Wonder in Alaska!!! May 27, 2013

[megsablue]

Everyone in my group except me will spend time in Vancouver afterwards. Silly me and my silly job. Lol

So, Disney recommends we don't book any flights out of Vancouver on our last day before 12:00pm. The perfect flight for me leaves at 11:30am that day (It's the only direct flight that I see available). Anyone know how conservative Disney's recommendation is? Anyone's experience with this would be greatly appreciated!!
(Note: It looks like we're scheduled to dock at 8:30am which would be 3 hours before the flight.)

I don't know how far the airport is from the port, but this seems a little tight. Are you a US citizen? If you are, I assume immigration would take longer than this would be the case at an US port and also a flight back to the US would be classified as an international flight.

I just had a look at the airport website for Vancouver and they recommend that people flying to the USA arrive 3 hours before departure, complete US Customs Declaration card, check-in at YVR and proceed through security & US Customs Border inspection.

That even makes a 12:30 departure look tight.

Corinna

Thanks for responding! Sounds like some people are spending at least a half day in Vancouver, so my FE idea will work. Yay!

Having flown out of YVR to the US a lot, I'm going to agree with Corinna on this one - 11:30am is pretty tight. The airport is about 45-60 minutes away from the port (depending on how you get there - via the CanadaLine or taxi). You actually go through the US border at YVR (& are then in secure gates until your flight leaves), so you have to add that time on as well as going through security. Time through security/border can be really hit & miss - it's taken us as little as 15 minutes for both or up to an hour for both. You probably could make it if you were one of the 1st walk-offs for the ship, but I wouldn't chance it myself just because YVR can be so hit or miss in regards to how long it takes you to get there & get through security/the border.

 

[mickeyhereicome]

Can you add me to the Facebook page please.

Thanks,
Jasmin

 

[shoes99]

We are going to fly to LAX nonstop after the cruise so we can go to Disneyland.
We live on the eastcoast so getting to the westcoast is a treat for us.
We are also going to Portland, Or precruise to visit family.
My post-cruise flight choices were 11:40AM and 4:00PM. I picked the 4PM based on the comments on this thread and the fact that DH age 68 will probably not do well rushing in the AM. I'll keep reading and checking as the cruise gets closer.
Michele

 

[chiburple]

Thanks for responding! Sounds like some people are spending at least a half day in Vancouver, so my FE idea will work. Yay!

Having flown out of YVR to the US a lot, I'm going to agree with Corinna on this one - 11:30am is pretty tight. The airport is about 45-60 minutes away from the port (depending on how you get there - via the CanadaLine or taxi). You actually go through the US border at YVR (& are then in secure gates until your flight leaves), so you have to add that time on as well as going through security. Time through security/border can be really hit & miss - it's taken us as little as 15 minutes for both or up to an hour for both. You probably could make it if you were one of the 1st walk-offs for the ship, but I wouldn't chance it myself just because YVR can be so hit or miss in regards to how long it takes you to get there & get through security/the border.

Thank you for all the information Megsablue! You've helped me see just how bad of an idea the 11:30 flight is and it is a bad Bad BAD Idea..... but I'm doing it anyways

I know I'm crazy and I will probably regret it. It's just that it's the only flight that gets me in before 10pm that day...

 

[megsablue]

Thank you for all the information Megsablue! You've helped me see just how bad of an idea the 11:30 flight is and it is a bad Bad BAD Idea..... but I'm doing it anyways

I know I'm crazy and I will probably regret it. It's just that it's the only flight that gets me in before 10pm that day...

Aw, it's just a gutsy move I tend to be overly cautious when it comes to stuff like that, but I don't blame you for taking that flight if the other one gets you in super late!

I'd just make sure you let them know at the desk you have an early flight & that you want to walk off in the first group and if you can get away with it, just take a carry-on (I'm sure you've already thought of all this, but I'll mention it anyway ) I'd also recommend taking the CanadaLine to the airport as that time of day, it's running pretty frequently and a taxi may take more time as it's rush hour in Vancouver around that time.

Last time we cruised with Disney, we did dock in Vancouver a bit earlier than expected, so hopefully that will be the case this time as well (Greg, my DH, is pretty sure that we got off at 9:15am and we were one of the last groups to get off).

 

[dolphingirl47]

Right, I said months ago that I would look into organizing a Champagne Girl event for this cruise. Things have been very busy for me, but I thought that everybody now needs to be paid in full for this cruise, I get the ball rolling. Champagne Girls was originally started on one of the Panama Canal Cruises and has since branched out and was hosted on a number of special cruises. There is various ways this can be approached, but my favourite version was where we got DCL to organize a champagne tasting and everybody participating just had the charge applied to their stateroom account. In 2011, we paid $15 for this. Then everybody just turned up wearing something pink and a tiara. At this moment in time, I am just trying to get an idea about numbers. Who would be interested in doing this on our cruise?

Corinna

 

[COASTIEandMATE]

Right, I said months ago that I would look into organizing a Champagne Girl event for this cruise. Things have been very busy for me, but I thought that everybody now needs to be paid in full for this cruise, I get the ball rolling. Champagne Girls was originally started on one of the Panama Canal Cruises and has since branched out and was hosted on a number of special cruises. There is various ways this can be approached, but my favourite version was where we got DCL to organize a champagne tasting and everybody participating just had the charge applied to their stateroom account. In 2011, we paid $15 for this. Then everybody just turned up wearing something pink and a tiara. At this moment in time, I am just trying to get an idea about numbers. Who would be interested in doing this on our cruise?

Corinna

Hi Corinna! I loved going to this event on our last cruise and I can't wait to do it again! I would be glad to bring macadamia nuts from Hawaii to go with the Champagne! ALOHA, Karen

 

[dolphingirl47]

Hi Corinna! I loved going to this event on our last cruise and I can't wait to do it again! I would be glad to bring macadamia nuts from Hawaii to go with the Champagne! ALOHA, Karen

Macadamia nuts with the Champagne sound great. I have you down for this.

Corinna

 

[chiburple]

Aw, it's just a gutsy move I tend to be overly cautious when it comes to stuff like that, but I don't blame you for taking that flight if the other one gets you in super late!

I'd just make sure you let them know at the desk you have an early flight & that you want to walk off in the first group and if you can get away with it, just take a carry-on (I'm sure you've already thought of all this, but I'll mention it anyway ) I'd also recommend taking the CanadaLine to the airport as that time of day, it's running pretty frequently and a taxi may take more time as it's rush hour in Vancouver around that time.

Last time we cruised with Disney, we did dock in Vancouver a bit earlier than expected, so hopefully that will be the case this time as well (Greg, my DH, is pretty sure that we got off at 9:15am and we were one of the last groups to get off).

That is great advice! Thank you! I didn't even know about the CanadaLine so I will research that further. You said to ask to be one of the first groups to get off; I didn't know that you could only disembark at certain times or with certain groups?

I'm usually pretty conservative with my flights too. I just hate the thought of getting home super late and having to wake up at 6:40am to go to work the next day.

 

[megsablue]

That is great advice! Thank you! I didn't even know about the CanadaLine so I will research that further. You said to ask to be one of the first groups to get off; I didn't know that you could only disembark at certain times or with certain groups?

The CanadaLine is a train that's part of our transit system (it's below ground in the downtown core, then goes above ground once it's out of downtown). It's pretty cheap to take ($4), clean and you basically get on right at the port (as you walk out of Canada Place, you can see the side entrance on Howe St in front of you on the left). You can buy your ticket (2 Zone) from the machine once you're down in the station (you'll see the machines) and they take credit cards & cash. Lots of people use it for going to the airport, so no one will look twice when you get on with a suitcase.

It takes about 30 minutes between Canada Place and YVR once you're actually on the train - and luckily, that time of day, they're running super frequently as they're bringing people in to downtown for work (I think it's every 5 minutes). There's two trains on the one track - one takes you to YVR, one takes you to Brighouse in Richmond (the track splits at one point). They alternate every other one (there are signs at the station that tell you how long until each train arrives and signs/announcements of which train is going where).

When we sailed (& I believe it's still the case), Disney had disembarking groups like they have during embarkation - I believe that you get assigned the night before (when they give you tags for when you put your luggage outside). If you go down and talk to the desk beforehand, they can bump you to an early group if you have an early flight (they made this announcement on the last day). I'm not sure if it's still an option, but another option for you might be walking off with your luggage. When we sailed, everyone was given the option to take their luggage off the ship themselves (instead of having their luggage taken the night before) and thus be part of the 1st group disembarking if they needed to disembark quickly. So you may be able to do this instead and be one of the first off the ship to be on your way. Whatever gets you a bit more of a time cushion, right?

Hope that helps!

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Right, I said months ago that I would look into organizing a Champagne Girl event for this cruise. Things have been very busy for me, but I thought that everybody now needs to be paid in full for this cruise, I get the ball rolling. Champagne Girls was originally started on one of the Panama Canal Cruises and has since branched out and was hosted on a number of special cruises. There is various ways this can be approached, but my favourite version was where we got DCL to organize a champagne tasting and everybody participating just had the charge applied to their stateroom account. In 2011, we paid $15 for this. Then everybody just turned up wearing something pink and a tiara. At this moment in time, I am just trying to get an idea about numbers. Who would be interested in doing this on our cruise?

Corinna

Hedgie and I are IN!!!!!

Although Hedgie only sips

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Everyone in my group except me will spend time in Vancouver afterwards. Silly me and my silly job. Lol

So, Disney recommends we don't book any flights out of Vancouver on our last day before 12:00pm. The perfect flight for me leaves at 11:30am that day (It's the only direct flight that I see available). Anyone know how conservative Disney's recommendation is? Anyone's experience with this would be greatly appreciated!!
(Note: It looks like we're scheduled to dock at 8:30am which would be 3 hours before the flight.)

I am struggling with the same schedule.

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Hi Folks...this was my first time being able to book at 120 days and I must say it is most easy, as compared to Hawaii....we were between 90 and 120 and that was a challenge, now wasn't it. This looks to be a much more laid back cruise, at least for the planning purposes.

Meanwhile, yawn...it is bedtime. Good Luck all who may be booking tonight and now I get to go plan on how to use the extra time in port on the "do it yourself" adventures......

 

[chiburple]

The CanadaLine is a train that's part of our transit system (it's below ground in the downtown core, then goes above ground once it's out of downtown). It's pretty cheap to take ($4), clean and you basically get on right at the port (as you walk out of Canada Place, you can see the side entrance on Howe St in front of you on the left). You can buy your ticket (2 Zone) from the machine once you're down in the station (you'll see the machines) and they take credit cards & cash. Lots of people use it for going to the airport, so no one will look twice when you get on with a suitcase.

It takes about 30 minutes between Canada Place and YVR once you're actually on the train - and luckily, that time of day, they're running super frequently as they're bringing people in to downtown for work (I think it's every 5 minutes). There's two trains on the one track - one takes you to YVR, one takes you to Brighouse in Richmond (the track splits at one point). They alternate every other one (there are signs at the station that tell you how long until each train arrives and signs/announcements of which train is going where).

When we sailed (& I believe it's still the case), Disney had disembarking groups like they have during embarkation - I believe that you get assigned the night before (when they give you tags for when you put your luggage outside). If you go down and talk to the desk beforehand, they can bump you to an early group if you have an early flight (they made this announcement on the last day). I'm not sure if it's still an option, but another option for you might be walking off with your luggage. When we sailed, everyone was given the option to take their luggage off the ship themselves (instead of having their luggage taken the night before) and thus be part of the 1st group disembarking if they needed to disembark quickly. So you may be able to do this instead and be one of the first off the ship to be on your way. Whatever gets you a bit more of a time cushion, right?

Hope that helps!

Helpful?! I might print this post and take it with me!!!

 

[chiburple]

I am struggling with the same schedule.

We should play hooky from work together

 

[chiburple]

Right, I said months ago that I would look into organizing a Champagne Girl event for this cruise. Things have been very busy for me, but I thought that everybody now needs to be paid in full for this cruise, I get the ball rolling. Champagne Girls was originally started on one of the Panama Canal Cruises and has since branched out and was hosted on a number of special cruises. There is various ways this can be approached, but my favourite version was where we got DCL to organize a champagne tasting and everybody participating just had the charge applied to their stateroom account. In 2011, we paid $15 for this. Then everybody just turned up wearing something pink and a tiara. At this moment in time, I am just trying to get an idea about numbers. Who would be interested in doing this on our cruise?

Corinna

Are the tiaras optional or required? I would enjoy having a good excuse to buy one

Thanks for looking into this Corinna! Based on the name I presume this is for women over 21? I mentioned this to the women in my group and the 19 year old asked if she could come along.

 

[Magic3forme]

Right, I said months ago that I would look into organizing a Champagne Girl event for this cruise. Things have been very busy for me, but I thought that everybody now needs to be paid in full for this cruise, I get the ball rolling. Champagne Girls was originally started on one of the Panama Canal Cruises and has since branched out and was hosted on a number of special cruises. There is various ways this can be approached, but my favourite version was where we got DCL to organize a champagne tasting and everybody participating just had the charge applied to their stateroom account. In 2011, we paid $15 for this. Then everybody just turned up wearing something pink and a tiara. At this moment in time, I am just trying to get an idea about numbers. Who would be interested in doing this on our cruise?

Corinna

sounds like fun!! Count me in!!

 

[Magic3forme]

for all of those who were able to book at 120 days... what did you sign up for? I am hoping for a Palo brunch at the 105 day mark.

 

[COASTIEandMATE]

Hi everyone! I am taking sign up for the FE. if you are interested in participating, send me the following info:
Cabin number
Names on everyone in cabin
Childrens ages ( if applicable)
special events you are celebrating
and your home email address

thanks!!

Hi Magic3forme! Could you please give me an idea of how many cabins and kids are on the FE list so far? I like to bring some goodies from Hawaii and I don't want to do it all out of one paycheck! Aloha, Karen

 

[shoes99]

for all of those who were able to book at 120 days... what did you sign up for? I am hoping for a Palo brunch at the 105 day mark.

This morning it was wide open, but I didn't book because I have 4 other family members that are gold and we want a brunch together. I'll talk to them, book a table for 2 now, and then add them when gold can book.