Our Family’s New #1 Disney Vacation

Over the last two decades, we’ve had some bucket list worthy Disney trips. From the first time we traveled to Walt Disney World together in 2006 to getting engaged on the beach of the Polynesian to then honeymooning at WDW, our first international trips and more, we’ve made so many memories.

Now that we’re parents, many of these have simply been “firsts” with our daughter. There’s something special about seeing the parks through her eyes for the first time, discovering what she unexpectedly loves (or doesn’t!), and watching her grow with the parks.

This has been a lot of fun, and every trip we’ve made to Walt Disney World with her has been truly magical. Even without some momentous occasion, they’ve all been bucket list worthy as a result of this perpetually-fresh perspective. It’s easy to see how families get so easily ‘hooked’ on annual trips like this; each one has been so different as she continues to change.

While Walt Disney World is perfect as a family destination for us right now, that comes with a caveat. It’s great about 6 months of the year, from roughly October through April. The other half is less than ideal with a toddler. Our days are already shorter, and high heat and humidity only exacerbate that. It’s a lesson that we’ve already learned, so we found ourselves looking for a different family trip this summer.

With all of the above in mind, we landed on what could probably be considered the polar opposite of a Walt Disney World trip, at least within the Disney realm: Alaska aboard Disney Cruise Line.

This trip was perfect in every way for the reasons we’ll cover here, and exactly what we wanted out of our summer vacation.

As regular readers might recall, Sarah and I had previously done an Alaska DCL sailing several years ago. We did it the year after falling in love with the Norwegian Fjords, which remains our #1 itinerary of all-time. (In this case, itinerary versus vacation is a distinction with a difference.)

Bluntly, our first Alaskan sailing was not nearly as memorable as Norway. Much of that was due to unforced errors on our part, which we documented at the time in 7 Mistakes We Made on Our DCL Alaska Cruise. Whereas we were able to “get away” with fewer Port Adventures in Norway, the same was not true for Alaska.

Realizing we’d made some blunders and in subsequently hearing from family and friends who had amazing Alaska cruises (albeit thanks in part to spending freely on Port Adventures), we wanted a mulligan on our Alaska cruise. Several years later, we got that chance at ‘travel redemption’ with our daughter, setting sail to Alaska as a family of 3 for the first time.

This Alaskan sailing being amazing wasn’t some huge revelation; we expected it to be a lot of fun. Sarah has long been a “cruise person,” and a huge fan of Disney Cruise Line. She’s done more cruises with her friends and family, and is very passionate about DCL. She would rank it above several of the theme parks.

Up until a few years ago, I didn’t share this same level of enthusiasm. I’ve always enjoyed Disney Cruise Line and appreciated the high caliber of service, themed design, entertainment, and overall quality. I loved that it was one of the last vestiges of 1990s Disney. Even so, DCL wasn’t as much my speed as someone who preferred go-go-go travel over relaxing vacations.

That started to change once we had our daughter. We’ve now taken her on several cruises, and literally each one has been better than the last. We had heard parents say that Disney Cruise Line really “clicks” when you have kids, and that’s no exaggeration. That white glove guest service, streamlined experience, and attention to detail (not to mention the youth clubs) resonate even more when traveling with a toddler.

There were a few unique wrinkles that made us fall in love with the Alaska sailing, specifically.

The first was more specific to us, having a home base in California. All of our previous family cruises had been out of Florida, as part of land and sea sailings that also included Walt Disney World. While doing DCL after WDW is a great one-two punch of go-go-go travel followed by relaxation, it’s obviously a longer commute from the West Coast.

Having a flight time of under 3 hours with a nonstop route from John Wayne (SNA) or Los Angeles (LAX) to Vancouver was the first gamechanger. Instead of losing a full day to transit and fighting jet lag, we hit the ground running on our arrival day in Vancouver.

After an easy commute from the airport, we were right there in the middle of the city and at the cruise terminal. This made it incredibly easy to spend some time wandering around the beautiful Canadian port city.

Our biggest “regret” of this cruise is probably that we didn’t fly in an extra day early to have more time in Vancouver. It’s one of our favorite cities and adds its own layer to the trip. But we didn’t have the extra time to spare, so regret isn’t entirely apt.

The shorter commute to Vancouver isn’t relevant to a lot of travelers and more or less speaks for itself, so I don’t want to fixate on this. I do think it’s worth underscoring the centralized location of the cruise terminal, which is literally downtown within walking distance of many hotels and things to do. (Last time, we did FlyOver, which is basically Soarin’ Over Canada.)

What I most appreciated about Alaska aboard Disney Cruise Line is how it threaded the needle on being both a trip and vacation.

Many people use those terms interchangeably. I am not one of those people. Vacation connotes a certain level of relaxation, taking a break, returning relaxed and rested. I’m not a fan of all that.

Taking a trip just means going somewhere. When we travel, I get up early, am active all day, and stay out late. If I’m not doubling my move goal and clocking 20,000+ steps, something’s gone wrong.

The goal is to go home exhausted, needing a vacation from our trip. This is one thing I love about theme parks, as they are not vacations (for us) in the ‘relaxation’ sense of the term. Going to Walt Disney World is more akin to a ground mission executed with tactical precision than it is a vacation!

Alaska was perfect because it offered nonstop action but without being overly exhausting. There was always something to do or see, and a new place to explore. Cliche as it might sound, the entire trip was imbued with a spirit of adventure.

Whether that be an actual Port Adventure or something more passive like watching wildlife from the ship, the point is that the itinerary was always actively engaging.

To be sure, Alaska with Disney Cruise Line wasn’t like going backpacking in a National Park or hiking mountain towns in Europe. But it offered a family-friendly twist on those types of trips, and was something more suitable for a toddler. It gave us a taste of that kind of travel that we’ve been craving, while also being distinctly Disney.

The lack of downtime, even aboard the Wonder, definitely appealed to me. I loved the scenery outside the ship, and simply watching the Last Frontier float by while we sat or stood there was one of the highlights. This was immensely satisfying and stimulating, all while not tiring out our toddler or her little legs.

In fact, our favorite experience on the ship was simply the return to Vancouver via the Inside Passage. There was a certain camaraderie and communal energy on decks that final night, after spending so much time together on the more intimate Disney Wonder.

Wonder for the Win

Speaking of the ship, the Disney Wonder now holds a special place in our hearts. My personal favorites before this had been the Dream-class. I preferred the larger size and more grandiose atrium, along with other ways they iterated on the original ships. While there are still things I prefer about the Dream and Fantasy, there’s absolutely something to be said for the smaller size of the Wonder.

It was our first time cruising on this class in a while, and we really appreciated the compact layout and how close everything was to our room. It’s one of those things that didn’t matter before, or was a weakness as opposed to a strength since the smaller size meant less to explore.

With a toddler, it’s a totally different story. Pit stops at the room are so much easier, as is going to grab food or drinks, or really, going anywhere. The ship never felt too small, which is sentiment I might’ve expressed about this and the Magic in the past.

There is also something to be said for that intimacy of the smaller ships. You see the same people over and over aboard the Wonder; between that and chance encounters around the various cities and Port Adventures, there’s a sense of community by the end of the longer cruise. We made new friends along the way (which is also probably easier with a small child).

There are more concrete ways we love the Disney Wonder. Our daughter’s two favorite princesses are Tiana and Elsa, both of whom are well-represented on the Wonder. The Broadway-style stage shows on the ship are “Frozen, A Musical Spectacular,” along with “Disney Dreams” and “Golden Mickeys.” We enjoy all three, but mostly the newer Frozen production.

Then there’s Tiana’s Place. This was the precursor to the live entertainment dining experiences aboard the Wish-class, and I’d argue it’s every bit as good. Perhaps even better for families like ours since it’s actually interactive. We had two dinners here over the course of the cruise, and Princess Tiana was fantastic. One of the highlights of the cruise for our daughter was dancing with Princess Tiana; it was pure Disney magic.

Character Encounters

Speaking of characters, we had great success meeting Mickey and friends in their Alaskan-inspired outfits.

Worried about being unable to meet all of them due to limited schedules (ours and theirs), we lined up for Fisherman Mickey Mouse’s very first set. With the benefit of hindsight, that hour-plus wait ended up being a mistake. We went on to meet Mickey in that outfit twice more, only waiting ~5 minutes each subsequent time.

Perhaps it was a matter of luck, but characters seemed far more abundant on this cruise than on our previous Alaska sailing. There were a few times when I was out by myself in the evening and was able to score no-wait selfies. We also saw a surprising number of free roaming characters, mostly during the late night hours.

Ports of Call

Then there were the ports of call. In addition to Glacier Explorer viewing around Stikine Icecap (which was fantastic), our itinerary went to Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan. All three of these cities offer tremendous range, from walkable downtowns to family-friendly hikes to cultural experiences.

Most importantly, they feel like real, lived-in places and not just touristy ports of call. They’re a bit of both, obviously, given the reliance on the cruise industry and tourism. But they’re in no way one dimensional or superficial.

We really enjoyed the array of activities that each offers; we wandered the downtowns, went to museums, saw monuments, did a light bit of “hiking,” talked with locals, ate, and enjoyed many modes of transportation as the cities also served as a gateway to Port Adventures.

What was great about all of this for our young family was just how easy it was. Before being a parent, I might’ve had a blind spot to walkability before, thinking everything is walkable if you simply take enough steps. (Technically true!) Now I am more acutely aware of concepts like “fatigue” and “nap time.”

Every time we do something now, the clock is ticking. Dead time and wasted steps make me cringe, and there is often a lot of that involved in travel. Not so with these port cities in Alaska. The place known for being a vast expanse of wilderness actually runs the travel equivalent of a tight two-minute drill. This lack of sunk time was an unexpected and very pleasant surprise.

Just how jam-packed every day was ended up being a huge highlight for me. We did a wide variety of activities, and even just wandering around town or taking a small hike was immensely satisfying.

The proximity of port to each downtown also meant that we could get away with taking (some) trips off the ship without a stroller. That is something we seldom do when traveling, and it was incredibly freeing. (Potentially unpopular opinion, but I hate the stroller and am very much “over” having to use it.)

Sarah and I had been to Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before. This was like experiencing them anew, though, and we gained a greater appreciation for each this go-round. After each, I said to Sarah “I could see living in this area someday.” Despite also enjoying them, she laughed and/or rolled her eyes each time I said that. Not sure what was up with that.

Port Adventures

For this Alaska cruise, we did a lot more Port Adventures and fewer (lengthy) hikes than our first go-round. One thing to note upfront is that the Port Adventures in Alaska can be pricey, and many can be booked directly via the third party providers for less. Some of these have differences via Disney vs. direct, and most are popular; booking ASAP is recommended in many cases.

One highlight, same as before, was the White Pass Scenic Railway at our first stop in Skagway. (Speaking of the above, this is one that can be booked directly to save money. There’s zero need to do this as a guided Port Adventure via DCL; it’s super easy on your own.)

Like her parents, our daughter loves trains, and this was a huge hit with her. She was glued to the window pointing out the things she saw, and just enjoyed riding the rails. Everyone who does it seems to love White Pass Scenic Railway, so not much more endorsement here is probably necessary. It’s a must-do.

In addition to this, we also did Skagway’s Original Street Car City Tour. This is a more under-the-radar Port Adventure offering a tour of Skagway the “old-fashioned way” by street car, in a tradition that goes back all the way to 1923.

Our daughter isn’t just a fan of trains; she loves all modes of transportation, so we figured this would be a hit. What we didn’t anticipate is just how much Sarah and I would love it. This street car tour probably isn’t for everyone, but our driver was superlative, with an incredible passion and appreciation for Skagway.

It would’ve been fun regardless, but he carried the tour on his back and I’d highly recommend his tour on that basis. In a different life, he would’ve been the perfect Disney Cast Member. With that said, this one is very driver-dependent, and the scenery alone isn’t sufficiently compelling to earn an enthusiastic endorsement.

In Juneau, we started out with the Wildlife Quest. Disney describes this as an experience viewing Southeast Alaska’s stunning landscapes, vibrant wildlife, and rich cultural heritage aboard a custom-built expedition vessel.

We started out on the fence about this one, having done whale watching from Dana Point, California on several occasions. While we enjoy the Dana Point whale watching (hence the “several occasions” part), that’s minor leagues compared to this.

It started somewhat slowly, but by the time we reached active waters, it was CircleVision 360: Humpback Whales Edition. Other wildlife spotted included orcas, sea lions, porpoises, and bald eagles. Even if you’ve done something like this elsewhere, you probably haven’t actually done anything on this level.

As much as we enjoyed this, in a world of finite budgets, it’s hard to choose Wildlife Quest over Glacier Explorer. (If you’re on the fence, it’s worth noting that there are a lot of options like this with same-day availability, so you should be able to make a game-day decision on this. That’s not true of many Port Adventures in Alaska.)

That was followed up by the Enchanted Taku Glacier Lodge Flight and 5-Glacier Seaplane Discovery. The name here pretty much tells the tale, albeit in reverse order. You board a small seaplane from Juneau and fly up-close over glaciers (five of them!) before landing at the charming and historic Taku Lodge for a feast of wild-caught Alaskan king salmon and other foods, with Hole in the Wall Glacier right out the window. You then take another seaplane flight back to Juneau.

Alaska has a lot of pricey Port Adventures, and this is one of them, at approximately $600 per adult or $500 per child. This is one of the things you need to be prepared for with the Alaska sailings, as only looking at the upfront cost means overlooking some of these add-ons that will balloon the cost but also measurably improve the trip.

The Enchanted Taku Glacier Lodge Flight and 5-Glacier Seaplane Discovery was something truly special. It’s the type of unforgettable experience you’ll remember the rest of your life. The way it’s structured with the majestic flight followed by the lodge is perfect for giving you time to chew on the scenery, and digest what you’ve just witnessed (not to mention the delicious salmon). I really loved Taku Lodge itself, and could’ve stayed there much longer, just sitting around drinking in the scenery. (I do not recommend the guided hike; lots of bugs and paced too slowly.)

Our final port was Ketchikan, the wettest city in America, receiving over 150″ of annual rainfall. It was the most beautiful day of the cruise, with clear skies and perfect weather.

We were in Ketchikan on the Fourth of July, celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary. We took a break from exploring the city to watch the parade, and it was a hoot. We were at the end of the route and enjoyed an extended authentic tribal performance, which was the unequivocal highlight. The rest of the parade showcased the diversity of Alaska in divergent ways.

We also did the Tongass Historical Museum and Totem Heritage Center, both of which were excellent and highly recommended. Our daughter loved the free, centrally-located Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, which was a nice change of pace and offered kid-friendly fun. If you’re looking for low-cost options to balance out the pricey Port Adventures, look no further.

Our only Port Adventure here was the Disney-Exclusive Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. This entertainment experience features the world’s best timber-athletes in action, log rolling, chopping, and sawing in a fun, family-friendly show. The DCL exclusive version also features a pre-show with Goofy.

We had mixed feelings on this show. It was (unsurprisingly) loud and took a while to get started, which were too strikes against it for our already tiring toddler. Goofy adds absolutely nothing to the experience, and I wouldn’t do that version again even if the cost were the same (it isn’t).

The show itself was cheesy, but in a wink-and-nod self-aware sense. I ended up enjoying this quite a bit, and our daughter loved trying to spot the bandit but did not like the noise. I’d recommend the normal version. This was Sarah’s least-favorite Port Adventure; she wouldn’t recommend it at all.

Apologies for the abbreviated, 2,000-foot fly-over of the Port Adventures (and everything, for that matter). But we’re already over 3,500 words and I could probably write for another 30,000. My intent is to circle back and do a full trip report once I’ve dug out and edited more of the 12,000+ photos I took over the course of the cruise.

If you’re looking for more detailed advice about topics we’ve glossed over here, I’ll direct your attention to our updated Top 10 Tips for a Great Alaska Disney Cruise. That also covers packing, weather, and low-cost Port Adventures, many of which will be well-suited to active adults.

However, I wanted to get something out now, especially as Disney Cruise Line keeps releasing more deals for 2027 Alaskan sailings. Speaking of which…

Alaska Cruise Bookings Advice & Deals

Disney Cruise Line has already released special offers with some Summer 2027 Alaska voyages being among the eligible sailings. This presents a great opportunity to lock-in a lower rate now, potentially up to 25% off. Alternatively, waiting for a last-minute, more restrictive deal can also be savvy, and potentially yield an even lower rate. Of course, it is riskier!

One thing that we cannot overemphasize is cost. Alaska is expensive. You might get sticker shock just from the upfront cost, even after discount. As is probably evident from above, that initial voyage fare is not the all-in cost, and we’d highly recommend pricing out Port Adventures before booking, especially if you’re already apprehensive of pricing.

As we learned the hard way the first time, Alaska is not the ideal itinerary for ‘DCL on a Dime.’

As always, we highly recommend working with Be Our Guest Vacations, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. Be Our Guest Vacations is our preferred travel agency because they have agents with extensive Alaska cruise experience and expertise, and offer exemplary guest service.

Using a travel agency is advantageous when it comes to cruising. Most will provide on-board credits based upon the size of the booking, along with itinerary advice and suggestions for the cruise. They’ll also deal with Disney on your behalf and, speaking from experience, this can be invaluable when something goes wrong. Especially if, like me, you hate talking on the telephone.

This is doubly true when you’re booking the longer, and arguably more complicated itineraries with competitive Port Adventures. Alaska absolutely qualifies in this regard; even if you’re a seasoned sailor, they can assist with those reservations and offer recommendations beyond what we have here.

Ultimately, this Alaska sailing with Disney Cruise Line was a full circle experience for us in a couple of ways. It was a chance to introduce our toddler to her first taste of the kind of ‘adventurous’ traveling we used to enjoy as a couple, and it was incredible to see her take to this.

It was also our own chance for a mulligan on Alaska, a cruise that fell short of the hype the first time, albeit mostly due to our own choices. This time, Alaska exceeded expectations and then some.

It was the #1 Disney travel-vacation dual threat that we’ve taken as a family, dethroning a bunch of other amazing destinations and experiences by virtue of its dense and diverse nature. There was almost zero dead time, it featured a wide range of distinctly Disney and real world experiences, and offered a surprising balance of the types of travel that we love most.

Almost inexplicably so, our Alaskan sailing managed to be both travel and vacation, imbued with both Disney fun and the spirit of adventure. We logged a lot of steps and closed our rings daily, albeit without ‘running up the score’ or setting any records, but also returned home rested and satisfied.

Bringing it completely full circle, this Alaska sailing was so great that we almost immediately began looking at a do-over of the Norwegian Fjords cruise, because if Alaska could be our #1 family Disney vacation, we can only imagine what that experience would be like with the #1 itinerary we’ve ever done!

YOUR THOUGHTS

If you’ve cruised to or visited Alaska, what tips would you add? Do you likewise view it as threading the needle on travel and vacation? Will you be sailing to Alaska on the Magic or Wonder in Summer 2027? Thoughts on any of these–or other–Port Adventures? Agree or disagree with our advice for setting sail to Alaska aboard Disney Cruise Line? Any questions for those taking or considering an Alaska cruise? Hearing feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!