[b]june 1, 2013 magic med 7 day[/b]

[valbob89]

Loving the scroll

Can you add me to the roll call please - I'm Catherine (27) and I'm travelling with my parents Sue and Phil.

Thanks

I have updated the roll call on the first posting.

If anyone else would like info placed on the first posting, please let me know.

Val

 

[bsusanmb]

Hi everyone,

I am not going on this cruise but here is a link to the hotel my BFF and I stayed at. A lot of other DISers stayed there too. This was during the Sept 2010 WBTA. Since there was about 300 or so DISers in the whole group, someone even got a bus to take folks from this hotel and another hotel to the port. The hotel was very reasonably priced and clean. we really liked it.

The next link is of the tour we did. We did the tour the morning of the cruise. It was for four hours and I wrote about it in my trip report. Well worth the money.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...Hotel_Praktik_Rambla-Barcelona_Catalonia.html

http://www.barcelonadaytours.com/barcelona-city-tour/

Hey, Terry! Thanks for providing the information and the link to your report. So excited, and Bob and I are reading and studying all we can so we can really appreciate our trip!

 

[AngMo44]

Natalie 37, Troy 38, DD 8, DS 6
Nashville, TN

 

[Evad]

Natalie 37, Troy 38, DD 8, DS 6
Nashville, TN

Welcome aboard!!!!

 

[Evad]

Does anybody know if we need to take our passports with us when we go on our excursions?

 

[Evad]

Anybody else planning on doing the Barcelona Day Tours that tinker1bell mentioned. I think we may do it. It will help kill some time before our hotel room is ready when we disembark. We were planning on taking a cab to the hotel and getting the hoho pass. The cost will work to almost the same buy taking the day tour and they hold onto our luggage.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Does anybody know if we need to take our passports with us when we go on our excursions?

I don't think so, but if you miss the boat they might come in useful.

Also, if you want to shop and get the VAT back.

I carry a color copy in my money belt and that has worked for shopping etc.. They really just need the numbers.

 

[GIAVANNAANDNICOSMOM]

I am looking to come in on the 30 and stay in Spain for 2 nights before the cruise. We are a family of 4 including a 1 1/2 year old and a 9yr old, any suggestions for a nice kid friendly hotel? Also why on earth does Disney not guarantee non-stop flights? I've never heard of such a thing! Now I'm having to book air and hotel myself...uggghhh

 

[MickeyWatch]

I would recommend the Gran Hotel Havana. It is close to Las Ramblas and best of all for the kids it has a pool on the roof. We first stayed there when my daughter was 7 on the night prior to our Disney cruise and it was great to relax by the pool while recovering from jet lag.

 

[bsusanmb]

Thanks everyone for all of your posts. I am learning a lot and finding information. Booked my flights, pricey! From PHL to Barcelona few seats left! Arriving day early, leaving following day. I ended up booking my incoming night via Disney in the Marriott Hotel. What was a good deal for me was that by booking with them, we could purchase Disney transfers which includes from airport to the hotel and then from hotel to ship. Problem was that Disney sold out their blocks of rooms on debarkation. I was able to book at the Hilton, which is Disney's preferred hotel, so I could get Disney transfers included to the hotel, but they will not take us back to the airport the next day. Sometimes I find Disney unreasonable, but hey, I love Disney, so I put up with it. Booked proposed excursions, Palo dining and brunch, spa and did on line check in. Whew! Glad I retired 2 weeks ago or I don't know how I would have time to do all the reading I have done. Bought several books at Barnes and Noble and love reading about the cities we will be touring. Now to think about what to pack and wear! Would love to do FE, but worried about luggage space. Some of my excursions seem pretty darn lofty for a 63 year old...better practice walking at a fast pace for 2 miles over rough and rocky terrain. Time is flying by!
Susan and Bob

 

[AngMo44]

Evad- We are using Barcelona Day Tours for touring Barcelona on the 31st.

GIAVANNAANDNICOSMOM- Hotel Duquesa de Cardona is what we found with a "reasonable" (relative term) price for a family of four. We booked ours just last month when we booked the cruise. I Googled some online discounts that we applied to the room rate. We had quite a time searching out a room for 4 in BCN. Every other place wanted us to get 2 rooms.

 

[Evad]

I don't think so, but if you miss the boat they might come in useful.

Also, if you want to shop and get the VAT back.

I carry a color copy in my money belt and that has worked for shopping etc.. They really just need the numbers.

Thanks this is good to know. I plan on make copies as well.

 

[lilpooh108]

Thanks this is good to know. I plan on make copies as well.

We usually leave copies with family at home in addition to bringing it, in case I don't have it with me if something happens and I need them to fax/email it to me.

 

[Evad]

Evad- We are using Barcelona Day Tours for touring Barcelona on the 31st.

GIAVANNAANDNICOSMOM- Hotel Duquesa de Cardona is what we found with a "reasonable" (relative term) price for a family of four. We booked ours just last month when we booked the cruise. I Googled some online discounts that we applied to the room rate. We had quite a time searching out a room for 4 in BCN. Every other place wanted us to get 2 rooms.

Very good!! I think we are going to book a shared tour for June 8th.

 

[Evad]

We usually leave copies with family at home in addition to bringing it, in case I don't have it with me if something happens and I need them to fax/email it to me.

Very good point!! I'll do that as well.

 

[Evad]

Thanks everyone for all of your posts. I am learning a lot and finding information. Booked my flights, pricey! From PHL to Barcelona few seats left! Arriving day early, leaving following day. I ended up booking my incoming night via Disney in the Marriott Hotel. What was a good deal for me was that by booking with them, we could purchase Disney transfers which includes from airport to the hotel and then from hotel to ship. Problem was that Disney sold out their blocks of rooms on debarkation. I was able to book at the Hilton, which is Disney's preferred hotel, so I could get Disney transfers included to the hotel, but they will not take us back to the airport the next day. Sometimes I find Disney unreasonable, but hey, I love Disney, so I put up with it. Booked proposed excursions, Palo dining and brunch, spa and did on line check in. Whew! Glad I retired 2 weeks ago or I don't know how I would have time to do all the reading I have done. Bought several books at Barnes and Noble and love reading about the cities we will be touring. Now to think about what to pack and wear! Would love to do FE, but worried about luggage space. Some of my excursions seem pretty darn lofty for a 63 year old...better practice walking at a fast pace for 2 miles over rough and rocky terrain. Time is flying by!
Susan and Bob

This part made me laugh!!!! Got to love Disney's wording.

Good luck with the rest of your planning, seems like you have everything covered!!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

We usually leave copies with family at home in addition to bringing it, in case I don't have it with me if something happens and I need them to fax/email it to me.

What I have started doing is scanning and emailing to myself. I can encrypt my office email so that's what I do and then I can access it if I ever need it. The document I email also has all my credit card info and the numbers to call.


My boyfriend does have a copy of my passport and my mother leaves one in her desk at work so.. we have multiple backups. (Probably the reason we have never needed one!)

My best advice is "wear a money belt" Stick that passport, credit card, debit card etc in there. Europe is much safer then the US. You aren't going to be held up a gunpoint, so if your valuables aren't just hanging out of your purse or back pocket then it's unlikely someone will get them. I have gone to lots of those "OMG They have pickpockets everywhere places" with no problem. But if they do steal my wallet I don't think 20 or 40 Euros is going to ruin my trip. I won't be spending hours on my cell cancelling credit cards etc.....

(And men, NO you can't "feel" the pickpocket reach in your back pocket and lift your wallet. They are professional at this.... )

Called today and prepaid the tips... Also added transport from the hotel to the port. I am not 100% sure we will take this, just depends on what time they want us on the bus, but... I figure if nothing else it's 'pricey' luggage transfer so I don't have to deal with it

 

[JustAnnieNotHazel]

Just to let all FE participants know that I have emailed the group lists to everyone today. If you don't get an email, please let me know.


Secret Mickey participants I will be closing the exchange around mid April in case anyone else signs up

 

[Kirbo]

Natalie 37, Troy 38, DD 8, DS 6
Nashville, TN

I had to check in three cabins this weekend (we are silver and were able to check in at 90 days) and am grateful that I could get the rest of our family onto the same excursions that we signed up for. But I didn't get them Palo reservations for brunch or dinner. I'm hoping that I can add them to our reservations once on board.

I'm getting very excited!

 

[heathervincent]

Does anyone know the entertainment schedule - live shows - for this cruise? Thanks!