The new convert's first ever PTR to DCL Alaska Cruise (8/16/11 - 8/23/11)

[englishrose47]

Derek we want lots of pix of the cruise and the helicopter ride !!!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Sorry for the delay (like 3 months) since responding Rosie. I saw Jordan recently when he was visiting in LA with his friend Glenn and he is doing fine. He will be returning to Kentucky on Friday and he seems to be doing well in Kentucky.

Tammie, thanks for taking care of the Wonder for us. I am counting down the days (now that we're under the triple digits. Only a couple of months to go!). I'll have to read up on your travels!

Thanks Brooke, we secured our shore excursions I'll have to give a full report soon. Mostly doing the family friendly stuff since Ashlyn is too young for some of the stuff for the older kids.

Derek! Nice to see you back - I would love to "sea" you on my TR! Your cruise is getting so close! Sounds like you need a vacay!

Sorry folks for the long delay. With 3 kids, their activities (Indian Guides and Indian Princesses campouts), serving at church (in the nursery, leading a bible study and serving on the photography team), being the VP of Programming (event planning) with my University of Chicago Alumni Club, and now being nominated to our church's Children's Ministry Commission (deacon), I'm already exhausted but have crawled out from the rock under which I live.

And now we have full weekends with family events for the month of June including campouts, Family Life Marriage conferences, my business trip to Boston for an Energy Efficiency Conference, and then a trip to New Jersey for Wendy's college friend's wedding.

But fortunately, our Alaskan cruise is little more than 60 days away and counting! Here's our itinerary:

7-Night Alaskan Cruise on Disney Wonder- Itinerary B

August 13 to August 20
Disney Wonder

Day Port
1 Seattle, Washington (4:00 p.m.)
2 At Sea
3 Tracy Arm, Alaska (Cruising)
4 Skagway, Alaska (7:15 a.m. 7:30 p.m.)
5 Juneau, Alaska (7:45 a.m. 12:30 p.m.)
6 Ketchikan, Alaska (7:15 a.m. 12:30 p.m.)
7 Victoria, Canada (7:30 p.m. 10:30 p.m.)
8 Seattle, Washington (9:00 a.m.)

And our shore excursions:

1. Skagway: White Pass Scenic Railway Featuring Exclusive Youth Activity AND Glacier Discovery by Helicopter (for Wendy and myself...hopefully we'll survive)
2. Juneau: Deluxe Tour of Juneau
3. Ketchikan: Saxman Native Village & Exclusive Lumberjack Show

About 60 days left and counting!!! I can hardly wait

Those excursions look great! You're leaving out of Seattle? I didn't realize they were relocating the departure port this year - I thought it was next year. Must have been some issue with Vancouver???

 

[WendyO]

But fortunately, our Alaskan cruise is little more than 60 days away and counting! Here's our itinerary:

7-Night Alaskan Cruise on Disney Wonder- Itinerary B

August 13 to August 20
Disney Wonder

Day Port
1 Seattle, Washington (4:00 p.m.)
2 At Sea
3 Tracy Arm, Alaska (Cruising)
4 Skagway, Alaska (7:15 a.m. 7:30 p.m.)
5 Juneau, Alaska (7:45 a.m. 12:30 p.m.)
6 Ketchikan, Alaska (7:15 a.m. 12:30 p.m.)
7 Victoria, Canada (7:30 p.m. 10:30 p.m.)
8 Seattle, Washington (9:00 a.m.)

Derek must have been very sleepy when writing this because he quoted the itinerary for 8/13-20 but we are on the 8/16-23 cruise, leaving out of Vancouver. So Tammie, you were still correct (we are leaving out of Vancouver) but they do have departures from Seattle I think too...

It's so crazy that it's coming so fast!! Sadly, I think it'll be over before we know it too...

 

[marvali]

Wow, your cruise is getting very close! Been really busy lately for me too! Been keeping up with Jordan on FB.......when I have the chance to check FB!!!

I know you guys will have a great time on the cruise. Looks like a lot of fun activities you have planned.

 

[englishrose47]

Wow, your cruise is getting very close! Been really busy lately for me too! Been keeping up with Jordan on FB.......when I have the chance to check FB!!!

I know you guys will have a great time on the cruise. Looks like a lot of fun activities you have planned.

Iwill have to keep up with him there too !!!

 

[DisneyDerek]

Wow, your cruise is getting very close! Been really busy lately for me too! Been keeping up with Jordan on FB.......when I have the chance to check FB!!!

I know you guys will have a great time on the cruise. Looks like a lot of fun activities you have planned.

Thanks Marv, yes, the trip is getting very close but hopefully won't fly by too quickly

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Happy Father's Day, Derek!

Your cruise is getting really close!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Derek must have been very sleepy when writing this because he quoted the itinerary for 8/13-20 but we are on the 8/16-23 cruise, leaving out of Vancouver. So Tammie, you were still correct (we are leaving out of Vancouver) but they do have departures from Seattle I think too...

It's so crazy that it's coming so fast!! Sadly, I think it'll be over before we know it too...

Okay - I didn't realize some were out of Seattle - Hmmm kind of strange - I wonder if they drop passengers off and then sail empty to Seattle to pick them up? Or start in Seattle and end in Vancouver? I'll have to look that up.

Edited to say: Now I see - Seattle is in 2012! We all need some sleep.

Don't start being sad it's over before you even go!

Oh, and BTW - I am doing a cruise TR

 

[mom3sonstt]

 

[DisneyDerek]

I see a common theme to my posts....me being MIA (Missing In Action). This is especially true when I see posts about Father's Day which was over a month ago

But today, I was reminded that our trip is just around the corner so I decided to stop by for a quick YIPPEEEE

Happy Father's Day, Derek!

Your cruise is getting really close!

Thanks Tammie, I'm just counting down the days. I appreciate the Father's Day wishes...sorry for the belated reply.

Okay - I didn't realize some were out of Seattle - Hmmm kind of strange - I wonder if they drop passengers off and then sail empty to Seattle to pick them up? Or start in Seattle and end in Vancouver? I'll have to look that up.

Edited to say: Now I see - Seattle is in 2012! We all need some sleep.

Don't start being sad it's over before you even go!

Oh, and BTW - I am doing a cruise TR

I'll have to check out your TR. When I can catch a breath before our trip, I'll try to post more to this pTR (notice the "P" is small because not much is being posted BEFORE the trip occurs).

Thanks for the Father's Day wishes. You're the best!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Hi Derek and Wendy! Are you packed yet? I know you have had a busy Summer - you will be at sea already 2 weeks from now! We will be in Phoenix looking around at Jim's new job (for next year when he retires) and checking out the neighborhoods!

I'm excited because he's promised we'll have DL AP's after we move!

If I don't catch you before you leave, Bon Voyage and come back with a TR!!! Hope you all have a great time!

 

[englishrose47]

Bon Voyage Wendy, Derek and kids !!!!!

 

[DisneyDerek]

Hi Derek and Wendy! Are you packed yet? I know you have had a busy Summer - you will be at sea already 2 weeks from now! We will be in Phoenix looking around at Jim's new job (for next year when he retires) and checking out the neighborhoods!

I'm excited because he's promised we'll have DL AP's after we move!

If I don't catch you before you leave, Bon Voyage and come back with a TR!!! Hope you all have a great time!

Thanks Tammie for the send off wishes. I can hardly wait. One more work week to go and I feel like the trip is almost here now that I pulled out the suitcases to start packing (we've still had a busy summer entertaining friends this weekend).

That's amazing that you guys will have DL APs. You'll have to drop us a line when you're in town (although we don't have APs anymore since it breaks our bank with 5 of us. We'll have to drop you a line when we vacation in Scottsdale. Hope everything goes well with you home search. By the way, there is a great (but huge) church in Phoenix called Christ's Church of the Valley (CCV) (see www.ccvonline.com) that we like to visit when we're in the area. The campus is huge and about the size of a junior college but it might be worth checking out.

Bon Voyage Wendy, Derek and kids !!!!!

Thakns Rosie for the bon voyage wishes. This has been planning this for like 2 years (although you wouldn't know it from my PTR)!

 

[DisneyDerek]

I can't believe that after two years in the planning, in 2 days, we'll be headed off on our Disney Alaskan cruise. And now come all the regrets of not building this PTR into what it was meant to become....but alas, the journey had many twists and turns. Here's a recap.

1. Jordan decided to head east to Kentucky in July 2010 and successfully graduate from PureLife. We are so proud of him but alas, the family impetus for the Disboards was not around to shepherd the process
2. The kids had many activities and our littlest (Ashlyn, now 3) was showing that despite being the youngest and smallest, she could demand a lot of time.
3. The joys of being a dad to a former Indian Princess (Erin) and new Indian Guide (Dylan) meant plenty of camping trips..sigh
4. Little did I know that my work would hit full gear with business conferences in Washington DC and Boston. Fortunately, due to my vacation next week, I will miss attending another conference in Boston. However, more is yet to come.
5. After realizing that the kids were sapping up so much time, Wendy and I were able to have a short recharge during a couples marriage retreat in late June.
6. Being a guy who doesn't say "no" to volunteer opportunities, I "doubled down" with commitments to the University of Chicago Los Angeles Alumni Club being webmaster, VP of Programming Events, and assisting others. The second commitment was to my church.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

I can't believe that after two years in the planning, in 2 days, we'll be headed off on our Disney Alaskan cruise. And now come all the regrets of not building this PTR into what it was meant to become....but alas, the journey had many twists and turns. Here's a recap.

1. Jordan decided to head east to Kentucky in July 2010 and successfully graduate from PureLife. We are so proud of him but alas, the family impetus for the Disboards was not around to shepherd the process
2. The kids had many activities and our littlest (Ashlyn, now 3) was showing that despite being the youngest and smallest, she could demand a lot of time.
3. The joys of being a dad to a former Indian Princess (Erin) and new Indian Guide (Dylan) meant plenty of camping trips..sigh
4. Little did I know that my work would hit full gear with business conferences in Washington DC and Boston. Fortunately, due to my vacation next week, I will miss attending another conference in Boston. However, more is yet to come.
5. After realizing that the kids were sapping up so much time, Wendy and I were able to have a short recharge during a couples marriage retreat in late June.
6. Being a guy who doesn't say "no" to volunteer opportunities, I "doubled down" with commitments to the University of Chicago Los Angeles Alumni Club being webmaster, VP of Programming Events, and assisting others. The second commitment was to my church.

Have a wonderful time, all of you! Just come back and post some pics - if you don't have time to write, we understand!

Thanks for the church recommendation - we will have to check it out, and definitely stay in touch!

 

[englishrose47]

Derek and Wendy !!Have a wonderful cruise and pleeese post pix when you return !!I had a wonderful letter from Jordan this week !!I will be taking it to WDW later this weekand will send him a postcard from there .

 

[DisneyDerek]

Have a wonderful time, all of you! Just come back and post some pics - if you don't have time to write, we understand!

Thanks for the church recommendation - we will have to check it out, and definitely stay in touch!

Derek and Wendy !!Have a wonderful cruise and pleeese post pix when you return !!I had a wonderful letter from Jordan this week !!I will be taking it to WDW later this weekand will send him a postcard from there .

Hi Tammie and Rosie. Sorry for my delinquency in posting photos and updates about our Alakan Disney cruise. I can't believe that the two years has come and passed. Towards the end of our cruise, we were ready to make a deposit on our next one but alas, we have more immediate travel plans in November to Hawaii (Oahu & Maui) to attend Wendy's cousin's wedding.

I promise to post photos soon as well as an update of the trip. I'm not as good at Jordan at journaling our "to dos" during our Disney trips so I'll be doing it from wrought memory but hopefully that will be good enough.

But in a nutshell, the trip was good and the greatest part was spending time with our friends and family. Unfortunately, this wasn't the most relaxing Disney trip for us as we learned with traveling with a 3 yr old (Ashlyn) who has a mind of her own but Erin and Dylan definitely had a blast. I think I'm ready to go on another cruise in a couple of years when Ashlyn will be more mature and ready to attend the Oceaneer's Lab and Club on her own.

More to come......i promise....

 

[glennbo123]

I'm glad you had a good cruise Derek (and Wendy and kids). If you ever do a report on it, I'd be up for reading it.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Hi Derek, thanks for taking the hint and checking in! I'm glad you had a nice cruise, even if it was so busy. I'm looking forward to seeing something about it when you have time! A TR can be quite time consuming.

 

[englishrose47]

Can't wait to hear all about the Cruise Derek !!!