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

[twopeasonepod]

Welcome Ryan and family, but your mother might not appreciate you putting her age lol! 3 weeks on the Magic sounds perfect to me too, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

HAHAHA yeah!

But no worries, I'm sure she won't care after spending three weeks on your wonderful vacation! Welcome!

 

[ramadden13]

Welcome Ryan and family, but your mother might not appreciate you putting her age lol! 3 weeks on the Magic sounds perfect to me too, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Ha I saw people putting ages but I suppose that is mostly just for kids. Maybe an edit will be in order. My mom is internet-savvy and could find these posts.

 

[ramadden13]

HAHAHA yeah!

But no worries, I'm sure she won't care after spending three weeks on your wonderful vacation! Welcome!

Two posts definitely means an edit. Fixed!

 

[MandyGirl]

I'm very surprised DCL did not offer hot soup while sailing Tracy Arm.

On our HAL cruises to Alaska, hot soup was routinely offered. And even if one does not drink the soup, it's a great way of keeping one's hands warm while watching the scenery.

Woody

We had hot chocolate It was NCL, but an aft balcony so we stayed there the entire time for Tracy Arm. I think we usually had 8 of us side by side on our balcony as it was so wide! Loved Alaska - ready to go back. We have a goal of our daughter seeing every state, and we were there about a year before #1 was born, so it looks like hubby *has* to take us back.

Hello everyone!

My name is Ryan (23), and I, along with my sister (20) and mother (forever 29), will be sailing this cruise as of today. My dad will then be joining us in Barcelona to go on the first Med cruise. 3 weeks on the Magic sounds perfect to me, and I just wanted to check in and say hello to all my fellow cruisers. I hope your cruise planning is going well!

Best wishes ~ Ryan

Welcome aboard, Ryan!! It will be a fantastic cruise!

If you guys are needing a group rate on the Tremont in Galveston, we still have rooms available with our group rate. Details on second post of this thread, and it includes up to 4 adults in 2 queen beds, 500 sq ft room.

 

[twopeasonepod]

Two posts definitely means an edit. Fixed!

Forever 29. LOVE IT!

 

[GoofyNewfie]

Well, how to describe the frustration with Air Canada?

After 4.5 hours on hold, I finally got an operator. I kept trying also on my cell but kept getting busy so I didn't dare hang up the other phone.

You ever hear "Um... <pause> Well.... <pause> That's strange..." and think good things are going to happen?

With no notice (although they said they emailed), they cancelled both of my flights on Feb 6th. But, of course they'd simply booked me on other perfectly suitable replacements, right?... well... no. They put me on a 7:20am departure to Toronto that landed at 9:16am and a 8:35am departure from there to Houston. Now, it's been a while since grade school but I'm pretty sure that unless time travel's been invented by May 17th, that connection don't fly...
This is what the agent thought quite strange that they'd do such a thing.

Very long story short, I'm now on an 5am departure on a flight that originally cost less but am not getting a refund. It's a tight connection in Toronto and if I miss it, I'm going to have to thumb a ride to Galveston because we're going to miss the last bus from the company we've already paid. Oh I hate that 5am flight. Done it too many times recently. It so ruins the whole day and even the next.

However, it could have been worse. That's the ONLY flight that could get me to Houston now for the last bus. Would have missed the Tremont. Although if I miss that connection, I still might. Can anyone put in a good word for me at US immigration in Toronto to let me through quickly?

By the way, a ton of website changes were made today as I mostly caught up. As usual, you can use the "Recent Site Activity" section on the lower right to see what's been changed. However, I think most updates would have already been communicated via the Dis or FB. Mostly new polls, a few new pages, few new organizers added to pages.

 

[MandyGirl]

Since Chris got to spend half his day off on hold with the airlines, he made a poll for lanyards

We had discussion about a month ago where some shared they prefer no lanyards or prefer their DIS lanyard because it lets crew know their status, while others wanted a lanyard to identify the group.

It seems we need a minimum order of 100 lanyards at most places to get a decent price. I have put together a poll - please answer it this week so we can get the ball rolling!

https://sites.google.com/site/onamagicaltransatlanticjourney/home/lanyards



Also, for you creative types out there, we need to start getting ideas together for lanyard inserts (a graphic). Our previous poll also had those who submitted they would like to be a part of the Lanyard Team, which essentially makes the financial donations to help fund our group lanyards.

Thanks so much!!

 

[woody73]

. . . Now, it's been a while since grade school but I'm pretty sure that unless time travel's been invented by May 17th, that connection don't fly.

LOL!

So glad you got the fights straightened out.

Woody

 

[MandyGirl]

Very long story short, I'm now on an 5am departure on a flight that originally cost less but am not getting a refund. It's a tight connection in Toronto and if I miss it, I'm going to have to thumb a ride to Galveston because we're going to miss the last bus from the company we've already paid. Oh I hate that 5am flight. Done it too many times recently. It so ruins the whole day and even the next.

However, it could have been worse. That's the ONLY flight that could get me to Houston now for the last bus. Would have missed the Tremont. Although if I miss that connection, I still might. Can anyone put in a good word for me at US immigration in Toronto to let me through quickly?

Is there still a back-up flight available after that connection that still gets you to Houston on Friday? If so... to be on the safe side maybe book a one-way car rental IAH-HOU and then one HOU-Galveston (on Enterprise). Just to have a Plan B?

With us flying standby a lot, I have often booked one-way car rentals just in case we miss a flight... and that has saved me on more than one occasion. Could be overkill, but it might help. Call to cancel car rental reservations when on the plane before take-off.

By the way, a ton of website changes were made today as I mostly caught up. As usual, you can use the "Recent Site Activity" section on the lower right to see what's been changed. However, I think most updates would have already been communicated via the Dis or FB. Mostly new polls, a few new pages, few new organizers added to pages.

You are awesome!!!

 

[MandyGirl]

Calling on all Champagne Girls to please resubmit your polling information as I would like to contact DCL this week. Poll location is:

Champagne Girls

I thought I would add this for those unfamiliar with the event.... it is a picture of our WBTA 2011 Champagne Girls. I did not go, but plan to this time! And I really don't like champagne at all LOL! Gotta mix it with cranberry.

This picture was to help plan for WBTA 2014.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=47532879&postcount=522

 

[kaseyC]

There were several people that have Disney air and ground that had talked about doing breakfast in the morning before the cruise. There is someone on facebook that used the same service out of Houston a few weeks ago. She stated that we are on a large bus like in Florida but not a Disney bus. They show the same video as well. Everyone was on the bus by 9:15 for an hour and 20 min trip, looks like we have a 10:45 arrival time. She said that it was stressed that the Mouse does not like to leave late. We would have to meet no latter than 8 to make sure everyone was ready by 9. Let me know if anyone is interested I can call the hotel and get some tables together.

I would be up for it. Meeting for breakfast would be great way to meet some of our fellow cruisers as well guarantee we're up and ready to go.

 

[kaseyC]

Hello everyone!

My name is Ryan (23), and I, along with my sister (20) and mother (forever 29), will be sailing this cruise as of today. My dad will then be joining us in Barcelona to go on the first Med cruise. 3 weeks on the Magic sounds perfect to me, and I just wanted to check in and say hello to all my fellow cruisers. I hope your cruise planning is going well!

Best wishes ~ Ryan

Welcome!!

 

[BigHugsForEeyore]

I thought I would add this for those unfamiliar with the event.... it is a picture of our WBTA 2011 Champagne Girls. I did not go, but plan to this time! And I really don't like champagne at all LOL! Gotta mix it with cranberry.

This picture was to help plan for WBTA 2014.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=47532879&postcount=522

Is it a requirement to wear pink or can we just come in the colour we are wearing that day?

 

[MandyGirl]

Is it a requirement to wear pink or can we just come in the colour we are wearing that day?

No requirement, but it makes it extra fun

On our WBTA thread, people are now posting various Champagne Girls group photos from other long cruises... pink feather boas in each

I didn't go last time but I know Noel (birkner) and Sarah (binkytell) did - they can probably enlighten us here

 

[twopeasonepod]

No requirement, but it makes it extra fun

On our WBTA thread, people are now posting various Champagne Girls group photos from other long cruises... pink feather boas in each

I didn't go last time but I know Noel (birkner) and Sarah (binkytell) did - they can probably enlighten us here

Totally clueless here -- are you guys just going to one of the bars and drinking champagne? Enlighten the uncultured, please. haha

 

[birkner]

No requirement, but it makes it extra fun

On our WBTA thread, people are now posting various Champagne Girls group photos from other long cruises... pink feather boas in each

I didn't go last time but I know Noel (birkner) and Sarah (binkytell) did - they can probably enlighten us here

Everyone one of the women as you can see in the pics work pink and we handed out pink tiaras and boas.

Totally clueless here -- are you guys just going to one of the bars and drinking champagne? Enlighten the uncultured, please. haha

This is a private champagne tasting in wherever DCL can accommodate the women. The only time for me it was in a bar with males was on the MV of the Fantasy where it was held in Ooh La La Lounge.

 

[birkner]

Is it a requirement to wear pink or can we just come in the colour we are wearing that day?

It is so much more fun when everyone wears pink!! That is really the theme and spirit of the event, the Pink Champagne Girls!

 

[twopeasonepod]

This is a private champagne tasting in wherever DCL can accommodate the women. The only time for me it was in a bar with males was on the MV of the Fantasy where it was held in Ooh La La Lounge.

Thanks so much. I may have to join now!

 

[birkner]

Thanks so much. I may have to join now!

You are very welcome! If you have time, please read the thread on the history of the champagne girls.

Champagne Girls[

 

[twopeasonepod]

Perhaps a stupid question...do you think the boys could bring a nerf-like football (actually Wilson, but a junior size) to play with on Deck 10? They absolutely love making plays and passing all day long. I wonder if this would be allowed?