Sept. 23, 2012 Pacific Coast - Wonder Cruise

[peja]

Glindamood, I'd love to answer your question for you but I am a newby to cruising this is only our second disney cruise, and so far planning and working everything out has been alot more complicated than when we did it through Orlando/Port Canaveral. I guess this is another reason why Disney Wonder did not do so well out in LA??? Too bad they are pulling out. I personally have never been to Cali, but I hear it is breathtaking.

I was wondering if this question can be answered for me by the Southern Californians. We apparently dock at Pier 35 in San Francisco? I googled mapped and according to Google Maps that we are walking distance from Alcatraz Cruises and Fisherman's Wharf??? I just want to confirm cause last weekend I used google maps to head out to my friend's cottage which is at a major tourist attraction here in my home Province and Google maps lead me about 4 miles past the point I wanted to get to :-(. LOL I want to make sure of this before I book my time at my first ever Alcatraz tour.

Thank you

 

[socababy]

Glindamood, I'd love to answer your question for you but I am a newby to cruising this is only our second disney cruise, and so far planning and working everything out has been alot more complicated than when we did it through Orlando/Port Canaveral. I guess this is another reason why Disney Wonder did not do so well out in LA??? Too bad they are pulling out. I personally have never been to Cali, but I hear it is breathtaking.

I was wondering if this question can be answered for me by the Southern Californians. We apparently dock at Pier 35 in San Francisco? I googled mapped and according to Google Maps that we are walking distance from Alcatraz Cruises and Fisherman's Wharf??? I just want to confirm cause last weekend I used google maps to head out to my friend's cottage which is at a major tourist attraction here in my home Province and Google maps lead me about 4 miles past the point I wanted to get to :-(. LOL I want to make sure of this before I book my time at my first ever Alcatraz tour.

Thank you

I have only been to San Fran once before but this is the first time by cruise ship! From what I understand is where we are docked is the Fisherman's Wharf area. Someone correct me if I am wrong!! I have also read that the Alcatraz boats leave from the pier near where we will dock.

 

[BigDisneyOE]

I was wondering if this question can be answered for me by the Southern Californians. We apparently dock at Pier 35 in San Francisco? I googled mapped and according to Google Maps that we are walking distance from Alcatraz Cruises and Fisherman's Wharf??? I just want to confirm cause last weekend I used google maps to head out to my friend's cottage which is at a major tourist attraction here in my home Province and Google maps lead me about 4 miles past the point I wanted to get to :-(. LOL I want to make sure of this before I book my time at my first ever Alcatraz tour.

Thank you

Okay I'm not a local but DH has spent a lot of time in San Fran. He says you are looking at a two minute walk from the Wonder to Peir 35 where the Alcatraz tours go from and Fishrmans Wharf. We've booked privately for Alcatraz and we'll be taking the preschoolers and will walk it. Google maps does have some glitches in it but he reckons the walk is quick and a no-brainer.

Gail - what's lobster night? More costumes?

 

[glindamood]

Okay I'm not a local but DH has spent a lot of time in San Fran. He says you are looking at a two minute walk from the Wonder to Peir 35 where the Alcatraz tours go from and Fishrmans Wharf. We've booked privately for Alcatraz and we'll be taking the preschoolers and will walk it. Google maps does have some glitches in it but he reckons the walk is quick and a no-brainer.

Gail - what's lobster night? More costumes?

Marian - No costumes required. Lobster is on the menu that is typically served on semi-formal night. Since we like lobster it has just become 'lobster night' to me so sorry to confuse you.

Based on the DCL excursions (like the wax museum for instance) they appear to be close by as they are just do on your own excursions and they say you can walk so I think we are all right there in the thick of it all.

HOHO (hop on, hop off) in San Diego - is everyone talking about the trolley, like the one in Key West? I am hoping so as I am thinking that is what we will be doing. Amazingly enough - it is the same company that runs the one in Key West (and Boston too). Based on the picture that DCL posted, that is another one that they are telling people they will walk to so again, it must be close.

OK, time to hit the hay with my Kindle. The dogs are already having doggy dreams. They play almost as hard when they sleep as they do when they are awake. So good night - or good day, depending on your corner of the world.

 

[BigDisneyOE]

In one month (the 8th of August) we are flying to Sydney for my brothers wedding... then in one more month (the 8th of September) we'll be on the flight to LAX. Actually we are pretty much boarding the night flight right about now in exactly two months from today.

Gail - ah lobster, like crayfish. Oli wants to try to lobster pasta dish, he likes seafood. I'm allergic, so he's doing that on with his Dad while I sit up the other end of the table.

 

[AussieMumma]

Wow a hive of activity in here the past few days!! So totally confused by all of your OGT VGT and did I see an IGT??!!!
We are in cat 9A, and the idea of a balcony freaks me out with the kids so I think we'll be staying put!

ShinyDaisy, Thats no good about not coming on the cruise. I'll have to let dd know that her email buddy isn't sailing with us anymore.

Gail, how is the umm 'smell' going?! Is there nothing that neutralizes it, like tomato juice or something?? So glad we don't have skunks in Australia! Only deadly snakes and spiders to deal with over here
mmm lobster, we love lobster!!!

Marian, How is your thumb?
Wow not long for you with your holidays! You fly to LA on my eldest dd's 14th Birthday 8th of Sep
No lobsters in NZ?


peja, The Alcatraz tour that my dh and boys are doing goes from Pier 33, so the very next pier to our 35, so I presume you walk the width of the ship and your there


11 weeks today

 

[erbie]

Re where we dock and Alcatraz/getting around: I was on the LA-Vancouver repo last year, and we docked right next to the dock where the Alcatraz boats leave from. There's a lot within walking distance, the entire Fisherman's Wharf, Ghirardelli, the cable cars. And SF is a very friendly city with lots of public transportation. (Not like LA!) There's BART, the Muni trains, cable cars, busses, and streetcars. It's great.

We walked to Ghirardelli and the cable car one day, and took the bus to the Exploratorium the other. Those with kids will want to check out the Exploratorium website and see if it's something they'd want to do. It takes a while, depending on bus schedule, but it's a lot of fun for the kids. If you have a museum membership where you live, be sure to bring your membership card, as it might be free.

The cable car museum is also pretty interesting, though maybe moreso for the older kids. You can see the cables turning that pull all the cable cars around the city. The cars just clamp on to the continuously running cable when they want to move.

 

[glindamood]

Good morning! Wow Mariam, you are going to be busy! I can't wait to hear all about the wedding when you get back.

Skunk - to be honest, I think that I am the one that smells now, at least my hands. Skunk spray is oily based so I used liquid dish soap, baking soda and peroxide. It works amazingly well (except on me of course) since I bathed both dogs in it, they don't smell anymore but I do.

I am so looking forward to our stop in San Francisco, that is an item on my bucket list. I might have to go back someday and spend more time. I went looking into the cable cars (on my list of things to do) and found this website, just thought I would share. http://www.sfcablecar.com/

Enjoy!

 

[socababy]

I am so looking forward to our stop in San Francisco, that is an item on my bucket list. I might have to go back someday and spend more time. I went looking into the cable cars (on my list of things to do) and found this website, just thought I would share. http://www.sfcablecar.com/

Enjoy!

Thanks for posting the link! It sounds like getting a day pass is the way to go if you plan on using the cable car more than once in a day. The best news is that dd will still be 4 when we are in SF for another week so she'll be free to ride! This will be the first big walking trip that dd will be on without a stroller. Hopefully she'll do well and if not, we will make use of the cable cars.

 

[peja]

Thank you for the Cable Car link in SF, that is a must for my husband so he will be all over that.

Today booked our Alcatraz tour, we are headed out on September 26 at noon. Thought that way I can save some money and have breakfast and lunch on the ship before we head out. Also allow us to sleep in cause, hubby and I are gonna leave the kids with MIL and have a adult evening in SF.

I figured we could just stroll through some of the attractions in SF on the 25th, the frist day there. We will head to Fisherman's Wharf and ride a cable car. Maybe head to the Golden Gate as well, might leave that for after supper to see it at night??

In San Diego, we will head to sea world. And in Ensenada, we are just gonna wing it, might not even get off the ship. Depends what the travel advisory will be. At present the Canadian Government has an advisory for the area???

TTYL

 

[BigDisneyOE]

Gail - yep it's a busy couple of months. The kids will miss four weeks of kindergarten this next term. Would you believe they are on holiday for two weeks as soon as we get back to NZ? Typical! And I've got WOW tickets for Rich and I the night after we get back - given how difficult it is to get tickets to NZ's World of Wearable Arts we are getting a friend to kidsit and going even if we fall asleep.

Thanks for the link on the cable cars. We knew the kids were free on most transport (San Diego too from memory) until they turn five. Big saving for us.

Not good on aroma de skunk still on your hands. How long until it naturally wears off?

Erbie - that museum has been recommended by a close friend too, so it sounds like it might be a nice afternoon activity. We've scheduled our Alcatraz and fire truck tours for the morning to return for lunch on the Wonder and we could do that on the second afternoon maybe.

Socababy - your daughter is only about six weeks older than my boys. Is she going to kids club? The boys are a bit nervous about kids club, might help if they met your daughter at the cruise meet to see there are other children the same age going with them.

Peja - we are just going to walk into the main shopping street from the ship in Ensenada, it's an easy walk and we'll have some food and do some shopping.

 

[socababy]

Gail -


Socababy - your daughter is only about six weeks older than my boys. Is she going to kids club? The boys are a bit nervous about kids club, might help if they met your daughter at the cruise meet to see there are other children the same age going with them.

QUOTE]

I sure hope she does! This will be a different cruise for her since she will be without her brothers. It may take her a day or two to feel comfortable with me dropping her off. That's one reason why I chose Thursday to have brunch at Palo. I'll know by early Wed whether or not she will be okay being dropped off and if she is not, I'll cancel brunch. On our past cruises, she has LOVED going to the Club and Lab. Hopefully she'll want to spend some time there this cruise too. If not, I will not fight her on it since this is a mommy/daughter cruise celebrating her bday!

 

[peja]

Socababy and Big Disney OE: I have a 5 year old boy that would also love to meet your kids and make some new friends. Think we could arrange a day at the pool or a meet at the kids club so they can play???

 

[socababy]

Socababy and Big Disney OE: I have a 5 year old boy that would also love to meet your kids and make some new friends. Think we could arrange a day at the pool or a meet at the kids club so they can play???

Absolutely!!

 

[erbie]

Socababy and Big Disney OE: I have a 5 year old boy that would also love to meet your kids and make some new friends. Think we could arrange a day at the pool or a meet at the kids club so they can play???

My six year old girl will also be happy to meet lots of new friends!

 

[BigDisneyOE]

Yes absolutely, it makes it easier for the kids if they feel like they have a few friends they can recognise amongst all the masses of new people at a kids club.

I think my two are nervous as it's so many new faces and a new place - they've only know kindergarten as a structured play time, we tend to go on holidays where we stay at places without a kids club.

 

[socababy]

Is anyone purchasing the CityPass? I think it may be a good deal for me but for dd since she is 4 and gets in free to a lot of places, it isn't a good deal. I just want to make sure that she still gets in free to certain places if I have the CityPass and not a full price ticket. I like how the cabel cars are included because I am sure dd will want to ride those a few times each day not only for the thrill of it but because she'd rather ride than walk.

 

[jetskigrl]

Hi everyone!!
Wow, I go offline for a few days and come back to 5 pages of new posts....awesome!!!

I'm glad to see that Socababy got the VGT rate I'm looking forward to meeting you in person this time!!!

For the question about the VGT, I just found an email buried in my inbox from my TA that said DCL sent her an email indicating that the VGT rates had gone down and that we would be getting a refund of the difference.....awesome!!! I am very surprised (pleasantly surprised) that DCL did that. WTG DCL!

I had a great long 4th of July weekend at my sister's house in No. California. I'm looking forward to seeing my sister and BIL in September when we are in San Fran

Now that this trip is over, it is time for me to get serious about FE gifts.

 

[BlondeJungleBookFan]

Anyone planning on going to Sea World when we get to SD?

The Disney Excursion seems high.

Should we just grab a cab? or a bus? and buy our tickets online with our AAA discount?

Any ideas or suggestions welcome!!

 

[erbie]

Anyone planning on going to Sea World when we get to SD?

The Disney Excursion seems high.

Should we just grab a cab? or a bus? and buy our tickets online with our AAA discount?

Any ideas or suggestions welcome!!

Not planning to go, and I have no idea how far away SW is from the port. There are two schools of thought on excursions. It's invariably cheaper if you do it on your own, but if you're late back, the ship won't wait for you. If the excursion is late, the ship will wait, or DCL will make arrangements to get you to the next port/back to the ship.

That said, since we're in SD relatively late, I think it would be safe to cab it or bus it. Just make sure to leave twice as much time as you think you'll need to get back. Take into account time of day and rush hour, etc. If you do plan to go, you can probably find tickets beforehand for a lot cheaper. Do you have TicketsAtWork.com? They tend to have some good deals.

We will have been in Encinitas for the weekend the week before the cruise, so we'll likely stay on the ship in SD, unless I can convince DH to go to the SD Zoo. Though I'm trying to talk him into going the weekend we're in Encinitas, and then we'll definitely stay on the ship and have the pools to ourselves.