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

[Disney Rocks]

Lots of planning going on!

Has anyone found any problems with booking shore excursions yet? Wondering if any of them are starting to fill up already. There are only 2 that we have our hearts set on and it seems so does everyone else LOL

We booked our excursions on March 8 and didn't have any problems at all. The only thing was that in Russia, the ballet, the Russian Dance show and the Princesses at the Palace were all in the evenings so we were only able to pick two for the two evenings which we are there.

The other thing was with the timing of the morning and afternoon excursions, we could only pick one because of the overlap.

 

[slg]

So somehow I missed the whole dismeets brunch thing. I think every space is full, but can my dh and I go on a waitlist?

How does the whole thing work? Which day is it on? Who is booking it? Can someone fill me in?

 

[Monstro]

Here's how the Palo brunch works.

The group brunch info takes a while. Disney usually doesn't assign that room until one month before the cruise. In addition, if all the brunch slots are booked, they ask people participating in the group brunch to cancel their personal brunch reservation(s) to allow other people to have the opportunity. I'm not saying this will work the same - this is just how it has worked for us the past 4 or 5 times we've done it. We have got the room everytime though.

Jeff

slg - I've started a waitlist and added you to it. You and your dh are first on it.

Jeff

 

[el_bandito]

Just booked. Cat 4 (GTY, with wait list above)...

Said to DW... it's Europe... not sure the mouse is right

DW (and DM-I-L said.. do it)
So

We are booked. 2 decades working and never off this long

Just booked flights.. Call me insane (or pray for me) but we are in Baltimore and British Air only realistic option. hope the strike is worked out

we are
DD 'ageless and eternal'
DW 45
DD 15
DS 13

We know the Magic well. (meaning the ship)

VERY CURIOUS ABOUT THE EXCURSIONS!! Those of you who are platinum and above...(dang... this is 6 for us but that's a lot of cruises)

Thinking to use the 'personal car' option a lot. not into the crowds ... but curious what you experts have thought?

Also... we do London a few days ahead so currently no disney transfer to Dover... non disney transfer in Orlando is great... not sure in england... thoughts???

 

[el_bandito]

1

 

[el_bandito]

2
stupid 10 rule

 

[el_bandito]

posted many times in the past and posted advice for newbies many times...... sorry

so... i'm a newbie now -- to europe. here is post.. help is appreciated..

hi.

=========

we just booked cruise to Northern Europe and have 2-3 days in london prior but nothing booked.

I'd REALLY love suggestions on 'real' things. we are not the touristy type. we love to get in and experience the real city. we aren't granola types.. (suburban US) but really enjoy the culture.

I suspect there are a few things we 'must' see... but curious on your thoughts.

for perspective (not sure you'd undertand)... we went to Las Vegas and spent all of 5 dollars in the casinos. But MAN we had a great time visiting red rock canyon, fire valley, and hoover dam. saw two shows. and done.

SO looking for that...

Also... i may be welsh (family came over to us in 1600's) so dieing to see wales... Is that at all a day trip?

Sorry for long post.

 

[nzdisneymom]

I'm surprised that I haven't found a single person who is interested in the Leeds excursion on debarkation. I wonder why DCL makes us book it on the boat. I would think they would get a better idea of the numbers if the allowed us to prebook.

We are going to do the Canterbury and Leeds Castle as a post-cruise excursion on the 19th, but if we were flying out on the 19th, we would've done Leeds on the 18th even though we do have DCL transfers scheduled already. With the Canterbury/Leeds Castle, we do have to prepay - we had to send in a form by email and then they call for payment - but we didn't have to pay right away - I asked if we could wait a couple of weeks, so we've arranged for when for them to call us back to get our method of payment.

One thing when we did excursions through Royal Caribbean was that you had to pay right then and there online when you made the reservations. I like that DCL lets you wait til you're onboard to pay. That makes things a bit easier for us for saving up so we have all the cash piled up (ok, stored in the bank) to cover them without tying our money up between now and then.

 

[LisaTex]

Oh lucky you!!! I could so use a nice warm tropical break myself right now, lol. We may be heading to Vegas before July though, so we may get a little mini break, too.

So excited about the cruise, this is going to be such fun!

Yes it was great as always - the changes to Castaway Cay r just about complete - adds a lot of beach space.
Just want to confirm 2nd Palo Group Lunch -
Fivepin - 3
nzdisneymom - 1
aurorafan 65 - 1
wintergreen - 2
Carol AnnC - 4
sshaw 10060 - 2
me - 1

 

[nzdisneymom]

Sharper-fin - I added babybear42 to the list.

El-bandito - welcome to the thread - I added you to the who's traveling list in the first post - check there for information.

Joanne - you all have an ambitious London itinerary. I know you've probably already seen this, but the British Museum offers suggested 1-hr and 3-hr "tours" to help you plan your time there. We are allocating 3-hours to the British Museum on the day we arrive with a little time to go back should we want to. We are a 10-minute walk from there so that will work nicely for us. The only other thing I would mention is that our experience to Barcelona was that our flight leaving from ATL was delayed signficantly which meant our arrival was quite a bit later than originally scheduled. We were supposed to arrive at 9:30 a.m. but didn't get there til noon - so by the time we got to the hotel and situated, we'd lost most of our sight-seeing day. But this is also why we planned to arrive three days early to London so if we lose a day because of travel delays coupled with jet-lag, then we still have some time. As it was, we missed a lot of Barcelona time we had hoped to have.

Our current London plan is arrive on Saturday and see the British Museum. Get dinner, get sleep.

Sunday -- 11:00 Beatles walking tour and then fill in the afternoon with the Tower of London or the London Eye, and do one of the bus tours. One is a 24-hour pass so we can get it in the afternoon on Sunday and it will last til afternoon on Monday.

Monday -- Changing of the Guard in the late morning -- build the rest of the day around that with either the London Eye or Tower of London, whichever we didn't do the day before.

Tuesday -- DCL transportation to Dover, so whatever that entails.

We are heading to Hilton Head for spring break next week so I'll have more time to actually read / keep up with the boards. I miss being able to check in each day and read other threads related to the Baltic cruises.

I do have our fish extender items mostly complete! Just a few touch-ups and we're done! We are excited about them and hope you all will like them, too But nope, not gonna tell ya what they are! How many cabins do we currently have participating, and how many people make up those cabins?

Hope you all have a wonderful, Magical day!

 

[nzdisneymom]

Yes it was great as always - the changes to Castaway Cay r just about complete - adds a lot of beach space.
Just want to confirm 2nd Palo Group Lunch -
Fivepin - 3
nzdisneymom - 1
aurorafan 65 - 1
wintergreen - 2
Carol AnnC - 4
sshaw 10060 - 2
me - 1

Hooray! I'm really glad I decided to do Palo. DH doesn't want to do it so this will be a wonderful way to experience it, with all my DIS friends! Think I'll put DH on laundry-detail while I'm enjoying a wonderful meal!

 

[Deb T.]

Just booked. Cat 4 (GTY, with wait list above)...

Said to DW... it's Europe... not sure the mouse is right

DW (and DM-I-L said.. do it)
So

We are booked. 2 decades working and never off this long

Just booked flights.. Call me insane (or pray for me) but we are in Baltimore and British Air only realistic option. hope the strike is worked out

we are
DD 'ageless and eternal'
DW 45
DD 15
DS 13

We know the Magic well. (meaning the ship)

VERY CURIOUS ABOUT THE EXCURSIONS!! Those of you who are platinum and above...(dang... this is 6 for us but that's a lot of cruises)

Thinking to use the 'personal car' option a lot. not into the crowds ... but curious what you experts have thought?

Also... we do London a few days ahead so currently no disney transfer to Dover... non disney transfer in Orlando is great... not sure in england... thoughts???

Welcome aboard! We're glad you joined us! This thread and the 2010 Baltic Thread has tons of information on what everyone has booked or is thinking about booking. As far as BA, at least you're planning to head over early so that if you do run into any strike mess, you'll still have a few days to work something out.

 

[LisaTex]

Yes, welcome bandito!

We are doing some private car excursions - just remember if you go through Disney they are pay up front and no refunds. Right now I have just booked the Berlin train and private car and guide - holding out on ST P for the moment - concierge said there are plenty available at least for now.

nzdisneymom - have a great spring break!! your London plans sound great. who are you doing your Leeds Castle tour with?

 

[caseyk20]

We don't know what to do in London yet but we do know we are going to ride the big eye !

 

[babybear42]

We don't know what to do in London yet but we do know we are going to ride the big eye !

Hi

I strongly suggest that anyone wanting to go the London Eye that they book now. I know it's over three months away from our cruise, but it does get very busy and to avoid disappointment and queing it's best to book in advance.

Have you thought about going to the museums? They are free to enter and are great for getting out of the English weather. Yes eventhough it might be July when you get over here, we still can get loads of rain. A boat trip down the Thames is also a good way to see some of the city. It stops a various places along the way, such as the Tower of London, and the O2 Arena, so if you were thinking of visiting either place, you can get there by boat. A couple of years ago, we went on the boat at night, and the buildings looked totally different in the dark.

 

[babybear42]

posted many times in the past and posted advice for newbies many times...... sorry

so... i'm a newbie now -- to europe. here is post.. help is appreciated..

hi.

=========

we just booked cruise to Northern Europe and have 2-3 days in london prior but nothing booked.

I'd REALLY love suggestions on 'real' things. we are not the touristy type. we love to get in and experience the real city. we aren't granola types.. (suburban US) but really enjoy the culture.


I suspect there are a few things we 'must' see... but curious on your thoughts.

for perspective (not sure you'd undertand)... we went to Las Vegas and spent all of 5 dollars in the casinos. But MAN we had a great time visiting red rock canyon, fire valley, and hoover dam. saw two shows. and done.

SO looking for that...

Also... i may be welsh (family came over to us in 1600's) so dieing to see wales... Is that at all a day trip?

Sorry for long post.

You could try the museums and Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral. The museums are free, but you have to pay to get in St Pauls and Westminster Abbey. There's also the National Potrait Gallery near Trafalgar Square.

Wales is a bit far out for a day trip from London, you'd need at least two days.

 

[aurorafan65]

Hooray! I'm really glad I decided to do Palo. DH doesn't want to do it so this will be a wonderful way to experience it, with all my DIS friends! Think I'll put DH on laundry-detail while I'm enjoying a wonderful meal!

Hey Cindy - that's a good idea all boys on laundry duty Although if Bingo is happening that's where they'll want to be

Lisa - I'm still good with brunch - we didn't do this on our last trip so I'm excited to meet up with everyone

 

[aurorafan65]

Hi

I strongly suggest that anyone wanting to go the London Eye that they book now. I know it's over three months away from our cruise, but it does get very busy and to avoid disappointment and queing it's best to book in advance.

On the London eye thing - is it scary - I'm not a good heights person but I can do a ferris wheel. I know the eye's enclosed but do you get that ferris wheel sensation or is it more like an elevator? Also how long is the 'ride'?

I don't know if that makes any sense or not

 

[sharper_fin]

On the London eye thing - is it scary - I'm not a good heights person but I can do a ferris wheel. I know the eye's enclosed but do you get that ferris wheel sensation or is it more like an elevator? Also how long is the 'ride'?

I don't know if that makes any sense or not

Makes perfect sense to me! My Beloved Jill (babybear) and I went on it a while ago and it's a very smooth, slow ride, more like an escalator than an elevator - there's certainly no 'turning over stomach' sentation like on a roller coaster, it's way too slow for that. Takes about thirty minutes to do a full revolution if I remember correctly, and there's a pre-show theatre before that. BUT it is VERY high. At the time of opening (2000) it was the tallest wheel in the world, although a couple of larger ones have opened in China and Singapore since. You look down on Parliament and the Big Ben clock tower from inside an enclosed perspex bubble-pod. There's a bench in the middle but the pod can hold up to 25 people, so it can feel a little cramped on busy days.

Hope that helps with your decision?

Shaun

 

[aurorafan65]

posted many times in the past and posted advice for newbies many times...... sorry

so... i'm a newbie now -- to europe. here is post.. help is appreciated..

hi.

=========

we just booked cruise to Northern Europe and have 2-3 days in london prior but nothing booked.

I'd REALLY love suggestions on 'real' things. we are not the touristy type. we love to get in and experience the real city. we aren't granola types.. (suburban US) but really enjoy the culture.

I suspect there are a few things we 'must' see... but curious on your thoughts.

for perspective (not sure you'd undertand)... we went to Las Vegas and spent all of 5 dollars in the casinos. But MAN we had a great time visiting red rock canyon, fire valley, and hoover dam. saw two shows. and done.

SO looking for that...

Also... i may be welsh (family came over to us in 1600's) so dieing to see wales... Is that at all a day trip?

Sorry for long post.

hi bandito - we're from Philly, so not far away from Baltimore, we have 12 & 14yo boys sailing with us - there are a bunch of familes with teens (boys & girls) on this trip.

As a side note loved Hoover dam & also toured the nuclear test site in NV (they do the tour once a month & I was lucky enough to be there)

Anyway - we get to London on July 2 we have planned
- day at the British museum
- tour of Bath & Stonehenge
- Big Ben, Parliment (think Chevy Chase)

dh's family is Welsh - we'd love to go to Wales but are skipping it since we don't think there's time.

Also planning on seeing the WWII tunnels in dover along with the castles