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

[Scoobydoo76]

I hope we get Ceremony of the Keys tickets since it cost almost $30 to send away for free tickets

We were able to get tickets for Stonehenge Inner Circle Access - at 5am and 6:15am I'm not sure how long I'm going to be the trip planner - they may fire me

Kathy,

How did you manage to spend $30 for the Ceremony of the Keys tickets? I believe I only spent about half of that, and included an extra International Reply Coupons. Did you have to order the International Reply Coupons and pay a special rate?

Like someone already said, you have to love the free stuff!

Kim

 

[aurorafan65]

for those of you doing the keeper of the keys ceremony at the Tower, are you also planning a daytime visit there? I thought about going at night after watching samantha brown go there, but then decided the kids would get more out of it in the daytime. Just curious..I keep trying to plan Sunday.
My latest scheme is train to Liverpool and the beatles taxi..has anyone been there?


joanne

we are doing the tower during one of the days - I have read not to do both in the same day (have no idea why) but I have also heard to go first thing otherwise the lines get really long. Of course I really want to see the crown jewels - but this will be like when we went to the Smithsonian & we saw the hope diamond I had told the boys it was the largest in the world & they were like - that's it They thought it would be something really big like the crystal formations we saw that were feet tall.

I'll have to find that Samantha Brown episode. I can take her in small doses. I can't tell you how many times we watched her on the Freedom of the Seas before we took that trip.

 

[DW2DH&DS]

for those of you doing the keeper of the keys ceremony at the Tower, are you also planning a daytime visit there? I thought about going at night after watching samantha brown go there, but then decided the kids would get more out of it in the daytime. Just curious..I keep trying to plan Sunday.
My latest scheme is train to Liverpool and the beatles taxi..has anyone been there?


joanne

Ahh ....another Samantha Brown fan. I am addicted to her shows. That is how I learned about the keeper of the keys ceremony at the Tower. Yes, we are going the next day in the daytime to have the Beefeaters tour and all. It should be fun.

We have fast track tickets for TofL for July 1st. I had the same experience with the post office and international coupon whatever thingies when I wanted to get an application for tickets to Wimbledon. Hence; not going. As for the Keeper of the keys (which I, too, saw on Samantah Brown), this time I had the bright idea to email an old high school buddy of mine who happens to be living/working in London. I asked him to request them for me...local postage for him...woot!!!! Since we are planing to catch up during our trip (getting a locals tour ), he said no problem and is grabbing one for himself as well. I am requesting the 1st - 4th of July...hope I get some!!!

We tried to get inner circle tickets for Stonehenge for the 4th of July, but it is all booked. I am not too concerned...we will return to London several more times I ma sure. Catch it then!!!

 

[goingsouth]

That's the right attitude...hopefully, we will be back again and see something different the next time. This trip is already so jam packed with events, I need to just stop planning!! After almost 2 years, it's so hard to do! This very wonderful, complcated trip has taken alot of effort to research. Seriously, haven't you all learned more about the Tsars, and the vikings and the baltics than you ever imagined?? I have read and taped history channel specials and watched every rick steves show from 2002 on Scandinavia. I'm ready! Let's go...


joanne

 

[APinCA]

Kathy,

How did you manage to spend $30 for the Ceremony of the Keys tickets? I believe I only spent about half of that, and included an extra International Reply Coupons. Did you have to order the International Reply Coupons and pay a special rate?

Like someone already said, you have to love the free stuff!

Kim

I decided that since it was getting close to the dates that I would use Express mail instead of priority. Yes, I paid to have my mail sit in a plane that won't get to London I actually didn't know how much it would cost until I saw her put the price in the box. At that point I had already caused a delay since she couldn't find the postal code for London in the computer so I didn't want to ask her to change it And it was an additional $5 for the coupons and online order fee.

 

[babybear42]

Thanks for doing that - now I just need to make sure I add that & brunch onto my agenda otherwise I'll forget & I'd be so bummed since I want to meet everyone

I really want to do door magnets - are there any weird restrictions on them in baggage? I know it's a magnet sheet but I've never done that before

Hope you have fun @WDW for your anniversary

We've taken magnetic sheets onto planes in our hold luggage and not had a problem.

 

[LisaTex]

Good morning - great time for weekend binge planning as it is raining like crazy here.

Sorry for the lack of explanation on the "Secret Deck 7" - I didn't know what else to call it So yes, it's just a nice place to hang out for a while to meet the people you haven't met at the Dover Meet or at brunch. (BTW - will still be a little while until they let us know the brunch dates, so will update as soon as we know. ) Also wanted to have a way for my niece and nephew to meet some of the other kids in the group -they love hanging out withthe kids they have met on our ABD trips, but they don't care for the kids clubs on the ship so please try to get your kiddos to stop by for a sec if you can.

On another subject - babybear - what would be the best way to get from Kensington to Hampton Court Palace? trying to get London squared away. And now I am interested in this Key Ceremony thing - have been there during the day, but this sounds cool for something to do at night!!

Have a great weekend!

 

[aurorafan65]

Seriously, haven't you all learned more about the Tsars, and the vikings and the baltics than you ever imagined?? I have read and taped history channel specials and watched every rick steves show from 2002 on Scandinavia. I'm ready! Let's go...


joanne

this is so true! Every Tues after dropping the kids at religious ed, I go to the library & pick up travel books - the ladies at the library are always asking which one are you getting today

 

[aurorafan65]

We've taken magnetic sheets onto planes in our hold luggage and not had a problem.

thanks for that info

 

[aurorafan65]

Good morning - great time for weekend binge planning as it is raining like crazy here.

Sorry for the lack of explanation on the "Secret Deck 7" - I didn't know what else to call it So yes, it's just a nice place to hang out for a while to meet the people you haven't met at the Dover Meet or at brunch. (BTW - will still be a little while until they let us know the brunch dates, so will update as soon as we know. ) Also wanted to have a way for my niece and nephew to meet some of the other kids in the group -they love hanging out withthe kids they have met on our ABD trips, but they don't care for the kids clubs on the ship so please try to get your kiddos to stop by for a sec if you can.

On another subject - babybear - what would be the best way to get from Kensington to Hampton Court Palace? trying to get London squared away. And now I am interested in this Key Ceremony thing - have been there during the day, but this sounds cool for something to do at night!!

Have a great weekend!

Hi Lisa - I'm bringing the boys to the meet - they don't do the kids clubs, but I was hoping from meeting some of the other kids they might do them this time.

 

[kawigrl]

We booked our plane tickets today as well as hotels in London pre cruise and Ireland post cruise. Feel much better having that out of the way. The only things left to worry about are transportation to Dover from London and Heathrow from Dover.

 

[LisaTex]

Hi Lisa - I'm bringing the boys to the meet - they don't do the kids clubs, but I was hoping from meeting some of the other kids they might do them this time.

My thoughts exactly!

Hello Kawigirl - I would so looooove to go to Ireland. Seems like lots of options for transfers- ours came with our hotel so I got out of that one.

If anyone is looking for something to do in the afternoon in Copenhagen I am talking to a guy (originally from NewYork) who does walking tours. We are doing Tivoli in the morning, but needed something in the afternoon.

Anyone here using Anastasia tours in St P? Still going back and forth between that, private through DCL or excursions- trying to snoop out what company DCL is using

Thanks!

 

[kawigrl]

My thoughts exactly!

Hello Kawigirl - I would so looooove to go to Ireland. Seems like lots of options for transfers- ours came with our hotel so I got out of that one.

If anyone is looking for something to do in the afternoon in Copenhagen I am talking to a guy (originally from NewYork) who does walking tours. We are doing Tivoli in the morning, but needed something in the afternoon.

Anyone here using Anastasia tours in St P? Still going back and forth between that, private through DCL or excursions- trying to snoop out what company DCL is using

Thanks!

I have been trying to get my mother to go to Ireland since I was a teenager. I figured, I managed to get her to go on the cruise I might as well take advantage of being on that side of the globe.

We booked the 8hr private DCL in St P for the 2nd day.

 

[DisneyRedHeadPirate]

Was there any truth to the rumor a while back that they were changing pirate night to a Viking party?

 

[slg]

Last year we took and Adventures by Disney to Ireland. It was fantastic!

 

[babybear42]

We booked our plane tickets today as well as hotels in London pre cruise and Ireland post cruise. Feel much better having that out of the way. The only things left to worry about are transportation to Dover from London and Heathrow from Dover.

Have you thought about using National Express Coaches for your transfers from London to Dover and back again? We're using them to get from where we live , in Yorkshire, to Dover and they're quite reasonable.

 

[sharper_fin]

babybear - what would be the best way to get from Kensington to Hampton Court Palace?

Hi Lisa. Jill/Babybear and I checked this out for you. We think that the best way would be to get the 'District line' tube train from Kensington to Wimbledon. Change there onto a regular (overground) train direct to Hampton.

Hope that helps!

Shaun & Jill (sharper fin & babybear)

 

[denise]

Last year we took and Adventures by Disney to Ireland. It was fantastic!

That is on my "list" of places to go!!!! Up near the top too!

 

[Fivepin]

I have a couple of the Dooney & Bourke purses. Just thought I would post want they unveiled for DCL. I found the pic on another thread. I know what I'm going to use some of my OBC for:
http://parksandresorts.wdpromedia.c...wp-content/uploads/2010/04/DCLPursesSMALL.jpg

 

[CarolAnnC]

Purchased our Air and Medical coverage through Travel Guard today for John and myself. Contemplating coverage for the cruise - we booked on DVC points, but I am not even sure if we have entered the penalty phase yet..