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

[woody73]

I got a great real life story, close to that, a co-workers wife was going to get hubby lunch . . .

LOL! Life imitates art.

Woody

 

[MandyGirl]

Actually just checked, Cambridge train is from Liverpool Street which is pretty much East London.

Thank you for all that info, Paul! I keep hoping my parents will tag along as my dad has never met many of his relatives across the ocean. One of my favorite memories as a child was Christmas day at Grandma's house, waiting on the call from England and drinking wassel. Then Grandma would talk ten times louder on the phone to make sure they heard her

 

[p17blo]

Something to bring a warm happy feeling? Not long until we get to this wonderful place


Castaway Cay - Mount Rustmore by P17blo, on Flickr

 

[twopeasonepod]

We intend to book the Montserrat Half Day (end at hotel) tour once onboard. How quickly do these get filled?

 

[padalyn]

That's like us as well... We are in two cabins but only listed the one that will have the fe hanging outside.

For those who get cabin upgrades or their assignment at port that is why the whiteboard will be so helpful. I don't plan on an upgrade but will check it for any changes on our gifts / candy cabins before starting deliveries .

As of now the whiteboard is on cabin 6040...we will try for an upgrade (maybe) but most likely will stay put. I have never had any luck getting upgrades at the port, nor has any pixie dust ever landed on me

How do you access decks A, B and C?

Woody

You either know someone, or get invited. I was lucky enough to see the engine rooms of the Magic 3 years ago...VERY interesting. The control room is AMAZING. I also was on the bridge of the Wonder about 12 years ago (before 9-11) -they no longer do bridge tours at all.

Cayla

 

[wickesy]

The names that showed up were David and Raymond Wickes, Jennifer and Dennis Owen, Margaret Sanders, Susan and Geoff Tchon and me Chris Hedemark.
I went to online check-in and then to onboard account - and the names were listed.

I still only see myself and my Dad listed in that section. No biggie though, at least we now know who we are sitting with.

 

[Ladyshopper]

Nothing for me either, just been and double checked. At least someone else has told you who you're sitting with David!!

 

[binkytell]

Nothing for me either, just been and double checked. At least someone else has told you who you're sitting with David!!

Jody you never requested to sit with anyone!! You mentioned your teenagers would prefer not to sit with others. You are linked with everyone to be on the same rotation and same area but other names will not show up on your reservation.

 

[Ladyshopper]

Jody you never requested to sit with anyone!! You mentioned your teenagers would prefer not to sit with others. You are linked with everyone to be on the same rotation and same area but other names will not show up on your reservation.

Ah, doh! I obviously misunderstood and got over excited when other people were seeing names and thought I would too! No worries.

 

[MissAndrea]

Driving for 8 hours is basically unheard of in the UK - Some do it, most wouldn't even contemplate it - I baulked at the idea of driving from DFW to Galveston which is why I am flying to IAH first

We drive 19-21 hours to Disney every year...and we don't even stop and get a hotel! Hubby and I take turns sleeping and driving. We might stop at a rest area for a couple of hours between 3:00-5:00 because we both start to struggle but after a quick nap, we are good to go! We don't have mass transit in our area so I am very nervous about finding my way around in Paris and London. Actually more concerned with dragging luggage around to get from airport to hotels.

 

[binkytell]

Ah, doh! I obviously misunderstood and got over excited when other people were seeing names and thought I would too! No worries.

Haha the excitement is getting g too much !!

We will have 5 kids off to kids club/nursery so you will be more than welcome to take up a seat at our large table for 12 for dessert/coffee or maybe an aperitif ?? Lol

 

[WVURunner]

How do you access decks A, B and C?

Woody

Sometimes they may have a below decks tour, that said I haven't heard of one in a long time, we have a close friend who lives near us and is basically family and she puts the papers in a takes us down to see the area where she lives, not the engines room though.

I have been below deck twice, both with HAL. Once, when I was younger (8th grade I think), before HAL had a real youth program, my older sister and I were the only ones in the teen program and our youth counsler showed us her room, which was the same as our inside cabin and she shared with another youth counsler and the common crew areas.

When I was in college, my grandmother set up a meeting with the on board environmental engineer for me in his office and I got to tour the waste/wastewater systems and trash area. Did you know that there are crew memebers who sit in a room and pick through your trash? It comes through on a convayor belt on a table where the crew sits and they sort out the food, recyclables and trash.

 

[MandyGirl]

Haha the excitement is getting g too much !!

We will have 5 kids off to kids club/nursery so you will be more than welcome to take up a seat at our large table for 12 for dessert/coffee or maybe an aperitif ?? Lol

I forgot about that! I have to remember how empty our table became last time when 6 of the 12 left for kids activities! We need wave phones to be able to talk across that large table!

 

[MandyGirl]

After catching up on facebook this morning, just have to say I hope all is well and everyone is in good health. Seeing a UK friend pass away on a previous (and future) rollcall really saddened me. He was so full of life and laughs, and I had been looking forward to seeing him again on WBTA 2014. Just a reminder that each day we are given is truly a blessing, and I pray all is well with everyone here and their families!

 

[MandyGirl]

As of now the whiteboard is on cabin 6040...we will try for an upgrade (maybe) but most likely will stay put. I have never had any luck getting upgrades at the port, nor has any pixie dust ever landed on me

Hopefully pixie dust will fall on you this time! I know you will also bring it to Meet-and-Greet at 3:00 so folks can start updating. When I looked yesterday at the Disney website, there were so many categories still with availability. Are you arriving to the port early to try for the upgrade? We were among the first on our WBTA embarkation and no upgrades, but we had an inkling to that based on category availability online. Our Caribbean cruise had several upgrade options from our 5B but the cost was not justifiable IMHO.


Sidenote - I know it has been shared the disgust of people sharing this cruise is empty (implying "not booked to capacity"), and my thoughts on that have not only been based on rollcalls I follow but also availability online at Disney's website. (Anyone can see availability - just pretend you are making a cruise booking on Disney's website to see available categories and cabins.) In comparison to my other Disney cruises (not just transatlantic) this one has the most availability I have seen this close to embarkation based on the Disney website (not based on rollcalls). I don't believe anyone has said, claimed, insinuated that this cruise will be "bad" or "not as good" - as I happen to be one who prefers not to be over-crowded. I actually fancy the shorter lines, available deck chairs, better crew-to-passenger ratio, chance to upgrade at port, etc. So my guess is upgrades are a possibility depending on what category people are upgrading from and to. It just scares me to share I think availability is good to hope for upgrades --- that I will get flamed here or elsewhere for sharing the availability per the Disney website. Just stating facts based on my own limited personal experience and Disney website availability. (My Med cruise after this one in June has no outsides or balconies left - only insides - whereas this EBTA has many categories left)

You either know someone, or get invited. I was lucky enough to see the engine rooms of the Magic 3 years ago...VERY interesting. The control room is AMAZING. I also was on the bridge of the Wonder about 12 years ago (before 9-11) -they no longer do bridge tours at all.

Cayla

I miss the bridge tours (on any line).

 

[MandyGirl]

When I was in college, my grandmother set up a meeting with the on board environmental engineer for me in his office and I got to tour the waste/wastewater systems and trash area. Did you know that there are crew memebers who sit in a room and pick through your trash? It comes through on a convayor belt on a table where the crew sits and they sort out the food, recyclables and trash.

That would have been neat to see! I have seen the conveyor belt on a documentary - can't remember which cruiseline - but it was amazing to see how much effort goes into that.

Even balloons --- I learned in November they are not allowed on DCL (missed that in the fine print) but had to laugh that ten years ago NCL decorated our cabin with balloons the day we got married. Times have changed!

 

[MandyGirl]

... Actually more concerned with dragging luggage around to get from airport to hotels.

That's my big concern as well. The two-year-old isn't so good with dragging a roller bag Hence the drive for us to pack lighter and use our backpacking backpacks.

 

[gramfrog]

Taking a train -- You could take the Metro from Gare d'Austerlitz to Châtalet, walk to Châtalet Les Halles RER station, and catch the RER A from there. (It's one station before Gare de Lyon.) To do so, take Metro line 10, transfer to Line 7 at the Jussieu station, get off the Metro at Châtalet. Then walk along the connecting corridor from Châtalet to the RER station. IMO, this is NOT a good option -- these particular stations are huge and a logistical nightmare (they serve 5 metro lines and 3 RER lines). The walk alone to the RER station would take longer than if you crossed the bridge in the first place.

Taxi -- If you have more luggage than you can comfortably handle, a taxi is a good option.

Woody

OMG the Chatelet-Les Halles metro underground would be a NIGHTMARE with luggage. I try to avoid it when on the metro just walking around on a good day! Walking above on streetside is easier.... even crossing the roads...

 

[gramfrog]

After catching up on facebook this morning, just have to say I hope all is well and everyone is in good health. Seeing a UK friend pass away on a previous (and future) rollcall really saddened me. He was so full of life and laughs, and I had been looking forward to seeing him again on WBTA 2014. Just a reminder that each day we are given is truly a blessing, and I pray all is well with everyone here and their families!

Well said, Mandy...

 

[MandyGirl]

Just saw on the main forum that someone shared the following:

"Just off the magic today and booked the repo on the magic for 20% off and 200.00 obc plus named my travel agent for another 200.00 obc so excited for our second cruise"

They booked the 2014 EBTA. So for those who are looking at booking those -- keep an eye out and it might save you some bucks! Certain cruises were 20% off instead of the standard 10% off for booking onboard. And of course you can re-shop your existing cruise if already booked, but might not work out in your favor depending on the initial rate you booked at (such as our opening day rate was really good compared to what WBTA is priced at now and the extra 10% off wouldn't work out in our favor)