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

[BigHugsForEeyore]

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

Okay, thank you. I'll give that a miss then as I don't own any pink clothing.

 

[birkner]

Okay, thank you. I'll give that a miss then as I don't own any pink clothing.

I hope you will reconsider and maybe just find a cute pink tee shirt to wear as many did in the pictures.

 

[Grandma x3]

Okay, thank you. I'll give that a miss then as I don't own any pink clothing.

Okay - I am NOT into pink (my daughter LOL when I told her about this)- but as I looked at all the pictures from a number of "Champagne Girls" events - I noticed that some wore NO pink - some just had a pink or dark pink boas - some had tiaras and some not - so it seemed to me that it was not a mandatory PINK event - but a chance to get together - drink Champagne - bond as friends - and be as "pinkish" as one felt comfortable. I have a cute tiara and I'm getting a dark pink boa - that's about as pink as I can go. BUT - I don't want to miss the fun times with all these Wonderful gals !!

 

[Tink1987]

I can understand why your a little miffed Colette, really surprised at the prices on the wbta 2014 especially considering the ports.

Maybe you will love DCL so much you will want to do the wbta and save the baltics for the another year, we already have a very active Dis thread ��

Thank you, if it had fit in with our 10th anniversary dates, we would have booked already. You woud think I didn't have 2 weeks in Japan to look forward to for it

It may sound silly but I just really wanted to be away for the dates of it.

had a bit of a scare tonight - had an email from BA *CANCELLING* our flight home from Barcelona! We booked this last July and got a good deal with 2 cases up to 32kg EACH so I was panicking - thankfully we could rebook another flight for 35 mins earlier - phewwww panic over!

Phew, glad you got it sorted! KLM keep pushing our AMS connection to IAH closer and closer to our arrival time from BHX!

As much as I like the prices of the 2014 Transatlantics, I will have finally done a long, relatively inexpensive cruise on DCL, and can move on to itineraries I like better. Had my Baltic cruise on Royal Caribbean worked out for this summer, I wouldn't be on this cruise.

This will be a learning curve for us. I can't see us being bored, but I cannot wait to see if we are in the camp of this was a great holiday, let's book another TA or if we think that was great but 2 weeks was too much. Over the last couple of years we have given up doing beach holidays for city holidays. We cannot abide sitting round not doing anything now. It started when we really got into photography two years ago.

Totally agree on WBTA 2014 pricing. I was surprised. I didn't have real plans on booking, but then after looking at the ports, and price, could not pass it up. Plus it's like a reunion cruise from our 2011 group.

It is a amazing price! When you break it down pp, it's just such a bargain.

I for one am glad you have to be on our cruise

Awww, thank you

I have to brag just a little....been trying to loose a little weight (don't blame me if you found it - I really don't need it back!)

I hit my second goal this morning - 20 pounds off!!! I am hoping for another 20 before we sail.

You have every right to brag! Well done!

And good luck for the next 20

WELL DONE It's sooo hard, isn't it? I was also hoping to lose around 17pounds before we leave, but I'm stuck at a plateau after losing 53 pounds and also we have a 4 night cruise just a few weeks before this one which won't help. Anyway, hope you reach you next goal, hoping for you.

Well done on the 53, that is amazing!

Me and DB are really annoyed with ourselves, in 2011 we both lost just under 4 stone each.

Then we both started new jobs and both of them wern't great moves at the beginning. We used to work right by each other and where we lived and when we moved jobs, we realised we would never be home before 6:30pm whereas before we used to walk in the house at 4:10pm. With all the stress and change, we both piled all of the weight back on and in my case, another stone

We are trying to lose a stone now before the cruise, but when I look at all my gorgeous thinner clothes I bought in my wardrobe/closet, I get so annoyed with myself!

All checked in. Got an 11am port arrival time.

Whoop!

All checked in this morning, palo booked and nursery times all available, a good morning !!

Whoop, very jealous! Cannot wait for the 4th March!

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!

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.

Really glad you got it sorted, even though it took you FOREVER!

 

[GoofyNewfie]

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.

I've been pondering a backup plan for sure. But hadn't determined what might work best. i'll look into this.

Thanks!

 

[NancyIL]

This will be a learning curve for us. I can't see us being bored, but I cannot wait to see if we are in the camp of this was a great holiday, let's book another TA or if we think that was great but 2 weeks was too much. Over the last couple of years we have given up doing beach holidays for city holidays. We cannot abide sitting round not doing anything now. It started when we really got into photography two years ago.

This will be my 4th Transatlantic cruise, but the first with so few ports. If I do another, I'd like to sail via northern Europe or the British Isles again.

 

[MandyGirl]

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

And here is another picture of a different DCL cruise - Champagne Girls

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=47535713&postcount=582

 

[MandyGirl]

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?

I don't know about a football, but in November we stopped by Walmart before the cruise and I picked up an inflated Minnie Mouse balloon. Prior to going through security a CM let me know we could not bring the balloon aboard due to environmental reasons. (We were just going to place it in our stateroom - not let it go at sea or anything...)

 

[WVURunner]

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?

We saw a family bring a soccer ball onboard the Wonder in December and it was not taken. sports equipment is listed under prohibited items but as an example it lists bats and lacrosse sticks (equipment that can be used as a weapon)

 

[Kirbo]

I did do a Palo dinner and a brunch. I believe I heard we're only allowed to do one each? When I tried to book a 2nd Palo dinner, the website gives you the impression that you've already got something else booked at that time - no matter what day you look at. It took me several attempts to catch on to what was going on. (I did say it was early, didn't I? )

Been on hold 45 minutes so far trying to fix my flights. There is only 1, count 'em, 1 option that gets me there before 4pm - the last departure of Galveston Limousine. And it means a 5am take off time. Grr.... Someone shoot me. I've done that flight more than once lately.

Kirbo with Disney air and hotel you do not need an arrival time because you are using Disney transport from the hotel. I don't have an arrival time either, I'm just going to let the hotel know when I check in that I have Disney transportation and hopefully find out what departure times are available.

Omg. 2 hours on hold. My cordless phone is almost dead.

How long was your estimated wait time? One time I called WDW, I got stuck on the hold music for over an hour and fifteen minutes. So I hung up, redialled and got straight through. :

I'm always terrified that if I hang up I'll never get through.

No estimated time. Sure would be nice. Almost 3 hours and counting.

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.

We'd be interested, I think. Our one problem is that we're coming from the west coast and our time will be messed up.

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.

How frustrating! I hope that from here on out it goes smoothly.

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!!

Voted!

 

[Yvet]

Please people don't forget to sign up for Secret Mickey!!!!

As of right now ther isn't that much interest, so please if you like Secret Mickey, sign up and send me a pm!!!

It's for all ages and everybody that likes to participate.

See info on page 1 o this thread and on the website under Secret Mickey.

 

[woody73]

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?

I don't see a problem if they are using it at the Deck 10 Wide World of Sports area.

Woody

 

[twopeasonepod]

Please people don't forget to sign up for Secret Mickey!!!!

As of right now ther isn't that much interest, so please if you like Secret Mickey, sign up and send me a pm!!!

It's for all ages and everybody that likes to participate.

See info on page 1 o this thread and on the website under Secret Mickey.

Yes, please sign up! It is so much fun! The boys love getting their gifts and giving them, too.

P.S. I had the boys' info saved on a Word doc for so long...I kept forgetting to double-check some of the answers to see if they were really their favorites. Perhaps that is also what is happening for others?

 

[twopeasonepod]

I don't know about a football, but in November we stopped by Walmart before the cruise and I picked up an inflated Minnie Mouse balloon. Prior to going through security a CM let me know we could not bring the balloon aboard due to environmental reasons. (We were just going to place it in our stateroom - not let it go at sea or anything...)

We saw a family bring a soccer ball onboard the Wonder in December and it was not taken. sports equipment is listed under prohibited items but as an example it lists bats and lacrosse sticks (equipment that can be used as a weapon)

I don't see a problem if they are using it at the Deck 10 Wide World of Sports area.

Woody

Thanks, guys! I didn't think they would care too much. We do plan to use it on the Wide World of Sports area with the net. I hope it's not a problem, or I'll be looking for a sports store in Barcelona haha.
(from Jonah and Grayson)

 

[MandyGirl]

Thanks, guys! I didn't think they would care too much. We do plan to use it on the Wide World of Sports area with the net. I hope it's not a problem, or I'll be looking for a sports store in Barcelona haha.
(from Jonah and Grayson)

Would make total sense... we play basketball up there.

I will say I was surprised about the balloon being confiscated before going through security. It was a normal sized balloon - not anything huge by any means. Some kiddos had Mickey Mouse characters that were larger than our balloon but the balloon must have been made out of a material that is a no-no at sea I guess.

 

[WVURunner]

Private Gibraltar group: I just sent out a group email. Please let me know if you didn't get it. thanks

 

[ramadden13]

Anyone have any advice on getting from Hobby Airport to the Port of Galveston on the 18th? I wish we could go to Galveston earlier but our flight gets us to Hobby at 9:55 PM on the 17th, and I think our party would rather get a hotel by the airport. There are three of us btw.

Any help is appreciated! We really jumped into this at the last minute.

 

[woody73]

I will say I was surprised about the balloon being confiscated before going through security. It was a normal sized balloon - not anything huge by any means. Some kiddos had Mickey Mouse characters that were larger than our balloon but the balloon must have been made out of a material that is a no-no at sea I guess.

Maybe it's to protect the seas and fish.

When they have a balloon drop in the atrium, don't the CMs pop all the balloons afterwards?

Woody

 

[Tink1987]

Private Gibraltar group: I just sent out a group email. Please let me know if you didn't get it. thanks

Got it - thanks very much

 

[Tink1987]

I've emailed the Tremont today and they have very kindly told me that they would be willing to keep a couple of packages for me for when I arrive.

I want to order a couple of things from Etsy, I am just trying to avoid the custom charges to be honest. The seller I want to buy from doesn't say the postage time on the items, but they use USPS and want to charge around $7-8 dollars postage.

Can anyone take a guess at how long that would take to arrive at the Tremont? I don't want to take the Mickey and have them sitting there for ages but I don't want to risk them not arriving on time!

Thank you