May 21, 2012 - Mickey's Mooseketeers Take Alaska 2012!

[remlap]

I typed this information up in an email just for my own curiosity, but since it applies to all of us on this particular cruise, I thought I would share in case anyone else was interested:

Hopefully this info is as interesting to some of you as it was to me!

Thank You! This was GREAT.

 

[remlap]

Speaking of looking things up we looked up sunset times. Our interior cabin is looking better all of a sudden.



The following information is provided for Skagway, Skagway-Hoonah-Ang.(Ca) Borough, Alaska (longitude W135.3, latitude N59.5):

Thursday
24 May 2012 Alaska Daylight Time

SUN
Begin civil twilight 2:58 a.m.
Sunrise 4:07 a.m.
Sun transit 12:58 p.m.
Sunset 9:50 p.m.
End civil twilight 11:01 p.m.

 

[mrp4352]

Speaking of looking things up we looked up sunset times. Our interior cabin is looking better all of a sudden.



The following information is provided for Skagway, Skagway-Hoonah-Ang.(Ca) Borough, Alaska (longitude W135.3, latitude N59.5):

Thursday
24 May 2012 Alaska Daylight Time

SUN
Begin civil twilight 2:58 a.m.
Sunrise 4:07 a.m.
Sun transit 12:58 p.m.
Sunset 9:50 p.m.
End civil twilight 11:01 p.m.

That's so cool!!! I know, early mornings and late night, but still, very cool!

 

[rillsung]

LOL yeah I'm thinking inside cabin is going to be nice! At least there will be no daylight to disturb the kids sleeping (and mine!)

 

[Shoshie]

I watched the DCL videos about the day we spend in Tracy Arm - it looks so peaceful!

 

[LeslieG]

Sunday, we too are on the train from Seattle to Vancouver. We're on the evening departure. 7 AM seemed too early. Sleeping in on Sunday morning was a priority as we're not 100% sure how much sleep we're going to get Friday night.

We depart Amtrak Friday on Friday morning from Los Angeles on the Coast Starlight, arriving in Seattle Saturday night.

We're on the Amtrak Monday morning from Seattle to Vancouver. I'm thinking about maybe changing it to Sunday. Is the train ever late or cancelled? I'm having thoughts of missing the ship.

I was wondering about the evening train. I didn't want to miss the scenery. Did you check when it gets dark by chance?

 

[big jack 2002]

We booked the Amtrak for Saturday morning. We want to spend one day in Vancouver. Does anyone know if Disney sells transportation from any of the hotels to the dock? I will have to call them.
Barbara

 

[remlap]

We're on the Amtrak Monday morning from Seattle to Vancouver. I'm thinking about maybe changing it to Sunday. Is the train ever late or cancelled? I'm having thoughts of missing the ship.

I was wondering about the evening train. I didn't want to miss the scenery. Did you check when it gets dark by chance?

That's the main reason we're on the Sunday night train, the "just in case" factor. Don't want to be stressing, even though I know it would be fine, and it's burning an extra day of vacation. However, while I'm sure you'll be fine, the Coast Starlight we're arriving in Seattle Saturday night on isn't called the StarLate for nothing. We also didn't want to be arriving in the middle of the night and then have to be back up on a train at 7. Sunday night seemed the way to go.

To answer your question about when it gets dark, you got me curious. For Blaine, WA, the city adjacent to the CA border, on Sunday, May 20th, 2012 is below. (The US Navy site needs a US City unless you know map coordinates)
In summary, the later half of the ride will be in the dark. If you want views, stay on the morning train.

The following information is provided for Blaine, Whatcom County, Washington (longitude W122.8, latitude N49.0):
Sunday
20 May 2012 Pacific Daylight Time

SUN
Begin civil twilight 4:43 a.m.
Sunrise 5:22 a.m.
Sun transit 1:08 p.m.
Sunset 8:54 p.m.
End civil twilight 9:33 p.m.

 

[mrp4352]

We are paid in full! Now, we just have to wait until the 5th at 11pm to start booking excursions...


Meanwhile, I'll be dreaming of our train ride from Seattle on the 20th - exactly four months from today!

 

[rillsung]

We are paid in full! Now, we just have to wait until the 5th at 11pm to start booking excursions...


Meanwhile, I'll be dreaming of our train ride from Seattle on the 20th - exactly four months from today!

Congrats!!

 

[LeslieG]

We are paid in full! Now, we just have to wait until the 5th at 11pm to start booking excursions...


Meanwhile, I'll be dreaming of our train ride from Seattle on the 20th - exactly four months from today!

Is that March 5th? I'm at work and don't have my paperwork. Is that when final payment is due?

 

[big jack 2002]

We have about three more weeks of saving and then we can pay off ours, too!!
Barbara

 

[rillsung]

We will pay ours off mid-February so that we are good to book stuff on Feb 21

 

[mrp4352]

Is that March 5th? I'm at work and don't have my paperwork. Is that when final payment is due?

no, Feb 5th - we can start booking that night at 11pm. I wanted to make absolutely sure there wouldn't be any issues with getting on that night! My heart is set on the Taku Lodge excursion and brunch at Palo!

 

[LeslieG]

no, Feb 5th - we can start booking that night at 11pm. I wanted to make absolutely sure there wouldn't be any issues with getting on that night! My heart is set on the Taku Lodge excursion and brunch at Palo!

Are you gold or platinum? I'm silver, and DCL told me I could book Feb. 21.

 

[LeslieG]

We're on the Amtrak Monday morning from Seattle to Vancouver. I'm thinking about maybe changing it to Sunday. Is the train ever late or cancelled? I'm having thoughts of missing the ship.

I was wondering about the evening train. I didn't want to miss the scenery. Did you check when it gets dark by chance?

It looks like we are going to stick with Monday morning. I read that the train originates in Seattle, so less chance for delays. And if there's a problem with the train, they will put you on a bus.

How is everyone planning to get from Vancouver station to the cruise terminal?

 

[ljhayes]

We paid off everything this week so we would be able to book tonight at midnight. As it turns out it looks like we aren't going to be doing any of the ship's excursions anyway, but at least we'll be able to have our Palo ressies taken care of.

We booked our Ketchikan excursion this week, too. We're going to do a Misty Fjords flightplane trip with Michelle from Island Wings. I was really hoping to do the combo flight and boat trip, but it looks like that's only offered through the cruise ship. It's waaaay more money than just the flight and it only includes 25 minutes of flying time. So we decided to do a flight only trip. Can't wait! The only thing left at this point is ironing out plans for Juneau. We're definitely doing Mendenhall, and we'd like to have time to hike on our own from the Visitor's Center, but also to get out onto the glacier. Haven't decided if we'll just go with a guided hike that gets you out onto the ice or if we'll do a helicopter.

It feels like it's getting much more real with all these plans being made!

 

[Tiresius]

We booked our Ketchikan excursion this week, too. We're going to do a Misty Fjords flightplane trip with Michelle from Island Wings. I was really hoping to do the combo flight and boat trip, but it looks like that's only offered through the cruise ship. It's waaaay more money than just the flight and it only includes 25 minutes of flying time. So we decided to do a flight only trip. Can't wait! The only thing left at this point is ironing out plans for Juneau. We're definitely doing Mendenhall, and we'd like to have time to hike on our own from the Visitor's Center, but also to get out onto the glacier. Haven't decided if we'll just go with a guided hike that gets you out onto the ice or if we'll do a helicopter.

It feels like it's getting much more real with all these plans being made!

We are starting to book our excursions too, and, like you, are probably going to end up with mostly non-Disney sponsored activities. If you end up deciding on the helicopter in Juneau, we are booked on the 8:45am flight with Era. They are supposed to be the best company and for less than any of the helicopter options through Disney. Its also a semi-plea for anyone who is tempted to do a helicopter glacier flight, since they only fly if they have 4 passengers. We are worried that with only one other ship in port that morning, the flights won't get booked and, as a party of only 2, we will be cancelled. So, anyone tempted to take a helicopter out to walk on the glaciers in Juneau, at least look into Era.

Additionally, we are probably going to do ziplining in the afternoon in Juneau, and that has a minimum too, so if you are tempted by that one (the zipline at Treadmill Mine, including a narrated Gastineau Channel Crossing in boat and amazing views of old mine) perhaps we can coordinate.

Our Ketchikan plans are most likely kayaking, found a local guide that will get us out of town and into some tidal wildlife zones, for half the cost of some of the bigger kayaking tours in town. Happy to share details with anyone who is interested.

Skagway is our big unknown. Can't decide if its worth the $ to do a flight out to Glacier Bay, tempted by snowshoeing, or if we are spending enough money elsewhere and we should just stick with in-town activities this day. We aren't interested in the train, or dog sledding, but that still leaves far too many options!

 

[mrp4352]

Are you gold or platinum? I'm silver, and DCL told me I could book Feb. 21.

I'm gold.

We paid off everything this week so we would be able to book tonight at midnight. As it turns out it looks like we aren't going to be doing any of the ship's excursions anyway, but at least we'll be able to have our Palo ressies taken care of.

Let us know how it goes tonight!!

 

[HollandDisney]

Hello fellow cruisers! We are so excited to have booked this cruise. What a great itinerary! We will definitely want to be on the FE list.

Dis name: HollandDisney
Names of travelling (ages of kids too): Martien, Andries
Cabin Number: 8034
Early/Late dining: early
FE? Yes
Secret Mickey Interest? No