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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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There are other changes as well.
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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.
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So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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I'm a first time cruise going to Alaska on August 23. Since I've never been on a cruise (Disney or otherwise) I've got lots of questions. I hope you're patient and will bear with me.
1) Does the Wonder have wake-up calls, or should I bring a portable alarm clock?
2) Are there safes and hair dryers in the staterooms?
3) What's the best way to get from the Vancouver Amtrak station or hotel to the port (dock, wharf, whatever?). Is there a shuttle service, or should I plan on taking a taxi?
4) I want to do a zip-line excursion, but my mother is cruising with me and she won't zip. Is there a way for her to accompany me on the excursion without doing the zip-line course, and would she have to pay if she's not actually zipping? OK, I'm sure the answer is no, but I had to ask.
5) How can I find out which nights I'll be dining in each restaurant? I want to have one dinner in Palo, but don't want to schedule it the same night I'm supposed to be in Animator's Palate.
6) Is it better to book excursions through Disney or individually with each tour company?
7) Are there any formal or theme nights in the restaurants?
Thank you for putting up with all these questions. Don't feel like you have to answer all of them. If you just know one or two answers I'd still appreciate hearing from any of you. Thanks.
Can't answer all your questions, but here are a few.
2) Yes, there are safes in the staterooms, as well as hairdryers. If you have very thick/long hair, the hairdryer may not be good enough, but I've never had issues (short to midlength thick hair).
5) You won't find out your rotation until you check in at the port and it is printed on your KTTW card. From Laura who is blogging on AllEars, this is the rotation, at least what it was for the first sailing. I'd recommend her and Deb's blogs if you haven't read them yet! Laura and Jeanine's Salute to All things Disney but Mostly Disneyland
Day 1: The restaurant menu (Island Dinner for Parrot Cay, French
Dinner for Triton's and Show Dinner for Animator's Palate). Dress
is Cruise Casual.
Day 2: (At Sea) Formal Night, with the Golden Mickeys menu.
Day 3: (Tracy Arm) The restaurant menu, Cruise Casual.
Day 4: (Skagway) The new Taste of Alaska Menu, Cruise Casual.
Day 5: (Juneau) Restaurant menu, Pirate Attire or Cruise Casual.
Day 6: (Ketchikan) Captain's Gala menu, Semi-Formal attire.
Day 7: (At Sea) 'Til we Meet Again menu, Cruise Casual.
I don't have much to contribute from a DCL point of view (I went on Holland America), but I just want to say that the zip line excursion I did in Ketchikan was one of the most thrilling things I've ever done! I'm not a fan of heights, but after the first zip, I was totally over that. They may let your mom come and just hang out at the gift shop/equipment place, but there's not really much to do there, and she won't be able to see most of your zips (maybe the last one). But have a wonderful time - it is one of the coolest things I've ever done!
1) Yes, you can schedule a wakeup call, or you can do what we do, and have your breakfast or coffee delivered around the time you want to wake up; then room service is your wake up call and your morning coffee!!!
2) Yes there are safes and yes there are blowdryers, but it looks more like some sort of vaccuum than a blowdryer, but don't be frightened...it does work!
3) I'll look into this one, i haven't had anyone cruise Alaska yet
4) Convince your mom to zip line we were going to do this on our mexican riviera cruise but after consulting with the port adventures desk decided against it. The Mexican zipline excursion was quite extensive in activity, and required climbing, etc. My mom had just had back surgery so it was a no no for us Maybe next time!
5) That's already been answered
6) I ALWAYS recommend booking through Disney. i'm sure other folks might feel differently, and everyone is entitled to their preferences and opinions but in my experience the few dollars you might save booking an excursion on your own isn't worth the aggravation you'll go through getting to the excursions. Book with Disney and you have a meeting place on the ship, you all go off the ship together and come back on together and they (usually) take care of your transportation there and back.
7) Already covered
You can book Palo ahead of time, and then see what your restaurant rotation is once you get on board. If you have booked Palo on the same night as Animator's Palate, you can go to the area where you can change reservations once you board. My DW and I had booked Palo on the same night as Animator's Palate in 2009, but were able to change our dining rotation.
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1) I would bring an alarm clock. There are wake-up calls, but our experience with them is very mixed. Also, if you can get an alarm clock with a temperature read about that is real helpful.
2) Both are available. Now the safes use a key code, unlike before where you used a credit card. Very easy to use.
3) We did Disney transportation, but if I had to do it over again I would use a cab. The trip takes a LONG time since there is no freeway near downtown. Disney transportation means that you wait for the bus to fill up before leaving, and you have to listen to a 20+ minute commercial about Disney stuff. I was not impressed at all.
4) You should ask on-board about this. Check the refund policy, maybe you could book it for two and then cancel it if you do not get the answer you want.
5) You can call DCL and ask what your dining rotation is. This will depend on where you are first.
6) Booking with Disney is really easy, but I have always done it myself. Cheaper and, in my experience, better. In Alaska there will be tons of people right at the dock waiting to sell you tours.
7) I think the second night is formal, and there is one semi-formal night. The "Pirate Night" is not really that -- they don't make any big deal about it in the dining room.
Hope that helps. We just got back and had a really nice time.
That's disappointing to hear that the Alaska itinerary doesn't celebrate Pirate Night, it's one of everyone's favorite times onboard! There are special menus and special activities and people dress up and everything! Get with it DCL Alaska! If you have an option on when to book Palo, book it during your Parrot Cay rotation; it's the least exciting restaurant.
That's disappointing to hear that the Alaska itinerary doesn't celebrate Pirate Night, it's one of everyone's favorite times onboard! There are special menus and special activities and people dress up and everything! Get with it DCL Alaska! If you have an option on when to book Palo, book it during your Parrot Cay rotation; it's the least exciting restaurant.
So, according to the All Ears Net DCL Alaska review, there IS a Pirates night !!! And I'm hoping that since Pirates 4 is debuting this week, they will show it on the cruise also!!!
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we were going to do this on our mexican riviera cruise but after consulting with the port adventures desk decided against it. The Mexican zipline excursion was quite extensive in activity, and required climbing, etc. My mom had just had back surgery so it was a no no for us 
Maybe next time!
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