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

[tig82174]

Oh....NICE....thanks Scott & Beth....that is great information to have....I don't think we've ever really cared much which company we try to go with...whatever expedia can get the cheapest...but the convenience of Budget being in Port Canaveral is awesome. Thanks!

Erik & Jason

 

[videogal1]

Info from the 2006 VA benefits brochure:

"no-fee" passports are available for family members visiting graves or memorial sites at WWI and WWII overseas American military cemeteries. Eligibility covers surviving spouses, parents, children, sisters, brothers, and guardians of the deceased who are buried or commemorated in American military cemeteries on foreign soil.

For additional information write:
American Battle Monmuments Commission, Courthouse Plaza ll, Suite 500, 2300 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201, phone (703) 696-6897, or visit www.abmc.gov/.

 

[milestogo]

I just checked our invoice for the 11 night cruise and we paid $75 transportation for the three of us to get from the boat to the airport. We didn't pay for the rental car in Orlando because we have a family member to transport us to the port and run us to the grocery store. Disney has their transportation that picks us up at the airport and takes us to the resort. In the past we've always rented a car so we could go to the grocery store.

 

[tig82174]

I just checked our invoice for the 11 night cruise and we paid $75 transportation for the three of us to get from the boat to the airport. We didn't pay for the rental car in Orlando because we have a family member to transport us to the port and run us to the grocery store. Disney has their transportation that picks us up at the airport and takes us to the resort. In the past we've always rented a car so we could go to the grocery store.

Yeah after reading the tips of others we looked online and found two reasonable rates...one with Budget and one with Thrifty...that both offer the option of dropping your rental car in Cape Canaveral....both appear to be under $300 inc. taxes/fees for the whole week with the Canaveral drop off....which seems to be not too unreasonable for us...especially considering the added convenience a car offers. I know I"m a bad bad bad Disney-freak for saying this (I'm spanking myself even as you read this, I assure you )....but I pretty much HATE the disney buses. *lol* The lines are long, they're always so crowded, full of over-tired kids who are cranky and let the world know it (no offense to any of the little ones on this list, of course ) and depending on your destination sometimes make umpteen-million stops....give me a nice air conditioned private ride home to the resort after my 20th ride on Everest anyday!

 

[Scott H]

Lynda, Thanks for that great bit of info. I really want to make it over to the Beaches but won't be able to on this trip. Someday.

 

[videogal1]

Lynda, Thanks for that great bit of info. I really want to make it over to the Beaches but won't be able to on this trip. Someday.

the War Memorial Commission administers, operates and
maintains 24 permanent American military cemeteries; 25 federal
memorials, monuments, and markers; and 4 nonfederal memorials. While 3
memorials are located in the United States, the remaining memorials and
all of our cemeteries are located in 14 foreign countries, the U.S.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the British
dependency of Gibraltar. These cemeteries and memorials are among the
most beautiful and meticulously maintained shrines of their nature in
the world. Interred in the cemeteries are 124,917 U.S. War Dead: 30,922
of World War I, 93,245 of World War II, and 750 of the Mexican American
War. Additionally, 6,114 American Veterans and others are interred in
the Mexico City and Corozal Cemeteries. The World Wars and Mexico City
Cemeteries are closed to future burials except for the remains of U.S.
War Dead found from time to time in the World War I and II battle areas.

In addition to grave sites, the World War I and II cemeteries, together
with 3 memorials on U.S. soil, commemorate by name on Walls of the
Missing the 94,132 U.S. servicemen and women who were Missing in Action
or lost or buried at sea in their general region during the World Wars
and the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

Most of our facilities range in age from 44 to 90 years old with our
Mexico City Cemetery being over 150 years old.



Gibraltar, anyone?

 

[padalyn]

National also has drop in Canaveral - they run a shuttle to the ship. We left 3 of 4 at the ship with all the bags and one returned the car - no luggage and it was really fast. I plan to do it again in May!

 

[ssnyder]

Hi everyone, Happy Father's Day!

We had one of those magical moments at DL today. My SIL and her DD6 is in town so we'll be there every day for two weeks.

I wish we had known you were going to be there. We could have met up for awhile. We were there from Sunday to Tuesday. We always do a three day sometime in June after Curt's DD20 is out of school. She lives in Rancho Cucamonga and she always asks to go to Disney for her vacation. She is special needs so we had the disability passes for this trip. We also took our grandson (3yo) this trip. It turns out the DGS and DD were in about the same place as far as which rides they wanted to do, so that worked out well.

 

[ssnyder]

but it occurred to me that I have no idea whatever how far the Barcelona airport is from where the ship will be docked....NOR how we would travel there. I assumed there would be some kind of shuttle or taxi service...but does anyone know? What is the best (quick and/or cheap) way to get from ship to plane?

Disney is also doing transfers to the airport. Since we booked air home with them, we went ahead and got the transfers. I think our TA said they were $50. I don't know yet if we will end up keeping the booking or not.

 

[milestogo]

Oh Susie, Darn!!!! We are going every day for the next two weeks! If anyone else is in town, do let us know. It has been painfully crowded and fairly hot, not the hot that Padalyn is experiencing, but hotter than we spoiled ones are used to. Susie, do you find the special needs facilities acceptable or exceptional?

We got the first few days of running from ride to ride done and are now doing theme days between the two parks. One hot day we'll do only movies throughout the parks, one day only shows, one day lunch and feed the ducks on Tom Sawyer's island, Monte Christo sandwich day, etc.

We did my neice's 6th b'day at Ariel's Grotto with the princesses, I'd have to say while it was nice, Goofy's Kitchen is far superior.

We did get a chance to look into the new Nemo ride several times from the Autopia and Matterhorn. It is currently dry and all the interior decorations have been removed and apparently blasted (its all white instead of aqua colored.)

Also, the big premier of the new Pirates movie and reopening of the ride is in big preparation. They've got a huge section of New Orleans square blocked off for the seating and a huge screen stretched all the way across Tom Sawyer's Island (currently no Fantasmic shows.) They are closing the park at 5pm on Saturday and doing the big red carpet walk up and opening of the new ride with all the movie characters added in. The Blue Bayou is reopening and Cafe Orleans with 2 new Monte Christo sandwiches! Soft opening is Sunday and official opening is Monday - can't wait!!!

The Lance Armstrong walk/run/ride is coming to Orange County the next morning (Sunday) for the first time, so big doings here all weekend.

 

[ssnyder]

Susie, do you find the special needs facilities acceptable or exceptional?

I think they are exceptional if you know how to use them. They are not advertised at all. We didn't even know you could get a pass for special needs kids until we ran into someone else who told us about it. And now they have cut back on their willingness to give out the passes. You kind of have to know what to say at City Hall - there are some key words they are looking for. Once you have the pass though it's pretty much to the front of the line for everything. Without this, I don't see how we could take her at all. She doesn't normally do the attractions with Fast Pass, so that wouldn't help us. Even with the special needs pass, she is only good for 4 to 5 attractions a day and then the overload is just too much and she shuts down. Also, she is somewhat mobility impaired so we need to use a wheelchair while at the park. We have never had a problem with the wheelchair accessibility.

 

[BethE]

National also has drop in Canaveral - they run a shuttle to the ship. We left 3 of 4 at the ship with all the bags and one returned the car - no luggage and it was really fast. I plan to do it again in May!

I'm surprised! Is this new? The most recent Passporter Cruise Guide says that National doesn't have a complimentary shuttle to the port. Or is there a cost for the National shuttle? I actually like to book National and have only been booking Budget to the port because of the free shuttle.

Beth

 

[bonzie1]

Hi Everyone! I didn't drop off the face of the earth, but things at home were very "swamped" for the past 9 weeks! I am just now catching up on all the discussions.

We just returned from a quick trip to the World 06/15 - 06/19. It was hot and crowded. We rode EE... fantastic!!!

Has anyone heard anything about DL Paris excursions? Has DCL made any offerings yet? We haven't started looking for our airfare, and were hoping to see if there would be any excursions before arranging our flights.

The clock is ticking.

Happy Weekend to All!

 

[seaulater]

I'm surprised! Is this new? The most recent Passporter Cruise Guide says that National doesn't have a complimentary shuttle to the port. Or is there a cost for the National shuttle? I actually like to book National and have only been booking Budget to the port because of the free shuttle.

Beth

We have always booked National and unless they have added a shuttle, one is not provided. DH has always dropped us off, drove over to Cocoa Beach, put gas in car, turned in car and taken a taxi back to ship for about $10-12 I think. Sometimes we split cost with another car renter who has either come in on the ship or is going over to the ship.

Linda

 

[padalyn]

I will have to go back into my records and see who we used - I was pretty sure it was National - but obviously I am wrong. I do remember that who ever it was picking up the truck (we had an SUV) was off site and a pain in the tuchy at MCO. National has onsite so I am guessing it wasn't them. The shuttles are frequent and free for the ones that do provide them. I am still working out the airfare thing. Our TA has decided not to book any until October - I think this is a little late. Since I used a TA I am not sure I can get DVC to book the airfare - but I guess I could try.

I agree EE was awesome - I managed to snap a few picks...anyone want to see them?

I still have not decided about Paris - the others are meeting up with us in Barcelona have not even discussed it yet.

I may fly solo for that one.

As a note - NJ is just as hot as Fla was last week - yecch.

 

[padalyn]

Hey Bonzi - where in the world is Yardville???? I live up north - near the GWB (or as all the silly stories go - exit 163ish)

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

I hate water...

As you may know that I work for the Red Cross Disaster Services. We have had a bit of rain here.

The Cuyahoga River crested last night 8 feet over flood stage and 2 inches over the record! LOTS of rain in the last 2 days affecting all of northern Ohio. One area has about 200 homes affected. Still counting other areas.

So I put this picture on my computer at work:

It has helped. So just checking in before I collapse in bed. It is going to be a long week.

Debbie

 

[Scott H]

The Cuyahoga River crested last night 8 feet over flood stage and 2 inches over the record!

Hope it dosnt catch on fire.

 

[tig82174]

Disney is also doing transfers to the airport. Since we booked air home with them, we went ahead and got the transfers. I think our TA said they were $50. I don't know yet if we will end up keeping the booking or not.

Yes...I contacted Doris, the TA at mouseearsvacations.com who booked our trip for us (actually our last 3 trips)....and she told us about the Disney transfers, too.....and we are seriously considering that as an option and just returning our rental car from the week at the world back to the airport and then taking the DCL Bus as if we'd just arrived on an early flight......the benefit of it being that for $50 it covers transfers from the Orlando airport to the boat and then the boat to the Barcelona airport...plus we can check our bags at the bus at the Orlando airport and they'll be checked all the way to the boat...which is very convenient....so we're still in the process of deciding but we figure we've got a little time.....

....although we are looking to get lots of our stuff booked soon.....by our calculations we shoudl be able to book airfare later this week (most hte sites and airlines say they'll book up to 330 days in advance....which is quickly approaching)....we're kind of intent on booking car, plane, etc. in advance so we can accurately look at our budget and see how much is leftover for shore excursions and spa treaments!

 

[Scott H]

Thanks for the jog of the memory, need to make a DVC reservation for before this cruise. Maybe an EPCOT resort as we are sailing across the Big Blue Wet Thing to the Continent. Looks like a Monday morning Project.

We will get a 1 bedroom, DVC unit and host a wine and cheese meet during the early evening of May 11, 2007.

Too much planning going with the 11 Southern Carib trip, Oct/Nov WDW trip and selling the house and moving sometime…