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

[peterpan47]

Yup! That's right! They'll let you upgrade after the final payment at no penalty. you just have to be prepared to pay right away. We had originally booked an oceanview and upgraded to a gty verandah (6A) 2-3 weeks ago.

Michelle

Thanks Michelle,
One last question. Would they have let you upgrade to a 7A instead of a 6A? It's interesting to think about how they would do this. Probably when they start the assignments they upgrade the higher paid gtys to the higher levels with the 6A gty upgrading to 5A or better and the 7A gtys upgraded to 6A or better for what was available. That would make sense. Just talking to myself Nonetheless, next time I think we will do this.

Mary

 

[msmetal]

Check my daughter's (Satarma) posting about the rotation. Pirate night is on night 5, I believe, but if you look at her posting you will find the rotation. You can actually call Disney and request a particular rotation. I don't know for sure about our cruise, but I read that for last year's Alaska cruises they had a special menu in the restaurants called Taste of Alaska on Pirates' night instead of the traditional Pirate night menu. I'm pretty sure they will still have the on deck buffet for the Pirates' party, though. Check your PMs for FE info.

Mary

Thank you for the PM. I tried to reply and I got an error that I didn't have enough posts to PM. So, consider this a number booster!

 

[peterpan47]

Thank you for the PM. I tried to reply and I got an error that I didn't have enough posts to PM. So, consider this a number booster!

You're welcome. Did you decide to sign up?

 

[mrp4352]

Thanks Michelle,
One last question. Would they have let you upgrade to a 7A instead of a 6A? It's interesting to think about how they would do this. Probably when they start the assignments they upgrade the higher paid gtys to the higher levels with the 6A gty upgrading to 5A or better and the 7A gtys upgraded to 6A or better for what was available. That would make sense. Just talking to myself Nonetheless, next time I think we will do this.

Mary

Yes, they would. We decided against it though, because we don't care for the Navigator's Verandah.

 

[rillsung]

I thought you guys might be interested... There will be a solar eclipse on May 20th starting at around 5:00pm and finishing at about 6:30pm (Pacific time zone for Seattle and Vancouver).

It will be about 80% in Vancouver. This link shows the path of the eclipse:
http://media.skyandtelescope.com/images/2012_annular_globe_l.jpg

This one is the table showing the times but it's in UTC-0 time zone so convert to Vancouver's UTC-8 + 1 hour for daylight savings. Therefore, the eclipse begins at about 5:00pm. The max eclipse (peak coverage) will happen at about 6:15pm. It will end at about 7:23pm. Also the sun will be about 24 degrees off the horizon so we should be able to see it above the trees and buildings.
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHtables/OH2012-Tab02.pdf

Here is another article if you want more details about it:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/Eclipses-in-2012-137958628.html

Something else to note... It would appear that this will be the first that will be visible from a DCL ship!

 

[Chilly]

I thought you guys might be interested... There will be a solar eclipse on May 20th starting at around 5:00pm and finishing at about 6:30pm (Pacific time zone for Seattle and Vancouver).

It will be about 80% in Vancouver. This link shows the path of the eclipse:
http://media.skyandtelescope.com/images/2012_annular_globe_l.jpg

This one is the table showing the times but it's in UTC-0 time zone so convert to Vancouver's UTC-8 + 1 hour for daylight savings. Therefore, the eclipse begins at about 5:00pm. The max eclipse (peak coverage) will happen at about 6:15pm. It will end at about 7:23pm. Also the sun will be about 24 degrees off the horizon so we should be able to see it above the trees and buildings.
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHtables/OH2012-Tab02.pdf

Here is another article if you want more details about it:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/Eclipses-in-2012-137958628.html

Something else to note... It would appear that this will be the first that will be visible from a DCL ship!

How exciting!

 

[Chilly]

Claire,
I think that's true if you change to the cheaper gty status that they put out, but I'm pretty sure you can upgrade, after you make the final payment, to the regular price categories and at that point everything is in gty status. I'm thinking this is what Michelle was talking about. I could certainly be still confused about this however

Mary

Yup! That's right! They'll let you upgrade after the final payment at no penalty. you just have to be prepared to pay right away. We had originally booked an oceanview and upgraded to a gty verandah (6A) 2-3 weeks ago.

Michelle

Well that's not what my TA has said to me, i asked again today and she replied:

Unfortunately, these discounted categories are only offered for new reservations and can not be applied to an existing reservation. The only way you could book this would be to cancel your current reservation, pay the penalties and then rebook the new discounted category.
I’m sorry but this is a Disney Cruise Line policy on these discounted categories.

 

[ljhayes]

Well that's not what my TA has said to me, i asked again today and she replied:

Unfortunately, these discounted categories are only offered for new reservations and can not be applied to an existing reservation. The only way you could book this would be to cancel your current reservation, pay the penalties and then rebook the new discounted category.
I’m sorry but this is a Disney Cruise Line policy on these discounted categories.

Sounds like your TA is talking about the IGT/OGT/VGT rooms. These are discounted rooms and do have the restrictions she mentioned. They are different than a GTY room which will cost whatever the current regular rate is for the category you want. With the IGT/OGT/VGT, all you know is that you'll get an inside, outside or verandah room (depending which you book). With a GTY, you know that you will get a room in the specific category you book or higher.

 

[mrp4352]

Sounds like your TA is talking about the IGT/OGT/VGT rooms. These are discounted rooms and do have the restrictions she mentioned. They are different than a GTY room which will cost whatever the current regular rate is for the category you want. With the IGT/OGT/VGT, all you know is that you'll get an inside, outside or verandah room (depending which you book). With a GTY, you know that you will get a room in the specific category you book or higher.

That's right. Sorry I didn't make it clear. I didn't upgrade to VGT - I upgraded to a 6A, which only offered GTY rooms.

I thought you guys might be interested... There will be a solar eclipse on May 20th starting at around 5:00pm and finishing at about 6:30pm (Pacific time zone for Seattle and Vancouver).

How very cool!! I hope we can get a waterview room at the Fairmont - I would think that would be fantatsic!! (note the well-protected eyes on my smilie!!)

Now, to go read the links you provided and hope they provide information on taking pictures of eclipses!

 

[Chilly]

Sounds like your TA is talking about the IGT/OGT/VGT rooms. These are discounted rooms and do have the restrictions she mentioned. They are different than a GTY room which will cost whatever the current regular rate is for the category you want. With the IGT/OGT/VGT, all you know is that you'll get an inside, outside or verandah room (depending which you book). With a GTY, you know that you will get a room in the specific category you book or higher.

That's right. Sorry I didn't make it clear. I didn't upgrade to VGT - I upgraded to a 6A, which only offered GTY rooms.



How very cool!! I hope we can get a waterview room at the Fairmont - I would think that would be fantatsic!! (note the well-protected eyes on my smilie!!)

Now, to go read the links you provided and hope they provide information on taking pictures of eclipses!

ah ok thanks its all very confusing

 

[mrp4352]

I just sent out the updated FE list to the e-mails I have on file. If you are expecting one and didn't get it, please let me know!

 

[mrp4352]

We just checked in and the earliest port arrival time left was noon. If you haven't completed your on-line check in and you'd like to arrive earlier, you may want to get checked in soon!

Also, we just found these on Amazon for the eclipse on the 20th. It's five pairs of solar eclipse glasses for $5.99. Shipping is about the same as the cost - but it looks like they'll pack flat. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...pf_rd_t=3201&pf_rd_p=1280661782&pf_rd_i=typ01

 

[SonjaLeigh]

hi! we are on the cruise just b4 and plan to book this onboard unless it gets even cheaper in the next few weeks ... anyway me, dd19, and ds22 ... i see the FE are closed. are u doing champagne girls or lanyards or tea or anything groupie we could join in??

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

hi! we are on the cruise just b4 and plan to book this onboard unless it gets even cheaper in the next few weeks ... anyway me, dd19, and ds22 ... i see the FE are closed. are u doing champagne girls or lanyards or tea or anything groupie we could join in??

I have added you to the roll call. As for the rest of the activities - unfortunately nothing like that is currently planned.

 

[SonjaLeigh]

thank u!!! well even if no get togethers are planned it will still be a WONDER-ful time!!

 

[mrp4352]

So - I was wondering which excursions we'll see everyone on. So - here's what Mom and I booked:

Skagway - 8:15 Yukon Expedition
Juneau - 12:25 Enchanted Taku Glacier Lodge Flight & 5-Glacier Seaplane Discovery
Ketchican-1:15 Lighthouse, Totems and Eagles

What is everyone else signed up for?

 

[msmetal]

Hi all!

Do you know if they will take US dollars in Vancouver or do we need to have some Canadian dollars for tips? TIA!

I have been wondering this as well, as we will be flying in on Satuday and will have Sunday to explore to Vancouver.

Sheila

 

[peterpan47]

So - I was wondering which excursions we'll see everyone on. So - here's what Mom and I booked:

Skagway - 8:15 Yukon Expedition
Juneau - 12:25 Enchanted Taku Glacier Lodge Flight & 5-Glacier Seaplane Discovery
Ketchican-1:15 Lighthouse, Totems and Eagles

What is everyone else signed up for?

Here's what we're doing:
Skagway-7:25 AM White Pass Railway and Trail Camp
Juneau- 7:45 AM Juneau City and Mendenhall Glacier Tour
Ketchikan-11:45 AM Alaska Mountain Point Snorkeling Adventure

 

[stitch_mama]

I have been wondering this as well, as we will be flying in on Satuday and will have Sunday to explore to Vancouver.

Sheila

I may be able to answer this one - I live in a Canadian border town. We do accept U.S. money here, but generally stores, Tim Horton's, etc. don't offer a very good exchange rate. If it's just for tips, then you're probably okay. Otherwise, you may want to exchange a little bit of money. FYI - the Canadian dollar is worth more than the U.S. dollar right now - ugh.

 

[Lovebug Eeyore]

Here's what we're doing:
Skagway-7:25 AM White Pass Railway and Trail Camp
Juneau- 7:45 AM Juneau City and Mendenhall Glacier Tour
Ketchikan-11:45 AM Alaska Mountain Point Snorkeling Adventure

Wagners will be all over Alaska:
Tracy Arm - Palo Brunch
Skagway - Grizzly Fall Ziplining (5)
Juneau - Juneau City & Mendenhall Glacier (3)
Juneau - Glacier Adventure by Helipcopter (2)
Ketchikan - Adventure by Kart Expedition (2)
Ketchikan - Classic Misty Fjords Flightplane (2)
Ketchikan - Salmon Fishing (1)
It's coming up fast - starting to focus on clothes to pack. There is still snow all over the ground in these cities.