May 18, 2013 MAGIC EBTA - Who is with us?

[mellers]

Originally Posted by mboekhoff

OMG, I am SO jealous! This will be FABULOUS!!!

I can't wait to hear more about it!

Originally Posted by mboekhoff

Bless you all, sending pixie dust for a clean Pet scan!

Thanks. We're hoping for the best on this one.

The trip is really going to be fabulous. They're really looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to seeing all the pictures!

[mboekhoff]

It would be awesome to hear the stories too

Originally Posted by mellers

Thanks. We're hoping for the best on this one.

The trip is really going to be fabulous. They're really looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to seeing all the pictures!

[Tink1987]

Originally Posted by mellers

My mother is a knitter, and she's looking for other knitters on her board who live in the area, and might offer suggestions. I know they want to see the Solent Sky Museum (my father is a retired history instructor, and a WWII aviation buff). As to the rest, they figure they'll check it out when they get there. They also might take the train to some neighboring areas.

That sounds cool, I'm so sorry, I hope my previous post didn't come across as rude, just that I am from the UK and wondered if there was any special draw to Southampton instead of London or other countryside areas

[Tink1987]

Originally Posted by mellers

Thanks. They have put off a lot of their retirement dreams to help us raise our daughter, who was born with autism and CP (She, by the way, turned out great, earning a high school diploma at 16, and starting an early college program. She had a tough go of it, but she's a tough kid).

About the time it looked like things were going to be okay, I was diagnosed with cancer and my husband was diagnosed with a serious coronary problem. I have to go in for a PET/CT this Monday, and I hope nothing jinxes it. My folks deserve a chance to do something special. Crossing my fingers for no new surgery, or at least that it's done by May.

Best of luck for Monday! Fingers crossed that everything will be OK. x

[GoofyNewfie]

Originally Posted by Moby

Thanks! I'lll check it out. Does that mean that Iceland Air flies from Barcelona to USA? Or do you layover in Iceland?

Actually, it's a little more complicated than that unfortunately. Iceland Air seems to do the typical code sharing that everyone does so you could buy a flight from Barcelona from them. But, I found those prices to be more expensive. The good price point that I found (but you might have a different experience) is from London to Halifax, Canada. The tickets were about 25% of Air Canada flights. The key to Iceland Air is that all their flights travel through Iceland. ie London->Iceland->Halifax. I think they had 6-8 US locations they fly direct from. You can even stopever in Iceland for no extra cost - but I'm not going that route (others are).

So, yes, I'm finding my way to London for a few days after Barcelona. Haven't really figured that one out but European carriers are so much cheaper than North American.

Good luck.

[gonecrusin]

Originally Posted by mellers

Thanks. We're hoping for the best on this one.

The trip is really going to be fabulous. They're really looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to seeing all the pictures!

Best of luck on your tests. Will put you n the prayer list. and a litte pixie dust doesn't hurt either!

[gonecrusin]

Last thing left to do is book a hotel in London for Saturday and Sunday night. Any opinion? We were looking at the Marriott in Kensington or the Marble Arch. Thought about using DVC points but they are too high. We are open for suggestions also of what to do and see.

[NancyIL]

Originally Posted by mellers

Does anyone have any car services they've used/been happy with in Barcelona? My folks will probably take public transit once they're there, but they'll need to get a transfer from the port to the Four Points Barcelona Diagonal.

That's the hotel where we are staying. I plan to take a taxi from the port to the hotel when we get off the ship on June 1st.

[Tink1987]

Originally Posted by gonecrusin

Last thing left to do is book a hotel in London for Saturday and Sunday night. Any opinion? We were looking at the Marriott in Kensington or the Marble Arch. Thought about using DVC points but they are too high. We are open for suggestions also of what to do and see.

Kensington and Marble Arch are both good places to stay in. Have you visited London before? I'm happy to help with suggestions on what to do there, as we from the UK we visit London around 7/8 times a year.

[kaseyC]

Originally Posted by mellers

Does anyone have any car services they've used/been happy with in Barcelona? My folks will probably take public transit once they're there, but they'll need to get a transfer from the port to the Four Points Barcelona Diagonal.

We used Barcelona Airport Transfers in 2011. We did 3 transfers with them- Airport to Hotel, Hotel to Port and Port to Airport. Great service. Link below:

http://www.barcelona-airport-transfers.com/

[kaseyC]

Originally Posted by Relaxin'

DS and his girlfriend are thinking of booking this cruise. They are in their early 20's. I am just putting together a budget for them and I have a few questions that may have already be answered, but hoping that someone does not mind answering them.

1. what is the cost for Disney transportation from Houston Airport (Marriott Hotel) to Port?
2. What are the temperatures after you leave CC and arrive in Madeira?

$30 pp and they will pick you up from the hotel. We do not have to go back to the Airport in the morning.

[mellers]

Originally Posted by Tink1987

That sounds cool, I'm so sorry, I hope my previous post didn't come across as rude, just that I am from the UK and wondered if there was any special draw to Southampton instead of London or other countryside areas

Not to worry, you didn't sound rude at all. The main draw to Southampton is that they will be taking the Queen Mary 2 from the port there, and they'd never seen that part of the country.

Do you have any recommendations for the area, or good places for day trips on the train?

[mellers]

Originally Posted by Tink1987

Best of luck for Monday! Fingers crossed that everything will be OK. x

Originally Posted by gonecrusin

Best of luck on your tests. Will put you n the prayer list. and a litte pixie dust doesn't hurt either!

Thanks everyone. Good wishes and pixie dust are always appreciated

[mellers]

Originally Posted by kaseyC

We used Barcelona Airport Transfers in 2011. We did 3 transfers with them- Airport to Hotel, Hotel to Port and Port to Airport. Great service. Link below:

http://www.barcelona-airport-transfers.com/

Thank you! That's a big help.

[mellers]

Originally Posted by gonecrusin

Last thing left to do is book a hotel in London for Saturday and Sunday night. Any opinion? We were looking at the Marriott in Kensington or the Marble Arch. Thought about using DVC points but they are too high. We are open for suggestions also of what to do and see.

When my daughter was small, I took her to London for some specialized therapy. While I didn't have time or energy by the end of the day to do much sightseeing, I did see the Victoria and Albert Toy Museum, and I thought it was really a neat place, even though it's not on the usual list of tourist attractions.

Can't help much with hotels, though.