May Med Magic - May 15 2010 - Meet thread

[tripodjw]

They just closed all airports here in Belgium until 10pm tonight and will make further decisions after that. Glad we don't have to travel yet. They expect us to have ash here in Belgium by morning. I wish anyone out there traveling in Europe good luck for tomorrow.

My sinuses are going to be killing me.

Cindy

I think you should be ok. The ash is actually very high in the atmosphere. We've had it here in the UK all day and you can't see it - the sun is just about shining here too. The problem seems to be is that the ash is in the part of the atmosphere that the planes fly in.

From what i've read from the UK Met office (who issue the volcano ash warnings for northern europe) the ash is only expected to come down to earth as dirty rain. My understanding is that most of the ash is currently above the clouds so as it falls it gets stuck in the clouds and mixes in with the water. When the rain eventually falls it'll be dissolved in the rain droplets.

It'll mean your sinuses/breathing should be fine - but we'll get really dirty windows

 

[Jeff Spencer]

I haven't. I hope you have a good time. For me, diving in a tank just didn't seem that interesting after having done so many dives on real reefs and walls.

 

[tripodjw]

FE sign up closes tonight at midnight pacific time. I will send out the finalised lists tomorrow (or maybe Saturday at the latest if i get caught up with work tomorrow) and a few instructions like when and where to notify me of any room changes onboard on embarkation day.

The list will be split into an A and a B list - so each list will have half the participants. I'm trying to split the list as equal as possible so hopefully it'll all be ok for eeryone.

I started "creating" one of my FE gifts today. It looks good so far so i hope people like it.

 

[peterpanstout]

Hopefully all air space will be cleared tomorrow. My husband is suppose to fly from the states back to germany.

Jane, thanks for putting together the FE list! So exciting!!!

 

[AlohaJoe23]

Well I thought I had Malta all planned. We have a car rented at the dock and planned to do the fishing village, Mdina, craft village and the beach where they filmed the movie Troy. However today I got an e-mail from the skipper of a yacht for rent that he is available on May 17 the day we are there. I see Disney no longer offers that option most of us saw the $999 price and said nice but no thanks. Well going to this guy direct it would be about quite a bit less. Also might give us the chance to divide up the cost easier.

Is there any interest from people on this thread to do this? The skipper is the owner of the yacht and he comes for free. I was thinking 8 people in the morning 9:00 - 1:00 and 8 people in the afternoon from 1:00 - 5:00. The cost is 350 euros for the day that would equal about $30 per person. The eight people would just need to agree on what they wanted to see and do.

On the boat you could fish, sunbathe, be towed behind the boat. Destinations would be like the island of Gozo or just up and down the island of Malta itself?

If anyone is interested shoot me a PM and I can send you the website to look at.

AlohaJoe23

 

[pixiedust519]

FE sign up closes tonight at midnight pacific time. I will send out the finalised lists tomorrow (or maybe Saturday at the latest if i get caught up with work tomorrow) and a few instructions like when and where to notify me of any room changes onboard on embarkation day.

The list will be split into an A and a B list - so each list will have half the participants. I'm trying to split the list as equal as possible so hopefully it'll all be ok for eeryone.

I started "creating" one of my FE gifts today. It looks good so far so i hope people like it.

Oh fun! Will we get a copy of both lists in case we have extra gifts to pass out? I know that isn't required but was just curious

 

[trampslady]

Are you going to Montserrat? I just went there last week, it is amazing. Wear very comfortable shoes, lots of uphill walking and if you go hiking some of it is dirt and rock trails no cement. But, it is beautiful, I took 350 pictures in one day up there.

We definitely plan a visit to Montserrat. It sounds breathtaking. Not sure if we will go before the cruise or after. We are there for two days before and one full day (plus port day) upon return. Thanks for the shoe advise. Ecco maryjanes all the way!

 

[Jeff Spencer]

I got a call from Melissa the DCL Palo Private Dining coordinator just a few minutes ago and she said......All 3 Groups are Approved!

Group 1 - 5/16

Group 2 - 5/21

Group 3 - 5/25

All are at 10:30 am.

Additionally, Melissa confirmed that Palo dining requests on Embarkation day will be at Rock'n Bar D from 1 pm until 3:30 pm. So those of you that have not yet gotten a dinner, brunch or tea reservation and want one, I'd advise that you plan to board the ship as soon as possible and get to Rock'n Bar D to sign up.

One more thing, the following was included in the confirmation email regarding the Palo Brunch Dress Code

Dress Code

Brunch/High Tea- Cruise casual wear suggested.
No shorts, swimwear, tank tops or blue jeans are permitted.

Second Thing: In case you've forgotten which Group you're in, check out the DIS Meets tab on the web page.

 

[pixiedust519]

That's great news for those of you in the Palo group reservations!!! My family ate there for brunch and dinner several years ago when we had a bunch of my family cruising with us. It's such a unique experience and even more magical go be in a private space at Palo. The mosaic mural on the wall is amazing - our photos at the brunch when sunslight hit the mosaic turned out beautiful. My family was lucky enough to get our own brunch reservation for the first day at sea so we may see you over there. Enjoy!

 

[tripodjw]

Oh fun! Will we get a copy of both lists in case we have extra gifts to pass out? I know that isn't required but was just curious

For sure. I will give out both lists to everyone - the obligation will be to buy gifts just for your list but anyone who wants to give gifts to the other list is welcome to, but there's no requirement for a return gift in that situation.

 

[sayhello]

Oh, Jeff, that's great news! Thanks so much for arranging that. The only eensy-weensy downside to that is that I was crashing jedijill's High Tea ressie for the afternoon of 5/16 at 3pm. I don't think there's any way I could do brunch and High Tea on the same day!!! You'd have to roll me to Malta, once I woke up from my diabetic coma!

Sayhello

 

[jedijill]

Oh, Jeff, that's great news! Thanks so much for arranging that. The only eensy-weensy downside to that is that I was crashing jedijill's High Tea ressie for the afternoon of 5/16 at 3pm. I don't think there's any way I could do brunch and High Tea on the same day!!! You'd have to roll me to Malta, once I woke up from my diabetic coma!

Sayhello

Haha! I had a Palo dinner ressie that night too that I was going to change. I'm planning on trying to rebook both the dinner and the high tea ressie to different days so Sayhello you are still open to crash if I can reschedule on board.

Jill

 

[aldapl]

If you are still looking for a brunch reservation, I was able to book one today for the last sea day.

 

[kehonuamemano]

We are getting so excited . My DH is away at training until May 7th so the time is flying by for him and dragging for me and our DD. She’s only 3 but she asks everyday if the Disney boat is ready. So cute

Any who, we are flying out of Boston via Jet Blue to JFK airport on the 13th. Our international flight is via Iberia airlines also on the 13th. Has anyone flown on this airline before? How are the overhead compartments?

I ask because we are planning to carry on all of our luggage. Yes, it’s crazy but it can be done. We did a trial packing before DH left for “war games.” We have two standard 21 inch suitcases and 2 small boarding bags. Our DD will claim one as her carry on, and the other will be my husband’s personal.

Does anyone know if the Iberia airlines are smaller than the US ones? I don’t want to get to the boarding gate and find out I need to check my bags.

 

[moneyhappy]

We are getting so excited . My DH is away at training until May 7th so the time is flying by for him and dragging for me and our DD. She’s only 3 but she asks everyday if the Disney boat is ready. So cute

Any who, we are flying out of Boston via Jet Blue to JFK airport on the 13th. Our international flight is via Iberia airlines also on the 13th. Has anyone flown on this airline before? How are the overhead compartments?

I ask because we are planning to carry on all of our luggage. Yes, it’s crazy but it can be done. We did a trial packing before DH left for “war games.” We have two standard 21 inch suitcases and 2 small boarding bags. Our DD will claim one as her carry on, and the other will be my husband’s personal.

Does anyone know if the Iberia airlines are smaller than the US ones? I don’t want to get to the boarding gate and find out I need to check my bags.

We are flying Iberia and they have different luggage policy. You are only allowed one carry-on that included your purse. In the US you can have one bag in the overhead compartment and the other under the seat, not with Iberia.

http://www.iberia.com/OneToOne/v3/obsmenu.do?prgOid=8462&tabId=3&menuId=02130500000000&menuRP=1&language=en&country=US&market=US&IS_ANONYMOUS=true

 

[thecooley]

If you are still looking for a brunch reservation, I was able to book one today for the last sea day.

What time were you able to book it? I've been on the site all day, and never saw an opening come up. Congrats to you on getting one.

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Haha! I had a Palo dinner ressie that night too that I was going to change. I'm planning on trying to rebook both the dinner and the high tea ressie to different days so Sayhello you are still open to crash if I can reschedule on board.

Jill

BTW, your previous brunch ressie should be gone, which you knew would happen if the Palo Group brunch was approved. You were the only lucky person out of the whole group of 42 that had been able to book a brunch reservation!

 

[aldapl]

What time were you able to book it? I've been on the site all day, and never saw an opening come up. Congrats to you on getting one.

11:30. I just looked and it is still showing availability. How many are in your party? Maybe that makes a difference?

 

[sayhello]

We are flying Iberia and they have different luggage policy. You are only allowed one carry-on that included your purse. In the US you can have one bag in the overhead compartment and the other under the seat, not with Iberia.

http://www.iberia.com/OneToOne/v3/o...age=en&country=US&market=US&IS_ANONYMOUS=true

With Iberia, you are allowed one carry-on piece of luggage, PLUS a handbag.

Iberia and Iberia Regional Air Nostrum Flights*
..............Business Plus...... Business Class...... Tourist**
Pieces ..........2 ..........................1 ...................1
Weight .......18kg. ...................14kg. .............10kg.
Additional accessories

...A handbag or small briefcase

A coat, a cape or a travel rug

An umbrella or a walking stick

A pair of crutches

A camera/small video camera or a pair of binoculars

A portable cot or a foldable wheelchair (umbrella type) which, when appropriately labelled, can usually be transported free of charge in the baggage hold.

A laptop computer

A nursery bag carrying the baby’s food

 

[Jeff Spencer]

You'd have to roll me to Malta, once I woke up from my diabetic coma!

Sayhello

What, from this?