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

[videogal1]

Are you doing the crossing solo? If so, you are more than welcome to join us for anything you'd like. Kelly

I underlstand the group Surial is booking fast.....

 

[tig82174]

Hey all...I"m back from a week in Dallas, TX...and no offense to anyone who lives down there, but it was like being placed in a ceramics kiln!! Oy, the heat!!!

Anyhow....aw! Padalyn is flying solo for the cruise crossing?! Well you are of course more than welcome to 3rd wheel on me and Jason, too! What stateroom are you in? Get one near us and we'll have slumber parties every night! (I'm gonna get milestogo in the cabin below me so the creak in my floor will be banging over her head...hehehehe ).

I know there will be several of us onboard, too, Padalyn but I want more of us on this group! You'll see this group is tons and tons of fun....since I joined I give Jason daily updates on the musings of the disboards (which he affectionately calls the discult )!



How many people are going to the World before taking the cruise? I know Jason and I are going for almost the full week before the cruise...we plan to check into either our home resort (Saratoga Springs) or the Animal Kingdom Lodge on Sunday the 6th of May I think. If lots of people think they're going to be in the World before the cruise maybe we can even do an informal pre-cruise meet and greet there...like a dinner or something?!

(and for the record I'm soooooojealous of people who get to do TWO cruises back to back....while we're on that long (EXPENSIVE!!!) flight back from Barcelona you'll all be floating in the Mediterranean!)

Erik

 

[tig82174]

I underlstand the group Surial is booking fast.....

LOL

Is that that "smear yourself and anyone else you took into that little tiled steamroom with colored mud" thing they do in the spa? What a hoot!! We did that once....but give me couples cabana massages at Castaway Cay ANYDAY!!!!!

 

[milestogo]

(I'm gonna get milestogo in the cabin below me so the creak in my floor will be banging over her head...hehehehe

HMMMM, now that may be like a comfort sound to us, maybe we won't bring the sound machine! DH is cracking up!!

Erik, Use your DVC points on the second cruise and go to the value resort with us. We really want our first trip to be at OKW, but we used all of our points on the first cruise, then paid cash for the second. We figured since we didn't know the difference just yet and our DD4 will be thrilled with the big statues we'd go there this time.

We've been very carefully booking our lecture tour so that not too many clients know that we are going on such an elaborate vacation, we're lucky though... we can just say, "that date isn't available." So, I think we will be at WDW for almost a week too. I'd love it if we could do precruise events. We're planning to focus much of our time at AK this time because the last two times we were there it rained the whole darned time on us and we hardly saw anything, no parades, no shows etc.

I just spoke to DVC about DLP too, but we'd have to buy more points to get there. It's about $550 pp cheaper to fly out of Paris to LAX, so it may be worth the money!

 

[tig82174]

Erik, Use your DVC points on the second cruise and go to the value resort with us. We really want our first trip to be at OKW, but we used all of our points on the first cruise, then paid cash for the second. We figured since we didn't know the difference just yet and our DD4 will be thrilled with the big statues we'd go there this time.

Actually.....the cost of the points isn't the consideration...how much time off we have in a single calendar year is the issue.....we don't get enough to do a second cruise....in fact, we won't be able to take ANY other vacations in 2007 because this one will take so much time....so we already KNOW that we're going to be at the world for a week so now the dilemma is that we have to spend anywhere between 200 and 400 DVC points....so we decided we could "splurge" and use them at AKL because it's one of the pricier resorts we might not usually stay in....besides as you know I'm an AK addict so it suits me well!

 

[Scott H]

I know it is early but Lynn and I will host a Wine and Cheese meet and greet the late afternoon on the day befopre we cruise at what ever DVC resort we are staying at.

Done it before and will enjoy doing it again.

So there we have one thing planned yeah!!!!! Detail to follow.

 

[milestogo]

Scott & Lynn,
That is such a very nice idea, thank you for doing this. How easy or difficult is it to bring some California wine with us on the plane? Do we hand carry it?

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

Many of us brought wine for the cruise last year. I think I packed mine in a mailing tube (which I then used to carry home the Litho they gave us) and packed it in my checked bags. It made it through safely

We had a great time at the pre-meet at Scott and Lynn's We fit alot of folks in that 1 BR at SSR!

I have survived the first day of the yard sale (can not even call it a garage sale as it would never all fit in there!) Slow going today as our city will not let you put signs on poles!!! Tomorrow may be better as more people will have seen the ad in the paper. Saturday I will put more signs up as the city workers do not work on Saturday to take them down.

One man's junk is anothers shore excursion

Debbie

 

[seaulater]

Actually.....the cost of the points isn't the consideration...how much time off we have in a single calendar year is the issue.....we don't get enough to do a second cruise....in fact, we won't be able to take ANY other vacations in 2007 because this one will take so much time....so we already KNOW that we're going to be at the world for a week so now the dilemma is that we have to spend anywhere between 200 and 400 DVC points....so we decided we could "splurge" and use them at AKL because it's one of the pricier resorts we might not usually stay in....besides as you know I'm an AK addict so it suits me well!

I have the vacation time, I just can't be gone in one lump like that. I guess people want to get paid and all that stuff and they don't want to wait three weeks+ while I am gone. Don't they know that DCL is more important?

 

[mom_rules]

Looks like we are getting quite the "crew"-so glad to know!

BTW has anyone priced flights home? What time would you suggest booking your home flight from Barcelona airport?

Anyone have an idea of how far from the cruise terminal to the airport?

 

[padalyn]

WOW! this is starting to sound like a great group!!

ok - the wine & chesse thing sounds really good! I plan on arriving on the 11th sometime.

Taking wine has not been an issue for me on DCL, I like the shipping tube idea - I just put it in carry on and go through with it usually. To get it to WDW I suggest carrying it. The airlines really toss luggage around.

I am not flying solo on the crossing - my "mother in law" and I are traveling together - she is an early evening person...so the nights will be all mine! I am on deck 6 somewhere...not completely sure what the cabin number is off hand.

I am very lucky - the amount of time I have to take off is no-where near the amount of vacation time I get per year (8 weeks!). The cost is more the issue. I have put my deposit down in cash - I wonder if I can change to points...any ideas? I am using a TA with other people and I am unsure of what the deal would be.

Airfare...now that is an issue - so far the fares have not posted that far out. I took a look at March 2007. I found that flying from EWR (Liberty in Newark, NJ) would cost about 1400 one way - JFK (NYC) is about 400. for that kind of difference - I will limo out of NYC! (the limo runs about 110 one way to my place in NJ). The airfare from Paris to EWR went through Barcelona - so I tried a hopper fare round trip Barcelona to Paris and retuen - that ran about 50.00 USD. The single booking (paris to EWR) was over 1600. this is amazing...I see JFK in my future!

Enough babble...

Padalyn

 

[Scott H]

Our Pleasure to do the wine and cheese meet. We provide the cheese, munchies, etc etc and some wine, others bring a bottle or two of their favorite. So it is a semi BYOB.

RE Airfare: Might look into a round trip and not do the return.

Back to packing, Debbie are you sure you don't want to come out here to WY and do a Sale for us?

 

[CACruisin']

Scott how wonderful of you to host the wine and cheese meet. Thank you! We are not flying in until the 11th unfortunately, and had planned on staying near the port. Maybe we should rethink ....

 

[tig82174]

Padalyn----

Did you really find a flight one way from Barcelona to JFK for $400? I looked a while back and did the same thing....just tried to book a random date to see if we couldn't get a guess of the cost and the lowest we saw was $1200 a piece.....we would be ecstatic to find a fare that low because we can book a flight from JFK to home (Rochester) for less than $75 each on JetBlue. I'm crossing my fingers that that kind of airfare does actually materialize Care to share where you saw it? Or whose laundry you had to agree to wash and fold for life to get them to offer it? hehehehe

E

 

[milestogo]

I have figured out that if we fly like the Flintstones (on the wing) we do much better to get back and forth from LAX - we'll tell DD that it's the first ride of the day (we always say that on the tram at DL!)

 

[kpros]

Hey all you world travelers, I've got a question for you about Disneyland Paris. We are thinking about spending 3 days there after the cruise and would like a recommendation on which hotel to stay in. We are looking at the Sequoia Lodge (stay on points).

Any info is appreciated.
Ken

 

[Scott H]

Ken,

We have stayed at the DL Hotel and it was great. To save points we have looked at the Hotel NY and Newport Bay. I kinda liked the Newport Bay theme the best. Sequoia Lodge, and like the Wilderness Lodge, just seem too close to the ones we have in our back yard, so we want a different experience. (Yellowstone's Old Faithful Lodge is only about 65 miles from our driveway).

If you own stock in DLP there is a Club Mickey Salon available to you. Need a membership card that is easily obtainable.

Also your admission media is included with your DVC point stay. Oh the continental breakfast is very nice.

Three days is just about right for a visit. Weekends are usually more crowded. It was fun. Will try and do DLP before and after our next trip to Tanzania. (If DVC gets it together for the Safari Exchanges)

Hope that helps,

 

[padalyn]

Check out Iberia Air (the Spanish airline). My co-worker suggested them and I found they had one of the lowest fares. He swears they are great - he has been to Spain many many times (lived there for a while also). I trust this guy and his information - the only thought is that he speak Spanish fleuntly and I only manage Spang-lish [and I hear I have a nasty gringo accent to boot!]

I just did an orbitz.com search - from Barcelona, spain to new york, ny on April 30, 2007:

Air Plus Comet: $128.00
LTU: $294.00
Iberia: $775.00

From there they go up to as much as $1500.00. The above fares all have one or more stops. But for that type of savings - I might just do it! Iberia goes to Madrid then to JFK. The fares should be out for the dates we need in the next month or so. My only thought is that I insist on flying first class

As I closed the window - the "fare finder" popped up with an 800.00 fare to EWR from BCN with 2 stops - Ireland of all places, then London - then Newark. that seems a bit much since the air time was over 12 hrs total for a 6.5 hr flight (non-stop).

Keep me posted on what you find!

Padalyn

 

[tig82174]

Check out Iberia Air (the Spanish airline). My co-worker suggested them and I found they had one of the lowest fares. He swears they are great - he has been to Spain many many times (lived there for a while also). I trust this guy and his information - the only thought is that he speak Spanish fleuntly and I only manage Spang-lish [and I hear I have a nasty gringo accent to boot!]

I just did an orbitz.com search - from Barcelona, spain to new york, ny on April 30, 2007:

Air Plus Comet: $128.00
LTU: $294.00
Iberia: $775.00

From there they go up to as much as $1500.00. The above fares all have one or more stops. But for that type of savings - I might just do it! Iberia goes to Madrid then to JFK. The fares should be out for the dates we need in the next month or so. My only thought is that I insist on flying first class

As I closed the window - the "fare finder" popped up with an 800.00 fare to EWR from BCN with 2 stops - Ireland of all places, then London - then Newark. that seems a bit much since the air time was over 12 hrs total for a 6.5 hr flight (non-stop).

Keep me posted on what you find!

Padalyn

WOW ...great info....I was looking on expedia and travelocity and they were both giving me really high prices over $1000 per person.....but you're right, Orbitz does actually come up with some fares under $250 a piece...which is INSANELY low as far as I'm concerned! I looked on Iberia.com and they list prices at about 1350 EUR for both of us...but I have no idea the conversion for that (and don't see a link on the page to convert it to dollars). Honestly, though......I'm probably fine with flights that have stops...the cheapest on orbit do reflect some flight times in the 10-14 hours range...but since we're coming back right after the crossing we're flying back on a holiday weekend (it's Memorial Day Weekend here in the US) so we'll have plenty of time to kill and our primary concern is going to be cost (when I worked out our budget I planned on spending about $2500 for the two of us for airfare for return flight but....heck the more we save on airfare the more we have to spend on excursions and souvenirs! HIP HIP HOORAY!! )

I'm definitely gonna keep my eye on the orbitz flights, though....cuz like I said we fly Jetblue from JFK back here to Rochester for $69.....and we usually pay almost $200/piece for a decent flight from here to Orlando....so if we can get a flight from Barcelona to JFK for $130 and a $69er JFK to Roch then the flight home from across the pond might not be that much more expensive than the flight down to the World!!.......and, now, I don't wanna count my pixies before they fly .....but THAT is what I call some Disney MAGIC!!!

 

[tig82174]

As I closed the window - the "fare finder" popped up with an 800.00 fare to EWR from BCN with 2 stops - Ireland of all places, then London - then Newark.
Padalyn

For the record, I'd be FINE with a flight thatstops in Ireland and London...as long as each layover was 2 or 3 days! hehehe Imagine what a fun minivacation you make out of just getting home from your real vacation!