May Med Magic - May 15 2010 - Meet thread

[sayhello]

yes it is. do people still have fax ?

I have to send in substantiations all the time to my Health Savers account administrators to prove that my medical expenses really were for medical stuff. They have an online system, but all it does is generate a form that you have to print out and fax to them!

Fortunately, our copy machine at work doubles as a fax machine. So yes, there are still people out there using faxes...

Sayhello

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Awesome! The new online system is so much better than trying to fax back and forth like I did in 2007.

Jill

Yes, the system is very straightforward. nanaguide (and Carl) and sarahgirl, we're good to go on the Vatican admission. One more thing marked off the "Things to Do" list.

 

[Travelbee]

I thought I'm all caught up with this thread... but what is this online system for the Vatican reservations?

 

[Jeff Spencer]

It's on the links page on the website. You can book tickets for a certain time of day 60 days in advance. Today is the opening of the window on that 60 days. In my case, our tour provider told me the specific time to book to work out with our touring plans. Keeps you from having to wait in line to purchase tickets when you get there.

 

[jedijill]

It's on the links page on the website. You can book tickets for a certain time of day 60 days in advance. Today is the opening of the window on that 60 days. In my case, our tour provider told me the specific time to book to work out with our touring plans. Keeps you from having to wait in line to purchase tickets when you get there.

...and the lines will be LONG! Definately buy your tickets in advance.

Jill

 

[sayhello]

...and the lines will be LONG! Definately buy your tickets in advance.

Jill

*does a little happy dance that I don't have to buy any tickets or worry about it, because ABD is taking care of ALL that stuff!!!*

Sayhello

 

[jedijill]

*does a little happy dance that I don't have to buy any tickets or worry about it, because ABD is taking care of ALL that stuff!!!*

Sayhello

My TA (and friend) just told me today that she gets to go on the ABD Costa Rico tour. I'm anxiously awaiting details.

Jill

 

[sayhello]

My TA (and friend) just told me today that she gets to go on the ABD Costa Rico tour. I'm anxiously awaiting details.

Jill

The Costa Rica trip is pretty popular. It'll be interesting to see what your friend says. When does she go?

Sayhello

 

[jedijill]

The Costa Rica trip is pretty popular. It'll be interesting to see what your friend says. When does she go?

Sayhello

Sometime this week. I'm excited to hear the details too.

Jill

 

[gg.leigh]

Ok, after some deliberation, we would like to participate in FE, if it's not too late. We just need to figure out what to get, and given that we will be in Barcelona for a couple of days before the cruise, worse case is that we should be able to pick up something.

Oh, yeah, still need to figure out whether I feel crafty enough to make a FE myself, or just go with the easy route and get one on eBay!!

 

[Travelbee]

It's on the links page on the website. You can book tickets for a certain time of day 60 days in advance. Today is the opening of the window on that 60 days. In my case, our tour provider told me the specific time to book to work out with our touring plans. Keeps you from having to wait in line to purchase tickets when you get there.

Thanks. Found the link. Do you know if the cost of the tour includes entrance fees or do we have to pay for both? It's not clear on the website. Are you doing the Garden tour or the Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel?

BTW - We are touring Amalfi Coast & Pompeii with Rudy too.

 

[maddisney]

That's so cool that we live so close together. Are you military or are you from Belgium? We love the traveling that we get to do by living here. We've only been here 15 months, but we have been all over the place since we got here.

My nationality is Belgian. I’m working in a banking software company in Brussels. I traveled a few times in the USA to visit the west, Miami, and Orlando. It will be my second cruise with DCL, the first was in 1999 aboard of the Disney Magic for four nights in the Caribbean. But it will be the first cruise for my wife and our son of nearly 1 year.

 

[tripodjw]

Ok, after some deliberation, we would like to participate in FE, if it's not too late. We just need to figure out what to get, and given that we will be in Barcelona for a couple of days before the cruise, worse case is that we should be able to pick up something.

Oh, yeah, still need to figure out whether I feel crafty enough to make a FE myself, or just go with the easy route and get one on eBay!!

Not too late at all. Sign up deadline is 15 April.

Will add you to the list.

Have to admit i went the ebay route for my FE and just bought a standard one (not even a handmade one like gradysmommy makes). It does the job and has Mickey on it - cost about $5 including postage.

 

[tripodjw]

Hopefully we'll start to get room assignments this week.

Getting really excited now

 

[DopeyFan1966]

It will be US 110 in the cabin. The plug in the bathroom is for low voltage shavers.

HTH

Jill in CO

Thanks, my daughter will be happy that she can bring her DSi. And my DH will happy that he doesn't have to use a hand razor.

 

[tripodjw]

Thanks, my daughter will be happy that she can bring her DSi. And my DH will happy that he doesn't have to use a hand razor.

It's also worth knowing that there's often only 1 accessible electric socket in the actual room (excluding the razor socket).

You may be able to squeeze your hand behind the tv to use a spare there but otherwise the only socket is on the desk.

Worth knowing if you have a gazillion electrical items like i do that all need charging (camera, camcorder, ipod, netbook, phone, sometimes a DS/PSP, plus hair straighteners).

I bring a small socket splitter (it's a cube with multiple socket holes in it) other people bring a small extension lead (power strip).

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Thanks. Found the link. Do you know if the cost of the tour includes entrance fees or do we have to pay for both? It's not clear on the website. Are you doing the Garden tour or the Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel?

BTW - We are touring Amalfi Coast & Pompeii with Rudy too.

What I got for our group was the entrance fee (Admission Tickets) which covers the Museum and Sistine Chapel. Our tour provider is a licensed guide for the Vatican so we didn't need to pay anything extra for a tour or a separate Vatican tour guide. There is no admission fee for St. Peter's Basilica.

 

[gg.leigh]

My nationality is Belgian. I’m working in a banking software company in Brussels. I traveled a few times in the USA to visit the west, Miami, and Orlando. It will be my second cruise with DCL, the first was in 1999 aboard of the Disney Magic for four nights in the Caribbean. But it will be the first cruise for my wife and our son of nearly 1 year.

Welcome!! I am glad to hear that there will be another family with a baby!! My daughter will be almost 1 year on the cruise!!

 

[Travelbee]

In browsing the Vatican online ticket website , I noticed that the regular tours cost €31 per adult or €25 for children 6 & up. Does anyone know how many people are usually in the group tour? There's also an exclusive guide we can get for the Vatican for groups of 15 or less. The cost of the guided tour is € 250 in addition to the full entry price ticket of € 19 per person or € 12 for the reduced ticket per person. Would this mean a more intimate experience? For those who are doing Rome on your own, would you be interested in getting a group together for that?

 

[jedijill]

Not sure if anyone is interested but there is another tour offered at the Vatican that is super cool. It is called the Scavi Tour and must be booked through the Archeological Office. The tour takes you down into the necropolis underneath St Peter's Basilica. You see several 1st, 2nd, and 3rd century Roman tombs that are amazingly intact. You also have the chance to see the bones of St Peter that are buried directly underneath the alter of St Peter's.

I took this tour in 2007 and it is absolutely amazing. At the time they only let about 100 people/day in due to trying to preserve the site.

I believe that the Archeological office has a website where you book the tour.

Jill in CO