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

[Belle kel]

Wow! So this is my first post. I've been watching since the orgional thread a couple months ago...and my boyfriend said it would come to this day. I
just wanted to say...let's not get do defensive, were all friends here. So it's ok if we have different views on bottled water, dress code, or luggage weights. Personally, I'm al-cheepo, I'll drink the onboard water (have before, no special needs to worry about), dress as casual as I can get away with, and fly home just under my wieght limit. Just my thoughts. I've thought about SM and FE but to scared to commit (would be my first time). Belle

 

[disneymum2201]

We have previously travelled to the UK (Britain, Wales and Scotland), France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany,Austria, Italy, Switzerland, New Zealand, Canada, USA and of course Australia. This trip is entirely new to us. Onboard my DH will celebrate his birthday on the 19th April and our 14th Wedding Anniversary on the 20th April. I figured he would never forget our anniversary if it was the day after his birthday

I wonder if they are holding pirate night and fireworks to coincide with the Flower festival in Madeira. In my research the flower festival is a big deal. A number of European travel agencies were advertising packages to Madeira especially for the flower festival.

 

[Brooklyn]

I wonder if they are holding pirate night and fireworks to coincide with the Flower festival in Madeira. In my research the flower festival is a big deal. A number of European travel agencies were advertising packages to Madeira especially for the flower festival.

Very good point!

 

[sdlong329]

I bought a pirate wench costume, just so I could wear it again on the cruise.

--I thought about buying a Pirate Wench ... was sure I'd get LOTS of use ... then realized you were talking about a costume!


Pardon me, I keep thinking of the voluptuous RED HEAD in the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN ride.

I am just so excited but a tad worried as well about how I will get everything done in such a short time frame. I had 9 months for our first cruise and I thought that was short!

---My DW and I once booked a Philadelphia to Bermuda cruise on a WEDNESDAY, and left THAT SATURDAY! We picked up our documents at the Port of Philadelphia. It was a hoot!

I would rather just keep sailing. I like not seeing land. I can see fireworks from land every day at Disneyland. I would rather just be further out at sea.

---DW and I were on one of the very first DCL cruises to offer fireworks on board. The Magic was in Port at the Bahamas (I forget if it was a 4-day cruise, or an altered itinerary). DCL launched a FEW, fairly small rockets into the sky ... and the guests on the neighboring ship were amazed. I was on a later DCL cruise when fireworks had been cancelled due to extreme winds (while at sea). I am sure they could have slowed or stopped the ship, but I imagine winds are harder to avoid while at sea. I love the fireworks at the Disney Parks as well, but STILL get goosebumps every time I see them on the ship. Maybe it's just knowing NOBODY else does it. It's just a special experience, and I am thrilled to be a part of the drama.

Do we still want to do the dinner on the 16th as it is the Villain's Menu? Should we try for the 15th or 17th?

--I am not worried about conflict with the show, as we can catch the show prior to dinner if we dine later ... or catch the show after dinner if we dine early. I think many are over-thinking dates and times. I am sure (or, at least HOPE) Inventory Control would recognize a group of 12-14 would want to see the show ... regardless of whether is is a new show, or an existing show.[/quote]
--Steven Long

 

[woody73]

Wow! So this is my first post. I've been watching since the orgional thread a couple months ago

Welcome.

Woody

 

[realfam]

I'm also flying out of TO and feeling a little frustrated I'm flying home on the 24th though.First time I haven't booked the flights myself, wondering if I'm going to pay for that awesome rate I got when there was a glitch the first day of booking

Yeah more folks from the GTA.....We too booked on the first day. We fly on the 27th though. You won't be alone though because there's 2 other families travelling with us that will be flying home on the 24th. (they have no info either). Which day do you fly in? Were headed in on the 9th, staying a the Hyatt>

 

[realfam]

Wow! So this is my first post. I've been watching since the orgional thread a couple months ago...and my boyfriend said it would come to this day. I
just wanted to say...let's not get do defensive, were all friends here. So it's ok if we have different views on bottled water, dress code, or luggage weights. Personally, I'm al-cheepo, I'll drink the onboard water (have before, no special needs to worry about), dress as casual as I can get away with, and fly home just under my wieght limit. Just my thoughts. I've thought about SM and FE but to scared to commit (would be my first time). Belle

Welcome to the DIS
Your gonna luv it here. Its plave of plentyful info, friends and opinions. The most important thing to remember about this cruise is that its your vacation journey and you to do what you want to make it special. I'm not sure if you have been on a Disney Cruise before, but if you haven't, you are in for a treat. Your gonna luv it. Look forward hearing (reading) your posts and meeting aboard the ship.

Alex

 

[realfam]

I must admit there's nothing better than getting up on a sunday morning and surfing the DIS with a cup of coffee

Morning all......

Alex

 

[adedward]

Good morning! It's a beautiful day.

 

[rbcheek]

--I thought about buying a Pirate Wench ... was sure I'd get LOTS of use ... then realized you were talking about a costume!


Pardon me, I keep thinking of the voluptuous RED HEAD in the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN ride.

--Steven Long

Stephen, that was pretty funny.
Just thought I would throw in some useless trivia. In Disneylands version of the POTC ride. You can see a picture hanging in the bar with the skeleton drinking his rum. On the picture is a redhead. This scene was supposed to represent the future of the auctioned redhead. (Does that make sense?)

 

[rbcheek]

.... Were headed in on the 9th, staying a the Hyatt>

Alex, we too are arriving on the 9th and staying at the Hyatt. Is this the Hyatt at the airport? If so, I have a couple of questions for you.

1. Have you stayed there before to go on the cruise?
If so , then..

2. Will we get luggage tags to have our luggage sent to our rooms, or do we need to go to baggage claim to get them ourselves.

3. What time do the DCL shuttles start taking guests to the port from the airport?

I know we will eventually get these answers from Disney, but I don't want to wait.
Thanks.

 

[joius24]

I must admit there's nothing better than getting up on a sunday morning and surfing the DIS with a cup of coffee

Morning all......

Alex

I am with you Alex..... add the sunday paper and I have nirvana!....



Anneke and family and Bell Kel !

SD...wench comment

I have always drank the water on the ship...will still but I want a few bottl;es to take on excursions etc.....

Just a small side note...I hate my philosophy class....Philosophy is like a DOG chasing its tail...thank God the class will be done before the cruise. The cruise planning, reading the disboards and talking to you guys IS a wonderful diversion.

Have a great Sunday!

 

[realfam]

Alex, we too are arriving on the 9th and staying at the Hyatt. Is this the Hyatt at the airport? If so, I have a couple of questions for you.

1. Have you stayed there before to go on the cruise?
If so , then..

2. Will we get luggage tags to have our luggage sent to our rooms, or do we need to go to baggage claim to get them ourselves.

3. What time do the DCL shuttles start taking guests to the port from the airport?

I know we will eventually get these answers from Disney, but I don't want to wait.
Thanks.

Yes , Weve stayed at the Hyatt in MCO a few times before previous cruises. In the past weve come into MCO early in the morning and then headed of to WDW for the day. This time I think we are going to rent a car and hit a shoping mall for cruise essentials like bottled water, beer and wine. The Hyatt is absolutely a beautiful hotel. If my memory is correct DCL will start transferring passengers to port as early as 10am (although they don't start boarding until 1PM). We plan on hitting the first bus our selves, so we can aboard on one of the first boarding groups. As for your luggage you will receive DCL luggage tags in your document package. Attach them to your bags and put your bags outside your door first thing thing in the morning and they will magically reappear in your stateroom aboard the Magic. I llove flying in the day before it just makes things much more relaxed and no worries.

 

[Brooklyn]

Alex, we too are arriving on the 9th and staying at the Hyatt. Is this the Hyatt at the airport? If so, I have a couple of questions for you.

1. Have you stayed there before to go on the cruise?
If so , then..

2. Will we get luggage tags to have our luggage sent to our rooms, or do we need to go to baggage claim to get them ourselves.

3. What time do the DCL shuttles start taking guests to the port from the airport?

I know we will eventually get these answers from Disney, but I don't want to wait.
Thanks.

We stayed at the Hyatt before the last TA. The luggage tags will be mailed to you. You will place them on your bags once you get to the hyatt. You will leave them outside your room and then they will arrive for you at your stateroom.

The buses started leaving early! I want to say the first was around 0845. We just made it on the first one by a few people. It is not like at the WDW resorts where the buses leave later. Basically I just got up early headed to the lobby put my name on a list and then went back to round up the family. We left about 30 or so minutes after putting our names on the list. Then off we were with a ton of DISers to the port! We LOVED the hyatt as PP said. It is so nice. The girls loved the birds all over the place. They do however make for a VERY early wakeup call. That was great for us though bc we wanted to be on the first bus to the ship!

 

[katypop]

Was there a glitch on the first day of booking? I vaguely remember being quoted a rate that I thought was too good to be true, but I didn't book it because we were considering going to Paris.

Yes, there was a glitch the first day, it was corrected the following day. DCL said they would honour the rate quoted the first day as long as you didn't change any of the flight portion of the ressie.

Yeah more folks from the GTA.....We too booked on the first day. We fly on the 27th though. You won't be alone though because there's 2 other families travelling with us that will be flying home on the 24th. (they have no info either). Which day do you fly in? Were headed in on the 9th, staying a the Hyatt>

Unfortunately I fly in on the 10th First time I'm not arriving a day early. I wasn't sure the day I booked if I could get the extra vacation day, and then after I couldn't change it because I'd lose my great rate.

 

[Brooklyn]

Yes, there was a glitch the first day, it was corrected the following day. DCL said they would honour the rate quoted the first day as long as you didn't change any of the flight portion of the ressie.

I think they even figured it out that 1st day. I had a friend who booked it. Then she tried to add family members later that day and they could not get the airfare. It was a great rate! I was the CM's first caller of the booking the WB TA....too bad I didn't know then what I knew now...I could have had the great airfare too!

 

[rbcheek]

Thanks for the info for the Hyatt.
There's still the question about having to pick up our luggage at baggage claim. Do we claim it, or will it be delivered to our Hyatt hotel room?

Also, that idea about picking up water is a good one. We will be leaving San Diego early in the morning but we won't arrive in Orlando until 5:30 pm. Is there somewhere close by to purchase a case of water without having to rent a car?

 

[Dishy24]

Any idea how much a taxi costs to the port? I checked on car services and they seem to run around $115 or so. We won't be using a rental car as we don't want to mess with lugging carseats with us on this trip. Any other recommedations or tips on handling that aspect of transportation?

Welcome, Annekevdbroek! We are taking Florida Town Car service from MCO to the port. The cost is $100 (including tip) (We have 5 passengers). We have used them many times in the past & are very reliable. I have already booked them for this trip. They will ask you your incoming flight information & will track your flight on your day of arrival and will meet you at luggage with a sign with your last name displayed on it. Their number is (407) 277-5466-- Again, we have used them at least a dozen time over the past 10 years or so...

 

[Brooklyn]

Thanks for the info for the Hyatt.
There's still the question about having to pick up our luggage at baggage claim. Do we claim it, or will it be delivered to our Hyatt hotel room?

Also, that idea about picking up water is a good one. We will be leaving San Diego early in the morning but we won't arrive in Orlando until 5:30 pm. Is there somewhere close by to purchase a case of water without having to rent a car?

I remember us dragging our bags from baggage claim and then got someone to help us.

I am not sure as to "how close" but I had an AMAZING DISer pick me up at my hotel and take me to I think Kmart or Walmart to buy all of the things we needed. It was not in walking distance.

 

[katypop]

I think they even figured it out that 1st day. I had a friend who booked it. Then she tried to add family members later that day and they could not get the airfare. It was a great rate! I was the CM's first caller of the booking the WB TA....too bad I didn't know then what I knew now...I could have had the great airfare too!

Sorry you missed out! I was very lucky. My first quote was without airfare, but then I started reading about the great rates on here, and asked DU for a new quote including it I usually like to book the airfare myself, but since it's my first trip to Europe I was happy to let someone else book it. Of course, now that it's getting closer I am anxious to know what my flights will be