July 6, 2010 - 7/6/2010 ~ Pounds to Rubles ~ Mickey invades the Baltic Sea

[denise]

I tried them as well while we were in Hawaii last week. They were so easy to pack and worked great!!!

Glad you mentioned Hawaii....we go in Sept and I wanted to get some to try. The washing machine is very small (the stacked kind) at Ko'Olina. Can these be cut in 1/2?

Also is there a thread that lists ideas for the FE exchange? Since I really have never done one I am clueless...Don't want to have an extra suitcase to carry with stuff. So I need help this time...

 

[tfc3rid]

Hey folks... Here's an update on our planning...

Lots going on in the next year but instead of NYC, we'll be leaving from ATL as we are moving down there this fall... Will look for ATL to LON flights leaving July 3 and returning on July 19.

Looking to reserve in London using my DVC points for Concierge Collection stay for July 4 and 5, DCL transfer on 7/6 and staying 7/18 back on DVC points in London.

 

[DW2DH&DS]

Glad you mentioned Hawaii....we go in Sept and I wanted to get some to try. The washing machine is very small (the stacked kind) at Ko'Olina. Can these be cut in 1/2?

I don't see why they can't...they are like a large dryer sheet that has the detergent (moist area) in the middle...after it is done in the washer, the degertent is gone and it is just like a dryer sheet.

 

[tinkerbell_29]

As for using studio sea for our meet it is something that you have to arrange ahead of time. They offer everything from just the use of the area to having food, drinks, characters, and a photographer there. It just depends on what you want. But if this is something we want to do we need to start arranging it soon because it takes time to work out all the details with DCL.

Lissa

 

[CarolAnnC]

Wow, I never knew this was available. Do they assign specific times? Are there charges for the characters and the room rental? Or is it just cash bar?

Nice to see you back. Now full steam ahead for Baltic planning, lol.

As for using studio sea for our meet it is something that you have to arrange ahead of time. They offer everything from just the use of the area to having food, drinks, characters, and a photographer there. It just depends on what you want. But if this is something we want to do we need to start arranging it soon because it takes time to work out all the details with DCL.

Lissa

 

[nzdisneymom]

As for using studio sea for our meet it is something that you have to arrange ahead of time. They offer everything from just the use of the area to having food, drinks, characters, and a photographer there. It just depends on what you want. But if this is something we want to do we need to start arranging it soon because it takes time to work out all the details with DCL.

Lissa

I think it's worth getting the details and seeing if it is something we'd like to do. Does anyone know yet what time we're leaving Dover? (it's probably on my itinerary but that's on my desk at work).

 

[goingsouth]

Does anyone know yet what time we're leaving Dover? (it's probably on my itinerary but that's on my desk at work).

It leaves at 4pm from Dover.

Joanne

 

[denise]

On the Med cruise someone planned a get together for the Dis people. It was held on a sea day on the deck off of Top Siders. We had water and lemonade. The Captain even came by and we took pics with our own camera..It was fun.
Some of us got together the night before at a horrible restaurant in Barcelona. I joined them. Don't know who planned that either.
I was very new to the DISboard at that time so I rally didn't know anyone or anything!!!
Dinner before will be hard...I think most are staying in London but we hope to be in Dover....
denise

 

[tinkerbell_29]

There are charges for food, drinks, and if you want a character to show up. There was a sitting fee for the photographer but it was not much split between everyone in the group. Studio Sea is free of charge to use you just have to arrange a time with them to use it. We did our meet on the first sea day instead of the embarkation day which was nice because no one was rushing off for the drill or anything else.

Lissa

 

[Fivepin]

Hey guys-

Well, I feel a bit bummed today. Friday when I went on the Marriott site, I still could not book my post stay for 1 night. They hadn't advanced the dates. I didn't check yesterday because we were busy with the boys. I checked this morning, and there are no room available for booking at the chancery for the 1 night for the 18th. So, I need to make a decision. Either, the Grosvenor, County Hall, or Marble Arch. Any suggestions? None of them offer the airport transfer like the Chancery. Here I thought I had been so good and checking frequently.

Thanks for any input.

 

[denise]

Hey guys-

Well, I feel a bit bummed today. Friday when I went on the Marriott site, I still could not book my post stay for 1 night. They hadn't advanced the dates. I didn't check yesterday because we were busy with the boys. I checked this morning, and there are no room available for booking at the chancery for the 1 night for the 18th. So, I need to make a decision. Either, the Grosvenor, County Hall, or Marble Arch. Any suggestions? None of them offer the airport transfer like the Chancery. Here I thought I had been so good and checking frequently.

Thanks for any input.

Judy,
So the hotel is full? I was told they release rooms Sunday nights for the week stay. So every Monday they have another week of rooms listed. Does that make sense?
Did you call them? (Marriott) That might work..Are you booking with points?

When I booked our pre-stay for Paris I first booked with money (haha, yeah right like I have that kind of money!) then 2 days later the point rooms were there. Also when I tried to use miles for our air on line it was too early to book. I called them and then only had to wait one day and call back and got our air. I had to pay $20 per person ($60) to book on the phone but it was so worth it to book a few days before others could on line. So our air fare to Paris was $75 with the taxes and fees for the three of us.

I have not even looked into our night after the cruise...I am still looking for July 4 and 5 stays in the Dover area...better think about the end too...

All these different release dates to watch and call to get hotel and air are really a pain. Can't wait till everything is reserved.

As far as which to book...I'm no help there...I haven't even looked at them, but I will now! I will let you know what I find...hang in there Judy

denise

 

[DW2DH&DS]

Hey guys-

Well, I feel a bit bummed today. Friday when I went on the Marriott site, I still could not book my post stay for 1 night. They hadn't advanced the dates. I didn't check yesterday because we were busy with the boys. I checked this morning, and there are no room available for booking at the chancery for the 1 night for the 18th. So, I need to make a decision. Either, the Grosvenor, County Hall, or Marble Arch. Any suggestions? None of them offer the airport transfer like the Chancery. Here I thought I had been so good and checking frequently.

Thanks for any input.

we are staying at county hall pre cruise so that would be my choice...scenic area!!!

 

[denise]

Found this nice map of Dover.....
http://www.bleriots.net/Dovermap.gif

Seems there are 2 ports there. Don't know which the Magic will be using

 

[Fivepin]

Judy,
So the hotel is full? I was told they release rooms Sunday nights for the week stay. So every Monday they have another week of rooms listed. Does that make sense?
Did you call them? (Marriott) That might work..Are you booking with points?

When I booked our pre-stay for Paris I first booked with money (haha, yeah right like I have that kind of money!) then 2 days later the point rooms were there. Also when I tried to use miles for our air on line it was too early to book. I called them and then only had to wait one day and call back and got our air. I had to pay $20 per person ($60) to book on the phone but it was so worth it to book a few days before others could on line. So our air fare to Paris was $75 with the taxes and fees for the three of us.

I have not even looked into our night after the cruise...I am still looking for July 4 and 5 stays in the Dover area...better think about the end too...

All these different release dates to watch and call to get hotel and air are really a pain. Can't wait till everything is reserved.

As far as which to book...I'm no help there...I haven't even looked at them, but I will now! I will let you know what I find...hang in there Judy

denise

Denise-
I just called Marriott reward services. The guy was able to help me out. They weren't full. There are 3 of us going. Usually I do my search 1 guest room 3 guests. It was telling me there were no rooms for 7/18 to accommodate the number of guests. The website wanted me to book 2 rooms. I wasn't doing that!!! Got it all resolved finally.
I thought the release dates were on Mondays as well, but I looked today and dates are now avail thru 7/25.
We are heading over to Dover on 7/5. I haven't decided between the 2 hotels we have booked yet.

we are staying at county hall pre cruise so that would be my choice...scenic area!!!

I was going to book that one via points, but when i called the person was able to get me the Chancery.

Found this nice map of Dover.....
http://www.bleriots.net/Dovermap.gif

Seems there are 2 ports there. Don't know which the Magic will be using

The Magic will be in pier 2. I saw it quickly on the website under planning library I believe. I'll have to look again. I just know the port opens at 10am boarding begins at 1 pm

Guess what?? Hubby heard of several of you all doing Paris, so since we have enough points for another night, we are adding another night at the Chancery on 7/3. Looks like we're going to try to do a day trip to Paris now. I'm not complaining, just more research now. Maybe we can hook up with somebody.

Just check DCL site-Magic will be berthed at deck 2 at the Port of Dover.

 

[denise]

The Magic will be in pier 2. I saw it quickly on the website under planning library I believe. I'll have to look again. I just know the port opens at 10am boarding begins at 1 pm

Guess what?? Hubby heard of several of you all doing Paris, so since we have enough points for another night, we are adding another night at the Chancery on 7/3. Looks like we're going to try to do a day trip to Paris now. I'm not complaining, just more research now. Maybe we can hook up with somebody.

Just check DCL site-Magic will be berthed at deck 2 at the Port of Dover.

Great that you got your room, really great.......I still have to figure this out..
In looking at the map I found there is a Eastern Dock and of course a Western Dock! Which is dock 2?
I have received two answers from places in Dover. Not cheap but what are we to do..better then being in London and then paying for the ride to Dover I think. Both said they could call a taxi for us to go to the dock...
There are only 3 in our party now. DDBFF says she is going to save for a car instead. oh well. I haven't canceled her yet just in case. Our good friends Janet and Kenny are going too. She is never on the boards. They are going to do Paris before and then Dover too. We met them on the Magic in 05 in Mexico and then they did the Med cruise too...nice people..
We will be in Paris June 26 to July 4...we are at Marriott Vacation club there using points. Hope to get a I.I. trade. I have a request in but at least we have it with points.
I need to finish up the other days we need before they all are gone...

 

[Fivepin]

Great that you got your room, really great.......I still have to figure this out..
In looking at the map I found there is a Eastern Dock and of course a Western Dock! Which is dock 2?
I have received two answers from places in Dover. Not cheap but what are we to do..better then being in London and then paying for the ride to Dover I think. Both said they could call a taxi for us to go to the dock...
There are only 3 in our party now. DDBFF says she is going to save for a car instead. oh well. I haven't canceled her yet just in case. Our good friends Janet and Kenny are going too. She is never on the boards. They are going to do Paris before and then Dover too. We met them on the Magic in 05 in Mexico and then they did the Med cruise too...nice people..
We will be in Paris June 26 to July 4...we are at Marriott Vacation club there using points. Hope to get a I.I. trade. I have a request in but at least we have it with points.
I need to finish up the other days we need before they all are gone...

I'm glad I got the rooms. since we want to stay an extra day, I went back on to use Amex points for 7/3. Same thing happened, it said there was no room for 3 people. So, I put in 2 and was still able to pick 2 double beds. When I pulled up the other ressie the Marriott person had done for me, I had told him 3 people, but I just noticed he only typed in 1, but did pick 2 double beds over the king.

I was looking into the one day tours to Paris that incl the Eurotrain, but none run on 7/4. We don't land early enough to make it on the 3rd. We just may take the train there on our own, and venture with the subways.

I'm not sure about the port. There were directions on how to get to the port on DLC website in the planning library, but I don't know how much detail it goes into.

I didn't even think about using my week via II and trying to get week.

So, we where on the Magic 2005 and for the Med 2007. We may have seen each other. Remember your weeks?I don't remember exact dates. We brought the ship back from Mexico and the Med, we were the first itinerary after they brought the ship over.

Well-gotta get the kids up. Talk to you soon.

 

[denise]

Got another answer back from the B & B in Dover. He states that cruise line terminals 1 & 2 are both at the Western dock. He also gave me the following link to check out....www.portofdover.co.uk
Yahoo on getting your other room too!!!
We were on the med on June 7 (070707) and the Mexico cruise was June 4 2005
Did you use points for the London stay?

 

[Fivepin]

Got another answer back from the B & B in Dover. He states that cruise line terminals 1 & 2 are both at the Western dock. He also gave me the following link to check out....www.portofdover.co.uk
Yahoo on getting your other room too!!!
We were on the med on June 7 (070707) and the Mexico cruise was June 4 2005
Did you use points for the London stay?

Ok-can you tell I didn't have my coffee yet when I asked you the date of your cruises? They are obviously in your signature. Sorry about that. Thanks for the info on the port. I just noticed I do have that link saved. I looked at that site for instructions on how to get to the port via rail from London.
I used Amex points for 2 nights and Marriott points for another. Thru Amex we get 2 adult breakfasts, but not thru Marriott points.
We have the Bank of America rewards visa, and there's enough points to get a $250 Marriott travel card. I may get that to cover any other incidentals at the hotel. It is considered like a prepaid debit, so there's going to be the 3% conversion rate. We actually spoke to someone who knew about the Travel Card and how it worked internationally. It only took 4 times. BOA visa had told me (after checking with 2 managers) that there would be no fee, and they said it was like a gift card. One person at Marriott rewards thought ït should be ok to use, but for me to call the hotel". One person at Marriott reservations thought it was more like a debit card because it would have the VISA logo. Finally...a knowledgeable person from the actual travel card dept. She told me that it can't be used to any room rate fees unless we had booked at the full rack rate. We could use it for food from the hotel. She had suggested that we set up a separate folio for the other incidentals and pay for everything we wanted at check out with the travel card instead of with each transaction.
I should get a calling card so I can call these places in London. We don't have any long distance on the house phone. We usually use our cell phones for that.

 

[Stimpy]

OK, who can give me the cliff notes for the past few months I missed?

Our TA looked into rates pre-cruise for London and the cheapest was $1500 per night through Disney?? Is that really the going rate?

We are so excited for this cruise! Unlike the cruise we are going on next week for...ahem... a different kids tv channel. My son won the cruise which is awesome but the customer service is so much different than DCL! We have late dining, were told we can switch it on-line after we got documents to either waitlist Main or their dining My Time Dining program. Nope, since it's a charter cruise, can't do it so have to try to beg & plead, wait on long lines to have it hopefully changed on board. Also, can't prebook any spa appointments.

I really HATE complaining since it's "free" (although we're already paying alot more than we would have for our summer vacation this year LOL...we paid to upgrade to a balcony, had to get passports this year instead of next, excursions etc) but I really miss DCL!!! Such a difference! And it's not just us, others who have paid for the cruise are complaining too (I'm on a meet board on another board for this particular cruise) Cruise is next Sunday, some people don't have their documents and/or luggage tags still. I definately would not pay for this cruise nor use thiscruise line again.

Anyway, I can't wait to come back here and work on THIS cruise as soon as we're back!

 

[Stimpy]

I'm trying to get a little caught up and am failing miserably!

Can someone point me in the direction of where to find hotels in Dover? Are the rates about the same as London? I haven't been to Europe in about 20 yrs so have no concept anymore.

We did our air/transfers through DCL but our TA told us we could take that off if we find cheaper. She kind of gave me the impression that it was more my job to find flights if we decide to do it ourselves. I have to contact her to put down some more towards the final payment today. I'll ask her about that for sure!

We loved doing the FE on past cruises and would really like to participate again on this cruise.