June 16, 2007 MedHead Cruisers

[Skallywag]

LeiLani,

No problem - forgot to ask daughter how much she paid to get in on Saturday but will do so. On the bbc.co.uk/sport site it gives the prices for this year which would be a bit of a guide.

 

[DVC4US]

Brenda - thanks again for all the info. Talked to DH about it today and he said it was definitely something to do since we are going to be there. You can't go to London during Wimbledon and not spend at least one day there.

Spent the day helping my neighbor set up for our big neighborhood 4th of July party. It's going to be crazy tomorrow also. We have about 150 people attending so it's a big deal and all the set up and planning all the food is crazy. I probably won't get back on again tomorrow so for everyone in the US...


Happy 4th of July!!!!!!!!

 

[Skallywag]

Just had an email from Dreams Unlimited asking for our passport details as Disney now require this information - hope everyone has their passports sorted out.

 

[carolmb]

I just recieved the same email from dreams unlimited and emailed them my passport info. I was looking at flights to and from barcelona yesterday using May dates. The return flight from barcelona to houston intercontential left at 11:10 am. If that is the same time that is offered in June for the return flight, do you think we can make that flight? My DH says yes but I think we may be pushing our luck. What do you think? Thanks.

 

[Surroundedbyboys]

Someone who has flown out of Barcelona before would be the best judge of this, but based on our flights home out of other countries, I would think that 11:10am would be way too early of a flight. You don't know what time you would actually get off the ship, how long it takes to get to the airport, customs, etc. When we flew out of Eygpt, we had to be to the airport 3 hours early- which we thought was extreme, but we needed all of that time. Hopefully someone with more knowledge of the area will be able to weigh in...

 

[Skallywag]

I think if you got straight off the boat and had a taxi waiting you should just make that flight but sometimes they want you to book in 2 and sometimes 3 hours ahead. Think it is about 30 minutes from Barcelona direct to the airport but do not know how bad the traffic is likely to be.

When we left the Magic at Canaveral we booked the limo for 9 a.m. but because of the customs clearance we were there with luggage by 8. Just wonder if it is worth giving Disney a ring and asking what flights they are booking people on. Just a thought and it would give an idea of what they are planning.

Personally I would be a bit worried about missing the flight and you do not want to have a great cruise and get stressed out as I am sure I would.
My husband, like yours said you would just probably make it but I have reservations.

 

[DVC4US]

Good Morning/Afternoon All!

Well, we had a great 4th and the neighborhood party was well attended. Everything went well and everyone seem to have fun.

Now I am off again. Alyssa is flying to her grandma's in Vegas tonight and I will leave for Virginia tomorrow morning. I will be back on the 17th and then all I have on my plate is the trip to FL/WDW/DCL.

Keep posting and I will talk to everyone when I get back.

 

[4kidsandadog]

Hi everyone...

We did decide to cancel this cruise; we're thinking of doing some kind of European vacation in a few years, when my oldest graduates high school. But we are planning a Christmas trip to WDW in its place!! This will be a birthday celebration for my 2 oldest, whose birthdays are the 30th (not twins, but 4 years apart).

Hope you all have a great time!

 

[silver7]

Oh Karen I am so sorry, we will miss you!

Have a great time on your European vacation in the future

 

[pmm0724]

I don't want to sound negative, but if you haven't ever been to WDW at Christmas, you need to be prepared for horrible crowds. Fast passes sold out, long lines for snacks, etc. We waited in line 1 1/2 hours just to buy tickets for MGM. When we got in, we only saw 2 attractions all day. If you plan to skip the parks and just do hotel type stuff, it can be OK as decorations are beautiful.

 

[4kidsandadog]

We've been in early Dec., but never at Christmas. I don't think we'll be too stressed by the busyness; we'll have an entire week there, so no pressure to do everything all at once. Mostly it will be just trying to do old favorites and see some of the new things (Expedition Everest, the updated PoTC). We really wanted to do this for my 2 oldest, since the other 2 have both gotten to have a birthday trip to WDW and they haven't.

 

[JulieWent]

Hey all!
Don't want to start a trend here, but we're thinking of opting out. Not because we don't want to go, but because I discovered something when I started planning.
I started looking at "a few days in London" before hand. Guess what? The whole family got a LOT more excited about those few days than anyone was getting about the cruise. We kept adding and saying, "What about Paris?'
So, I checked into the Adventures by Disney London and Paris Tour, and I think it may be more what we need.
We're still thinking it over. I think.... let's see, sunny Italy / or London and Paris (not so sunny???). But then, I'm an ENGLISH teacher, you see.... So, going to England has always been a dream for me. DS has lots of things he wants to see in both London and Paris and has decided that "French is pretty easy to learn." (Go figure.) DH just likes the idea of going on (through?) the Chunnel. (He's an engineer. His touring requirements are different from most of ours. )
Then there's the food. The cruise definitely wins on this one because my son is an ultra picky eater. (Has to do with a disorder that makes him not like things of different textures.) Anyway, on DCL, he would definitely be able to access "old familiars." Traveling with ABD, it may be dicey. I think he could probably get by on cottage pie in London and just bread and fruit in Paris, but ????
The activities: Well, ABD gets the nod there. I already know what the itinerary is. There aren't lots of two and three hour drives to get to the sites. (Just Versailles) I'm worried that many of the excursions on the cruise are going to require lots of driving just to GET to the sites. I know Rome does. Florence does. Pompeii. That's just the ones I know about. DS is only 11. I know he could do one or two of that type of excursion, but over and over again?
Expense is pretty much the same. ABD is a little less, but it's also shorter by several days. We'd probably rail back to England and travel about a bit after Paris anyway. Flying into London IS easier than flying into Barcelona for sure.
Well, there it is. Anyone with experience traveling in London and Paris? I'd love to hear from you. We probably won't decide until late August. (I know someone on the boards who is traveling with the London / Paris ABD tour in early August. I'm waiting to hear from her to see what she thinks of the whole thing.)
In the mean time, I'm getting ready to go SOMEWHERE in Europe next summer. What a nice decision to make!

Julie

 

[Skallywag]

Sorry to hear you have cancelled your cruise and agree that Orlando is very busy during Christmas - we have a timeshare there for Christmas and new year week and know from experience that come the 1st January the parks are empty almost but up until then you need to be up at the crack of dawn to even stand a chance of getting in. We managed to get into Magic Kingdom once on Christmas day early evening and only because it had turned rainy. Christmas decoration are beautiful and are still up early January.

 

[mndisfam]

Hi all - how do these cruise meets work? Should I just try to chime in - it seems like you all know each other all ready!

 

[LisaTex]

Just checking back in. Our trip to DL and then Hawaii with ABD was wonderful. ABD was great - if anyone has any questions just let me know. DL was wonderful - great weather (78 degrees and breezy) medium crowds, and staying at The Grand Californian - so close and convenient - made it seem much more relaxed than our usual WDW trips. (still can't wait 'til we are back at WDW in November though )

Still looking forward to the cruise. Met some people on the ABD trip who will be on one of the Repos. They had already been on a Wyoming ABD trip and had plans for WDW in Sept. Reassured me I'm not the only Disneyholic out there.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

 

[mndisfam]

Lisa - is ABD Adventures by Disney? How was the Hawaii trip?

 

[taysmom]

My daughter (will be 9) and I will be going on the 6/16/07 med cruise. I have read the thread and am now very excited.
We are planning on arriving 1 day early in barcelona...to help with the time change, plus travelling from california...flights don't arrive in barcelona until 2pm earliest...I don't want to chance any flight issues and miss the boat.
We are DVC members...since 2005 and love it! Used our points to go on this cruise.
Hope to meet all on the trip!

 

[JulieWent]

Lisa,
Tell us ALL about your experiences with ABD. (See my above post.) I'm thinking about the London / Paris tour.

Julie

(Did you take children? If not, what did you notice about their interactions with others' children?)

 

[mndisfam]

Taysmom- where are you from in Ca and we are also DVCers! Love DVC!

We grew up and lived in the LA area until 12 yrs ago...Kathleen

 

[taysmom]

We are in northern california, east bay.