-=*September 10 2011, Westbound Transatlantic from Barcelona to Port Canaveral*=-

[TorontoGirl]

Welcome aboard Tarin and Donny!

How was the cruise? Wouldn't have minded at all to have been on that one myself.

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome!

As I mentioned above it was rocky but soooooo much fun! It was my 2nd cruise but 1st as a DISboarder and there were 100s of us onboard! In addition to FE groups there was a stateroom tour and we got to see all the different types INCLUDING the Roy O Disney!!!!! So amazing!

2 weddings onboard that I knew of - There was a fellow DISer that got married and my friends had their wedding on Castaway Cay - so beautiful!

We found out Brent-Cruise Director, David (head of Family/Adult entertainment-from Canada) and Aussie Dave are all going to the Dream for the 1st contract.... for them but for us as I think that means they won't be on our cruise! Brent said he is back on the Magic after a few months on the Dream but I didn't get to confirm with him before I left that he was going to Europe on the Magic and so would be on our cruise.

I'm sure the new castmembers will be just as super cool and make it a great time...its just hard when u get attached to favs

 

[birkner]

Well we have a nasty stormy day and night ahead. Lots of weather warnings across the country.I think we are going to stay indoors and get on with some jobs. We seem to be be way on vacation for so long and so often that things here get left, plus when I am here I am planning and on the DIS etc!!!

Our Panama Canal cruise in January is almost fully planned. It is going to be very quiet for us. Not many friends to recognise around the ship this time, no Palo, 1 excursion. I think I will find it hard doing the PC cruise for a second time and there not being all the wonderful people there who were there in 2008.(I might cry) After the 15(yes 15) nights onboard we have 4 at the VGC and then 3 down in San Diego before flying back to Orlando for almost 3 weeks.

This cruise is looking like it might be more like our last TA and the 2008 PC with the way the thread is going. So excited.

The 2008 PC thread was an amazing one with so many people to keep in touch with even to this day.

I like that this thread is just as friendly and welcoming just like the 2010 WBTA thread.

 

[granmaz]

The 2008 PC thread was an amazing one with so many people to keep in touch with even to this day.

I like that this thread is just as friendly and welcoming just like the 2010 WBTA thread.

It is!!!!! I can't wait to meet everyone, or re connect with others!!!!

 

[Pinky166]

Congrats on booking the flight, Pinky! Sure makes it feel a lot more real doesn't it?

My dates won't come out until tomorrow so no possibility to book yet. Parents are all for it to book tomorrow but I'm not sure yet. I could always alter the returndate if the desires added WDW-time doesn't work out but booking now also kinda feels like jinxing it. I'm a tiring person when it comes to these things, I tell ya.

It really does, I have been so excited because of it today.

Fingers crossed that you are able to book your flights soon.

Well done Claire on getting the flights organised. Feels so much more real doesn't it? No going back now. I can't wait to get our return flights booked and then I can start thinking about this vacation and planning too!!!

We haven't been to San Diego before, and it took some time to sort accommodation out. Very expensive, but in the end we have gone for a little motel which gets great reviews and is only $60 per night!! Small rooms yes, but perfectly clean, and family owned for donkey's years, plus a free breakfast. Really friendly and helpful when I emailed them too. Saving us about $80 per night on our other reasonably priced accommodation I had chosen. The $240 will come in useful elsewhere.

We have a villa booked back in Orlando so looking forward to that too.

I really can not wait to start planning, hopefully Karen will be able to start the new thread soon.

SD is a lovely place, I am sure you will love it. We stayed at a lovely place called Paradise Point, it was so relaxing except for the ducks that got a bit too used to me feeding them & began pecking at the door at 6am every morning wanting food.

What dates are you in Orlando?

The 2008 PC thread was an amazing one with so many people to keep in touch with even to this day.

I like that this thread is just as friendly and welcoming just like the 2010 WBTA thread.

I am so looking forward to having a great group of friends onboard. We have only done one 4 day which didn't have a great thread, there was only really me & one other that kept it going in the build up. My second cruise will be the Dream Inaugural in January but because it's the new ship not much is being arranged other than lanyards & an FE......I have been wanting a really friendly group that I can get to know and I am glad i've got that here.

It is!!!!! I can't wait to meet everyone, or re connect with others!!!!

Me too Maz.

 

[birkner]

I'm wishing for it to be weekend soon or actually next week. Being too busy this week, anxiously awaiting some testresults, not really my week. Tonight should be a night for kids to go on our national version of "trick or treat". Aint happening, if you ask me. We've got our first real autumn storm that will last well into tomorrow. We've been hit with windspeeds of around 109 km/h already (117 and up and it's a hurricane), the usual big rains etc. And I have to go out in a minute. Yeiks. Not looking forward to that one, blegh. I keep telling myself only 300 more days until it's all forgotten.

We don't get "trick of treaters" at our house as we are too far out without street lights or sidewalks. Stay safe as those wind speeds sound pretty scary!!

 

[granmaz]

SD is a lovely place, I am sure you will love it. We stayed at a lovely place called Paradise Point, it was so relaxing except for the ducks that got a bit too used to me feeding them & began pecking at the door at 6am every morning wanting food.

What dates are you in Orlando?

I am so looking forward to having a great group of friends onboard. We have only done one 4 day which didn't have a great thread, there was only really me & one other that kept it going in the build up. My second cruise will be the Dream Inaugural in January but because it's the new ship not much is being arranged other than lanyards & an FE......I have been wanting a really friendly group that I can get to know and I am glad i've got that here.

It really does make a big difference Claire. Apart from everything else, just being out and about onboard and seeing friends there too is great. Even John would just say 'I'm off for a walk and see if there is anyone to chat to'!!!

We are back in Orlando from Jan 28th to Feb 16th!!

I get a bit scared of ducks, geese and swans when they come towards me wanting food!!!

 

[birkner]

We have horrid wind & rain here too, I was going to take my mum into town to do some more Christmas shopping but decided to wait until next week as it's so miserable out...........So instead i've just booked our return flight for September. I decided I couldn't hold out any longer for VA to release miles only flights from Orlando so i've booked the return from Miami & hired a car for the 3 nights which we will drop off at Miami airport. This cruise feels all the more real now!

We have booked all our flights on miles except the one between Frankfort and Barcelona. I am looking for a sale and last time sales on those fares came out in February. We also have hotels booked for Frankfurt, Barcelona and Orlando as we have to fly home after the cruise.

 

[birkner]

We haven't been to San Diego before, and it took some time to sort accommodation out. Very expensive, but in the end we have gone for a little motel which gets great reviews and is only $60 per night!! Small rooms yes, but perfectly clean, and family owned for donkey's years, plus a free breakfast. Really friendly and helpful when I emailed them too. Saving us about $80 per night on our other reasonably priced accommodation I had chosen. The $240 will come in useful elsewhere.

We love San Diego and have spent lots of time there especially when DD Samantha attended the University of San Diego. We would go to Sea World, Old Town, the Gaslamp District and of course, the Hotel Del Coronado on Coronado Island for walking in the beach or brunch. We have stayed at the Del many, many times. I even have a picture book written by a girl named Noel who stayed at the Dell in 1893.

So much to do in San Diego and we love staying on the beach. Great shopping as well at the Fashion Valley Mall, plus there is a Cheesecake Factory there for lunch or dinner.

 

[birkner]

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome!

As I mentioned above it was rocky but soooooo much fun! It was my 2nd cruise but 1st as a DISboarder and there were 100s of us onboard! In addition to FE groups there was a stateroom tour and we got to see all the different types INCLUDING the Roy O Disney!!!!! So amazing!

2 weddings onboard that I knew of - There was a fellow DISer that got married and my friends had their wedding on Castaway Cay - so beautiful!

We found out Brent-Cruise Director, David (head of Family/Adult entertainment-from Canada) and Aussie Dave are all going to the Dream for the 1st contract.... for them but for us as I think that means they won't be on our cruise! Brent said he is back on the Magic after a few months on the Dream but I didn't get to confirm with him before I left that he was going to Europe on the Magic and so would be on our cruise.

I'm sure the new castmembers will be just as super cool and make it a great time...its just hard when u get attached to favs

The last WBTA was smooth as glass not one day with any real waves.

On the last WBTA there were so many organized activities that we hardly did any of the scheduled DCL ones. We also had a room tour which was very fun.

How fun to go to a wedding!! I think we had a vow renewal but don't quote me on the last WBTA.

I have been in the Walt myself so I know what yo mean about a great suite. We were two doors down from the Walt last WBTA. The people in the Walt this last time were very unfriendly and complained all the time loudly outside their room. I am so glad they were not DISers. First morning on board my DH and I said hello to the family and they looked at us like we had two heads. After that we just passed them in the corridor without speaking. Our room steward Shaka never complained or mentioned them to us but I could hear them complaining about all the people who were leaving FE gifts in the staterooms nearby. They were complaining that they didn't realize so many people would be in the hallway at "all hours" and that they had not paid a fortune to have people traipsing by their room.

Really looking forward to hearing who will be the Cruise Director on our Inaugural Fantasy cruise.

 

[birkner]

It is!!!!! I can't wait to meet everyone, or re connect with others!!!!

I agree it will be a fun adventure!!

 

[birkner]

I really can not wait to start planning, hopefully Karen will be able to start the new thread soon.

I think Karen still has to get her vacation approved.

SD is a lovely place, I am sure you will love it. We stayed at a lovely place called Paradise Point, it was so relaxing except for the ducks that got a bit too used to me feeding them & began pecking at the door at 6am every morning wanting food. :rotfl2

Paradise Point is a lovely resort on Mission Bay not too far from where DD lived when she lived in San Diego. Many college students live in Mission Beach south of the Giant Dipper coaster at Belmont Park AKA at the coaster when they attend school in San Diego.

I am so looking forward to having a great group of friends onboard. We have only done one 4 day which didn't have a great thread, there was only really me & one other that kept it going in the build up. My second cruise will be the Dream Inaugural in January but because it's the new ship not much is being arranged other than lanyards & an FE......I have been wanting a really friendly group that I can get to know and I am glad i've got that here.

I am surprised the Dream Inaugural is not a big friendly group as I would think that there would be a lot of DISers on board???

Our Fantasy Inaugural thread is really friendly group!!

 

[Pinky166]

It really does make a big difference Claire. Apart from everything else, just being out and about onboard and seeing friends there too is great. Even John would just say 'I'm off for a walk and see if there is anyone to chat to'!!!

We are back in Orlando from Jan 28th to Feb 16th!!

I get a bit scared of ducks, geese and swans when they come towards me wanting food!!!

We will be there at the same time, we get off the Dream on Jan 30th & are at AKV until the 8th Feb.

It was my own fault with the ducks as I used to hand feed them everytime I saw them, it was always the same two. They would wait near our room all day for us to come & go, I would leave the front door open when we were in & they would just pop in & out for some food.

Have you got any plans for San Diego? If you like SeaWorld than the one on San Diego is quite a bit different to Orlando. I prefer the one in SD.

San Diego Zoo is fab, probably the nicest Zoo i've been too. Also as Noel said the Old Town area is lovely.

We have booked all our flights on miles except the one between Frankfort and Barcelona. I am looking for a sale and last time sales on those fares came out in February. We also have hotels booked for Frankfurt, Barcelona and Orlando as we have to fly home after the cruise.

I hope you manage to get a sale price for your other flight.

I haven't booked the hotel in Barcelona but I have booked BLT for 3 nights after the cruise before we fly home from Miami.

 

[Pinky166]

I am surprised the Dream Inaugural is not a big friendly group as I would think that there would be a lot of DISers on board???

Our Fantasy Inaugural thread is really friendly group!!

Oh it is a friendly group, what I mean is not many activites are being planned because it's only a 4 day I suppose everyone wants to spend as much time as possible exploring the new ship.

 

[karentan]

hiya guys,
sorry i havent been around much the past few days, been ill since saturday night with what the doctor thinks is gastroenteritis. not pleasant and havent been on the net much
unfortunately i'm STILL waiting to hear back about my holiday leave. i'm starting to get to the point now where i wouldnt be surprised if it gets refused, seriously why should it be taking this long?!!
the thread has picked up now, but if you want the new thread maybe claire (pinky) would do the honours. i just hate delaying everyone's planning just because i'm still waiting.

 

[granmaz]

We love San Diego and have spent lots of time there especially when DD Samantha attended the University of San Diego. We would go to Sea World, Old Town, the Gaslamp District and of course, the Hotel Del Coronado on Coronado Island for walking in the beach or brunch. We have stayed at the Del many, many times. I even have a picture book written by a girl named Noel who stayed at the Dell in 1893.

So much to do in San Diego and we love staying on the beach. Great shopping as well at the Fashion Valley Mall, plus there is a Cheesecake Factory there for lunch or dinner.

Thanks for that Noel. I think we won't get through everything we want to see and i don't think we are planning on getting to the west coast again which is a shame.

I have been in the Walt myself so I know what yo mean about a great suite. We were two doors down from the Walt last WBTA. The people in the Walt this last time were very unfriendly and complained all the time loudly outside their room. I am so glad they were not DISers. First morning on board my DH and I said hello to the family and they looked at us like we had two heads. After that we just passed them in the corridor without speaking. Our room steward Shaka never complained or mentioned them to us but I could hear them complaining about all the people who were leaving FE gifts in the staterooms nearby. They were complaining that they didn't realize so many people would be in the hallway at "all hours" and that they had not paid a fortune to have people traipsing by their room.

Oh my goodness, what miseries! Can't believe they were like that when you said hello. Now, perhaps on Cunard!! Even if there were lots of people on the corridor delivering FE gifts I can't imagine they were too loud. However, I did pop up to Su's room one afternoon to look at the magazine bag, and the door was open and it was extremely loud and noisy in there. I thought at the time I wouldn't want to be next door!!!!

We will be there at the same time, we get off the Dream on Jan 30th & are at AKV until the 8th Feb.

Have you got any plans for San Diego? If you like SeaWorld than the one on San Diego is quite a bit different to Orlando. I prefer the one in SD.

San Diego Zoo is fab, probably the nicest Zoo i've been too. Also as Noel said the Old Town area is lovely.
.

We only have 2 full days and one afternoon/evening, so not too much time. I fancied the zoo but John doesn't want to go, or to Seaworld. We are planning on USS Midway as well as wandering round the Gaslamp and Downtown areas. Will also do a bit of walking around the water's edge too. Other than that we will play it by ear so to speak. We will have a car so can go for a drive round. Not sure if we will get shopping though.

 

[birkner]

We will be there at the same time, we get off the Dream on Jan 30th & are at AKV until the 8th Feb.

It was my own fault with the ducks as I used to hand feed them everytime I saw them, it was always the same two. They would wait near our room all day for us to come & go, I would leave the front door open when we were in & they would just pop in & out for some food.

Have you got any plans for San Diego? If you like SeaWorld than the one on San Diego is quite a bit different to Orlando. I prefer the one in SD.

San Diego Zoo is fab, probably the nicest Zoo i've been too. Also as Noel said the Old Town area is lovely.


The San Diego Zoo is really spectacular but it is an all day trip. Don't forget the also in Balboa Parkthere are many museums, the performing arts center, and gardens plus our favorite restaurant there called The Prada.



I hope you manage to get a sale price for your other flight.

I haven't booked the hotel in Barcelona but I have booked BLT for 3 nights after the cruise before we fly home from Miami.

Last year we had one way fares for the two of us for $251 so I am hoping for close to the same deal this year.

 

[birkner]

Oh it is a friendly group, what I mean is not many activites are being planned because it's only a 4 day I suppose everyone wants to spend as much time as possible exploring the new ship.

I can appreciate that as I would want to be exploring the ship as well on such a short cruise.

 

[TorontoGirl]

The last WBTA was smooth as glass not one day with any real waves.

On the last WBTA there were so many organized activities that we hardly did any of the scheduled DCL ones. We also had a room tour which was very fun.

How fun to go to a wedding!! I think we had a vow renewal but don't quote me on the last WBTA.

I have been in the Walt myself so I know what yo mean about a great suite. We were two doors down from the Walt last WBTA. The people in the Walt this last time were very unfriendly and complained all the time loudly outside their room. I am so glad they were not DISers. First morning on board my DH and I said hello to the family and they looked at us like we had two heads. After that we just passed them in the corridor without speaking. Our room steward Shaka never complained or mentioned them to us but I could hear them complaining about all the people who were leaving FE gifts in the staterooms nearby. They were complaining that they didn't realize so many people would be in the hallway at "all hours" and that they had not paid a fortune to have people traipsing by their room.

Really looking forward to hearing who will be the Cruise Director on our Inaugural Fantasy cruise.

Good to hear about the weather but too bad about the loud/rude people in the Walt suite Some people don't understand how to be considerate of others or to appreciate what they have - I would LOVE to be in that suite!

From what we could tell for the Dream...they are promoting from within and hiring for other lower positions. hopefully they will do the same for the Fantasy!

 

[birkner]

hiya guys,
sorry i havent been around much the past few days, been ill since saturday night with what the doctor thinks is gastroenteritis. not pleasant and havent been on the net much
unfortunately i'm STILL waiting to hear back about my holiday leave. i'm starting to get to the point now where i wouldnt be surprised if it gets refused, seriously why should it be taking this long?!!
the thread has picked up now, but if you want the new thread maybe claire (pinky) would do the honours. i just hate delaying everyone's planning just because i'm still waiting.

I don't think we need to start a new thread yet as not really much to plan yet. I am more in favor of waiting until you know for sure. With the holidays coming, I don't think planning will pick up full steam until January.

Just my thoughts...

 

[granmaz]

hiya guys,
sorry i havent been around much the past few days, been ill since saturday night with what the doctor thinks is gastroenteritis. not pleasant and havent been on the net much
unfortunately i'm STILL waiting to hear back about my holiday leave. i'm starting to get to the point now where i wouldnt be surprised if it gets refused, seriously why should it be taking this long?!!
the thread has picked up now, but if you want the new thread maybe claire (pinky) would do the honours. i just hate delaying everyone's planning just because i'm still waiting.

Oh poor you being poorly. Take care and get better. I hope you get the leave. it isn't nice that they are keeping you hanging on like this. i would be going spare if it was me.

We can wait to start a new thread!!!