June 28, 2011 Disney Wonder 7-day Alaska

[j&jsmama]

I'm trying to decide if I should get glow in the dark stuff as I would here in AZ for 4th of July for my kids (and possibly fe's), but will it be dark enough to be worthwhile? Will there be much of a 4th of July celebration? Anyone know?

 

[IndyStarGazer]

Donna,

Thanks for your help in getting names of the kids for their gifts. I heard from everyone except IndyStarGazer, J&jsmama, and Jamsbad. I tried to go through this whole thread and all my PM's to make sure I didn't miss anyone. Any I don't hear from will just not be personalized...no big deal.

I can hardly believe we set sail 4 weeks from tomorrow!

Sorry! I have not been keeping up with this thread lately. For a while we thought we were going to have to cancel - I injured my shoulder two months ago and it turns out that I have a torn tendon in my rotator cuff. Surgery is needed but would put me in a sling for 4 weeks. We were considering rescheduling, but that pretty much meant either paying more for a higher room category (and giving up the discount and shipboard credit we had) or putting it off till next year.

I don't know if you have heard about the changes to the itinerary for next year, but it doesn't sound nearly as good as this one. The ship will leave from Seattle, but must stop in Victoria to get their international port in. The Wonder will then spend a full day in Skagway but only spend half a day in Juneau and Ketchikan - hardly enough time to do anything.

Given our choices we decided to wait on the surgery....which is a long winded way of saying "sorry, I've been distracted."

Anyway, we are:

Me - Doug
DW - Kim
DS(14) - Andrew
DS(11) - Nick

I guess it is getting official - We have our docs and plane reservations and I made hotel reservations in Seattle for before the trip and one night after the trip. We are burning up our points on this one - between Hilton Honors and Amex Rewards I think we're only actually paying about $150 for 4 hotel nights, including our last night at the Pan Pacific.

We're really looking forward to meeting you all!

 

[Tink37]

Have I missed something? I have registered my DD 12 for the Oceaneers Club/Lab during the cruise as that was the only eligibility offered. I now see from the DCL website and the "Navigators" posted online that these clubs are for kids up to 10 and "The Edge" is for tweens 11 - 13. Can someone maybe help clear this up? DD seems far more excited about The Edge but I don't want to get her hopes up!

I wondered the exact same thing. My DD is very excited about this. By the way my DD is 11.

 

[IndyStarGazer]

I'm trying to decide if I should get glow in the dark stuff as I would here in AZ for 4th of July for my kids (and possibly fe's), but will it be dark enough to be worthwhile? Will there be much of a 4th of July celebration? Anyone know?

I saw some references to 4th of July on previous cruises, and they did not do any special celebration (such as extra fireworks, which is what the poster wanted!) but they did have some traditional American dishes at dinner (apple pie, etc.).

My boys are bummed that there won't be fireworks at all on this one. That's ok, we'll just have to set off more at home to make up the difference!

 

[cryssi]

I saw some references to 4th of July on previous cruises, and they did not do any special celebration (such as extra fireworks, which is what the poster wanted!) but they did have some traditional American dishes at dinner (apple pie, etc.).

My boys are bummed that there won't be fireworks at all on this one. That's ok, we'll just have to set off more at home to make up the difference!

They will probably have the deck stuff and dining rooms decorated. We missed the deck part in 08 because we were at palo brunch. They will probably have the special menu again. Not sure how much will be done though since it is our last night on board.

 

[jamsbad]

Donna,

Thanks for your help in getting names of the kids for their gifts. I heard from everyone except IndyStarGazer, J&jsmama, and Jamsbad. I tried to go through this whole thread and all my PM's to make sure I didn't miss anyone. Any I don't hear from will just not be personalized...no big deal.

I can hardly believe we set sail 4 weeks from tomorrow!

Sorry for the delay in giving you our information.
DD - Jenna (14)
DS - JJ (11)
DS - Matthew (7)

Looking forward to meeting you all!

 

[adorelc]

My husband and I were laughing last night that we are saving (a little) money by going on the cruise when we are. Cars 2 comes out a few days before we sail, and my kids are so excited to see it. We are hoping they will do a showing in the big theater on the ship. That saves us from having to see it at home and paying the high cost of 3D movie tickets!

 

[crazydayz]

3pm Meeting sounds goods to us too.
It is getting so close I can not believe after almost two long years of waiting.
We too are super excited that we may get to save a few bucks and see Cars 2 on board. Hey, every little bit helps.
Still trying to get our FE made. It is a little harder than I first thought it would be. I think I am making it more complicated than it really needs to be.
I am still a little nervous about packing. My trial run was way too many suitcases so have to narrow things down. Has anyone decided if they are dressing up for pirate night? I still can not decide, seems it is a lot more low key on the Alaska trip.

 

[cozit]

Have I missed something? I have registered my DD 12 for the Oceaneers Club/Lab during the cruise as that was the only eligibility offered. I now see from the DCL website and the "Navigators" posted online that these clubs are for kids up to 10 and "The Edge" is for tweens 11 - 13. Can someone maybe help clear this up? DD seems far more excited about The Edge but I don't want to get her hopes up!

Don't know if anyone else responded yet - just catching up here... but yes, a 12yo will definitely be in the Edge - they just haven't updated the website yet (and yes, I sent a message to them *months* ago, and told someone I spoke to at DCL as well). My daughter's got mixed feelings about being in the Edge - since she's turning 13 on the cruise, she was half hoping she'd get to choose between the two places - then they changed the age groupings on her.

Both kids are really looking forward to it anyway - and my son (14) is looking forward to the open times in the Edge that will let him visit there (my daughter went up to the Edge during the open times the last cruise, so he's wanting to do turn around and go down to it... especially if they have the video games that were his favorites the last time around

-Liz

 

[cozit]

For those who asked. *Yes*, our seemingly huge number of 11-13yos are all destined to have fun in The Edge. It's a slightly updated version of the Ocean Quest that the Magic had, for anyone wondering.... brand new to the Wonder this year (they've changed the names of the clubs on the older ships to match the names on the Dream).

Yes, we're getting the wrong info. on the website when registering the 11 and 12 yos... still... I messaged them months ago to let them know they missed that when they started all the updates earlier this year, also told a live person on one of my phone calls, since I had them on the phone for something else anyway - no change yet.... but I've confirmed it really is The Edge, just ignore the info on the computer under the registration. The new age for what was the Stack, but is now Vibe is 14 and up.

My 12... until the Tracy Arm day... DD is really starting to look forward to the trip - and even thinks she might just spend more time in the club than she did on previous trips - she prefers family time usually... but if she finds someone to hang around with, will probably change her mind to some extent.

Now if only I can figure out how to let her get *some* of her Conditioning in during the trip... I plan to beg the cruise director, Christiaan (sp) to let us borrow a yoga mat or something, so she can at least get some stretching in... I figure anyone who can still do a back flip at his age (well, he could 3 years ago) has a clue about keeping up with stretching, etc. for gymnastics (though I suspect cheerleader in his case ... wish she could get into the fitness room, but oh, well... still have to keep her from climbing the walls somehow

 

[cozit]

By the way... you don't *know* how envious we are of those of you who have finished school already. Our last day isn't until the Wednesday before the cruise... and we're flying out on Friday... and yes, I work in a school... so we'll *all* be going nuts here that Thursday (and none of us can *wait* for the end of the school year already

 

[cryssi]

For those who asked. *Yes*, our seemingly huge number of 11-13yos are all destined to have fun in The Edge. It's a slightly updated version of the Ocean Quest that the Magic had, for anyone wondering.... brand new to the Wonder this year (they've changed the names of the clubs on the older ships to match the names on the Dream).

Yes, we're getting the wrong info. on the website when registering the 11 and 12 yos... still... I messaged them months ago to let them know they missed that when they started all the updates earlier this year, also told a live person on one of my phone calls, since I had them on the phone for something else anyway - no change yet.... but I've confirmed it really is The Edge, just ignore the info on the computer under the registration. The new age for what was the Stack, but is now Vibe is 14 and up.

My 12... until the Tracy Arm day... DD is really starting to look forward to the trip - and even thinks she might just spend more time in the club than she did on previous trips - she prefers family time usually... but if she finds someone to hang around with, will probably change her mind to some extent.

Now if only I can figure out how to let her get *some* of her Conditioning in during the trip... I plan to beg the cruise director, Christiaan (sp) to let us borrow a yoga mat or something, so she can at least get some stretching in... I figure anyone who can still do a back flip at his age (well, he could 3 years ago) has a clue about keeping up with stretching, etc. for gymnastics (though I suspect cheerleader in his case ... wish she could get into the fitness room, but oh, well... still have to keep her from climbing the walls somehow

Christiaan has been CD on all of our past cruises (3) and I totally got that cheerleader vibe from him too! Lol

 

[marlaymike]

Does she live with you? If not they go to her house that is listed on the reservation. If she doesn't get them this week I'd call DCL or TA which ever you used.

Thanks!!! She just received them at her home, she is so happy

 

[Maribell]

Looking forward to meeting everyone at 3pm at the Promenade Lounge....

 

[jamsbad]

3:00 pm - Promenade Lounge...sounds good to us!

 

[nordkin]

Donna,

Thanks for your help in getting names of the kids for their gifts. I heard from everyone except IndyStarGazer, J&jsmama, and Jamsbad. I tried to go through this whole thread and all my PM's to make sure I didn't miss anyone. Any I don't hear from will just not be personalized...no big deal.

I can hardly believe we set sail 4 weeks from tomorrow!

Let me look through my emails and PM's and see what I have. I will send them to you if I find any.

 

[mybelle01]

Can't wait to meet everyone too!! My friends thought I was crazy when I told them about the whole FE thing..but I'm so excited about joining the fun.

3 pm in the Promenade Lounge..

I will be literaly sprinting to the reservation desk when we get on board I really want to do tea at Palo. All the reservations were gone even at 90 days booking

My kids are out of school next Friday so we have a couple weeks before we leave for vacation.

 

[nordkin]

I am still missing email addresses for:

marlaymike
Tink37

If you have supplied them, I apologize. I will recheck all my emails and PM's to double check.

Donna

 

[daisy112878]

Now if only I can figure out how to let her get *some* of her Conditioning in during the trip... I plan to beg the cruise director, Christiaan (sp) to let us borrow a yoga mat or something, so she can at least get some stretching in... I figure anyone who can still do a back flip at his age (well, he could 3 years ago) has a clue about keeping up with stretching, etc. for gymnastics (though I suspect cheerleader in his case ... wish she could get into the fitness room, but oh, well... still have to keep her from climbing the walls somehow

I noticed on the navigators someone posted that there is a yoga/pilates class in the early morning like 730-745am. It's on the top deck so maybe you coudl see if she could do that or maybe borrow one of the mats then do some stretch.

 

[daisy112878]

So we are cancelling our disney excursion to the glacier in Juneau and doing an independent company. It's with Above and Beyond Alaska. All the reivews on tripadvisor and the likes give them great reviews. I'm a little worried about not going through disney but they have assured me that they go by the ship schedules and we get a full refund if our ship misses the port or is to late to go. We'll be doing a hike through the rainforest to get to the glacier then doing a glacier trek/ice climbing. The cost with disney was $327 I think a person and this company charges $189 a person. The big difference is the disney one you do a helicoptor to the glacier and the one we are doing is a hike. I'd much perfer a hike over a flying a small helicoptor.

25 days and we leave for seattle!!!!