May 12, 2007 -- Taking the Magic to the Mediterranean -- 14 day Repo Cruise! Part 2

[tig82174]

Yes yes...I "forced" Kelly to buy an annual pass. (As you might imagine...it was very hard to convince her.....I almost had to suggest it twice! .....just watch, next she'll be blaming me for "having to" eat in Palo onboard...poor dear!



Erik

 

[cupcake]

Thanks very much to everyone giving me so much detail about the DDE. I was surprised because our annual passes at DL provides a discount at all the restaurants. So, we assumed it was the same at WDW. I wasn't sure if I was understanding it correctly. What another $65 on top of the pass

The WDW APs come with dining discounts, but they are limited and seem to be getting more minimal as time goes by. Yes, it is not ideal to have to pay more, but if you are going to spend more than the magic number ($325) for stuff that is covered (sit down meals, parking, etc.) you do come out ahead. We look at it as getting 20% off anything over $325, as opposed to having to shell out $65 for the DDE.

Cupcake

 

[tig82174]

The WDW APs come with dining discounts, but they are limited and seem to be getting more minimal as time goes by. Yes, it is not ideal to have to pay more, but if you are going to spend more than the magic number ($325) for stuff that is covered (sit down meals, parking, etc.) you do come out ahead. We look at it as getting 20% off anything over $325, as opposed to having to shell out $65 for the DDE.

Cupcake

Also in some places isn't our DVC discount as good as the DDE discount? Jason and I looked into the idea of getting the DDE because we are DVC members and also have Annual Passes that won't expire until Sept....the DDE doesn't give you a universal discount at every restaurant, right? It's only in certain participating places very much like the DVC discounts?




Erik

 

[cquick]

Another thing to remember.........my bank teller reminded me to call the bank a few days before we go so that they will honor our ATM card while we are out of the country. I had remembered about the Visa cards but not the ATM.

Yeah, I know we'll need to get money on our Med. cruise, I just got some for the stops with Disney! I can't wait to go to Gibraltar!

I got nervous and phoned DCL agtain to make sure they knew we were getting off the morning we arrive in Barcelona and she said it was on our reservation, but I should speak to the purser to get the details about luggage, transport to the airport, flight time, etc. I hope they don't show the POC3 t he last night! We won't be there!

 

[cupcake]

Also in some places isn't our DVC discount as good as the DDE discount? Jason and I looked into the idea of getting the DDE because we are DVC members and also have Annual Passes that won't expire until Sept....the DDE doesn't give you a universal discount at every restaurant, right? It's only in certain participating places very much like the DVC discounts?



Erik

Here's the list of DDE places: http://www.allearsnet.com/din/dde.htm
And here is a handy comparison chart btwn AP, DVC, and DDE discounts: http://allearsnet.com/pl/disc_dining.pdf

The DDE is pretty much 20% for food and alcohol across the board (e.g., lunch and dinner) while the DVC and AP have more limits (10% on just food, mostly lunch as a general rule). So it all depends on where and when you plan to dine. Plus the DDE covers some non-restaurant options, like the 8:00 Luau (also the last Hoop De Doo, but that's a bit late for us, we always enjoy hitting the Luau on the first night to get into the mood!). Whether it's worth it or not becomes clearer when you sit down with a list of restaurants you would go to normally and a calculator and work out the various options.

For us, it's a no-brainer bc my dh has a full week conference every fall where he has to work (plus random other conferences at WDW), so the highlight of his day when he's working is meeting me at Epcot for a nice dinner and a glass of wine! (we are always at the Swan or Dolphin). It easily pays for itself doing what we would normally do, and then anything extra is a bonus. So we are big fans.

Cupcake

 

[NHdisneylover]

Chris--many people who are not local to Florida get anual passes. When we lived in Michigan we had one every other year (3 total). Back then an AP was the same price as 8 days of tickets. So, we got them with the idea that we could go one week a year, but plan them only 51 weeks apart and basically only pay for tickets once. Of course, once we had them in hand, and we could drive to Disney (just barely doable from Detroit in my opinion) and they would routinely offer AP rates of $49 per night at All Stars we found ourselves heading down every time David had vacation days. We got 41 park days off of one set of passes!!!! I think we figured we paid $6something per day that year in tickets
These days we go less often (have to buy airfare, like the crusie, etc.) and find the newer plans (for those without a DVC membership) are cheaper for us (LOVE it when they offer FREE dining plan).

Erik and Kelly we absolutely got our money out of the DDE. True it is not good everywhere--but it is good ALMOST everywhere--much more so than the regular AP discount (plus a bigger discount). Erik, unless things have changed you can use it for your party of 6 or less so you'll be saving on your parents' meals also.

 

[tig82174]

Chris--many people who are not local to Florida get anual passes. When we lived in Michigan we had one every other year (3 total). Back then an AP was the same price as 8 days of tickets. So, we got them with the idea that we could go one week a year, but plan them only 51 weeks apart and basically only pay for tickets once. Of course, once we had them in hand, and we could drive to Disney (just barely doable from Detroit in my opinion) and they would routinely offer AP rates of $49 per night at All Stars we found ourselves heading down every time David had vacation days. We got 41 park days off of one set of passes!!!! I think we figured we paid $6something per day that year in tickets
These days we go less often (have to buy airfare, like the crusie, etc.) and find the newer plans (for those without a DVC membership) are cheaper for us (LOVE it when they offer FREE dining plan).

Erik and Kelly we absolutely got our money out of the DDE. True it is not good everywhere--but it is good ALMOST everywhere--much more so than the regular AP discount (plus a bigger discount). Erik, unless things have changed you can use it for your party of 6 or less so you'll be saving on your parents' meals also.

How much does the DDE cost? And you have to be an Annual Pass holder to get it right? And would Jason and I both have to get it? Or just Jason (he pays all our bills while we're on the trip...like the hotel tab, food, souvenirs, etc.)? And can we get the discount on my parents' food if they eat at our table even if they pay for their own food? I doubt my parents will have or bring much in the way of cash to pay for meals and will, instead, charge it....so if Jason charges our 2 meals and my dad charges THEIR two meals....can we still get a discount on all 4 meals? Or does Jason have to put all 4 meals onto OUR room charge? (which wouldn't be impossible to work out, honestly....we'd just have to figure it out with my parents).


Erik

 

[nanaguide]

Erik - yes, you have to be an annual passholder or a resident of Florida. They issue 1 primary card and 1 spouse/partner card for an additional $25. I use to get the spouse card but my husband always pays so I don't get it anymore. Last time we used it my brother paid with his credit card and we used the pass to get the discount and they didn't say anything. I'm not sure what they would say if you gave them 2 credit cards. It would probably work better if your parents could just give you a check for all their meals at the end. That is what we do when we have guests and we always get the discount for them. If you want more information you can call Disney Dining Experience at 407-566-5858. The 3 ladies in the office are very helpful, especially Marcia. They don't honor the cards for holidays but as far as I know every sit down restaurant honors them except for the Chef's Table at Victoria and Alberts. We eat at Disney a lot. Our favorite is Le Cellier at Canada - the cheese soup is fantastic so is the filet and salmon. You will definitely want to eat at AK's Boma while you are at the Lodge. The brunch and dinner are excellent. Different offerings but very tasty!

 

[txaggie94gigem]

Where did you get the camera? Is it digital? I am looking for a camera for my 5 year old GS.

i go tthe camera at best buy...they had them in little mermaid, cars, pirate...they are all digital...th eone for $19.99 takes about 40 pics but won't take any addl card for more memory and no flash...we splurged for the $49.99 one with a little zoom, flash, and stores about 200pics...but the software is what we really bought the camera for....look at best buy online for pics and more info....

The most amazing thing has happend for my DH and I. We have been thinking about adopting for sometime and last summer we signed up with an organization that helps couples do just that.

We just got a call two days ago that a birthmother has chosen us!
The due date looks like it will hit around May 20th. Within the next 8 days if the adoption looks like it will proceed we will have to cancel our cruise.

After a year of planning its hard to turn off the excitement for this vacation, but we are just thrilled with having a baby!
What is the youngest anyone has taken a child on a cruise? (thinking ahead to summer 08!

Congrats! I work labor and delivery and I love seeing the look on adoptive parent's faces when they see their new baby...lots of people come to OK because our adoption laws are so strict. I wish you all the best and enjoy having a little one!

I did a bunch of research on this and here is what I found out:

1 - No matter what kind of cell phone sim card you have they won't work in the middle of the ocean. No cell towers = no service.

2 - If you have a satellite phone (and the prices are enough to scare the pants off of you just to rent one) you will have phone service because it is satellite based, not cell tower based.

3 - The Canary Islands are part of Spain for a couple of services I looked up.

I actually did a cost analysis (anal retentive blood sucking bean counter) and it was actually CHEAPER to do $75 worth of internet on DCL and then buy two $25 phone cards (total of $50) for a total of $125, than do JUST cell service or a satellite phone because of the cost of the cards/rates/phone rentals. And on the phone cards we did factor is a hit of 30 minutes everytime we used a payphone (highest rate charged) to call home. We figure we will call one kid and have them conference in the other kid and we can all talk at once. Of course we are all rather geeky so YMMV.

Laura

what kind of phone card do you get? where do you buy them???

Hey so this is totally off topic...but because so many people seemed so interested and supportive of the cheerleading squad for whom I'm the tumbling coach recently winning their national championship competition, I thought I'd share this. Here is a link to a youtube video that one of my girls' father taped with his cameraphone (they wouldn't allow videocameras into the competition apparently)...it's not super great quality and the crowd is screaming so loud you can't hear my girls' music but you can at least see their routine...and in particular the entire opening gymnastics/tumbling segment for which I'm taking credit lmao: ) because I helped make up that piece in terms of what tumbling shoudl go where and I taught half those girls to even DO that tumbling!!

Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkN7_oGvThk

Enjoy if your'e a cheerleading fan ...ignore if you're not!





Erik

Fantastic Erik!!! My DD5 Amy has taken gymnastics for 2 years and still can't do a cartwheel. Can we arrange a private lesson onboard? I bet Kelly's Zoe would join in too.

Kathy

Thanks for the good vibes around my girls (and my one girls screaming dad in the background! )

Of course I'll teach some cartwheels and things onboard...you'll just have to sign a waiver and hope for calm seas!! hehehe Seriously though...last cruise I did cartwheels and walked on my hands on deck for someone....if the mood strikes I'd do it again!

I'm surprised that Rio hasn't ever focused on tumbling as a dancer! More and more tumbling has become a big part of dancing....my gym actually does a lot of "specialized" gymnastics...we do regular gymnastics with all the events...but we also have an entire class of tumblers who are there to learn "dance gymnastics"---meaning they focus exclusively on things like cartwheels and aerials and back handspring stepouts and walk-overs and things....and our very LARGE cheerleading tumbling program where they spend all their time on backhandsprings and back tucks really....we even have a trampoline tumbling program where they spend the entire time training on the trampoline and never touch anything else---that class is usually full of skateboarders, bikers, skiers...those "X-sports" types who want to learn how to flip around like a monkey! (I always used to think of that when we'd watch the "Tarzan Rocks" show with all the flipping monkeys on rollerblades in Animal Kingdom...*sigh*....I mourn that show because it was delightful!)


Erik

we will probably take you up on this too....my little girl loves gymnastics but can't do a cartwheel either....i'm sure anything would break up a sea day for them! and of course afterwards you would have a DOD on me....!

Another thing to remember.........my bank teller reminded me to call the bank a few days before we go so that they will honor our ATM card while we are out of the country. I had remembered about the Visa cards but not the ATM.

Yeah, I know we'll need to get money on our Med. cruise, I just got some for the stops with Disney! I can't wait to go to Gibraltar!

I got nervous and phoned DCL agtain to make sure they knew we were getting off the morning we arrive in Barcelona and she said it was on our reservation, but I should speak to the purser to get the details about luggage, transport to the airport, flight time, etc. I hope they don't show the POC3 t he last night! We won't be there!

I am just now trying to price everything out for the places where we are paying for everything ourselves...wow it is getting expensive! i am still trying to decide how much to get...i was glad to see BOA can get the Gibraltar Pound...i bet my bank can get it too....i will have ot compare rates....

 

[txaggie94gigem]

ATTN ALL WB 2008 PANAMA CANAL CRUISERS!!!!

i want us to have a mini meet sometime on this cruise...please pm me with your name and stateroom so i can organize this...i think it will be fun to meet some other future cruisers!!!

 

[Juergen]

I am just now trying to price everything out for the places where we are paying for everything ourselves...wow it is getting expensive! i am still trying to decide how much to get...i was glad to see BOA can get the Gibraltar Pound...i bet my bank can get it too....i will have ot compare rates....[/QUOTE]

Hi there
you don't need Gibraltar Pounds for the one day You can pay every where in Gibraltar with Euro or your credit card.
I would recomend to get your euros in the first european port ( Teneriffa) just simple on a ATM with your credit card. The exange rate on the ship is in most cases very bad.

have a nice day
Juergen

 

[tazzmacd]

Gilbraltar pound? Is that different then the British pound or one in the same?

 

[gydell]

BOB AND LEE - I want to exchange money here because it will take me awhile to figure out what is what. I'm a little slow at learning what is what with different currency!!!

 

[NoWorriesMate]

Elderfam: congratulations on the new baby. oh and Lilly was 6mths when we first took her on the Magic and she loved it.

Erik: those kids are amazing - we don't realy have cheerleading in australia so i had no idea it was so involved.

michelle

 

[NHdisneylover]

Gilbraltar pound? Is that different then the British pound or one in the same?

I was told it was the same as the British pound--but I haven't really researched it.

Jeurgen--Thanks for pointing out that Euros will be taken in Gibraltar. I have also been told this, however I was also told the shops, etc. there give a terrible exchange rate so I did want to get some pounds ahead of time.

 

[mom_rules]

Change money, Man I have to change to US, GBP and Euro's. It is going to be rather confusing to carry around that many different traveller cheques or even cash. For the most part I think we will bring just a few hundred of each and lock it in the safe then the rest of the buying will be on the credit card. Safer that way I think.

Scoobypop, don't worry about the weather, we can talk later this summer when we are just comfortable and you can't go outside becuase it is too hot We both have our ups and downs......

Cheers!!

Pat

We're in the same boat-I'm peeved that credit cards and some bank cards charge a 2.5% fee on top of the current exchange.
We'll take some of each currency and get more on the ship if we need to.

 

[mom_rules]

Gibraltar pounds-hope this helps:

http://www.answers.com/topic/gibraltar-pound

 

[Juergen]

Gibraltar Pound has the same excange rate as the Britisch Pound just the desing of the notes and coins are differend.
Last time we visited Gibraltar we paid with euro and the rate was o.k.

Juergen

 

[milestogo]

Goodmorning all,
Why wouldn't the Repo cruisers get the DVD? We are sailing to the Med. After watching the DVD, it would pertain to the Repo cruisers, too. Cadiz is in the Med. and Gilbraltor is known as the gateway to the Med.
Good question, Jennifer, how hard would it have been to add Tenerife, Cadiz and Gibraltar. Maybe there is another one coming for repo’rs.

Thanks for the schedule Debbie. It was driving me crazy trying to find it as we did a very detailed master planner yesterday.


Yes yes...I "forced" Kelly to buy an annual pass. (As you might imagine...it was very hard to convince her.....I almost had to suggest it twice! .....just watch, next she'll be blaming me for "having to" eat in Palo onboard...poor dear!
Next thing you know I’ll be paying for massages!


Cupcake: very, very, very helpful links and info. Thank you so much. I do exactly that – sit down and calculate where and how much and is it worth it. We just did that last week with our annual passes at DL.

Hadley, Funny how much things have changed since you first started getting the passes. Also, Jonathan went to UNH and wants to know where you live? You can pm me if you don’t want to post.

Pat, will send that out!

Erik, as of yesterday it was $65 for the DDE (passholders only), it was good for up to 9 people in your party, only one person needs to have it.

 

[tig82174]

Well lots of good info in the past 12 hours on here!

Good to know about the Euro being pretty widely accepted in Gibraltar...just makes life easier! Jason and I will likely not do very much shopping (we never really do) so now we'll just buy a few hundred dollars worth of Euros before we leave on the trip and use that and our credit card(s).

Good info on the DDE. Jason and I will take a look and make a decision this week about buying it before we get there on May 4th....I am certain that it would be worthwhile for he and I at least because we're going to be there for 8 full days and we haven't planned ANY days out of the resort....so lunch and dinner, at least, will be eaten in on World property....we're bound to make our money's worth back in that time frame. (Does anyone know if there is any kind of discount offered on the Fantasmic meal with DDE? Or no? Because that is one meal we know for certain we're taking my parents to)

Also...I think I'm gioing to have to call DCL and tell them to buy us some mats and become the unofficial castmember gymnastics coach aboard!!!


Erik