June 21, 2011 - The Wonder breaks the Alaskan icebergs!

[dixieslanding]

oh.. and given timing i know we are spending time in port before the cruise. So as i research the city i'll post what i find. makes sense to do that pre cruise

can't wait for day at sea!!!!

 

[rsschneck]

We did ALaska 2 summers ago and LOVED it! We can't wait to go back on Disney this time.

We did the railway train in Skagway and I believe panned for gold. In Ketchikan we went to a native totem poll village and saw a lumberjack show maybe in Juneau (can't remember which port had what now). My MIL did a float plane and said it was the experience of her life.

We will pick different excursions this time because there are so many choices and they are so different than the tropical offerings.

We purchased the coolest fur rug in Ketchikan (I think). There is a shop downtown and they only have rugs. The fur rugs are made out of moose, deer and cow. Very unique!

 

[Northern_Julie]

oh.. and given timing i know we are spending time in port before the cruise. So as i research the city i'll post what i find. makes sense to do that pre cruise

can't wait for day at sea!!!!

I have been to Vancouver and there is lots to do. I will be happy to provide ideas. Grouse Mountain and the Cappilano bridge are amazing but involve a chunk of time. Downtown Stanley Park has lots to do including an aquarium....huge park you could do that for a day in itself.
I plan to go a few days early and do Granville Island because I love the energy. Post Cruise I may head over to Victoria.
Also the Olympics is only a few months away and it being in Vancouver I am sure they will showcase the city.

 

[IrishCowboy]

subscribing

 

[RoE_Earth_Globe]

Hi everyone!

My family will be on this cruise, as well. Myself, DW, DD will be 13, and other DD will be 9. We're in 6056, a Cat 5b. Next door in 6058 will be my parents. It's been my Mom's dream to go to Alaska, so when Disney announced the Alaska itinerary at D23, I got the wheels in motion to get us onboard.

Looking forward to all of the planning we have to do!

Take care,

Brian

 

[mousemom11]

FYI for all of you who are going to be on a DCL cruise in the near future. We were on the 11/14 Magic and I reshopped this Alaska cruise onboard. The prices had hardly moved at all since booking opened, so between the 10% onboard discount and $200 per cabin OBC (we have 2 cabins), we saved about $1,000.

 

[ratt1345]

Hi all!!! DW and I have been booked on this cruise since the day it came out. I have been posting on the Thanksgiving cruise because that's the one we were just on. So I can concentrate on this one now.

Charlie

 

[Ohana 4]

Is this thread for anyone or just those who cruise together? Alaska will be our first cruise ever. We are going as my son's h.s. graduation present. So excited but completely in the dark about everything. I'm reading everything I can about cruising, but because the Alaska thing is so new to Disney, there is just not much out yet I guess. I'm thrilled to be going though, even though it's so far off from now!

 

[RoE_Earth_Globe]

Hi Ohana!

The particular thread on the board is for the folks sailing on the June 21st Alaska cruise. But not necessarily because we're "together" just that we'll all be on the ship the same week. Sometimes as we all chat and plan our cruise we find we want to meet-up during the cruise, but not everyone attends. We're just hear to help and support everyone as we all learn the ins and outs of the Alaska itinerary.

Welcome aboard!

Brian

 

[Ohana 4]

Thanks Brian. Then I am glad I subbed to the thread. It's really exciting and kind of nice to be paid up so far in advance. By the time the cruise actually comes around, it will feel like it was free (at least that's what I'm telling myself).
We are a family of four booked in two 11B cabins. It seemed more cost effective than any of the others. Not really sure though, as we've never done this before.

 

[mousemom11]

to all of those who have joined the thread recently. Looking forward to chatting with you over the next 18 months and then sailing with you in Alaska!

 

[RoE_Earth_Globe]

Thanks Brian. Then I am glad I subbed to the thread. It's really exciting and kind of nice to be paid up so far in advance. By the time the cruise actually comes around, it will feel like it was free (at least that's what I'm telling myself).
We are a family of four booked in two 11B cabins. It seemed more cost effective than any of the others. Not really sure though, as we've never done this before.

You'll love the Disney Wonder. We've "only" been on the Wonder twice, but both trips were fantastic.

For our cruise in April 2008 I got involved in the thread on the DIS and it was a lot of fun hearing what everyone was doing and planning on. Also helped a lot to hear people's excursion plans, et cetera. I think that will be even more helpful for Alaska; I know a lot about the Caribbean itineraries, but know nothing about Alaska and Vancouver and am already trying to figure out the best way to get to the west coast.

So, we'll all have lots to chat about!

Take care,

Brian

 

[DCLInauguralXmas]

Welcome aboard to all of the new DISers! I found this board extremely helpful and a great excitement booster for our Chrismas Cruise last year. I hope you do as well.

Is anyone else kicking around a trip to Anaheim to visit Disneyland after the cruise? I have found Disney Cruise Line to be unhelpful in planning such an extention. Originally I was trying to plan a day in Vancouver before the cruise and then renting a car and driving the west coast to Disneyland, but if you don't fly to anaheim you cannot extend there as part of the cruise you have to book directly with Disneyland and you cannot do that until 12 month prior. I was just wondering what others were thinking.

My family of 8 is from Indiana and with air fare of over $680 per person we are thinking a "Griswald" cross country trip might be in the works.

Happy Holidays to all of you!!!

 

[DenverVal]

It's significantly cheaper to fly to Seattle than to Vancouver.

Vancouver to Disneyland is a very long drive, two very long days, minimum, more likely three, and that's if you didn't stop to see the coastline, the redwoods, Mt Hood, Mt St Helens, Crater Lake, Yosemite, San Francisco, Monterey, Hearst Castle, Solvang, Santa Barbara, all of the attractions in southern California. It's a trip in itself.

 

[Ginamarie]

Welcome aboard to all of the new DISers! I found this board extremely helpful and a great excitement booster for our Chrismas Cruise last year. I hope you do as well.

Is anyone else kicking around a trip to Anaheim to visit Disneyland after the cruise? I have found Disney Cruise Line to be unhelpful in planning such an extention. Originally I was trying to plan a day in Vancouver before the cruise and then renting a car and driving the west coast to Disneyland, but if you don't fly to anaheim you cannot extend there as part of the cruise you have to book directly with Disneyland and you cannot do that until 12 month prior. I was just wondering what others were thinking.

My family of 8 is from Indiana and with air fare of over $680 per person we are thinking a "Griswald" cross country trip might be in the works.

Happy Holidays to all of you!!!

The drive is too long for us! Anaheim and Vancouver are both on the west coast, but NOWHERE near each other.

Our plan is to fly roundtrip NYC-Seattle, and spend a few days in Seattle pre-cruise and maybe a couple of days in Vancouver post-cruise.

 

[RoE_Earth_Globe]

I have been playing with Yapta and Kayak to look at flights in 2010 for the same week as our 2011 cruise. Everything I am tracking is less expensive to fly to Seattle than Vancouver. We're in mid-north Indiana and may try to fly from Chicago non-stop to Seattle a few days before the cruise, take a day or so to see Seattle, day to get to Vancouver, day around Vancouver, then CRUISE! Not that I've been thinking about it or anything!

 

[mstinson14]

my dd 14 at the time and my sister and i will be on.

 

[rsschneck]

my dd 14 at the time and my sister and i will be on.

My DD will be 14 at the time of the cruise as well. If your DD likes to email or facebook send me a PM and we will hook the girl's up so they can get to know each other before the cruise. We have sailed with Disney 5 times and we have been on one Alaska cruise already so if your DD has not experienced a cruise or a Disney cruise my DD could answer her questions.

I agree with others that a drive to Anaheim from Vancouver is very long. Flying would be the best option. Disneyland packages might be out by this Fall for 2011. Now if you book with Disney travel early and a deal comes out later for your travel dates you can apply the promotion code to get the discount but they will charge you a cancel fee (unlike Disney World). If anyone has questions about Disneyland you can send me a PM. If flying into Seattle and you don't want to rent a car there is always an option of the train from Seattle to Vancouver. Seattle is an awesome city to spend time in. I can't wait! We loved our last Alaska cruise and being on a Disney ship is going to make it even better!

Happy New Year Everyone!

 

[RoE_Earth_Globe]

If flying into Seattle and you don't want to rent a car there is always an option of the train from Seattle to Vancouver. Seattle is an awesome city to spend time in. I can't wait! We loved our last

Hmm... Interesting idea! Is the train easy to get to in both Seattle and Vancouver? Customs easy? Easy to get luggage on and off? Had not thought of this, but I bet it would be a lot easier than renting a car, and possible more scenic. Thanks for the idea!

 

[mousemom11]

Hmm... Interesting idea! Is the train easy to get to in both Seattle and Vancouver? Customs easy? Easy to get luggage on and off? Had not thought of this, but I bet it would be a lot easier than renting a car, and possible more scenic. Thanks for the idea!

Light rail will get you from the airport to within a block or so of the train station. In Vancouver, the SkyTrain is right by the train station and will take you to within a block of the pier.