*Sept 10th 2011 WB Transatlantic* From Spain to Space Mountain-Taking the Magic Home

[StephenKay]

So lucky to have DVC discount. That is something I'm hoping to look into on the cruise, I think I saw somewhere that they do have info on the cruise for DVC, is that correct?/QUOTE]

Yes DVC do have a team of at least 4 on board each cruise and the desk is manned during busy times of the day to attract new members. Generally the team is 2 sales agents and at least two assitants, most of the meetings take place in Diversions, which they give an easy to understand a briefing of how DVC works. DVC is a great scheme however it needs to work for your family and it doesn't for all. On most cruises speak to the DVC members and ask lots of questions is my top tip.

 

[TotallyAngelic]

This video was taken by my friend Lynne who was on last year's WBTA as she was being sand blasted by a jet at Maho Beach ....

http://www.youtube.com/user/lynnezabek#p/a/u/1/azM3OWUyZbQ

and for those who were interested in the StarWars museum in St Maarten:

 

[melonz]

I'm totally amazed by the amount of planning this cruise needs I went into this totally blind

Once I booked i thought that was it.

After reading all the info on here I've had a for 2 days AND I've been dreaming about the cruise every night.

Off to check my lottery ticket.........

 

[steamboat will]

Ooh, is this easy to find? If you don't mind me asking, where is the store located? We are Star Wars fans too and would love to browse in this shop/ gallery.

Hi there

I popped into "yodaguys" gallery whilst I was in St Martin shopping last year. It's very easy to find, its on the main street in town about a 15 min walk from the boat.

It's very situated on the upstairs floor of a small building. As i walked by I was attracted by Star Wars music playing into the street. Around the walls are pictures and copies of production documents available for purchase.

To one side there was a doorway leading to a small exhibition area where some movie props and memorabilia are on view. I seem to remember there was a small charge to enter this area or it was free with a qualifying purchase from the gallery.

Yodaguy himself was there, and came over and chatted to me about his involvement in the film, his plans to set up a full scale movie Museum, and also offered to personalise any purchases I made in the gallery.

If you google "thatyodaguy" you can find out more info about the gallery and yodaguy himself.

SW

 

[steamboat will]

I'm totally amazed by the amount of planning this cruise needs I went into this totally blind

Once I booked i thought that was it.

After reading all the info on here I've had a for 2 days AND I've been dreaming about the cruise every night.

Off to check my lottery ticket.........

Hi there

I'm pretty sure that you could roll up for a Disney Cruise line vacation with no planning and still have an amazing time. So don't get overwhelmed by the planning, do as much as you want, and enjoy what you do, knowing it'll only add extra value to your time on board.

The people I always feel sorry for are those that turn up to a Disney trip without ANY preparation.

These are the folks you see holding their guide map upside down on Main Street at Midday trying to figure out which way it is to Pirates of the Caribbean, or looking at the three hour queue line for Soarin and wondering why they didn't find out about this attraction earlier.

SW

 

[DISNEYFAN_SD]

While they're getting sand-blasted, we'll just be getting blasted!

 

[DISNEYFAN_SD]

DH & I have tried on every cruise to see dolphins and whales and we have never seen one. Does anyone know when the best time to see them? I hope we will be able to see some on the tour.

 

[3canadianslovedisney]

Hi Leanne, thanks for the welcome . We land at 7pm, what time do you get there? What time does the Carrefour close? Is this the place where you can buy alcohol quite cheaply?

My DS Ethan is 10 so I'm glad there's someone there his own age

We land at 7:50 pm. The whole mall closes at 10:00 pm and then is open in the morning at 10:00 am. Not sure about the cheapness of the alcohol, we've never been to Barcelona. Do they sell alcohol in the stores in Barcelona?

Yes, it's nice that there will be a few children on the cruise!

Yes DVC do have a team of at least 4 on board each cruise and the desk is manned during busy times of the day to attract new members. Generally the team is 2 sales agents and at least two assitants, most of the meetings take place in Diversions, which they give an easy to understand a briefing of how DVC works. DVC is a great scheme however it needs to work for your family and it doesn't for all. On most cruises speak to the DVC members and ask lots of questions is my top tip.

Thanks, we are interested, but not sure if it is right for us, so we'll have lots of questions.

 

[DISNEYFAN_SD]

Thanks, we are interested, but not sure if it is right for us, so we'll have lots of questions.[/QUOTE]

We had alot of questions too, and still asking... Make sure it is right for you we waited for two years before buying.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Sounds very intriguing ..... I would be happy to have a total surprise, but if it is easier for you to get us to choose colours I am happy to do that too. Whatever is best for you in other words !!

Easiest for me is to see happy faces. Can't see too much, but I'm betting colors can make a difference in adding some...... extra pixiedust, so to say.

I'm totally amazed by the amount of planning this cruise needs I went into this totally blind

Once I booked i thought that was it.

After reading all the info on here I've had a for 2 days AND I've been dreaming about the cruise every night.

Off to check my lottery ticket.........

Mistake you made; joining a board full of fanatics, than made worse by joining a thread full of fanatics talking about planning on YOUR cruise. The good news; you are in control. Cruising takes as little or much planning as you wish for. Mix and match picking from a menu, so to say. OK, you'll have ti sign up for some events and be on time at certain places if for instance you want a "hot ticket", but you can really do DCL without ANY planning other than paying and showing up at the terminal on time with your needed paper and creditcard. (anything else can be bought, so could even be done without luggage ). There is more than enough to be done on board that takes no planning other than showing up. Or lugging yourself to that lounger, plunging down and lugging yourself up again after a long lazy day there.

Thanks, we are interested, but not sure if it is right for us, so we'll have lots of questions.

As long as you are not a 100% sure; rent points! The cheapest way for doing WDW-trips without getting yourself into a decades long contract many times. Allthough it depends; which times of year would you travel? Do you plan on staying in Europe or perhaps going back to Canada? For us Europeans the best deal around can be by booking through WDTC UK during the free dining + 42% off at OKW and SSR. I've found it's cheaper than booking a mod with 40% PIN-code as soon as you find yourself looking at a oneBR or two-BR versus 2 mod rooms. Depends a bit on your eatingcosts, but you can easily do that match.

I've also found this promo in 2010 was cheaper for us than renting points (situation; me and mom travelling, both wanting own room AND bedroom, so ended up with a 2-BR which was cheaper than 2 studios). It was a bit over $5200,- for the 2 of us for the 2BR, and 3 weeks of "free" standard dining program. Now that I'm back to solotrips, renting points is by far the cheapest. Even the WDTC UK promo is WAY more expensive.

PS; it often isn't known, but you do NOT have to be from the UK. They call it a "UK-resident" promo, but in reality it is for all of us from Europe. Same goes for the MEO-discount for this cruise and many other so called "UK-resident"-promos. Same goes for the parktickets, so if going for a longer time; take the UK-tickets!! Cheaper per day for long trips and the only ones that come in a 14 and 21-day version.

For my upcoming trip I'm paying €1540,- for 2 weeks in a studio at OKW. Can not beat that with even a 40% discount unless staying at a value. (I only do mods or above)

Pointrental is a great way for getting to get a feel of the resorts, enjoy the better price but not being tied in yet before you are sure if it will even fit your families future. As pointusage isn't the best value when going on a cruise, you could even still do those on money.

Just one heads up; just scanned the DVC-boards (need to keep up with info about OKW for my next trip ) and learned that resales DVC will no longer be allowed to use their points towards DCL for sales made after...... I think the 20th of march? Might be something to look into when pricing out selling through DVC and buying resale.

 

[Chirpee]

Hi there

I popped into "yodaguys" gallery whilst I was in St Martin shopping last year. It's very easy to find, its on the main street in town about a 15 min walk from the boat.

It's very situated on the upstairs floor of a small building. As i walked by I was attracted by Star Wars music playing into the street. Around the walls are pictures and copies of production documents available for purchase.

To one side there was a doorway leading to a small exhibition area where some movie props and memorabilia are on view. I seem to remember there was a small charge to enter this area or it was free with a qualifying purchase from the gallery.

Yodaguy himself was there, and came over and chatted to me about his involvement in the film, his plans to set up a full scale movie Museum, and
also offered to personalise any purchases I made in the gallery

If you google "thatyodaguy" you can find out more info about the gallery and yodaguy himself.

SW

Thanks for the information; I've bookmarked his Web site.

 

[squitty]

This video was taken by my friend Lynne who was on last year's WBTA as she was being sand blasted by a jet at Maho Beach ....

http://www.youtube.com/user/lynnezabek#p/a/u/1/azM3OWUyZbQ

and for those who were interested in the StarWars museum in St Maarten:

Thanks for that Sarah. My DH is going to love St Maarten

Hi there

I popped into "yodaguys" gallery whilst I was in St Martin shopping last year. It's very easy to find, its on the main street in town about a 15 min walk from the boat.

It's very situated on the upstairs floor of a small building. As i walked by I was attracted by Star Wars music playing into the street. Around the walls are pictures and copies of production documents available for purchase.

To one side there was a doorway leading to a small exhibition area where some movie props and memorabilia are on view. I seem to remember there was a small charge to enter this area or it was free with a qualifying purchase from the gallery.

Yodaguy himself was there, and came over and chatted to me about his involvement in the film, his plans to set up a full scale movie Museum, and also offered to personalise any purchases I made in the gallery.

If you google "thatyodaguy" you can find out more info about the gallery and yodaguy himself.

SW

Thank you also for that info. I will be sure to check the website out.

DH is gutted we're not going to make Star Wars Weekends at WDW this year so this will be good for him to get his Star Wars fix.

 

[Chirpee]

and for those who were interested in the StarWars museum in St Maarten:

Thanks for sharing your photos, Sarah.

About a year ago, we went to a Star Wars concert here in Ottawa, where they showed clips of the movies while the orchestra played the accompanying score. The event was narrated by Anthony Daniels, who played CP3O, and we were able to see props from the movies and have photos taken with various characters. It was great fun!

 

[Chirpee]

So lucky to have DVC discount. That is something I'm hoping to look into on the cruise, I think I saw somewhere that they do have info on the cruise for DVC, is that correct?/QUOTE]

Yes DVC do have a team of at least 4 on board each cruise and the desk is manned during busy times of the day to attract new members. Generally the team is 2 sales agents and at least two assitants, most of the meetings take place in Diversions, which they give an easy to understand a briefing of how DVC works. DVC is a great scheme however it needs to work for your family and it doesn't for all. On most cruises speak to the DVC members and ask lots of questions is my top tip.

We are DVC members too and are happy to answer any questions you have, Leanne. Should you decide to join DVC, my main tip would to be buy points at the resort that you wish to stay at the most.

 

[Chris&Jeremy]

Yes DVC do have a team of at least 4 on board each cruise and the desk is manned during busy times of the day to attract new members. Generally the team is 2 sales agents and at least two assitants, most of the meetings take place in Diversions, which they give an easy to understand a briefing of how DVC works.

Does DVC offer anything in exchange for listening to their sales pitch like they do at the resorts? I feel like they offered like a $200 credit or something at WDW if you take time out of your day to go listen to the pitch. (I'm thinking more OBC!)

 

[MandyGirl]

Thanks for sharing your photos, Sarah.

About a year ago, we went to a Star Wars concert here in Ottawa, where they showed clips of the movies while the orchestra played the accompanying score. The event was narrated by Anthony Daniels, who played CP3O, and we were able to see props from the movies and have photos taken with various characters. It was great fun!

Ditto on sharing, Sarah!!
And Chirpee - that concert is on my 'wish list' to do one day. Not just Star Wars, but others. Anything John Williams composed... LOL!

Does DVC offer anything in exchange for listening to their sales pitch like they do at the resorts? I feel like they offered like a $200 credit or something at WDW if you take time out of your day to go listen to the pitch. (I'm thinking more OBC!)

I'm liking your way of thinking!!!

 

[DISNEYFAN_SD]

Does DVC offer anything in exchange for listening to their sales pitch like they do at the resorts? I feel like they offered like a $200 credit or something at WDW if you take time out of your day to go listen to the pitch. (I'm thinking more OBC!)

When we listened to it on the ship they put everyone in a drawing for a $500 credit ... when we did the walk thru on land we got $50 credit

 

[squitty]

Does DVC offer anything in exchange for listening to their sales pitch like they do at the resorts? I feel like they offered like a $200 credit or something at WDW if you take time out of your day to go listen to the pitch. (I'm thinking more OBC!)

I wish We just got some nice DVC stuff - hats etc.

When we listened to it on the ship they put everyone in a drawing for a $500 credit ... when we did the walk thru on land we got $50 credit

We only got DVC fastpasses and a free ice cream..would've loved the $50 instead.

 

[Dgentrysim]

Does DVC offer anything in exchange for listening to their sales pitch like they do at the resorts? I feel like they offered like a $200 credit or something at WDW if you take time out of your day to go listen to the pitch. (I'm thinking more OBC!)

Husband and I have been DVC members since 1996. We went to the DVC event on board the ship on our Med. cruise last year. They had several give-away prizes (DVC brand) and I believe they had an on board credit as the big prize.

 

[DISNEYFAN_SD]

I wish We just got some nice DVC stuff - hats etc.

We only got DVC fastpasses and a free ice cream..would've loved the $50 instead.

We used our $ to help pay for presents for people back home.