May 18, 2013 MAGIC EBTA - Who is with us?

[binkytell]

One of the things here I've noticed is that folks can be downright mean, you're never mean and you always answer folks questions, even if those same questions have been asked a dozen times. It's very kind of you and I know that there are many of us out here who truly look forward to your responses. And I look forward to meeting you.



We were trying to decide between the PC and the TA. Honestly, sailing through the PC would be terrific. But then I found out that

some of my family would be willing to join us on the first Med, so we went with the TA. But I still hope to do a PC on DCL one day. :

Well said, I agree completely.

The PC is next on my list hopefully, my husbands a civil engineer so sure that will be my way to get around him lol

 

[kaseyC]

A few of us are staying at the Marriott the night before and were talking about tyring to meet up for breakfast. I won't organize that simply because I don't know when our flights are and if we'll even be up by breakfast, but maybe at some point, if more cruisers want to try for it, we should put something on there about it.

I was thinking the same. A breakfast would be great but I know the reason many of us are staying at the IAH Marriott is because we have late flights. We get in around 10 pm. My girls will probably be too excited to sleep. Setting a breakfast time will be difficult. If nothing else, I'm sure we will be meeting in the lobby for our transportation to the port. I can't see DCL sending separate vehicles for each of us.

 

[MandyGirl]

One of the things here I've noticed is that folks can be downright mean, you're never mean and you always answer folks questions, even if those same questions have been asked a dozen times. It's very kind of you and I know that there are many of us out here who truly look forward to your responses. And I look forward to meeting you.

Also very much appreciated. You've also answered a PM by me a couple years ago.

 

[MandyGirl]

This will actually be interesting because DCL's schedule has forced guests to choose between the PC and the TA. What were they thinking?????

That plus not letting those of who offered to work on the WBTA to help ready it up...

Restaurants have "soft openings" -- we could have very well helped the "soft refurbishment" of the Magic by letting the crew practice with us, provide open dialogue to share feedback, etc. We could have been instrumental in the success of the "new" Magic!

 

[MandyGirl]

Well said, I agree completely.

The PC is next on my list hopefully, my husbands a civil engineer so sure that will be my way to get around him lol

It's on our list as well. The rates that came out for WBPC for May are amazing for the *GT rates, and FL rates even lower. We have friends doing EBPC in September, but we can't do that one. Apparently someone in my family had to use almost all of their yearly vacation for this trip ...

 

[hmhaase]

I hear you. My girls are missing the last two weeks of school too. I'll be talking to the Principal and sending my letters in to the teachers in Feb. I've never had any push back but it's still a little nerve wracking to make the request.

My daughter is also missing the last two weeks of kindergarten. I talked to the principal and teacher last week, the teacher was not very thrilled with us, but the principal was all for it, she said what a great experience, and now is the time to do it. But I was so nervous and all ready to cancel our trip after talking to teacher, but hey the principal approved it, so we are going! We can't wait! I just booked our flights for our way back from Barcelona and our free southwest flights to Texas! Yippie!!! Now I need a place to stay in Barcelona! Any suggestions?

 

[MandyGirl]

OK, folks.....I have contacted DCL in regards to a Private Tasting Class. After posting the poll both here and on FB, the majority (by a large number, BTW) of people wanted a Private Mixology class. (this was 75% of the people who voted). The next most popular was champagne tasting, but since Val is handling a Champagne Girls get-together (I think), then Mixology it is.....

I know a few of the rules will be this:
1) Will need to know the first/last name of each person participating, along with your cabin number. Remember, you MUST be 21 or over, and DCL will check this against your registration info.

2) The cost of the mixology will be charged to your cabin, and there will be no refunds once I submit the final list (this won't happen until about 2 weeks before cruise time.) As soon as I know how much per person, I will let you know, but generally it's no more than the non-private classes (last year that was $20/person).

3) There will be a MAXIMUM of 50 people - and this will be NO EXCEPTIONS! If we go over this number, I will add additional people to a waiting list in case someone cancels.

I know there will be a couple more, but I'll post those along with these again.

Here is a link to the sign-up sheet. Please only sign up if you really plan so that people who do want to participate can do so:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGVrLW4tcGJYUEtoTUxGaDlCZTgzTmc6MQ#gid=0

If anyone has any questions, please PM me as I don't always get time to read thru all of these threads and don't want to miss something. If you are unable to PM, you can e-mail me at supermom66762 @ gmail.com (you'll have to remove the spaces )

Beverly

Thank you!! I signed up hubby because I might be changing cabins (we are booked in separate cabins since we have 5) but most likely it will be me stealing his ticket. He has to lay off the alcohol so he's usually my personal bartender, DD, etc So I didn't know who to list (if cheaper TA rates come out then I might be taking the cancellation penalty if it works out in my favor... hence why I might be changing cabins.) They didn't check names on tickets last time as we entered as we know some ended up not going and giving their ticket to someone else.

Also, last time on WBTA we had tickets for private tasting and then were assigned Princess Tea at the exact same time. Our DIS group had two tastings with the other group being smaller, so we went to GS to ask about switching to other group that and were told it was Full. Um, we knew it had only 27, so after about 3 trips back to GS we were finally able to change over along with others who had the same issue. Minimum of 25 so after we passed the 50 mark we broke into two smaller groups that were 30 or smaller.

 

[MandyGirl]

Now I need a place to stay in Barcelona! Any suggestions?

Some are at Acta Ink 606, and we stayed in a triple room at Acta Atrium Palace last time. Both websites: http://www.actahotels.es/en/hoteles/ Be sure to look at "offers" as Atrium Palace gave 10% off for cruise passengers.

Acta Ink is by Clot train to airport I believe
Atrium Palace is walking distance to aerobus at Placa Catalunya to airport. We had no issues with aerobus, and our kiddos were ages 5 and 15 months old at the time.

We loved the area of Atrium Palace - nearby Placa Catalunya, several metro stations, easily walkable to Casa Batllo, and we discovered a great tapas / sangria place a few blocks away as well. We chose that area to stay in again, but did an apartment this time since we'll be there a few nights.

Other places we considered were Novotel Barcelona City and this hotel (it was steps from a metro station but some reported not in a very safe walkable area at night)

Can definitely give two thumbs up for the area north of Catalunya and around the Passeig de Gracia metro stations.

 

[MandyGirl]

I've started collecting pre-cruise meets on the website at https://sites.google.com/site/onamagicaltransatlanticjourney/home/precruise-meets.

People are staying in all sorts of places so we cannot all make one precruise meet. We'll have to save the full meet up for the boat in only 4 months and 2 days!

If you'd like to organize one for your area, go for it. I can add it to the website whenever you like, just let me know via the https://sites.google.com/site/onamagicaltransatlanticjourney/contact-the-webmaster page or drop the details here on the thread and I'll try to pick it out. But if the thread stays as busy as it has been, that might be tough so feel free to hound me .

Great! Thank you, Chris.

IAH area -- seems many are at the Marriott?

Hobby area -- be careful -- not the best of areas -- so best to do within a hotel IMHO.

All three areas are about 40 minutes apart in driving distance ... Galveston - Hobby - IAH ... so definitely something to do in three different areas. Houston (and Texas) is awful with public transportation. Not like Barcelona where it was super easy to all meet at the Hard Rock regardless of where we were staying.

 

[Kirbo]

I was thinking the same. A breakfast would be great but I know the reason many of us are staying at the IAH Marriott is because we have late flights. We get in around 10 pm. My girls will probably be too excited to sleep. Setting a breakfast time will be difficult. If nothing else, I'm sure we will be meeting in the lobby for our transportation to the port. I can't see DCL sending separate vehicles for each of us.

I hadn't even thought of that. I'm sure you're right!

Once we know our schedule, I'll post it here. I'll be turning my phone off for three weeks, but I can certainly give the number to others staying at the hotel in case we want to try to meet up.

 

[Kirbo]

Also very much appreciated. You've also answered a PM by me a couple years ago.

I reread a PM I sent to her and I sounded like a scary stalker . I've promised her that isn't the case.

 

[Kirbo]

That plus not letting those of who offered to work on the WBTA to help ready it up...

Restaurants have "soft openings" -- we could have very well helped the "soft refurbishment" of the Magic by letting the crew practice with us, provide open dialogue to share feedback, etc. We could have been instrumental in the success of the "new" Magic!

 

[Kirbo]

It's on our list as well. The rates that came out for WBPC for May are amazing for the *GT rates, and FL rates even lower. We have friends doing EBPC in September, but we can't do that one. Apparently someone in my family had to use almost all of their yearly vacation for this trip ...

We booked air through Disney and they don't seem to offer it from our neck of the woods anymore, so even if they did the *GT rates, I think we'd probably stick with our original booking. But I'm sure the rates will make me cry . But we booked and are happy with it all, so I will have to just

 

[binkytell]

It's on our list as well. The rates that came out for WBPC for May are amazing for the *GT rates, and FL rates even lower. We have friends doing EBPC in September, but we can't do that one. Apparently someone in my family had to use almost all of their yearly vacation for this trip ...

I wonder who used it all for him ; )

Looks like another trip we can plan then once were home in June lol

 

[binkytell]

I reread a PM I sent to her and I sounded like a scary stalker . I've promised her that isn't the case.

I've added a Kcasher Appreciation Society meetup group to the activities list
Hahaha

 

[DisneyMouseHouse]

Thanks Beverly, have signed up! Are we picking the cocktails or does DCL take care of that?

Good question - I will check with them when we draw closer....I didn't organize any of the other private tastings so not sure how they worked. Last time we made a Champagne Cocktail, a Caipharani, a High Tide, a Paris 75 and a B52. I don't think a single one of us could walk a straight line after that class!

Thanks for doing this Beverly, I'm all signed up
Are we only doing one tasting class??? With 14 days we have plenty of time lol

The mojito class was some of the best mojitos I have ever tasted, maybe this was because we got to make the mojitos ourselves haha.
In the mixology class the drinks were brought out to us ready mixed, after we were shown how to make them by a CM with the help of a guest.

As far as just the one class, I figured I would see how many signed up (yes, realizing that people could sign up for a second class as well) and I hear ya! I will certainly see what I can do.....

In all of the mixology classes we've done, we got to get behind the bar and make them ourselves. The last class was the most fun, as there were a full 50 of us, and 10 of us each got to get behind the bar at one time.... I will do my best to make sure that's the case (that's half the fun of this class after all!)

Thank you!! I signed up hubby because I might be changing cabins (we are booked in separate cabins since we have 5) but most likely it will be me stealing his ticket. He has to lay off the alcohol so he's usually my personal bartender, DD, etc So I didn't know who to list (if cheaper TA rates come out then I might be taking the cancellation penalty if it works out in my favor... hence why I might be changing cabins.) They didn't check names on tickets last time as we entered as we know some ended up not going and giving their ticket to someone else.

That is not a problem I know they don't check names, but mainly check to see who IS signed up is over 21 and also that the correct cabin gets charged - LOL! What you do with your ticket after that is fine with them, I'm sure

If anyone else has a specific request for a drink or something else, please PM me as I am afraid I might miss one of the posts and possibly offend.....and I certainly don't want to do that!

Beverly

 

[DisneyMouseHouse]

One of the things here I've noticed is that folks can be downright mean

Really sorry that some on here have given that impression. I know sometimes I am short and to the point because I am doing this at work - hahaha - but not meaning to be mean......

But I also know that some on here can seem that way!

 

[DisneyMouseHouse]

Ours was under 20. So that may be the difference.

Maybe it depends on the Bartender hosting the Mixology class. On our Sept. Fantasy cruise, all drinks were made by the guests. He had about 5 mini stations set up behind the bar and folks volunteered. It was fun and the drinks were so strong. I was a bit tipsy.

Maybe we can request one with more guest participation. It made the whole process entertaining.

Ours was the full 50, and so it goes. But I also think it depends on the bartender, as we also attended a "public" mixology class and it was a different bartender and he wasn't near as good!

I know - we'll find out who it is, go to "his" bar on his shift (or her shift!) and then tip them really good - LOL! When it comes time for our private class, then maybe it'll be better - ROFL!

 

[Kirbo]

I've added a Kcasher Appreciation Society meetup group to the activities list
Hahaha

Really sorry that some on here have given that impression. I know sometimes I am short and to the point because I am doing this at work - hahaha - but not meaning to be mean......

But I also know that some on here can seem that way!

I was talking about the DisBoards in general. I know there have been times that I've not asked questions for fear someone will be nasty about it. And other times I've read aloud to my DH some of the things posted on these boards . Generally speaking, people here are helpful. But some are not. And I most definitely wasn't referring to you

 

[DisneyMouseHouse]

I was talking about the DisBoards in general. I know there have been times that I've not asked questions for fear someone will be nasty about it. And other times I've read aloud to my DH some of the things posted on these boards . Generally speaking, people here are helpful. But some are not. And I most definitely wasn't referring to you

Yes, it truly amazes me sometimes that some can get so very upset or hateful! I tend to avoid those threads or groups or pick out someone to PM and ask.....

Thanks, I didn't think it was me, but also sometimes come across that way!