distance of the cruise terminal, so we did not opt for that transportation leg; however, they probably have one set pickup time from each hotel.

I would imagine we'll hear more from others in their trip reports as the Alaska sailings get under way late May.

--Drew

 

[kde175]

How does transportation of people and luggage happen when we have booked everything with disney? Do they take us to the hotel even though we are arriving a day early? Do we have to arrange when we want to go to the ship or do they tell us a time.

We have our airfare, transfers and pre-cruise hotel stay booked through Disney. They will arrange to have us picked up at the airport and taken to the hotel and then from the hotel to the ship.

According to our "Reservation Confirmation" from DCL, we are all being picked up at Vancouver Int'l Airport and dropped off at the Fairmont Pacific Rim on the 12th. Then picked up at the Pacific Rim on the 14th and taken to the port. Then on the 14th, they'll pick us up at the port and take us back to the airport.

Since, they have our flight info both directions, I assume that they will tell us when to be ready...at least I hope so.

 

[lsutigger2]

Dh and I will be at the Fairmont Pacific Rim pre-cruise. We arrive on Saturday, June 11. Hoping to see some great stuff in Vancouver on Sunday and Monday

Someone mentioned visiting Olympic Park. I can't seem to find it in my travel guide . Is it part of another park or can you tell be where it might be??

Now, I just have to find ways to pass the time between football ending and college baseball season starting in 10 days - .

 

[Smileneyes]

Dh and I will be at the Fairmont Pacific Rim pre-cruise. We arrive on Saturday, June 11. Hoping to see some great stuff in Vancouver on Sunday and Monday

Someone mentioned visiting Olympic Park. I can't seem to find it in my travel guide . Is it part of another park or can you tell be where it might be??

Now, I just have to find ways to pass the time between football ending and college baseball season starting in 10 days - .

Hi, Janie...that was me, I think. "Olympic Park" and "Whistler" are apparently synonymous terms. Sorry if I confused anyone, but that was what I intended to mean.

C'mon, aren't the Bayou Bengals playing basketball right about now? We still have a month until March Madness!!!

 

[lsutigger2]

Drew: we're just passing on basketball this year. The women and the men have really been struggling. I'm not a big basketball fan like i am for football and baseball. in fact the college world series will begin while we are cruising.

Hmmm - I'll have to find me an internet buddy to help me keep up with the scores. Can you tell I'm a real believer in postive thinking??

So what is the best way to get to Whistler? i'm really interested in going, but am not sure of the easiest way to get there. Any suggestions for anyone who has gone or is planning to go while they are in Vancouver??

 

[nzdisneymom]

How does transportation of people and luggage happen when we have booked everything with disney? Do they take us to the hotel even though we are arriving a day early? Do we have to arrange when we want to go to the ship or do they tell us a time.

We have done DCL air/transport/hotel twice now. They make it so easy. Once you arrive at the airport, you have to collect your luggage and there will be someone there to meet you and take you to the hotel. You check in. At the hotel, they will either have an envelope ready for you or there will be someone at the hotel from the cruise line to give you the information you'll need for sailing day - our experience has been that we're also able to check in for the cruise while at the hotel - they usually set up just off the lobby. What we've had to do is have our bags ready by a certain time on the morning of the cruise departure and someone comes to collect the bags (you don't have to be in the room - you could be out for breakfast or whatever). Then you see your bags again after you're on board when they are delivered to your stateroom.

When we had a post-cruise stay at a hotel, we had different tags to put on our bags for departing the ship - once we put the bags out the last night, we didn't have to touch them until they were delivered to our hotel room post-cruise. I think for departing directly from the cruise to the airport, you have to pick up your bags yourself (I would want to) and take them to the transport vehicle. This way you know your bags make it to the airport with you.

I can't remember which hotel we're at and my documents are elsewhere, but I think it's the same hotel others have mentioned. I'll have to look and post for sure. We are also arriving June 11th and plan to see Vancouver on the 12th and 13th. No plans made as of yet.

 

[nzdisneymom]

I was looking at the trip report page. Someone that just got off the Jan 23 cruise posted a Wonder report and pictures of the most recent navigators. He also said they have two phones that you can take anywhere on the ship that also text. Don't need walkie talkies for kids. He also said rooms had been updated since he was on one year ago.

So these would be the Wave phones I've read / seen pictures of that they have on the Dream? I didn't know they were also on the Wonder. Cool. We don't take walkie-talkies but I think it would be handy for certain times to have the one kid in our family who will more likely be running around to be able for us to reach.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Getting excited!

One question though--should I be booking trip excursions outside of Disney? I'm concerned that all the trips will be filled before we can start booking. As this is our first cruise, we are waaaaaaaayyyy down on the priority list!

I wouldn't worry too much about not getting what you want even as a first-time cruiser because DCL holds some slots back for those who can't do excursions til 75 days out and they also hold some slots for those who can't book online - so they may be booking onboard. If you don't get what you want, keep checking back because sometimes people change plans and a spot will open up - or DCL may add extra tours.

We have printed out the possible excursions but haven't made our short list yet. We have friends who will be sailing with us so we need to coordinate with them so if we decide to do the same excursions we can book them.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Drew, info for FE

David (A)
Andrea (A)
Emma (12)


Stateroom 6104. Anyone close by.

We're in 6116. Cindy D., Gary, Nathan (turning 15 onboard) and Zachary (13 1/2).

 

[nzdisneymom]

Ok, you can see I've got the day off from work today so I've been able to go back and catch up -sure wish the boards weren't blocked at work! How can I get my vacation planning done???

We are very excited about this trip and I think once we get to where we can book the excursions, it will be even more exciting. We are also looking forward to just being back onboard - cruising is our most favorite way to vacation!

My family has been complaining of how cold it is in our house - I set the thermostat on about 67 - I told them to quit their belly-aching because I had them on a training program for Alaska And the $$ we'll save on our heating bill can be spent on excursions.

We've only sailed on the Wonder once but the Magic multiple times. Our Wonder experience was a three-nighter to Nassau and Castaway Cay, so we are looking fwd to having a little more time on her. When we sailed the Baltic last summer, a few of the days they had experts onboard who narrated what we were seeing as we sailed in or out of the ports. I think I read that there will be something similar for the day we go through Tracy Arm. Anyone know?

 

[disneyochem]

We're in 6116. Cindy D., Gary, Nathan (turning 15 onboard) and Zachary (13 1/2).

We have two rooms booked: Grandma is in Room 6139, we're in 6090.

And yippee skippee! We made our final payments today!

 

[disneyochem]

We have two rooms booked: Grandma is in Room 6139, we're in 6090.

And yippee skippee! We made our final payments today!

In Room 6090: Karen (me), Mike (hubby), Courtney (14) and Maya (12)

 

[Weedy]

I already posted this on the main board but I thought I would post it here also.

I know many of you may already have something like this but those of us from sunny Florida don't have warm/stay dry clothing. I found these rain pants from Land's End.

http://www.landsend.com/ix/index.htm...rls+rain+pants

They are $24.50 and there is free shipping now. The code is:
Springprev and # 2335.

They have a nice elastic waist so you can pull them over a pair of jeans and the ankles have a zipper on them so you don't have to take off your shoes.
They are not lined but are a nice weight.

They have them for boys also.

 

[lsutigger2]

Cindy - thanks for the transportation information. Sounds like it will be easy getting to the ship from the hotel. We have reservations at the Pacific Rim thru disney for two of the three nights we will be there. hoping to get the third night, which is actually the first night we'll be in Vancouver. I probably need to call and check to see if something has opened up for us. I love easy transportation

Hope all are well. I know all you northerner's are ready to get out of the snow.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Cindy - thanks for the transportation information. Sounds like it will be easy getting to the ship from the hotel. We have reservations at the Pacific Rim thru disney for two of the three nights we will be there. hoping to get the third night, which is actually the first night we'll be in Vancouver. I probably need to call and check to see if something has opened up for us. I love easy transportation

Hope all are well. I know all you northerner's are ready to get out of the snow.

It is really so very easy with DCL handling everything. We were late adding air / hotel / transportation when we sailed the Med in 2007 and while we were able to get it, we didn't get the hotel we wanted and ended up having to have two rooms. We booked it right away when we booked for the Baltic and it was a dream - so we decided we would always do DCL for air/hotel/transportation unless we're sailing from Port Canaveral since we can drive there.

Thanks for the LandsEnd links - I haven't thought too much yet about clothing for the family - and since my boys are growing so much right now - ay yi yi.

 

[Smileneyes]

I already posted this on the main board but I thought I would post it here also.

I know many of you may already have something like this but those of us from sunny Florida don't have warm/stay dry clothing. I found these rain pants from Land's End.

http://www.landsend.com/ix/index.htm...rls+rain+pants

They are $24.50 and there is free shipping now. The code is:
Springprev and # 2335.

They have a nice elastic waist so you can pull them over a pair of jeans and the ankles have a zipper on them so you don't have to take off your shoes.
They are not lined but are a nice weight.

They have them for boys also.

Thanks for the info on this. It's a great idea! --Drew

 

[Smileneyes]

And yippee skippee! We made our final payments today!

Congratulations, Karen!!!!

 

[Smileneyes]

When we sailed the Baltic last summer, a few of the days they had experts onboard who narrated what we were seeing as we sailed in or out of the ports. I think I read that there will be something similar for the day we go through Tracy Arm. Anyone know?

Hi, Cindy! When I sailed HAL with my mother in '06, they had a naturalist on board for one of the sea days...I can't remember if it was Glacier National Park or Tracy Arm...but it was a great touch, lots of educational info about the Interior Passage. I hope that will be a possibility here...however, I suspect that, if one is on board, it may be part of the ABD "add on"....

 

[DVC Mary]

Hi guys!

I am alive, but have been off the boards for months. We are still going--made the final payment w/ DU today. Please put us on the FE list Scott, Mary, Liam (14), & Patrick (turning 11 on the cruise).

I will try to read & get caught up when I can. I am overwhelmed by the excursion choices & comparing them to private tour companies. I am overwhelmed at life. I spent the Fall trying to figure out a recurring rash on my hands & unrelated health problem that turned out to be hyponatremia. It made me weak, dizzy, etc. My thyroid went out of whack & while they increased the dose, I spent multiple periods a day in the nurse's office or at home getting my BP checked b/c while my boday adjusted to the increased doses. After multiple biopsies on my wrist, I eventually went to the Mayo Clinic over New Years & I've been trying to get caught up ever since. The boys have bball constantly or scouts. It's just a really busy time. Busier than normal b/c of a new athletic director who scheduled us for way too much.

You'll love this, my rash is b/c of a new allergy & one that has become much more severe.

I'm allergic to work.

I'm not kidding. I'm allergic to the ink on the papers I have to grade & make copies. I'm allergic to all the door handles in the school, my podium, my desk drawers, file cabinets, & the list goes on.....

I'm allergic to cobalt chloride & my nickel allergy has become extremely severe.

Long story--I'll explain more of how I'm handling this if anyone's interested.

Sorry for being so out of touch. I'm trying to psyched for Alaska again while I try to get healthier so I can be stronger for all the great excurisons I want to do.

I can't wait to read about which ones everyone plans to go on & get as much advice as possible. Dog mushing is a must, but after that my family is all over the place of what they want to do in such a short time frame.