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

[Smileneyes]

We've seen only a little bit of the Winter Olympics but it has been nice to see some of the Vancouver area. We are arriving two nights pre-cruise so we'll have a whole day and part of a day in Vancouver before we sail. When we did the Med in 2007, we flew in one day early to Barcelona and felt like we barely got to see anything what with some travel logistics and jet lag -- so we thought we needed to plan better for Alaska!

That's a great idea, Cindy. I've been thinking of flying in the day before, but I may change that to fly in on Sunday instead, and give us some time to see the city.

 

[DVC Mary]

Hey guys!

We're going to fly in at least 1.5 -2.5 days early so we can enjoy some of the wonderful sights. I figure if I'm going to fly all that way, I should see a little of the area. The Olympics have gotten everyone except Patrick excited that we're going to Vancouver next year. Patrick doesn't want to go see where the Olympics were (even if it's gorgeous). He doesn't want to go b/c he's mad that the Olympics won't still be there. He's 9 & the age of reason is usually 8.

My eldest son, who just turned 13 last week, has always been mature for his age. Yes, I have a teenager now!!!! I have to spend all day teaching teenagers & now I get to come home to one.

Drew--Matthew & Liam are only 2 days apart. Driving.....

Matthew--Tell the truth. Who's the better driver? Happy belated b-day!

I would really like to find an Alaskan sled dog excursion--preferably one w/ a good price. There are some w/o the snow using sleds on wheels. I agree w/ Drew that it would cross off something from the bucket list. I told the kids next year's Christmas presents may be excursions w/ a few small gifts.


I read about this whale watching adventure on a different DCL Alaska thread. I'm thinking about it. Anybody want to make group out of it???

Marv's Alaska Whale Watching http://www.harvandmarvs.com/

"It was our favorite thing on our cruise, but we were lucky on our trip. We had great weather, had sea lions come up to the boat, saw whales, bald eagles and a ton of other wildlife. I asked Jay, our skipper, and he said that even during inclement weather when you are inside the cabin of the boat, you still see a lot (it has big windows)."


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2297509&page=16

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2297509&page=17

No cruises planned until Alaska, but a trip to WDW in June. We also did one w/ Nana (my Mom) to see the X-mas decorations this past December.

Take care all!

 

[lsutigger2]

did anyone catch the Samantha Brown show on travel channel about Vancouver? It looks like a really fun place to visit. I'm thinking we may travel on Friday or Saturday before we cruise on Tuesday. Hey, if I'm going to take a week + vacation time, might as well as make the most of it.

I'm really wanting to zipline and that was one of the things S Brown did on her show. She ziplined between two mountains in the area. If anyone finds out about this, please let me know.

And if you see where the S Brown show is replaying I need that info also. I tried looking on the travel channel website, but it is a little confusing and i never could find play dates. I want to record it for DH to see.

hope all of you are okay with all the snow. Think positive, it will be spring, it will be spring, it will be spring

DVC mary - no cruises for us either until Alaska. We are also headed to WDW, but in May. I'm hoping to go to Hilton Head after Christmas this year and take a few family members. and then it will be time to go to Alaska

Have a good week all, stay warm and stay safe.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Oh man, I didn't know there was a Samantha Brown episode about Vancouver. Gotta tell DH as he's a super-SB fan! He loves when we go somewhere that she's been and he'll say "Ya know, Samantha Brown was here and she said,..."

We are flying in on Sunday before we sail on Tuesday.

We have quite a bit of Disney stuff scheduled between now and Alaska as you can see from our sig line ... love DVC! We just got the school schedule for next year and find that our spring break doesn't coincide with black-out dates for WDW's season pass holders, so we're planning to spend the whole time at WDW - the most we've ever done is five nights.

 

[Smileneyes]

Hey guys!

We're going to fly in at least 1.5 -2.5 days early so we can enjoy some of the wonderful sights. I figure if I'm going to fly all that way, I should see a little of the area. The Olympics have gotten everyone except Patrick excited that we're going to Vancouver next year. Patrick doesn't want to go see where the Olympics were (even if it's gorgeous). He doesn't want to go b/c he's mad that the Olympics won't still be there. He's 9 & the age of reason is usually 8.

My eldest son, who just turned 13 last week, has always been mature for his age. Yes, I have a teenager now!!!! I have to spend all day teaching teenagers & now I get to come home to one.

Drew--Matthew & Liam are only 2 days apart. Driving.....

Matthew--Tell the truth. Who's the better driver? Happy belated b-day!

I would really like to find an Alaskan sled dog excursion--preferably one w/ a good price. There are some w/o the snow using sleds on wheels. I agree w/ Drew that it would cross off something from the bucket list. I told the kids next year's Christmas presents may be excursions w/ a few small gifts.


I read about this whale watching adventure on a different DCL Alaska thread. I'm thinking about it. Anybody want to make group out of it???

Marv's Alaska Whale Watching http://www.harvandmarvs.com/

"It was our favorite thing on our cruise, but we were lucky on our trip. We had great weather, had sea lions come up to the boat, saw whales, bald eagles and a ton of other wildlife. I asked Jay, our skipper, and he said that even during inclement weather when you are inside the cabin of the boat, you still see a lot (it has big windows)."


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2297509&page=16

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2297509&page=17

No cruises planned until Alaska, but a trip to WDW in June. We also did one w/ Nana (my Mom) to see the X-mas decorations this past December.

Take care all!

Hi, Mary (and gang)!

Belated Happy Birthday, Liam! Mary, from this point on time will fly...and patience will fade. LOL

Our plans now are to arrive in Vancouver Sunday morning, depending on flights. That way we can spend a day or two seeing the city.

We're still discussing excursions, of course. So many options. I still want to do sleddogs, although it's pricey. I did whale watching with the Mendenhall Glacier with Mom in '06. It's a good excursion for Juneau, highly recommend it. Chances are they'll hook up with Disney.

Matthew is a history buff, and we loved the Yukon Pass & White Rail line trip through BC and the Yukons the last time...goes along the gold rush route. That's in the lead for our Skagway stop. So maybe sleddogs in Ketchikan?

Hope all are doing well!

--Drew

 

[DVC Mary]

I'm really wanting to zipline and that was one of the things S Brown did on her show. She ziplined between two mountains in the area. If anyone finds out about this, please let me know.

Ziplines !!!

Cool....count us in too! Anybody want to do a pre-cruise DIS meet. Oh my gosh, I hope it's not too pricey. I'm saving up for excursions. Liam is willing for excursions to be his only Christmas present. Me too!

I've truly got the Alaska bug now. We went to a sled dog demo & a talk on the Iditarod yesterday at Cabela's. It wasn't well advertised, so we got to spend a lot to time talking to the people who've been to AK. Patrick was put in charge of one of the sled dogs during the Iditarod powerpoint & film. He was in heaven.

The sled dog excursions on the glaciers are really pricey, so I'm looking at the ones on land not snow b/c I think spending time w/ the dogs & racing in the sleds on wheels would be just as fun--especially if it left us w/$$ do some other excursions. The problem is that I want to do it ALL! (Sled dogs, whale watching, historical gold rush stuff, glaciers, etc.)

I'm afraid we won't get back to AK again as a family. When Liam hits h.s. our summer vacations will be in the hands of the coaches. It's really crazy but if you want to play you must attend the summer camps. Right now he's not sure what he'll do band for sure + soccer/golf/lacrosse....who knows by then. And he may become a counselor at the boy scout camps when he's in h.s. I'm so used to planning my cruises 2 years in advance, it will be tough to plan when you don't know when the camps are happening.

I can't wait!!! Oh & we watched Balto, Snow Dogs, Brother Bear, & Brother Bear 2 in the last 2 days b/c Patrick has sled dogs on the brain. Liam just got home from camping & is utterly exhausted. He missed the fun at Cabela's.

Drew--Patience is already fading. Time is flying.

 

[nzdisneymom]

We've been getting Alaska travel guides in the mail lately - must've signed up somewhere for them! We are going to be watching the weather and sunrise/sunset times for Alaska this June so we'll know a bit of what to expect next summer!

 

[MVAN]

Please add us to the list -- we have signed up for the cruise. It is me -- and my friend and her daughter who will have just graduated 8th grade. I have never been to Alaska - although my friend and her daughter have been several times.

Can't wait.

 

[Smileneyes]

Please add us to the list -- we have signed up for the cruise. It is me -- and my friend and her daughter who will have just graduated 8th grade. I have never been to Alaska - although my friend and her daughter have been several times.

Can't wait.

Welcome to the gang, and we're glad to have you on board!

--Drew

 

[lsutigger2]

Hi gang -

Hope everyone is doing well!

did anyone else get the packet of info from Disney about the cruise??
It was in our mailbox this morning. We think a neighbor got it by mistake yesterday.

Any whoo - it is a teaser about the cruise, with dates on final payments due , and what dates excursions, dinner reservations, etc can be booked etc. It got me all excited about the trip again. It is less than a year before we can book excursions, guess that's something to be happy about

Happy Hoppy Day to all. LSU plays Georgia in baseball this weekend, so that's where we'll be. Geaux Tigers !!

 

[Smileneyes]

Hi gang -

Hope everyone is doing well!

did anyone else get the packet of info from Disney about the cruise??
It was in our mailbox this morning. We think a neighbor got it by mistake yesterday.

Any whoo - it is a teaser about the cruise, with dates on final payments due , and what dates excursions, dinner reservations, etc can be booked etc. It got me all excited about the trip again. It is less than a year before we can book excursions, guess that's something to be happy about

Happy Hoppy Day to all. LSU plays Georgia in baseball this weekend, so that's where we'll be. Geaux Tigers !!

Hi, Janie...and a happy Easter to you as well! We received ours in the mail today too. It was kinda coincidental, since I picked up Matthew today for the weekend. I told him when we got home to check the mailbox. He thought I'd "set him up" with the envelope in the mailbox!

We're in countdown mode now to this year's Wonder cruises. 72 and counting.... Same stateroom this year as next...woo hoo!

A beautiful day in the Queen City today...hit the low 80's and sunny. Driving home, we had the car windows down and the sunroof open, and Matthew commented how it reminded him of being on the ship, leaving Port Canaveral.

Soon, Son...soon!

 

[nzdisneymom]

Ours was waiting for us when we got home from spring break!

 

[Mnemorath]

Got my book the other day. Looking forward to the cruise. Stateroom number 8574. Had to get a cat 4 due to the fact that The family consists of myself, the wife and 3 kids. One who will be less then a year old.

I would love concierge but I am not sweating it. What are the chances of an upgrade due to the fact it is my anniversery, My parent anniversery (joining us in a cat 6), and a kids b-day?

 

[lsutigger2]

Welcome to the group -

I really can't answer any of your questions, but wanted to say "hi" . It sounds like your family will have much to celebrate while on the cruise. My Dh and I will be celebrating our 20th anniversary.

anyone celebrating anything??

 

[lsutigger2]

Hi all: hope everyone is doing great. I know some of you are soon sailing. I hope you have a great time. I want to hear all about it

DH and I are headed to WDW in three weeks - whooo hooooo

I found a place to zip-line in Florida - i sure do hope i feel like dancing when we are done. It is at a place called Forever Florida in St. Cloud. I'll let everyone know when we get back.

Cindy, i was bored today so I read back thru all the posts and started a list of join-ees. I'll get it put on a spread sheet sometime or the other and we can fill in some of the details as it gets closer to sailing date. speaking of that - my countdown counter says it is approximately

414 days until we sail -

just think in two more weeks it will only be 400 days - got to stay positive

 

[Smileneyes]

Hi all: hope everyone is doing great. I know some of you are soon sailing. I hope you have a great time. I want to hear all about it

DH and I are headed to WDW in three weeks - whooo hooooo

I found a place to zip-line in Florida - i sure do hope i feel like dancing when we are done. It is at a place called Forever Florida in St. Cloud. I'll let everyone know when we get back.

Cindy, i was bored today so I read back thru all the posts and started a list of join-ees. I'll get it put on a spread sheet sometime or the other and we can fill in some of the details as it gets closer to sailing date. speaking of that - my countdown counter says it is approximately

414 days until we sail -

just think in two more weeks it will only be 400 days - got to stay positive

Good to hear from you, Janie! We have seven weeks from today until we set sail. Time seems to be creeping up on us. My biggest fear to this point is that we're doing two FE's...which means twice the gifts, but trying to get them in with the rest of the luggage. Aahhh, who needs clothes anyway!

UC Bearcats had their "spring game" this weekend. They're looking like they're in good hands with Coach Jones taking over for Brian Kelly.

Hope everyone is well!

--Drew

 

[nzdisneymom]

Hi Alaska-gang! We are nine weeks from our Baltic cruise but that doesn't mean we're ignoring our Alaska plans! In fact, I was just showing my coworker how we'll fly from Florida to Vancouver and then sail through to the inside passage of Alaska. We have a big wall map at work that has the US and parts of Canada on it, so that was fun to look at!

lsutigger - thanks for getting a list of cruisers started. It's great to have someone keep up with that because as it gets closer, I'm sure we'll have more DISers join us! At least I hope so. But if not, that's ok, too, because we're already an awesome group!

Mnemorath - welcome to the group. I don't have any answers for you, either - we've never done concierge or upgraded. Since they changed the Categories, i'm not even sure what cat we have - I just told our TA what cabin we wanted We have been in the same cabin three times (twice on the Magic and one on the Wonder) and are going to sail in it for the Baltic (making four) and on Alaska (making five). Obviously different ships, but same cabin number and location. FWIW, it's 6116... just forward of the aft elevators on the port side. A hop-skip to anywhere you want to go and enough midship to not feel the rocking of the ship so much.

Happy May.

 

[DVC Mary]

Just checking in to say Hi!

We're one month away from our WDW trip. I can't wait. I always plan at least one surprise into every vacation. This year's is that we are spending the 1st two nights in Concierge at the Poly & doing the Luau. Kids have always wanted to do it. We've pool hopped there many times when we were staying at WL/VWL for the volcano pool. It will be short but awesome.

After that we'll be at AKV. I couldn't get us into Kidani, but we love Jambo House & we can easily go over to the pool there.

WELCOME to all our new people.

MVAN--my son will have just graduated 8th grade too, so depending on how shy they are at least they'll know someone in their age group if we can get the kids to start chatting when the time gets closer & more people join our group.

Mnemorath--I've never been upgraded but since I've had SPH rooms usually, I'm not surprised. I've read over & over about them, but have no clue how the upgrade fairy works.

Drew--I don't have time to read all the posts. Why are you doing 2 FEs???

nzdisneymom--Congrats on your Baltic cruise. If you do a trip report please post us a link so we can live vicariously through you. If my youngest was older, I would've love to do that one. I want the boys to be h.s./college age before we hit Europe.

lsu tigger--Thanks for creating a list. I had to beg Drew for a copy of his last year after we got on board b/c I was having trouble figuring out where all the rooms were for the FE deliveries which tended to be me delivering in the middle of the night.

One of my many goals for our cruise is NOT to stress so much over the perfect creative FE gifts. I'm NOT the creative type at all. Trying to think of Chicago type things always was impossible--we're known for deep dish pizza, Italian beef sandwiches, the windiness/corruption of our politicians, & the rivalry between the Cubs & White Sox. I couldn't deliver foods from Chicago. What would I do for the corruption? Steal people's FEs, tax them to death (highest sales tax in the country 10.25%), ???

I didn't put my FEs together until we got onboard & hand wrote out things. Next time, I'm going to be more prepared. Let's see if I actually keep that promise, I'm always so busy in April & May w/ my boys sports & camping and my own end of the school year mania w/ packing up my classroom & final exams. UGH!

My youngest DS Patrick who will turn 11 on the cruise next year keeps asking in there are any boys his age whenever he sees me on the DIS. I've totally forgotten. How many kids/teens do we have and Drew doesn't count! He's a great big kid (at heart). My boys will be 11 & 14 .

 

[lsutigger2]

Hi all: what is everyone up to? I know some of you will be taking off on cruises soon. I know you will have a very good time

and of course, we want to hear all the details and any new info you pick up along the way.

DH and I went to WDW May 15 - 22. it was fun, but it sure was hot We stayed at AKL-Kidani Village. Really nice and very quiet.

We did get to go ziplining and can I tell you how much fun it was. We will probably be looking at doing at least one zipline excursion on the Alaska cruise.

I'm really getting excited for the one year mark - how sad is that

take care - hope to hear from you soon

Janie

 

[Smileneyes]

Drew--I don't have time to read all the posts. Why are you doing 2 FEs???

Hi, Mary...sorry, we've been pretty much gearing up for the upcoming cruises. Back-to-back, each one has a FE on it. We ended up with about 60 gifts...so you can imagine what is in my carry on! LOL

Hi all: what is everyone up to? I know some of you will be taking off on cruises soon. I know you will have a very good time

and of course, we want to hear all the details and any new info you pick up along the way.

DH and I went to WDW May 15 - 22. it was fun, but it sure was hot We stayed at AKL-Kidani Village. Really nice and very quiet.

We did get to go ziplining and can I tell you how much fun it was. We will probably be looking at doing at least one zipline excursion on the Alaska cruise.

I'm really getting excited for the one year mark - how sad is that

take care - hope to hear from you soon

Janie

Hi, Janie...yep, we're flying out on the 12th, will be coming back on the 22nd. We're very fortunate to have the same staterooom for the B2B cruises as well as Alaska. I think we're going to try to hide something in it, and see if it's still there when we board Alaska in '11. LOL

Glad to hear about the ziplining. If you are able to convince my "chicken" of a son that he should try it, I'll find a way to put something extra in your FE. LOL

How many kids/teens do we have and Drew doesn't count! He's a great big kid (at heart). My boys will be 11 & 14 .

Very funny, Mary...but very true as well (gang, Mary saw me running around like a kid at Christmas delivering FE gifts...so she's not exaggerating there!