Official Seattle information thread Updated 5/28/2014-Oso update

[Bunless]

I haven't lived in the Seattle area in about 7 years so I won't comment specifically, but I'm quite sure the PP meant 2am when the bars close!!

LOL, yes...oh my goodness.

 

[stitch_mama]

I've used them many times as well, with no issues. In fact had amazing service last January, landing in a snowstorm and the driver actually got me home when cars were stalling out all around us. Very impressive!

Thank you all so much for the advice! I think I'm going to book my parents with them. If they can handle a snowstorm so well, I think they'll be able to get my parents to the airport on a Monday in May...

 

[Bill Seattle]

Sorry, I can't seem to find the official Seattle thread that's on this board somewhere.

We are flying into Seatac on Saturday 5/19 at around 9 p.m. We are going to stay at Best Western Pioneer Square and take Amtrak to Vancouver Sunday morning for our cruise.

Do you think it's safe between 9 and 10 p.m. on a Saturday night for us to take the light rail to Pioneer Square and walk to the Best Western?

The area where the light rail exits at 3rd and Yesler for Pioneer Square is sketchy thanks to many shelters and homeless near there (makes me nervous just stopping at the stop light there) but you will probably be fine on a Saturday night in late spring. The problem is luggage can make you a target for aggressive panhandlers. When you exit, walk quickly west on Yesler towards the water. Don't turn back towards 3rd Avenue. Once you dash across 2nd Avenue you should be fine as you approach the bar hopping crowd in Pioneer Square. The hotel is not really far from the light rail.
Get to the Amtrak Station early so you can request the left side of the train before everyone else does.

 

[Makeminemusic]

Great thread NWMom!!

Just wanted to add that we do have a few Disney things to explore here in Washington state if you have some time.

- The Experience Music Project (EMP) is also the home the Sci-Fi museum. Last time I was there they had the "Rocketeer's" entire outfit on display along with a few other Disney items. Great place to geek out!!

- Over in Sequim, WA (about 2 hours - take ferry) you can find the Olympic Game Farm tour which was owned by Disney to train and house animals for films/tv shows. The Incredible Journey was filmed there, as well as many Disney TV movies. Ask about the barn tour and Disney history! Tell em the "MountainEars" sent you!

And if you decide to go to Mt Rainier you should know that this is where Walt and Lilian Disney had their honeymoon!

 

[mellers]

- The Experience Music Project (EMP) is also the home the Sci-Fi museum. Last time I was there they had the "Rocketeer's" entire outfit on display along with a few other Disney items. Great place to geek out!!

Sadly, they completely redid the Sci Fi museum and took out all of the old displays, including the Rocketeer and other cool Disney stuff. The last time I was there, it was entirely devoted to Avatar--I guess the new paradigm is they are going to highlight one sci-fi exhibit at a time. I was disappointed--I liked the old museum.

 

[eandesmom]

The area where the light rail exits at 3rd and Yesler for Pioneer Square is sketchy thanks to many shelters and homeless near there (makes me nervous just stopping at the stop light there) but you will probably be fine on a Saturday night in late spring. The problem is luggage can make you a target for aggressive panhandlers. When you exit, walk quickly west on Yesler towards the water. Don't turn back towards 3rd Avenue. Once you dash across 2nd Avenue you should be fine as you approach the bar hopping crowd in Pioneer Square. The hotel is not really far from the light rail.
Get to the Amtrak Station early so you can request the left side of the train before everyone else does.

I'd have to agree with this. With kids and the bar crowd, plus the homeless while it might be fine...it might also be a little uncomfortable. 9-10 is relatively early so the college crowd shouldn't be too bad at that hour. It really depends on your tolerance level, what you are used to and what your kids might be used to. Without the luggage, no biggie but Seattle isn't a town folks wheel around their luggage so it's pretty noticeable.

Great thread NWMom!!

Just wanted to add that we do have a few Disney things to explore here in Washington state if you have some time.

- The Experience Music Project (EMP) is also the home the Sci-Fi museum. Last time I was there they had the "Rocketeer's" entire outfit on display along with a few other Disney items. Great place to geek out!!

- Over in Sequim, WA (about 2 hours - take ferry) you can find the Olympic Game Farm tour which was owned by Disney to train and house animals for films/tv shows. The Incredible Journey was filmed there, as well as many Disney TV movies. Ask about the barn tour and Disney history! Tell em the "MountainEars" sent you!

And if you decide to go to Mt Rainier you should know that this is where Walt and Lilian Disney had their honeymoon!

And you can feed the animals at the game farm out of your car! Or at least you used to be able to. Not sure if they still offer that or not. Depending on ferry times though, it can take longer and that's 2 hours each way.

There is a small Disney office here, part of their Interactive Media group. Nothing to see mind you but kind of cool nonetheless.

Sadly, they completely redid the Sci Fi museum and took out all of the old displays, including the Rocketeer and other cool Disney stuff. The last time I was there, it was entirely devoted to Avatar--I guess the new paradigm is they are going to highlight one sci-fi exhibit at a time. I was disappointed--I liked the old museum.

But if you go on a Wednesday you can say hi to my dad! He works the Avatar exhibit every weds.

I loved the Rocketeer stuff too, haven't even been to the not so new exhibit since he took the kids while I was at work one day.

 

[LeslieG]

The area where the light rail exits at 3rd and Yesler for Pioneer Square is sketchy thanks to many shelters and homeless near there (makes me nervous just stopping at the stop light there) but you will probably be fine on a Saturday night in late spring. The problem is luggage can make you a target for aggressive panhandlers. When you exit, walk quickly west on Yesler towards the water. Don't turn back towards 3rd Avenue. Once you dash across 2nd Avenue you should be fine as you approach the bar hopping crowd in Pioneer Square. The hotel is not really far from the light rail.
Get to the Amtrak Station early so you can request the left side of the train before everyone else does.

This sounds a little too sketchy for me. I think we'll just arrange a town car from the airport. Coming from the east coast, it will feel like midnight to us at 9:00. Combine that with the walk from the airport to the light rail, and the kids may have just about had enough. Dodging panhandlers on top of that, I think we'll probably skip the light rail this trip.

Maybe we'll try it though on the trip back to the airport at the end of the cruise. Would it be reasonable to catch a taxi to the Westlake Station and take the light rail from there to the airport?

 

[LeslieG]

The area where the light rail exits at 3rd and Yesler for Pioneer Square is sketchy thanks to many shelters and homeless near there (makes me nervous just stopping at the stop light there) but you will probably be fine on a Saturday night in late spring. The problem is luggage can make you a target for aggressive panhandlers. When you exit, walk quickly west on Yesler towards the water. Don't turn back towards 3rd Avenue. Once you dash across 2nd Avenue you should be fine as you approach the bar hopping crowd in Pioneer Square. The hotel is not really far from the light rail.
Get to the Amtrak Station early so you can request the left side of the train before everyone else does.

This sounds a little too sketchy for me. I think we'll just arrange a town car from the airport. Coming from the east coast, it will feel like midnight to us at 9:00. Combine that with the walk from the airport to the light rail, and the kids may have just about had enough. Dodging panhandlers on top of that, I think we'll probably skip the light rail this trip.

Maybe we'll try it though on the trip back to the airport at the end of the cruise. Would it be reasonable to catch a taxi to the Westlake Station and take the light rail from there to the airport?

 

[trimix]

NWMOM - if you see this, a small correction is needed in the second post. The code for Seattle is SEA. Neither the IATA nor ICAO use six letter identifiers.

And for people who are in Seattle for a few days before or after their cruise and who enjoy seafood, here's my suggestion for a nice dinner: Anthony's in Bremerton. Make your way to the ferry terminal in Seattle and buy walk-on tickets for the Bremerton ferry. The fare is only collected westbound and is $7.50 for adults, $6.05 for kids. Up on deck you have wonderful views of Seattle as you leave Elliot Bay and cross the Puget Sound. In Bremerton the Anthony's is easily less than a five minute walk from the ferry.

This is different from taking an Argosy lunch or dinner waterfront cruise, but it is also a lot cheaper.

 

[NWmom]

Got it! Thanks.

I wanted to add on the where to buy alcohol question a small update:

May cruises- state liquor store

June and later cruises- The onitiative that passed that would make this change is being reviewed. We have a system to vote in changes, but the initiative can only have one issue on it.

There seems to be a snag in the vote in that it included funding for some safety measures related to drinking.

The technicality is that legally it may imply that it would not have passed without that measure wo it really included the vote to change where it was sold AND the funding for this program.

So now we wait for the legal appeals to continue on.

If it is not resolved, the current status of liquor stores will continue.
If the initiative is overturned, it will be liquor stores.

If it stays in place--Costco and large stores (not small 7-11 places)

 

[eandesmom]

Got it! Thanks.

I wanted to add on the where to buy alcohol question a small update:

May cruises- state liquor store

June and later cruises- The onitiative that passed that would make this change is being reviewed. We have a system to vote in changes, but the initiative can only have one issue on it.

There seems to be a snag in the vote in that it included funding for some safety measures related to drinking.

The technicality is that legally it may imply that it would not have passed without that measure wo it really included the vote to change where it was sold AND the funding for this program.

So now we wait for the legal appeals to continue on.

If it is not resolved, the current status of liquor stores will continue.
If the initiative is overturned, it will be liquor stores.

If it stays in place--Costco and large stores (not small 7-11 places)

Also, be aware (and this may change between now and May) that at present, the state stores have started reducing inventory and are on a "countdown". I was in there monday to get a specialty item (Irish Mist for making the Raglan Road Bread Pudding) and it looked like they'd be closing in 3 weeks, not 7! The cashier told me they are in clear out mode and on a countdown but that could change depending on how the appeal process goes.

Point being, if it's something special or harder to find, you might be best off packing it in bubble wrap in your suitcase!

Needless to say I had to substitute something else for the Irish Mist.

 

[eandesmom]

This sounds a little too sketchy for me. I think we'll just arrange a town car from the airport. Coming from the east coast, it will feel like midnight to us at 9:00. Combine that with the walk from the airport to the light rail, and the kids may have just about had enough. Dodging panhandlers on top of that, I think we'll probably skip the light rail this trip.

Maybe we'll try it though on the trip back to the airport at the end of the cruise. Would it be reasonable to catch a taxi to the Westlake Station and take the light rail from there to the airport?

You'd actually be heading backwards to do that. I'm not sure what light rail station is closest to the cruise terminal but it's definitely not westlake.

NWMOM - if you see this, a small correction is needed in the second post. The code for Seattle is SEA. Neither the IATA nor ICAO use six letter identifiers.

And for people who are in Seattle for a few days before or after their cruise and who enjoy seafood, here's my suggestion for a nice dinner: Anthony's in Bremerton. Make your way to the ferry terminal in Seattle and buy walk-on tickets for the Bremerton ferry. The fare is only collected westbound and is $7.50 for adults, $6.05 for kids. Up on deck you have wonderful views of Seattle as you leave Elliot Bay and cross the Puget Sound. In Bremerton the Anthony's is easily less than a five minute walk from the ferry.

This is different from taking an Argosy lunch or dinner waterfront cruise, but it is also a lot cheaper.

It is, and if the weather is nice, could be just lovely! Do be aware that the ferry ride to and from Bremerton is 1 hour and you'd want to time your dinner for the right boat back or it can be a long wait.

 

[Bill Seattle]

This sounds a little too sketchy for me. I think we'll just arrange a town car from the airport. Coming from the east coast, it will feel like midnight to us at 9:00. Combine that with the walk from the airport to the light rail, and the kids may have just about had enough. Dodging panhandlers on top of that, I think we'll probably skip the light rail this trip.

Maybe we'll try it though on the trip back to the airport at the end of the cruise. Would it be reasonable to catch a taxi to the Westlake Station and take the light rail from there to the airport?

You are literally talking about two short blocks to your hotel. Google says it's .2 miles or 4 minute walk. Should be fine. I would do it if I were you.
Light Rail will take at least 35 minutes not including wait time. Keep in mind "Central Link Light Rail" stops in all the not-so-good neighborhoods and many of the ruffians will be getting on, already loaded, to head downtown for the bars. For me that would be much worse than the 2 block walk.

 

[Bunless]

You are literally talking about two short blocks to your hotel. Google says it's .2 miles or 4 minute walk. Should be fine. I would do it if I were you.
Light Rail will take at least 35 minutes not including wait time. Keep in mind "Central Link Light Rail" stops in all the not-so-good neighborhoods and many of the ruffians will be getting on, already loaded, to head downtown for the bars. For me that would be much worse than the 2 block walk.

Agreed, I think it should also be mentioned that when you hear about the not-so-good neighborhoods and the 'dangerous' Pioneer Square, it's all relative. What are considered the worst and most dangerous areas in Seattle would be like some of the best downtown areas in other cities.

 

[eandesmom]

You are literally talking about two short blocks to your hotel. Google says it's .2 miles or 4 minute walk. Should be fine. I would do it if I were you.
Light Rail will take at least 35 minutes not including wait time. Keep in mind "Central Link Light Rail" stops in all the not-so-good neighborhoods and many of the ruffians will be getting on, already loaded, to head downtown for the bars. For me that would be much worse than the 2 block walk.

Agreed, I think it should also be mentioned that when you hear about the not-so-good neighborhoods and the 'dangerous' Pioneer Square, it's all relative. What are considered the worst and most dangerous areas in Seattle would be like some of the best downtown areas in other cities.

I agree with both points above. It really depends on where you come from and what you are comfortable with. I wouldn't say it will be dangerous unless maybe it's the middle of the night. It is perhaps more sad, and icky, than dangerous per-se. I was on it at midnight on a Friday night and it really wasn't a big deal. And we had luggage. Yeah, some not so great neighborhoods and folks getting on and off but compared to parts of Chicago, NYC? bah. Not a big deal. We had luggage up by the market though and Westlake, there will be more people to dodge with it if you are in Pioneer Square so just bear that in mind.

For me, it was a very slow ride to go a relatively short distance due to the seeming bazillion stops it made. We tried it for the novelty factor and honestly my time is worth more than the hour I lost on that experience (after an already delayed flight) so in the end I felt like I lost money versus the opposite. I was incredibly grateful we had a smart phone so at least I could have a pizza delivered to the hotel by the time we made it there since it was so late, everything was closed (FYI in Seattle, you will be hard pressed to find food after 10pm, even on a weekend). If at some point, there is an express train, as most end up having to the airport, that'd be a very different story.

 

[trimix]

You'd actually be heading backwards to do that. I'm not sure what light rail station is closest to the cruise terminal but it's definitely not westlake.

This didn't seem right to me, so I took a look at the Link light rail route maps. The Westlake station is as far northwest as the rail line goes; from there it goes about a block west under Pine then south under 3rd. There is no closer station to pier 91 than Westlake. It is about three miles from Pier 91.

 

[MillauFr]

Keep in mind "Central Link Light Rail" stops in all the not-so-good neighborhoods and many of the ruffians will be getting on, already loaded, to head downtown for the bars. For me that would be much worse than the 2 block walk.

Not-so-good is relative term. I've lived here 20 years and I have yet to find a "bad" neighborhood in Seattle. Most of the "bad" neighborhoods are in suburbs not in Seattle. I work in Pioneer Square and take the light rail at night with never a problem. The ruffians that will rob you blind are mostly working at Goldman Sachs not riding the light rail.

 

[pixie08]

Not-so-good is relative term. I've lived here 20 years and I have yet to find a "bad" neighborhood in Seattle. Most of the "bad" neighborhoods are in suburbs not in Seattle. I work in Pioneer Square and take the light rail at night with never a problem. The ruffians that will rob you blind are mostly working at Goldman Sachs not riding the light rail.

Sounds like New York. I'll feel right at home!

 

[Makeminemusic]

This was in today's paper. Looks like next year DCL will homeport in Vancouver, but may be back after that.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

This was in today's paper. Looks like next year DCL will homeport in Vancouver, but may be back after that.

What I got from the article is that Seattle is hopeful to have the Wonder back in 2014 for economic reasons.

Seattle has space to accommodate Disney ships, he said, and officials believe Disney might come back in 2014.

"They've not made a decision for 2014," McGraw said, "so we're confident that once they've had the experience of being in Seattle, their options will remain open."