4/10/2010 eb ta "bound for barcelona"

[IngridRalph]

Thanks for the feedback on the picasso museum. Seems like it will be an easy one to navigate on our own.

~Ingrid

 

[PrincessMonkey]

We've been to the Picasso Museum in Paris. Do you know how the one in Barcelona compares?

I liked the Picasso Museum in Barcelona much more than the one in Paris! The Picasso Museum in Paris focused more on his later periods and sculptures. Picasso was foremost a Spanish painter, and this museum truly does him justice. IMO this museum in Barcelona felt more visually fulfilling, and it gives you a sense of the well-rounded artist that he was.

That said, I would also visit a Gaudi HOUSE or two (but not go inside La Sagrada Familia, sorry, unfinished and huge didn't do it for me!), but one of those gorgeous Gaudi homes (e.g., Casa Batlló, Mila, Palau Guell and Gaudi's Parc Guell) in Barcelona. LOVED them. Pick one or two if you don't have much time, it's definitely worthwhile.

There were countless times Antoni Gaudi's art took my breath away. Do NOT miss the artistic rooftops on these special homes... sometimes they are even crazier than the interior! Gaudi's imaginative patterns and curved decor remind me of the type of designs that would have inspired Walt Disney's colorful animation. I can't say how many times I mentioned Walt Disney or Mary Blair when I was walking through these homes.

 

[JLSE50]

Checking in. Not quite done with the previous thread though.....

 

[PrincessMonkey]

Thanks for the feedback on the picasso museum. Seems like it will be an easy one to navigate on our own.

If you are comfortable visiting city museums (any country), you can definitely tour the Picasso museum yourself.

Important: The pickpockets in Barcelona are very clever and unscrupulous... the situation seemed worse than in Rome or Paris. Please be careful. Just watch your belongings WHEREVER you travel... I cannot stress this enough!! Dr Dave often wears a black, fitted photographer's vest that has lots of interior pockets, and we keep our camera in our pockets whenever we can.

On a brighter note...
The "Hop-on-and-off-anytime" official tourist bus system in Barcelona was a GREAT experience... I'll have to check the name of the company we did... I liked that it was flexible with our plans.

Okay, it was: Barcelona Bus Turistic. We don't usually do these buses (pride! LOL), but we did use them in Barcelona since things are spaced a bit further apart. The English audio track through the plug-in headsets (they provide, you get to keep) was very informative and interesting!

PrincessMonkey

 

[PrincessMonkey]

PrincessMonkey, I spoke to my husband about the wii, he said it had the basic games, bowling,darts,baseball, ect. It has four controllers.

Okay, those are the basics. I wonder if Disney would mind if we brought a Nintendo Wii game or two of our own? Mario Party 8 is a good party game. Is there a way we can find out, or should we just bring it and ask on the ship?

PrincessMonkey

 

[TheCruisers]

Oh, you guys are a bad influence on me!

I couldn't resist, I called my TA to get a quote on the Med cruise. Waiting to hear back. No harm in asking RIGHT?!?!? If I understand correctly, with our son free, we can do it for approx $2200. Almost can't afford NOT to do it.

Kcashner, thanks very much for the info on Kennedy Space Centre. We'll leave it for another day!

 

[sdlong329]

We are also thinking of booking a segway tour in Barcelona. I found a company that takes kids over the age of 12 but they have a weight limit of 250. I need to see how flexible they are with that. My son is 6'4" and about 255-260.

Are they quoting 250 KILOGRAMS or 250 POUNDS?
1 kilogram = 2.20462262 pounds

 

[Happy Goofy]

My husband and I are doing Seville and the whole day Montserrat. I know Seville is a long ride but it is one city I did want to see.

 

[sdlong329]

Before I vote on lanyard colors, does anyone know if DCL is giving away free lanyards to Castaway Club members? If so, what are the colors? I would vote for different colors than those used for Castaway Club members so our lanyards stand out from the rest.

--Good point! I already voted (drats)!

I wonder if Disney would mind if we brought a Nintendo Wii game or two of our own? Mario Party 8 is a good party game. Is there a way we can find out, or should we just bring it and ask on the ship?

--This was covered within the last few pages of the last thread link. Diversions opens at Noon, daily. We have game day scheduled to begin at 1:00PM during sea days. We are able to utilize the DCL Wii, but must have Disney staff assist to operate the Wii. If you want to bring your own Wii for use in your room, DCL advises it will not work - but some are not quite so sure (perhaps an issue with video hook-up). If you want to hook-up your own Wii in Diversions, you will have to contact Diversions staff when you enter the room, and they will hook-up your Wii ... and impose a $50 fee to do so.

 

[mommyto3princesses]

We cancelled ours as well, would like to do Views and parks but they do not allow children under 12, looks like we are venturing out on our own.

Belle, do you think you'll just grab a taxi? Where do you plan to go? My problem is I like most of the stops on the West Madeira excursion just don't want to spend 8.5 hours on an excursion with 3 little ones. If you find a good tour driver, group, etc... lmk, thanks!

Thanks Stephanie. I'm voting for Red as I think we should have lanyards that stand out from the others.

Woody

Ditto!

If I understand correctly, with our son free, we can do it for approx $2200. Almost can't afford NOT to do it.

I wish I would have inquired before I booked air. I had no idea it was kids fly free?!

Does anyone know if they still pass out the red mesh bags to Castaway Cay members? I want one!!

 

[PrincessMonkey]

I voted for lanyards that would stand out too.

Being "just-for-fun/very amateur" pin collectors, we already have black and blue lanyards that were provided by Disney.

It could be more exciting to wear red or yellow/golden yellow.

 

[TheCruisers]

Please remember Im a newbie (and a dummy) so please forgive the rookie questions

What is the purpose of the lanyards? So we can readily identify fellow DIS members?

Regarding FE's: please let me know if I have this correct: As a participating FE'er cabin, we would bring a token gift for each other participating cabin and once during the trip (we would be alotted a certain day) would deliver them to each cabin.

Secret Mickey is for children only and we'd get little token gifts for that child and deliver one each day of the cruise. Is this correct?

Thanks!
Eleasa

 

[TheCruisers]

I wish I would have inquired before I booked air. I had no idea it was kids fly free?!

Sorry, I meant children sail for free on the med cruise. We already booked air via Disney and since its still a return flight from Barcelona, only 11 days later, I am assuming the air would be the same cost. We did change the air once already (Apr 9 instead of 10 to Orlando) and because we are staying at Disney All Star Resort, there was no deviation fee nor additional transfer costs. I'll have to wait to hear from my TA to make sure my assumptions are correct. Here's hoping!

 

[IngridRalph]

Are they quoting 250 KILOGRAMS or 250 POUNDS?
1 kilogram = 2.20462262 pounds

The website said pounds so I sent them an email to check.

~Ingrid

 

[IngridRalph]

Does anyone think we will see any further discounts on this cruise such as tips included, kids sail free, etc?

~Ingrid

 

[Happy Goofy]

I was a little upset to see that Disney scheduled Pirate Night on a port day. A lot of people are doing the West Madiera tour which is all day. I called the main cruise number and voiced my concern, It will be a hassle doing the tour, getting back to the ship, eating and changing for Pirate Night. The person I talked to could care less and said I would have to email to dcl.guest.communications@disneycruise.com
I did send them an email. Are there any other people concerned with this? IF so contact the above email and if enough of us do it maybe they will change. They could not give me a reason that it was scheduled for that day.

 

[auntlynne]

..."I wish I would have inquired before I booked air. I had no idea it was kids fly free?!" - mommyto3princesses

Sorry, I meant children sail for free on the med cruise.

She bought her airfare through a travel agent - not through Disney.

Then she saw the kids free in the Med. Those darn change fees!

 

[auntlynne]

I was a little upset to see that Disney scheduled Pirate Night on a port day...

I just thought of a reason: safety. Since they usually do fireworks during the Pirates IN the Caribbean Party, perhaps they set the date to be somewhere near land in case of emergency.

 

[auntlynne]

...What is the purpose of the lanyards? So we can readily identify fellow DIS members?

Regarding FE's: please let me know if I have this correct: As a participating FE'er cabin, we would bring a token gift for each other participating cabin and once during the trip (we would be alotted a certain day) would deliver them to each cabin.

Secret Mickey is for children only and we'd get little token gifts for that child and deliver one each day of the cruise. Is this correct?

Lanyards: Exactly!

FEs: We haven't decided about the "certain day" aspect - but it looks like it will be one gift per cabin.

SM: Adults and kids. Five smaller gifts and one for the "reveal" meet, where you meet your SM. Kids matched with kids; adults with adults.

 

[auntlynne]

...I spoke to my husband about the wii ...It has four controllers...

Any thoughts about bringing our own controllers (would make bowling easier).