August 18, 2010...Can't wait for the MAGICal Mediterranean!!!

[MinnieDiva]

saw your post on the barcelona hotels thread and booked Le Meridien myself. rates well on tripadvisor and cost is decent. don't know what our flight itinerary will be like so i just booked the two nights before the cruise and two nights after the cruise. i can always cancel or modify. i'll probably still check out other hotels too.

ellen

Hi Ellen!

I booked 2 nights before and 1 after. I don't know about you, but their customer service was great on the phone and they were very helpful about answering questions. At the time I booked, I wasn't able to select a non-smoking room on-line in the category I was looking for. (kind of odd, I thought). Did you see that the May cruisers were paying nearly triple? Ouch!

kim

 

[MinnieDiva]

Has anyone else gone to the new DCL website? I've seen a lot of threads griping about it (but didn't bother to read them, so don't know why), but I thought it was well laid-out and glad that they finally re-did the European stuff to give an idea when extras and excursions and stuff will be released.

Off topic, DD and I are going to the Pacific NW Mouse Meet today. My husband rolled his eyes when I originally told him about it...he's working and "can't" go(not that I'd get him to anyway). I figure it's a good way to get my Disney fix......I'll tell you all about it soon!

kim

 

[ejw]

Hi Ellen!

I booked 2 nights before and 1 after. I don't know about you, but their customer service was great on the phone and they were very helpful about answering questions. At the time I booked, I wasn't able to select a non-smoking room on-line in the category I was looking for. (kind of odd, I thought). Did you see that the May cruisers were paying nearly triple? Ouch!

kim

Hi Kim, I wanted to book the room with king bed for 199 but all they had in that category was smoking rooms. i took a non smoking room with 2 single beds for 199. was that your dilemma? maybe i'll try calling.

i'm surprised the prices in may are triple. maybe the cheaper hotel in august is an indicator of cheaper airfare in august????? i can only hope.

ellen

 

[MinnieDiva]

Hi Kim, I wanted to book the room with king bed for 199 but all they had in that category was smoking rooms. i took a non smoking room with 2 single beds for 199. was that your dilemma? maybe i'll try calling.

i'm surprised the prices in may are triple. maybe the cheaper hotel in august is an indicator of cheaper airfare in august????? i can only hope.

ellen

That is exactly the problem I faced! Call the 1-800 number and they can help you. And they will send an email confermation if done by phone.

And I hope there is a correlation between hotel and air fares! I've been getting Kayak updates for next year and although July looked bad, previous months are starting to look better.
K

 

[ejw]

That is exactly the problem I faced! Call the 1-800 number and they can help you. And they will send an email confermation if done by phone.

And I hope there is a correlation between hotel and air fares! I've been getting Kayak updates for next year and although July looked bad, previous months are starting to look better.
K

just called the 800 # and unfortunately all the rooms with king size bed for 199 are smoking. i have to stick with the 2 single beds but i'll try calling every now and then....maybe something will become available. my DH said it's no big deal. he is willing to either sleep on the floor or in the bathtub.

 

[MinnieDiva]

just called the 800 # and unfortunately all the rooms with king size bed for 199 are smoking. i have to stick with the 2 single beds but i'll try calling every now and then....maybe something will become available. my DH said it's no big deal. he is willing to either sleep on the floor or in the bathtub.

I'd bet that there will be availability at about the time payment in full is due. You may not want DH on the tub.... He might be a bit cranky trying to recover from jet lag.....
k

 

[MinnieDiva]

We're at the one year mark!!!

 

[mindelmouse]

We're at the one year mark!!!

You're making me nervous with the hotel though....I haven't even gotten that far...was waiting until I finalized flights. I have the Disney airfare as a backup, but I'm sure hoping that I can beat the $6500 they're charging for the 4 of us......

How time flies???? It's been 10 months since I booked this trip and now we're at the one year mark....YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

 

[MinnieDiva]

While airline reservations are either nearly impossible or too expensive to modify, hotel reservations are easily changed........

When I booked my hotel reservation, the only hotel that was booking out that far was Le Meridian. The others may now have our dates open. It's worth looking into.

Off topic, the Mouse Meet I went to was fun! The speakers were Johnathan Dichter, Lou Mongelllo, and Margaret Kerry. I didn't stay for Margaret Kerry (Tinker Bell) as DD still believes and I didn't want to ruin that yet (although the questions are starting). I won a DCL tote bag full of goodies; the bag was donated by AllEars, so there were shirts and hats from them. We were able to do a bit of pin trading, and I. of course, was suckered into buying DD a new pin. It was a much cheaper was to get a Disney fix!

kim

 

[Cliffside]

We're at the one year mark!!!

happy 1 year mark to everyone!

Off to Disneyland next week. Looking forward to that. Have not been there since I was 10.

Have not booked flights yet. Hopefully the prices won't be the out of hand.
Hope everyone enjoys the rest of their summers!

 

[MinnieDiva]

happy 1 year mark to everyone!

Off to Disneyland next week. Looking forward to that. Have not been there since I was 10.

Have not booked flights yet. Hopefully the prices won't be the out of hand.
Hope everyone enjoys the rest of their summers!

Enjoy Disneyland! Hopefully it won't be too crowded or hot. I'll be in the Bay Area next week and the temps look great! We did DL in March and had a great time!
kim

 

[mindelmouse]

happy 1 year mark to everyone!

Off to Disneyland next week. Looking forward to that. Have not been there since I was 10.

Have not booked flights yet. Hopefully the prices won't be the out of hand.
Hope everyone enjoys the rest of their summers!

I've never been as far west as California, so needless to say never been to DL. Enjoy...Happy One year mark.....and I know it will go fast......

 

[bigbootee]

We're at the 11 month, 4 week and 2 day mark!!!! It seems like only yesterday it was a year away.

 

[MinnieDiva]

We're at the 11 month, 4 week and 2 day mark!!!! It seems like only yesterday it was a year away.

Ok, funny man.....

kim

 

[mindelmouse]

When someone notices airfare opens up for August, please post it, so that we all know. Thanks. Up until know all I've seen is mid July for most, but I think British Air or Virgin are booking into the beginning of August.

 

[clarasunnyside]

Hi everyone

I was away for a couple of weeks so I missed the one year mark


But Happy one mark .....

 

[MinnieDiva]

When someone notices airfare opens up for August, please post it, so that we all know. Thanks. Up until know all I've seen is mid July for most, but I think British Air or Virgin are booking into the beginning of August.

So, I was talking to someone at work who'd been a 747 pilot. I asked about changing planes overseas versus stateside. I was wondering about luggage making it to Barcelona (if you haven't read the trip report thread on the 2007 Med cruises, you might want to...). He told me that the airline employees in Europe are prone to "striking to get a day off" and to basically re-route baggage if frustrated with their employers. Just something to think of....I'm personally looking at routing thru NY or Atlanta for just that reason......

kim

 

[mindelmouse]

So, I was talking to someone at work who'd been a 747 pilot. I asked about changing planes overseas versus stateside. I was wondering about luggage making it to Barcelona (if you haven't read the trip report thread on the 2007 Med cruises, you might want to...). He told me that the airline employees in Europe are prone to "striking to get a day off" and to basically re-route baggage if frustrated with their employers. Just something to think of....I'm personally looking at routing thru NY or Atlanta for just that reason......

kim

for the advice, but I'm starting from the NY area, so I may be able to fly direct.

 

[MinnieDiva]

for the advice, but I'm starting from the NY area, so I may be able to fly direct.

aaakkkkk! So not fair.....add 8-ish hours travel time for us!!!
k

 

[mindelmouse]

aaakkkkk! So not fair.....add 8-ish hours travel time for us!!!
k

faster to fly the other way around??? LOL