May 18, 2013 Magic EBTA Part Two - From Tejas to España

[DisneyMouseHouse]

Here is my thought for a name badge ....

http://www.4shared.com/photo/B1jvHR2f/Name_Badge_EBTA.html

 

[Tink1987]

Yay for getting the flight info! We usually fly first thing in the morning - so I feel your pain with having to get to the airport at o-dark-thirty. However, once you are checked into your hotel room, you will feel fantastic for already having the hardest part of the trip behind you (except for tearful disembarkation...)

Very cool! We have a large map on the wall for each child, and mark with a small sticker. Write the year on the sticker. Our souvenir is a magnet that is placed on the freezer across from the map. I wish the series "Goodnight, Moon" had more places as those books have been fun to purchase -- reading them before a trip, on the flight, and months later bring back the memories. I am going to try to be better about getting passports stamped on this cruise. She had several stamps in her old passport, and just had to get it renewed for the first time. During the time we are away for this trip, we will step foot in 9 countries before we return home, so hopefully we break the new passport in well. The other thing our older one loves is earning her junior ranger badges at the National Parks. Smoky Mountains are later in March - which will be a first for hubby as well as he's never been.

I read a TR on the Smoky Mountains a few months ago, really made me want to cost there. Looks so beautiful!

I'm the same with my passport! I love looking at the stamps I have, especially my NYC one as it is stamped the day before my 21st birthday

 

[Yvet]

Passport stamps in Europe.

You could try to get stamps in Funchal. Gibraltar and Barcelona.
Go to the port authoritys an ask them for it. It's possible it works but i highly doubt that you get any stamps at all.

After rhe cruise:
You can visit multiple countries but as long a they are part of the Schengen countries you won't cross any borders where there is immigrations....
On the train you likely will be checked or even only a sniffer dog comes along no immigrations so no stamps.
If you go to a non Schengen country then it's possible they stamp your passport but sometimes they only look and that's it.

The only time a stamp is certain is when you leave Europe, then you will get a stamp at the airoprt immigrations (not for the people on the WBTA cruise out of The UK).

 

[bobbiwoz]

Here is my thought for a name badge ....

http://www.4shared.com/photo/B1jvHR2f/Name_Badge_EBTA.html

I like that!

MandyGirl, we'll be in the Smokies over Holy Week! We love the area & book a cabin that allows our Belleto come with us!

 

[steve_woodward]

Wow everyone thank you for the welcomes.

So far I have signed up for the roll call and the pin trading. All 4 of us are mad on pin trading. Also if anyone else is into Vinylmation we will have some of those to trade as well!

We are flying out of Heathrow on the 16th and staying in the Houston area (Country Inn & Suites) so that we can get our all important USA shopping done! We are hiring a car for 2 days and then taking in back to the airport to get the Disney transfer.

 

[kaseyC]

It is truly wonderful to teach our kids that we are not the only country in the world - gives them a unique "world view" that others who have not gotten the opportunity to travel just don't have - IMHO it also makes them think more about others.....it's wonderful!

Ours have traveled with us since they were less than a year old, we always take them everywhere with us!

So true. Our children have been traveling with us since they were babies. It's amazing what they pick up and how they relate it to their little world. I always look forward to going through their photos after a trip because it's cool to see what they found interesting enough to photograph.

 

[MandyGirl]

Here is my thought for a name badge ....

http://www.4shared.com/photo/B1jvHR2f/Name_Badge_EBTA.html

Great! For the size we are able to print at for an insert into the badge holder, it doesn't give much wiggle room. Thanks for using those flags! With Disney leaving Texas after 2013 you won't be seeing much floating around with the Texas flag

I read a TR on the Smoky Mountains a few months ago, really made me want to cost there. Looks so beautiful!

I'm the same with my passport! I love looking at the stamps I have, especially my NYC one as it is stamped the day before my 21st birthday

We will be heading to Chattanooga to visit family for the weekend, and have a few extra days before hubby has to be back to work. We won't get to spend but a couple days there before our flight home, but at least it's a taste.

Passport stamps in Europe.

You could try to get stamps in Funchal. Gibraltar and Barcelona.
Go to the port authoritys an ask them for it. It's possible it works but i highly doubt that you get any stamps at all.

After rhe cruise:
You can visit multiple countries but as long a they are part of the Schengen countries you won't cross any borders where there is immigrations....
On the train you likely will be checked or even only a sniffer dog comes along no immigrations so no stamps.
If you go to a non Schengen country then it's possible they stamp your passport but sometimes they only look and that's it.

The only time a stamp is certain is when you leave Europe, then you will get a stamp at the airoprt immigrations (not for the people on the WBTA cruise out of The UK).

Thanks for that info! I have read about various ports being able to get the stamps, but need to focus on the ports we are visiting. We have a second cruise after EBTA, which has nine ports of call (four different countries) so I am going to see if those are normal ports where people have had success getting the stamps. And then our detour through Iceland on the way home via air for a couple days - so that should be a stamp for sure.

I like that!

MandyGirl, we'll be in the Smokies over Holy Week! We love the area & book a cabin that allows our Belleto come with us!

Awww - that would be so much fun!

Wow everyone thank you for the welcomes.

So far I have signed up for the roll call and the pin trading. All 4 of us are mad on pin trading. Also if anyone else is into Vinylmation we will have some of those to trade as well!

We are flying out of Heathrow on the 16th and staying in the Houston area (Country Inn & Suites) so that we can get our all important USA shopping done! We are hiring a car for 2 days and then taking in back to the airport to get the Disney transfer.

I will get you added to our precruise hotel list!!

ETA: Is it the IAH area or Houston area in general? I put it at IAH for now
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=47592793&postcount=487

 

[WVURunner]

I feel like I haven't posted here in forever! Work has been crazy and my boss was in town last week, which meant tons of after work activities, plus I am trying to still get in shape for my half marathon coming up.

I am getting so excited for this trip, I want to start packing already and just go!


I bought DH a purple dress shirt at Kohls (huge sales, I grabbed about 15 new dress shirts for DH, new workout gclothes and two nice coats for under $200) for Villians night. He wasn't to happy about it but I am sure he will suck it up or yell when he sees the purple bowtie I also got him. (I am going to hid that until the cruise....)

I plan on finishing sewing my niece's costume for villians night this weekend. They are going to look so cute together..

Suffered though a 90 min spin class last night, I can't wait till I can suffer through one with a nice view of the ocean!

Twopeasonepod This is way late but my friend finally picked her wedding places. She is having the ceremoney at her old Elem School, Hanahauoli school and the reception at the Pacific Club. Have you heard of them?

MandyGirl We are staying overnight at Hobby at the Springhill Suites.

Here is my thought for a name badge ....

http://www.4shared.com/photo/B1jvHR2f/Name_Badge_EBTA.html

So I like it and the mickey head flags, don't flame me but can you see what it looks like without the "DISboard member". I say this for two reasons.
1. It addes extra writing when I am trying to look for a name and disname
2. While I enjoy talking to all you nice people, I don't want to advertise on me that I am a disser-I know, I know-I am one but (Don't flame) CMs aren't always to fond of us, I blame this on a few dissers who think they are entitled and it ruins it for the rest of us....
Just my thought

 

[DisneyMouseHouse]

Great! For the size we are able to print at for an insert into the badge holder, it doesn't give much wiggle room. Thanks for using those flags! With Disney leaving Texas after 2013 you won't be seeing much floating around with the Texas flag

If you need me to resize it, just tell me the measurements, and I will fix that right up for you.....

Also, Noel suggested port names under the Mickey flags (I redid those so they were crisp and clear)...so I can send you all a new link soon!

 

[Kirbo]

Here is my thought for a name badge ....

http://www.4shared.com/photo/B1jvHR2f/Name_Badge_EBTA.html

I love it!

So I like it and the mickey head flags, don't flame me but can you see what it looks like without the "DISboard member". I say this for two reasons.
1. It addes extra writing when I am trying to look for a name and disname
2. While I enjoy talking to all you nice people, I don't want to advertise on me that I am a disser-I know, I know-I am one but (Don't flame) CMs aren't always to fond of us, I blame this on a few dissers who think they are entitled and it ruins it for the rest of us....
Just my thought

I didn't know the CMs didn't like Disers. I guess I'm not entirely surprised as I have seen some things on the Boards that do make some DisBoard members seem like entitled jerks, but most members seem quite nice. I wasn't involved in any stuff on our first two cruises, so it was unclear that I'm a member here. (I did the meet and greet for our second cruise, but that's it.)

I am having a great time on here and FB with you folks. But I have to admit, we're so bad at being crafty and life's been so crazy lately that once again, I think it'll be unclear that I'm a member here. We won't do the FE, I won't have costumes for us for Villain's Night or Pirate Night. About the only thing we'll have are PJ's for the pajama breakfast . But I will proudly wear that tag so that you all can recognize our lazy bums. But if others feel that that part should be removed, I don't really care one way or the other.

 

[DisneyMouseHouse]

So I like it and the mickey head flags, don't flame me but can you see what it looks like without the "DISboard member". I say this for two reasons.
1. It addes extra writing when I am trying to look for a name and disname
2. While I enjoy talking to all you nice people, I don't want to advertise on me that I am a disser-I know, I know-I am one but (Don't flame) CMs aren't always to fond of us, I blame this on a few dissers who think they are entitled and it ruins it for the rest of us....
Just my thought

I love it!

I didn't know the CMs didn't like Disers. I guess I'm not entirely surprised as I have seen some things on the Boards that do make some DisBoard members seem like entitled jerks, but most members seem quite nice.

Nope, no flame - here's my take on it!
1) I've never had an experience where the CM has made my stay anything but wonderful (well, a server, but that had nothing to do with the DIS!)
2) I like to promote this place - you'd be surprised at how many DON'T know about it, and for the most part (aside from the few entitled jerks mentioned above) this is a great place to make friends and get to know your cruisemates!
And PS - they'll know anyways because the green is the "official" DISBoards color

So, that being said - here's two new revisions - one at Noel's suggestion for port names and the other without the DISBoards Member on it!

You all decide, I am easy either way.....


OR

 

[twopeasonepod]

Twopeasonepod This is way late but my friend finally picked her wedding places. She is having the ceremoney at her old Elem School, Hanahauoli school and the reception at the Pacific Club. Have you heard of them?

OMG Hanahau'oli is the BEST school. Seriously. The most difficult to get into, with wonderful teachers and an incredible campus. Very small, but so amazing. She is very fortunate to have gone there. The Pacific Club is nice, too. They are both not in Waikiki near the hustle and bustle. Actually, Hanahau'oli is about a mile from our house! Pacific Club is a little over a mile in the other direction haha.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I've met nice people, guests and CM's when I have worn my Disboard button that a friend here had given me in one of the Exchanges. I've introduced a fair number of people to the site. I would be happy to have the Disboard Member on the card. Perhaps people who don't want it can simply cut the bottom bit off. If that's unacceptable, I would wear it without the notation, if that's the one that's chosen.

 

[woody73]

I'm looking through my old lanyards. All of the inserts have the cruise name or theme, the sailing dates, my name, and screen name. None of them say "Disboards member."

Woody

 

[WVURunner]

I didn't know the CMs didn't like Disers. I guess I'm not entirely surprised as I have seen some things on the Boards that do make some DisBoard members seem like entitled jerks, but most members seem quite nice. I wasn't involved in any stuff on our first two cruises, so it was unclear that I'm a member here. (I did the meet and greet for our second cruise, but that's it.)

It is not that all CMs don't like every DIS member, just that a few members have given the group as a whole a bad name. Lots of my CM friends are dis members and enjoy it. I liked to be judged based on me and my actions and not because of a group I am a member of. I can only recall once when something was said directly to me during a cruise and it was on the EBPC, over a course of a few cruises, we had gotten to know a CM that is part of the cruise staff pretty well and we were chatting when my niece mentioned something about her FE gift and the CM said to me, "I never pegged you before as one of those people". I think it bothered me so much because I HATE being sterotyped, I don't fit into any mold.

OMG Hanahau'oli is the BEST school. Seriously. The most difficult to get into, with wonderful teachers and an incredible campus. Very small, but so amazing. She is very fortunate to have gone there. The Pacific Club is nice, too. They are both not in Waikiki near the hustle and bustle. Actually, Hanahau'oli is about a mile from our house! Pacific Club is a little over a mile in the other direction haha.

Haha, this doesn't surprise me. While politics are completely banned from our friendship (if they were involved, there wouldn't be a friendship!), I do know that she went to the same private HS as Obama and I am always teasing her about her Ivy League engineering degree. It figures she went to the best elem school also. I am still upset that it won't be on a beach. I keep telling her she is ruining my vision of a perfect Hawaiian wedding. Since you live so close, maybe we will run into each other!

 

[woody73]

It is not that all CMs don't like every DIS member, just that a few members have given the group as a whole a bad name. . .

Sad but true.

Woody

 

[MandyGirl]

Suffered though a 90 min spin class last night, I can't wait till I can suffer through one with a nice view of the ocean!


MandyGirl We are staying overnight at Hobby at the Springhill Suites.

Yay for a breather from work!

My kindergartener and I enjoyed a much shorter bike ride yesterday. I finally got a "new" used bike for me to ride with her when hubby is home to watch the little one. Happy to report I did not DIE doing it!!!! All teeth are intact as well.

I also updated your hotel on the hotel post.

I'm looking through my old lanyards. All of the inserts have the cruise name or theme, the sailing dates, my name, and screen name. None of them say "Disboards member."

Woody

For some reason I had just interpreted "Disboards Member" was going to have our username in that slot.

Beverly - what about:

Flags/text under flags like they already have
First name (plain, larger text)
Disboard name (Waltograph)

Ex:

Flags
Mandy
MandyGirl

And for someone with no DISboard username, leave off the last line (MandyGirl)

It is not that all CMs don't like every DIS member, just that a few members have given the group as a whole a bad name. Lots of my CM friends are dis members and enjoy it. I liked to be judged based on me and my actions and not because of a group I am a member of. I can only recall once when something was said directly to me during a cruise and it was on the EBPC, over a course of a few cruises, we had gotten to know a CM that is part of the cruise staff pretty well and we were chatting when my niece mentioned something about her FE gift and the CM said to me, "I never pegged you before as one of those people". I think it bothered me so much because I HATE being sterotyped, I don't fit into any mold.

I had a conversation with a couple CMs once and just blew it off as "oh yeah, on any messageboard or cruise meet board there will be some who are over the top". I've been on CruiseCritic for 13 years from planning our first cruise in 2000, and it was a wonderful resource for planning our wedding cruise ten years ago. Other cruiselines welcome our get togethers, and even provide a location, cruise staff, beverages, etc. Yes, there are some over the top folks who do walk around with arrogance, feel like they are owed something apparently (or come across that way), come across as uppity because of the color of lanyard they are wearing, etc. Words might not be said but the arrogance shows, or that's just how they are in life in general. Just like it can be seen on the messageboards. (And if I *ever* come across that way, someone please kick me!!)

Kinda like with an occupation. "Oh, you're a ____." and you know opinions are already churning in that person's head. Just everywhere in life sadly.

 

[MandyGirl]

Sad but true.

Woody

Amen.

 

[kaseyC]

Sad but true.

Woody

Yes and that's a shame.

 

[kaseyC]

Reminder for Palo Brunch participants. I need your full name and reservation numbers. Please PM on the Dis or Message me on FB. Thanks!