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

[BONITATIME]

For converting curencies try www.xe.com/ucc/

Iberia has its own website which is www.iberia.com from there you can pick english as a language. Flights go on from 10 months out and you can get some really cheap offers them

 

[milestogo]

Is anyone else considering going back to WDW for a couple of days before heading home? Or would that be tourist and rain season? We'd be leaving BCN on 6/6/07. HHMMM, DLP which we'd have to rent or buy more points (not really in the budget), stop at my mother's house in DC (last option on earth) or WDW during June? questions, questions, questions.

Can't wait to hear about a Tanzania vacation...

How's the garage sales going?

Bonzie1 haven't heard from you for awhile, how's your mum?

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

Day 2 of the Yard sale is over! One more to go. Alot of work for what we are getting... but we just keep singing... "I love Paris in the springtime" One mans junk is another mans shore excursion

We are debating on going to DLP after the cruise. When booking started we did put in our name that we would be interested in a DLP add on. Deciding on how many days and such is the next thing to do. It depends upon what time we would get into Paris. Would we be able to do any of a park? Then fly home on Monday and go back to work on Wednesday.

My preference is to fly home from Paris. If I am looking at it right, it would be cheaper to fly to Paris then home. The difference in cost is great. And it is a much larger aircraft.

So it looks like a few of us will add on Paris after the cruise

Debbie

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

For converting curencies try www.xe.com/ucc/

Iberia has its own website which is www.iberia.com from there you can pick english as a language. Flights go on from 10 months out and you can get some really cheap offers them

Thanks Niki

I have read that Iberia is the one to look at for flights out of BCN. Are they ok to deal with?

Thanks for keeping watch over here. How was the pin event in Paris?

Debbie

 

[BONITATIME]

Iberia are good to fly with. If you hare a smaller car in europe you an leave it in a different country so driving to Paris would be another option.

The event was great there is a trip report on the DLRP board. We are looking to go back this summer.

 

[padalyn]

Do you folks suggest letting the TA manage the flights? Or trying on one's own to do it. In the past I used Disney as the TA - I was amazed at the money I saved.

I had a trip to Alaska planned (BTW - DO THE ALASKA CRUISE!!!!) I couldn't get the airfare down below 1300 per person since it was a broken trip. the trip started in USA (Anchorage) and returned from Canada (Vancouver). DVC person told me she would call back. Over an hour later she did - told me "Im sorry - I can' t get the fare under 1100." I told her that was 200 dollars less per person - I will take it. She corrected me - the 1100 was for BOTH OF US! We saved enough to upgrade the cabin to a veranda!!!

I booked this trip using a TA, so DVC can't help me out here.

So, any good or bad words on TA?

 

[milestogo]

did anyone else have trouble logging in yesterday? I couldn't log in until night time.

I always book through the websites and often choose then call them for any other details or discounts. Every time we've ever used a tA we always pay a higher price and never get the flights we want. I'll give the Disney TA a try when they get their prices for this trip, if we ever figure out where were going that is!

 

[padalyn]

wow, did I ever - I ended up getting locked out and had to reset my password! Then the server went all the way down. I guess they fixed it during the night, but as of midnight it was still messed up!

I can't use DVC for this trip as I didn't book the cruise through them. I am hoping the TA can do as well but I will watch the websites also. Orbtiz does seem to have the best fares.

 

[tig82174]

wow, did I ever - I ended up getting locked out and had to reset my password! Then the server went all the way down. I guess they fixed it during the night, but as of midnight it was still messed up!

I can't use DVC for this trip as I didn't book the cruise through them. I am hoping the TA can do as well but I will watch the websites also. Orbtiz does seem to have the best fares.

I couldn't log in last night either but I was trying to log in using my DP's computer and not my own so I figured the trouble was with his computer and just gave up ....but maybe it wasn't.

Anyhow, we never have much luck using a TA to book airplanes either. We've twice now used mousearsvacations.com staff to book our cruises and gotten a good deal on the cruise but they never seem to beat out the online travel sites like orbitz or travelocity or expedia when it comes to airfare. We used mousearsvacations for this cruise, too, but last we spoke to them they had no information on airfare at all......

I spoke with Jason (DP) and we have pretty much decided that once flights on May 26th have become available online we're going to price them at Orbitz.com and if they're as cheap for then as they are right now we're going to just book it and be done with it....because like I said the prices they're quoting are way cheaper than we were planning on so locking in a flight at that price is one less piece of planning to worry about and, therefore, one less headache!

 

[tig82174]

I spoke with Jason (DP) and we have pretty much decided that once flights on May 26th have become available online we're going to price them at Orbitz.com and if they're as cheap for then as they are right now we're going to just book it and be done with it....because like I said the prices they're quoting are way cheaper than we were planning on so locking in a flight at that price is one less piece of planning to worry about and, therefore, one less headache!

Although if you look at hte Orbitz quotes to JFK...the really cheap ones, if you notice (maybe I'm reading them wrong), it looks like they have a FORTY HOUR layover!!...so that would probably mean finding a hotel in the layover city (Madrid)....which might diminish how cost-effective the flight becomes......oy.....so it probably won't be as easy as it first seems...but still...we'll all figure it out!

 

[ssnyder]

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?

We had our TA go ahead and add air fare back from Barcelona to Orlando onto our reservation. It was $778.69 pp including transporatation from the cruise terminal to the airport. We will get round trip tickets from San Diego to Orlando.

I had priced out several options and it was less total to book a round trip to Orlando and then Barcelona to Orlando separate. When I priced it out, it was going to be around a $1000 to get back to Orlando, so the Disney cost didn't sound too bad. It can be cancelled with no penalties up until the time the final payment is due. So I will be watching airfares as we get closer.

 

[seaulater]

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,

I agree with Scott. 3 days is plenty. We stayed at Newport Bay on DVC points when we went for Thanksgiving 2003. It included our admission also. We also thought the pool area was fun at Newport Bay for the kids.

We will be coming home after the cruise. Probably fly out Sunday as we want to cry as we see the Magic leave port Saturday night with our friends who are staying on board! How dare you stay for the first 11 day cruise. Maybe if I win the lottery, I can be on the ship too.

Linda

 

[mom_rules]

Was the airfare with a DCL agent?

Anyone else have them quote you yet?

I was thinking of the first leg - Canada-Florida using airmiles - but don't have enough to do Barcelona to Canada.

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

Hi all!

Well survived the yard sale then helped with the catering for my cousin's sons graduation on Sunday. I am beat!

Has anyone else realized that we will be aboard for Mother's Day next year Actually be at Castaway Cay. What a better way to spend it!

I may have my TA call DCL about airfare, but I have to add a $50 change fee to come down early. And I wonder if they will have an option to fly out of Paris. Time is running out on my decision as I would have to book my Frequent Flyer ticket at 331 days out and that is coming soon!

Debbie

 

[padalyn]

I also am wondering about this one - has anyone contacted DVC or DCL about the airfare? I didn't use points for these cruises, BUT if I book at DLP I wonder if DVC can get me the airfare from Barcelona to Paris, then from Paris to Newark or NYC. Any comments?

 

[milestogo]

I had no idea that we were there for Mother's Day, I'll be that will be extrememly cool. I'm always so frustrated with the floating Easter that I never pay attention to Mother's day.

Are there any Dis characters who are mothers?
Stepmother from Cinderella (DD3 calls her stepmudder)
Duchess from the Aristocats
Mrs. Jumbo (Dumbo)
Mrs. Darling (Peter Pan)
Kala (Tarzan's mum)
Perdita (101 Dalmations)
Sarabi (Simba's mom, Lion king)
Nala (becomes a mum)

 

[CACruisin']

I hadn't realized it would be Mothers Day either - what fun! Our first cruise was over Father's Day last summer.

 

[seaulater]

Called Delta to check on flights. Since I'm using FF miles, I still have a couple of weeks before I can book. Need to wait till 331 days before.

Delta has a flight daily out of Barcelona to either JFK or Atlanta.

Linda

 

[Scott H]

Just checked Delta and had a RT fare BCN to MCO of about $731 however that was for April.

Linda you could have some good options using FF miles on a route through CDG, and doing a layover.

Might have to cash in some Amex points and see what we can do with FF miles. Was thinking of doing a DEN to MCO and then a BCN to MCO for the return.

 

[tig82174]

Are there any Dis characters who are mothers?
Stepmother from Cinderella (DD3 calls her stepmudder)
Duchess from the Aristocats
Mrs. Jumbo (Dumbo)
Mrs. Darling (Peter Pan)
Kala (Tarzan's mum)
Perdita (101 Dalmations)
Sarabi (Simba's mom, Lion king)
Nala (becomes a mum)

Ah...Disney and mothers....many a feminist thesis has been written on THAT subject!! hehehe Disney stories are often lacking in mother characters...or the mothers that are there die or are evil in some way. (or at least that's the discussion I've often heard! hehehe)

Anyhow....I don't necessarily know the names of the characters (if they even have one), but here's a few more animated Disney mothers I remember:
Nemo does have a mother in the opening scene of the movie (but she dies)
Bambi has a mother
Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) has a mother, the queen, who we see during the movie
Roo has a mother, Kanga, in the Pooh Series
The owners of the 101 dalmations...doesn't the woman have a baby in the end? That would make her a mother
Duchess is the name of the mommy AristoCat
Mulan has a mother AND a grandmother
Mrs. Potts is a mother (to Chip) isn't she? (in Beauty and the Beast)
Hercules has a mother, too

I'm sure there's more....in fact I can think of a few more who have mothers but who also die (doesn't the hunchback's mother die in one scene of the movie? and brother bear the same thing?)


That's my two cents!