Magic - May 29, 2016 - 7 Night Norwegian Fjord

[WDWEPCOT]

How Exciting! I said when I booked this cruise while on the Member cruise - No where can you spend so much money so fast and be so happy about it! I swear Disney must put something in the water!
I will be paying mine off this week-end! I have been making little payments along the way to make it less painful! So happy I got my hotel in London all squared away (Thanks Daniela & Pam!) Got all my airfare done / Got my Disney hotels squared away for before and after both cruises (that was a mess - construction - changed hotels ) Got my Ticket to the Parks for DD - I have annual pass / Got Transportation from Port to London / I think I know what I want to do in all the Ports and will start ordering Tickets - Now I just need to Work on London and order those tickets and make my FE Gifts (but I do know what I am doing and have all my supplies). I also plan on prepaying my tips and the one excursion if I get to book it. That way I just have to pay for BINGO and SHOPPING once onboard!!! yeah Baby - the important things! I am still debating about purchasing the photo CD - I have had mixed results with them. I really want one - but again - mixed results - most of the time I don't feel I get enough pictures to make it worth the cost. Is anyone getting the photo cd? Have you had good luck with it?
I hope everyone is having a Great Day - Let us know how you Plans are coming along!
BTW - I agree with my Partner on the FE Grouping and splitting of the FE Groups! Matt - I do hope we have enough to split you from your Parents!
Lynn

 

[WDWEPCOT]

Daniela
Your DH is beyond brave - even my DD will not do The Rock! I was so afraid she would want to do that! As it is we are doing 4 Mountains or at least going to try. The pics of that rock scare me! Tell him to bring his hiking boots - he will need them. I have to go get some new ones as I can't find my old ones (I probably burned them). We are going to look silly at the airport all wearing hiking boots and carrying jackets when it will be 80 degrees here! Oh well - can't pack them - they weigh too much! That is how we looked when we went to Alaska - as it is - that stupid airport is SO COLD I will welcome the winter clothes! When I was there in Aug I had to purchase a sweatshirt I was so darn cold!
Lynn

 

[lelalittlelegs]

Lynn - I'm not sure if he's brave or stupid? He is 6'6" and not at all happy with heights (because he's already so tall) so I'm not sure what he's thinking but all I know is that I'll be in the spa that day and DD will be with my parents. My idea of walking is to get an ice cream. We need to find him some decent hiking boots, shouldn't be too difficult over here at this time of year. And hahaha I hear you on wearing your heavy clothes, I flew to Miami once and had about 4 days worth of clothes on because I refused to pay for extra allowance. We would LOVE to do an Alaska cruise - it's on our cruise bucket list. I hope those burned boots turn up.... sounds like you're going to need them. Fear not, I'll be waiting at the gangway for you with oxygen.
Daniela

 

[Mr Ferret 88]

Lynn - I'm not sure if he's brave or stupid? He is 6'6" and not at all happy with heights (because he's already so tall) so I'm not sure what he's thinking but all I know is that I'll be in the spa that day and DD will be with my parents. My idea of walking is to get an ice cream. We need to find him some decent hiking boots, shouldn't be too difficult over here at this time of year. And hahaha I hear you on wearing your heavy clothes, I flew to Miami once and had about 4 days worth of clothes on because I refused to pay for extra allowance. We would LOVE to do an Alaska cruise - it's on our cruise bucket list. I hope those burned boots turn up.... sounds like you're going to need them. Fear not, I'll be waiting at the gangway for you with oxygen.
Daniela

Try Mountain Warehouse (if you have one near) . We got our new hiking boots from there and they were reasonably priced

 

[WDWEPCOT]

Daniela
What a Great friend you are to be standing ready with the oxygen and to leave the spa for me! I love the spa! What do you have in mind to get done? I love the long massages - David won a gift certificate to the spa on our last cruise - lucky duck! We both got stone massages!
I plan on doing another Alaskan cruise after my Travel ban is lifted by David. I Loved our Alaskan cruise! The TV ran a Disney Cruise Special Sat and it showed all the ports - it did all of Alaska - I enjoyed the show so much!

Matt
I wish we had Mountain Warehouse - sad to say they are in UK and I can't find them over here. We are going to start looking this week - I hope they are going to have some sales. I hate wearing shoes and have a hard time finding shoes that fit my feet. I am a flip flop person year round. So I really hate shoe shopping - but I am going to maintain a positive outlook and find a Great pair of hiking boots at a Wonderful price!
I returned the camera I had purchased at Christmas - just wasn't the camera for me. I have another one I checking into - I think this one will be it! I am waiting for it to go on sale - it is also a Nikon.
Are you planning any hikes in Norway?

Off to finish Dinner. Have a Great Monday!
Lynn

 

[Garretts92]

One more step forward. Flights and hotel booked. Phew, so glad to have that out of the way! It's just so nerve racking trying to make those final decisions. Sure hope I got the best deals.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

Garretts92
What airline are you flying? We are flying Westjet thru Toronto to Orlando for a few days at Disney before we go home. What hotel are you staying at? We booked the Treavelodge for 4 days after the cruise. I refuse to look at airfare after I have it booked. It is not like I will fly Westjet any time soon again ( I am under a travel ban from dh) so I don't want to know if the fare changed! I do hope you got a great deal! What are your other plans? We are flying southwest home.
Lynn

 

[Garretts92]

Flying Delta both ways out of Memphis International (which has limited choices since many airlines have reduced the number of flights precipitously over the last several years). Just me and DH will be going this time. The college boy opted out since we wouldn't put him up in his own room on the ship or hotel, lol! We are departing late afternoon on 5/25 and arriving midday 5/26. We opted to stay in the Bloomsbury area to be near the British museum since we plan to spend some time there. Bloomsbury Hotel is what we finally picked. Not sure what else we're going to do yet. We did a lot of the main attractions the last time we were there 20 yrs ago.

After running many scenarios between bundling and buying separately I ended up with bundled flight and hotel and it saved about $200. Better than nothing I say. The prices looked like they had improved by about $1,000 since I started looking a while back so I thought the time was right. Still more than I wanted to pay but no looking back now!

 

[lelalittlelegs]

Thanks for the recommendation Matt, we have one a few miles away so we'll check it out!

Try Mountain Warehouse (if you have one near) . We got our new hiking boots from there and they were reasonably priced

 

[lelalittlelegs]

I'm like you. Love the looooong massage. I had an Swedish deep tissue one the last time (cant remember the actual name) and it was heaven. I would LOVE to win a spa gift certificate, wow... I would be spoilt for choice on what to pick though. I hope I get to go a couple of times on this cruise as my parents are coming so they can help with DD. I just wish I could eat ice cream as they massaged me, then my life would be complete.

I WANT TO GO TO ALASKA (you know this already)!!!!!!!

Daniela
What a Great friend you are to be standing ready with the oxygen and to leave the spa for me! I love the spa! What do you have in mind to get done? I love the long massages - David won a gift certificate to the spa on our last cruise - lucky duck! We both got stone massages!
I plan on doing another Alaskan cruise after my Travel ban is lifted by David. I Loved our Alaskan cruise! The TV ran a Disney Cruise Special Sat and it showed all the ports - it did all of Alaska - I enjoyed the show so much!

Matt
I wish we had Mountain Warehouse - sad to say they are in UK and I can't find them over here. We are going to start looking this week - I hope they are going to have some sales. I hate wearing shoes and have a hard time finding shoes that fit my feet. I am a flip flop person year round. So I really hate shoe shopping - but I am going to maintain a positive outlook and find a Great pair of hiking boots at a Wonderful price!
I returned the camera I had purchased at Christmas - just wasn't the camera for me. I have another one I checking into - I think this one will be it! I am waiting for it to go on sale - it is also a Nikon.
Are you planning any hikes in Norway?

Off to finish Dinner. Have a Great Monday!
Lynn

 

[lelalittlelegs]

Hi - I live in London and just wanted to say that I've been in the Bloomsbury Hotel. It has a lovely courtyard and is in a great location. You'll love it. I hope my pretty city hasn't changed too much for you over the last 20 years and hooray for getting everything booked and paid for!

Flying Delta both ways out of Memphis International (which has limited choices since many airlines have reduced the number of flights precipitously over the last several years). Just me and DH will be going this time. The college boy opted out since we wouldn't put him up in his own room on the ship or hotel, lol! We are departing late afternoon on 5/25 and arriving midday 5/26. We opted to stay in the Bloomsbury area to be near the British museum since we plan to spend some time there. Bloomsbury Hotel is what we finally picked. Not sure what else we're going to do yet. We did a lot of the main attractions the last time we were there 20 yrs ago.

After running many scenarios between bundling and buying separately I ended up with bundled flight and hotel and it saved about $200. Better than nothing I say. The prices looked like they had improved by about $1,000 since I started looking a while back so I thought the time was right. Still more than I wanted to pay but no looking back now!

 

[Garretts92]

Hi - I live in London and just wanted to say that I've been in the Bloomsbury Hotel. It has a lovely courtyard and is in a great location. You'll love it. I hope my pretty city hasn't changed too much for you over the last 20 years and hooray for getting everything booked and paid for!

Wonderful! At first glance I didn't like the looks but the further I researched it looked and sounded like what we were looking for. Reviews were very good.

 

[lelalittlelegs]

Hi peeps - I love checking email and seeing one from Disney telling me they've refunded me the difference on the taxes since booking. Did anyone else get one? Our was £41.00 which is the biggest one yet. Now...what do I spend that on while onboard? Hmm....

 

[Down-the-rabbit-hole]

Hi lelalittlelegs I'm glad you wrote that I was just coming on here to ask the same thing I got very confused as to why we were being refunded £52. I had a brief moment of panic when I thought the whole lot was being refunded and that was a cancellation fee!!!!! I didn't realise it was a tax rebate! Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[Down-the-rabbit-hole]

Also WDWEPCOT I'm surprised there's only 4 children on the FE list-does that include my two? I'm not sure if you managed to pull the details off the excel list that was set up a while ago. This is all completely new to me but I'm so excited can't wait until May!

 

[WDWEPCOT]

Garretts92
We are almost neighbors! I am in St. Louis. I found it was cheaper to fly out of another city than to fly out of St. Louis - I was looking at using my southwest points and fly out of Orlando or Newark - then we decided to take the Trans Atlantic Cruise over to Dover - so we are only flying home - but again - cheaper to fly into another city then fly home using Southwest. So we are flying into Orlando via Toronto. I just hate booking airfare - I can never seem to find what I want at a price I am willing to pay with anyone except Southwest! Coming from St. Louis I am very limited and would have to fly to another major city to fly out - like Chicago / Newark / NY. All of it is such a pain when you can't get the times you want.
Funny about your son! My DD (22) jumped on the chance to go - I think she would have slept in the tub! Or at least the floor of the cabin!
We have not done all our planning for London - just knocking around ideas - but the British Museum is on our list. I have several items on the list - we need to narrow it down - that is next on our list. I have weekly meetings with my daughter to go over our plans. I put her in charge on researching all the cities and things to do. I bought books by Rick Steves and I am almost finished with the London book. He makes it sound so easy to see the whole city in a few days!
I plan on ordering my foreign money next week from the bank. I also need to order my Oyster cards. I am just slowly trying to chip away at my list of things to do.
I hope your plans are going well.
Lynn

 

[WDWEPCOT]

The tax refunds must be a UK things - Nothing on my end! Yeah for you all! Every little bit helps! Anyone on this side of the pond receive a tax refund?
Lynn

 

[WDWEPCOT]

Down the Rabbit Hole
Yes I did copy the list and I am surprised we only have 4 confirmed kids! Yes that number does include your two. But I suspect the majority of people on the FE are on another site. If we gain more - I will let you know.
Lynn

 

[WDWEPCOT]

I went Hiking Boot shopping today - Got boots for myself and DD. I had to order mine as they were out of stock for my size - should have them in a week - lucky for me the sales lady gave me the clearance price for online order = as they were not on sale online! I feel I got a good price on them - Got DD on sale also = signed up for the store's reward program (free) and earned $10 coupon! I also got me a jacket - Not sure if I am going to keep it as it is not the color I wanted but it was the only one they had in the size I needed - I am going to check online and see if they have it - if so I will order it and return the one I got. Most winter items are wiped out since Christmas - they have swimming suits in the stores already! Jeez we have snow on the ground and they have swimming suits out! DH needs new boots - but he can wait until I get my coupon then I will get his so I can get $10 off! I have been looking at all the clearance racks at the stores to pick up items = got him a nice sweater for $7.48 (shocking) - it was regular $25! Nice deal! Never hurts to check clearance! Most stores will be marking all the winter items down to make room for summer clothes soon! Great time to pick up some items for the cruise - like gloves / hats / jackets. Don't forget an umbrella or rain coat! Make sure your shoes are water proof! No one wants wet feet! And Don't forget the Socks! I don't know about you all = but someone in my travel party always seems to forget socks!
I hope everyone is having a Great Monday!
Lynn

 

[WDWEPCOT]

Howdy Cruise Peeps!
Wardrobe Update - I did return the jacket - Found the one I wanted in the color I wanted online! yeah! Just need to get DH and DD some socks. I am going to make my home peeps go through their clothing this week-end and make sure they have what they need and it all fits! We did just get past all those eating holidays if you know what I mean! May have to go on a Fish and Chicken Diet in my house! I do hope we don't have to get to extreme and have to start (don't say it...) exercising!!!!!!!!!!! UGHHHHH!! Actually I do plan to start walking again once the snow is all gone and it doesn't feel like the Artic Tundra outside. The weather people are calling for temps close to 60 by this week-end so we should be good to go! No snow and the flooding is gone. Just mud! I will take the mud over the ice!
Happy Hump Day!!!
Lynn