August 28, 2010 Pirates of the Barbary Coast - 11 nights in the Mediterranean

[eva]

EEEK!!! Famous last words!!! Ten minutes after I wrote that last night, my DH managed to annoy be beyond belief and I could happily swapped him for a pair of over-knee boots!!!!

So is your eldest daughter aged circa 26, Eva??? My Sophie will be 27 on December 23rd... I thought we were making progress thinking about a wedding venue/setting a date but she's not mentioned it for a couple of months now...

Yes, Rachel is 26. She will be 27 in February. We thought that we would be planning a wedding for Fall of 2010. But Rachel and her fiancé broke up in August after being together for 6 years. I think she decided it was time to move forward and set the date or move on.

 

[CustardTart]

...I'm getting anxious to see the excursions that DCL will offer. Does anyone have an idea when they will release those?

...December! Yikes! How will I hold out that long!

I just read this on the DCL Forum:

With concierge and platinum guests being able to book at 120 days, look for them to be released 150 days or so before the EB TA cruise...

The EB TA cruise departs on April 10th and 150 days before that is November 11th so HOPEFULLY not too long to wait...

 

[eva]

I just read this on the DCL Forum:

The EB TA cruise departs on April 10th and 150 days before that is November 11th so HOPEFULLY not too long to wait...

Oh Boy! Now I have my hopes up! I am still waiting for flights home to be published. The flights going to Barcelona are out. It looks like we may have to drive to Chicago for a decent flight. The ones out of Peoria, IL have mulitple layovers that are fairly long. But I'll keep watching.

I just bought our flights to WDW in May. I can't believe that I will be able to make ADR's on November 3rd. I'm glad that they are going back to 180 days for ADR's.

 

[CustardTart]

...Yes, Rachel is 26. She will be 27 in February. We thought that we would be planning a wedding for Fall of 2010. But Rachel and her fiancé broke up in August after being together for 6 years. I think she decided it was time to move forward and set the date or move on.

That's spookily similar in age! Sophie and her fiancé will have been together 11 years next month!!! And I want to plan a wedding!!! I have just the one daughter so surely that's not too much to ask...?

Oh Boy! Now I have my hopes up! I am still waiting for flights home to be published. The flights going to Barcelona are out. It looks like we may have to drive to Chicago for a decent flight. The ones out of Peoria, IL have mulitple layovers that are fairly long. But I'll keep watching...

Is it far from you to Chicago? And how long is the flight from there to Barcelona??

I just bought our flights to WDW in May. I can't believe that I will be able to make ADR's on November 3rd. I'm glad that they are going back to 180 days for ADR's.

Have you had a go at booking ADRs online??? That was so much fun - if a little addictive!!!

 

[eva]

That's spookily similar in age! Sophie and her fiancé will have been together 11 years next month!!! And I want to plan a wedding!!! I have just the one daughter so surely that's not too much to ask...?

I feel for you. My youngest was married last year. It was so much fun planning the wedding. She was not very picky and let me pick out a lot of things. I even changed the centerpeices for the reception with out her knowing. She didn't mind at all. She had the wedding I always wished I had. Her dress looked just like Cinderella's and she wore a Swarovski crystal tiara. She was specatular looking. And the room was done all in white roses and lilies. I'll bring a few pictures on my phone when we do the Med cruise.

Is it far from you to Chicago? And how long is the flight from there to Barcelona??

It takes about 3 hours by car to Chicago. If the flight is direct it takes about 7 hours.

Have you had a go at booking ADRs online??? That was so much fun - if a little addictive!!!

We had thought about doing a long weekend at WDW in August for our anniversary. So I made ADR's online. It was very easy. I was really surprised that they had the exact times I wanted for Citrico's and Artist Point only 2 weeks out. But we decided to just go to Chicago for the weekend. Canceling online was really easy too. I can't wait until November 3rd to make the ones for May. I am still trying to decide where and when.

 

[jhryb]

Have you had a go at booking ADRs online??? That was so much fun - if a little addictive!!!

I was at WDW at the end of the summer so I was able to use the online system last spring to make our dining reservations. It was fun and I kept checking for better options, which was great.
Flights are available to/from Barcelona but I will hold off for a better price. My biggest concern is that my kids will miss the first couple of days of school. School starts on Sept 7th but the earliest that we will get home is Sept 8th. Not a big deal if they miss the first two days but I really want to find a direct flight leaving on the 8th. I don't think that I will be lucky enough to get a direct flight mid-week.
This is a long weekend in Canada because it is our Thanksgiving on Monday. My kids are away at a fall camp until Monday afternoon so my DH and I are enjoying a wonderful quiet weekend. I'm taking it easy and I'm not even planning to cook a turkey on Monday - my plan is to go out for dinner instead.

 

[eva]

I was at WDW at the end of the summer so I was able to use the online system last spring to make our dining reservations. It was fun and I kept checking for better options, which was great.
Flights are available to/from Barcelona but I will hold off for a better price. My biggest concern is that my kids will miss the first couple of days of school. School starts on Sept 7th but the earliest that we will get home is Sept 8th. Not a big deal if they miss the first two days but I really want to find a direct flight leaving on the 8th. I don't think that I will be lucky enough to get a direct flight mid-week.
This is a long weekend in Canada because it is our Thanksgiving on Monday. My kids are away at a fall camp until Monday afternoon so my DH and I are enjoying a wonderful quiet weekend. I'm taking it easy and I'm not even planning to cook a turkey on Monday - my plan is to go out for dinner instead.

I had no idea that Canada had a Thanksgiving Day too. This weekend we are doing about the same. Besides going to church tomorrow morning, I don't think we will venture out much. I hate to say it, but we were up late last night and slept in until 10:30 this morning. I can't remember the last time I slept past 7:00. It was great!

Did you have any great meals on your trip to WDW? We are looking for suggestions for our upcoming trip. The meals we know for sure are:

Dinners - Teppan Edo, Narcoossee’s, maybe that new restaurant Kouzzina
Breakfasts - CTR, Crystal Palace, and Akershus Princess Storybook

We are still looking for another 3 places to eat dinner.

 

[CustardTart]

I feel for you. My youngest was married last year. It was so much fun planning the wedding. She was not very picky and let me pick out a lot of things. I even changed the centerpeices for the reception with out her knowing. She didn't mind at all. She had the wedding I always wished I had. Her dress looked just like Cinderella's and she wore a Swarovski crystal tiara. She was specatular looking. And the room was done all in white roses and lilies. I'll bring a few pictures on my phone when we do the Med cruise...

Sounds gorgeous and I would love to see photos... We have a venue in mind -it's a beautiful Victorian conservatory that's attached to a museum and can be decorated amazingly. It will look spectacular when candlelit for the evening...

It takes about 3 hours by car to Chicago. If the flight is direct it takes about 7 hours..

Wow!!! Is that all!!? Goodness it takes us 2 hours...

...We had thought about doing a long weekend at WDW in August for our anniversary. So I made ADR's online. It was very easy. I was really surprised that they had the exact times I wanted for Citrico's and Artist Point only 2 weeks out. But we decided to just go to Chicago for the weekend. Canceling online was really easy too. I can't wait until November 3rd to make the ones for May. I am still trying to decide where and when.

We were there in September (in the midst of free DDP ) and still managed to get everything we wanted at fairly short notice...

 

[CustardTart]

I was at WDW at the end of the summer so I was able to use the online system last spring to make our dining reservations. It was fun and I kept checking for better options, which was great.
Flights are available to/from Barcelona but I will hold off for a better price. My biggest concern is that my kids will miss the first couple of days of school. School starts on Sept 7th but the earliest that we will get home is Sept 8th. Not a big deal if they miss the first two days but I really want to find a direct flight leaving on the 8th. I don't think that I will be lucky enough to get a direct flight mid-week.
This is a long weekend in Canada because it is our Thanksgiving on Monday. My kids are away at a fall camp until Monday afternoon so my DH and I are enjoying a wonderful quiet weekend. I'm taking it easy and I'm not even planning to cook a turkey on Monday - my plan is to go out for dinner instead.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!!! Have a lovely relaxing weekend with your DH...

 

[CustardTart]

...I hate to say it, but we were up late last night and slept in until 10:30 this morning. I can't remember the last time I slept past 7:00. It was great!

I've slept in till 10.30am both days this weekend - which is totally unlike me!!! Sometimes tho' it's like I have "sleeping sickness" and need to sleep in to recharge my batteries then I'll be fine for another few months...

...Did you have any great meals on your trip to WDW? We are looking for suggestions for our upcoming trip. The meals we know for sure are:

Dinners - Teppan Edo, Narcoossee’s, maybe that new restaurant Kouzzina
Breakfasts - CTR, Crystal Palace, and Akershus Princess Storybook

We are still looking for another 3 places to eat dinner.

What about Coral Reef? We like it there - nice food and a spectacular setting, I'm sure your DGD would love it...

If you're in the YC, what about the Cape May Cafe? They do a great breakfast, I think it's one of the best we've done lately for extended character interaction - Sophie and I did Chef Mickeys recently which was appalling!!!

We also had lunch at Yak & Yeti which was a very pleasant surprise...

 

[jhryb]

Did you have any great meals on your trip to WDW? We are looking for suggestions for our upcoming trip. The meals we know for sure are:

Dinners - Teppan Edo, Narcoossee’s, maybe that new restaurant Kouzzina
Breakfasts - CTR, Crystal Palace, and Akershus Princess Storybook

In all of our years of visiting WDW We have never had TS for breakfast - just not breakfast people. We always have an early CS meal for lunch so that we can save room for dinner. I love both Teppan Edo and Narcoossee’s. The surf and turf and Narcoossee’s is our favourite - especially when the dining plan is paying for it. My kids always enjoy going to 50's Prime Time and my DH loves Boma. Ohanas is also high on our list.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!!! Have a lovely relaxing weekend with your DH...

Thanks it feels almost decadent

 

[CustardTart]

Giving us a little *bump* in case anyone else out there wants to join in...

 

[eva]

What about Coral Reef? We like it there - nice food and a spectacular setting, I'm sure your DGD would love it...

If you're in the YC, what about the Cape May Cafe? They do a great breakfast, I think it's one of the best we've done lately for extended character interaction - Sophie and I did Chef Mickeys recently which was appalling!!!

We also had lunch at Yak & Yeti which was a very pleasant surprise...

I have been debating the Coral Reef. I can't believe that we have never been. We've heard such mixed reviews that I've never chanced it. But I think that Lexy would love seeing all the fish.

Maybe we will try the Cape May for breakfast too. Which characters do they have? I totally agree with Chef Mickey. We've eaten there a few times. And every time I say never again. Go figure! But it was so cute when we ate dinner there the first night on our trip in May. Lexy was so excited seeing all the characters.

In all of our years of visiting WDW We have never had TS for breakfast - just not breakfast people. We always have an early CS meal for lunch so that we can save room for dinner. I love both Teppan Edo and Narcoossee’s. The surf and turf and Narcoossee’s is our favourite - especially when the dining plan is paying for it. My kids always enjoy going to 50's Prime Time and my DH loves Boma. Ohanas is also high on our list.

Steve and I dont' eat TS breakfast when it is just the two of us. We only do the character ones when we have the grandkids with us. Ohana's might be a great idea. We haven't been there in years. Do they still have the kids participate in games and such?

 

[CustardTart]

I have been debating the Coral Reef. I can't believe that we have never been. We've heard such mixed reviews that I've never chanced it. But I think that Lexy would love seeing all the fish.

We love Coral Reef, Eva - have only ever had great food and a fab experience there!!! I know it gets dodgy reviews and we keep waiting for the bubble to burst but it hasn't yet! And we've been about 5 times with the last being in April... I know everyone's expectations are different but I honestly (and Richard agrees with me) don't know why Coral Reef gets a bad rap...

Maybe we will try the Cape May for breakfast too. Which characters do they have?

Don't quote me but I think it's one of the few that has Minnie... And Donald's definitely there!!!

...Steve and I dont' eat TS breakfast when it is just the two of us. We only do the character ones when we have the grandkids with us. Ohana's might be a great idea. We haven't been there in years. Do they still have the kids participate in games and such?

We did Ohanas in 2006 and it was, without a doubt, awesome!!! We got some great pics and it's the only one that has Lilo and Stitch plus the other characters really interact with each other... ...

Another great experience was the one at Tusker House. We did this in April - I love all the safari outfits...

TBH we don't eat breakfast either. The only way I can deal with the character breakfasts is to book as late as possible - some of them you can go as late as 11am and that suits me so much better...

 

[eva]

We love Coral Reef, Eva - have only ever had great food and a fab experience there!!! I know it gets dodgy reviews and we keep waiting for the bubble to burst but it hasn't yet! And we've been about 5 times with the last being in April... I know everyone's expectations are different but I honestly (and Richard agrees with me) don't know why Coral Reef gets a bad rap...

Don't quote me but I think it's one of the few that has Minnie... And Donald's definitely there!!!

We did Ohanas in 2006 and it was, without a doubt, awesome!!! We got some great pics and it's the only one that has Lilo and Stitch plus the other characters really interact with each other... ...

Another great experience was the one at Tusker House. We did this in April - I love all the safari outfits...

TBH we don't eat breakfast either. The only way I can deal with the character breakfasts is to book as late as possible - some of them you can go as late as 11am and that suits me so much better...

Karen, These picures are great. I completely forgot about breakfast at Ohana. We had breakfast there the first year we went to WDW with our girls back in 1995. It's so fun looking at your pictures. I'm sure you hear it all the time, but it's funny how one of your sons looks just like Richard and the other looks just like you.

We are definitely going to try Coral Reef this trip!

 

[CustardTart]

Karen, These picures are great. I completely forgot about breakfast at Ohana. We had breakfast there the first year we went to WDW with our girls back in 1995. It's so fun looking at your pictures. I'm sure you hear it all the time, but it's funny how one of your sons looks just like Richard and the other looks just like you...

Ooooh which one d'you think looks like me??? No one ever says that!!! Is it Samuel in the specs or Matty with his thumb up??!!

I hope you all enjoy Coral Reef now I've raved about it!!! BTW they give you a sheet showing all the different types of fish that you can spot whilst you eat - it's fun and you'll get some great photos...

 

[eva]

Ooooh which one d'you think looks like me??? No one ever says that!!! Is it Samuel in the specs or Matty with his thumb up??!!

I hope you all enjoy Coral Reef now I've raved about it!!! BTW they give you a sheet showing all the different types of fish that you can spot whilst you eat - it's fun and you'll get some great photos...

Oh, I think that Samuel looks a lot like you! Matty is the spitten image of Richard.

Of course I will blame you totally if I hate the Coral Reef!

Here is my new list of ADR's:
Breakfasts
CRT
Tusker House (Thanks for the suggestion Karen!)
Crystal Palace
Akershus
Lunch
Sci-Fi Dine-In
Dinners
Teppan Edo
Kouzzina
Narcoossee’s
Ohana
Coral Reef

I think that I will leave at least one night open to either eat by the pool or order pizza.

 

[CustardTart]

...Of course I will blame you totally if I hate the Coral Reef!

I expect nothing less!!!

The ADRs sound great - I'll be interested to hear about Kouzzina...

Keep eyeing up the airfares to/from Barcelona BUT I know I should wait for a sale as there's bound to be at least one between now and August... So I'll just sit on my hands for a while...

 

[eva]

I expect nothing less!!!

The ADRs sound great - I'll be interested to hear about Kouzzina...

Keep eyeing up the airfares to/from Barcelona BUT I know I should wait for a sale as there's bound to be at least one between now and August... So I'll just sit on my hands for a while...

I've been looking at flights too. Air France has some pretty good prices and decent times for the flights. Any experience with Air France? Are they any better than US companies? I am going to watch the prices for a bit more. I am dying to fly business class. But am still trying to justify the cost.

 

[CustardTart]

I've been looking at flights too. Air France has some pretty good prices and decent times for the flights. Any experience with Air France? Are they any better than US companies? I am going to watch the prices for a bit more. I am dying to fly business class. But am still trying to justify the cost.

Air France are good (used to be Richard's fave business class airline) kinda like British Airways - they were partners on the much-missed Concorde...

Sadly I can't not justify the cost when flying long haul anymore - 8+ hours in economy = 2+ days off my vacation time waiting for my back to recover. Not to mention jet-lag... The upside is we accumulate lots of airmiles and get quite a few free flights - which is great!!!