*Sept 10th 2011 WB Transatlantic* From Spain to Space Mountain - Part 3

[Chirpee]

I did book my hotel for Barcelona yesterday, I'm staying at the Praktik Rambala for two nights before the cruise.

I have so much planning to do but I can't wait!!

We're staying there too

 

[Chirpee]

Okay - the DISboards finally behaved long enough so I could upload the tshirt photo graphics I used. These should work better than the Facebook photos because Facebook always compresses. These are the generic, unpersonalized photos. I do not remember which DISigner created which one, but ALL came from the shared files linked from members on the DISign forum. Right click, save as to your computer, then create tshirts and magnets! If you want them personalized, you would need to find the original creator from the board by going through each DISigner's link in their siggie, and going from there. One DISigner I really like is on a break from DISigning, and some may be her's. (I had been looking at these for several months, and any time I came across one I liked, I just downloaded it and put it in a DCL folder on my computer. Now I have LOTS in that folder, but no clue where they came from...)

VistaPrint did the $4.75 shirts (printing on front only) plus $5 to print on back. It was a sale that I have found again, and it also offered free uploads. So basically, a tshirt was $9.75 plus shipping (for a white shirt; add $3 for gray)

I have also now tried iron-on transfers from AmyMickey.com and am pleased. I prewashed, did the iron-on, waited 24 hrs, then washed. Of course, the first time my baby wore her's, we got butternut squash puree on it, so it now has some character.

I am hoping this link works to where I uploaded the photos.

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/u300955-mandygirl.html

Wow!! The t-shirts look awesome, Mandy.
Thank you for sharing the photos

 

[middleofamerica]

I will be in London on the 8th, from about 10:00am until around 4:00pm. How does customs/immigration work, since I will be getting off the plane and exiting into London? I'm new to this!!

For Americans going into London, it can be a moderately long process (by our normal American airport standards!). If your plane arrives in London at 10am, you might be able to get through customs (if your luggage isn't having to be picked up...just passing on to the next flight) by 10:45 or 11am. However, that's highly dependent on how many other international flights are arriving around the same time. It's a long line that moves fairly quickly, but a VERY LONG line IMHO. This is assuming it's like it was at Gatwick. From what I've researched it sounds similar.

We're going to be in London the same day from 10:45am to 7:10pm. We'll have just enough time to do the more economical trip down to the central London area on the Tube, but it takes longer to do that. You could spend the extra money to do the Heathrow Express into London in 15 minutes, but you end up at Paddington station and still have to take other transport to get to the good sights. If you assume 1 hour to get out of the airport and back 2 hours before, that gives you only 3-3.5 hours total with transportation there and back. The Tube would take 1 hour there and 1 hour back (or so) to the City. Heathrow express cuts it down considerably. Once in London, you can walk around or ride buses, etc. We found it to be simple to get around the public transportation if you read up before you go and know what bus routes go where, etc.

We're planning on going on the Tube to Piccadilly Circus, then taking a bus from Piccadilly through Trafalgar Square down to Westminster. Then taking a City Cruise boat from Westminster to Tower Bridge. Then Tube back to Knightsbridge to shop at Harrod's. Then back to the airport. Beats sitting at Heathrow for 8 hours!!

 

[3canadianslovedisney]

Thanks everyone for the advice on the airfare!! I actually was a little leary of the website that the $600 fare was through so I kept looking...and found a site where the same flight was a "secret carrier" for only $545...so I booked it! I'm flying on British Airways, with a 10 hour layover in London so I guess I can check that city out for a few hours anyway!

Karen -- I guess you can put me on the confirmed list now, since i've purchased my airfare!!!

Okay - the DISboards finally behaved long enough so I could upload the tshirt photo graphics I used. These should work better than the Facebook photos because Facebook always compresses. These are the generic, unpersonalized photos. I do not remember which DISigner created which one, but ALL came from the shared files linked from members on the DISign forum. Right click, save as to your computer, then create tshirts and magnets! If you want them personalized, you would need to find the original creator from the board by going through each DISigner's link in their siggie, and going from there. One DISigner I really like is on a break from DISigning, and some may be her's. (I had been looking at these for several months, and any time I came across one I liked, I just downloaded it and put it in a DCL folder on my computer. Now I have LOTS in that folder, but no clue where they came from...)

ETA: I googled the file name with each photo just now, and if I found where the original file came from, I listed the link with the photo details (so you can see in the link which DISigner it may be...)

VistaPrint did the $4.75 shirts (printing on front only) plus $5 to print on back. It was a sale that I have found again, and it also offered free uploads. So basically, a tshirt was $9.75 plus shipping (for a white shirt; add $3 for gray)

I have also now tried iron-on transfers from AmyMickey.com and am pleased. I prewashed, did the iron-on, waited 24 hrs, then washed. Of course, the first time my baby wore her's, we got butternut squash puree on it, so it now has some character.

I am hoping this link works to where I uploaded the photos.

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/u300955-mandygirl.html

Your t-shirts look great!

 

[3canadianslovedisney]

Thanks for all the birthday wishes!

 

[tojam]

As we are traveling with what will be our 10month old and my mother-in-law, it was mentioned that we might want to bring a set of two-way radios for communication around the ship. This has worked on other trips and seems to give family a sense of peace knowing that each other can be reached.

Does anyone have any experience with these onboard? I cannot imagine they would not work but you never know. Ours have a vibrate setting so that they are not going off and disturbing those around us.

Any help someone could provide would be appreciated.

Cheers!

 

[birkner]

As we are traveling with what will be our 10month old and my mother-in-law, it was mentioned that we might want to bring a set of two-way radios for communication around the ship. This has worked on other trips and seems to give family a sense of peace knowing that each other can be reached.

Does anyone have any experience with these onboard? I cannot imagine they would not work but you never know. Ours have a vibrate setting so that they are not going off and disturbing those around us.

Any help someone could provide would be appreciated.

Cheers!

We took our very expensive two way radios which did not seem to work well on the ship but worked well on land. I found that leaving messages on the board outside our room seemed to be a more effective tool for us or making plans to meet at specific locations at specific times.

 

[auntlynne]

As we are traveling with what will be our 10month old and my mother-in-law, it was mentioned that we might want to bring a set of two-way radios for communication around the ship. This has worked on other trips and seems to give family a sense of peace knowing that each other can be reached.

Does anyone have any experience with these onboard? I cannot imagine they would not work but you never know. Ours have a vibrate setting so that they are not going off and disturbing those around us.


Any help someone could provide would be appreciated.

Cheers!

The ship now has a set of two "wave phones," cell phones for use on the ship, provided in your room. No extra charge unless you lose them. They swirl nicely for voice or text.

 

[Pinky166]

As we are traveling with what will be our 10month old and my mother-in-law, it was mentioned that we might want to bring a set of two-way radios for communication around the ship. This has worked on other trips and seems to give family a sense of peace knowing that each other can be reached.

Does anyone have any experience with these onboard? I cannot imagine they would not work but you never know. Ours have a vibrate setting so that they are not going off and disturbing those around us.

Any help someone could provide would be appreciated.

Cheers!

The Magic & Wonder now have the new Wave Phones installed, which are basically two mobile phones (per stateroom) that work on the ship & on Castaway Cay. You can call and text each other & other staterooms so I don't think you'd need to bring two-way radios.

 

[Pinky166]

The ship now has a set of two "wave phones," cell phones for use on the ship, provided in your room. No extra charge unless you lose them. They swirl nicely for voice or text.

Lol, we posted at the same time.

 

[auntlynne]

Claire - jink 1 2 3

 

[auntlynne]

 

[Pinky166]

And again!!!!

Great minds think like Lynne.

 

[birkner]

When I was a kid, instead of jinx we used to say, "pinch poke, you owe me a coke!"

 

[Pinky166]

It's my youngest DD's birthday tomorrow, she's 18. I am going to try and be good and not eat much cake LOL's then we're off out for dinner at a local Indian restaurant.
Today she's off on a job interview for a part time job to help her as she is at college.

Happy 18th Birthday to your DD! Hope you have a lovely day & enjoy your meal & cake, afterall she is only 18 once, the diet/being good will wait until tomorrow.

Good luck to her for the job interview too.

I know that last year a few DISers were looking at the option of the overnight train from Paris to Barcelona, while I'm certain it wouldn't be less expensive than the Easy Jet flight, i somehow have a romantic vision of traveling across Europe via train in the dead of night, I'm sure the reality might not quite match up to dream tho....

SW

That does sound very romantic.

Claire, sadly I've never done High Tea at Palo's, hoping for that experience this time. Our experience at the Floridian has always been great. We have had the same server on several occasions, and she always remembers us, and the fact that we don't drink tea, and brings us hot chocolate with whipped cream on top without us even asking for it. The tea sandwiches are delish, cucumber with cream cheese and watercress, pear with gorgonzola, and others. They also offer devonshire cream with their scones, we always ask for extra cream All served on beautiful Royal Albert china ... it's the quintessential tea to me.

I found this review if your interested, http://http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2010/09/01/guest-review-afternoon-tea-at-disney%E2%80%99s-grand-floridian-resort/ Not sure why the reviewer thought service was slow, I love to take my time over the 'Tea' experience

What is glossing? Sounds like you have been doing a lot of work on your home. Do you have any before and after pics ... I just love looking at that kind of thing.

Sorry, I don't know why but I thought you had done both. Thanks for the link to the review, I have read a few and it sounds like something I would love but i'm not sure if DH would. I guess we'll see if he likes the one at Palo's (if I can get booked).

As for the Royal Albert china at the GF, it makes me smile and bring back so many childhood memories as my Nan & Grandad collected that set many years ago & only used it for special occasions, Christmas etc. Bless them.

Glossing is a very shiny paint that we use of door frames, skirting boards etc it gives off high fumes. It's a horrible job.

Thanks everyone for the advice on the airfare!! I actually was a little leary of the website that the $600 fare was through so I kept looking...and found a site where the same flight was a "secret carrier" for only $545...so I booked it! I'm flying on British Airways, with a 10 hour layover in London so I guess I can check that city out for a few hours anyway!

Karen -- I guess you can put me on the confirmed list now, since i've purchased my airfare!!!

Congrats for making it official.

My face is fine today, the redness has gone down overnight and I now have freckles and the sunkissed look, but drastic way of doing it though lol, was nipping last night

Fingers crossed Lee finishes it off

It ended up with rain showers here all day.... I think Scotland had it's summer last weekend, it got up to 23 oC

It was still nice here yesterday until late afternoon when we got a few showers, the sun is shining this morning though.....fingers crossed summer is NOT over yet!

I hope you get some sun today.

We just call it painting. Doesn't matter if it's a latex flat/eggshell/satin coat on the walls or the enamel (often high gloss) used on trim. Often, the enamel is oil-based and a mess to clean up.

Ahhhh it sounds like the enamel is what we call gloss.

 

[TotallyAngelic]

Hi Auntlynne, weren't you on the Eastbound TA last April? I think we've met.

Also, Sarah - I wanted to let you know that I am now reading your WB TA trip report from last year. Its great! I am only to day 3, but I have a question....where is that Arc di Triomphe in Barcelona? I know you said it was on the walk from Sagrada Famiglia and Gothic Quarter, but if you know what neighborhood it is in, please let me know.

The Arc di Triomf is just above the Parc de la Ciutadella. It is at the junction of Paseo de Saint Joan and Passeig de Lluis Companys.

On google maps:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?oe=ut...local_group&ct=image&resnum=4&ved=0CA8QtgMwAw

If you go to Placa Catalunya and the top end of La Rambla and look for the street opposite La Rambla and the Hard Rock Cafe. This street is called Ronda de Sant Pere and if carry on down this street you will come straight to The Arc. Makes more sense if you look at the map.

 

[granmaz]

We came across the Arc by accident. We were wandering around the Gothic Quarter and got lost. We ended up here. It was much closer than we thought it would be and I had not planned on visiting it because of that!! It is quite a pretty wide walking area really. If you carry on down from there you reach a park, and also the zoo. We wandered through the park and back along the sea front to the bottom of Las Ramblas again.

 

[squitty]

Happy 18th Birthday to your DD! Hope you have a lovely day & enjoy your meal & cake, afterall she is only 18 once, the diet/being good will wait until tomorrow.

Good luck to her for the job interview too.

Hi Claire, thank you for the birthday wishes, I'll be sure to pass them on.

Well the job interview went ok she says, but they will let her know in a few days if she's been successful.

This morning her birthday got off to a great start till we've went to set her PS3 up....it doesn't work, so just on the phone now to Playstation to get her another one. She's gutted as we do love playing our Call of Duty in this house.

Anyway hope your decorating is coming along and you can always come and do ours once your finished

 

[karentan]

She's gutted as we do love playing our Call of Duty in this house.

happy birthday to your daughter!!

and modern warfare RULES!

 

[LindaBabe]

Good Morning, Happy Cruisers!

I read warnings about 'pick pockets' in Barcelona. Experienced travelers, What's your favorite method of keeping your stuff safe?