July 22, 2015 * 12-night Northern European Cruise!

[owensamo]

Welcome to all the newcomers!

How are flight plans coming for others from the US? We're looking at flying in the 14/15th to go to Paris before the cruise - and we're not having much fun! Award flights for 5 are tricky!

Everything else seems to be coming together - slowly. I'm still debating doing the FE - we love it, but with the pre-cruise trip to Paris/DLP and trying to pack into carry-ons just in case, it'll be interesting to see what we think we can accommodate!

We're also trying to figure out the best way to get back to the UK from France. Celestine - will the bus pick up at hotels near Heathrow? If we fly, we were thinking we might just stay near the airport for the night rather than trying to lug all our luggage into the city.

Getting excited! I think my DH is worried I'm going to start packing any day now!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Welcome to all the newcomers!

How are flight plans coming for others from the US? We're looking at flying in the 14/15th to go to Paris before the cruise - and we're not having much fun! Award flights for 5 are tricky!

Everything else seems to be coming together - slowly. I'm still debating doing the FE - we love it, but with the pre-cruise trip to Paris/DLP and trying to pack into carry-ons just in case, it'll be interesting to see what we think we can accommodate!

We're also trying to figure out the best way to get back to the UK from France. Celestine - will the bus pick up at hotels near Heathrow? If we fly, we were thinking we might just stay near the airport for the night rather than trying to lug all our luggage into the city.

Getting excited! I think my DH is worried I'm going to start packing any day now!

I think from my Facebook updates their on holiday in WDW at the moment, and it's raining, I also think the pick ups are from Central a London County hall area, stashing at Heathrow isn't nice I would suggest it, nothing to do. Heathrow express train can get you go London Paddington in 15 minutes.

Look for hotels around County Wall and Westminster and they will come back to you next week on their return from leave.

 

[owensamo]

I think from my Facebook updates their on holiday in WDW at the moment, and it's raining, I also think the pick ups are from Central a London County hall area, stashing at Heathrow isn't nice I would suggest it, nothing to do. Heathrow express train can get you go London Paddington in 15 minutes.

Look for hotels around County Wall and Westminster and they will come back to you next week on their return from leave.

Thanks for the quick response - I'd forgotten they were out. I know there's nothing to do near the airport, but after a week in France, we might just want to crash for a night! We spent 5 nights at the Rubens near the Palace in 2010 after our EBTA, so while it'd be nice to spend some time in London again, it's not a huge priority on this particular trip.

I'll keep looking near County Hall, Waterloo and Westminster. I noticed the Premier Inn had dropped in price a bit for that night this weekend - maybe we can pick up the night there. It's still twice the price of the airport hotels (for good reason, I know). We'll see. With all the bits we're trying to put together for the trip, we're just trying not to incrementally price ourselves out of going at all!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Thanks for the quick response - I'd forgotten they were out. I know there's nothing to do near the airport, but after a week in France, we might just want to crash for a night! We spent 5 nights at the Rubens near the Palace in 2010 after our EBTA, so while it'd be nice to spend some time in London again, it's not a huge priority on this particular trip.

I'll keep looking near County Hall, Waterloo and Westminster. I noticed the Premier Inn had dropped in price a bit for that night this weekend - maybe we can pick up the night there. It's still twice the price of the airport hotels (for good reason, I know). We'll see. With all the bits we're trying to put together for the trip, we're just trying not to incrementally price ourselves out of going at all!

Premier inn sounds a deal, it will be expensive London is a top world tourist attraction 365 days a year, it will get more expensive as the year goes on.

Transport from the airport is easy.


Heathrow Express.
Heathrow a Connect, - same cheaper and slower, stopping service.
Tube- Piccadilly Line.
Taxi.
Coaches.

 

[Tinkerbellesmum]

Went past dover docks the other day - so excited to think of the magic being their next year.

Dover docks is overlooked almost by dover castle, if anyone is interested please pm or let me know if ok and I will try to do some pics and stuff of the local area.

Ps. Also would like to fish extender but haven't got cabin number yet.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Went past dover docks the other day - so excited to think of the magic being their next year.

Dover docks is overlooked almost by dover castle, if anyone is interested please pm or let me know if ok and I will try to do some pics and stuff of the local area.

Ps. Also would like to fish extender but haven't got cabin number yet.

Yes it is a beautiful place, my late Mum went to school in Dover. She had a French mother.

Here are some photos of the Disney Magic in Dover in 2010.


DCL DOVER AND VENICE 333 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr


DCL DOVER AND VENICE 330 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr



DCL DOVER AND VENICE 326 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr



DCL DOVER AND VENICE 325 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr




Car Park area.



DCL DOVER AND 324 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr




DCL DOVER AND 311 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr

Cruise terminal

DCL DOVER 310 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr



DCL DOVER AND 309 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

DCL DOVER 308 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr


DCL DOVER AND 305 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr


DCL DOVER AND 300 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr




DCL DOVER 298 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr



DCL DOVER297 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr


DCL DOVER 294 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

DCL DOVER 293 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr


DCL DOVER 289 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr


DCL DOVER 8 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr



DCL DOVER 276 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr

DCL DOVER 271 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr



DCL DOVER 268 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

DCL DOVER 264 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr




DCL DOVER 263 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr



DCL DOVER 257 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr



DCL DOVER 256 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr



DCL DOVER AND VENICE 253 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr


DCL DOVER 245 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr

 

[Deb T.]

Ps. Also would like to fish extender but haven't got cabin number yet.

If you booked a Guarantee fare, you might not receive your cabin number until just a few weeks before we set sail. Please keep in mind that I can only accept FE participants up until June 19th. You might want to go ahead and join the group, and then send me your cabin number as soon as you get it.

Also, you will need to have made ten posts on the DIS Boards in order to send me a private message with your group's information (all names, ages of your children, allergy issues, and how large a FE group you'd like to be in).

 

[DisneyConvert]

Trying to orient my english towards GB-speak given the population of this cruise. Looking forward to seeing Dover a bit . . . given its importance and history (Dunkirk evacuation and all that). Thanks for the preview.

DW, "TiggerPU88," and I are approaching flights quite systematically. Seeking non-stops between one of the NY/Philly airports to/from Heathrow . . . and we have a plan. Becoming more empathetic to the challenges you Brits face in going to Florida every so often.

So far away . . . but the anticipation is there.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Trying to orient my english towards GB-speak given the population of this cruise. Looking forward to seeing Dover a bit . . . given its importance and history (Dunkirk evacuation and all that). Thanks for the preview.

DW, "TiggerPU88," and I are approaching flights quite systematically. Seeking non-stops between one of the NY/Philly airports to/from Heathrow . . . and we have a plan. Becoming more empathetic to the challenges you Brits face in going to Florida every so often.

So far away . . . but the anticipation is there.

 

[abayaflowers]

I think from my Facebook updates their on holiday in WDW at the moment, and it's raining, I also think the pick ups are from Central a London County hall area, stashing at Heathrow isn't nice I would suggest it, nothing to do. Heathrow express train can get you go London Paddington in 15 minutes.

Look for hotels around County Wall and Westminster and they will come back to you next week on their return from leave.

Thanks for this info.

I will start looking for lodging in this area.

As for flights, I'm looking at Virgin Atlantic from SFO flying out the Sat. before and siteseeing before. We are also looking at BA. This time around I 'm planning to get a seat to lay down flat so I can sleep. For our Eastern Med. cruise two yrs. ago, we flew from SFO to Barcelona w/ a stop in Newark, New Jersey. The seats were so uncomfortable.

It's hard for me to plan especially when preparing for the kids to return to school.

Everone's got great ideas.

 

[abayaflowers]

Yes it is a beautiful place, my late Mum went to school in Dover. She had a French mother.

Here are some photos of the Disney Magic in Dover in 2010.

These pics are great!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Thanks for this info.

I will start looking for lodging in this area.

As for flights, I'm looking at Virgin Atlantic from SFO flying out the Sat. before and siteseeing before. We are also looking at BA. This time around I 'm planning to get a seat to lay down flat so I can sleep. For our Eastern Med. cruise two yrs. ago, we flew from SFO to Barcelona w/ a stop in Newark, New Jersey. The seats were so uncomfortable.

It's hard for me to plan especially when preparing for the kids to return to school.

Everone's got great ideas.

Yes it is a beautiful place, my late Mum went to school in Dover. She had a French mother.

Here are some photos of the Disney Magic in Dover in 2010.

These pics are great!

Thank you and for accommodation check before you book, ask me as there is a lot of building work in London in particular for cross rail project which could be disruptive, the County hall area is fine.

 

[traceyjayne]

My parents are thinking about booking this cruise but they are not able to walk far dad is 87 and mum is 78 she has arthritis in her ankle joints
Do you think this cruise would be ok for them?
Will DCL run trips for slow mobility ?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

My parents are thinking about booking this cruise but they are not able to walk far dad is 87 and mum is 78 she has arthritis in her ankle joints
Do you think this cruise would be ok for them?
Will DCL run trips for slow mobility ?

DCL has been running more and more 'mobily' type port adventures still not enough but going in the right direct.

Copenhagen everything quite close, port is good, and you could get taxis to town centre.
Stockholm Simular to avoid quite close to city centre.
Helsinki, further you need a transfer to town.
Tallinn very close, you could get a taxi, but you can see the old toen from the ship.

That leaves St Petersburg, I think you need to contact a quality TA in St Petersburg such as Anastasia travel and seek their advice. The port is out on a limb on a reclaimed area out of a commercial area and you need DCL or a TA to get you on and off as you cant just get off there, many places have lots of walking and i did see accessible entrances in some places but I think they are not up to Western standards in many places.

 

[lmb80129]

Does anyone have hotel recommendations for London for a family of 5 for 2 nights before the cruise? I'd appreciate both general locations and specific hotel recommendations! We are planning on general London sightseeing since we have never been to London. Anyone remember what hotels Disney used back in 2010 or know when Disney might release hotel and transfer information? Thanks!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Does anyone have hotel recommendations for London for a family of 5 for 2 nights before the cruise? I'd appreciate both general locations and specific hotel recommendations! We are planning on general London sightseeing since we have never been to London. Anyone remember what hotels Disney used back in 2010 or know when Disney might release hotel and transfer information? Thanks!

DCL used The Chancery Court hotel in Holborn in 2010 centrally located and easy to get to.

I would say firstly ask which airport are you coming into? As that will help decide location for the hotel.

If say you come into Gatwick I would say

• Victoria.
• London Bridge/ Tower Hill.

As both have connections by train to the airport and also Dover by train.

If you come into Heathrow, maybe West London,

• Kensington
• I would say Paddington but see below.
• Lancaster Gate
• Expensive, Park Lane, Dorchester, Mayfair,
• Holborn if you will use the tube, Piccadilly line.

The coach transfer organised in this group leaves hotels in the County Hall area,


Avoid

Due to major construction work on Crossrail Europe's biggest infrastructure project an West> East Rail tunnel that is under construction now and until 2018

Avoid

Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road. Farringdon, Liverpool street, Canary Wharf.

These all have major access holes for stations and lots of construction traffic.

Cheaper often overlooked.

Try Stratford Westfield.

You may know it as the home of London 2012 Olympics and the Queen Elizabeth park, there are new hotels there and as the games have gone good rates and ten minutes to London by Tube.

If you say an area or a hotel i might be able to check it out for you, I travel around all of London all of the time a different place each day.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

PS

Paid in full!!!! And tips!!!