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

[nanaguide]

Kelly, I think the Beach Club is fantastic. Our favorite is Wilderness Lodge but the Beach Club has by far the best pool of all the resorts. The rooms are really nice and we think the seafood buffet is excellent as is the character breakfast. It is a special treat for us to go to Beaches and Cream - the hamburgers are super and all their ice cream treats are to die for. We are staying at the AK in November for 2 nights (my brother is treating). We love both restaurants there - the buffet is excellent and Jiko's is one of the best. I've never stayed there before because it is so far, far away from everything plus you aren't that far from Hwy.192. When I'm on property I want to be surrounded by Disney. We'll see - you never turn down a "treat". Anna

 

[tig82174]

Ooh Anna....if there was even a chance for you to get us a seat on the Friday night show you would be my HERO!!! That actually makes my plans a little easier.....if I think there's even a CHANCE you can swing seats for that night, then I will buy tickets to the Magic Kingdom Christmas Party for Thursday night the 6th because the party is only happening on the 6th and 7th while we're there. So if we can get Thursday tickets to the party and then hope to see the Candlelight Processional on Friday then that would be killer!! I know it's not a sure thing...but it's certainly more than we've got now!

 

[gismo1554]

OOH...then you saw the REAL Elphaba---Idina Menzel. I know she originated the role in the London run, too (she was also the original on Broadway and won a Tony award for the role). It's too bad she didn't fly for your show in London....that is very powerful part of the show...but she's still amazing nonetheless. I had the pleasure of seeing her in the role 5 times in NYC. I've also seen Eden Espinosa, Shoshana Bean, Stephanie Block, Julia Murney and Kristy Cates play the role.....but Idina will always be Elphaba for me.

Yeah I did and she was fantastic! It was funny though having her preform with mainly a British cast. Bok was Scottish and Glinda was very proper English (awful with names) so the accent was a big contrast. Adam Garcia was playing Fiero and he was good too in it!

Planning on going and seeing the new girl in it later on in the year and fingers crossed she will fly. Heard that its only about 1 show a week that she doesn't fly in and because it was opening weekend they hadn't quite finished getting the bugs out of the system at that point which was why she didnt fly!

 

[Scott H]

Erik, If ya are going to be renting a car in ATL , just drive to MCO, avoid the airport hassel.

We missed Wicked in Denver, during our crossing, have tickets for Spamalot in a couple of weeks.

WDW in Oct/Nov, really ready. 13 K run at MGM. KEWL!!!

Wish we were there fro CHristmas, it is the bestest.

 

[tig82174]

Erik, If ya are going to be renting a car in ATL , just drive to MCO, avoid the airport hassel.

We missed Wicked in Denver, during our crossing, have tickets for Spamalot in a couple of weeks.

WDW in Oct/Nov, really ready. 13 K run at MGM. KEWL!!!

Wish we were there fro CHristmas, it is the bestest.

No, we will not have a car unfortunately....and besides we really hate driving. Using AirTran is a very quick and very cheap ($69) flight from ATL to MCO...plus Airtrain is one of hte airlines affiliated with Magical Express so they do all the luggage check in at teh resort and everythign which we found super convenient (even though the buses themselves we found to be a bit of a slow pain...but we'll manage).

 

[gismo1554]

Erik, If ya are going to be renting a car in ATL , just drive to MCO, avoid the airport hassel.

We missed Wicked in Denver, during our crossing, have tickets for Spamalot in a couple of weeks.

WDW in Oct/Nov, really ready. 13 K run at MGM. KEWL!!!

Wish we were there fro CHristmas, it is the bestest.

Spam Alot is meant to be fantastic. Have to let us know if its good.

 

[tig82174]

Spam Alot is meant to be fantastic. Have to let us know if its good.

Spamalot is very fun. I've seen it and really enjoyed it and I'm not even a huge Monty Python fan. I know that Chris (Scoobypop) isn't either...but on my advice he saw it a while back, too, and I think he told me that he enjoyed it as well and thought it was very fun.

 

[milestogo]

Just what we need more tourists here!

Well, we knew it was coming and now it's here. Since this is most likely the school that Zoe will go to, I'm praying it's all gone by the time she is there.


MTV has premiered a new series titled Newport Harbor High, shot on location right here in our little Shangri-La. Allie Stockton is the tall, beautiful blond in the series, daughter of Art Stockton who is the owner of Sejour in Newport Beach . A number of the scenes from the show have taken place there, and at his house and other places close by. Tune in, it’ll be the next big thing your cousins from Duluth (or wherever) will want to talk about….. on several times each week, consult your listings….. www.newportharbor.mtv.com

Man, Erik, if you don't like driving bring a good book on tape for you drive to Palm Springs, you're in for a long time on the road!!!!! BUT, I'm going to make sure you take the right roads and go at the right time and save you some hassle - email me the address of where you have to go to and I'll get you there the best way. AND You do get to stop at an excellent outlet mall (premium shops.)

Thanks, Anna. The other Anna (CACruisin) said the same thing, so I think that will be a go for Beach club.

 

[DizzneyDAnn]

Jim Brickman...I saw him on the WB, but wasn't very impressed, but of course I was sitting in the audience seething, because we had a big mix up and instead of sitting on a beach (late departure that night) I was watching Thumper. Grrr. I think he could've been the best pianist ever and that night I would've despised him.


Anna, I am kicking myself for not setting up a meeting with you in Orlando. We had 2 and a half days and 3 parks to do (Blitz tour for Scott's sister and Katey's boyfriend, both first-timers), and I got distracted with my tour guide responsibilities. Scott and I will be there sans family later this year. I hope you can forgive me and we can see each other then.

 

[tig82174]

Just what we need more tourists here!

Well, we knew it was coming and now it's here. Since this is most likely the school that Zoe will go to, I'm praying it's all gone by the time she is there.


MTV has premiered a new series titled Newport Harbor High, shot on location right here in our little Shangri-La. Allie Stockton is the tall, beautiful blond in the series, daughter of Art Stockton who is the owner of Sejour in Newport Beach . A number of the scenes from the show have taken place there, and at his house and other places close by. Tune in, it’ll be the next big thing your cousins from Duluth (or wherever) will want to talk about….. on several times each week, consult your listings….. www.newportharbor.mtv.com

Man, Erik, if you don't like driving bring a good book on tape for you drive to Palm Springs, you're in for a long time on the road!!!!! BUT, I'm going to make sure you take the right roads and go at the right time and save you some hassle - email me the address of where you have to go to and I'll get you there the best way. AND You do get to stop at an excellent outlet mall (premium shops.)

Thanks, Anna. The other Anna (CACruisin) said the same thing, so I think that will be a go for Beach club.

Really? Everyone told me it woudl be about a 90 minute drive. Besides, I'm gonna make Jason do the actual driving. I'm going to play iwth the radio and talk!!

Kelly, the Beach Club is lovely...and they have the best of all the pools. However, if you don't own at Beach Club it has been our experience that it is nearly impossible to get a reservation there...especially if you want to stay for more than a couple nights. I would argue that it's the single most popular of the resorts currently available...perhaps it will slow down a bit when Animal Kingdom Lodge starts to give it a run for its money!! I was literally talking to the DVC folks yesterday who advised me that if we ever want to stay in AKL Villas...at least in the first 3 years or so...that we should be doing day to day calls....like rather than wait til the 11 month window for your checkOUT day and then make a reservation for the full week prior to that day...instead you need to call at the 11 month window of your FIRST day of your anticipated trip and make a one night reservation, then call back first thing the next day and add a night and so on and so forth until you've booked your whole trip...which sounds like a HUGE pain in the a@# to me! ...but apparently he said it's very common and probably the only way to assure you'll be able to get a string of days in a row in one resort. He also said that he anticipates that people who don't own at AKL Villas and try to book there using the 7month villa can pretty much forget it until at LEAST 2009 and possibly even a year or 2 after that. YIPES!!

 

[Hoagie Pie]

Welcome home boys!

Glad you loved Wicked.....and you didn't wake us with your text, my phone was in the basement! Very cute video, too....oy that 80's hair!!!


So the exciting news of the day is this: Everyone knew I think that we are going to CA in November for a conference in Palm Springs and we are tying a long weekend at DisneyLand to that (first visit ever!!). Well, I am also going to a conference in Atlanta in December....so we are going to fly down a few days early and spend a long weekend there with Jason's sister who lives there.....but the conference ends on Wed., Dec. 5th and Atlanta is just WAY too close to Orlando to miss the chance....so we're going to fly down to WDW for another of our 4 night trips (check in Wed. afternoon and check out Sunday night). We're very excited because we'll get to see the Xmas festivities at the parks including all the happenings at Epcot with the Candlelight Processional (and Anna in the choir, right?!?!) and also the Xmas Party at Magic Kingdom!! We couldn't get into ANY of the DVC resorts b/c they were so booked up....so we had to use our points to stay in a Disney hotel...the choices were Port Orleans and Caribbean Beach, but we've stayed at Caribbean Beach a million times so we're staying Port Orleans Riverside cuz we've never been there. We're very excited....although they already warned us that there are NO bookings left for the dinner package for the Candlelight (like the Fantasmic package where you get dinner at an Epcot restaurant and then get priority seating at the Candlelight show). I will probably just keep calling and bugging them to see if anyone cancels or anything opens anyway....(unless any of you cast members have an IN and can get us a seating...which would ROCK!!!)...but regardless it'll be amazing, i'm sure!!

Eric - we were just talking about the Christmas lights and all the fun! We are there - just let me know and maybe Jerry can talk to one of his buddies too for the dinner and processional. I will keep you posted. We are going through a lot of packing sadness and our house is just a house now, no Disney pictures or DCL pictures hanging up. We are all sad, but know the end is in sight. 3 more weeks before the big move and we are off to Lakeland. Connie - we bought a house in Lakeland at Eaglebrook Preserve and would LOVE to see you. We miss everyone and look forward to the fun ahead after all the stress!

 

[nanaguide]

Erik - your plan sounds good to me. Do Magic Kingdom Party on Thursday.It is so much fun.You and Jason will love it. On Friday be sure to take in all the Christmas activities at each country at Epcot. They are so interesting. The celebrity narrator on the 7th is Monique Coleman. I don't know who she is .
The seats we get are for VIPs but if they don't use them all we can sometimes get our guests in so let's hope not many VIPs are around then. Of course you and Jason are VIPs - I just don't think Disney recognizes that fact. Anyway the other disboarder said he might be able to get you in also so now you have two people working for you. If neither pan out I would definitely stand in the stand-by line. You don't want to miss this show. Usually the stand-by line gets at least 3/4 of their line in for each performance. So you will have 3 chances. I'll PM you the week before. Here are some other things we always do here during the Christmas Season when we have company in case you want to do them. We go to Disney's Animal Kingdom in the morning ride the rides and see their Christmas parade. I am trying to get lunch reservations for the new Yak and Yeti Restaurant there. It is suppose to be really neat. So far they haven't opened up for reservations but they say it is the place to go. We head over in the afternoon to Disney's Hollywood Studios (new name - I'm having a hard time getting use to using it). We do our favorite rides then have dinner at the Brown Derby - Cobb Salad and grapefruit cake. We then take in the Osborne Light Show which has a zillion Christmas lights and drink Hot Chocolate - just because it is Christmas!!! After that we hop on the monorail or bus and hit all the resorts to see their beautiful decorations and what their culinary depts. have on display in the lobbies. You will be amazed at the beautiful Christmas creations they build. Each resort is so festive.The one other Christmas festivity we do is to take our grandson, Aiden, to Celebration. We have dinner at Columbia's (a Florida tradition) then let Aiden slide down main street while the soap snow is falling - that is the only snow he gets to see. I'll be in touch. Debbie, are you going to watch your favorite band all day on Thursday? What are your plans?

Scott and Lynn, did you read today that the Tower of Terror 6K and 13K are sold out. There are 5 of us getting together with our glow-in-the-dark shirts to do the rides afterwards together. You two are more than welcome to join our group - the more the merrier. We are going to meet at the gas station(stroller place). The parks are all decorated for Halloween so you'll be here at a good festive time. The new refurbished Haunted Mansion opened today so we plan to take Aiden on Sunday. They say it is really good. The wine and food festival is going to be great this year - they are so busy in our office getting ready for it - only 2 weeks till it opens. The decorations are nice. They are using Wonders Pavillion for the wine tasting and seminars.

Kelly and Jennifer, I bought a new outfit today (a hat) for our tea date in December. I just couldn't resist. Are the girls dressing as princesses? I hope we can make the afternoon special for them. Do they have a favorite princess?

 

[jw2736]

Looks like many of you are coming into town soon. It would be great to see everyone! Ill be working day shift (finally) and would love to meet up.

Erik, Ill check with some of my inside sources and see if a dinner package can be found for the 7th. Do you have a preference for dinner? Or at this point dont care as along as you get in?

Sherry and I are planning to go to MVMCP, but maybe we all can go on 12-6? By then Darrell and Sandi will be here and hopefully settled in enough.

 

[gismo1554]

Spamalot is very fun. I've seen it and really enjoyed it and I'm not even a huge Monty Python fan. I know that Chris (Scoobypop) isn't either...but on my advice he saw it a while back, too, and I think he told me that he enjoyed it as well and thought it was very fun.

Cool. Might go see that when I go see Wicked later in year. Like Monty Python but was worried it might not be very funny as sometimes things aren't when they get changed to the stage.

 

[Scott H]

Erik - your plan sounds good to me. Do Magic Kingdom Party on Thursday.It is so much fun.You and Jason will love it. On Friday be sure to take in all the Christmas activities at each country at Epcot. They are so interesting. The celebrity narrator on the 7th is Monique Coleman. I don't know who she is .
The seats we get are for VIPs but if they don't use them all we can sometimes get our guests in so let's hope not many VIPs are around then. Of course you and Jason are VIPs - I just don't think Disney recognizes that fact. Anyway the other disboarder said he might be able to get you in also so now you have two people working for you. If neither pan out I would definitely stand in the stand-by line. You don't want to miss this show. Usually the stand-by line gets at least 3/4 of their line in for each performance. So you will have 3 chances. I'll PM you the week before. Here are some other things we always do here during the Christmas Season when we have company in case you want to do them. We go to Disney's Animal Kingdom in the morning ride the rides and see their Christmas parade. I am trying to get lunch reservations for the new Yak and Yeti Restaurant there. It is suppose to be really neat. So far they haven't opened up for reservations but they say it is the place to go. We head over in the afternoon to Disney's Hollywood Studios (new name - I'm having a hard time getting use to using it). We do our favorite rides then have dinner at the Brown Derby - Cobb Salad and grapefruit cake. We then take in the Osborne Light Show which has a zillion Christmas lights and drink Hot Chocolate - just because it is Christmas!!! After that we hop on the monorail or bus and hit all the resorts to see their beautiful decorations and what their culinary depts. have on display in the lobbies. You will be amazed at the beautiful Christmas creations they build. Each resort is so festive.The one other Christmas festivity we do is to take our grandson, Aiden, to Celebration. We have dinner at Columbia's (a Florida tradition) then let Aiden slide down main street while the soap snow is falling - that is the only snow he gets to see. I'll be in touch. Debbie, are you going to watch your favorite band all day on Thursday? What are your plans?

Scott and Lynn, did you read today that the Tower of Terror 6K and 13K are sold out. There are 5 of us getting together with our glow-in-the-dark shirts to do the rides afterwards together. You two are more than welcome to join our group - the more the merrier. We are going to meet at the gas station(stroller place). The parks are all decorated for Halloween so you'll be here at a good festive time. The new refurbished Haunted Mansion opened today so we plan to take Aiden on Sunday. They say it is really good. The wine and food festival is going to be great this year - they are so busy in our office getting ready for it - only 2 weeks till it opens. The decorations are nice. They are using Wonders Pavillion for the wine tasting and seminars.

Kelly and Jennifer, I bought a new outfit today (a hat) for our tea date in December. I just couldn't resist. Are the girls dressing as princesses? I hope we can make the afternoon special for them. Do they have a favorite princess?

Yep we have our pins ordered. Our plan is to get a locker and put some dry clothes in it prior to the race, so that is right next to the gas station. I will give ya my cell # as it gets closer. It is so nice of Disney to start my week long birthday celebration with the race. LOL

Always enjoy food and wine.

Check out this site disneyrunning.com some good info there.

Keep training kiddies.

 

[milestogo]

Excellent information Eric and Anna!

So, I won't get my heart set on getting into the Beach Club, but will give it a try early on the first available morning.

We will follow your plan, Anna, for the holidays. And yes, I'm planning on bringing a princess dress for the tea, but we are only bringing one bag for the week, so I may be wearing my rags while Zoe is wearing a crown!

It's so funny that we don't even have the candle light processional dates available to us yet. And we can't book Thanksgiving dinner for another week. And, we def. need to have a night time tower of terror run. That is where our Halloweentime takes place, so that may be why we don't have it.

 

[tig82174]

Looks like many of you are coming into town soon. It would be great to see everyone! Ill be working day shift (finally) and would love to meet up.

Erik, Ill check with some of my inside sources and see if a dinner package can be found for the 7th. Do you have a preference for dinner? Or at this point dont care as along as you get in?

Sherry and I are planning to go to MVMCP, but maybe we all can go on 12-6? By then Darrell and Sandi will be here and hopefully settled in enough.

DIS MEMBERS ROCK!!!!!!!

Ok If I didn't already love all you guys just from cruising...I absolutely definitely love you all now!! I'm so humbled and thrilled and amazed and touched by everyone who has jumped in and said, "Erik & Jason...we'll help you try to get into the processional for your first trip ever to the World during the holidays!"

Honestly....I'd probably eat gruell at this point if I had to to get a dinner package seat...even if I could only get a reservation at a restaurant whose food I didn't really like...I'd just eat a salad or something to get my seats, then grab a hot dog and a churro in the park! If there were actually OPTIONS presented to me, however, in terms of restaurant options in Epcot:

We really like the San Angel Inn (Mexico) and are usually OK with Nine Dragons (China), too. We've always wanted to try Teppenyaki (Japan) and the Garden Grill (the Land)...and Hadley convinced me just last week that we should try Le Cellier (Canada), too because they have good chicken and amazing Pretzel Bread. I definitely realize that in this case I'm a beggar....and as you know, they say we can't be choosers, too!! So we'd definitely take whatever we can get...but those are our favorite restaurants.

With a number of you looking to try to help us out...my hopes are slightly raised that we might get something worked out. If not, then it still means a lot to us that you all tried! Obviously, too, if anyone is able to hook us up I'll let everyone know immediately!

 

[nanaguide]

Deanna, I just read your post from yesterday. I too was sorry I didn't get to see you. I knew you would be busy with family and friends. I kept looking for you when I was in the Parks. Next time you are at Mickey's place maybe we can get together and do lunch. Just let me know when you'll be in town.

Erik, if someone can get you a dinner package - grab it!!! I hear this year they are hard to get. I am just a "peon" at Disney and I don't have that kind of pull - only wish I did. I know you and Jason are going to have a magical time here in December. You will definitely leave with the Christmas spirit. Yes, Hadley didn't steer you wrong. Le Cellier is the BEST in Epcot. The soup and salmon are fantastic. It takes months and months to get in that place.

Ken must be on his way. He has worked hard to raise money for the arthritis foundation.. I know our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go with him for a safe, fun, and "kewl" ride.
We'll be anxious to hear all the details when he finishes.

 

[tig82174]

Oh...and Monique Coleman, the narrator for the processional the night we're going to be there, is one of the stars of High School Musical and was also a contestant on Dancing with the Stars 2 seasons ago!

 

[kpros]

Ken must be on his way. He has worked hard to raise money for the arthritis foundation.. I know our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go with him for a safe, fun, and "kewl" ride.
We'll be anxious to hear all the details when he finishes.

Hi Anna

I'm still in training for another 2 weeks. But thanks for the good wishes, I'm ready to go now and get it done.

Ken