Blairs Bound for Barcelona and Back EBTA and WBTA

[KrisannB]

Ok here we go. We are starting our journey to Barcelona and back.


Cruisers:me-Krisann
DH - Ashley
Dd - Ashlyn (15)
Ds - Aaron (12 at the start of the EBTA - turns 13 during - 13 on the WBTA)

I am trying to get back to this trip report - I am going to work backwords - starting with today (August 15, 2010) - and comparing my preparations for the WBTA with what I did for the EBTA.

So here we go . . .

[granmaz]

Looking forward to reading.

Have a great time.

[KrisannB]

Saturday april 10 cruise day 1 - started the day off early taking the magical express back to the airport to catch the cruise bus but got tired of explaining, yes - I know I could have taken a bus from the resort to the port - but I wanted to get there early.

We were able to completely check in for the cruise at the airport - including having pictures taking and the given a bus boarding ticket and later when we were in line they gave us a boarding card. We were on the 3rd bus of the morning and was given boardong number 6. We got to the airport about 8:30 - 9 am

We met a nice couple while we waited - they are on their 18th cruise!

Can see the ship - time to go meet my DIS friends! More later!

[MissMet]

Can't wait to read more! I'm sailing the WB trans- so excited!!! :cheer2:

[TotallyAngelic]

Hi Krissann ... wishing you and your family a wonderful cruise. Bon Voyage. We watched you sail out of PC last night (on webcam) and were so excited for all the EBTA cruisers. :yay::yay::yay:

[Tink rules]

I'm IN!!! :banana: :banana:

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

Hi! Krissann:goodvibes! Say "hi" to Jackie and Monica for me! So glad you're doing a trip report from the ship. I've subscribed and am looking forward to reading!:thumbsup2

[disneycruising]

popcorn::

I can't wait to hear all about your trip.

[lisalisalisa]

Looking forward to hearing more. :)

[SSRJen]

Looking forward to reading all about the trip. Wish I could be on the ship right now!

[Tink rules]

They're at CC today... and I'm jealous!!! (although Kathe DID offer to have 2 Konked Coolers for me... :goodvibes)

[tinker1bell]

Saw the pics from yesterday of the Magic leaving the port. Cannot wait for our cruise!!!

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I can't wait to read more!!!!

[disneyuncle]

this puts it all into perspective. i cannot wait for may 12 to fly to barcelona to meet the ship!

[MrsMork]

subscribing and wishing Krisann a wonderful journey!

[Tink rules]

Hi Angie! :flower3:

[MrsMork]

Hi Angie! :flower3:

:wave2: Hi, Michelle!! :hug:

[granmaz]

Hi Michelle, hi Angie.:wave:;)

[StephenKay]

Saturday april 10 cruise day 1 - started the day off early taking the magical express back to the airport to catch the cruise bus but got tired of explaining, yes - I know I could have taken a bus from the resort to the port - but I wanted to get there early.

We were able to completely check in for the cruise at the airport - including having pictures taking and the given a bus boarding ticket and later when we were in line they gave us a boarding card. We were on the 3rd bus of the morning and was given boardong number 6. We got to the airport about 8:30 - 9 am

We met a nice couple while we waited - they are on their 18th cruise!

Can see the ship - time to go meet my DIS friends! More later!

Sorry for taking time off your cruise to answer this as I was puzzled why would you take a bus back to MCO to catch a cruise bus, I get the bit about being quicker (why does Disney not learn) is this a cheaper way than hiring a rental car ?

PS: Can you post some of the special offers with regards to the spa? and what's the price of the rainforrest room for 14 days, I only ask as we are doing the WBTA too.

Many thanks have a good trip.

[Hoagie Pie]

Sorry for taking time off your cruise to answer this as I was puzzled why would you take a bus back to MCO to catch a cruise bus, I get the bit about being quicker (why does Disney not learn) is this a cheaper way than hiring a rental car ?

PS: Can you post some of the special offers with regards to the spa? and what's the price of the rainforrest room for 14 days, I only ask as we are doing the WBTA too.

Many thanks have a good trip.

Hey Stephen - I have done this before and we do the same thing that Krisann did. The buses from the airport leave earlier and you get on the ship earlier because of your boarding number. Sometimes it isn't cheaper then a rental car, but not as stressful. They take care of your luggage, no traffic and you don't have to worry about returning the car and getting back to the port. In my opinion, Disney doesn't want the buses to leave their resorts earlier because you could spend more money on breakfast or whatever else you might have time to do. Okay, hope that helps a little!

[MrsMork]

Hi Michelle, hi Angie.:wave:;)

:flower3:

[tinker1bell]

Sorry for taking time off your cruise to answer this as I was puzzled why would you take a bus back to MCO to catch a cruise bus, I get the bit about being quicker (why does Disney not learn) is this a cheaper way than hiring a rental car ?

PS: Can you post some of the special offers with regards to the spa? and what's the price of the rainforrest room for 14 days, I only ask as we are doing the WBTA too.

Many thanks have a good trip.

Stephen,,,you can pay about $16 a day for the rainforest room. They might offer a special for so many days. In Dec, we took advantage of a Ladies night which was $125 for a mini massage, facial, scalp, foot and ankle scrub if I remember.

this site really has so much information and you can see many of the navigators folks have turned in.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/cruise-new/cr-overview.htm

[triplefigs]

Hey Stephen - I have done this before and we do the same thing that Krisann did. The buses from the airport leave earlier and you get on the ship earlier because of your boarding number. Sometimes it isn't cheaper then a rental car, but not as stressful. They take care of your luggage, no traffic and you don't have to worry about returning the car and getting back to the port. In my opinion, Disney doesn't want the buses to leave their resorts earlier because you could spend more money on breakfast or whatever else you might have time to do. Okay, hope that helps a little!Is it a problem taking Magical Express back to the airport to check in/take the cruise bus since you're NOT taking a flight immediately? We are doing the 2011 EBTA next May and flying into MCO, using ME and staying 3 days and doing the parks, and then going on the EBTA. Thanks for any help!

[Tink rules]

Hi Michelle, hi Angie.:wave:;)

:flower3:

:dance3:

[Tink rules]

From Krissann over on FB... (1st day at sea...) :banana: :banana:

I am on the computer while listening to Spanish Classes - made the kids go to the class with ashley! Next is lunch at lumires and the formal night tonight - oh and we will do the adult Ducky presentation at 2 pm today!

[Hoagie Pie]

Is it a problem taking Magical Express back to the airport to check in/take the cruise bus since you're NOT taking a flight immediately? We are doing the 2011 EBTA next May and flying into MCO, using ME and staying 3 days and doing the parks, and then going on the EBTA. Thanks for any help!

This is what we did last time. We took Magical Express to Saratoga. We left the next day via taxi cab to the Hyatt/airport. We did NOT take the Magical Express back. You are probably right, they won't let you do that. The cab driver was great and I think it was $25/30, which wasn't bad. I hope that helps and you will have a fabulous time. Any more questions, just ask.

[triplefigs]

This is what we did last time. We took Magical Express to Saratoga. We left the next day via taxi cab to the Hyatt/airport. We did NOT take the Magical Express back. You are probably right, they won't let you do that. The cab driver was great and I think it was $25/30, which wasn't bad. I hope that helps and you will have a fabulous time. Any more questions, just ask.
Thanks!

[Dicecatt]

Subscribing!

[CRSNDSNY]

ANy reports on how the internet connection was during the sea days?

[KrisannB]

Ok as I prepare for the WBTA I realize I have not completed my EBTA trip report - first thing I am going to do is answer questions first - then come back and talk about planning for the WBTA and lessons learned for this cruise from the EBTA. Then I will go back and trip report into the first post the EBTA info. Thanks for reading!

[KrisannB]

Sorry for taking time off your cruise to answer this as I was puzzled why would you take a bus back to MCO to catch a cruise bus, I get the bit about being quicker (why does Disney not learn) is this a cheaper way than hiring a rental car ?

PS: Can you post some of the special offers with regards to the spa? and what's the price of the rainforrest room for 14 days, I only ask as we are doing the WBTA too.

Many thanks have a good trip.


BUS: I know it would probably be cheaper to do another type of transportation BUT I do not like driving to the port - I like to take the disney busses - this comes down to personal preference. I like when we get to the airport I give them my luggage and we check in. We were able to meet and talk with some great people during the time we waited at the airport for the cruise busses to leave.

Spa: I will post the specials they had or you can go to my facebook where I scanned all the navigators and sheets - including the spa specials.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2061536&id=1139906413&l=1bdcf464f3



From Krissann over on FB... (1st day at sea...) :banana: :banana:

I am on the computer while listening to Spanish Classes - made the kids go to the class with ashley! Next is lunch at lumires and the formal night tonight - oh and we will do the adult Ducky presentation at 2 pm today!


The spanish classes were fun - Oscar did them and I did learn what I thought was the most important word: Bano (I think I spelled it right)

As for the Ducky presentation - it was great as always - but did not win anything :( maybe one day - this was the 3rd out of 5 cruises we have had Ducky on. On the cruise he also did private drawings that you paid for and he drew one character for you during your time. Thought that was cool - would have done it except we had just had had drawings done for the kids at Downtown Disney and had them framed and shipped to our house - would have waited but we had no idea it would be offered with Ducky on the cruise.

This is what we did last time. We took Magical Express to Saratoga. We left the next day via taxi cab to the Hyatt/airport. We did NOT take the Magical Express back. You are probably right, they won't let you do that. The cab driver was great and I think it was $25/30, which wasn't bad. I hope that helps and you will have a fabulous time. Any more questions, just ask.


No you can take the ME back to the airport - just make up a dummy flight info - when you get on the bus tell the driver what you are doing and he will make sure you get off the right place. We have done this 3 times now - no problems really - just took some tweaking to get it to work right like knowing they want you to take a ME bus 3 hours before your departure time - so find a flight that is about 2.5 hours AFTER the time you want to be at the airport and it works great!


ANy reports on how the internet connection was during the sea days?

It was better than it was during the WBPC in 2008 BUT it is a satelite connection and you have to understand that things can cause it to not be reliable. My DH works someplace that uses sattelites for phones and internet so I have learned to work around it. For the most part we were good with the connection. But on the WBTA in September we will be using our blackberry as a tethering ($30) with the international plan ($70 for unlimited data) to get on the internet. Both me and DH have this capability so we will both be able to get on the internet at the same time for a little more than the $150 we paid last time - and i do not have to watch the time and it is good for a month - not just while on the cruise - still need cell service for it though.

Is it a problem taking Magical Express back to the airport to check in/take the cruise bus since you're NOT taking a flight immediately? We are doing the 2011 EBTA next May and flying into MCO, using ME and staying 3 days and doing the parks, and then going on the EBTA. Thanks for any help!

No there is not a problem - see my points above. And PM me with any specific question - we have it firgured out!


Krisann