Disney Wonder Alaska Cruise: Disney Dreams An Enchanted Classic

Date of Visit: July 18, 2011

Mik and I enjoyed the Disney Dreams: An Enchanted Classic on the final night of our Alaska Cruise.  It is shown in the Walt Disney theater just like the Golden Mickeys.  For the most part we skipped the evening entertainment, but this is by far the best of them to go to.  Toy Story Musical, which only Mom and I went to, is pretty good, but Disney Dreams is an unique show.


Disney Dreams is kind of like Peter Pan, but for the girl to fly she ends up going on various adventures featuring scenes from other Disney movies.  This show uses a lot of props and special effects.  It is fun to see the variety of Disney characters get worked into one show with it still being its own unique show, too.  The end is especially fun with the lighting making it seem like the whole cruise ship is getting covered in pixie dust and supposedly also flying.

Disney Wonder Alaska Cruise: Mickey Mania in Studio Sea

Date of Visit: July 17, 2011

Mickey Mania is one of the evening game shows Mik and I went to on the cruise.  Who Wants to be a Mouseketeer? is still our favorite, but Mickey Mania was much better than the Pirate game show.  It was at least Disney trivia. It kind if reminded me of playing Disney Scene It.


The selection process is whoever the host decides to pick and again it was partially split with the kids club.  The randomness of Who Wants to be a Mousketeer? is nicer.  Plus, if you are not picked at the beginning your not going to be playing in this game at all.  However, we didn't actually want to play anyways, especially since the podiums are up on a stage and wouldn't actually work with Mik in a wheelchair.

Navajo National Monument

Date of Visit: June 25, 2011

We had not planned to visit the Navajo National Monument, but when we saw a sign for it on our way to Four Corners and Mesa Verde we decided to stop.  It ended up being a worthwhile detour, although we only saw the visitor's center.  Of course, it was also nice to add stamps to our National Park Passports, especially since they had the 25th Anniversary of the National Park Passport stamp.


The visitor's center at the Navajo National Monument has an automatic door, which Mik liked because he did not even have to push a button to open it.  Inside the visitor center is a small exhibit about the Native Americans in the region.  It includes a replica of the house structures that even Mik could roll into, although there was barely enough room for him to fit.


Outside the visitor's center is the Sandal Trail, which is paved and takes you to an overlook to see the cliff dwellings.  The trail is accessible, but Mik was freaked how close it was to the edge of the mountain even though there appeared to at least be a railing on the edge.  Also, we still had a lot of driving to do that day, so we did not go on it.

Near the trail there is a little area set up with an example hogan dwelling.  The paved path ends right on the edge of this area, but it really is not much to see by getting closer.  Thus you do not really miss out if you cannot go in the dirt path.

Overall Navajo National Monument impressed us.  We did not do the accessible trail, but it was great that there was an option.

Photos by Kjersti
Text by Kjersti with Mik's wheelchair accessibility input

Destination Info:
Navajo National Monument
Shonto, AZ

Disney Wonder Alaska Cruise: Beach Blanket Buffet

Date of Visit: July 2011

Several mornings we had breakfast from the Beach Blanket Buffet, although mostly it was Mom bringing food back to the room from it.  Mik really enjoyed the doughnuts.  He liked the ones with cream filling the best, although they didn't always have them.  The Mickey waffles were also awesome, although they are quite doughy as are the pancakes.  Like with the doughnuts, the Mickey waffles were not always there.

Disney Wonder Alaska Cruise: Catching Harry Potter in Ketchikan

Date of Visit: July 17, 2011

Mik didn't plan on getting off in Ketchikan, but when Mom and I got off and discovered the movie theater was not too far I went back and made him get off the ship. He had been wanting to see the new Harry Potter movie and was glad to get a chance to see it in Ketchikan instead of having to wait a week to see it.

The movie theater in Ketchikan was right in the downtown area within walking distance of the dock. It is a small town theater, but they just got 3D that weekend, so we got to see the new Harry Potter in 3D. It was not a 3D necessary movie, but it was cool to see a 3D movie the first weekend it came to Ketchikan.

The theater is the older ramp aisle style. The only spot for a wheelchair, though was in the back off to the side. Thus you get an odd angled view of the screen, since the theater is also wider than typical modern ones. However, it was still good enough to enjoy the movie.

Disney Wonder Alaska Cruise: Captain's Gala at Parrot Cay

Date of Visit: July 17, 2011

For the appetizer Mik enjoyed the Garlic and Herb Suateed Shrimp. He enjoyed it, although three shrimp was a little too small of a serving in his opinion. I had the Wild Mushroom Sop, which was really good.

For dinner Mik had the Seafood Salad. He liked it, although mainly for the seafood and not the lettuce. I had the Blue Cheese and Asparagus Risotto, which was delicious, although too filling to for me to eat more than half.

Mik was excited for the Warm Chocolate Lava Cake dessert, which was delicious in his opinion. I thought about getting it, but was glad I went for the Captain's Sweet Temptations instead because they really are cake like and not brownie style like Dominos Pizza has. The Sweet Temptations included Amaretto Cheesecake, Banana Creme Brûlée, and Coconut Macaroon. I especially enjoyed the Banana Creme Brûlée.

Disney Wonder Alaska Cruise: Pirate's Life for Me in Studio Sea

Date of Visit: July 16, 2011

Mik and I enjoyed the Who Wants to be a Mouseketeer? game show, so thought the Pirate's Life for Me game show would also be a fun evening activity. Instead it was a much younger geared game show that was excessively noisy.

Different kids were chosen to participate in the game shown including extras chosen during the mini games. However, since the kids club only about half came from the family audience. The games are chosen by spinning a wheel, so maybe they vary from show to show.

The first game they did was called Swab the Decks. In this game kids from each team pushed a bucket around with a mop in it.

The second part was the best because everyone could easily participate. It was called Guess the Pirate. The tv screens would show a picture of a pirate and the team would run up to tell the First Mate and then the Captain would ring the bell to guess.

The final game involved throwing coins into the bucket being held by the First Mate. Everyone could participate in this, but trying to get in line and then back around with Mik in his wheelchair was too much of an effort with the close tables and everyone crowded around for the game.

Overall we were very disappointed with a Pirate's Life for Me. It is more interactive than the other ones, but it was extremely noisy with them continuously having everyone chant and yell. Also, it was active interactive and we had more fun with the quiz game shows we did not get picked in because at least we could whisper guesses to each other.