**** Vancouver FAQ Thread **** A few updates in main post!

[smeecanada]

Thanks for sharing the above quotes! Are there any Canadians out there who can share what the current child seat laws are in Canada? Not sure if we would need one for a 5 year old in a cab. Thanks!

Children up to age 8 need to be in a booster type seat in a vehicle. Not sure what rules apply to a cab though.

Well, in traditional Disney fashion it looks like they are giving out conflicting information. I have heard that CP is much nicer than Ballantyne... sure hope they are using CP.

Canada Place is way nicer. Ballantyne Pier is more or less a warehouse type building.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

Thanks for sharing the above quotes! Are there any Canadians out there who can share what the current child seat laws are in Canada? Not sure if we would need one for a 5 year old in a cab. Thanks!

The rules differ province to province. In BC, a 5-year old is required to be in a booster seat when riding in any vehicle equipped with seat belts. However, in practice, you may be able to use a regular seat belt on the short trip from the Vancouver airport to the port. However, I would suggest taking public transit (Skytrain) instead -- it's safer and just as fast.

From CanadianParents.com (BC specific regulations):

• Children must ride in a rear facing car seat until they are a minimum of 20 pounds (9 kg) and at least 1 year of age.
• Children who are at least 1 year of age, at least 20 pounds (9 kg) but less than 40 pounds (18 kg) must ride in an appropriate (forward facing or rear facing) car seat.
• Children must ride in a booster seat until they are a minimum of 4 feet, 9 inches (145 cm) tall, or a minimum of 9 years old.

Another legal quirk: Only CSA certified car seats are legal for use in Canada. (Similarly, only TSA approved car seats are legal for use in the US.) However, in practice, tourists crossing the border with car seats from their own jurisdictions are never penalized.

 

[poohj80]

Many thanks for the help!

 

[GrtWtNorth]

I just called DCL and the rep said Canada Place. The other port is Ballantyne and is only 5-10 minutes away-but it is nice to know that Canada Place is the correct port since I have already booked our hotel at the Pan Pacific for pre and post cruise stays!!

With the downturn in the economy, Ballantyne pier is not being used in 2010. With the addition of Disney and Crystal cruise lines in 2011, there may be enough traffic that the Ballantyne pier will be used again. Ballantyne is fine operationally, but it's location is not ideal, in a rough neighbourhood with limited services. However, there are lots of transportation opportunities from the vicinity of Canada Place.

 

[disneydreamerbelle]

For sightseeing after the cruise is Pan Pacific a good location to be at? Or is there another area that might be better suited for us?

 

[smeecanada]

For sightseeing after the cruise is Pan Pacific a good location to be at? Or is there another area that might be better suited for us?

Any hotel in the downtown area near the Port is a good place to be for sightseeing. Things are fairly close together and public transportation is really good.

 

[ibouncetoo]

The most important question.....

where's the nearest JapaDog stand!!!?!?????

.

 

[geoffrey]

For sightseeing after the cruise is Pan Pacific a good location to be at? Or is there another area that might be better suited for us?

The Pan Pacific is in a great location. Very central in the downtown and easy access to the skytrain and sea bus.

Personally, I really like being near False Creek on the other side of downtown. Totally personal preference, but we really like it over there. We really like to walk on the sea wall walk and pop over to the market for snacks. But we have been there a lot, so we are probably not normal tourists.

 

[princess81499]

Any suggestions of what hotel might offer a day room (our flight home is really late and we would love to relax, swim, nap, shower before heading to airport)?

 

[giftcard]

The most important question.....

where's the nearest JapaDog stand!!!?!?????

There are four locations:

Burrard and Smithe St / Stand
Burrard and Pender St / Stand
530 Robson St / Store
In front of Waterfront Station / Stand

The stand in front of Waterfront Station is the closest as it's right around the corner from Canada Place.

I got the locations from their website, Japa Dog, the only stand I personally know is the one outside the Sutton Place Hotel at Burrard & Smithe.

 

[poohj80]

The most important question.....

where's the nearest JapaDog stand!!!?!?????

.

Ok, so what's a JapaDog?

 

[giftcard]

Ok, so what's a JapaDog?

Hotdogs w/ Japanese toppings. Grated radish, plum sauce, seaweed flakes, edamame, fish flakes, fried cabbage, Japanese mayo, okonomiyaki sauce etc. I still haven't gotten around to trying one as the lines are always insane and I'm not really that adventurous but all my friends love them. I think I heard they also have a salmon "hotdog" and I think someone said something about Kobe beef in addition to the regular hotdog (I believe they're pork).

 

[giftcard]

Any suggestions of what hotel might offer a day room (our flight home is really late and we would love to relax, swim, nap, shower before heading to airport)?

Last summer I needed to be out of my apartment during the day due to some work being done. I called a couple of the hotels in my neighbourhood and they all offered day rooms. The problem was, it was same day only. So hotels in Vancouver do offer day rooms but booking them ahead might be tricky. Hopefully someone else will have some insights or you could also try calling some hotels directly and see what their policy is.

 

[ibouncetoo]

There are four locations:

Burrard and Smithe St / Stand
Burrard and Pender St / Stand
530 Robson St / Store
In front of Waterfront Station / Stand

The stand in front of Waterfront Station is the closest as it's right around the corner from Canada Place.
.

This is SO where we'll be having lunch on 'transition day' from the LA/Vancouver repo/1st Alaska!

I never though I would love seaweed on a hot dog, till my friend made me his version of a JapaDog.

.

 

[Pooh667]

Any suggestions of what hotel might offer a day room (our flight home is really late and we would love to relax, swim, nap, shower before heading to airport)?

We too are looking for a day rate on a hotel. The only non stop we could get, which also is the best rate, departs at about 10:40pm the day we dock. My Mom and the other elderly people in our party would never be able to last the day without a nap. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[katypop]

This is SO where we'll be having lunch on 'transition day' from the LA/Vancouver repo/1st Alaska!

I never though I would love seaweed on a hot dog, till my friend made me his version of a JapaDog.

.

Can I come too?

 

[ibouncetoo]

Can I come too?

Yes! Woody will be leading us like the Pied Piper!

.

 

[princess81499]

We too are looking for a day rate on a hotel. The only non stop we could get, which also is the best rate, departs at about 10:40pm the day we dock. My Mom and the other elderly people in our party would never be able to last the day without a nap. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

So far no luck when I call hotels directly. Let me know if you find something

 

[SoCalDCLfan]

Our flight leaves Vancouver at 5:40pm, so I started looking into how to store our luggage so we could do something that day.

In case you're interested in baggage storage, I found a company that will store luggage for the day at the Canada Place cruise terminal. Priority Baggage http://www.prioritybaggage.ca/index.html . The website gives info for Vancouver airport, but they have the same services for Canada Place. I think you just have to call them. They can store bags for the day and can also ship items home. Prices for baggage storage are:

$3.50 - small items ie camera bags, purses and jackets

$4.50 - carry-on sized items

$5.50 - large suitcases

$7.00 - oversized items ie sports equipment, hockey bags, boxes

Also, I thought I read somewhere that sometimes your pre-cruise hotel might store your bags for the day. I'm not sure though. Anyone heard of this? I'm going to call the Pan Pacific to check.

 

[Anjelica]

Has anyone done long term parking for a cruise out of Vancouver? We will be doing this so I was trying to get an idea of place/cost/ressies, etc.