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

[tig82174]

What a fun way to use your first DVC points and celebrate DL's birthday!

Anyone done any more research into possible excursions for our repo cruise? I am thinking that doing gibraltar (apes, cave) on our own would be very doable and maybe a beach day at Tenerife (don't ya just love saying you are going to the "canariy islands"?), but not sure what to do in Cadiz. It looks to have good beaches, but the old town also looks interesting. If DD10 were going on this trip with us, then the horse thing would be a required visit

I got the coconut mailer from DCL yesterday about the med cruises and September 10/11 day cruises. I would LOVE to do one of those September cruises ... (to DH, yes, dear, I know we are not doing one of those cruises, and yes, dear, I know I am not going on a cruise without you ... )

Jason and I are definitely doing the apes in Gibraltar...but we'll wait to see what, if any, kinds of packages there are to book on the ship itself. We read in some of the "press materials" about a trolley ride to top of the rock
and the caves and apes and birds that migrate through there adn everything......so that sounds like a full afternoon for me if you throw a little lunch in there somewhere!

 

[CACruisin']

We're planning on the Sherry and Horse tour in Jerez. I saw the dancing horses on a travel channel show and they were very good. We will be in port on a show day. Here is a link to one of the tours. I suspect Disney will offer something similar:
http://www.infohub.com/travel/sit/sit_pages/15346.html

This does look interesting. DH would enjoy the sherry part of the tour too.

 

[tig82174]

WOO HOO!!


Jason got confirmation that his office IS coming in September to the conference at the Grand Floridian. Our details aren't worked out yet cuz we're still not sure how many days early we want to go for play....and we're also considering using our DVC points to stay anyway and just having his boss pay us the room rate he would have paid for Jason's hotel room....but details aside, the trip itself is a lock. So somewhere around the 14th or so of September we'll be going to the World and staying until the 20th when we shuttle down to Ft. Lauderdale and Miami until the 25th!! Yippee!!


We just have to hurry up and make some decisions so that we can try to connect with DVC to get our resrvations. We're thinking we'll try to get some or all of our trip at Beach Club if we can...since I'm going to have lots of free time while Jason is working and I'd like to spend large chunks of time hanging during the afternoon at the pool...and I konw that Beach Club has one of the nicer pools but you can't go in unless you stay there. If we don't stay there we'll go "home" to Saratoga Springs. Also has anyone stayed at the Grand Floridian? If we actually have the chance to stay there on his office's dime should we be that excited about it? And jump at the shot? Or is it one of those things that's nice but not life-changing??


later!

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

YAY!!

Grand Floridian looks wonderful. Not sure I would stay there, a bit stuffy for me, but if someone else is paying... I am there!!!!

Good luck on getting BCV! Call as soon as you can to book it.

Debbie

 

[tig82174]

YAY!!

Grand Floridian looks wonderful. Not sure I would stay there, a bit stuffy for me, but if someone else is paying... I am there!!!!

Good luck on getting BCV! Call as soon as you can to book it.

Debbie

Yeah that's what I was thinking....on both issues. Grand Floridian is decidedly NOT someplace I would choose to stay on my own....I've never been a "fancy hotel person".....especially at the World since I try to spend as little time actually IN the hotel as possible.....that's why we've always leaned towards the value or moderate resorts......we're doing Animal Kingdom Lodge before the cruise only because we have the points and so that Jason will never have to listen to me whine again (per my promise) about wanting to sleep with the animals! hehehe

Also I know that Beach Club is a long shot....but Sept. is a slow month usually so we figured nothing ventured, nothing gained!

 

[CACruisin']

Glad the business trip came through. Have a great trip!

 

[milestogo]

Looks like in September there will only be a few of us still at home talking to each other.

CACruisin, I PM'd you.

 

[tig82174]

Looks like in September there will only be a few of us still at home talking to each other.

CACruisin, I PM'd you.

Yeah but depending on if I have internet access while I'm in the world I might still post....I'll have tons of free time during the day(s) while Jason works at his conference. Although I'm going to try to keep myself really occupied....any ideas from any World loners on good ideas for things to do by yourself?? I am definitely going to lounge around Blizzard and/or Tyhpoon....do some shopping (which Jason doesn't really like anyway) and spend time in AK.....but I was also thinking of doing some of the tours or something. Any suggestions?

 

[ssnyder]

do some shopping (which Jason doesn't really like anyway) and spend time in AK.....but I was also thinking of doing some of the tours or something. Any suggestions?

I did two tours on my last trip, both of which might interest you. The backstage AK tour and the Segway tour. Both were very good.

Also, if you are staying at the Beach Club, you will be very close to the World Showcase. I like hanging out there to people watch and shop. The Rose and Crown Pub is a great place to meet fellow travelers. Tigger (and friends) hang out at the back of one of the shops in England. I got a great picture with him on my last trip (for my grandson who is a Tigger fan). Pooh and Eeyore were acting all sad that I wanted a picture with just Tigger, so I had to get one with them also.

There is also a minature golf course (I think next to the Swan) which I've always wanted to try.

 

[tig82174]

I did two tours on my last trip, both of which might interest you. The backstage AK tour and the Segway tour. Both were very good.

Also, if you are staying at the Beach Club, you will be very close to the World Showcase. I like hanging out there to people watch and shop. The Rose and Crown Pub is a great place to meet fellow travelers. Tigger (and friends) hang out at the back of one of the shops in England. I got a great picture with him on my last trip (for my grandson who is a Tigger fan). Pooh and Eeyore were acting all sad that I wanted a picture with just Tigger, so I had to get one with them also.

There is also a minature golf course (I think next to the Swan) which I've always wanted to try.

The backstage AK tours I'm looking at for sure......Jason woudl kill me if I did segways without him *LOL*

Well we're booked....we're going to Saratoga because they could only get us in at Beach Club for 3 of the 7 days we are going to be there......and I'm not in love with moving around unless it's us moving out of our DVC resort adn over to stay in the Grand Floridian for free (and get our points back for later use)

So more updates later but WOO HOO....less than two months and I'll be in the World!

 

[tig82174]

There is also a minature golf course (I think next to the Swan) which I've always wanted to try.

OOOOH......I forgot to mention....I probably wouldn't go putt-putt golfing alone because it's more fun in a group....but are you talking about the Fantasia Gardens Mini Golf course? If so we LOOOOVE that!! It's so cute and fun! We've actually never done the mini-golf game that's near Blizzard Beach and we're probalby going to do that either on this trip or during our trip next May.



On a related note.....anyone from more south in Fla? Or visited there? We're going to be in Hollywood, FL (between Ft. Lauderdale & Miami) for several days after we leave Orlando in Sept. Most my free time will be in the evenings and maybe one weekend day...but we would like to find some fun things to do in the area. Any fun and/or affordable ideas??

 

[padalyn]

Yeah but depending on if I have internet access while I'm in the world I might still post....I'll have tons of free time during the day(s) while Jason works at his conference. Although I'm going to try to keep myself really occupied....any ideas from any World loners on good ideas for things to do by yourself?? I am definitely going to lounge around Blizzard and/or Tyhpoon....do some shopping (which Jason doesn't really like anyway) and spend time in AK.....but I was also thinking of doing some of the tours or something. Any suggestions?

I love going to WDW alone!! I am a pin trader so I can ALWAYS find something to do...a suggestion or two if I may??

the internet is 10.00 per day for high speed. If I may suggest that you be sure to bring your own Cat5 cable since they are often missing in the rooms. Dial up just sucks - the only access we have been able to get work is AO-Hell.

Pool hopping is restricted at Beach Club, try the Boardwalk quiet pool, it is really nice and no kids around during the day. I also LOVE Animal Kingdom Lodge around 10pm in the farthest hot tub - I was just hanging out and all of a sudden a giraffe stuck it's head in the pool to sneak a drink! I am not sure who was more suprised...me or the giraffe

Be sure to check out the Animal Kingdom on early entry day - the line to Everest gets really long really fast. I also suggest you make ALL dinner ressys NOW. The food plan is free to hotel guests in Sept so the restaurants are packed and booked hard. As a single I found walkup was alright at opening, but I did wait for some restaurants.

The noodle house in the Magic Kingdom opens late (5pm) but the food is true to the tastes of Thai...I was amazed at how good it tasted. I was expecting it to be more fast food- but it is like walking into my favorite Thai place for a simple noodle dish -the portions are not really large and the price is reasonable.

AK has a tour Wild by Design that is done "on-stage" that is really interesting and it explains why and how AK was build/designed. I loved it -

If I think if more I will post it for you...enjoy yourself!!!!

 

[Scott H]

The noodle house in the Magic Kingdom opens late (5pm) but the food is true to the tastes of Thai...I was amazed at how good it tasted. I was expecting it to be more fast food- but it is like walking into my favorite Thai place for a simple noodle dish -the portions are not really large and the price is reasonable.

Very true and very good, that is what I think.

 

[tig82174]

Very true and very good, that is what I think.

OOOH cool......Every time we've gone to the World, the NOodle station is closed in MK....it's open seasonally right? I've always been disappointed b/c I'm an Asian food FANATIC and I've always lamented the fact that there isn't more quality & variety of asian cuisine at the World. Of course there's Epcot...but I haven't traditionally found that to be the best food...and there's a counter service place in Asia of AK that we like for lunch now and then but I'm glad to hear that Noodle Station is good. I'll make a concerted effort to get there for some food!

Thanks Padalyn for all the tips, too.

I'm surprised to hear some of your thoughts on Sept. in the World....granted it's been about 2 years since we traveled in Sept., but that's when we used to take our big trip EVERY year before that and we always thought it was D-E-A-D there....no problems getting into restaurants, on rides, into shows, etc. Has that changed?

And what do you mean the food plan is free to hotel guests?? We decided not to book the dining plan with DVC when we made our reservations because Jason will be having most of his meals with his co-workers at the conference so I'll be eating alone mostly and according to them everyone registered in your room has to sign up for the plan in order to get it...so we didn't qualify. Also because there's still a good chance that we'll only be staying at Saratoga for a few days and then moving over to Grand Floridian, there wasn't a lot of point.

Maybe I'll have to look at the dinner reservations deal and see.....it's odd but you know in all the years and the dozens of trips we've taken to Disney we've actually NEVER made dinner plans/reservations before going to the World. When we get there we've planned out some meals, etc. but never more than a day or 2 in advance.....maybe we've just been lucky!

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

I have NEVER seen the noodle place open!

As for a solo trip, hang out in the World Showcase. I do that But mostly in Canada

Hey I did find some new links for Gibraltar. They have been added to the Planning Links on the webpage

Debbie

 

[tig82174]

I have NEVER seen the noodle place open!

As for a solo trip, hang out in the World Showcase. I do that But mostly in Canada

Hey I did find some new links for Gibraltar. They have been added to the Planning Links on the webpage

Debbie

Yeah you're in the same boat as me.....I've never seen that Noodle place open ever either....but I'm such a fanatic for Asian food(s)...especially Thai....so I always meander in that direction to see if I can catch it open....and I'll probably do so again when I'm there this time around!!!

We have officially decided to nix the Grand Floridian....I actually think it'll be a pain to move there and then BACK to Saratoga for the last two nights (because we don't want to use up that many points on a Grand Floridian stay). It'll be nice to stay in Saratoga though because we have never been there before and that is "home"....plus because we're going to use our own points for a trip that Jason is taking for work....his boss is going to compensate us part of the cost of what he woudl have spent if he'd booked for us.....so we're gonna get to stay where we want and make a little $$$ in the process to break even on a free trip to the World....can't go wrong with that!!!

I forgot to mention, too, that we passed another milestone in our Disney lives, too.....I purchased our first ever set of Annual Passes to the park(s). Our vouchers are set to arrive here soon and we'll activate them when we arrive there on Sept. 14th....so exciting!

It's really good for us too because I'm so very impatient that May seems like it's about a zillion years away!!.....so this "mini-trip" in September will hold me over until the "real" trip!



p.s. He won't admit this....but Jason, my DP, has created a screenname and has begun lurking here to see all our fun conversations and updates! (everyone say HI JASON!!! )

 

[padalyn]

Hi Jason!!! Welcome to lurking

 

[jasonroo]

Hi everyone, Jason here! I guess I have to come out of hiding now that you know I am here.

Nice to hear that everyone is as crazy about Disney and DCL as we are.

 

[CACruisin']

Welcome Jason! Took me a long time to come out of lurkdom, but it was worth it. Everyone at DIS is really nice.

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

Jason!

I will have to add your screen name to the roster!

Debbie