When Oliver turned 12, his parents told him he could go anywhere in the United States. He picked Alaska. "He's not a dummy," his dad Wesley said. "He knows his parents." And going to Alaska ended up, very quickly, becoming a Disney Wonder sailing — making this one of the most intentional, joyful trip reports we've heard in a long time.

In this episode:

• The family tradition of solo parent-kid trips that made this cruise extra special — and how Oliver's 12th birthday choice proved he was ready for it
• Coming back to the Wonder after sailing the Destiny: what still works beautifully on the classic ships, and one very funny quote about the atrium
• The Glacier Explorer excursion — what the guides taught them about glaciers, bergy bits, and cascades, and why watching the Wonder sail away in the Endicott Arm fog was the highlight of the week
• Port by port: White Pass train and Liarsville gold panning in Skagway, sled dog camp in Juneau, and the Ketchikan Lumberjack Show — which excursions are actually worth your time?
• Hot takes on the best restaurant, best show, and best pub in the entire fleet
• The salmon donut situation in Juneau. Don't do it.

"The only person who's sorry is my bank account — but that's fine. They'll get over it. It's fantastic. The people that we've met, the experiences that we've had, the friends my children have made — 10 out of 10, man." — Wesley

Find and follow along with Wesley at his website, on Instagram, and Threads.

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The views expressed in this podcast are our own and do not reflect the views of the Walt Disney Company, Disney Cruise Line or any other travel provider discussed or mentioned.