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

[PrettyInTink]

Actually, I count at least 9 couples that are on the 11 day wonder and the eastbound crossing. You can see the cruise list here:

http://www.wideopenwest.com/~epcotkilterfan/

Ken

Wow! Lots of familiar names! I can't believe dh and I are doing 3 cruises in 1 year. I know alot of people on the DIS do it but this is new to us. We have done 2 in one year but never 3 and never 2 long ones! I am excited. We have even talked friends of ours into taking this one with us. Then we will be staying over in Barcelona, maybe hitting Madrid before flying home. They want to stay a full week extra but I have no clue what hotel prices are. They are fluent in Spanish and will help us out with the language barrier as her family is from Spain. My friend says as far as shopping goes that Spain is a wonderful place for leather goods. Any one have any idea what excursions are gonna be available? Or has anyone booked outside of disney excursions already? Also has anyone used Rosetta Stone Software? We would like to learn a little Spanish before we go and were wondering if anyone has used this program before..

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

Hi Pretty in Tink! I missed your original post. Come and join us! It is going to be a blast!

When the time comes:

If you would like to be added to the roster can e-mail me at maymedrepo@wideopenwest.com

You can include as much or as little information as you would like. You can also a include a photo at the e-mail address.

DIS board name
First Name - Relationship - and age (or something close to the age ) for all of those in the cabin
Hometown
Stateroom number
Dining
You may include a photo if you would like

You can view the list by clicking on the link in my signature

Debbie

 

[Hygiene99]

Hi Pretty in Tink! I missed your original post. Come and join us! It is going to be a blast!

When the time comes:

If you would like to be added to the roster can e-mail me at maymedrepo@wideopenwest.com

You can include as much or as little information as you would like. You can also a include a photo at the e-mail address.

DIS board name
First Name - Relationship - and age (or something close to the age ) for all of those in the cabin
Hometown
Stateroom number
Dining
You may include a photo if you would like

You can view the list by clicking on the link in my signature

Debbie

There are also several Names that are doing this trip and the first Med right Ken !
Not on this cruise , but next one !!!
Deb be careful with this one !!

Flannel wearing trucker !!

 

[PrettyInTink]

Deb be careful with this one !!

Yeah, you really need to be careful with that one I heard she's REALLY crazy She just books cruises like she has the $$$ to pay for them That's ok, that's what 2nd, 3rd, 4th mortgages are for Just kidding, glad to join you guys and thanks for the warm welcome

 

[PrettyInTink]

And for the record this trucker only wears flannel when it is 30 below in the FREEZING state of Wyoming. Although I vote for "Trucker Dress Up Night" on the cruise, 14 days and we are gonna get bored with the whole dress up nice thing. We can all be walking around with plumbers butt and trucker hats on. I guess I should explain to others who have no clue whats going on " Hi, I'm Cyndi and I am a long haul truck driver with my dh. We prefer 'Transportation Specialists'. Sounds Prettier". And I guess I can admit, we are a little crazy.....

 

[littleowensmommy]

Delta has a flight BCN-ATL-SAN that would have been perfect, but BCN-ATL is being discontinued this fall. Our FF miles are with Delta, but so far they have not opened up any FF seats yet . the agent has been looking at partner airlines: KLA, Air France, Continental. What flight does Continental do with one stop BCN-SAN? I'm sure that wasn't offered to us. That would be way better than flying all over Europe before heading home.

I was in Coronado yesterday and thought of you. I don't make it down often enough and forget what a neat town it is. It was cool to see the Stennis, Reagan and Nimitz all in port at the same time. We are having the weirdest summer - no June Gloom, hot, and humidity +60%.

We're going to book Continental BCN-SAN. It leaves BCN at 11:10am and stops in Newark and arrives in SAN at 8:34pm. I'm going to book BCN-SAN R/T 6-10 June and throw away the return.

We'll be in Coronado 12-20 August. I can't wait!

 

[Scott H]

PIT. Must be talking about summer in WY....

I think it is KEWL you guys are going to make this one, Debbie , I think they will fit in with this group quite well...

Hey Bob are you thinking about this one also???

 

[tig82174]

Also has anyone used Rosetta Stone Software? We would like to learn a little Spanish before we go and were wondering if anyone has used this program before..

Isn't the Rosetta stuff very very expensive? That'd scare me...the more you spend on language software the less there is for spa treatments and shore excursions and unnecessary souvenirs!!!

Seriously, though.....we have a while before it's time to go......I might recommend looking into some adult education courses in spanish that might be offered through your local community college or even some high school programs have them. They're usually not terribly expensive and you'll get a bit more "real practice" in a setting like that. I bet between now and then you could take a couple courses that last several weeks each and develop a decent basic lexicon.

You know what else works great for people who already know a little spanish (after you've taken a course or two to build some vocab, grammar, etc.) or who USED to speak a lot of spanish but are out of practice....DVD subtitles! I took 4 years of high school spanish and 3 years of college....I was even president of the "Spanish Honor Society" when I was younger...but then I never used it much...I didn't lose it all completely, but it needed a little refresher before I went on a trip to Mexico a few years back. A friend of mine told me that one way to wake up my spanish skills woudl be to watch english DVD's iwth the spanish subtitles turned on or Spanish movies with English subtitles and that pieces of it would start to fall back into place (like hearing English words spoken while reading spanish words reminded me of certain phrases, vocab, grammar, etc....and vice versa with reading English and hearing spanish)....and it worked really well. I actually Sign fluently, as well, (American Sign Language) and when someone who is learning ASL or is rusty asks me for a tip I will always recommend that if they're at a show or a lecture or anythign where an interpreter is present....sit near the interpreter and watch them sign while you listen.

That's Tigger's tip of the day!

 

[Scott H]

Rosetta Stone stuff is pretty good, I used it for Swahili. Spanish, for work they put us through an imersion program, which was pretty good. Rosetta is spendy, maybe just start with some language CD's. It's the conjugation that gets me. Then again Spanish in Spain is a whole lot different than the Spanish in Mexico, and different parts of Latin America.

Man I would love to learn to sign, might look into a class when we make our move to Cheyenne. Is it hard to learn???

 

[PrettyInTink]

Thanks tigger, but my spanish consists of "Ola!". I wish we were home often enough to take classes at a ccollege but we are on the road 6 weeks at a time, sometimes longer. I love your idea about subtitles though. I really think its important to know atleast a LITTLE of the language when traveling to another country. I see it as a sign of respect to the people there. I might try to ebay rosetta stone for a better price They say it is more of a language submersion program rather than repetitive voice cd's.
ScottH- We are the epitome of Cool , not really we are just big DORKS, but glad to join everyone. We definitely aren't sticks in the mud. We like to play shuffle board at midnight, and order mac n cheese at 3am. I wonder if they are gonna do lots of special stuff on this cruise? I read trip reports for the PC cruise and it sounds like there were lots of goodies!!!

 

[PrettyInTink]

Submersion- I really am a DORK, I meant imersion- that's what happens when you type faster than you think

 

[tig82174]

Rosetta Stone stuff is pretty good, I used it for Swahili. Spanish, for work they put us through an imersion program, which was pretty good. Rosetta is spendy, maybe just start with some language CD's. It's the conjugation that gets me. Then again Spanish in Spain is a whole lot different than the Spanish in Mexico, and different parts of Latin America.

Man I would love to learn to sign, might look into a class when we make our move to Cheyenne. Is it hard to learn???

Umm....well I think any language is hard to learn, honestly....and often the later you learn in life the harder it seems. I have actually signed my entire life since I was a child so I don't remember consciously learning it ever really.....But if you have been able to learn some Spanish and Swahili then you coudl probalby pick it up if you worked at it......I will say that it can be challenging for people to learn as an adult who have poor coordination....like I've heard that people who are dancers or jugglers learn faster than most because they have better body sense/awareness....but I don't know how big a difference that makes....but if it does, then maybe take some ballet lessons first.....THEN take ASL!!

 

[Scott H]

Submerssion, maybe I could teach underwater Spanish as SCUBA inst.

Ebay is a good idea.

ScottH- We are the epitome of Cool , not really we are just big DORKS, but glad to join everyone. We definitely aren't sticks in the mud. We like to play shuffle board at midnight, and order mac n cheese at 3am. I wonder if they are gonna do lots of special stuff on this cruise? I read trip reports for the PC cruise and it sounds like there were lots of goodies!!!

Never thought different , however to be the epitome of Cool one must realize it is KEWL.... not cool. Cha totally...

Languages do not come easy for me, but ballet might be another thing.

I do think we will have lots of goodies and surprises.

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

I am just trying to figure out how much Swahili you use in Jackson Wyoming....

I know basic spanish.... basically Sesame Street Spanish How to ask for the bathroom, how to please stand clear of the doors The important ones !!

Been looking at the airfare this weekend.. OUCH! I really want to go to Paris following the cruise. Right now the difference in airfare between coming home from Paris or Barcelona is $1,000!!! Anyone else going to Paris afterwards??

Just hope that maybe Disney comes up with a package.

Debbie

 

[PrettyInTink]

I would love to scuba dive (submersion ) but I am not very good in water unless I am an a float with a beverage. My dh says I would be fine but I have this fear of drowning that I just can't shake. I need to check out some websites for this cruise for some shore excursions! I have no idea what the canary islands, gibralter, or cadiz have to offer. My dh would love to scuba dive (ex- navy man). I just don't want to look like the "dumb american" in spain. My spanish friend says all I need to know how to say is "Where is the Bar? Where is the store? and Where is the bathroom?" But I'd love to be able to interact a little more than that.

 

[PrettyInTink]

I am just trying to figure out how much Swahili you use in Jackson Wyoming....

I know basic spanish.... basically Sesame Street Spanish How to ask for the bathroom, how to please stand clear of the doors The important ones !!

Been looking at the airfare this weekend.. OUCH! I really want to go to Paris following the cruise. Right now the difference in airfare between coming home from Paris or Barcelona is $1,000!!! Anyone else going to Paris afterwards??

Just hope that maybe Disney comes up with a package.

Debbie

I think he speaks more Jackalope than Swahili

 

[Scott H]

Please, Jackalope is not a foreign language.

Did the Swahili for our Tanzania Trip. Planning that again for Feb-March of 2007 so will break out those CD’s again. It was worth it when listening to the guides talking on the radio about wildlife sightings.

History of Gibralter is what has me hooked, I see writing another paper, like I did for the Canal trip.

Maybe DCL will do a Spanish Class on board- Ya listening DCL, remember ya heard it here first…., given the international crew it would be easy for them. Actually "PIT" if your server on hte Wonder or Magic is from a Spanish speaking country, work with them, I bet they would love it.

We seem to come up with some pretty good ideas. Hey Debbie you should patent the Fish Extender concept…. You are famous, but were always a star to us.

 

[PrettyInTink]

I agree, Fish Extenders are a fantastic idea. Bravo Fish ExtenderQueen Debbie! This will be our first time doing one. Hopefully kids wont steal it like they did our singing santa on the 10 day christmas cruise in '04. That was so not KEWL (see, I'm catching on)

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

I agree, Fish Extenders are a fantastic idea. Bravo Fish ExtenderQueen Debbie! This will be our first time doing one. Hopefully kids wont steal it like they did our singing santa on the 10 day christmas cruise in '04. That was so not KEWL (see, I'm catching on)

Actually you use the "The Club" designed specifically for the fish extender Get small zip ties and wrap it around the hanging part up close to the fish

I think Scott came up with that idea.
What I really need to do is to copyright the name Fish Extender!

I spent the day today looking for a new mattress. Made my final car payment yesterday, so had to figure out some way of spending money It is an interesting process to pick out a mattress. Think I found one, just waiting for this credit card statement to close and will go and order one!

Hope everyone had a great weekend
Debbie

 

[tig82174]

Lots of fabulous ideas getting thrown around on here....Whoo!!

Jason and I have been trying to think of some fun things we can contribute to the cruise....haven't come up with any truly brilliant yet but we got lots of time!







p.s. I actually am a dancer and a gymnast.....maybe I'll get a ballet class going on the cruise for ya!! Actually, funny disney story.....ironically on our last cruise in Feb. the night of the Pirate Party I was dancing away with all the kiddies and it put me in a dancing mood and so after the party ended i was just kind of goofing off and dancing and stretching up on the deck (using the handrails like ballet bars and acting like dork) and a guy who I had see in the "dj booth" on deck during the Pirates show was walking around and came over and introduced himself to me....and told me he was the choreographer on the DCL boats and he had done the choreography on the Pirates "show" and had also done the Cinderella Twice Charmed Show (which I know many of you have seen because it was unveiled on the Magic last year...but Jason and I have only ever been aboard the Wonder so we haven't seen it yet) and he asked me if I ever considered auditioning for DCL or theme park shows. We hung out with him several times during the cruise...he was very fun. (And actually I told him that every time I drive by the Disney Casting building at the World I tease Jason that I'm going to go in there and audition JUST to see if I could get hired......or that one day soon I'm gonna just quit my life here and go dance in the Festival of the Lion King at Animal Kingdom!! hehehe)