June 17 Wonder to Alaska

[Dixieland Mom]

Yay! Wow, it's so nice to sit down at the end of the day and have a reply! Ok GREAT. I am so super happy to do the late list. One wee surprise for the kids would be thrilling for them.

Here is our information:

We are Greg, Susan, Minaya (8), Felicity (6), Mitch (4) and Davis (1) so two girls and two boys! You will recognize us because we are only flying in the day before so my kids are going to want to be sleeping when everyone is awake and partying whilst everyone else is sleeping for a few days (kill me now) but that's how the flights worked out what can we do?

The children are split across TWO ROOMS (2083 2085) The girls are staying with the Grandparents and the boys with us, adjoining rooms!! The grandparents will be the ones sleeping during the DAY!

We are travelling with Grandparents, Sister/husband and their two adult kids in a separate room AND my Uncle (so 5 rooms in total) so doubt we will make Meet/Greet things. I figure we'll do our FE stuff in the middle of the night when I have to walk the halls with a wide-awake baby!!

Now please excuse these ditzy questions:

1) Do we have to bring something Monsters Uni? or can we do a little Australian something?
2) How many items will we realistically need to bring?
3) Suggestions on making a Fish Extender?
4) I'd attach a photo of our door images if I could figure out how to.. that can WAIT!

These are custom images I made to put on the doors that show where the girls are and where the boys are if this helps?! Gosh thinking people are tailoring for boys/girls makes me think this is fancier than I'd originally imagined? I was just planning on doing a little Aussie thing, guess I need to find out what's really expected for these FE's?

We just did a temperature check.. pretty much its the same temperature in Vancouver that it is HERE and it's WINTER! (Brrrrr)

Cheers,
Susan

PS. Sorry if I am not following protocol and adding peoples comments first etc. I am just hitting the reply button. There is no way I can go back and read all 30 pages of notes on here and still get packed in time. I have to pack for 6 people for 4 weeks for like 4 seasons (or maybe its just Winter??) haha... can't wait to meet you all! Speaking of that:

5) seriously how FORMAL is FORMAL?

Sorry for the big time delay in replying to this. I will go on now and checkout the FB page?!?

I think something Aussie would be FANTASTIC! I'm making up extra packages this week, since you're going to be having additional traveling before/after the cruise, I'll keep the items small.

 

[zweihund]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/543074222400977/
Heres the link to our facebook page if thats what you were looking for.

Thank you! I requested to join

We are travelling with Grandparents, Sister/husband and their two adult kids in a separate room AND my Uncle (so 5 rooms in total) so doubt we will make Meet/Greet things. I figure we'll do our FE stuff in the middle of the night when I have to walk the halls with a wide-awake baby!!
.....
5) seriously how FORMAL is FORMAL?

We're travelling with a group as well, and I am the ONLY one on the boards so I don't know if we'll make it to the meet and greet either...so you're not alone!

Everyone's definition of formal is different - the majority of people are in either a suit or just nice dresses. Some men just wear a shirt and tie, some women wear pants, some people go ALL OUT but for the most part if you dress like you're going to the kind of restaurant that offers dark AND light napkins you'll be just fine. I'm not bringing a ball gown or anything.

Welcome to the group!

Also, I'm sure this is on here already but when is everyone arriving in Vancouver and what are people planning to do? We'll be there in the mid-afternoon on Thursday the 13th. Planning to sleep. lol. Actually we only have a loose Vancouver plan. Aquarium, some time in Stanley Park, and then wherever else we decide to go. Possibly the gardens, possibly Granville Island, most likely some city exploration in Gastown etc.

 

[Linda67]

I've been stalking the Flying Over Canada FB and Twitter pages as we really want to do this

I'm hoping that it will be open by the time we fly home late on the 27th but I would have thought that they would have started selling tickets by now?

We have the long old flight from London next Thursday - urgh not looking forward to the jet leg but I think the excitement will keep us going !!

I've pretty much packed everything up now, just a few last bits and pieces to go in over the weekend (DH thinks I am crazy!)

 

[808MauiMama]

After a lot of back and forth and looking at other vacation options, we decided to book this cruise. I just got our confirmation number yesterday and booked our flights last night. My DH and I are dumping our kids on relatives to take our first trip in 10 years without children in honor of our 20th anniversary. Not only is this our first Disney cruise, it's our first cruise EVER! My DH is a reluctant cruiser, which is why it's taken me so long to get him on one. Then again, I had to drag him down to Disney World the first time too. Now I sometimes wonder if he likes that place more than I do. We'll see what happens with this trip. I can say he is a huge Pixar fan and is really excited about the Pixar Pals Party. I know we'll have a good time but at the moment I'm freaking out with all there is to do before we go.

Like a lot of you, we are flying into Seattle. I'm checking out options on getting to Vancouver and noticed that one of the shuttle busses has an express bus back to Seattle the morning of the 24th. It leaves at 9:00am. For those of you who've done this before, is there enough time to get off the boat and catch the bus if we arrive at 8:00?

I'm also curious about the idea of the Fish Exchange and Roaming Mickey. It sounds like a lot of fun but with all that I have to do to get ready, the end of school, etc., I'm not sure I'll have time to put anything together. How long will you be accepting people or is it already too late? We've booked a floating room (in a sense I guess they are all floating rooms! ) so my confirmation doesn't have stateroom number. When I signed on our account yesterday afternoon a room number showed up. Does this mean we've been assigned a room or will this likely change? It might be kind of hard to join in if we don't know where we'll be.

Hi there,
Just checking in if you wanted to be a late add to the MUFE (fish extender) group. I haven't seen a response from you on my other post so just wondering so I can add you.
ok, oops - I found your private message to add to the roaming mickey! Thank you!

Thanks!

 

[BishopCircus]

Thank you! I requested to join


for the most part if you dress like you're going to the kind of restaurant that offers dark AND light napkins you'll be just fine..

Thanks, that REALLY made me laugh! I haven't been to a restaurant of that sort in say... about 8 years!

Yikes.

 

[808MauiMama]

Yay! Wow, it's so nice to sit down at the end of the day and have a reply! Ok GREAT. I am so super happy to do the late list. One wee surprise for the kids would be thrilling for them.

Here is our information:

We are Greg, Susan, Minaya (8), Felicity (6), Mitch (4) and Davis (1) so two girls and two boys! You will recognize us because we are only flying in the day before so my kids are going to want to be sleeping when everyone is awake and partying whilst everyone else is sleeping for a few days (kill me now) but that's how the flights worked out what can we do?

The children are split across TWO ROOMS (2083 2085) The girls are staying with the Grandparents and the boys with us, adjoining rooms!! The grandparents will be the ones sleeping during the DAY!

We are travelling with Grandparents, Sister/husband and their two adult kids in a separate room AND my Uncle (so 5 rooms in total) so doubt we will make Meet/Greet things. I figure we'll do our FE stuff in the middle of the night when I have to walk the halls with a wide-awake baby!!

Now please excuse these ditzy questions:

1) Do we have to bring something Monsters Uni? or can we do a little Australian something?
2) How many items will we realistically need to bring?
3) Suggestions on making a Fish Extender?
4) I'd attach a photo of our door images if I could figure out how to.. that can WAIT!

These are custom images I made to put on the doors that show where the girls are and where the boys are if this helps?! Gosh thinking people are tailoring for boys/girls makes me think this is fancier than I'd originally imagined? I was just planning on doing a little Aussie thing, guess I need to find out what's really expected for these FE's?

We just did a temperature check.. pretty much its the same temperature in Vancouver that it is HERE and it's WINTER! (Brrrrr)

Cheers,
Susan

PS. Sorry if I am not following protocol and adding peoples comments first etc. I am just hitting the reply button. There is no way I can go back and read all 30 pages of notes on here and still get packed in time. I have to pack for 6 people for 4 weeks for like 4 seasons (or maybe its just Winter??) haha... can't wait to meet you all! Speaking of that:

5) seriously how FORMAL is FORMAL?

Sorry for the big time delay in replying to this. I will go on now and checkout the FB page?!?

Ok, I got your info and will add it to our facebook page. If you are on facebook please check in over there for the list. If you are not on facebook, please may I have your email address so I can send you the list. Please please let me know either way because it is very important for you to get the list. See you soon!!!

 

[zweihund]

Thanks, that REALLY made me laugh! I haven't been to a restaurant of that sort in say... about 8 years!

Yikes.

You can handle it!
That said, on my last 7-day cruise there were people in the dining room on formal night in jeans and sweatshirts.

 

[ScottFamily2005]

I checked it out - wouldn't it be great if it opened in the next week!

Very interesting! I'm not going to get my hopes up it will be open by our weekend in Vancouver, but it would really be nice I did tweet them earlier to see if we could at least get an update on their opening date and here is their response:

"Hi! Thanks for the tweet. We'll be announcing our opening date very soon. Keep check on our website for some changes...."

So, not sure what that means but changes makes it seem like it won't be mid-June as I had read? Fingers crossed and thanks for sharing!

Heather

Yeah, I am hoping that if it is not open on June 16th, it will be open by June 24th. We have about 6 hours to kill before our train that day.

 

[zweihund]

Ok....I actually have a question for the other veteran cruisers

This is our first cruise since Isabelle turned three, so it will be our first experience leaving her in the kids' club (we've done the nursery, and we've visited the clubs as a family). We are pre-registered, but do we still need to go to the club and register her? Or are we just picking up her bracelet? I have no idea how this kid stuff works!

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Ok....I actually have a question for the other veteran cruisers

This is our first cruise since Isabelle turned three, so it will be our first experience leaving her in the kids' club (we've done the nursery, and we've visited the clubs as a family). We are pre-registered, but do we still need to go to the club and register her? Or are we just picking up her bracelet? I have no idea how this kid stuff works!

Hi! If you have already registered her online then you only need to pick up her bracelet. We usually arrive to the port early and just get DS' bracelet in the terminal at the kids club line. It can get long but it hasn't taken us too long. If you prefer you can also just get her bracelet at the kids club when you go there - at least that's been the case on the Dream and Fantasy. Don't forget your password since they will ask you when you get her bracelet.

Heather

 

[zweihund]

Hi! If you have already registered her online then you only need to pick up her bracelet. We usually arrive to the port early and just get DS' bracelet in the terminal at the kids club line. It can get long but it hasn't taken us too long. If you prefer you can also just get her bracelet at the kids club when you go there - at least that's been the case on the Dream and Fantasy. Don't forget your password since they will ask you when you get her bracelet.

Heather

Alrighty, thanks!

 

[sde20]

It's been so hot in Alabama today! Wasn't so sure about a cold weather cruise, but now it seems perfect, a beautiful break from the heat! And with Mickey to make it even better !! Can't wait

 

[ScottFamily2005]

We have Palo dinner reservations on Ketchikan night. It looks like that is the Taste of Alaska menu night (which I wanted to try). I looked into changing it to Juneau night, but Palo is sold out.

Would yo just leave it alone and skip Taste of Alaska? Or try to change on board?

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

We have Palo dinner reservations on Ketchikan night. It looks like that is the Taste of Alaska menu night (which I wanted to try). I looked into changing it to Juneau night, but Palo is sold out.

Would yo just leave it alone and skip Taste of Alaska? Or try to change on board?

Hmm...not sure! I think I'd try to see if you could change it when you board to another night you prefer and see what happens? We are doing brunch, not dinner so our situation is different of course

Heather

 

[Linda67]

We have Palo dinner reservations on Ketchikan night. It looks like that is the Taste of Alaska menu night (which I wanted to try). I looked into changing it to Juneau night, but Palo is sold out.

Would yo just leave it alone and skip Taste of Alaska? Or try to change on board?

Go to Studio Sea (double check your navigator for the location to make dining assignment/changes in case it changes) as soon as you board and see if you can switch night. If you can't then you can then take a day or two whilst on the ship to decide if you want to cancel Palo or not, they may even be able to wait list you

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Hi guys - I have a "strange" question for you! I've read you really shouldn't bring any food off the ship when you go to the Mendenhall Glacier due to the bears roaming freely there. I understand bears can be anywhere really, but I'm assuming they are known for being in the open at the Glacier. OT: We have had three recent bear sightings here in our city in NC, including the Costco parking lot so I keep thinking of that -

Anyway - I always carry some type of snack or back up sugar supply since I'm a type 1 diabetic. If I have a low, it can be "life or death" so the thought of not having anything on me is a little scary. Can you all offer any advice if you have travelled to Alaska before and was anything mentioned about this? I clearly *don't* want to draw out any bears and I'm actually afraid of that thought so I'll do what we need to, but I'm wondering if there is a compromise? Life savers individually wrapped up? Granola bars wrapped up? How about the little Juicy Juice boxes? That's usually what my #1 travel items is because they are small and I can drink those quickly. Do you "bear experts" think those would be the safest to bring?

I'm pretty sure the Welcome Center would at least sell cokes or sodas if I did have an emergency while there as well so I might just keep by blood sugar a little on the "higher" side in case it starts dropping while we are walking out to the waterfall and then check when we are back and grab a coke if needed.

Thanks for listening
Heather

 

[sde20]

Hi there! We are just a few doors down from you in 2064. My DD is also an only, although she is only 7 (going on 30 LOL). Glad to meet you!

Hi ! Maybe we will see you . My daughter would love to meet and hang in the kids club ! Familiar faces are always good . Her name is Eve. We are all super excited . Getting close now !

 

[zweihund]

Hi guys - I have a "strange" question for you! I've read you really shouldn't bring any food off the ship when you go to the Mendenhall Glacier due to the bears roaming freely there. I understand bears can be anywhere really, but I'm assuming they are known for being in the open at the Glacier. OT: We have had three recent bear sightings here in our city in NC, including the Costco parking lot so I keep thinking of that -

Anyway - I always carry some type of snack or back up sugar supply since I'm a type 1 diabetic. If I have a low, it can be "life or death" so the thought of not having anything on me is a little scary. Can you all offer any advice if you have travelled to Alaska before and was anything mentioned about this? I clearly *don't* want to draw out any bears and I'm actually afraid of that thought so I'll do what we need to, but I'm wondering if there is a compromise? Life savers individually wrapped up? Granola bars wrapped up? How about the little Juicy Juice boxes? That's usually what my #1 travel items is because they are small and I can drink those quickly. Do you "bear experts" think those would be the safest to bring?

I'm pretty sure the Welcome Center would at least sell cokes or sodas if I did have an emergency while there as well so I might just keep by blood sugar a little on the "higher" side in case it starts dropping while we are walking out to the waterfall and then check when we are back and grab a coke if needed.

Thanks for listening
Heather

I would think a wrapped snack would be fine. Then again, I'm no bear expert lol

 

[ScottFamily2005]

Hi guys - I have a "strange" question for you! I've read you really shouldn't bring any food off the ship when you go to the Mendenhall Glacier due to the bears roaming freely there. I understand bears can be anywhere really, but I'm assuming they are known for being in the open at the Glacier. OT: We have had three recent bear sightings here in our city in NC, including the Costco parking lot so I keep thinking of that -

Anyway - I always carry some type of snack or back up sugar supply since I'm a type 1 diabetic. If I have a low, it can be "life or death" so the thought of not having anything on me is a little scary. Can you all offer any advice if you have travelled to Alaska before and was anything mentioned about this? I clearly *don't* want to draw out any bears and I'm actually afraid of that thought so I'll do what we need to, but I'm wondering if there is a compromise? Life savers individually wrapped up? Granola bars wrapped up? How about the little Juicy Juice boxes? That's usually what my #1 travel items is because they are small and I can drink those quickly. Do you "bear experts" think those would be the safest to bring?

I'm pretty sure the Welcome Center would at least sell cokes or sodas if I did have an emergency while there as well so I might just keep by blood sugar a little on the "higher" side in case it starts dropping while we are walking out to the waterfall and then check when we are back and grab a coke if needed.

Thanks for listening
Heather

From what I have read, our sailing is a little early for bears.

That being said, we're going to have enough snacks to pull them off your scent. We are going on a 5.5 - 6 hour excursion whale watching and to the glacier. There is no way my family will make it without provisions. We were going to pack our day bags with snacks from the ship.

We camped in Yosemite about ten years ago and the bears were VERY aggressive. A wrapping on a snack won't deter them - they broke into a car to get a muffin someone had left. But that was at night. And there's lots of fish to eat in Alaska if they are REALLY hu

 

[ScottFamily2005]

Hmm...not sure! I think I'd try to see if you could change it when you board to another night you prefer and see what happens? We are doing brunch, not dinner so our situation is different of course

Heather

Go to Studio Sea (double check your navigator for the location to make dining assignment/changes in case it changes) as soon as you board and see if you can switch night. If you can't then you can then take a day or two whilst on the ship to decide if you want to cancel Palo or not, they may even be able to wait list you

Thanks ladies! I think I'll wait to see what our dining rotation is once we are on board. I like my Juneau day idea, but I'm worried that DD will be exhausted after being on a whale watching boat all day and will feel more like crashing in the cabin than going to the kid's club. So we may have to play it by ear.