Almost "Live from" Disney Wonder to Alaska! My Second Disney Experience

[lovely_serenity]

The place had a lot of wide open space and a big screen for movies and activities

 

 

 

They had this really interesting pirate ship/playground/jungle gym structure for kids to climb on and play in

 

 

You could tell that the theme was Peter Pan (:

 

Next to it, they had some table area

 

 

But of course, it was the pirate ship that caught our eye the most. It had a slide too!

 

 

Here my sister sat and rested (high heels hurt!) while my brother and little cousin ran around ^^

 

[lovely_serenity]

Do you see that little door with an exit sign? Yeah, there was like this little secret room hidden inside of the pirate ship! :0

 

 

Here's what it looked like right to left!

 

 

 

 

I even took a look at what activities or game were on their computers! (These actually look really fun LOL)

 

 

After that, I headed back outside to the pirate area.

 

You know, I find something very interesting. When you're a little kid, you feel like you are age appropriate for playgrounds and jungle gyms. When you're a slightly older kid, you feel like you shouldn't play on playgrounds or jungle gyms because you are “too old” and you don't want to be seen as a “little kid”. Ironically, however, when you become a teenager, you suddenly REALLY want to play on jungle gyms and playgrounds because you know that you're too old for it LOL. You just have this feeling of “OH MY GOSH IT'S A PLAYGROUND WE HAVE TO CLIMB IT, MOVE OUT OF THE WAY CHILD, MAKE WAY!” ^^ Haha. That is precisely why all three of us made our way up and into the pirate ship structure, even before my 10 year old cousin did LOL.

 

After coming out of the more fairy-themed interior of the ship, I kind of looked at my siblings with a mischievous smile and asked, “Wanna go up the pirate ship?” (: to which they replied with a “YES” and off they went! My brother (who was, mind you, 21) raced my 10 year old cousin up the structure LOL.

 

[lovely_serenity]

Up at the top was a big bow of the pirate ship

 

 

Along with a very nice wheel

 

 

Which steered the ship as they sailed through the (what I assume to be) the skies of Neverland!

 

 

 

It was connected to a crow's nest with nets and bridges (that's my little cousin LOL) - my brother and little cousin obviously exited the structure via slide (:

 

 

At the back of the kids club were the two washroom (might I add, adorably colour coated and scaled down to the size of little people)

 

(Hehe you can see the flower print on my dress in the mirror ^^)

 

Edited May 13, 2015 by lovely_serenity

[lovely_serenity]

 

Also, I believe this colourful stained glass door at the very back (next to the washrooms) was connected to the Flounder's Reef Nursery for babies under 3 years old (down to minimum 3 months old). It charges by the hour and asks that you bring your own supplies for your child. This is probably the best shot you're going to get of it because there are no open house hours for the nursery (if I'm not mistaken).

 

 

I took a few last pictures of the place before wrapping up and heading out. This is my brother being a turtle... on a turtle.

 

 

and the door of the Oceaneer's Club:

 

 

After that, we dropped my little cousin off at her room (before stealing her away from the relatives who were in charge of watching her, we had promised to walk her back to her cabin afterwards) and then headed back to our room. We changed out of our uncomfortable dinner clothes and into our sleeping clothes.

 

Back in the room, we were greeted by tomorrow's daily navigator

 

 

and a lovely towel elephant! :-)

 

[lovely_serenity]

Earlier that night, there had been several announcements made regarding the possibility of us seeing Northern lights tonight. According to whomever up on the bridge, it was possible that at around midnight, the aurora borealis may be in view then. At around midnight, my dad knocked on our door and asked if we wanted to get take a look, just to see if they were actually visible. We went up there (ran into an uncle), and went out onto the open deck. It was pitch black, cold and very windy LOL. That's it. Somewhat disappointed, we headed back inside. Well, it was worth a shot, right?

 

But before going back in, I took a picture of the night time lit up Quiet Cove Pool.

 

 

We all headed back to our cabins and turned in for the night.

 

 

Here to say good night is my stuffed animal Tiggee (yeah, as in tiger, but “ee” instead of “er”. Dumb name, but hey, I was like 6 years old LOL). I've brought him on many of my trips, so I can say with confidence that my stuffed tiger has been to more places around the world than the average human :-D. I always take a proof shot to prove that Tiggee had been on the trip with us, and it just so happens that I had taken it this night! ^^

 

 

End of Day 4

[lovely_serenity]

This is awesome! Cannot wait to read more....and see the navigators. Love your pics!

 

Thanks! :) They are on their way!

[lovely_serenity]

Very helpful. Thanks.

 

No problem! ^^

[SDJen]

Can't wait to see more!

[RiotAct]

Anxiously awaiting more!

[david,Mississauga]

We have returned from our Alaska cruise on Holland America and I want to thank you again for your kind advice, especially about embarking in Vancouver. We took the Skytrain from the airport and stayed at the hotel atop the Canada Place terminal. (I have no connection with the hotel and won't mention its name in case that is against the rules.) If anyone is thinking of staying there, an advantage is you can have the hotel porters collect your luggage from your room and the next time you have to deal with it, it will be in your cabin. Also, there are elevators in the lobby that go down to the cruise level.

 

I feel I should add a warning: if there is more than one ship at the terminal you could be in for a long wait to board. My wife and I did all right beause the day before we went down to the terminal during the embarkation of one ship and spoke to a woman from the port authority. She told us it would be busy on our day - three ships and 8000 passengers - and that the security and US border procedures start at 10:00 a.m. So the next day we arrived right at that time and there were already 50 people ahead of us. We got through fairly quickly, then waited for 45 minutes (seated) until check-in for the ship commenced and we were on board at 11:30. We met several passengers who had arrived at the terminal after we did and it took them four to five hours to get on board.

 

Most passengers arriving on foot or being dropped off by car were directed to the walkway on the west side of the building instead of being able to go down the ramp on the east side as usual. This, and the delays in embarkation, caused a lot of people to be angry and moan about it all through the cruise.

[cruiselife4me]

Sarah, You write incredibly well and your pictures are wonderful. (Even the ones you think are blurry!) I love your style of writing. I will now have to go back and read your other reviews and get no work done at all. lol.

 

Loved every minute - thanks!!

Mary

[lovely_serenity]

Can't wait to see more!

 

It's on its way! :) I just completed writing up the whole next day!

[lovely_serenity]

Anxiously awaiting more!

 

I recently just got back from Osaka, Japan but got sick ><. But, I sorted through my photos and wrote up the whole next day in the last week! It's coming!! :D

[lovely_serenity]

We have returned from our Alaska cruise on Holland America and I want to thank you again for your kind advice, especially about embarking in Vancouver. We took the Skytrain from the airport and stayed at the hotel atop the Canada Place terminal. (I have no connection with the hotel and won't mention its name in case that is against the rules.) If anyone is thinking of staying there, an advantage is you can have the hotel porters collect your luggage from your room and the next time you have to deal with it, it will be in your cabin. Also, there are elevators in the lobby that go down to the cruise level.

 

I feel I should add a warning: if there is more than one ship at the terminal you could be in for a long wait to board. My wife and I did all right because the day before we went down to the terminal during the embarkation of one ship and spoke to a woman from the port authority. She told us it would be busy on our day - three ships and 8000 passengers - and that the security and US border procedures start at 10:00 a.m. So the next day we arrived right at that time and there were already 50 people ahead of us. We got through fairly quickly, then waited for 45 minutes (seated) until check-in for the ship commenced and we were on board at 11:30. We met several passengers who had arrived at the terminal after we did and it took them four to five hours to get on board.

 

Most passengers arriving on foot or being dropped off by car were directed to the walkway on the west side of the building instead of being able to go down the ramp on the east side as usual. This, and the delays in embarkation, caused a lot of people to be angry and moan about it all through the cruise.

 

You're welcome! & Oo how did it go overall? You stayed at the Pan Pacific, right? (I don't think it's against the rules ^^)

 

Oh my goodness o_o the maximum I had was an embarkation with us and another ship. Generally, it is a good rule to get to Canada Place and line up at around 10:00am. Otherwise, you're not even going to make it on board for lunch!

 

Besides that, I hope you had a good vacation ;)

[lovely_serenity]

Sarah, You write incredibly well and your pictures are wonderful. (Even the ones you think are blurry!) I love your style of writing. I will now have to go back and read your other reviews and get no work done at all. lol.

 

Loved every minute - thanks!!

Mary

 

Aw, thank you Mary! :o You are too kind ^^. && LOL thanks for reading ;)

[lovely_serenity]

Day 5: Juneau

 

Friday, August 22, 2014 : Semi-Formal

 

 

We awoke relatively early because today we were to dock in the Juneau at 6:45am and leave at 4:45pm. i.e. Get up early, go around and come back for lunch. Here was today's Personal Navigator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Besides it being Toy Story/Pixar Pals day, today was also my mom's birthday! :) It was kind of nice that both her and grandma's birthdays fell on the theme nights of the cruise! (Golden Mickeys and now Toy Story/Pixar!)

 

Anyways, we all got ready quickly and since I was the first to finish, I was told by my siblings to go upstairs and get them some food for our room ^^. Sigh. Alright.

 

I headed up, past an empty Cove Café and pool area

 

[lovely_serenity]

 

and right into Beach Blanket Buffet. Here was what they were serving for breakfast this morning (generally the same every day).

 

Fruits:

 

 

Smoked salmon, cold cuts and cheese:

 

 

 

Soup:

 

 

Sausages and bacon:

 

[lovely_serenity]

Corn beef hash, potatoes, hash browns, scrambled eggs and waffles:

 

 

Breads, toasts and bagels:

 

 

And many sweet treats!

 

 

Breakfast pastries and danishes:

 

 

Donuts:

 

 

This was all I grabbed because we apparently had like 5 minutes to eat before we were supposed to go LOL. As soon as I set the plate down in my room, the food was all gone within the minute ^^.

 

[lovely_serenity]

Once everyone was ready, we all headed down to the lower level in order to meet with the rest of our relatives. As we descended to the gangway level of the ship, my relatives wished my mom a happy birthday :-).

 

 

Once we scanned our cards, we took our first look at Juneau!

 

 

 

(just looking at this picture, no wonder the gangway was on such a low floor! o_o)

 

 

After getting off the ship, we all followed this metal bridge that led us to the shuttle area.

 

 

[lovely_serenity]

 

Since our ship had parked somewhat far away from the city centre, Disney had arranged for free shuttles that would drive us to the main area in 5 minutes (maybe less, it wasn't very far).

 

 

 

(you can see my family getting on on the left!)

 

 

It was good that they had arranged a shuttle since evidently ... we were in the middle of nowhere LOL.

 

 

At least we could see the cable car wires from here? ^^

 

[lovely_serenity]

We all quickly loaded onto the bus and began making our way to the center of Juneau!

 

 

 

We got off the bus at essentially, where all other cruisers unload.

 

 

This is like the entrance to Juneau

 

 

 

You always, always pass by the Mount Roberts cable car:

 

[lovely_serenity]

And its adjacent row of tour people :) (by the way, this is where you should be booking your excursions. These kinds of booths are generally perfectly safe and super cheap. Don't even both booking Alaskan excursions through the cruise line unless it's some extreme one like helicopter or dogsled riding in the mountains. The normal city tour + look at a nearby glacier tour will cost like $10 per person, while cruise line replica will cost like $50 - $70 per person. The only exception would be the Disney excursions. They do indeed have special excursions in which a character (such as Mickey or Donald) will accompany your tour group and do activities with the children. That would be the only exception. Besides the more risky excursions where you'd really want to get the cruise line's guarantee of your safety and return, I'd highly recommend booking excursions at these booths.

 

 

It was kind of funny when we walked by and they all called out to us, asking if we wanted to do 'this' or 'that', as well as whether or not we had been here before. I laughed and called out to them that this was our (at least my family's) fourth time here ^-^ To which one guy responded, “But have you gone WHALE WATCHING before?? :D I THINK NOT!” LOL we laughed and kept walking ^^~

 

(We've actually never been on the Mount Roberts Tramway before. From what I've heard, DO NOT pay to go up when the weather is CLOUDY. It's a waste of money. You won't be able to see a thing. If you really want to pay to go up there, make sure the weather is sunny and clear. Besides the view, there apparently isn't much of anything up there-just like one restaurant of something, so make sure you'll actually be able to get what you pay for.)

 

 

 

Hey look, here it comes! :D

 

 

 

[lovely_serenity]

We kept walking and came across a lovely little wharf/dock area

 

 

in which our ship was visible! (i.e. Time to take six thousand photos LOL)

 

 

 

 

Hey look! There's another ship pulling up behind it!

 

 

[lovely_serenity]

There was also a hydroplane airplane landing nearby ^^

 

 

 

Nearby there was this sign, so we took a few big group pictures :)

 

 

At this time, the ship that had been pulling up got closer, and was now close enough to identify!

 

 

It was Oceania's Regatta!

 

Once we had had our fill of photo taking, we were on our way. (All the people you see here are in our group.)

 

 

And here's a photo of me taking that photo, taken by my oldest cousin haha

 

[lovely_serenity]

Aside from my oldest female cousin taking the photo, this is what our entire group looks like. There's quite a lot of us! ^^

 

 

It was kind of odd because generally, the city was pretty empty at the moment.

 

 

Anyhow, we all made our way into Del Sol to check out what they had.

 

 

 

Upon entering, an employee came over and gathered us ladies at a table by the entrance. She showed us these clear bendable plastic rings:

 

 

and then poured them over a special lamp which would imitate the effects of sunlight on the accessory:

 

 

and voila! They were colourful! (the above photo was taken by my oldest cousin) The employee told us all we could have one complimentary ring per person! How nice ^^. I took another for my sister who didn't leave the ship LOL (oops #sorrynotsorry).