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A Closer Look at Alaska with Adventures by Disney

Lisa Lesperance

by , Adventures by Disney

As a Trip Manager for Adventures by Disney, I was part of the team that developed and launched our Taming the Last Frontier trip. While developing this itinerary I focused on exploring the lesser-traveled “Interior” of Alaska, including the iconic Denali National Park.

A Closer Look at Alaska with Adventures by Disney

One of my favorite memories, which I penned as a must-do, was the full-day Kenai Fjords cruise to visit a spectacular glacier. Here, our Guests get to experience both the natural wonders of Alaska as well as get up close to some amazing wildlife. And it’s not uncommon to encounter orca and humpback whales, porpoises, sea otters and seals during the cruise, and sometimes even spot a black bear on the shoreline! Let’s just say the memory card on your camera is certain to read “full” quickly.

Also during this time, my heart was captured by the adorable puffin – a distinctive little bird with a brightly colored beak. I came to find out that two of the three species of puffin are found in Alaska – Tufted Puffins and Horned Puffins. Guests are sure to see dozens of these lovable birds – flying, bobbing in the water and nesting in towering cliffs – as they cruise through the Kenai Fjords National Park. Including this spectacular cruise on our itinerary was definitely a no-brainer on my part. Soon after reaching the shore I couldn’t help but keep thinking of those charming puffins and quickly decided to further explore their story. My inquisitive nature and love for these creatures led us to the Alaska SeaLife Center located in Seward, Alaska, just a few minutes away from the docks.

At the Alaska SeaLife Center we found the rest of our puffin story. Guests of Adventures by Disney are treated to a private visit with a Naturalist Guide and are invited into the Center’s puffin sanctuary. Here they are given up-close-and-personal encounters with the resident puffins that are sure to give anyone a greater appreciation for these wonderful animals. Later, after our exclusive after-hours dinner next to the underwater viewing tanks, we bring our puffin experience full circle as every Guest creates their own personal puffin keepsake out of clay! Mine currently sits on my desk as a constant reminder of an experience that I will always cherish.

These are just a few highlights that Adventures by Disney Taming the Last Frontier trip has in store for our Guests. So if you’re ready to explore the wonders of Alaska or one of the other exciting North American trips that Adventures by Disney has to offer, don’t wait! Because when you book select North American trips by May 25 you can save $300 per reservation. Click here for more details.

Comments

  • “Taiming the Last Frontier” is a fabulous trip! I’d done an Alaskan cruisetour 3 years before, and was thrilled that only a couple of small activities overlapped with what I’d done on the cruisetour. The biggest thrill was realizing that the one thing I regretted not being able to do on the cruisetour (the Kenai Fjords cruise) was included on the ABD! I thoroughly loved & enjoyed the ABD, and the icing on the cake was seeing Mt. Denali in all her glory, bright & crystal clear! It was an amazing trip, and I’d encourage anyone thinking of going to Alaska to look at doing this tour!

  • My brother in-law currently lives in Seward and during my visit last year, explored some of Kenai Fjords via local boat cruise. I saw all the wildlife you described, including what I think was described by the boat captain as a “mega-pod” of orca whales; it was incredible! I recommend a cruise into Aialik Bay vice Harris Bay for glacier viewing. Also, if the schedule permits, consider a trip to Exit Glacier, a short trip by road heading north from Seward. It’s the only part of Kenai Fjords National Park accessible by road and provides an excellent “up-close” encounter with a receding glacier.

  • Welcome to the blog Ms. Lisa!

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