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

[seaulater]

We just found out we might be coming on the cruise. We're scrambling to make arrangements and have 2 cabins on hold for 24 hours. We are: Julie (me), dh Steve, dd Sadie (12), ds Sig (8) and dd Madalyn (2).

I can't read through the whole thread, but I have a very important question:

Is anyone staying in Barcelona after the cruise and if so, where are you staying? We're thinking of flying out Monday and need to find a place for five people. Any suggestions would be appreciated.


Thanks.
Julie
(hopefully to be joining you)

We are staying at the Marriott Renaissance at the Airport.

 

[seaulater]

Finally got everything squared away with Disney and our plan tickets, staterooms, etc!!!

We are in rooms 6530 and 6502. 6502 looks a little weird on the map, does anyone know anything about this room?

Ok, so now it is time to play catch up on all of the months of planning that I did not have to get ready for this trip. Can someone tell me why I am exicted to make magnets for my door and I do not have anything packed??? Somehow or another I need to get packing to the top of my list!

Hey neighbor. We are next door in 6532!

 

[Michelle2]

Hadley and CACruisin', thank you so much for your help. It is all crystal clear now. You would think that I have never been to Europe or foreign travel before!
I think the time I went last did not have this tight of restrictions.
Thanks again, now I can measure and start packing!

 

[smores]

what airline is disney using for those of us who purchased disney air? (i'm on the westbound ta cruise in august and i'm curious. . .)

 

[seaulater]

My husband and I were talking tonight about DVC and we wanted to ask members if you ever added more points after being enticed by little "extras" Disney offers and was it worth it? If you did, did you ever regret it?

Well, someone asked how we got a "free" trip to DL Hong Kong.

On the September, 2005, SS Member Cruise, one of the add on incentives was if you added 250 points, you got 7 nights accomodations at the DL Hong Kong Hotel and park admission each day, plus food vouchers every day, plus free souvenir coupons (i.e. photos, cookies). We added on 250 points. I had FF mileage, so we flew over on Singapore Airlines (first class for me, business class for DH and coach for DD) and had a wonderful time. Loved DL Hong Kong.

Each year on the member cruise there is a special incentive offered.

We started with 210 points in 1994. Then we added 190 points in 1996 for a total of 400 and then added 250 in 2005 and now have 650. We don't regret our add ons at all.

And, we have no problem using our points either!

 

[seaulater]

We have been DVC members since 1991, not a regret at all, we have done a couple of add ons.

I like your chosen words..........................

A COUPLE OF ADD ONS.

What would be alot of add ons?

 

[NHdisneylover]

In all my travels, I have never worried about how much my bag weighs or what size it is. It all just works out. I think I have a sense of what is reasonable, though my DD17 and husband do not. I usually have to take on some of their stuff at the luggage counter, as they are emptying rediculous things from their luggage and handing them to me. "No, you hold your own screwdriver, bud!"

Now, I am completely and totally worried and will be weighing and measuring my suitases. The perfectionist in me has been challenged.

I have never weighed or measured either before this trip! I can't weigh them even now--don't own a scale.

When the kids were very small and I travelled alone with them I always took only two bags (less to juggle). One was a huge rolling case we call the monster (definetly more than 153 cm). The other was a little kids sized suitcase Marika could pull while I pulled the big one and carried Rio. Everything light went in the big bag and everything heavy into the tiny one. Invariably the gate agents would see that mountrosity of a suitcase and start warning me I'd be over the weight limit (one went so far as to insist I was going to be charged and try to add the charge in without weighing it first). I think the most it ever weighed was 38 pounds And the little one always weighed within 3-4 pounds of the big one Several times people commented I must have spent tons of time packing and repacking and weighing to get it balanced so well. No, just an intuition thing plus some common sense (and no compelling urge to pack screw drivers )

 

[eller]

Oh we had 4 little kittens born today. 2 orange. 2 black and white. Want one or four? They are so cute!

I would like to see pictures, please.

Sounds good to me. We will be there all week lol. My Mum will be by the pool every day knowing her whilst me and sarah will be running around disney like 5 year olds.

Lindsay

Oh yeah Martin will be in the gym and Dad will be asleep!!!

I wish we had the money for tickets. We've desided that it's best just to hang out. We are doing our Secret Mickey shopping at Downtown Disney and swimming at the pool. Ah, and not to forget, the best part of being there early, the wine party! (And cheese. )

Hadley and CACruisin', thank you so much for your help. It is all crystal clear now. You would think that I have never been to Europe or foreign travel before!
I think the time I went last did not have this tight of restrictions.
Thanks again, now I can measure and start packing!

I'm just a concerned about the baggage issue and I've never traveled to Europe. Dh has and DD will again after the cruise, but not me. Cry me a river, right! We'll all be experts after this trip!

It just feels so much closer now that it's May. Can you believe it? It's May already.

Lori

 

[CACruisin']

Hadley and CACruisin', thank you so much for your help. It is all crystal clear now. You would think that I have never been to Europe or foreign travel before!
I think the time I went last did not have this tight of restrictions.
Thanks again, now I can measure and start packing!

The restrictions are definitely new. When we went to Italy in 2004 I don't remember having any and we were travelling with a baby and all that entails. Actually, DH was appalled at our luggage. He travels a lot for business. He will go anywhere for any length of time with a carryon bag and his laptop bag. He hates to check luggage.

 

[seaulater]

Delta's is also 50 lbs. for 2 checked bags and 40 lbs. for 1 carry-on bag. I sure would not want to walk around the airport carrying 40 lbs.

If you are flying first class, it's 70 pounds!

 

[seaulater]

what airline is disney using for those of us who purchased disney air? (i'm on the westbound ta cruise in august and i'm curious. . .)

I know some of our group is on Delta that used Disney air.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Alien DIsease!!!! When i first posted, I was going to ask if she'd had any contact with Klingons!!!!!

No but she acts like one at times Far too often I am subjected to "It's my laughing hour--HA." Actaully when we are not calling her Hermione we call her Data. Strange kid, only recently started to use contractions. Was really weird when she was a toddler and would be saying cannot and will not and never can't or won't, etc.

 

[CACruisin']

I had FF mileage, so we flew over on Singapore Airlines (first class for me, business class for DH and coach for DD)

Too funny about everyone riding in different areas. When we had originally booked this trip DH, DD3, and myself all had First class seats with FF miles. When I cancelled the trip I also cancelled the FF tickets (or so I thought!) Delta cancelled mine and DH's but still had DD3 taking the trip alone . Since we couldn't get a second seat in First class, the girls and I are all flying coach now. The Delta agent and I laughed about the possiblity of the three year old seated alone in First class . I was just happy to get 4 FF tickets at all at this point.

 

[DizzneyDAnn]

Someone posted awhile back about DL Tokyo. We went and had a great time at Disney Sea--we need one over here, totally cool staging and rides.

DL itself was awful for us. We happened to be there during a Japanese holiday and it felt like all of Japan was there. It took an hour and a half to get into the park. We only rode 3 rides the whole day. All fast passes were gone by 10am. They had a lottery to use the bathroom and to get lunch--no joke. Ride waits were 180 minutes, minimum. I am not exagerating.Most of the rides were just like the ones in DL, but they added (maybe temporarily) characters from that Tim Burton Christmas cartoon all over the Haunted House, along with some Pokemon like characters. It was culturally interesting, but weird, too. We rode that and the Jungle Cruise and Pirates. We saw an extremely short parade, and it was time to go. Their popcorn was all flavored and smelled great, but the lines for it were as long as for the lines to the rides, so we just smelled.

Tokyo Disney, from what I understand, is not owned by Disney, but is liscensed, so Disney does not run it. I could tell the difference. I think they do run Paris and Hong Kong, though. Not sure.

 

[Brooklyn]

Hey neighbor. We are next door in 6532!

Brooklyn-I used my Xyron last night with the magnet paper. It works great. Did an 8 1/2 x 14 and put it on our refrigerator and it was hanging there this morning just like I left it. Now, I will use it to make my magnets!

Thanks for asking.

I also tried last night! I was so excited to see that my magnet was still sticking this morning too!!!

I am so excited about these magnets, you might be seeing my whole family in the same clothes the whole trip! lolo

Oh fun! We have neighbors that we know!!! YEAH! My mom and 2 DD's will be in that room.

 

[DizzneyDAnn]

It still gives me a chuckle to see first time cruisers on this cruise! I was so unsure of cruising at first that we only booked a 3 day and hoped for the best. Of course we enjoyed it, but I would have been terrified to book a 14 day from the first. To me, that is adventurous, and I admire it. I hope you all have a fun time on your new adventure!

 

[Brooklyn]

It still gives me a chuckle to see first time cruisers on this cruise! I was so unsure of cruising at first that we only booked a 3 day and hoped for the best. Of course we enjoyed it, but I would have been terrified to book a 14 day from the first. To me, that is adventurous, and I admire it. I hope you all have a fun time on your new adventure!

Trust me! I have NO IDEA what I am doing. To book this yesterday and to be going across the world...I really have to be losing my mind!!!

 

[tazzmacd]

We really need a new camera. Has anyone worked with a Nikon D50? I dont know much about it except the photo quality is suppose to be amazing. Is it user friendly? Does anyone have a digital camera they would suggest we look at?

thanks!

I just bought the K100D 2 lens kit. I am really happy with the purchase and love the fact that it has in camera stabilizer. Great camera and not that much more expensive then the D50.

Cheers!!

Pat

 

[milestogo]

:
The name "RIO" will look great in lights!

This is my sister's name... I'll bet it does look good in lights.

Thanks for the SOCAL welcome, nice weather, my traveling work partner is aghast at the traffic and my reverting to defensive driving tactics, it’s just city driving to me….. LOL, early day tomorrow, school.

Wonder how many more GSF member cards I need to print up?????

Yes, traffic is a way of life here. Jonathan and I get through nearly 20 audio books every year, plus listening to the traffic report is as important as breakfast. Honestly though, you are in a terrible place for traffic. If this was any other week (precruise) we'd drive up there to meet you for dinner. But this time of the week it could be a 2 hour drive (normally only 1 hour!)

Jonathan is wearing a grass skirt - as long as Anna fits it into her luggage!

My husband wanted me to ask all my DISboard friends on what they are wearing during the week in the Med at night? I went on Weather Underground and it looks pretty chilly - long sleeve, jean weather. What is everyone wearing or any ideas - long sleeves, sweaters, etc. Keep in mind, unless the pool water is 89 we don't go in and the sun is 85, we don't wear shorts!!! Arizona people are strange, right Hopemax?

We are bringing cool clothes for Florida as it much hotter than we are used to and warm clothes for the crossing and our normal mixed batch for Europe as it should be like CA.

I feel weird because my daughter seems like the only one with no musical talent. She is involved in student government and loves giving speechs and stuff like that.

I have no musical, art or acting talent either. But my skill set is organizing, managing, writing, comedic & joke construction and envisioning the big picture... so when I went to film school I didn't frame a beautiful artistic shot, but I was a really good producer. So, I took the directing/producing track and loved it. Even did a run of house management at the groundlings with some now very famous performers and then owned my own comedy club. So, there is much more than singing and dancing and yet she can really love the performers too.

I thought these same things about my airline...first thought it was 50, then 70, and then 50 again...I will have to call them to make sure. I am also not clear on if there's a limit on the size of the bags. Are you going through Swiss air???

We are on Air India. Our goal was to not be lugging so much around the metro systems. I was actually dreaming about the luggage issue last night. I haven't unpacked and repacked yet, Mostly I had it all laid out in the gym and looked at it for many many days trying to see the big puzzle and how it work best. So, I'm doing exactly what Anna suggested. We have our collapsable cooler and insulated back pack stuffed inside each other on one side of the big suitcase with the Cinderella dress and then some smaller stuff. That eliminated one whole smaller bag and added very little weight.

For all of you with travelling spouses right now... do all of your phone conversations consist of what you've accomplished today with the trip, what you intend to do next and how to solve one more hurdle.

OH and my favorite is DD4 who keeps coming in and holding something she has unpacked... "Mommy, look what I found!" "Mommy, what's this?" she's unpacking as fast as I'm packing.

Very good idea about the kids book exchange. I've been trying to decide what to do about books for her, since she is an early beginning reader and I don't think she is interested in any of Daddy's books or mommy's psychology classes. She's sounding out a lot of words right now and I don't want to hault that for a month. I figured we could bring one book with several stories and then read every sign we see on walls.... and maybe the daily navigator

 

[CACruisin']

Jonathan is wearing a grass skirt - as long as Anna fits it into her luggage!

Already have it in the guest room waiting to go in a suitcase!

OH and my favorite is DD4 who keeps coming in and holding something she has unpacked... "Mommy, look what I found!" "Mommy, what's this?" she's unpacking as fast as I'm packing

I so feel your pain! Same thing is happening here!

How cool will it be that DD can hear/read words in multiple different languages on this trip!