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

[Tink1987]

Just seen we're onto the new thread - hooray!!

I've noticed I'm the only singleton on the palo brunch I've signed up to, so please can everyone else that day talk to me! Have never done palo before precisely because I'm on my own, so now slightly paranoid!

Today I've started on my fish extender gifts which has really got me excited about the cruise.

Wednesday I am DEFINITELY starting my diet - I need to get pancake day out of the way tomorrow, then thats it!

Of course we will talk to you

Don't worry at all, it's all going to be great x

 

[Tink1987]

I don't think $1,398 pp for VGT is that great. I would've guessed $998 pp. The difference between the OGT @ ~ $800 pp and the VGT @ ~ $1,400 pp is $600 - or $1,200 more for 2 people. That's a really big price jump from window to verandah.

We won't be paying the extra, to me, the extra money goes a long way towards a 2 centre Europe trip for us in September.

 

[Tink1987]

I hear ya both! I will plan, but when something happens that I can't control then I go with the flow.

I just can not be like some I know on cruises who literally get on the ship not knowing what the ports of call are, and then start thinking about shore excursions once onboard. Then they are the ones complaining they can't get into a certain restaurant because they never made reservations in advance. (Yep, seen it happen). That's the complete opposite though - *not* planning.

Oh I could never ever do that!! But when you start obsessing over a restaurant for every single night of your trip, I think that's too much for me now. I do like walking past a few places and getting the feel for one, looking at the menu etc etc

 

[MandyGirl]

Just seen we're onto the new thread - hooray!!

I've noticed I'm the only singleton on the palo brunch I've signed up to, so please can everyone else that day talk to me! Have never done palo before precisely because I'm on my own, so now slightly paranoid!

Don't fret over being the only singleton! You're in the same group as me. My mother-in-law will be there as well --- as father-in-law was not interested in the trip. We just saw her this weekend and she is super excited to meet everyone, especially after I told her that there are others traveling without their significant other. So absolutely zero worries!!

 

[MandyGirl]

I don't think $1,398 pp for VGT is that great. I would've guessed $998 pp. The difference between the OGT @ ~ $800 pp and the VGT @ ~ $1,400 pp is $600 - or $1,200 more for 2 people. That's a really big price jump from window to verandah.

I was surprised at the VGT rate as well. Not just comparing it the way you did, but also comparing to Interline and Military rates. I was trying to recall what they were in the past for a 14-nt transatlantic. Do you remember Nancy?

 

[MandyGirl]

Oh I could never ever do that!! But when you start obsessing over a restaurant for every single night of your trip, I think that's too much for me now. I do like walking past a few places and getting the feel for one, looking at the menu etc etc

Yep - we have our one or two restaurants we know we want to hit, but also enjoy spur of the moment. In fact, our apartment in Barcelona was based in the area we loved near Casa Batllo and our favorite tapas restaurant!

 

[MissAndrea]

You guys are always so helpful! I'm still not sure on the Palo brunch. I'm going to think about it.

Haven't heard back from my TA on rebooking. We are already at 11C GTY so we might just rebook at the IGT since it's so crazy cheap. I dunno...we'll see.

On future cruises, when do those type of rates (IGT, OGT, VGT) come out? We just started cruising last year but the price of a Disney cruise is what's kept me from doing it until now. I might just start watching for the cheap rates and book more last minute cruises in the future if it means cruising Disney more often.

I'm not a huge drinker so I'm not sure how much we'll bring. I rarely ever drink around my kiddo, but from what everyone says, she'll probably be in the kids club anyway. I don't really drink much anyway, so who knows. Thanks for the info, I definitely want to play by the rules so the privilege is not revoked!

 

[NancyIL]

I was surprised at the VGT rate as well. Not just comparing it the way you did, but also comparing to Interline and Military rates. I was trying to recall what they were in the past for a 14-nt transatlantic. Do you remember Nancy?

Sorry, Mandy, but I didn't pay much attention to other Transatlantic cruise prices - other than the eastbounds in cat 12.

 

[WVURunner]

Haven't heard back from my TA on rebooking. We are already at 11C GTY so we might just rebook at the IGT since it's so crazy cheap. I dunno...we'll see.

We booked 11C GTY and with two adults in the room, if we cancelled and rebooked, the savings would be less than $100. Remember if you book an *GT rate you can't make any changes or get any money back if you cancel, you are out of luck.

 

[MandyGirl]

You guys are always so helpful! I'm still not sure on the Palo brunch. I'm going to think about it.

We have to have a minimum of 12 per group (max of 14) to reserve the private room for group brunch. It really is a lot of fun, and like Paul said earlier, we met friends that we would have not met otherwise probably. We are seated in a private room with exceptional service, and one wall is windows in that private room of Palo. Maybe if you were able to join Group 1 to make it 13 that might also help LadyShopper out for being a singleton? (And my mother in law)?

 

[MissAndrea]

We have to have a minimum of 12 per group (max of 14) to reserve the private room for group brunch. It really is a lot of fun, and like Paul said earlier, we met friends that we would have not met otherwise probably. We are seated in a private room with exceptional service, and one wall is windows in that private room of Palo. Maybe if you were able to join Group 1 to make it 13 that might also help LadyShopper out for being a singleton? (And my mother in law)?

It would be hubby and I if we did decide to book it. The fact that the brunch is buffet style is a big selling point to me. We've only been on two other cruises (NCL and Carnival) but this one will be very different for us. We've never done the formal nights and we don't eat in the MDR's. The one time we tried the MDR on NCL, hubby got sick before the main course arrived, so he left me there. I hurried through my meal and left. Anyhoo, we are kind of laid back and like not being on a schedule when cruising. Having a set time to eat, dressing up, meeting people, this will be a completely different experience for us. Who knows, maybe we'll like it even more! Being Disney, I'm sure we will.

 

[Grammyto4]

Hi, looking forward to traveling on my first Disney cruise. This isn't my first cruise by any means, or my first Disney adventure. My daughter WVU Runner has set me up for all the exciting events. I am not the best with the computer so now she is teaching me how to use the Disboards. So we will see how it goes. Looking forward to cruising with everyone.

 

[kaseyC]

Hi, looking forward to traveling on my first Disney cruise. This isn't my first cruise by any means, or my first Disney adventure. My daughter WVU Runner has set me up for all the exciting events. I am not the best with the computer so now she is teaching me how to use the Disboards. So we will see how it goes. Looking forward to cruising with everyone.

Welcome!!

 

[twopeasonepod]

Hi, looking forward to traveling on my first Disney cruise. This isn't my first cruise by any means, or my first Disney adventure. My daughter WVU Runner has set me up for all the exciting events. I am not the best with the computer so now she is teaching me how to use the Disboards. So we will see how it goes. Looking forward to cruising with everyone.

Yay! My parents are also onboard (but not part of the DIS), so it's glad to see more grandparents joining!

 

[twopeasonepod]

Not trying to be snooty, but can someone tell me the big draw of CC for someone that is not landlocked? I do not expect most beaches to rival ours, but if there is something special I should know about, I am always open. I love the beach and the water. Just won't be "wowed" by the prospect of snorkeling with some fish (since I can do that 365 days a year).

Right now we are planning to do the paddle boats and trikes. The boys are too young for wave runners.

 

[queenbee99]

What is the rent a princess? Saw that and was wondering.

 

[padalyn]

Not trying to be snooty, but can someone tell me the big draw of CC for someone that is not landlocked? I do not expect most beaches to rival ours, but if there is something special I should know about, I am always open. I love the beach and the water. Just won't be "wowed" by the prospect of snorkeling with some fish (since I can do that 365 days a year).

Right now we are planning to do the paddle boats and trikes. The boys are too young for wave runners.

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.

 

[MandyGirl]

Hi, looking forward to traveling on my first Disney cruise. This isn't my first cruise by any means, or my first Disney adventure. My daughter WVU Runner has set me up for all the exciting events. I am not the best with the computer so now she is teaching me how to use the Disboards. So we will see how it goes. Looking forward to cruising with everyone.

Welcome aboard!!

My mother-in-law will also be joining for her first Disney cruise, and joining us for walking

 

[queenbee99]

Did anyone book thru Disney for Air back home? I was worried that you don't find out what airline till right before the cruise. Has anyone done this cruise and used Disney air before?

 

[queenbee99]

I was younger when I went to Hawaii but I wasn't really that impressed. That is not meant to be ugly. It was way crowded. My little girl wants to go to Hawaii and it's not way up there for me. I do want to see Aulani but other then that can think of lots of other places I would rather go.

Oh I forgot to mention I hate the beach and I LOVE CC. I guess it's more that everything is right there and it's not that crowded. A friend said it's like WDW at the beach. I really would have liked to have done some of the cruises out of Galveston but wish they had started the shorter ones earlier and offered more options for CC. That would have sold me for sure!

Not trying to be snooty, but can someone tell me the big draw of CC for someone that is not landlocked? I do not expect most beaches to rival ours, but if there is something special I should know about, I am always open. I love the beach and the water. Just won't be "wowed" by the prospect of snorkeling with some fish (since I can do that 365 days a year).

Right now we are planning to do the paddle boats and trikes. The boys are too young for wave runners.