*Sept 10th 2011 WB Transatlantic* - From Spain to Space Mountain - Part 5

[sue l]

That's exactly how my husband and I sleep - with 2 fans going! When we were first married, we lived in a townhouse with neighbors on both sides being very noisy! We started sleeping with a fan going to drown all of their noise out. Now....30 years later.....we can't sleep without fan noise!

We like to sleep with the ceiling fan on also. Keeps the air circulating. I find it harder to sleep without it also.

 

[karentan]

unless its really really hot i can't sleep with a fan on, if i do i end up with a cold!

 

[3canadianslovedisney]

Hey everyone! I can hardly believe that there are only 53 days left until the cruise. I know I haven't posted for a while but I've been drooling over those gorgeous shoes and reading all the posts.

Welcome to those who have recently joined! We are looking forward to meeting everyone.

Good to hear you had a good time with your DD in Florida Sarah!

We've been busy lately, and we finally have summer weather hear on the Black Sea. We went to the sea to swim a couple of times already, but it's still really cold.

I wish I could find some of those cool shoes here, but there is no good quality shoes. I've bought shoes here and the first time I wore them they broke.

Oh well, I'll just have to admire all you guys' lovely shoes. Actually, maybe I could quickly look for something in Barcelona before we go to the port.

 

[Lionessa]

Hello
I have just spent the last 2 days reading your past threads 2010 to catch up and acquaint myself. We booked this WBTA while on the EBTA in May 2011, but confirmed it a few days ago, making sure we could swing it with vacation dates.
I will be traveling with my DD (8), while DH is unavailable. For this reason we were uncertain until a few days ago if we should go or not.
My name is Nancy and my daughter is Nancy-Paris. We are from Toronto Canada. This will be our 3rd DCL (#1: August 28/10--Med, #2: May 14-28/11
#3: Sept 10-24/11. We haven't bought our plane tickets but I'm looking at either arriving same day (noon) on a direct flight or a day early landing in Portugal since baggage allowance is doubled for less money. Only trouble is I have to take 2 different airlines. I will see in the next few days.
We all have reasons why we booked the WBTA. These are ours:
1--sea days---very necessary to regroup and relax
2--camp out for the kids
3--extra hour each day as cross time zones (much needed after the EBTA)
4--Maho Beach to watch the wide body jets in St Maarten (I attended medical school in the caribbean and would land in SXM to go to transfer to the island I was studying on, enjoyed sitting at the bar watching the planes--want my child to experience this)
5--dolphin swim experience on Tortola
6--CC
I surprise myself at how I have become addicted to DCL being a person who doesn't like to sit in one spot. My friends think I'm crazy since DCL travel is not as popular here in Toronto in the circles I am in.

Our EBTA was amazing and can only remind myself to not expect as great weather and experiences, but would love it if it is just as wonderful.
I have read someone will be going to Disneyland in Paris and asked how it compares. We went while in Paris at the end of the EBTA (spent 8 days in Paris) and here is what we found:
- much smaller
- employees do not smile wishing to have a Magical Day as they noticeably do in WDW
- food/drinks very expensive since in euros
- otherwise all else was the same
- renovations in some areas may be completed by now
- met many visitors from the UK who commented how they prefer WDW much more than DLParis but that is a personal opinion (I like everything)
- it was strange to hear MickeyMouse speak french

I look forward to meeting all of you!!

 

[Dgentrysim]

unless its really really hot i can't sleep with a fan on, if i do i end up with a cold!

We don't have the fan blowing on us....it's aimed down towards the end of the bed. Then we have the ceiling fan on too. Mostly just to circulate the air. I've tried taking a nap before without the fan.....just can't do it. Need the fan noise!

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Hello to all who have recently joined. I am Karen (one of a bunch of Karens on the boards) and am traveling with my DS, Andrew, who is 13. We are very much looking forward to meeting all of you.

Warmly,

Keri (aka, another of the Karens on this trip)

 

[granmaz]

Hello
I have just spent the last 2 days reading your past threads 2010 to catch up and acquaint myself. We booked this WBTA while on the EBTA in May 2011, but confirmed it a few days ago, making sure we could swing it with vacation dates.
I will be traveling with my DD (8), while DH is unavailable. For this reason we were uncertain until a few days ago if we should go or not.
My name is Nancy and my daughter is Nancy-Paris. We are from Toronto Canada. This will be our 3rd DCL (#1: August 28/10--Med, #2: May 14-28/11
#3: Sept 10-24/11. We haven't bought our plane tickets but I'm looking at either arriving same day (noon) on a direct flight or a day early landing in Portugal since baggage allowance is doubled for less money. Only trouble is I have to take 2 different airlines. I will see in the next few days.
We all have reasons why we booked the WBTA. These are ours:
1--sea days---very necessary to regroup and relax
2--camp out for the kids
3--extra hour each day as cross time zones (much needed after the EBTA)
4--Maho Beach to watch the wide body jets in St Maarten (I attended medical school in the caribbean and would land in SXM to go to transfer to the island I was studying on, enjoyed sitting at the bar watching the planes--want my child to experience this)
5--dolphin swim experience on Tortola
6--CC
I surprise myself at how I have become addicted to DCL being a person who doesn't like to sit in one spot. My friends think I'm crazy since DCL travel is not as popular here in Toronto in the circles I am in.

Our EBTA was amazing and can only remind myself to not expect as great weather and experiences, but would love it if it is just as wonderful.
I have read someone will be going to Disneyland in Paris and asked how it compares. We went while in Paris at the end of the EBTA (spent 8 days in Paris) and here is what we found:
- much smaller
- employees do not smile wishing to have a Magical Day as they noticeably do in WDW
- food/drinks very expensive since in euros
- otherwise all else was the same
- renovations in some areas may be completed by now
- met many visitors from the UK who commented how they prefer WDW much more than DLParis but that is a personal opinion (I like everything)
- it was strange to hear MickeyMouse speak french

I look forward to meeting all of you!!

Hi and welcome. Glad you will be getting the 6 hours back on this cruise that they took away from you in April!!

 

[TotallyAngelic]

Hello
I have just spent the last 2 days reading your past threads 2010 to catch up and acquaint myself. We booked this WBTA while on the EBTA in May 2011, but confirmed it a few days ago, making sure we could swing it with vacation dates.
I will be traveling with my DD (8), while DH is unavailable. For this reason we were uncertain until a few days ago if we should go or not.
My name is Nancy and my daughter is Nancy-Paris. We are from Toronto Canada.

Welcome aboard to you and your daughter. We are Sarah and Tony from Wales, it will be our second WBTA and our 3rd DCL. cruise.

May I also extend a warm welcome to any new cruisers who may have joined while we were away in Florida.

 

[pkicinski]

You all have been so helpful, knowing so many things about this cruise. Thank you. Can someone fill me in on what type of currency will be required? Do Euros work at all the European side stops and dollars at the US side? Or must we also have pounds OR????

 

[Lionessa]

Based on the EBTA we were just on all 3 currencies will be needed. If you run out you can exchange at GS on the ship. I found their rate of exchange to be just as good if not better than on the streets at the port.
Euros: Madeira + Barcelona
Pounds: Gibraltar
US Dollar: caribbean ports (cash especially in Tortola for cabs, etc) + CC (stamps for postcards), tips for room service, bar servers, etc. I liked to give cash as tips instead of from my credit card. I believe the cash is more appreciated than the amount they receive from the credit card. Then again I was robbed of my cash in Barcelona 2 times within 15 minutes while going to the DCL in August 2010, during which my cash and all cameras & memories on the media cards were stolen. If you carry cash, carry a money belt. (my money belt was in my carry-on, empty since I was already in europe for 4 weeks and thought I knew the ropes)
Watch your cash if you carry your cash until you board the ship. Once you board you are fine.
Nancy

 

[birkner]

Hello
I have just spent the last 2 days reading your past threads 2010 to catch up and acquaint myself. We booked this WBTA while on the EBTA in May 2011, but confirmed it a few days ago, making sure we could swing it with vacation dates.
I will be traveling with my DD (8), while DH is unavailable. For this reason we were uncertain until a few days ago if we should go or not.
My name is Nancy and my daughter is Nancy-Paris. We are from Toronto Canada. This will be our 3rd DCL (#1: August 28/10--Med, #2: May 14-28/11
#3: Sept 10-24/11. We haven't bought our plane tickets but I'm looking at either arriving same day (noon) on a direct flight or a day early landing in Portugal since baggage allowance is doubled for less money. Only trouble is I have to take 2 different airlines. I will see in the next few days.
We all have reasons why we booked the WBTA. These are ours:
1--sea days---very necessary to regroup and relax
2--camp out for the kids
3--extra hour each day as cross time zones (much needed after the EBTA)
4--Maho Beach to watch the wide body jets in St Maarten (I attended medical school in the caribbean and would land in SXM to go to transfer to the island I was studying on, enjoyed sitting at the bar watching the planes--want my child to experience this)
5--dolphin swim experience on Tortola
6--CC
I surprise myself at how I have become addicted to DCL being a person who doesn't like to sit in one spot. My friends think I'm crazy since DCL travel is not as popular here in Toronto in the circles I am in.

Our EBTA was amazing and can only remind myself to not expect as great weather and experiences, but would love it if it is just as wonderful.
I have read someone will be going to Disneyland in Paris and asked how it compares. We went while in Paris at the end of the EBTA (spent 8 days in Paris) and here is what we found:
- much smaller
- employees do not smile wishing to have a Magical Day as they noticeably do in WDW
- food/drinks very expensive since in euros
- otherwise all else was the same
- renovations in some areas may be completed by now
- met many visitors from the UK who commented how they prefer WDW much more than DLParis but that is a personal opinion (I like everything)
- it was strange to hear MickeyMouse speak french

I look forward to meeting all of you!!

Welcome aboard Nancy and Nancy-Paris!! We are Noel and John and this will be our 5th cruise on DCL. Our last cruise was the 2010 WBTA so if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask or PM me.

My DH John and I have created a website for you view other cruisers and sign in with your information. If you want to add your picture, you can send it to us at nbirkner@yahoo.com
Please check this first page of the thread to orient yourself about the cruise, DIS members on the cruise and all the activities planned.
To help you with all the activities that are planned, here is some information to help you decide if you want to participate:

01. If you are interested in participating in the Fish Extender Exchange (FE), please PM Pat (PFlamingo) with the following details:
Send her your stateroom number, Disboard name, first name of each person in the stateroom, realtionship to you (DH, DW, DD, DS, etc) ages and gender of children. You can cut and paste the format below.
Stateroom #:
Disname:
First name:
Age:
Disname:
First name:
Age:
Cutoff date for joining the FE is August 1, 2011.

02. If people are interested in being in the same area as other DIS'ers to send Dan (Cliffy97) a PM with Lead Passenger name, your booking number and if you are Early or Late seating. Dan was told by Disney today that this is all they need to put folks together. . Linked Dining
03. If you are interested in the Candy Swap, please PM Jacqueline (goofieslonglostsis).

04. If you are interested in Secret Mickey Exchange, please PM Karen (karentan).

05. If you are interest in getting a WBTA lanyard, please PM Noel (birkner). See this lanyard link for example of the previous 2010 WBTA lanyard. Hopefully, a group of DISers will volunteer to underwrite the lanyards as they did last year so they will be free to the rest of the DISers. We already have several people offering to be part of the lanyard underwriting group. If you wish to join, please send Noel (Birkner) a PM. If we get enough members, the cost should be $10 or less per member.

06. If you are interested in a WBTA lanyard pin,please PM Noel (birkner). See the lanyard link above for example of the previous 2010 WBTA pin. Cost will be 5 Euros per pin. Payment is to be made by June 30, 2011 to birkner@needinfo.com on PayPal. Contact Noel (birkner) if you have more questions about pins. * Just a quick note on Lanyard pins. I have ordered a couple extra pins so if you want a pin, pls PM me, first come, first served until the pins are all sold.

07. If you are interested in participating in a Mickey Mouse Club night, please check out this Mickey Mouse club post. Plans are to do this event on Monday September 19 at both early and late seating dinners. We will all wear our Mickey Mouse shirts and ears!!

08. I am organizing two tours in Madeira. West we did last year and also one for East Madeira. Here is the a PDF file that gives more information about the 2010 tour. If you are interested, please send Noel (birkner) a PM.

09. We are also going to do a Champagne Girls meet. The Champagne Girls event originated on the WBPC cruise in 2008. Women get together dressed in pink to drink champagne or non alcoholic bubbly and chat. Pictures of the first meet are in this post and pictures from the last WBTA are in this post. Please PM (Clare)Pinky166 to add you name to the list.

10. If you would like to join in the Scrapbooking Exchange, please PM Clare (Pinky166) with your name and room number. The idea is to give your fellow exchangers some scrapbooking embellishments for use in your scrapbooks after you return home! For more info check this post.

11 Join us for a Pajama breakfast on September 18 at 10:00 AM at Lumiere's. We will meet outside Lumiere's at 9:50 AM to take group pictures. If you are interested, please PM Mandy (MandyGirl) with the number in your party.
Here is the picture from the PJ breakfast on last years WBTA.

12. Mandy (MandyGirl) is organizing a Tortola Excursion of a group rate day sail on a power catamaran to Jost VanDyke with Tortola Charters. Please PM Mandy with the number in your party if you are interested in being added to the standby list of this full excursion.

13. Claire (Pinky166) is organizing a Ladies High Tea at Palo's. If you are interested, send her a PM for details. Ladies High Tea is planned for September 13 at 3:00 PM.

14. Squitty (Michelle) is organizing private Mixology and Mojito tastings. If you are interested, send her a PM for details.

15. Karen (Pixie Dust For Me!)is organizing stateroom tours, but we can't do it without you! PM me with your stateroom assignment and room number and we will tour as many staterooms as possible. It would be great to get one in every category!
When: Definitely on a sea day....stay tuned for which day!
Time: TBD
Where: You will be given a list of participating stateroom numbers and categories the day after we embark (to account for all those upgrades, don't you know )
Refreshments: Optional per discretion of stateroom participant.

16. If you want a designed DIS tee shirt for this cruise, follow the instruction in this post. DIS Tee shirt

17. Cliffy 97 (Dan and Bruce) are organizing a typical English pub crawl on Friday, September 16 from 1:00PM until 5:00PM. We can then restart after dinner.
Those who were interested will in one of the bars for ( Traditionally a half pint pounded, I would suggest a drink of your choice) and then visit (Crawl) every other bar on the ship at least once.
As we do not have to worry about anything closing or how we are getting home, I would imagine we can spend 20-30 min at each location versus the 5-10 min you have on the monopoly pub crawl in London.

Tee Shirt Order Site
More details on the pub crawl here: Pub Crawl

If you are located outside of the USA and want a t-shirt, please PM Chris&Jeremy and he will send you the artwork so you can have your own shirt printed locally.

18. If anyone wants to organize a postcard exchange, please feel free to start one. What we did las year is bring a postcard from where we lived and left in each other's FE. It is best to limit the number of participants no more than 25 as cost and weight to bring become an issue.

19. If you are interested in joining us for a farewell lunch, contact Claire (Pinky166) to be added to the list.
Come & join us for a farewell DIS lunch on the last sea day. Thursday 22nd Sept at 12.15pm, we are not sure which of the three rotational restaurants will be open on that day, should there be more than one open I have put them in order of preference - 1st Lumiere's, 2nd Parrot Cay or 3rd Animator's Palate.
Please make sure you check your Navigator that morning to see which restaurant is open for lunch as I won't be able to tell you in advance.
Please PM me if you'd like to join us and I will add you to the list, then once onboard notify the restaurant so they can seat us together at some large tables.

20. Hard Rock Cafe Meet. Some of us are hoping to meet up for drinks/a meal the evening of Friday 9th September at 6:30 PM at the Hard Rock Cafe on Placa Catalunya and is being organized by Sarah (Totally Angelic). Please send her a PM if you want to join in the fun!

21. Jane (We'reAliens) is organizing a Book Exchange. The idea is that a large bag will be hung on handrail outside stateroom 7120 available for anyone to borrow and, of course, donate books.

22. Jill (TxMermaid1) is organizing a dive in Tortola. Here is the info on the dive trip for Tortola Group leader lead by Jill Bouska, PADI Master Scuba Diver Instructor. Tortola Dive
(http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=41602319&postcount=2002)

 

[birkner]

You all have been so helpful, knowing so many things about this cruise. Thank you. Can someone fill me in on what type of currency will be required? Do Euros work at all the European side stops and dollars at the US side? Or must we also have pounds OR????

Gibraltar uses GBP. On St. Maarten, the French side uses Euros.

 

[kj_connections]

Hi Nancy!

I'm flying from Toronto as well! What airline(s) are you looking at for your flight?

My name is Nancy and my daughter is Nancy-Paris. We are from Toronto Canada. This will be our 3rd DCL (#1: August 28/10--Med, #2: May 14-28/11
#3: Sept 10-24/11. We haven't bought our plane tickets but I'm looking at either arriving same day (noon) on a direct flight or a day early landing in Portugal since baggage allowance is doubled for less money.

 

[PFlamingo]

Welcome home Sarah - looking forward to hearing all about your trip


Well - I have ordered some material so I can attempt to make my first FE for the candy swap. I am not a very crafty person, but am going to give it a go. Has anyone made their own? Did you follow the instructions on the first page of this thread?

Any help would be very much appreciated

I made my own, but I just sort of eye-balled it. I think I'm a fair seamstress, so if you have questions, I'll help you out if I can.

 

[birkner]

Update to cabin assignments. John and I are back in 8024 so will everyone please change their lists.

 

[sue l]

Welcome aboard to you and your daughter. We are Sarah and Tony from Wales, it will be our second WBTA and our 3rd DCL. cruise.

May I also extend a warm welcome to any new cruisers who may have joined while we were away in Florida.

Hi Sarah,

Welcome home, I hate coming home from vacation, but especially Disney vacations. Hope you had a great time, i'm positive you did. I'm glad Taryn is enjoying working at HS. We are going to Disneyland in 3 weeks. I am so excited, I can't wait. See you soon.

 

[hazelandannie]

I probably should've done the same

We thought about buying a ready made one but Hazel is quite crafty soshe wanted to have a go at making it herself. We were at a car boot sale a couple of weeks ago and on a table we saw a black wall hanging with 3 pink pockets. Anyone would've thought we had won the lottery we were so excited!

That gave us a base to get going on so now Hazel has covered all the pockets and has started to accessorise it. Will post photo when she has finished.

 

[squitty]

Hello
I have just spent the last 2 days reading your past threads 2010 to catch up and acquaint myself. We booked this WBTA while on the EBTA in May 2011, but confirmed it a few days ago, making sure we could swing it with vacation dates.
I will be traveling with my DD (8), while DH is unavailable. For this reason we were uncertain until a few days ago if we should go or not.
My name is Nancy and my daughter is Nancy-Paris. We are from Toronto Canada. This will be our 3rd DCL (#1: August 28/10--Med, #2: May 14-28/11
#3: Sept 10-24/11. We haven't bought our plane tickets but I'm looking at either arriving same day (noon) on a direct flight or a day early landing in Portugal since baggage allowance is doubled for less money. Only trouble is I have to take 2 different airlines. I will see in the next few days.
We all have reasons why we booked the WBTA. These are ours:
1--sea days---very necessary to regroup and relax
2--camp out for the kids
3--extra hour each day as cross time zones (much needed after the EBTA)
4--Maho Beach to watch the wide body jets in St Maarten (I attended medical school in the caribbean and would land in SXM to go to transfer to the island I was studying on, enjoyed sitting at the bar watching the planes--want my child to experience this)
5--dolphin swim experience on Tortola
6--CC
I surprise myself at how I have become addicted to DCL being a person who doesn't like to sit in one spot. My friends think I'm crazy since DCL travel is not as popular here in Toronto in the circles I am in.

Our EBTA was amazing and can only remind myself to not expect as great weather and experiences, but would love it if it is just as wonderful.
I have read someone will be going to Disneyland in Paris and asked how it compares. We went while in Paris at the end of the EBTA (spent 8 days in Paris) and here is what we found:
- much smaller
- employees do not smile wishing to have a Magical Day as they noticeably do in WDW
- food/drinks very expensive since in euros
- otherwise all else was the same
- renovations in some areas may be completed by now
- met many visitors from the UK who commented how they prefer WDW much more than DLParis but that is a personal opinion (I like everything)
- it was strange to hear MickeyMouse speak french

I look forward to meeting all of you!!

Welcome aboard Nancy & Nancy-Paris. We are Michelle & Neil, first Ta cruise, but our 4th Disney Cruise...

I made my own, but I just sort of eye-balled it. I think I'm a fair seamstress, so if you have questions, I'll help you out if I can.

Thank you Pat - you might regret that offer

 

[Namsupak]

HI Everyone
I am back home from my holiday in Florida and my visit with Taryn my cast member DD. I was also lucky enough to meet up with Karen ( Rikersmom ) and Lauren, James and Lorelei ( Namsupak ) for a drink and a chat while we were out there.

Welcome back! It was great to meet you and Tony. Sorry we couldn't stay for longer. Hope you had a great time.

There's been so much shoe talk on here today! I'm a dansko and tennis shoes person myself. I haven't worn heels in years. I'm amazed by all you ladies that can wear those Jimmy Choo's.

 

[sinnika]

Well, good news and bad news... first the bad news. My friend who I wanted to cruise with is unable to go due to health issues. But the good news is that I have taken up Evelyn's offer (fly4free2) to be her roomie and will be joining ya'll!!! I'm super excited to be doing a transatlantic at last! This will be my 6th DCL cruise, all on the Magic! Our family did the Med last year, and again this year, and the kids and I stayed on for the repo cruise last year from Barcelona to Dover. All of the European cruises have been amazing!
A little about me: My name is Taina (rhymes with China). Its a Fnnish name as is Sinnika, my mom's alias name she would call herself sometimes. She is from Finland. My father is from Peru, and my parents immigrated to Baltimore in the late 50's where I was born and raised (one of 8 kids). I now live in the BIG state of Texas in a very small town where everyone knows each other.
We're near Houston (about 40 miles west of the city) so I just say I'm from Houston!
I have 2 high schoolers and a DH who will be holding down the fort and taking care of our 3 cats while I'm gone!
I'm ready to jump into all the fun! I need to read up on all the activities, plus plan a few excursions! I have not booked airfare yet as I may decide to visit another city before getting to Barcelona. London is at the top of my list. Is anyone going there pre-cruise? I love the theatre and would enjoy going to see a musical or two.
Well, looking forward to chatting, planning, oh and I guess I need to work some to make some spending money for the trip!