Solo-on-a-Scooter AbD DLR and DCL Alaska! (7/21-8/7/2012) - Page 14 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
Sorry about dinner, and your bad luck today at the Rainforest Room. Seems weird that they don't check to see if there is room for you, I'd be annoyed if I went in and got changed, only to find there was no room at the inn!
Cove Cafe! Love it! Yes, definitely a peaceful place to relax and have a yummy treat. Outlook Cafe is so cozy too. No, it's not on the Magic (yet) since they put it in specifically for the Alaska cruises, but would love to see it added as I think it's a great place to unwind (and has a great view to boot).
The naturalist sessions sound so cool! Totally up my alley (I love the Art of Innovention series - or whatever they are called - that they have on the longer cruises).
My mom commented on the same thing during her HAL Alaska cruise - the kids in the pools! Oh to be young again...LOL!
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
Wow those waves got a little bit big didn't they--sorry for the rough night! If the creme brulee tasted like scrambled eggs the custard was made without tempering the eggs--super yucky---you ended up with sugar crusted, scrambled, vanilla flavored eggs! I would have asked for something else! The asparagus you got after the entrée disaster sounded tasty to me--I might have to try that combo at home--was it dressed?
Thanks for pointing out that day 2 was coming up. That's when I realized I'd missed day 1.
Too bad your sailaway day from Seattle wasn't sunny because when it is, it's one of the most beautiful cities on earth. But the Disney Wonder sure brightened the scenery!
When we cruised from Seattle, I was surprised by the miles and miles of islands we sailed past. That was neat!
Great pics of the Wonder. Am thinking we must sail her now - great looking ship.
Sorry some of your meals were lacking but happy you've got some great tablemates.
Great pictures of the ship! Sorry about your dinner.
Whew! That was really nasty, but the only one that was that bad. And I did get reasonable substitutes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by shazza
Great update. I guess you didn't have to worry about gaining weight on the cruise so far
Thanks for the report on the Outlook Cafe - sounds like a good place for our breakfast while sailing on the Wonder in January. We enjoyed the Cove Bar on the Dream, and were surprised how empty it was most of the time.
Will be looking for your next update.
Enforced dieting that night! I spent a lot of time at both Cove and Outlook! If I'm not mistaken, the afternoon free treats they have in the case are the same as at Palo brunch? Maybe you can confirm that on your cruise-- there's a mission for you!
Quote:
Originally Posted by JKnott17
Sorry about dinner, and your bad luck today at the Rainforest Room. Seems weird that they don't check to see if there is room for you, I'd be annoyed if I went in and got changed, only to find there was no room at the inn!
It was annoying. For some reason, the confusion and crowds that you encounter around the ship on boarding day seemed to continue throughout the first sea day. Things felt "unsettled" throughout the ship.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenny
Great update, Laurie! Sorry about dinner and the rough seas and crowded Rainforest Room! I guess you sometimes have to take the good with the bad.
If that's all the "bad" I'm going to get, I can take it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by iloverags2
Cove Cafe! Love it! Yes, definitely a peaceful place to relax and have a yummy treat. Outlook Cafe is so cozy too. No, it's not on the Magic (yet) since they put it in specifically for the Alaska cruises, but would love to see it added as I think it's a great place to unwind (and has a great view to boot).
The naturalist sessions sound so cool! Totally up my alley (I love the Art of Innovention series - or whatever they are called - that they have on the longer cruises).
My mom commented on the same thing during her HAL Alaska cruise - the kids in the pools! Oh to be young again...LOL!
That's definitely something in the PLUS column for DCL. When they have the specialists on board for certain cruises they make sure they're good ones. From what I hear, sometimes those on other cruises aren't really "experts" or are experts, but not good speakers. This guy is a biologist working for the Alaska forest service and also has his own radio show.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovedisney247
Wow those waves got a little bit big didn't they--sorry for the rough night! If the creme brulee tasted like scrambled eggs the custard was made without tempering the eggs--super yucky---you ended up with sugar crusted, scrambled, vanilla flavored eggs! I would have asked for something else! The asparagus you got after the entrée disaster sounded tasty to me--I might have to try that combo at home--was it dressed?
That's exactly what happened to the creme brulee. ICK! I'd have asked for a different dessert, but by then the rough seas were taking over. The asparagus with grapefruit was a definite winner (usually, as in many restaurants, the appetizers were much more interesting than the entrees and I just stuck with them). It was dressed with a very light, citrusy dressing. Sorry no photo-- I kept forgetting!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
What a great day - sorry about dinner though. I love the fleece you bought - very classic.
That dinner was the worst I've ever been served. I don't know who was in the kitchen that night. I got a lot of wear out of that fleece on the cruise.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Two4Disney
Thanks for pointing out that day 2 was coming up. That's when I realized I'd missed day 1.
Too bad your sailaway day from Seattle wasn't sunny because when it is, it's one of the most beautiful cities on earth. But the Disney Wonder sure brightened the scenery!
When we cruised from Seattle, I was surprised by the miles and miles of islands we sailed past. That was neat!
Great pics of the Wonder. Am thinking we must sail her now - great looking ship.
Sorry some of your meals were lacking but happy you've got some great tablemates.
I'm glad I was lucky enough to have two sunny, lovely days in Seattle. It is a really beautiful city and I'd be happy to go back any time.
Day 12, Wednesday, 8/1/12. Day 3 of cruise. Tracy Arm Fjord
Part 1
Weather: Cloudy with patches of clearing and sunshine. Temps around 53 in the morning, much colder as we neared the glacier during the afternoon
Because of the number of photos on this day of spectacular scenery I'm going to post it in two updates-- one tonight and one tomorrow night.
It was very nice to wake up to calm seas!
As I expected, with the clocks going back an hour my early rising time got even earlier—3:30am this morning! Not surprising, since I went to bed so very early, but still… I wanted coffee from Cove or Outlook but had to wait until 6:30. I bundled up and went out onto deck 10 and was rewarded with my first Humpback whale sighting! My dining companions saw three yesterday. I just saw one. First I noticed the spout, then a second later the back, followed by the tail flukes! It happened too fast for me to get a photo. I did get a photo afterwards...
I'll warn you right now that with all the whales I saw, I never did get a photo. I either didn't want to stop watching to fetch the camera, or got the settings changed to rapid burst too late.
When the café opened I sat for a while in the comfy chair with a latte.
The buffet opened at 7:15 and I wanted some muesli, which I remembered as being especially delicious from the Panama Cruise. It was just as good as before. I topped it with some fresh strawberries.
I figured I’d better try the Rainforest room before it got too late and crowded, but when I got there at 8:15 (it opens at 8) it was already full! This never happened on sea days on my previous cruises—probably it’s because of the cold temps outside. At any rate, I cancelled my length-of-cruise pass because we’ve busy port days ahead, with fewer opportunities to use it. I may get there once or twice, but will just pay the daily charges.
Just on a whim I decided to put the ship-board credit from my sister and brother-in-law down as a bid on an original drawing of Mr Toad. The silent auction ends tonight. I doubt I’ll win it because I made a very low bid!
The naturalist’s lecture today was very good—about Alaska’s bears. A lot of facts and great photos of brown, black and polar bears. After the talk I asked Mr Woodford where I could get a copy of his book, and he gave me one and autographed it!! For anyone doing this cruise in future, it’s a great resource. It’s put out and distributed free by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, titled “Alaska’s Inside Passage: Wildlife Viewing Guide”, authored by Riley Woodford.
I ordered room service for lunch—vegetable pizza—and it was pretty good. Nothing like free room service!
The entire afternoon was spent gazing out at the increasingly spectacular views as we went through the inside passage and then turned into Tracy Arm. I’d go out onto the verandah until I got cold, and then come in.
I'll end today's update with a bunch of photos of the passage into the fjord. Any photos that you see with railings in them were taken from inside my room with out a zoom-- just to show how close we got to the shore or glacier. Most of these photos were taken from the verandah.
As soon as we made the turn into Tracy Arm Fjord we started seeing small ice floes and bergs that had calved off of the glaciers. Some of them were an amazing, deep blue color, and the water changed from a blue-gray to an amazing deep seafoamy green.
I'll pick up tomorrow with the photos of the glaciers.
Wow! You were close! How spectacular is the scenery! Thanks for the tip on Woodford's book...I will see if I can find it somewhere. How cool he signed a copy for you. Anxious to hear if you won the Mr. Toad print - that would be such a neat souvie.
Absolutely beautiful scenery. I honestly had never had a desire to do an Alaskan cruise, but after seeing several TRs and the photos, I now have an overwhelming desire to go!
__________________
Stacey
Why do these kids look so pathetic?
Find out in: A New Grade, A New House, and A Surprise!Final Thoughts 01/30
Ah, Tracy Arm Fjord............my favorite day of all on our cruise. Absolutely stunning! Can't wait to see more of your photos.
Too bad the Rainforest Room was always so busy. I never made it to the Naturalist programs. There is just so much to do and not enough time to fit it all in. Gee, I guess I'll have to go on another Alaskan cruise to make up for it .
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
PassPorter Guide Author
I love the fleece you bought - very classic. 
Linear Mode
