Deb's Digest

One week from today, I'll be on a plane headed for the West Coast, to start a three-week Disney journey that will take me coast to coast on land and sea and into Canada and Alaska!

First stop is Disneyland for 2 nights -- gotta get used to the time change before I really get started!

We'll be having a Meet and Greet on April 26th at 9:00am. Meet at the La Brea Bakery Express in Downtown Disney! We have a new AllEars trading card to debut, too! Be sure to RSVP on our Facebook Event Page to receive a special gift when you arrive :)

On April 27th I head over to the Port of LA to embark on the first ever Disney Cruise Line Re-positioning cruise from LA to Vancouver! The 6-night cruise will bring the Disney Wonder ship to Canada for the start of the Alaska cruise season! Joining me will be AllEars® team member Laura Gilbreath (who will be blogging).

I have some fun excursions planned including a Napa Valley Tour, a visit to Muir Woods and Sausalito, and then a visit to Butchart Gardens (check that off the "bucket list")

While on board we will have a Walk to Raise Awareness for Breast Cancer on May 1 at 8:00am.

I love being on board when a Disney ship visits a port of call for the very first time. You never know what surprises will greet the ship. The Wonder will be visiting San Francisco, then Victoria and Vancouver, Canada.

Once in Vancouver, several of us will be disembarking and then embarking on the Disney Wonder for the first ever Disney cruise in Alaska! I am excited to be hosting a great group of folks on the AllEars® Alaskan Adventure! In addition to visiting four fantastic parts of Alaska, we have some special events and surprises!

Check out this great logo that Picture This! Photo Blogger Barrie Brewer designed:

We will stop at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway plus tour the glacier bay area of Tracy Arm! I really love visiting Alaska! It will be my third visit to Ketchikan and Juneau and second visit to Skagway. Each of the ports is very different and there is tons to do.

Last visit to Skagway we wandered about on our own, took the one-hour National Park Service walking tour and did a self-guided town tour. It's a quaint place that takes you back to the days of the Gold Rush. This trip I will be doing the White Pass Scenic Railway.

Juneau is one of the ports I could stay in for several days. On my first trip we took a helicopter over four glaciers (unbelievable surreal experience), then landed on a glacier and did dog sledding! We went over to the Mendenhall Glacier on our own. Did you know that Mendenhall is the most accessible glacier in Alaska and the only one accessible via road? It's a must-see if you visit Juneau.

My next trip to Juneau I did a Photo Safari that included a Whale Watching trip and a hike around the Mendenhall Glacier. This time, I will be taking the Deluxe Tour of Juneau, which includes a bus tour of the city, a visit to Mendenhall, a visit to the Glacier Gardens Rainforest, and finally an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Macaulay Salmon Hatchery!

In Ketchikan we have toured the Alaskan Rainforest, which included some amazing animal (bear) sightings and we've also done the float plane and boat trip of Misty Fiords. This time I will be taking the Lighthouses, Totems and Eagles excursion. This excursion includes a boat ride to see Eagles, a visit to Totem Bight State Park and finally a visit to the Guard Island Lighthouse.

And after the amazing 13 nights on the Disney Wonder I will be flying to Orlando for two jammed packed days of D23's Destination D.

whew.....

You can be sure I will be twittering and posting on Facebook during my trip.

And remember, Laura will be blogging during the two cruises!

So, for those who can't join us, be sure to follow our journey!

By the time you read this, I'll be either on my way to the airport or on a plane to the west coast.
As I mentioned in my last blog, this is a Mega-Disney trip taking place over 3 weeks.

First stop is Disneyland. I thought it might be fun to go back over previous blogs from Disneyland and post some of my photos:

Minnie is ready to fly the plane at Disney California Adventure!

The breakfast at the Plaza Inn has lots and lots of characters:

And over at Paradise Pier character breakfast - Stitch helped me celebrate my birthday!

This was my first real hint that Marc Lorenzo was such a detailed planner. He showed up at a pre-D23 Expo meet with his color coded spreadsheets

A 2009 construction photo of the World of Color fountains:

At the World of Color Press Event in 2010, Jodi Benson performed live for the media! Can't wait to see the new Little Mermaid Attraction!

If you are wondering when to visit Disneyland for perhaps that one and only time? My recommendation would be a toss up between during the Halloween Festivities and the December Holiday Festivities!

Mickey is decked out for Halloween

Lots of amazing carved pumpkins!

No matter when you visit, you must spend time in Toontown! It's awesome!

One of my favorite things about visiting Disneyland is I get to see friends who live on the west coast :)

And perhaps my favorite Disneyland photo was taken September 2010, when my dear friend Cathy and I finished the DL Half Marathon and got our treasured Coast to Coast medals!

You can be sure I will be twittering and posting on Facebook during my trip.

And remember, Laura will be blogging during the two cruises!

So, for those who can't join us, be sure to follow our journey!

Deb Wills is off on another adventure -- this time starting at Disneyland in California, then taking the Disney Wonder to Canada (Vancouver), followed by the first Disney cruise to Alaska! She'll be sending photos via Twitter along the way (you can follow her @AllEarsDeb) as much as she is able to -- but for those of you who don't use Twitter, I'll (that's me, Deb Koma) will be reposting the photos here in her blog so you can follow the journey.

Here are the photos she shared on her departure day, Monday, April 25 and Day 1, Tuesday, April 26:

Excited to see World of Color again. :)

Love this DL Plaque

Entrance to DCA a bit of a challenge during new entrance construction

AllEars Meet at Disneyland

Beautiful morning in Downtown Disney Disneyland

Morning at Grand California DL

Themed desserts at Marceline's Confectionery DL Downtown Disney

I really enjoy DL's Downtown Disney!

Love this photo of Walt - where would you find it?

Old posters on construction walls - nice touch

Room is ready! Yipeee at Disneyland

Deb Wills is off on another adventure -- this time starting at Disneyland in California, then cruising on the Disney Wonder to the Pacific Northwest and Canada (Vancouver), followed by the first Disney cruise to Alaska! She'll be sending photos via Twitter along the way (you can follow her @AllEarsDeb) as much as she is able to -- but for those of you who don't use Twitter, I'll (that's me, Deb Koma) will be reposting the photos here in her blog so you can follow the journey.

Here are the photos and some thoughts she shared on Day 2, Wednesday, April 27:

One of the cool things happening on this Pacific Repositioning cruise are winemaker tastings and dinners. Wines include Iron Horse, Chappellet, Grgich, St. Francis. The Dinner is for a group of 8 in the private room of Palo with the winemaker. Very excited to be attending the St. Francis one later in the cruise.

Our nightly shows are:
All Aboard, Let the Magic Begin
Golden Mickeys
Movie PremEar - Prom
Toy Story The Musical
Disney Dreams
Remember the Magic Fond Farewell

For the first time ever, in our couple dozen cruises, DVC actually knew we were on board and we had a cabin door magnet and gift waiting for us.

Movies in the Buena Vista Theatre include:
Tangled
Toy Story 3
Mars Needs Moms
Gnomeo and Juliet
Tron
Secretariat
Prom
African Cats
I am Number 4

Golden Princess sails out of port LA

Just did sailaway party w/ countdown but don't sail til 6pm.

Sailaway now at 6pm but decks are filling

Muster Drill time which means Sail Away soon!

The beautiful but diesel-smelling port of LA

Linda is ready to relax at Cove Cafe

Welcome Aboard the Disney Wonder

Disney Cruise Line Welcomes Us!!

We see the Disney Wonder!!

On our way to the Port - let the cruising begin

Good Morning from California!!

Very special lunch yesterday at Disneyland. Thanks to our hosts!!

Good morning from the Disney Wonder where it is 5:45am.

We've sailed 384 nautical miles from Los Angeles and will arrive in San Francisco at 7am this morning. Sunrise is at 6:15 and we should be under the Golden Gate bridge shortly thereafter.

It is 50 degrees outside with strong wids. Our boat, she is a rockin big time and sailing right into the wind. We are traveling 11.7 knots right now.

My good friend Laura is doing a great job with her daily blogs, so be sure to read what she/we are up to.

Lots of photos to come later today as we begin our first excursion to Napa Valley! Now I better get dressed and head upstairs for the sunrise!

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Here are photos Deb shared today via her Twitter account:

The beginning of a pinot noir grape cluster

Now tasting 3 Domaine Carneros Pinot Noirs

Tasting Rose Sparkling Wine

Domaine Carneros tasting sparkling wine

Domaine Carneros last stop

Culinary Institute of America for lunch

Cold but fog free morning coming into San Fran

Bottling room at Clos Pegase

Clo Pegase Winery in Napa first stop

Golden Gate as Disney Wonder passed under

Deb Wills is off on another adventure -- this time starting at Disneyland in California, then cruising on the Disney Wonder to the Pacific Northwest and Canada (Vancouver), followed by the first Disney cruise to Alaska! She'll be sending photos via Twitter along the way (you can follow her @AllEarsDeb) as much as she is able to -- but for those of you who don't use Twitter, I'll (that's me, Deb Koma) will be reposting some of the photos here in her blog so you can follow the journey.

Here are some of the photos Deb posted on Saturday, April 30.
You can see these and all of the rest of the photos Deb is sending on her Twitpic.com account HERE.

SAUSALITO AND SAN FRANCISCO

MUIR WOODS

Amazing redwoods! at Muir Woods

Heading over Golden Gate bridge on way to Muir Woods