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

[Rikersmom]

I don't know of an "official" DIS group, but there are a few of us who live here. If you need any advice or directions, let me know.

Karen

 

[Lionessa]

If there are no others interested in a shuttle, looks like I'll be booking DCL transport too.

We are renting a car to catch a flight at 1:00 at MCO on the 24th. Since your flight leaves much earlier, I wonder if you would be too pressed for time with us. You are welcome to come with us if you think you will be ok timewise.

 

[Lionessa]

And as they say in Weight Watchers, nothing tastes as good as thin feels!

congrats on your weight loss

 

[sinnika]

If it's any consolation the rain here in Ireland has rarely left us this Summer. I know it's what make's the land so green but it would be nice to remember what the Sun and heat feels like.

Wish we had some of that rain here in Texas! Some of the ranches out where we live are starting to look very brown as the cows and horses are eating every last bit of green and nothing is growing back!
By the way, DD and I had the pleasure of visiting Ireland this year over St Patrick's Day on a trip I earned for free. Things were pretty brown, esp around the Guiness Lake. They said the summer is the time to visit when its all nice and green and the heather is in bloom.

Oh... and I *did* book the exotic rasul treatment (and nursery) for us. Glad I coerced Curt into it (after it was booked!). The tips shared here about what to do for it being too hot will be utilized since that is what bothered him last time. Needing some spa treatment!!

We loved the spa on the ship! Its the only place DH will go for a massage - maybe because we do the couples one and he's not alone? My personal favorite is the Alone Time - I've done it on the last 3 cruises and planning to arrange it again this cruise once I get on board. I've had the seaweed wrap and half body massage as my treatment twice, and the ginger lime scrub and massage once. This time, I may try the chocolate treatment! Can never get too much chocolate!

 

[sinnika]

We are renting a car to catch a flight at 1:00 at MCO on the 24th. Since your flight leaves much earlier, I wonder if you would be too pressed for time with us. You are welcome to come with us if you think you will be ok timewise.

Thanks for the offer, but I don't want to rush anyone. I may look at shuttle services - there may be others that may want to do that, or just spend the $35 on the DCL shuttle since its just me.

congrats on your weight loss

Thanks! Its been alot of hard work, started WW in January and down 40 lb. I did it for health reasons, and that has kept me focused on continuing to lose. I don't track when I'm on vacation and have taken numerous trips this Spring and Summer but just made better choices so I haven't gained at all. I think the water aerobics is what has helped tremendously, plus its given me a great tan to boot!

 

[Lionessa]

it's one more thing to pack in our meagre luggage allowance. Then again my formal night dress (only one, it's the only dress I currently own) is purple so I could possibly get away with it....

I'm in the same boat---not much space. You can wear the formal purple dress on Villains. We tend to worry about wearing the same thing twice while at home, but on the cruise, you will be ok with wearing the same thing more than one time.

Most empty large luggage weights 8 to 10 lbs when empty. So that doesn't leave much room for packing. Packing will be soooo difficult.

 

[Lionessa]

Oh, that's me! If you are going to buy liquor, it will cost you about £12-15 GBP for a litre bottle. However, Morrisons isn't the cheapest! The best place to buy any drink is the far end of Main St. The rule is, the further up Main St you go, generally the cheaper it gets!

Do you think the stores on Main St (other than Morrisons) will be open if they're on holidays when we port? That may be a challenge...but we could be fortunate

 

[Lionessa]

Yes, I actually called DCL this week and asked them, they said they can sell Euros, but I'm afraid the exchange rate will be awful, or if they run out I am sced. Plus I need some for Barcelona they day before the cruise anyway...

I thought the same thing. During our DCL Med cruise I found out they have euros at the same rate as you get on the streets (I spent 2 hours in the bank in Naples exchanging US $ to euros). When I returned to the desk, I asked them their rate, and it was the same or better. (the exchange kiosk had the worst exchange in Naples when you factor in their service charge)
Trouble is, GS may run out. I would get my $ the night before or first thing early in the morning of port day before the line up gets too long (before 7am)

 

[granmaz]

Thanks for the tip. We are staying off Les Ramblas behind Bouqueria so we will check Carrefour out. Is it on the upper half of Les Ramblas or lower?

We went to one and it was on the lower half. We found it pretty good.

 

[granmaz]

Is there a DIS group in the Orlando area?

The Dis doesn't have groups like that really though as someone has said others here can offer help if you ask questions.

For general Disney help there are areas on this board. If you look towards the top of the Disboards home page there are individual forums for the Disney parks, resorts, Restaurants etc. Lots of helpful information there, and also a forum for other areas and attractions in Orlando.

 

[Lionessa]

Todd was a smoker, and someone had taken a hanger and straightened it and put a loop in one end. There was a cigarette in the loop and Todd held the hanger in his right hand, at the end of his outstretched, immobile right arm, and slowly moved his right hand back and forth so that the end of the hanger with the cigarette in it went back and forth to his lips. That was the last we saw of Todd...

That's very funny. I can bet with you that Todd doesn't drink anymore, and makes sure there is a sure mattress of some type below him before he jumps anywhere.

 

[jinxleprechaun]

Wish we had some of that rain here in Texas! Some of the ranches out where we live are starting to look very brown as the cows and horses are eating every last bit of green and nothing is growing back!
By the way, DD and I had the pleasure of visiting Ireland this year over St Patrick's Day on a trip I earned for free. Things were pretty brown, esp around the Guiness Lake. They said the summer is the time to visit when its all nice and green and the heather is in bloom.




:

I have to admit Ireland does look stunning in some places in particular when the Sun is shining

Beer is good too, probably because the only way we natives survive all this rainy weather is to drown or sorrows in the ol Pub

Maybe we can organise a weather exchange for a few days - any longer and we would all start complaining on how hot and dry it is - some things never change LOL

 

[Lionessa]

Safety: So what about sticking money and credit cards in your bra? (Don't laugh...) I know I wear cargo pants a lot, especially for travel, but what about a neck wallet or using a sports bra? (I know... will look like I am doing inappropriate things getting money out, but heck, I'm still breastfeeding, so what's the difference....)

Great idea. That reminds me of when I was a child, my mother had underwear that had a zipper in them (not bikini undies---more like shorts-shaped in the 70's) and she stashed all our money in there when we traveled abroad. Low and behold nothing ever happened, but it was a different world then in the 70 and 80's.
My parents fly to europe every year where they stay for 5 months/year.
When they boarded their airplane, (Lufthansa) they were asked by officials to take out all their money and show how much they had. (very unprofessional because this was in front of the other passengers on the plane) Apparently when they passed through Xray an employee had seen a stash of cash in my father's moneybelt, which looked sizeable enough to create this questioning on the plane. My father handed over the cash, and they found 970 dollars.
Apparently you are not allowed to bring out more than 1000.00 cash with declaration from your home country (every country has its rules). The officials left the plane, my parents sat down, and guarded their moneybelt as they slept on the 8 hour flight..

 

[Lionessa]

Apparently you are not allowed to bring out more than 1000.00 cash with declaration from your home country (every country has its rules). :

I meant WITHOUT declaration. (I really should proof-read my comments before sending)

This happened to them when they traveled last year.

 

[squitty]

We have a money belt. It goes round your waist and is hidden under your clothes. We got this tip from my Nan who always used to wear one when she went away.
At the moment it's got all our cash plus our park tickets in it.

 

[sinnika]

I have to admit Ireland does look stunning in some places in particular when the Sun is shining

Beer is good too, probably because the only way we natives survive all this rainy weather is to drown or sorrows in the ol Pub

Maybe we can organise a weather exchange for a few days - any longer and we would all start complaining on how hot and dry it is - some things never change LOL

Yes, we do all like to complain about the weather! I can only imagine all the variations of green you have there now! One day hope to get back there. The week before our trip, Bobby Flay (an American chef) broadcast a food tour of Ireland. We are big foodies, so I wrote down the spots he hit in Dublin and went to some of them. Loved, loved Burdocks for the fish and chips and had some great icecream from a place called Murphy's, (think that was the name).
What great memories, and the parade! How awesome! Also made it to the Cliffs of Mohr with a group of friends! I think that was the only time we had rain.

We have a money belt. It goes round your waist and is hidden under your clothes. We got this tip from my Nan who always used to wear one when she went away.
At the moment it's got all our cash plus our park tickets in it.

I'll be packing my money belt as I'll be traveling solo. Did alot of solo traveling before without one, but that was when I was young and naive (the 80's).

 

[Chirpee]

The Broadway stage version of The Lion King is in Ottawa at the moment, for the first time. We went last night and it was awesome Loved all of the costumes and props and the cast gave a brilliant performance

 

[Chirpee]

look forward to hearing what you think of Cape May Clam Bake. We have an ADR in September.

Hi Michelle

We've eaten twice at the Cape May Clam Bake - the first time was many years ago, the second was in March. We enjoyed it and thought it was good for a buffet. It was very busy the second time we dined there, probably due to the fact that Disney now offers the dining plan and as buffets are usually the most expensive option, a lot of people choose them. That being said, we were sat almost immediately, the buffet was replenished frequently and the server also refreshed drinks on a regular basis.

We didn't have such a good experience at Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge - they forgot that we had checked in for our "reservation" and only remembered to seat us almost 45 mins later after I went and asked why other groups of 2 were being seated when they arrived much later than us. The server was also clearly frazzled and was having difficulty coping with all of the tables assigned to him. There were long line ups for food at some stations, no signs or chefs on hand to describe some of the dishes and the tables were extremely close to each other. In all honestly, it felt like being in a zoo and we will definitely not return there again, which is a shame as we had eaten there shortly after it had opened and had an awesome meal on that occasion, but that was pre-Disney Dining plan.

It was with trepidation that we went to Ohana's the following night, but our experience there was the complete opposite - awesome food and attentive service (this is where you can eat as much as you like, but the servers bring the food to you). We plan on eating here again when next in WDW.

 

[Pinky166]

The Broadway stage version of The Lion King is in Ottawa at the moment, for the first time. We went last night and it was awesome Loved all of the costumes and props and the cast gave a brilliant performance

How fab, i saw it a few years ago in the West End, London. It is a great show & amazing costumes.

 

[heatherLOVESmickey]

Dressing up for villains night isn't compulsory heather so don't lose too much sleep over it. I'm 99% sure I won't be dressing up, as I don't have anything for it and it's one more thing to pack in our meagre luggage allowance. Then again my formal night dress (only one, it's the only dress I currently own) is purple so I could possibly get away with it....

Thanks... I have a black dress with a purple shrug that I think I'll wear.

Villains Night dressing up is entirely up to you. Last year they had a Masquerade Ball in the evening, though I don't think there was actually any dancing!!! Last year there were a few dressed as villains which was fun, but the Dis group for that cruise decided to dress in black and purple just to have a bit of fun. I think folk are going to do that this time too. So, whatever you feel like wearing if you want to join in. Some ladies have purple dresses, some black with purple accessories. Some are just wearing something purple and some are getting fun t shirts. Men can do whatever they want(or partners would like for them) You should get a chance to make masquerade masks during the day hopefully as they had a masked ball last year.

Last year I just wore a purple top with my normal skirt. This year I have my black short formal dress I might wear with a purple wrap and ear rings.

YAY!!! More crafting to do before the cruise!

The shopping is the fun part! And bathing suits are always tricky. One of the ladies I do water aerobics with swear by the Miracle suit. I think Macy's carries them and they are very flattering.
As far as Villains, I know that dis'ers dress in black and purple, and there is some type of mask making I think on the ship, or you can make your own at home. Hobby Lobby had lots of things for this, and DD made a mask for school last year so she is experienced! I am so lacking in the crafty department!

I just bought another swimsuit online last night... I hope it works out. I have a hard time finding a top to contain the girls.

Heather,

I used to live in PA where my friends and I all hated to wear anything sleeveless--we all thought our arms were unattractive. Now I live in Florida. Amazing what heat and humidity will do to your concept of how you look! I wear tank tops most of the time now, and my dresses are mostly sleeveless. I think it's great that you purchased some cover-up things, but I hope you won't wear them unless you are chilly in the air conditioning. Bare arms for all!

Karen

Thank you so much for the inspiration! I should learn to be more brave!

I'm wearing purple (or black), haven't decided. It's just us DISers who will be doing that color theme, not a DCL thing.

Thank you!!!