Skagway – Finally a Break from Disney… or Maybe Not

(Part 4 of our Disney Cruise Series)

The Great Escape — to the Train

After surviving two days at sea, we were finally rewarded with our first port call: the wonderful little town of Skagway, Alaska — and, at least at first glance, a place not owned by Disney.

Our planned shore excursion was the White Pass Scenic Railway Tour, which we saw as our big escape from the Disney bubble. Little did we know that even here, far from the ship, the Disney grip was strong — they had their own reserved train cars at the back of the line, exclusively for Disney passengers.

So yes, once again, we found ourselves surrounded by the same cheerful members of the Disney Cult, just in a slightly colder setting.

Exploring Skagway

Before boarding the train, I decided to find something to eat — mostly because I couldn’t face another cruise ship breakfast. I stopped at Northern Lights Pizza and ordered a gyro, which turned out to be surprisingly good.

The train ride itself was scenic and worth doing, though the experience was somewhat diminished by poorly behaved kids in our carriage. After about ten minutes of that, my wife and I chose to spend most of the journey on the open-air viewing platform, enjoying the crisp air and incredible views of the mountains and valleys below.

Post-Train Relaxation

Back in town, we wandered through Skagway and found a gem — Olivia’s Bistro — where we had a couple of excellent Double Maple Old Fashioneds and shared a plate of elk meatballs, which were outstanding.

And, in keeping with Disney’s surprisingly generous alcohol policy, which allows each adult guest to bring two bottles of wine per port stop back onto the ship, we made a quick stop at the local liquor store before reboarding. Anything to offset the onboard bar tab.

Reflections on Skagway

Skagway was a refreshing break from the cult — at least for a few hours between the train ride and returning to the Wonder. The scenery was spectacular, the air fresh, and for a brief moment, we felt like normal travelers again rather than background characters in a Disney musical.

But the peace wouldn’t last long. Next up: Juneau, where we traded trains for a helicopter and got up close and personal with a glacier.