7/18/10 Mickey's Baltic Ballyhoo Part 6

[buck4568]

I want my coffee!

Did not see one in London as Costa is the big time coffee shop in London for sure. We did see a Dunkin Donuts in BERLIN! At the gate to the city I think? Near the US Embassy!

See it here!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/buck4568/4783705193/

 

[caven553]

Been on the road now for 48 hours and we are just getting ready to crash at the hotel here in Edenbridge. Got in this morning and had a lost piece of luggage (supposed to be showing up at the hotel later tonight). Couldn't fit all of the luggage into the 2 rental cars we had (upgraded to a bigger car for one and made it all fit) and had a good afternoon at Windsor castle. I have only driven on the wrong side of the road twice so far and neither time with oncoming traffic so no worries there! Heading into London tomorrow to see a bunch of stuff and we have our London Eye, Thames river cruise and porters tomorrow (go away rain!) England countryside is very pretty - although driving down roads that are only a car and a half wide with 10 foot tall hedges on either side is a bit nervewracking!

 

[Marla Hellwig]

The way things are headed in our house, there will be a 16yo and a 11yo going with just the clothes they are wearing

well based on what Kara is packing - she can share

think we have everything ready to go in the suitcases

off to pick up the kid from work and then drop off the last critter to her babysitter

then stuffing suitcases and dinner at some point

 

[Celestine]

We are 6 so we can take up to 6 bags!
no extra fee!
Question: Do they have Dunkin Donuts in London? :

I don't think there is a dunkin Donuts in London, not much call for it as we are all health freaks drinking fruit juices....like scrumpy or cider

There is plenty of starbucks and costa coffees around you won't need the caffeine as you will be wide awake with jet lag

looking forward to next week....

 

[RJAYL]

I don't think there is a dunkin Donuts in London, not much call for it as we are all health freaks drinking fruit juices....like scrumpy or cider

There is plenty of starbucks and costa coffees around you won't need the caffeine as you will be wide awake with jet lag

looking forward to next week....

Hopefully not bad jet lag as we are not taking a red eye!

Also looking forward to next Sunday!

 

[baileysgm]

Forget Dunkin Donuts...what about Krispie Kreme ?

YESSSS! At least one...on High Holborn about two blocks West of the Chancery Court Hotel

 

[scrapycruiser]

YESSSS! At least one...on High Holborn about two blocks West of the Chancery Court Hotel

I don't believe it !! We're staying at that hotel !

Andrew, why didn't you tell me ?

 

[MrsScooby]

Oh I so agree, my mom's is legally blind so everything falls on me, I did leave a note on brother's itinerary that when she calls for something to actually do it for her
Sounds like my brother

I love my Dory shirt and fits me to a t somedays (or so Kara says)

Just got word that one of mom's best friends has had to have Hospice called in, they have known each other forever, and even shared a hospital room when I and her daughter were born

So sorry about your Mom's friend Marla

I'm going to start packing today....

Me too

Loosing one's children could be a good thing!

Yes we went home today to pick up the things we do not have with us for this trip.

Starting to pack, and finish up alot of loose ends!
Will be running around like crazy for the next few day's

Oh yes, there are times we're I'm soooo tempted to leave them behind
Also running around like crazy getting last minute stuff

News Flash:
I found post cards!!! We went to Old Town Temecula today and after having lunch we walked to several shops before we finally found post cards, oh and a pound and a half of fudge...

I'll take the fudge

Andrew and Alana are out driving right now. That is his job to drive with her! I can't handle it and panic too much!

How's the driving going? Has Andrew come home without shakey hands and a cramp in his braking foot?

No not yet. She is doing a lot better. We went up to the mountains and she was driving well until we were on a narrow road with people parked on both sides and cars coming towards us. She ALMOST hit a few parked cars. I took back over after that.

I went through this with three kids. My oldest had a cassette tape she had to play every time we got in the car. For some reason it kept her calm. I did notice a difference when we didn't have it playing. My youngest didn't want to drive until she was 18. She was pretty easy except for the day she drove into the garage without opening the door first. My son did the best and was always calmer than me.

Oh this makes me feel so much better
I think I'm leaning toward canceling my DS's driving class for August and just reschedule for later.
It starts August 3rd and since I'm not sure what the jet lag will be like and he really isn't chomping at the bit to drive yet anyway...maybe better to wait

 

[MrsScooby]

OK, I practiced a bit, and plan to try to blog our trip. Most of you guys will be with us, but for the lurkers who have had to cancel or are not going, feel free to visit:

http://disneydocbaltics.blogspot.com

3 days til we leave for London!
1 work shift left!

Yay!

That will be great

I too have started packing...and unpacking....and repacking.....and unpacking again I think it is great that this cruise & particularly this this thread has a wide range of people, interests, experiences & geographical locations. From this thread alone we cover swathes of the USA, Canada, Germany, Switzerland and others I'm sure I never noticed. I'm sure we'll all have a great time and I look forward to seeing you all this time next week. If any of you (even if you are not on the bus) have any problems when you are in the UK, please feel free to contact me by PM, or e-mail (panama08@ntlworld.com), or cell (+447944714866)

Celestine

Thanks Celestine
Planning on no problems, but is nice to have this just in case

We managed to get 1/4 of us packed last night!

I was looking up the weather for each port/day and it looks like we should have decent weather. It will feel freezing compared to the 100 plus degrees we've had here this week but as long as it doesn't snow, rain hard or hail we'll be fine! We've had enough of that this year ourselves.

Soundd great
I'm fine with cooler weather

The way things are headed in our house, there will be a 16yo and a 11yo going with just the clothes they are wearing.

Sounds like mine too

See you soon, neighbor!! Safe trip


Ditto here. Only I'm off for the summer and not working (correct that-this packing nonsense is work!) We tried to sqeeeeeeze into 2 bags and that is just not happening. So as much as I don't want to, we'll fork over the $50 for one second bag. We're probably going to need it coming home anyway.

I decided several days ago to pay for the 2nd bag. It was causing too much stress to try and fit everything into 1 bag.Then I figured if the bag was stuffed I'd have no room for souvenirs ! Thank goodness dh packs his own !

We've also decided that if it looks close we'll just pay for the second bag
Kind of resolved to that months ago when we bought our flight tickets.

 

[MrsG]

Andrew,

Tried to PM you but it won't go through. Can you PM me please?

Maryann

 

[hawaiian mickey]

aloha,
Good Morning everyone. Only 2 more days before we leave.
I guess there will be less chattering with so many of us leaving in the next few days.
For all who are leaving tomorrow safe journeys. May sunshine bless your stay in London or wherever you stay before the cruise.
See you guys on the bus or the Magic

aloha,
hawaiian mickey

 

[Toocoolmom]

Just a quick reply. York was beautiful and we love it. We are now headed to Edinburgh for a birthday celebration for Caitlin. Then on to Inverness. Have a safe flight to all leaving and see u in a week.

 

[drleblanc]

I was starting to feel left out with the plans everyone else has been discussing about packing already and leaving for London before the cruise. We are driving up from Switzerland, so I am happy to see others will be arriving the same way as us. We are driving up to Calais and taking the ferry across on Saturday, staying the night in Dover. Reserved parking spot already at the port too. Happy driving everyone!

Hey ! We'll do the same ! We're from Belgium and we'll cross the pond sundaymorning by ferry from Dunkirk to Dover. It'll be the first time for our car too! What time do you arrive in Dover? Did you reserved a parking too? When you see another one driving on the wrong side of the road, it could be us !!!

 

[smilis]

So much catching up to do from the weekend. I saw TS3 with grandkids this weekend. Cute Most of our packing is done. Found some of the compressible packing bags at the dollar store Think I'll stop and pick up some more today. I purchased the Rick Steves, 3 for $20 and the only difference is Steves has air valves you use instead of the zip clip.

Can somebody tell me if DCL has put safes in the staterooms? I don't seem to remember them in 2007 but didn't know if I might be remembering wrong.

Has anybody done research as to what are the "prime souvenirs" to look for in each port? I know what I want in STP for my DGD's but DGS's are much harder to buy for, age 9 and 12.

We have not received the DCL letter about Stockholm yet, perhaps because the Sigtuna lunch excursion wasn't affected . Looking forward to running into some of you all on the Disney Eye/Porter's evening on Friday, the Ballyhoo Bus on Sunday and the rest at the DIS-meet on Monday.

Lots to do in the next few days, including work DH says he'll have no problem falling asleep once on the plane as he will be putting in LONGGGGG hours this week. Plus he's helping DD and her hubby relocate their AC unit outside the house.

Have a great Monday. Off for my massage later this afternoon.

 

[ladyvet]

There is a safe in each stateroom, so no worries there

Safe travels to everyone. We're not leaving until Thursday, but for those getting a head start-- tell London we're on our way!!

Beth

 

[Cousin Orville]

It's about time for us to start packing. We fly out on Friday. I rented the Singing Revolution (about Estonia). Saw somewhere it was highly recommended. I haven't had a chance to actually watch it, but will hopefully find time this week.

 

[RJAYL]

Good Morning All!
We will be flying too London in under 2 days!

 

[Hanover]

You can definitely feel the excitement in our house! I already can barely sleep, between the excitement and thinking about all that's left to do.

We still have to pack 3 of our bags, but we know what we are going to pack, it's just putting the clothes in there last minute to try to prevent wrinkles. We are doing the rolling/dry cleaning bags method for most of the clothes packing. I watched a Martha Stewart show once and she swore by keeping everything in dry cleaning bags to try and cut down on the wrinkles too. We have Downy Wrinkle release and if we have to iron on vacation, we will.

Everyone's getting hair cuts today and tomorrow, we take our dog to the vet for a check up and to her kennel and Wednesday we fly out. Seems like it's taking forever now for Wednesday.

We tried to book with Eddie Manning but he was full. We booked with another company called World Airport Transfer for a transfer from the airport to our hotel. The cost was 81 Pounds from the airport to the Park Plaza Westminister Bridge with 5 adults and 7 bags. They are also going to take us from the hotel to the airport on the 31st for the same cost.

 

[Furrocious]

Hi Everyone;

Does anyone have a summary of the planned DIS events/get-togethers. We would love to attend.

We are leaving tomorrow to fly to London from Edmonton, Alberta Canada.

We will be on the bus to Dover, thanks to Celestine, who was so kind as to arrange things for us at the last moment. I can't wait to meet all of you!

Krista (mom), Graham DH, Kalyssa DD6, Genoa DD4, Sharon MIL, and Larry FIL

 

[buck4568]

You can definitely feel the excitement in our house! I already can barely sleep, between the excitement and thinking about all that's left to do.

We still have to pack 3 of our bags, but we know what we are going to pack, it's just putting the clothes in there last minute to try to prevent wrinkles. We are doing the rolling/dry cleaning bags method for most of the clothes packing. I watched a Martha Stewart show once and she swore by keeping everything in dry cleaning bags to try and cut down on the wrinkles too. We have Downy Wrinkle release and if we have to iron on vacation, we will.

Everyone's getting hair cuts today and tomorrow, we take our dog to the vet for a check up and to her kennel and Wednesday we fly out. Seems like it's taking forever now for Wednesday.

We tried to book with Eddie Manning but he was full. We booked with another company called World Airport Transfer for a transfer from the airport to our hotel. The cost was 81 Pounds from the airport to the Park Plaza Westminister Bridge with 5 adults and 7 bags. They are also going to take us from the hotel to the airport on the 31st for the same cost.

We did the June 24th sailing! The Disney check-in at the Park Plaza Westminister is just to the left behind the escalators as you enter the hotel! They might be able to transfer you to Dover for less than other options? But you have probably checked that already. You can get your key to the world cards right there so you do not have to get in line at the port!

The Park Plaza Westminister was a great location. I was a bit disappointed that they had not completed the pool or spa as of yet. It is a brand new hotel and the rooms were great.

Have a great trip!