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

[EjeG]

Hi there,

Just read a trip report from the 2010 EBTA and the contributor attended lots of tastings, Rum, Whiskey, Tequila, Martini's to name a few. I fancy doing a few more of these, as they are excellent value at some $20. I am certainly up for rum, vodka, cognac and could be tempted to try a few others if pushed. If nothing else, at least you get to have a laugh with the servers and other cruisers.

This may surprise some, whilst we have many whiskey distillerys with a stone's throw of this house, I am not a big fan and would give that tasting a miss.


I think we just sign up for these at Guest Services?

I know I am already booked for the mixology.

I/we have attended a lot of different tasting classes and they are a great value. The best thing is to book at guest services to ensure a seat in the tasting session, but often you can walk in and sign up before the start assuming there is room. Some tasting classes tend to fill up and you might not be able to get a seat if you walk in before the start.

Tequila, Martini, mixology and Champagne are some I would highly recommend (would say Whiskey and Cognac to if you like it but by the sound your not a fan).

The private mixology is loads of fun on the onces I have attended. In most classes especially Mixology and Martini they allow students behind the bar and fix drinks.


Me doing the looong pour by Eje Gustafsson, on Flickr

Me and my DW behind the bar me doing the long pour during a private mixology class.


Margarita Time by Eje Gustafsson, on Flickr

Here during Tequila tasting we (mostly me) built a tower with our used glasses and the bartender finished off what was left over of his tequila based mix into the top glass (extra free drink, yay)


Yummy Martinis at Meridian by Eje Gustafsson, on Flickr

Tasty Martinis from the Martini tasting.


Getting the Martinis ready by Eje Gustafsson, on Flickr

Lot of glasses lined up in preparation for the Martini tasting.


Bartender giving a show by Eje Gustafsson, on Flickr

This guy gave a show during the private mixology tasting (this picture was not from the tasting but in the evening one night).

Another fun thing that happen during the Tequila tasting was at numerous occasions they would pick out 4 people to do a drink race. They took a shot glass filled it with tequila and put it inside a beer glass (upside down) and filled up the beer glass with beer. The purpose was to drain the beer glass first and as you drank the beer the tequila would be released from the shot glass into the beer. Boy was that a kick, I had a bit problem walking after that tasting (but I won the race )

See you at the tastings

 

[pillow]

I'm not on this cruise, but I noticed a super cheap one way fare from Barcelona to Dulles on June 2nd. Its the red eye on Aeroflot - $670. Just passing it along.

Jodie

 

[WVURunner]

Just a reminder for the recently added cruisers, I have the info for a private canyoning tour my DH, sister and I are doing. If anyone would like the info, let me know. It saves over $100 doing it on our own than through Disney.

 

[Ladyshopper]

Grandma thanks for looking for me!

 

[heatherb819]

I wonder if anyone in the US might be prepared to do me a favour?

My mother in law has asked for a specific moisturiser for her birthday:

http://uk.shopping.com/st-ives-st-ives-collagen-elastin-face-moisturizer-timeless-skin-295-ml-jar-3-pack/info

It seems like it isn't available here in the UK, and the only decent place to buy it is amazon, where it is imported in and postage costs a lot.

I wondered if anyone had seen this in say Walmart/Walgreens etc, and how much it was there? If not too expensive, I also wondered if someone might be kind enough to get some for me, and I could reimburse them when onboard?

Even if I order if from amazon its unlikely to get here from the states for her birthday, and she isn't someone who is too worried about things being late (plus I have got her a couple of other bits and ordered her some flowers, so she will have something on the day).

I would like to get this for her if I can, just trying to do it a cheaper way!

If anyone could help with prices that would be fab!

Grabbed a container at Walgreens today!

 

[StephenKay]

Hi there,

For those who have visited either Maderia, Gibraltar what tips would you give those who have not visited these ports.

Mine would start with, both ports have great cable cars, however if you get off the ship and see the tops of the mountain in cloud, then don't visit the summit until it clears, the views are fantastic.

My other top tip is a bit naughty, very me!!!
if you want have some in fun in Gibraltar then try to sneak some bananas into someone in your parties bag, easily available on DCL, then go to the summit by cable car. Within seconds the apes grabbed the bag from my DS partner and a tussle started. We took some pics (he had no idea we had done this) however I nearly pee'd myself laughing. If you cant get, bananas, then use dry pasta in the pocket, the apes go wild for this!!

FYI, the goverment are trying to remove many apes back to North Africa, it seems too many are being bred.

Another tip in Gib, for Beatles fans, go to the tiny registry office and ask to see John Lennon and Yoko Ono's marriage certificate. We did this and got to see the original, where mistakes states both parties as "spinster" and "bachelor" both are scored out and hand written "previously married" The are just placed next to Mr &Mrs Smith and Jones etc. Great thing to see and didn't cost a penny. I should say the reason I went to the registry office was to exorcise a ghost in our family, a member of the family was married there in registry the 80's , my Granny didn't believe her daughter was married.

 

[GoofyNewfie]

I will have to PM GoofyNewie about it, he gave me access for my 2 events, PJ breakfast and Pin Trading but not to add anything new. I haven't seen him around for a while, probably busy flying over the Atlantic again!

Yeah, I was. I got back a few days ago. Delayed trying to get home due to fog here in St. John's.

I'll go add a page on the website, and MandyGirl should add a link on the list of organized events. I'd like to attend too and show off my terrible skills (I'd add a winky face but it's true... )

Who is the organizer? I believe I saw a few people volunteer. If we have more than one, perhaps we could arrange more than one?

 

[GoofyNewfie]

I saw that people were talking about Villain's Night. It sounds like we don't need an organizer but we should try to share some more information. Does anyone have pictures of how people dressed up? I tried googling and our cruise thread shows up twice on the first page. Not a lot of information out there.

 

[GoofyNewfie]

EDIT: UPDATED A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER. Sorry folks, I wasn't clear at all. Trying to rush I guess. I was only asking for opinions on whether we should collect the extra information. If I'd received a positive response, I would have updated the Roll Call Entry form. I've now received several PMs and there have been posts here in this thread. Please hold off, I'll update the Roll Call Entry form to make things easier.

--Original text below ------------

I've discussed with a couple of people over the last while that we should think about updating the roll call since it's been open for about a year now. Many people may have dropped out without having their names removed.

We're sitting at a shade under 100 people signed up. I've removed a few people over the year that we've heard have dropped out, but not very many.

On top of getting an updated view of who is going, we have discussed collecting a little more information to help people know who else is doing an excursion, or on a flight, etc. I know that I'm planning on meeting people in Toronto for the flight to Houston but maybe there are other interested in an early meet to get the party started! So with that in mind, I'm thinking of updating the roll call to ask for the following:

The only mandatory items would be as they are now. Name and Party description.

Disboard's Name
Party description
Cabin Number
Dining Time
Special Event
Confirmed Y/N
Arrival Flight (date and flight #)
Pre-departure Hotel (Name and Location)
Castaway Cay Excursion
Madeira Excursion
Gibraltar Excursion
Barcelona Hotel
Departure Flight (date and flight #)

Please let me know what you think by either reply to this post or PM me.

 

[Kirbo]

Disboard's Name-Kirbo
Party description-Me, DH and our two daughters who are eight, almost nine
Cabin Number
Dining Time-late, linked
Special Event
Confirmed Y/N-Yes
Arrival Flight (date and flight #)-Unknown (we're doing Disney Air)
Pre-departure Hotel (Name and Location)-Most likely Marriott at IAH as it's the hotel Disney seems to use
Castaway Cay Excursion-Stingray
Madeira Excursion-Madeira Caves and North Coast
Gibraltar Excursion-Dolphin Wolrd
Barcelona Hotel-None, we're doing the first Med
Departure Flight (date and flight #)-Unknown

 

[DisneyMouseHouse]

Hi there,

Just read a trip report from the 2010 EBTA and the contributor attended lots of tastings, Rum, Whiskey, Tequila, Martini's to name a few. I fancy doing a few more of these, as they are excellent value at some $20. I am certainly up for rum, vodka, cognac and could be tempted to try a few others if pushed. If nothing else, at least you get to have a laugh with the servers and other cruisers.

This may surprise some, whilst we have many whiskey distillerys with a stone's throw of this house, I am not a big fan and would give that tasting a miss.

I think we just sign up for these at Guest Services?

I know I am already booked for the mixology.

Yep, just head for guest services on the first day and you should be able to sign up for all/any of them all at once. We also attend these because it is a good value, and they are fun, the bartenders are generally a hoot! DH does the whiskey sometime, but it's generally American whisky and cognac, and not what you've got (of which he's most fond of, whiskey).

Looking forward to seeing you there!

 

[EjeG]

It been discussed for a bit to have a photo walk and looks like we have numerous people interested in said walk. As of right now dates and times have not been set, but looks like we have interest in two walks, one early am (towards the start of the cruise) and a pm (sunset) walk. We are waiting for final dates for special ship activities before dates and times are set.

Sunrise photo walk
May 20th

Sunset Photo walk
TBD

Night Photo Walk
TBD
(great for capturing those amazing nice pictures with tripod with NO people in them)

Best Photo - Photo feedback
If interest exists we could arrange a meeting say in the cove cafe where people bring 3 of their best photos either printed out or to be viewed on a tablet in hi-res (preferably no phones since photos get so small).
And people in the group could provide constructive feedback on the photo.

What is a photo walk?

Photowalking is the act of walking with a camera for the main purpose of taking pictures of things that the photographer may find interesting.
It is often a communal activity organised by camera clubs, online forums or commercial organisations, sometimes in the form of a walking tour. Often the aim is to practice and improve one's own photography skills rather than a specific focus on documentary photography.
While the camera need not be a digital camera, in practice the low cost of digital photography and the ease of digital photo processing and online photo sharing allow a casual approach in photowalking.

For whom is it for?
Anyone interested in taking pictures, independent of age, camera equipment and skill levels. There will be numerous skilled photographers taking part of the walk that will be more than happy to assist with recommendations and suggestions to improve one's photography skills.


Here are the people that signuped up (show interest).
Dis Board
EjeG
p17blo
dee slack
SaraCat
WVURunner (DH)
Tink1987
woody73
GoofyNewfie
kris3kid
LySand

Facebook
Heather Custer-Swierczek
Lynne Walsh
Jacquie McCarron Skurla (DH)
Noel Birkner
Paul Higgins
Andrea Johnson Popovits + DH
Christopher Cole

Please let me know your interest and I will add your name to the list.

I also posted that we are organizing a photo walk on the FB group since some there are not on here and the ones that indicated interest is added to the list above (if for some reason there is a duplicate name between the two please advice)

Mandy would you mind maybe adding a link to this post on the activities listing?

/ Eje G

PS. Quality of camera doesn't mean pictures can't be good as I mentioned in posts previously here.. I just discovered today that one of my old Flickr photos was selected Photo of the Week on Discover-central-california.com, this picture was taken with a fairly inexpensive point and shoot camera back in 2007.
http://www.discover-central-california.com/photo-of-the-week.html

 

[birkner]

I saw that people were talking about Villain's Night. It sounds like we don't need an organizer but we should try to share some more information. Does anyone have pictures of how people dressed up? I tried googling and our cruise thread shows up twice on the first page. Not a lot of information out there.

 

[woody73]

Please let me know your interest and I will add your name to the list.

Please add me to the list.

Woody

 

[EjeG]

Please add me to the list.

Woody

Sure thing... Got you added to the list, so out of curiosity, what do you shoot with and what is your level?

 

[MandyGirl]

I can update page one in a few days

 

[woody73]

Sure thing... Got you added to the list, so out of curiosity, what do you shoot with and what is your level?

Thanks. Nikon D5100, prosumer.

Woody

 

[EjeG]

Thanks. Nikon D5100, prosumer.

Woody

Fellow Nikonian than.. That is not a bad camera. Glad to have you join us.

Cheers.

 

[EjeG]

I can update page one in a few days

When you do could you add the link to the photo walk

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=47756725&postcount=972

Thanks...

 

[GoofyNewfie]

Add me to the Photo Walk(s) too please.

I'm using a Canon T3i. I bought the camera for this cruise last summer and have learned what I can on my own. Time for a real course at least. I've been trying to figure out if the starter lenses I got are enough. Probably due for a trip to the camera store.

However, I learned how to put it in sports mode.