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

[Tink1987]

A big thank you to the person that posted the military discount. at first it looked like it would only save about $200 once we lost the OBB credit and the increase of $600 for flights that we had booked with Disney. My travel agent spent some time on the phone with DCL and we were able to switch the flights from Sna Jose to Oakland so the price only went up $40 we were able to save $1200 on the cruise. We are excited for the savings. I am now thinking that I should change our room to a GTY and hope for an upgrade, a veranda would be nice.

That's awesome that you got to save so much

 

[Tink1987]

I just had a look at Iceland Air from London Heathrow to Dulles. Are you anywhere near there? It's 569pp USD including taxes. There's so many cheap options to get to London. It's basically what I'm doing. Slightly more on the weekend - $637pp USD taxes in.

Fingers crossed for you. I know I'm excited about it. You should have a look at the trip report from KevieKev05 from 2011. It will convince you.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2737891

Great recommendation on that TR, I've read it so many times. It get's us so excited for this trip!

 

[RayOfRedondo]

Thank you, we are really looking forward to our road trip even though it's a while away yet!

Thanks for all the help Mandy, we will have to have a think about what we want to do! Haven't really got the holiday days to have another few days over there pre-cruise but I know we plan to do Route 66 in the next few years so I am sure we will deviate into Texas then as well

If you do get back to Curacao, I recommend the tour of the Ostrich Farm. It was so interesting and fun. I still tell the story of feeding the ostriches to my friends, and I did this seven years ago. Great fun.

Ray

 

[RayOfRedondo]

We did a tour in Madiera last year but I don't remember the name it was thru DCL and it was a really good tour. We took the cable cars up to the top, rode the toboggans, had lunch and had extra time to shop and walk around. Instead of taking the bus back to the ship we walked since we had the extra time. I'm sure they'll offer up tours when it gets closer.

Hello Heather:

Will you please tell me more about the toboggan ride? What was it like? Do you recommend it.

I am originally from your neighborhood. I was born in East Saint Louis (lived in the farm communities near Collinsville), lived in Granite City for many years and then moved to California in 1964. I have a brother who lives in St. Charles, MO.

Hope we can meet on the cruise.

Ray

 

[GoofyNewfie]

Great recommendation on that TR, I've read it so many times. It get's us so excited for this trip!

I saw your name on that thread today. Good question. I'm hoping for an answer.

That link and some others have been collected on our website.

https://sites.google.com/site/onamagicaltransatlanticjourney/home/collected-info/useful-documents

If anyone has anything else, please send them along and I'll add them. I was looking for Cruise drinks today but didn't find a good single spot yet... Going to try making a couple this evening to get the final planning juices flowing.

 

[Tink1987]

If you do get back to Curacao, I recommend the tour of the Ostrich Farm. It was so interesting and fun. I still tell the story of feeding the ostriches to my friends, and I did this seven years ago. Great fun.

Ray

Thanks very much for the tip - that sounds like fun!

 

[Tink1987]

I saw your name on that thread today. Good question. I'm hoping for an answer.

That link and some others have been collected on our website.

https://sites.google.com/site/onamagicaltransatlanticjourney/home/collected-info/useful-documents

If anyone has anything else, please send them along and I'll add them. I was looking for Cruise drinks today but didn't find a good single spot yet... Going to try making a couple this evening to get the final planning juices flowing.

Yeah I am really hoping he replies, it intrigued me when he says he was trying to work out the rotational dining. I do wish he had said at the end how much his bar bill had cost etc, would have been nice to know. SO jealous he got that Ducky Williams lithograph!

 

[MandyGirl]

Hello Heather:

Will you please tell me more about the toboggan ride? What was it like? Do you recommend it.

Not Heather... but can give two thumbs up for the toboggan ride. As of last September it cost 25 euros for our family of four. That was with both kiddos riding in our laps (they were little then). If you incorporate it into a tour, then your driver can pick you up at the bottom of the hill. It was one of those "we must do it... when will we EVER be back here?" experiences.

That said... this time we are bringing my mother in law, and of course my 5 year old remembers it and has asked to do it again. Still trying to figure out Madeira... we want MIL to see it like we did last year on a tour, but hubby and I want to see the downtown area this time.

If you want to see videos, let me know and I can PM you some links. Not scary, quite fun, and it's got some history to it.

 

[heatherb819]

Hello Heather:

Will you please tell me more about the toboggan ride? What was it like? Do you recommend it.

I am originally from your neighborhood. I was born in East Saint Louis (lived in the farm communities near Collinsville), lived in Granite City for many years and then moved to California in 1964. I have a brother who lives in St. Charles, MO.

Hope we can meet on the cruise.

Ray

Ray,
We're practically neighbors!!! Lol we live in Bethalto, IL. Yes, we'll definitely have to meet!!
We really enjoyed the toboggan ride, it isn't fast like I thought it would be. It's adventurous but not real scary. There is a cable car ride to the top which is beautiful!!! My DD wants to do the ride again. There was a very nice lunch after the ride and then we chose to walk back to the ship instead of taking the bus so we could walk around town more. We were there on a Sunday and most of the town was shut down. By having our tour scheduled through DCL it did allow us to cut the line for the toboggan ride and they were closing soon.

 

[kaseyC]

GTY is different from I-GTY, O-GTY ad V-GTY.

I-GTY, O-GTY and V-GTY are made available online, but only when the sailing date is approaching (ie: 90, 120, 150 days prior to sailing). On the other hand, GTY is offered by Disney when you call to book a cruise, but DCL is low on inventory in the stateroom / class you are seeking. Essentially, DCL says, they do not want to give you a specific stateroom, and reserves the right to move you elsewhere on the ship, but guarantees the Category (or higher). So, we booked a 7A GTY (Navigator's Verandah), after requesting a Secret Navigator. The idea is similar to I-GTY, O-GTY or V-GTY, but slightly different. Had I called for a Cat 7C, I would likely have been guaranteed 7C or better ... and would not be offered a 7A or 7B. Whereas, a V-GTY will put you in ANY verandah. I am not sure if there is a difference in price on cash rates, but we were charged normal DVC points for 7A. Had we wanted 7C (and offered GTY), we would have been charged points for 7C.

For now, it seems, the more I try to explain, the more confusing it gets!

Steven

No, your explanation is not too confusing. To clear up a few things about GT rates. The GT rates (IGT, OGT,VGT) are non refundable, paid in full at the time of booking, extremely restricted discount rates. They are usually offered closer to PIF date or after but there have been times they were offered much earlier. These rates can be booked online or by phone through DCL or a TA.

The description of GTY rates was spot except they can be booked online as well as by phone. Online they usually show up when you try to book a specific room number.

 

[Goofy39.3]

Is there anybody that would be interested in a mostly friendly game of poker? Probably tournament style for $10 or $20. We did this on our last Magic cruise and had a few players. We only played once because there was so much else to do. I think with all the sea days this cruise we would play more often. I know there is four players from my travel party, so we don't need that many more to make a good game.

 

[mboekhoff]

Chris,

My DH (dado004) Ross, (he isn't on here much and gets his DIS vicariously through me ) said he would be interested, but had a question about gambling being allowed? If it is allowed, he said he would definitely be interested. Maybe you guys could set up a time to go to Diversions 3 or 4 times and just put it on the calendar

Missy in MN

Is there anybody that would be interested in a mostly friendly game of poker? Probably tournament style for $10 or $20. We did this on our last Magic cruise and had a few players. We only played once because there was so much else to do. I think with all the sea days this cruise we would play more often. I know there is four players from my travel party, so we don't need that many more to make a good game.

 

[GoofyNewfie]

Chris,

My DH (dado004) Ross, (he isn't on here much and gets his DIS vicariously through me ) said he would be interested, but had a question about gambling being allowed? If it is allowed, he said he would definitely be interested. Maybe you guys could set up a time to go to Diversions 3 or 4 times and just put it on the calendar

Missy in MN

Hi Missy, I can't be sure, but I think you're confusing Goofy39.3 and I. It would be a crazy coincidence to have 2 Goofy Chris-es.

 

[Tink1987]

Is there anybody that would be interested in a mostly friendly game of poker? Probably tournament style for $10 or $20. We did this on our last Magic cruise and had a few players. We only played once because there was so much else to do. I think with all the sea days this cruise we would play more often. I know there is four players from my travel party, so we don't need that many more to make a good game.

I would be

 

[GoofyNewfie]

I don't do a lot of hotel bookings by myself for personal travel. It's been part of a bundle deal with Disney or for business done by our travel agent.

I've been looking through Booking.com and some other sites for our hotel in Barcelona. What's people's thoughts? Is it better to book directly through the hotel's website or does something like Booking.com give you some better guarantees maybe?

Thoughts and opinions would be appreciated.

 

[mboekhoff]

Yes you are right, I was confusing you two. It wouldn't surprise me if there were 2 Goofy Chris's though

Hi Missy, I can't be sure, but I think you're confusing Goofy39.3 and I. It would be a crazy coincidence to have 2 Goofy Chris-es.

 

[RayOfRedondo]

Not Heather... but can give two thumbs up for the toboggan ride. As of last September it cost 25 euros for our family of four. That was with both kiddos riding in our laps (they were little then). If you incorporate it into a tour, then your driver can pick you up at the bottom of the hill. It was one of those "we must do it... when will we EVER be back here?" experiences.

That said... this time we are bringing my mother in law, and of course my 5 year old remembers it and has asked to do it again. Still trying to figure out Madeira... we want MIL to see it like we did last year on a tour, but hubby and I want to see the downtown area this time.

If you want to see videos, let me know and I can PM you some links. Not scary, quite fun, and it's got some history to it.

Hello Mandy: my apologies for the name confusion.

Thank you for the quick reply and encouraging details about the toboggan ride. The family I am traveling with wants to take in a wine tour, but they also feel we have time for the toboggan ride, too, now that I have told them all about it.

Your mother-in-law sounds like a hoot. My mother-in-law was quite adventurous. She and I even went on a glider ride together. God rest her soul.

Take care, have a safe and joyous 2013 and I do hope we get a chance to meet on our cruise.

Ray

 

[mboekhoff]

Has anyone ever been to Italy, specifically Rome, or anywhere in Switzerland? I would appreciate any information. We were thinking of taking some time in each place, ending up in Paris since that seems to be the cheapest city to get home from

 

[sdlong329]

I'll be honest, I'm getting pretty annoyed/upset about it. No flights or anything, not even from London. Why should I have to keep calling them instead of being able to book it online like others?! :/

I cannot speak from experience (I live in the US), but I am guessing transfers can be booked by calling your Travel Agent, or DCL direct. I understand DCL may not be offering flights to London ... but that does not mean you cannot obtain transfers to the airport. During our last EB TA, there were hoards of 55+ passenger motor coaches ready for guests as they disembarked. They do not ask for residency ... rather ... only your airline (so they can organize the stops).

Steven

 

[dee slack]

Is there anybody that would be interested in a mostly friendly game of poker? Probably tournament style for $10 or $20. We did this on our last Magic cruise and had a few players. We only played once because there was so much else to do. I think with all the sea days this cruise we would play more often. I know there is four players from my travel party, so we don't need that many more to make a good game.

DH (Nigel) is also interested.