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

[Tink1987]

I took my girls and a few of their friends when it first came out. I loved it!! I use to be quite the video game junkie. So I totally enjoyed all of the references to the classic games.

My youngest DD has been so excited for Oz. My DH is taking her next week for their Daddy/Daughter night out.

It's really good isn't it? So many great references.

Aww Daddy/Daughter night sounds like a fab idea!

 

[Kirbo]

This will be our 11th Disney Cruise - we've made it to Platinum. We are so excited.

to our meet thread and to the DisBoards!

So far not so great --- hubby has been holding me captive in our study to do yearly taxes (I'm being sneaky getting more cruise stuff done hehehehe) and the littlest one has already made herself comfy in our bed. It's 11:35pm and I am really wishing we could just sleep in tomorrow.

We are in the charitable contributions portion now.... aaaagh... just want to go to bed!!!

Since you couldn't sleep in, I'm guessing you're at church. Perhaps a nap later?

It's OK lol. I do stuff like that all the time! I kept thinking you had already checked in but didn't want to say and appear rude haha.

You know when you said about booking Med exclusions? Did you mean for your Med cruise then?

Yeah, Med excursions for the Med cruise. I did manage to get the excursions picked out. We might end up canceling them and doing private tours with the rest of my family. Just haven't been able to plan properly with them.

And go ahead and ask me questions. You won't appear rude, you can appear to be my missing brain!

We finally saw Wreck it Ralph yesterday - we loved it!!! It was so cool, a definite bluray purchase!

Has anybody else seen it?

I want to see Oz next weekend, I've been excited for that film for so long.

I'm hoping they are both on the boat as we won't have seen either one. We never make it to the movie theaters anymore, only ever see stuff on Netflix.

Do they sell the official DCL lanyards onboard? I know you get on as a CC member gift when you reach silver so we won't get one until our second cruise.

They do sell them at the gift shop, if you decide you want one.



This is regarding my Med cruise, I wasn't able to do the actual check in. It wants my air info, but THEY are taking care of my air and I don't have it yet! That wasn't an issue when I checked in for the EBTA portion, so it has me worried that they want to fly us home after the EBTA instead of after the Med. I specifically asked my travel agent about that when we first made our reservations and they told me that it's listed that we're doing the Med after the EBTA and that our flight home will be on June 8th, so it should all be fine, but it still makes me worry. I'll put in a call to the travel agent later on and have them check it for me. Seriously, good travel agents are worth their weight in gold!

 

[LySand]

We finally saw Wreck it Ralph yesterday - we loved it!!! It was so cool, a definite bluray purchase!

Has anybody else seen it?

I want to see Oz next weekend, I've been excited for that film for so long.

We watched it last night. I agree with you - it was great! Did you try pausing it? Every time we paused there was a little intermission where a guy talks about trivia placed in the movie.

I can't wait to see OZ. It looks amazing!

 

[Yvet]

Do they sell the official DCL lanyards onboard? I know you get on as a CC member gift when you reach silver so we won't get one until our second cruise.

They don't sell the lanyards that they give as CC member because there it says Silver, Gold or Platinum.
They do sell lanyards onboard at the gift shop (they are open the first day at sea) but that are the usual Disney lanyards. I can't recall seeing DCL logo lanyards but that doesn't mean that there aren't because i have always had my DCL CC lanyard...

 

[StephenKay]

Hi All

My DW and I are regular DCL cruisers and have done a couple of WBTAs in the past, I already know some of you from WBTA 2011 and my Wife's DisName is Tod&Copper (Mary).

I am currently at home with a lot of spare time, having recently retired from the Royal Air Force and just wondering what to do next.

The opportunity has arisen to do the EBTA, but I would be doing this without my DW as she doesn't have the annual leave to be able to go on this trip and has to stay at home with DD who will be doing her final High School exams during this time.

I would love to do this solo and take the trip as an opportunity to chill, see some of my favourite ports and enjoy a great voyage and beat the cool Scottish spring/summer

Our only concern is that, being a solo traveller, the cruise may be chalk and cheese compared to what we usually experience on DCL, as a family or cruising with friends.

Swithering whether to book or not. Are there any other solo cruisers out there on this trip or would I be able to join a DIS linked dining so I'm not sitting on my own?

From reading the info at the beginning of the thread, I can see there are a few of the great usual activities on board that I can join in with.

Does anyone have any input of their experiences going solo on a long cruise?

Thanks

 

[birkner]

Congratulations!



We have lots of extras. Would you like bring a couple?

Question about Champagne Girls! Do you have to drink champagne? Gives me a headache. What does it usually cost?

Champagne Girls is a ladies only event that began on the 2008 WBPC cruise. Cost will be $20.00 and charged to your stateroom.

Here is a link to pictures and the history of the Champagne Girls.

If you are interested, please send me a PM with your name (first and last) and your stateroom number.

 

[woody73]

We finally saw Wreck it Ralph yesterday - we loved it!!! It was so cool, a definite bluray purchase!

Has anybody else seen it?

We saw it on the Fantasy. Cute movie.

Woody

 

[Aunt Gram]

If you are interested in a kid-friendly walking tour of Barcelona, check out Running Bean Tours. They received great reviews on Trip Advisor. We will be in Barcelona until Sunday morning when we fly to Paris, so we wanted our grandson to get a idea of how wonderful the city is. They also advertised a couple of free walking tours. Of course, "free" means a good tip for the guide.

 

[Kirbo]

Hi All

My DW and I are regular DCL cruisers and have done a couple of WBTAs in the past, I already know some of you from WBTA 2011 and my Wife's DisName is Tod&Copper (Mary).

I am currently at home with a lot of spare time, having recently retired from the Royal Air Force and just wondering what to do next.

The opportunity has arisen to do the EBTA, but I would be doing this without my DW as she doesn't have the annual leave to be able to go on this trip and has to stay at home with DD who will be doing her final High School exams during this time.

I would love to do this solo and take the trip as an opportunity to chill, see some of my favourite ports and enjoy a great voyage and beat the cool Scottish spring/summer

Our only concern is that, being a solo traveller, the cruise may be chalk and cheese compared to what we usually experience on DCL, as a family or cruising with friends.

Swithering whether to book or not. Are there any other solo cruisers out there on this trip or would I be able to join a DIS linked dining so I'm not sitting on my own?

From reading the info at the beginning of the thread, I can see there are a few of the great usual activities on board that I can join in with.

Does anyone have any input of their experiences going solo on a long cruise?

Thanks

No idea what it's like to cruise solo, but I know that others have done it and had a lovely time. There are many of us who are linking our dining, you could join us!

 

[woody73]

. . . Does anyone have any input of their experiences going solo on a long cruise?

Given the cost of the single supplement, have you considered inviting a friend or relative?

Woody

 

[RayOfRedondo]

you are definately spoiled!! So, if the island itself isn't a draw (beautiful) you could consider the wave runners - they take you out to a sandbar about a mile from anywhere to explore. The path is beautiful - most likely you have the same (or better) flowers at home.

The beaches are nice - I didn't see a lot of beaches while in Hawaii - so I can't compare. The sand is white and soft (I guess most of it is in that locale - in NJ it is much coarser and rough to walk on). The are lots of things to photograph, and the buildings are interesting - make note of the names - all of them are people who work for DCL!


If you choose to stay on the ship - well...lots to do! Movies, kids clubs, spa stuff etc...they keep the activities going for those who are sun-shy or just prefer to not go on the island.

Like you I live in a beach community (Redondo Beach, CA), so the prospect of a day at the beach doesn't have the same appeal as most of the rest of the world. Probably isn't much about CC that you cannot do in Hawaii. So do what I do - people watch and take joy in watching those who rarely experience a day at the beach having fun.

 

[tobyjasper1970]

Welcome!

When/where you flying from? We're flying from Heathrow on 17th. My daughter is also 14, feel free to pm me with an email address for the girls to start chatting if you want to. My daughter is already chatting to a couple of the girls on here, will be nice for them to "know" each other when they get onboard!

We fly out from Heathrow on the 17th to Houston, watch out for the Disney backpacks

 

[twopeasonepod]

Like you I live in a beach community (Redondo Beach, CA), so the prospect of a day at the beach doesn't have the same appeal as most of the rest of the world. Probably isn't much about CC that you cannot do in Hawaii. So do what I do - people watch and take joy in watching those who rarely experience a day at the beach having fun.

I do enjoy just relaxing and people-watching! We decided to do the bike trail as well. Also, I didn't know about the water slides. My sons will love that!

 

[twopeasonepod]

Given the cost of the single supplement, have you considered inviting a friend or relative?

Woody

ITA. Probably a lot more cost-effective. But I think someone else is solo in this group, right?

 

[WVURunner]

I do enjoy just relaxing and people-watching! We decided to do the bike trail as well. Also, I didn't know about the water slides. My sons will love that!

It won't be just your sons loving the slides, you will to. We went to CC with friends ("adults" only) in April on the Fantasy and after being told we were a little rowdy for the adult beach (we had a frisbee game going) we got the hint and moved to the waterslides, where we had a BLAST.

I use to be quite the video game junkie. So I totally enjoyed all of the references to the classic games.

I haven't seen it yet but this is why DH enjoyed it so much!

I'm up early our time today because we are off to a bit photography show. I'm buying a new lens which I'm super excited about and some other little accessories as well

What did you end up getting? I am thinking about getting DH something to do with his camera for his b-day, which is right before the cruise. Any suggestions?

We finally saw Wreck it Ralph yesterday - we loved it!!! It was so cool, a definite bluray purchase!

Has anybody else seen it?

I want to see Oz next weekend, I've been excited for that film for so long.

DH loved the movie but both of us have no interest in seeing OZ and neither does my nephew.

I bet we could easily meet in the lobby to sleepwalk down there. You will also be able to see the ship as she is arriving - coming around the bend out to the right.

Hope you guys will share your pictures with those who can't be there that early to get pictures!

Hanahau'oli kids pretty much can get into any school they want. Many then go to Punahou, as your friend did. Her wedding will be lovely. A cool venue with much meaning for her, I'm sure. When is the wedding?

Her wedding is in 8/14 but she is moving back home with our company chasing work in May so hopefully, if we get the work, I will be visiting before than on the company dollar!

Also if anyone else is into Vinylmation we will have some of those to trade as well!

My nephew loves vinyls and trading but he won't be joining us on this cruise but we will be brining some of his vinyls with us to trade for him.

 

[Tink1987]

Yeah, Med excursions for the Med cruise. I did manage to get the excursions picked out. We might end up canceling them and doing private tours with the rest of my family. Just haven't been able to plan properly with them.

And go ahead and ask me questions. You won't appear rude, you can appear to be my missing brain!

I'm hoping they are both on the boat as we won't have seen either one. We never make it to the movie theaters anymore, only ever see stuff on Netflix.

They do sell them at the gift shop, if you decide you want one.

This is regarding my Med cruise, I wasn't able to do the actual check in. It wants my air info, but THEY are taking care of my air and I don't have it yet! That wasn't an issue when I checked in for the EBTA portion, so it has me worried that they want to fly us home after the EBTA instead of after the Med. I specifically asked my travel agent about that when we first made our reservations and they told me that it's listed that we're doing the Med after the EBTA and that our flight home will be on June 8th, so it should all be fine, but it still makes me worry. I'll put in a call to the travel agent later on and have them check it for me. Seriously, good travel agents are worth their weight in gold!

Thank you, I was thinking I couldn't book our Maderia Disney excursion until 90 days from the day we dock in Maderia

If Wreck It Ralph is on the boat, I will be there for every showing with the

Sorry you didn't get to check in online Let us know what your TA says! Hope you get it sorted

We watched it last night. I agree with you - it was great! Did you try pausing it? Every time we paused there was a little intermission where a guy talks about trivia placed in the movie.

I can't wait to see OZ. It looks amazing!

We saw it in the cinema, it only came out 3 weeks ago in the UK. Is it on DVD/bluray already in the US? I definitely want the preorder so I am looking forward to seeing the extras on that, hope there is a lot of trivia on there!

They don't sell the lanyards that they give as CC member because there it says Silver, Gold or Platinum.
They do sell lanyards onboard at the gift shop (they are open the first day at sea) but that are the usual Disney lanyards. I can't recall seeing DCL logo lanyards but that doesn't mean that there aren't because i have always had my DCL CC lanyard...

Thank you, I didn't know they said platinum, gold etc, that's really cool!

Hi All

My DW and I are regular DCL cruisers and have done a couple of WBTAs in the past, I already know some of you from WBTA 2011 and my Wife's DisName is Tod&Copper (Mary).

I am currently at home with a lot of spare time, having recently retired from the Royal Air Force and just wondering what to do next.

The opportunity has arisen to do the EBTA, but I would be doing this without my DW as she doesn't have the annual leave to be able to go on this trip and has to stay at home with DD who will be doing her final High School exams during this time.

I would love to do this solo and take the trip as an opportunity to chill, see some of my favourite ports and enjoy a great voyage and beat the cool Scottish spring/summer

Our only concern is that, being a solo traveller, the cruise may be chalk and cheese compared to what we usually experience on DCL, as a family or cruising with friends.

Swithering whether to book or not. Are there any other solo cruisers out there on this trip or would I be able to join a DIS linked dining so I'm not sitting on my own?

From reading the info at the beginning of the thread, I can see there are a few of the great usual activities on board that I can join in with.

Does anyone have any input of their experiences going solo on a long cruise?

Thanks

I've got no experience of cruising solo, or even going on holiday solo, but I think it would be a cool experience for you. We have a good group and as Kirbo has mentioned there is linked dining etc and lots of other fun activities. And you make like some of the time on your own, reading, listening to music?

We saw it on the Fantasy. Cute movie.

Woody

We really loved it!

I haven't seen it yet but this is why DH enjoyed it so much!

What did you end up getting? I am thinking about getting DH something to do with his camera for his b-day, which is right before the cruise. Any suggestions?

DH loved the movie but both of us have no interest in seeing OZ and neither does my nephew.

Hope you guys will share your pictures with those who can't be there that early to get pictures!

We got a new walk-around lens, a better one to what we have now. Also got a smaller tripod, some new accessories like a spirit level, lens cleaner and a new bag. It was our first time going to the exhibition and luckily it's right on our doorstep so will be going every year. There were lots of mini seminars as well which were so cool! DB has been reading a lot recently about post processing and has had 3 $40 books but he learnt a few things from a 30 minute free seminar which he hadn't even read about in these books!

Will definitely share my pictures when we are back on Flickr, I'm already expecting to take over 4000 lol.

What camera does he have again sorry, I know we discussed it before but I can't remember

 

[Kirbo]

Thank you, I was thinking I couldn't book our Maderia Disney excursion until 90 days from the day we dock in Maderia

Sorry you didn't get to check in online Let us know what your TA says! Hope you get it sorted

All the booking stuff is so confusing! I don't know how else they could do it, but i do wish it weren't so !

I talked to my travel agency. The agent called DCL and then called me back. He said that since it's a B2B their site isn't really set up to handle it! He said that DCL is indeed flying us home after the Med and that they do have all that info correctly, they just can't load it into the system in such a way that the second leg knows. So they told him to have me choose a different option on the site for check in purposes. I just chose that we have a rental car and are going to a hotel. It asked for the hotel's address and I put our home address in. He said that once I get the flight info from DCL we can input it then. So I'm now officially checked in on the Med!

I'm excited for this whole trip

 

[twopeasonepod]

It won't be just your sons loving the slides, you will to. We went to CC with friends ("adults" only) in April on the Fantasy and after being told we were a little rowdy for the adult beach (we had a frisbee game going) we got the hint and moved to the waterslides, where we had a BLAST.

Her wedding is in 8/14 but she is moving back home with our company chasing work in May so hopefully, if we get the work, I will be visiting before than on the company dollar!

Oh don't you worry, I am a total kid. On my first cruise (RCI with my two BFFs for our 40th), I tried to enter the belly flop contest (I can grab both my ankles mid-flight for an awesome landing), but they wouldn't let me because it was only for men. I'll race you down the slide, though!

Awesome! I bet she is so stoked to come home. Even after undergrad and internship in CA, there is nowhere like home for us island kids. What kind of work? There is plenty in certain areas, and not so much in others. Hopefully it's tsunamis or marine biology or something haha jk. Oh wait, you mentioned engineering???

August is a beautiful time here. Public schools start around the 1st (year-round schedule), so things won't be so busy and crowded. Hanahau'oli and most private schools start at the end of August. We are going on a trip 8/16 just before school starts. She will know all the great things to do. There are a few "must do"s!

 

[Tink1987]

All the booking stuff is so confusing! I don't know how else they could do it, but i do wish it weren't so !

I talked to my travel agency. The agent called DCL and then called me back. He said that since it's a B2B their site isn't really set up to handle it! He said that DCL is indeed flying us home after the Med and that they do have all that info correctly, they just can't load it into the system in such a way that the second leg knows. So they told him to have me choose a different option on the site for check in purposes. I just chose that we have a rental car and are going to a hotel. It asked for the hotel's address and I put our home address in. He said that once I get the flight info from DCL we can input it then. So I'm now officially checked in on the Med!

I'm excited for this whole trip

Glad you got it sorted - boy it sounds confusing though! At least you know you are getting home :-D

 

[MandyGirl]

Hi All

My DW and I are regular DCL cruisers and have done a couple of WBTAs in the past, I already know some of you from WBTA 2011 and my Wife's DisName is Tod&Copper (Mary).

I am currently at home with a lot of spare time, having recently retired from the Royal Air Force and just wondering what to do next.

The opportunity has arisen to do the EBTA, but I would be doing this without my DW as she doesn't have the annual leave to be able to go on this trip and has to stay at home with DD who will be doing her final High School exams during this time.

I would love to do this solo and take the trip as an opportunity to chill, see some of my favourite ports and enjoy a great voyage and beat the cool Scottish spring/summer

Our only concern is that, being a solo traveller, the cruise may be chalk and cheese compared to what we usually experience on DCL, as a family or cruising with friends.

Swithering whether to book or not. Are there any other solo cruisers out there on this trip or would I be able to join a DIS linked dining so I'm not sitting on my own?

From reading the info at the beginning of the thread, I can see there are a few of the great usual activities on board that I can join in with.

Does anyone have any input of their experiences going solo on a long cruise?

Thanks

Okay - I was just facebooking Mary back and forth. YAY!!!!!!!!! Anything we can help answer for you or do, don't hesitate to holler at us.

BTW - can she just quit her job instead and let your daughter fend for herself?

You know I'm just kidding. It will be great to cruise with you again! But we do need to find a bartender who can make the perfect painkiller......