From the Sea to the World - Holiday Edition - Completed

[dolphingirl47]

So do they not have Sorcerer's of Magic Kingdom in Adventureland any more?

Yes, that is still there, too.

Corinna

 

[Steppesister]

You decribed HDDR to a tee! Extremely funny and WELL worth the money- even at full price. We've been twice and loved it both times. I'm SO glad you did too.
The food was delicious and the show a riot.

I really would love Jingle Cruise. Hopefully someday I'll make it there at Christmas. We'll see.

Traditionally, we have crappy luck with the boats in that area too. The waits are forever, and once you're on the ride is often FREEZING and wet. Better management would do them well. Bummer it tinkered with Michael's mood, but glad he recovered nicely. Sangria does that.

 

[Flossbolna]

Katharina and I are back from a fantastic week and hopefully I will soon have time for replies and the last few updates!

 

[GoofyFan1515]

Katharina and I are back from a fantastic week and hopefully I will soon have time for replies and the last few updates!

Welcome home to you both!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Welcome home! I hope you both had a great time!

 

[lovealldisney]

Welcome Home!!! Hope you had a wonderful time?

 

[franandaj]

Katharina and I are back from a fantastic week and hopefully I will soon have time for replies and the last few updates!

So glad you had a great time! Looking forward to hearing all about it!

 

[Steppesister]

YAY!! Welcome Home, Friends! I hope your trip was everything you've dreamed it would be! Looking forward to your tales.

 

[dizneeat]

Welcome back, Magdalene and Katharina!
Looks like it has been a great cruise. Can't wait to hear all about it.

 

[Flossbolna]

Ok, I think it is finally time to get this trip report going again!! I still don't have a new update for you just yet. But the weekend is supposed to have lousy weather (I am sure this is meant by the weather gods to remind me of my magical Norway vacation, but the weather was the only thing that did not really speak in favor of Norway) and that will hopefully give me time to write some more for this trip report.

I think I can also already announce that I will not write a trip report about the Norway cruise. But if you want to read about my adventures, you should look out for a trip report that will be started by @nodnol. She took over the reporting duties and used a lovely travel journal our wonderful travel agent gave us to diligently write down lots of notes. I was the official photographer though and might add a comment or two. Michael keeps telling me that he thinks that he should be allowed to comment as well. Not sure why he thinks that...

But I am going to try to catch up with replies and might add one or two pictures as teasers for the Norway cruise over the weekend!

 

[Flossbolna]

I am sure it is no surprise to you that I own these.....

When I saw them I said to Michael that I was sure that you had a full set of these! I was very tempted to get them myself.

I hate when transportation issues dominate the trip. And by the sounds of the next title, it is not over yet.

Yes, somehow we have rarely bus issues. But other transportation...

I love being in the world with the fall and holiday decorations. it just adds another layer of details to look at.

I was not sure beforehand whether I would feel that the decorations would be distracting, but that was really not the case. Just as you say, it was an additional layer.

 

[Flossbolna]

That is one of the changes that they made when they changed the Kim Possible World Showcase adventure to the Agent P World Showcase adventure that I really like. Virtually every mission now has an element where you have to interact with a cast member.

Oh, this is interesting!! I haven' tried it out since the change, I guess I really need to make it a point for my next trip.

Looks like lunch may be the way to go as this is completely contrary to my experience. I love the food there, but find this to be one of the noisiest restaurants at Walt Disney World. We have only ever been for dinner though.

I have been at Portobello twice now, both times for lunch and both times it was not crowded at all. Even this last time, while DtD was hopping with people as it was the weekend, we had a lovely table on the patio that was about half filled. Plenty of space inside as well. I guess people don't see DtD as a daytime destination.

I can't wait to check this out in September.

Bring a second empty suitcase!

That is so funny. The same happened to us at the Thrifty location at the Doubletree near Seaworld in 2013.

Seems like lots of German ladies work at rental car counters in Orlando!

I love those lights.

I never understood the appeal of the lights until I saw them in person. Now I love them, too!

I thought eggnog without alcohol would be a contradiction in terms.

The funny thing is that we had a huge big family discussion about eggnog when Michael was here in Germany for Christmas in 2013. I had always thought that eggnog was similar to what we call "Eierpunsch" (egg punch), which is served warm. I was totally shocked that it is served cold. The Nuremberg Christmas market had a stand selling eggnog and we all (my sister, her DH and my parents) tried it there and were pretty unhappy with our cold drinks! The one Disney sold was tastier than the Nuremberg variety.

 

[Flossbolna]

Wow! The pressure is really on to make a good impression!

I tried my best - and according from what Michael tells me, I was successful!

Great strategy! Magdalene would look really good to your friends in comparison now.

Unless they start thinking why does this lovely lady hang out with that moron?

That's a relief. I also like the idea of using the pool when you want to.

I am afraid that anytime swimming might be more and more one of those things that goes away from Disney resorts...

I love them! But then I'd have to get them all, and who needs 4 salt shakers?

That was exactly my thought - unless you are @Poolrat of course.

Ok, spill it: how fast do you go?

There is generally no speed limit on the autobahn. The recommended traveling speed is 130 km/h (about 80 mph). You will notice that the general traveling speed is about 140 km/h (87 mph) though. If there is not a lot of traffic I would personally be comfortable driving up to 160 km/h (100 mph), but there are cars that are considerably faster, too. I have been in cars doing over 200 km/h (125 mph). However, the best thing is taking the high speed train from Nuremberg to Munich which is parallel to the autobahn for quite a stretch. And ALL the cars are really slow from your train traveling at 300 km/h (185 mph).

Keep in mind though that you cannot compare the autobahn to a normal highway in the US. They are built differently. They are far wider and have wider shoulders than most motorways I experienced in the US. Also, overtaking on the right hand side is pretty strictly forbidden and will get you a hefty fine if noticed. Some crazy people still do it. But it is far far less common than I have noticed it happening in the US.

When we get our drivers license you need to have had at least 4 lessons of driving on the Autobahn before you will be able to take your driving test.

And one final trivia to add to the autobahn talk: If you want to buy a high end German car, all the car manufactures offer a program that you can travel to Germany and take possession of your car from the factory (cars in Germany generally don't stand around on a lot, but are built to your specifications, i.e. seat color, entertainment package, sun roof yes or no etc.) and they will have it registered temporarily in Germany so that you can use it for driving around Europe for a vacation. Then you bring it back and they ship it to you in the US. I am pretty sure that that program exists mainly for one reason: the autobahn. Even though you really are not supposed to take a new car up to those high speeds...

Holy cow. This place is ridiculous. I'm surprised they didn't offer you a rickshaw next.

That would have been fun! Michael could bike and I would tell him where to go!

This is why we have the "Darwin Awards". People amaze me sometimes.

I once had a book about this. It was partly fascinating, but then also so sad!

Julie and I keep promising to go down for Christmas time someday...as soon as we have the funds!

You will get there! If you just gave up visiting all those National Parks...

No matter how many times I see them, they always look amazing!

The lights are just fantastic!

Mmm...I really like Uno's. We used to have one in Dover, DE until it went out of business. I always got the Chicago pizza as well!

Seems like you have the same issue as Michael: He always tells me about those great places he used to eat it until they went out of business... But Uno's was really great and will be something that I should remember for future visits to Orlando. It really is just outside the gates of WDW property. So easy to get to if you have a car.

 

[Steppesister]

The oddest thing. When I am on your TR, my top banners disappear, and I can't use the "watched threads" link. Weird. Anyway, welcome home again. Loved the reply on the Autobahn. Good stuff. I saw a HORRIBLE accident on a highway in Spain once in which the car was absolutely unrecognizable as one. Life Flight was there on the oppoisite side...

 

[Poolrat]

Welcome home and I will on the lookout for Katharina's TR.

 

[franandaj]

If you want to buy a high end German car, all the car manufactures offer a program that you can travel to Germany and take possession of your car from the factory (cars in Germany generally don't stand around on a lot, but are built to your specifications, i.e. seat color, entertainment package, sun roof yes or no etc.) and they will have it registered temporarily in Germany so that you can use it for driving around Europe for a vacation. Then you bring it back and they ship it to you in the US.

Here is another Interesting fact. If you want to do this in California you must drive it over 7500 miles in Europe. We learned the hard way when we bought a car from out of state with only 4800 miles on it. When we went to register it, they called it a "new" car and told us it was illegal to register in CA. One of those laws that the car dealerships lobbied to get on the books so that consumers could not go to Arizona, Nevada, or Oregon to buy cars.

The oddest thing. When I am on your TR, my top banners disappear, and I can't use the "watched threads" link.

I think it's the whole Cruise Line Forum. All the TRs that I'm following in this forum have that quirk.

 

[Steppesister]

I think it's the whole Cruise Line Forum. All the TRs that I'm following in this forum have that quirk.

Strange! I wonder if they even know...?

 

[GoofyFan1515]

Wow what a special treat to get an actual Katharina TR! I'll be looking forward to my bat signal invite.

The oddest thing. When I am on your TR, my top banners disappear, and I can't use the "watched threads" link. Weird.

I think it's the whole Cruise Line Forum. All the TRs that I'm following in this forum have that quirk

I have seen this many times when reading TRs also. If you scroll completely to the bottom of the thread you should discover the "header" has become a "footer" and find the watched threads link there. Just another in a long list of inconveniences you have to discover/work around on this wonderful new DIS upgrade. .......

 

[Steppesister]

Wow what a special treat to get an actual Katharina TR! I'll be looking forward to my bat signal invite.



I have seen this many times when reading TRs also. If you scroll completely to the bottom of the thread you should discover the "header" has become a "footer" and find the watched threads link there. Just another in a long list of inconveniences you have to discover/work around on this wonderful new DIS upgrade. .......

Got it! And I too would love a link or PM.

 

[kel585]

All caught up! Loving your detailed TR. Thank you.