The MAGIC is Back!!! ~ WBTA 2014 ~ Come & join the fun!

[TotallyAngelic]

OK, OCD me is already looking at what to in the ports:

1. Malaga Spain

2. Teneriffe, Canary Islands

3. St. John's Antigua

4. St. Maarten beaches - Maho Beach and Pinel Island, hopefully with Bernard's tours again.

5. Basseterre, St. Kitts

6. Have been to San Juan Puerto Rico a few times so think will skip touring but not sure yet what we will do.

I have been doing the exact same thing this morning ... I love researching ports and things to do / see .... particularly historical stuff and interesting bars

Hi Everyone

Two newbies to the group here. Please add us to the roll call Claire, Jules and my hubby Ian, we booked last night room 6650.

Really looking forward to sailing with old friends and making new ones.

Claire, if you need me to help with anything, please let me know x

Yay .... fellow Welsh persons .... great to see you on board and looking forward to finally getting to meet you.

 

[MandyGirl]

Hi Everyone !!
I hope to book this 2014 WBTA while on board the Magic EBTA 2013 this May. I have to wait until DH Paul knows whether he can take the time off. The last time I cruised on the Magic WBTA was 2007. I really love this new itinerary.
I'm going to think positive and hang out here with y'all - what a fun group this is !!

Now you see why Sarah (binkytell) and I have been trying to get the enthusiasm going on our EBTA thread and referenced this WBTA 2011 group and DIS thread for organization of activities! Of course sometimes to get shot down either in public or via PM, but I think we learned from the best - this group! This group is absolutely amazing, and for many of us it was our first transatlantic cruise! Consider booking a cabin on WBTA now but re-shopping it onboard just in case prices go way up or categories sell out. These are fabulous rates for WBTA!

There was a pyjama breakfast as well in 2011 I think wasn't there? And the stateroom tour. There was so much that we didn't sign up to as it was our first cruise, this time ill jump in feet first with stuff

Yep!! I even modeled our new DIS EBTA 2013 first page after how awesome WBTA 2011 was organized!

I think I'm so excited about getting to see everyone again! What a great group of people to travel with! And a chatty group at that...

We are also taking the Disney Med cruise this July. The DisBoards group for that cruise is only to page 24...while this board has only been active for 3 days and already is on page 21!!!!
Chatty, chatty, chatty! Love it!

It really will be so great to see everyone again! Consider booking a cabin now, and then re-shopping onboard just in case rates increase dramatically.

Life is too short and the money will be there, somehow. It always is. I lead a basically charmed life, with some crappy work days thrown in to keep me humble and remind me why we need to take this trip!!!!

Okay, venting finished. Thank you. Needed to do that. All better now.

Amen to that. Life is too short here - need to live it now.

You are indeed my dear!!!!

I am sure a Tequila one will be popular!

Possible suggestion:

Make a calendar on page one. Let people put tentative dates of events, particularly the alcoholic events, so that none overlap on the seven sea days. Remember (or don't remember lol) the Champagne Girls getting assigned by Disney on same afternoon as Pub Crawl?

If the "hard ticket" events (like rum/mojito/tequila/mixology tastings and Champagne Girls) can scatter their events and request mid-afternoon, and when organizers email Disney include the overview of "events being submitted by various people in same group", that will help our DCL contact understand the necessity of keeping these events on separate dates. Then Pub Crawl can be scheduled based on when Disney confirms the dates since it's not a hard-ticket event booked with DCL in advance.

An example.... and of course we will know formal nights and Pirate Night in advance as well so can space activities out accordingly. A hypothetical scenario of a calendar:

Sept Port Details
5 Precruise - Barcelona - Hard Rock Cafe
6 Barcelona, Spain — Meet-and-Greet (2:30ish? ), Sailaway 4:00 p.m.
7 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #1
8 Malaga, Spain (7:00 a.m. 4:45 p.m.)
9 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #2
10 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #3
11 Tenerife, Canary Islands (7:00 a.m. 4:45 p.m.)
12 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #4
13 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #5
14 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #6
15 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #7
16 At Sea Til We Meet Again Lunch / Secret Mickey Reveal ?
17 St. John's, Antigua (11:00 a.m. 4:45 p.m.)
18 St. Maarten (7:00 a.m. 4:45 p.m.)
19 Basseterre, St. Kitts (7:15 a.m. 4:45 p.m.)
20 San Juan, Puerto Rico Disembarkation 7:00 a.m.

No sea day right before disembarkation.... Til We Meet Again Luncheon?? Secret Mickey Reveal? Last sea day?

PJ Breakfast --- could be any morning 8:30 so early enough we don't overlap any brunch time - those brunchers for that day could just join for coffee and visiting or something light, as I recall brunch being 10:00 ?

And then we could scatter the alcoholic events on sea day afternoons.... just coordinate among each other so DCL does not overlap. An example....... although formal nights and pirate night will eventually be announced, but surely we could handle one tasting and formal night the same day? (Just showing how we can space out events in our requests to DCL so no overlaps.... dates of each can certainly change.... just a hypothetical scenario)

Sept Port Details
5 Precruise - Barcelona - Hard Rock Cafe
6 Barcelona, Spain — Meet-and-Greet (2:30ish? ), Sailaway 4:00 p.m.
7 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #1
8 Malaga, Spain (7:00 a.m. 4:45 p.m.)
9 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #2; Rum Tasing
10 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #3; Tequila Tasting
11 Tenerife, Canary Islands (7:00 a.m. 4:45 p.m.)
12 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #4; Pub Crawl
13 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #5; Mixology Tasting
14 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #6; Champagne Girls
15 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #7; Mojito Tasting
16 At Sea Til We Meet Again Lunch / Secret Mickey Reveal ?
17 St. John's, Antigua (11:00 a.m. 4:45 p.m.)
18 St. Maarten (7:00 a.m. 4:45 p.m.)
19 Basseterre, St. Kitts (7:15 a.m. 4:45 p.m.)
20 San Juan, Puerto Rico Disembarkation 7:00 a.m.

 

[MandyGirl]

Who's organising what....



Hazel & Annemarie (justannienothazel) = Fish Extender group

Michelle - (Squitty) = DIS private mojito tasting group

Sarah - (Binkytell) = Secret Mickey

Mary - (Tod&Copper) = Champagne Girls

Debra - (Dgentrysim) = DIS private Rum tasting group

Mel - (MagicMe) = Scrapbook exchange

Susan - (Geffric) = DIS Group dining list (so we are seated in the same area)

Sarah (TotallyAngelic) = Pre Cruise cocktails/dinner meet 5th Sept, Hard Rock Cafe - Barcelona

Jules (SaratogaGirl) = DIS private Tequila tasting group




More info to follow soon.....

I will be happy to coordinate group brunches if nobody has volunteered

 

[Ginamarie]

I'm getting lonely up on deck 8! It sounds like 2, 5, and 6 are hopping!


You guys are really ahead on things. The only thing I've been researching is air and Barcelona hotels and I feel like I'm not getting anywhere with that yet. We definitely want to do Palo brunch, either with the group or solo. That's one of my favorite things, even though I usually wing up too full to eat everything I want. The chicken parm with risotto, the pizzas, the crab legs... My mouth is watering right now!

 

[PFlamingo]

Great to see Dennis has come around to your way of thinking and I'm sure he didn't need too much persuading.

Oh, he hasn't, really. But he will. I figure I have at least a year to get him on board (so to speak). He looks at the finances now (which are crap) and thinks "oh, we can't go," while I know that a year from now it will all be fine. So in the meantime I'm going to plan, plan, plan!

 

[saratogagirl]

I have been doing the exact same thing this morning ... I love researching ports and things to do / see .... particularly historical stuff and interesting bars

Yay .... fellow Welsh persons .... great to see you on board and looking forward to finally getting to meet you.

I know Sarah, it will be lovely to meet at last, I am looking forward to celebrating your 50th with you x

 

[gesamom]

Hi! You are a chatty group! 25 pages already!?!

We are Tim (54 at time of travel) and Gail (43). We have dreamed of doing a TA for years and are finally able to go since the kids will be old enough to manage with the help of Grandma & Grandpa.

We are so excited! This will be a 20th anniversary trip for us (delayed a few months).

We will be in cabin 2009. DH refers to it as "scow class" but who cares, I'm on the ship!

Can't wait to hear all the exciting things this group will be planning.

Gail

 

[thedonduck]

Possible suggestion:

Make a calendar on page one. Let people put tentative dates of events, particularly the alcoholic events, so that none overlap on the seven sea days. Remember (or don't remember lol) the Champagne Girls getting assigned by Disney on same afternoon as Pub Crawl?

If the "hard ticket" events (like rum/mojito/tequila/mixology tastings and Champagne Girls) can scatter their events and request mid-afternoon, and when organizers email Disney include the overview of "events being submitted by various people in same group", that will help our DCL contact understand the necessity of keeping these events on separate dates. Then Pub Crawl can be scheduled based on when Disney confirms the dates since it's not a hard-ticket event booked with DCL in advance.

An example.... and of course we will know formal nights and Pirate Night in advance as well so can space activities out accordingly. A hypothetical scenario of a calendar:

Sept Port Details
5 Precruise - Barcelona - Hard Rock Cafe
6 Barcelona, Spain — Meet-and-Greet (2:30ish? ), Sailaway 4:00 p.m.
7 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #1
8 Malaga, Spain (7:00 a.m. 4:45 p.m.)
9 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #2
10 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #3
11 Tenerife, Canary Islands (7:00 a.m. 4:45 p.m.)
12 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #4
13 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #5
14 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #6
15 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #7
16 At Sea Til We Meet Again Lunch / Secret Mickey Reveal ?
17 St. John's, Antigua (11:00 a.m. 4:45 p.m.)
18 St. Maarten (7:00 a.m. 4:45 p.m.)
19 Basseterre, St. Kitts (7:15 a.m. 4:45 p.m.)
20 San Juan, Puerto Rico Disembarkation 7:00 a.m.

No sea day right before disembarkation.... Til We Meet Again Luncheon?? Secret Mickey Reveal? Last sea day?

PJ Breakfast --- could be any morning 8:30 so early enough we don't overlap any brunch time - those brunchers for that day could just join for coffee and visiting or something light, as I recall brunch being 10:00 ?

And then we could scatter the alcoholic events on sea day afternoons.... just coordinate among each other so DCL does not overlap. An example....... although formal nights and pirate night will eventually be announced, but surely we could handle one tasting and formal night the same day? (Just showing how we can space out events in our requests to DCL so no overlaps.... dates of each can certainly change.... just a hypothetical scenario)

Sept Port Details
5 Precruise - Barcelona - Hard Rock Cafe
6 Barcelona, Spain — Meet-and-Greet (2:30ish? ), Sailaway 4:00 p.m.
7 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #1
8 Malaga, Spain (7:00 a.m. 4:45 p.m.)
9 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #2; Rum Tasing
10 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #3; Tequila Tasting
11 Tenerife, Canary Islands (7:00 a.m. 4:45 p.m.)
12 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #4; Pub Crawl
13 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #5; Mixology Tasting
14 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #6; Champagne Girls
15 At Sea Palo Group Brunch #7; Mojito Tasting
16 At Sea Til We Meet Again Lunch / Secret Mickey Reveal ?
17 St. John's, Antigua (11:00 a.m. 4:45 p.m.)
18 St. Maarten (7:00 a.m. 4:45 p.m.)
19 Basseterre, St. Kitts (7:15 a.m. 4:45 p.m.)
20 San Juan, Puerto Rico Disembarkation 7:00 a.m.

I love the organization here! This would be perfect to add to the FB group page pinned (when we get it solidified!). This will really help me plan excursions (ahem, Spa treatments ) and such for us as well.

 

[saratogagirl]

Hi! You are a chatty group! 25 pages already!?!

We are Tim (54 at time of travel) and Gail (43). We have dreamed of doing a TA for years and are finally able to go since the kids will be old enough to manage with the help of Grandma & Grandpa.

We are so excited! This will be a 20th anniversary trip for us (delayed a few months).

We will be in cabin 2009. DH refers to it as "scow class" but who cares, I'm on the ship!

Can't wait to hear all the exciting things this group will be planning.

Gail

Welcome Gail, it will be our 20th anniversary trip as well, delayed by over a year, but worth the wait!

 

[thedonduck]

Yep!! I even modeled our new DIS EBTA 2013 first page after how awesome WBTA 2011 was organized!

BTW...I really like this too! Great job organizing all of this! If we can get our first few post looking like this as we plan, I think it will help out everyone

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

I'm getting lonely up on deck 8! It sounds like 2, 5, and 6 are hopping!

I hear ya! I have sailed on Deck 7 aft before and know I love it, so that's what I booked and I'm sticking with it. The only thing I changed is from being port to starboard as most of my sailings have been starboard and I've liked it.

I didn't want to chance getting one of the white veranda that some cabins on Deck 6 have - I like plexiglass. I know not all Deck 6 has the white but this way I know I'll have plexiglass.

Brunch - definitely want to do that!

 

[CustardTart]

Hi everyone Please count me in too

I've sailed the EBTA so of course needed to add the WBTA

Hoping that I can make it work and sail with all of you! I booked yesterday, cat11 and am sailing solo, unless my DD is able to join me. This will be my 11th cruise with DCL

Kathe

Hi Kathe!!! It's been a while so good to see your name on the list... Now... Any other Thieves we can entice onboard..?!
Kaz x

 

[MandyGirl]

Hi! You are a chatty group! 25 pages already!?!

We are Tim (54 at time of travel) and Gail (43). We have dreamed of doing a TA for years and are finally able to go since the kids will be old enough to manage with the help of Grandma & Grandpa.

We are so excited! This will be a 20th anniversary trip for us (delayed a few months).

We will be in cabin 2009. DH refers to it as "scow class" but who cares, I'm on the ship!

Can't wait to hear all the exciting things this group will be planning.

Gail

Welcome!!! And Happy Anniversary! Gotta add that we were in cabin 2010 on WBTA 2011.... great quiet location for when you need sleep!

 

[MandyGirl]

BTW...I really like this too! Great job organizing all of this! If we can get our first few post looking like this as we plan, I think it will help out everyone

I'm sure it will be sorted... many of us booked just 48-ish hours ago (and saw the itinerary for the first time less than 100 hours ago) so it is amazing how much has already been done by Claire (Pinky) and those who have chimed in to help organize. Today just happens to be my day off from work and our first soccer game was cancelled for our oldest... had a little time to think

This group is all about fun and fitting it all in

Oddly enough, I had suggested this format almost a year ago on our EBTA thread and it didn't fly back then. Finally people came onboard with the idea and most were for the organization, so when we *finally* approached 250 pages we were able to set up Part Two thread in an organized fashion for our upcoming cruise.

 

[Pinky166]

OK Claire in at the deep end, I will sort the tequila tasting!

Thanks hun.

I will be happy to coordinate group brunches if nobody has volunteered

That would be fab, i'll add it to the first page and send you a PM shortly.

 

[Pinky166]

I'm sure it will be sorted... many of us booked just 48-ish hours ago (and saw the itinerary for the first time less than 100 hours ago) so it is amazing how much has already been done by Claire (Pinky) and those who have chimed in to help organize. Today just happens to be my day off from work and our first soccer game was cancelled for our oldest... had a little time to think

This group is all about fun and fitting it all in

Oddly enough, I had suggested this format almost a year ago on our EBTA thread and it didn't fly back then. Finally people came onboard with the idea and most were for the organization, so when we *finally* approached 250 pages we were able to set up Part Two thread in an organized fashion for our upcoming cruise.

Thanks....I was just about to say I will be adding everything in full detail to the first page, thats why I reserved several spaces at the beginning as I knew how much extra activities etc would be plan from the last WBTA.

I work full time so most of the updates will be done at weekends.....it's hectic enough trying to keep up with the roll call and chatter here and on Facebook during the week.

Please feel free to make suggestions of anything you want added.

 

[babydiver]

Just thought of something else that can be organised....

The Pre Cruise drinks/dinner Hard Rock Cafe in Barcelona! It's a tradition!!!

We are definitely in for that pre cruise meeting - count us in

Sue and Richard (babydiver) 6011

We did this for the 2011 cruise but didn't take put our names down for anything else as we were too shy BUT NOT THIS TIME....we are going to do practically everything....bring it on


Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to arrange those special events.

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

Thank you for the reminder for something I've been meaning to do - may I take the time to thank Claire for all her hard work!

I also want to take the time to thank all those who have stepped up to organize events, and all those who take time to give information that proves so useful to all of us. Thank you, it is so very much appreciated!

 

[Pinky166]

We are definitely in for that pre cruise meeting - count us in

Sue and Richard (babydiver) 6011

We did this for the 2011 cruise but didn't take put our names down for anything else as we were too shy BUT NOT THIS TIME....we are going to do practically everything....bring it on


Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to arrange those special events.

It will be a great evening we will all be bouncing with excitement!

Sarah (totallyangelic) is tracking the Hard Rock meet so just PM her and she will add you to her list.

 

[Pinky166]

Thank you for the reminder for something I've been meaning to do - may I take the time to thank Claire for all her hard work!

I also want to take the time to thank all those who have stepped up to organize events, and all those who take time to give information that proves so useful to all of us. Thank you, it is so very much appreciated!

Thanks Holly but really no need to thank me I enjoy it!

I just hope I can keep up....