May 5, 2010 Magic of Barcelona

[sabrecmc]

Pants are fine for women at the Vatican, as are capris below the knee. Even jean capris. That's what I wore last time, and we even went down into the crypt area below the church, where St. Paul is supposedly buried. Fun fact: his tomb is covered with graffitti , most of which roughly translates to "Lucius was here!" or whatever. Heh.

I did notice some of the ride closures at DLRP, but most of our dates manage to miss the things we care about. We'll get to ride BTM the first day we are there and then really just miss Casey and the storybook boat ride. The backstage tram is closed, but I'm not fussed about that. I would have liked to do the storybook boat ride, just b/c I know that my daughter would love it, but as long as Peter Pan is open, we're good. We usually go to Disney in off season anyway, when rides are typically closed, so its sort of what we're used to. Last time we were there, Splash Mt was closed, and the time before that, Space Mt. *shrug* They've got to do maintenance sometime, right! Like I said, so long as Peter Pan is going....I'm excited to try this VIP fast pass that comes with the Castle Club. That sounds convenient. Wish they offered something like that at the World, but its probably not feasible.

 

[laydee314]

I did notice some of the ride closures at DLRP, but most of our dates manage to miss the things we care about. We'll get to ride BTM the first day we are there and then really just miss Casey and the storybook boat ride. The backstage tram is closed, but I'm not fussed about that. I would have liked to do the storybook boat ride, just b/c I know that my daughter would love it, but as long as Peter Pan is open, we're good. We usually go to Disney in off season anyway, when rides are typically closed, so its sort of what we're used to. Last time we were there, Splash Mt was closed, and the time before that, Space Mt. *shrug* They've got to do maintenance sometime, right! Like I said, so long as Peter Pan is going....I'm excited to try this VIP fast pass that comes with the Castle Club. That sounds convenient. Wish they offered something like that at the World, but its probably not feasible.

There's an off-season at Disney? When is that? Then I can go without having to deal with my fear of crowds...

 

[everafter1]

Thanks, for the quick replies! That helps a lot! I would have no problem wearing a skirt, but it wouldn't be the most comfortable option for me. Vatican City was on my "must do" list for this trip, so I didn't want to miss that!

Yes, believe it or not, Disney has an off season! I always noticed a slow down when schools are back in session. Typically in early November (Just avoid Epcot on weekends during food and wine festival. It picks back up the week before thanksgiving, though) and Late January, early February. October and the first week in December used to be good too, but lately I've noticed it's more crowded. I've also been to Disneyland the first week in November and there was no one there on weekdays. We did everything multiple times. I'm not sure about Disneyland Paris, but the other 2 resorts have a non-peak season

 

[sabrecmc]

Yeah, like everafter1 said, October, January, February...these are pretty slow times. Really, late Sept-Thanksgiving week, excepting for Halloween at Magic Kingdom and Food & Wine at EPCOT, is pretty slow. January, except for perhaps marathon weekend, and February is generally pretty dead, though there are some youth sports competitions down there at various times. We aren't going on the same rides as them though, lol. Since we live in FL, we generally go during the non-peak times. The one time we've been totally able to walk onto anything is the first weekend in February. It was cold, but there were literally no lines. Lots of stuff was closed though. We usually go in January for my daughter's birthday and that's a nice time too. October is another favorite time. Basically any non-school, non-holiday time is infinitely better. Of course, we're also going Memorial Day weekend this year and for a week in July. And we're going down the weekend before Thanksgiving for a couple nights before a 3 night Wonder cruise. So, I'm clearly insane.

 

[Kaleigh]

Oh, I forgot to say in my other post, we are at the late seating.

laydee, we really like to go to Disney in September. We have been almost every week during that month and crowds are always low. This year we went in January (first week) and it was busier than Sept.

 

[everafter1]

Oh, I forgot about September, Kaleigh is right, that's also a great time to go too!

 

[strawberryblonde]

Pants are fine for women at the Vatican, as are capris below the knee. Even jean capris. That's what I wore last time, and we even went down into the crypt area below the church, where St. Paul is supposedly buried. Fun fact: his tomb is covered with graffitti , most of which roughly translates to "Lucius was here!" or whatever. Heh.

I did notice some of the ride closures at DLRP, but most of our dates manage to miss the things we care about. We'll get to ride BTM the first day we are there and then really just miss Casey and the storybook boat ride. The backstage tram is closed, but I'm not fussed about that. I would have liked to do the storybook boat ride, just b/c I know that my daughter would love it, but as long as Peter Pan is open, we're good. We usually go to Disney in off season anyway, when rides are typically closed, so its sort of what we're used to. Last time we were there, Splash Mt was closed, and the time before that, Space Mt. *shrug* They've got to do maintenance sometime, right! Like I said, so long as Peter Pan is going....I'm excited to try this VIP fast pass that comes with the Castle Club. That sounds convenient. Wish they offered something like that at the World, but its probably not feasible.

Good to know, I was planning on wearing capris that day, I hadn't thought to wonder about it......thanks ladies for thinking through these things !!

The storybook boats and the Casey train are adorable, I'm sorry that they will be closed for your dates. The good thing is, though, that they are out of the way from everything else...chances are she will never see or notice them to even ask about riding them or going there, quite tucked away...unlike at Disneyland CA where they are right there in the middle of everything. The Castle Club should be a fun experience, I'm looking forward to hearing how you like it!

 

[disney-lover]

Disney Lover, you'll have to phone your TA or DCL to confirm your OBC. It doesn't show up in your reservation.

Thanks, I thought I was going mad because I couldn't see it. I will call the TA.

 

[Goofy Mum]

Thanks, I thought I was going mad because I couldn't see it. I will call the TA.

I know. The same happened to me. Despite me receiving a letter from DCL AND being told by them I got the credit I really just wanted to be able to see it online. Oh well, I did confirm it so that's that!
I'm already thinking of ways to spend it!

 

[sabrecmc]

I do wish we could see the OBC online. I think mine is pretty much already spent on excursions, but it will largely cover excursions, so that's good.

Remember, you can bring a shirt or pillowcase or whatever to Guest Services with some sharpies to have the characters sign it. There is no charge for this. We did this on our last cruise and it was really cute. I just had the princesses sign. You can pick what characters you want (Princesses, Fab 5, everyone...). Put it and the sharpies in a ziplock bag and take it to GS. They will fill out a little info card and you get it back at the end of your trip, all signed. Cute thing to surprise the kids with!

 

[laydee314]

I do wish we could see the OBC online. I think mine is pretty much already spent on excursions, but it will largely cover excursions, so that's good.

Remember, you can bring a shirt or pillowcase or whatever to Guest Services with some sharpies to have the characters sign it. There is no charge for this. We did this on our last cruise and it was really cute. I just had the princesses sign. You can pick what characters you want (Princesses, Fab 5, everyone...). Put it and the sharpies in a ziplock bag and take it to GS. They will fill out a little info card and you get it back at the end of your trip, all signed. Cute thing to surprise the kids with!

I agree about the OBC. My TA told me awhile back that I got credit for the rooms booked but have no idea when I'll actually see it on paper.
Interesting about the autographs - there will be characters onboard for the kids to get them themselves, right? Otherwise, I think my kids will believe that I just went ahead and signed it.

 

[sabrecmc]

I agree about the OBC. My TA told me awhile back that I got credit for the rooms booked but have no idea when I'll actually see it on paper.
Interesting about the autographs - there will be characters onboard for the kids to get them themselves, right? Otherwise, I think my kids will believe that I just went ahead and signed it.

I think we will have something with the OBC in our staterooms when we arrive. I seem to remember that from last time...anyone else?

Yes, the characters will be out and about. Some will sign and others will be just photo to move the line faster (or, at least, that's how it worked last time...maybe won't matter this time with the ship not so full). Lots of great photo opportunities and I thought the quality was better than what you usually see with photopass photos. I ended up spending way more than I intended to on pictures, at any rate!

 

[Kaleigh]

What is the picture package like? Is it worth it? Is it like photopass?

I am getting so excited; I had a dream about the cruise last night!

 

[Goofy Mum]

What is the picture package like? Is it worth it? Is it like photopass?

I am getting so excited; I had a dream about the cruise last night!

What is photopass?

I've been having cruise dreams for a few weeks now. I'm just hoping I won't be on a major downer coming back to London afterwards

I have a feeling we may book our next cruise while on board. I heard you get a good deal and it will make it a bit easier when we disembark to go home.

 

[Kaleigh]

Photopass is the picture package deal at DisneyWorld. You get a card with a barcode on it and give it to all the photographers who swipe it and take pictures of you throughout your trip. At the end, you can buy a CD with all the pictures for about 100 dollars (if you prepurchase) which includes tons of little photo details and special effects like tinkerbell over the castle or frames etc. You can also buy the pictures individually online after the trip, logging in using the barcode from your card. You can also get these photographers to take pictures with your camera as well, for free. (Usually the only way we have pics with both of us in them)

And, I would be so excited to go back to London. I guess everything is relative. We can't wait to visit there one day. Wanna trade places and go home to Alabama?

 

[everafter1]

The last time I was onboard was about a year ago, so I'm not sure if this has changed or not, but the photography onboard is a little different than photopass in the parks.

Basically they take photos at different times like dinner, with characters, and in front of backdrops in the atrium. Then a few hours later (when the ship is not in port), you can visit shutters onboard and they have walls set up with the actual photograph in them. You take the photo down off the wall and take it to the counter for purchase. The photos all have borders around them, but it's not quite the same effect as the photopass pictures. For example, if they take your picture with a character, the border would be themed to that chracter.

I'm not quite sure how the photo packages work, though. I know you can buy the full cd of photos at the end, but I've heard those photos don't have the borders on them. I think the process may have changed some, though.

One major difference between photopass and the ships photographers- I believe these photographers are a 3rd party vendor. I've asked them to take a photo with my camera and they said they weren't allowed. So, if you're having a photo taken with a character, just hand your camera to the greeter with the character.

 

[sabrecmc]

On our last cruise, the 8x10 photos were $20 and the smaller photos (6x8, I think) were $10, but you could buy various packages that gave you a quantity discount. It added up quickly, lol. As everafter1 said, there is also a CD option, but I don't recall the price on that. I think it was based on the length of your cruise, so the 3 day was cheaper than the 4 day and so on. Might be worth it for this cruise, depending on how many pictures we end up with. They have a nice set-up for formal family shots with the white background and do a pretty decent job, considering it isn't exactly a studio. They also were snapping away on Castaway Cay, around the ship, at dinner, etc., as well as at the character greets. So, lots of photos!

 

[Goofy Mum]

Wow that's a cool idea. (photopass)
I'm looking forward to getting our pics taken. We've been married nearly 10 years. We have four sons and don't have a single family portrait!
We're getting a hefty OBC so I'm going to buy a package I think.

OK, so we're 18 day's till Barcelona!!

 

[everafter1]

It's a great time to get family portraits done, especially on formal nights. They have lots of different backdrops too. I believe you can also have Christmas cards, etc made from those photos too.

 

[disney-lover]

I've not really looked into getting photos done as we are in a group so will be able to get each other to take family photos for us. But I would be interested in getting one family photo done professionally when we are in our formal wear. Does anyone know if there is a single photo package?

3 weeks, can't wait We fly into Barcelona from London Luton airport on the Tuesday. We are all so excited