June 28, 2011 Disney Wonder 7-day Alaska

[Pocahantas]

Well, we FINALLY have our airline tickets purchased ! Bought them last night when I ran across a great price roundtrip to Seattle from our hometown airport. $386 per person total was just too good to pass up. Especially considering flights into Vancouver are $835 per person. We will spend 1 night in Seattle and take Amtrak up to Vancouver on Sunday morning. I am thinking we will take an Amtrak motorcoach back down to Seattle after the cruise and spend another night in Seattle near the airport before flying home on the 8th. I looked at other shuttles but most will bring you to the Seattle Airport. I think we would rather just arrive at Amtrak and take a taxi to whatever hotel we end up booking. I'll probably do Priceline for that. How is everyone else planning to get back down to Seattle after the cruise???

 

[cozit]

Well, we FINALLY have our airline tickets purchased ! Bought them last night when I ran across a great price roundtrip to Seattle from our hometown airport. $386 per person total was just too good to pass up. Especially considering flights into Vancouver are $835 per person. We will spend 1 night in Seattle and take Amtrak up to Vancouver on Sunday morning. I am thinking we will take an Amtrak motorcoach back down to Seattle after the cruise and spend another night in Seattle near the airport before flying home on the 8th. I looked at other shuttles but most will bring you to the Seattle Airport. I think we would rather just arrive at Amtrak and take a taxi to whatever hotel we end up booking. I'll probably do Priceline for that. How is everyone else planning to be back down to Seattle after the cruise???

We're planning to visit Portland first, then either drive or Amtrak up to Vancouver. My son was born in Portland, so as we're going to be on that side of the country, we figured taking an extra day when we haven't visited in 8 years would be a good idea Whether we Amtrak or drive depends on whether we take the extra day to visit Mt. St. Helens - I admit to being curious how much it's changed in the last 14 years... and whether my friends in the Seattle area are going to be around or not, for visiting - the ones I most want to see travel a *lot* for their work.

Haven't decided which way to get back to Seattle for a flight home, yet - but since Southwest doesn't go to Vancouver, I know we will do so. Leaning towards Amtrak, but renting a car and taking our time to "sightsee" for the day has its appeal as well as catching an earlier flight the following day, rather than getting home so very late Eastern time.

*g* Narrowed down "interesting Port Adventures that are *maybe* in our price range" down to exactly 50 so far. Think we've got some more choosing to do...

 

[Pocahantas]

Just purchased Amtrak tickets up to Vancouver and then back down to Seattle after the cruise. We will be on the early morning train on Sunday the 26th and the late afternoon bus back to Seattle on the 7th. I feel like this trip is finally coming together. Now to decide on our excursions and what we want to see in Vancouver...

 

[cozit]

Just purchased Amtrak tickets up to Vancouver and then back down to Seattle after the cruise. We will be on the early morning train on Sunday the 26th and the late afternoon bus back to Seattle on the 7th. I feel like this trip is finally coming together. Now to decide on our excursions and what we want to see in Vancouver...

Won't be the same train as us, then... at least for the trip up, we're going to do the only train that goes from Portland to Vancouver with no bus, so getting up there quite late in the evening (should be "interesting" with the time shift just a day or two earlier... I shift in no time flat, going that direction, but not sure how the kids will do, and as teen and almost teen they're old enough to force themselves to stay up, rather than nap on the trip).

Trip back to Seattle, not sure about bus or train yet.

Do know that we're still holding at 48 "maybe" Port Adventures... once we set a definite budget for them, that'll probably knock it back by almost half again... and some of those are semi-duplicates (like variations on the train outing).

-Liz (hmm... maybe part of this "ice day" will be spent getting the kids to look over my shoulder on the computer...)

 

[marlaymike]

Hi! My name is Marlene and will be traveling with DH (Michael) and Dniece (she is 11). We are from Puerto Rico and will be our seventh cruise and third for Dniece!

We would like to participate in the "fish extenders".

DH bought the tickets from San Juan to Seattle, arriving on 06/25; driving to Vancouver the same day. We will be staying at the Waterfront, or something like that, booked thru DCL. After the cruise we will be traveling to California to complete our vacations with Disneyland (first time for our niece).

 

[cryssi]

Greetings! Extended family will be taking this cruise! Too many to list and not sure they would want to be listed anyway. In our room is me, dh, and ds (1).

Can't wait! May want to participate in FE. Will have to see.

 

[rav4lcrv]

Just added "Adventures By Disney", to the package-VERY EXCITED

 

[Pocahantas]

We have our excursions booked as of today . White Pass Summit Rail & Bus booked with Chilkoot Charters in Skagway, Whale Watching with a stop at Mendenhall Glacier through Harv & Marv's in Juneau and a Misty Fjords Flightseeing Tour with Island Wings in Ketchikan. We also plan to spend some time exploring each port so I think this is all we will be booking. It was so hard narrowing it down because there is so much to see and do but I am happy with what we have picked. Has anyone else finalized their excursions yet??

 

[ozdisneyfan]

Hello to All

We are Brett, Lea and DD Sarah aged 9.

We will be coming from Sydney Australia, as we have always wanted to see Alaska and DH loves Vancouver.

Coming into Vancouver the week before and staying at Pan Pacific. Room 8020 on cruise.

This will be our third disney cruise (4 day Wonder 2006, 15 Day Magic Westbound PC 2008) - we are very excited!

Looking forward to meeting new friends!




BTW - Does anyone know when we find out about formal nights/theme nights etc?

 

[pmoments]

We are coming into Vancouver 2 days early changed my room from Pan Pacific to Coast Coal Harbour got a great deal if you pay in advance. Saved almost $200 figure it would be used for cruise. They also have great review on TripAdvisor. We are planning to also go with Harv&Marv we have an 8am trip, been with them before they are great. We plan to book the 4x4 adventure in Skagway. We did the train before with that company it was very nice. In Ketchican, we have booked a 4 hour halibut fishing trip with StrikeZone, they take out 6 people we only have a party of 3 if anyone is interesting in go. I can give you the website if anyone is interested. Can't wait to go!!

 

[cryssi]

We might come a couple days early to check out vancouver, but not sure where to stay or what to do?

 

[j&jsmama]

Hi! I have searched these boards endlessly for our many Disneyland trips (we live in AZ), but decided to breakdown and join for this cruise. We are so excited to be joining all of you on this adventure to Alaska! This will be our first cruise ever! It is me -- Amy, my dh, Jason and our ds (7) and dd (4).

We've booked our flights and will be coming to Vancouver on Saturday. Not sure where to stay and what to do while there.

What is fish extenders???

 

[cozit]

We have our excursions booked as of today . White Pass Summit Rail & Bus booked with Chilkoot Charters in Skagway, Whale Watching with a stop at Mendenhall Glacier through Harv & Marv's in Juneau and a Misty Fjords Flightseeing Tour with Island Wings in Ketchikan. We also plan to spend some time exploring each port so I think this is all we will be booking. It was so hard narrowing it down because there is so much to see and do but I am happy with what we have picked. Has anyone else finalized their excursions yet??

How book your port adventures so early? I was told March. (though maybe it's because we've only been on two cruises, so don't get to do so so early?)

 

[Pocahantas]

How book your port adventures so early? I was told March. (though maybe it's because we've only been on two cruises, so don't get to do so so early?)

We didn't book our excursions through Disney. I went ahead and booked directly with independent tour operators. I felt comfortable enough in the ports we are stopping in to do everything on our own. I think March 30th is the day we can book with Disney.

 

[nordkin]

Hi! I have searched these boards endlessly for our many Disneyland trips (we live in AZ), but decided to breakdown and join for this cruise. We are so excited to be joining all of you on this adventure to Alaska! This will be our first cruise ever! It is me -- Amy, my dh, Jason and our ds (7) and dd (4).

We've booked our flights and will be coming to Vancouver on Saturday. Not sure where to stay and what to do while there.

What is fish extenders???

Welcome. Here is a good link about fish extenders.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1219607

When I have the time this weekend I will update the list of cruisers and add your informartion as well as any others that need to be done or updated.

Donna

 

[Pocahantas]

We sail in exactly 5 months from today and I am getting pretty excited! Hoping my teen daughter will want to do the teen club with the many other girls her age. She is really shy and it takes her a while to really warm up to new people.

 

[Balmacara]

We are on this sailing too (our first DCL), and having planned to take a trip to Canada this year anyway we were able to use our DVC points for the cruise which fitted in nicely! There was only a few rooms left for DVC use when we booked in September, although intially we had wanted to go on the sailing after this one which had no availability for DVC points! So our kids will be enjoying an additional week off school to fit this in.

It will be myself, DW and DD's (age 12 & 8). We are flying out from Aberdeen, Scotland via London to Vancouver on 06/25 and staying at Coast Coal Harbour before cruise and then again for 3 nights after cruise. Picking up car and driving West over Rockies to Banff before spending our last few days in Calgary with DW's cousin. Head home on 07/15.

Counting the weeks now & can't wait to get those Alaska excursions booked.

 

[Balmacara]

....of course I meant East over Rockies !!!

 

[j&jsmama]

Thank you.. now I understand what "Fish Extenders" are... makes perfect sense.

 

[watergal91]

I've booked our very first ever cruise Jun 28 Alaska. It should be fun celebrating Canada Day and July 4 on the cruise!

We are me (Jen), dh (Brent), ds(10), ds(8) and dd (5). This whole experience will be new to us but we'll do fe and distag for sure! I will "register" once I commit with deposit tomorrow.

Look forward to the fun & friendships! Any first-timer tips welcome. Thanks!