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

[seaulater]

My Ninja TA just told me something interesting about clearing customs:

Here’s an important tidbit of information … on your return flight home, you will have to claim your checked luggage in Atlanta, clear customs, and then recheck your luggage through to Santa Ana.

This means that what ever your first USA landing is to change planes you will need to go claim your luggage and clear customs!! I knew I would have to do it, but assumed it would be in Santa Ana (home), not in Atlanta where we change planes!! Oye Vey!!!!

I've had to clear customs through Atlanta, and its' not that bad. You pick up your luggage, go through customs, and right when you exit customs, the luggage check-in is right there and they help you throw your bags back on and ta-da off you go to your new gate. I remember walking down some back hallways like a maze to get to the open area to catch our train shuttle to the new gate.

Wasn't bad at all.

 

[seaulater]

Aunty Brat: yes, we have to do the same thing in Newark, but we weren't lucky enough to go to SNA (6 min. from our house) we go to LAX.

Eric, I've been meaning to ask you for quite some time now if you have seen Ave. Q? We are dying to see it. It was in LV and I'm not sure if its there anymore???? LV guys????

I'll check with All Star, but I'll bet the discounts don't.

does anyone know if there is a location in Downtown Disney to log on?

No place that I know of in Downtown Disney to log on. I have known some people who take their wireless and they drive around until they get a "connection" near one of the hotels by DD. So if you have a wireless connection, you could probably do that!

Also, I put in for the lottery one night while I was in New York for front row seats at Avenue Q. I won and got a front row seat for $25. I have to say, it was very adult oriented (do NOT take kids), but it was hysterical! I loved it.

 

[Michelle2]

I've had to clear customs through Atlanta, and its' not that bad. You pick up your luggage, go through customs, and right when you exit customs, the luggage check-in is right there and they help you throw your bags back on and ta-da off you go to your new gate. I remember walking down some back hallways like a maze to get to the open area to catch our train shuttle to the new gate.

Wasn't bad at all.

I've been through customs in Atlanta as well. I was all by myself, and it was easy. They let you use the big luggage carts for free during that transition until you check them back in again.

 

[Kissimmee]

I have to go teach my classes in the Med School.

You teach Med classes? Kool .. Who knew there was a whole school devoted to the Mediterranean? What's the best Rome tour?

 

[AuntyBrat]

Aunty Brat: yes, we have to do the same thing in Newark, but we weren't lucky enough to go to SNA (6 min. from our house) we go to LAX.

Eric, I've been meaning to ask you for quite some time now if you have seen Ave. Q? We are dying to see it. It was in LV and I'm not sure if its there anymore???? LV guys????

I'll check with All Star, but I'll bet the discounts don't.

does anyone know if there is a location in Downtown Disney to log on?

We have done Verizon wireless in DTD at Catal in their outside restaurant area. If you want to use the hotels free network, try going into the lobby of the Grand Californian. You can access it by going through the walkway between Sephora and LibbyLu. There is also a patio area there that "might" have free access too.

 

[pooh & tinker]

Mail just came. Disney is thrilled that we are all joining them on their incredible Transatlantic voyage. So they are sending us all some handy keepsakes to get us ready for all the magic. They are special __________.
Don't want to ruin the surprise for you. Check your mailboxes
Disney can't wait to share this amazing adventure with all of us.


Nanaguide.. I got mine too! Cant reveal the secret but they are proudly displayed.

Well got my suprise yesterday in the mail... but called DCL no news on the flight info for us. They said to go on-line to DCL it would be posted there.

 

[hopemax]

Got our flight information.

We're on the 12:10 PM US Airways flight out of Barcelona to Philadelphia. Then a 5:50 PM flight to Orlando, arriving at 8:10 PM.

Which should be early enough to get a good night sleep, and then have a full Sunday playing at the parks before heading back to Phoenix on Monday. I've never been to Flower & Garden and DH hasn't ridden on Everest yet, so that is our plan of attack.

So does anyone know the customs setup in Philly? When I did some investigating before, I fgiured the two flights they would put us on were the Atlanta flight Aunty Brat got and the Philly flight we got. I didn't know which one I would prefer. I figured Atlanta would be easier, but with Delta's problems... At least with US Airways we already have a good chuck of FF miles from America West, but all I've ever heard is horror stories from the Philly airport.

 

[Kissimmee]

Banner making party and BBQ All are welcome

Details are here

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1401823

 

[Scoobypop]

Aunty Brat: yes, we have to do the same thing in Newark, but we weren't lucky enough to go to SNA (6 min. from our house) we go to LAX.

Eric, I've been meaning to ask you for quite some time now if you have seen Ave. Q? We are dying to see it. It was in LV and I'm not sure if its there anymore???? LV guys????

I'll check with All Star, but I'll bet the discounts don't.

does anyone know if there is a location in Downtown Disney to log on?

Avenue Q has closed, it was at the Wynn hotel when it first opened 2 years ago, and it closed sometime last year. Spamalot is now playing in that theatre, with John O'Hurley.

Of course we'll take you up on meeting for dinner if the Christmas trip happens!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Customs--everyone flying back to the US will go through customs (including getting your luggage and the "rechecking" at the first US Airport thay land in. Here is a snag I saw many people get caught with when the kids and I returned from our most recent trip to Puerto Vallarta: Many people purcahsed perfume, alcohol, etc at the duty free shops after check in. These become carry ons. When you land at your first stop in the US and get your luggage you will have to go back through a sercuity line (makes sense if you think about they have to be sure you did not remove an item from your checked bags that can not be carried on--such as a knife). YOU CANNOT TAKE THOSE LIQUIDS THROUGH SECURITY. So, if you want to buy a duty free item at the airport before heading home, be sure you can fit it in your lugage when you have it as you will have to check it for your US leg. We saw hundreds of $$$ of abonded rum, tequila and perfume at that US security check (and many irrate people).

Mail--still no treat from DCL in the mail here

Erik--Did you, Jason, Chris and RObert request a certain rotation? We would love to call DCL and make sure we are in the same dining local as you four--dinner entertainmnet at its finest!

Milestogo--Usually takes us longer to get your weather all the way over here on the East coast, but it is dreadfully windy today. YUCK.

I can't remember now who was looking for interent access at the All Stars. We were last there in September at which point there was still not any (other than trying for dial-up: not a good idea). I think all of the monorail hotels have it. You could take your laptop to them and hang in the lobby and then enjoy dinner at a Chef Mickeys, Ohana, etc.

 

[gydell]

I checked my dining time and got 6 pm. I then checked my PC dining time and got 6pm. I think it just means early dining since that when early dining used to be because I do not think they have already assigned May '08.

 

[misseulalie]

I'm game but the when is an issue.. How does May 5th sound? Saturday before we leave?

You can preview what we have to offer here (note Geocities limits the bandwidth on an hourly basis so if it does not work try again in an hour.)

http://www.geocities.com/kissimmee_family

Not gonna work for me, We are having DD's birthday that day. (actaul party is 5/10)
But, if everyone else can do it that day, then go right ahead, don't let me get in y'all's way!!!

 

[AuntyBrat]

Well got my suprise yesterday in the mail... but called DCL no news on the flight info for us. They said to go on-line to DCL it would be posted there.

Ok, You need to call DCL back if it is NOT on your 'Online Check In' page. Mine STILL is not on there, but the DCL rep I got yesterday got it for me and emailed it to me, along with a link where I could look at it online on another website (why a different website, I don't know)!!

If they give you the business, ask for a supervisor.

 

[Kissimmee]

Not gonna work for me, We are having DD's birthday that day. (actaul party is 5/10)
But, if everyone else can do it that day, then go right ahead, don't let me get in y'all's way!!!

Looks like it will be April 28th. Is that better?

 

[padalyn]

The ship must be REALLY empty then. Man oh Man. I wonder how many dining rooms they will use at once (fill only one or two or have three only partly full?). Or, did they give some other reason to for going back to the only one dining time? Please tell, what did they say? Obviously I am overly concerned about this.

Hadley - I did email both my reservations - they show 6pm. We were told we had 6:30 by the TA. I don't really think it is that big a deal - once you meet your servers you can tell them you want to arrive a little late and they will serve the rest of the table. If the whole table is arriving a little late they should not be too upset about it. You will just be a bit behind the rest of the room.

What time are you wanting to eat?

Do you have a diabetic or hypoglycemic that eats on a schedule?

I was on the Panama W/B cruise and the ship was not full -they didn't close a dining room - they just used fewer tables.

 

[padalyn]

Eric, I've been meaning to ask you for quite some time now if you have seen Ave. Q?

Go see it - it is soooooo funny!! not for kids...it is sesame street for grownups!!! We loved it!!

It is in NYC, and last year when I was in Vegas it was there also. Try their website, they may be touring!!

 

[padalyn]

No place that I know of in Downtown Disney to log on. I have known some people who take their wireless and they drive around until they get a "connection" near one of the hotels by DD. So if you have a wireless connection, you could probably do that!

Also, I put in for the lottery one night while I was in New York for front row seats at Avenue Q. I won and got a front row seat for $25. I have to say, it was very adult oriented (do NOT take kids), but it was hysterical! I loved it.

Not in Downtown, but the big MacDonalds that is inside the compound is WiFi hot and free. The hotels are all pay WiFi.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Hadley - I did email both my reservations - they show 6pm. We were told we had 6:30 by the TA. I don't really think it is that big a deal - once you meet your servers you can tell them you want to arrive a little late and they will serve the rest of the table. If the whole table is arriving a little late they should not be too upset about it. You will just be a bit behind the rest of the room.

What time are you wanting to eat?

Do you have a diabetic or hypoglycemic that eats on a schedule?

I was on the Panama W/B cruise and the ship was not full -they didn't close a dining room - they just used fewer tables.

No, we don't have any VALID reason for wanting to know. I just like to get the kids' schedules adjusted to as close as possible what the cruise will be before we leave so we don't waste any nights doing so once onboard.

 

[padalyn]

No, we don't have any VALID reason for wanting to know. I just like to get the kids' schedules adjusted to as close as possible what the cruise will be before we leave so we don't waste any nights doing so once onboard.

That is as valid a reason as any other

You live on the east coast - so it should not be too big a deal to shift your dinner a bit at home to match within about an hour of what time you have on the ship. Imagine if you lived in Calif - 3 hours + a shift

 

[milestogo]

OOPS, Laura, I think I called it the wrong thing... I meant Downtown disney in Orlando! I need to reorient my east coast Orlando names.

Man am I bummed that Ave. Q closed in LV, I keep waiting for the announcement here, but still nothing We love one of their offshoots Johnny and the sprites. Of course, we just now got Wicked (tkts in September 07)

Cayla, is the MacDonalds in the Orlando Downtown Disney - is that near the big Lego store? and what is downtown disney called there? Not in Downtown, but the big MacDonalds that is inside the compound is WiFi hot and free Can I buy my Pal Mickey there too?