The MAGIC is Back!!! - 6th Sept 2014 WBTA - Come & join the fun! - PART 2

[CDNDisneyMom]

Welcome aboard. make sure to read page 1 and try new things. If you have any questions feel free to ask

Can you add us to the roll call, myself and my DH on our first ever cruise!!!

Getting very excited and overwhelmed at the amount of activities you guys have been planning!!

 

[MandyGirl]

Is there anyone on here that participated in the EBTA 2013 mural project? If so, are you planning to go see the finished product hanging in the hospital? We painted the bottom right hand corner and are planning to go see it most likely on that Friday before embarkation - thought it might be fun to meet-up if anyone else is going Please let me know!

 

[babydiver]

For those of you wanting to see something of San Juan at the end of the cruise and have a problem with luggage there are some excursions that will pick you up a the ship and take you around and store your luggage and then take you to the airport.... look for Puerto Rico cruise excursions and some of them have the airport trip included.

The excursions cover Old San Juan and the Forts and some have the Bacardi Factory included as well ....Tours are approx 5 hours and cost around $40 per person which includes collecting you at the cruise ship, storing your luggage, doing the tour and taking you to the airport...what a bargain.

 

[offtoseemickey]

Welcome new cruisers!!!

Today is an exciting day for us... WE ARE NOW PAID IN FULL!!!!!!!

Every Monday morning I feel like we're another week closer! 5 months today will be the first of our sea days. I'm so excited for the aquadunk, a lovely sit down brunch, disney nuggets(!), the ice cream machine, buying a DCL charm for my bracelet and just total relaxation time.

What are you all excited for onboard our beautiful ship?

Michala

 

[clareyfairymouse]

For those of you wanting to see something of San Juan at the end of the cruise and have a problem with luggage there are some excursions that will pick you up a the ship and take you around and store your luggage and then take you to the airport.... look for Puerto Rico cruise excursions and some of them have the airport trip included.

The excursions cover Old San Juan and the Forts and some have the Bacardi Factory included as well ....Tours are approx 5 hours and cost around $40 per person which includes collecting you at the cruise ship, storing your luggage, doing the tour and taking you to the airport...what a bargain.

Thanks for the tip! Has anyone used them before?
Our flights not until the evening so we are looking for a way of seeing the some of San Juan before our flight.

 

[clareyfairymouse]

Welcome aboard. make sure to read page 1 and try new things. If you have any questions feel free to ask

Thank you!!

Will try and catch up on the boards so far however I'm sure there will be plenty of questions!

 

[MandyGirl]

Welcome to the new cruisers! definitely read all of page one and part of page two.... Several group activities that have been in the planning for quite a while

We were looking for something too for disembarkation but age 4 didn't meet that company's minimum of age 5. We will probably just end up going straight to the airport. And unfortunately it's not one of my favorite airports to hang out in.

 

[MandyGirl]

Excited to see onboard? Some favorite CMs who have watched our girls grow up on these long cruises.
Get to see some previous cruising buddies the night prior to embarkation at the meet at Hard Rock.

We were onboard the Magic in December and loved the updates.

 

[Namsupak]

To all the new cruisers joining us! This is going to be such a great trip

Welcome new cruisers!!!

Today is an exciting day for us... WE ARE NOW PAID IN FULL!!!!!!!

What are you all excited for onboard our beautiful ship?

Michala

Yay for being PIF! It's so exciting and like the trip can really begin. I'm really excited to visit all these new places we've never been. I'm also excited to just get on the ship again. We had so much fun this past January on the new Magic. I never got a chance to try the Aquadunk though because my kids always wanted me swimming with them and the line was long.

I saw a lot of people talking about excursions. DH found this water park in Tenerife that we may visit. It's called Siam Park. We're Thai and so we kind of want to check it out and see what it's like. That's the only thing we've really looked into. We're still trying to get things together for arrival in Barcelona.

 

[Sparky47]

We are planning to use the blue cruise buses in Barcelona too, pleased to hear a seasoned traveller recommends them, thank you

Still planning our ports too, hoping to do some snorkelling, but not decided where yet, Maho beach also looks fun.

I've seen reference to "blue cruise buses" a few times with respect to Barcelona. We are, unfortunately, arriving to Barcelona on a red eye the day of the cruise. We are hoping that we will be able to take DCL transportation to the port, drop off luggage and then head out for a QUICK look around Barcelona. Are the blue cruise buses transportation in/out of the cruise terminal to at least the Christopher Columbus statue? (I believe we could pick up the hop on/hop off bus there). Thanks for your help!

 

[offtoseemickey]

Yay for being PIF! It's so exciting and like the trip can really begin. I'm really excited to visit all these new places we've never been. I'm also excited to just get on the ship again. We had so much fun this past January on the new Magic. I never got a chance to try the Aquadunk though because my kids always wanted me swimming with them and the line was long.

I saw a lot of people talking about excursions. DH found this water park in Tenerife that we may visit. It's called Siam Park. We're Thai and so we kind of want to check it out and see what it's like. That's the only thing we've really looked into. We're still trying to get things together for arrival in Barcelona.

Thanks!

We looked at Siam Park too, but I think it's too far from the port to make it there & back in the short time we have in Tenerife... Did you look at that? It looks fun there though!

Michala

 

[GatorMomInNC]

To all the new cruisers joining us! This is going to be such a great trip



Yay for being PIF! It's so exciting and like the trip can really begin. I'm really excited to visit all these new places we've never been. I'm also excited to just get on the ship again. We had so much fun this past January on the new Magic. I never got a chance to try the Aquadunk though because my kids always wanted me swimming with them and the line was long.

I saw a lot of people talking about excursions. DH found this water park in Tenerife that we may visit. It's called Siam Park. We're Thai and so we kind of want to check it out and see what it's like. That's the only thing we've really looked into. We're still trying to get things together for arrival in Barcelona.

Excited to see onboard? Some favorite CMs who have watched our girls grow up on these long cruises.
Get to see some previous cruising buddies the night prior to embarkation at the meet at Hard Rock.

We were onboard the Magic in December and loved the updates.

Since you guys were both om Magic recently, any suggestions for servers to request? I loved our servers frim our 2011 WBTA but can't remember their names!!

 

[woody73]

. . . Are the blue cruise buses transportation in/out of the cruise terminal to at least the Christopher Columbus statue?

Yes. I recall it's cash only.

. . . (I believe we could pick up the hop on/hop off bus there).

The Hop On/Hop Off buses have a stop at the Christopher Columbus monument.

Woody

 

[Claire4dpins]

Welcome to the new cruisers!
clareyfairymouse - we are first time cruisers as well and we didn't book long ago -- we are just trying to learn all we can from all the experts in this thread!

I am very excited people are talking excursions! I just wish Disney posted what they planned sooner.
For St Maarten - I am seriously looking at Bernard's tours now and may book what anichan has (see you there!). I was looking at the Under Two Flags one Disney have but it seems to get very poor reviews.

Malaga - I wanted to just tour by ourselves -- but with the public holiday I am now thinking it might be better to go out of town on a tour.
I was looking at Mijas & Málaga or Nerja & Caves on Disney. Granada & the Alhambra are truly wonderful (I did visit about 35 years ago as a child -- when I was probably too young to fully appreciate it) -- but I think 2 hours travel each way is just too much for the time you would have there. A car or mini bus might be a bit quicker -- but you would need a big group to make that cost effective.

Thanks to babydiver, I have been debating if we might have time to do a tour in San Juan and get to the airport for a 2.35pm departure. I would like to do something that morning but I will be very nervous re the timings. Like with Antigua -- with such a short time in port I feel we would HAVE to go with Disney on that one.

If anyone does organize any private groups we might be interested -- we are two adults -- early 40's no kids -- but we certainly don't mind being on a trip with children -- I am a former primary/elementary school teacher.

It is certainly fun to read others plans and ideas -- so thanks to those who are sharing.

 

[Wedgeh]

Please email me

Mail sent.

I am very excited people are talking excursions! I just wish Disney posted what they planned sooner.
For St Maarten - I am seriously looking at Bernard's tours now and may book what anichan has (see you there!). I was looking at the Under Two Flags one Disney have but it seems to get very poor reviews.

We did it on the WBTA 2010 and found it OK, nothing exceptional.

Thanks to babydiver, I have been debating if we might have time to do a tour in San Juan and get to the airport for a 2.35pm departure. I would like to do something that morning but I will be very nervous re the timings. Like with Antigua -- with such a short time in port I feel we would HAVE to go with Disney on that one.

Thanks to babydiver too, that might work well for my MIL who has a late flight out of SJ.

If anyone does organize any private groups we might be interested -- we are two adults -- early 40's no kids -- but we certainly don't mind being on a trip with children -- I am a former primary/elementary school teacher.

Same, 3 adults in our party.

 

[TexasMousEars]

Amen, me too!

We will use metro to the Columbus monument and then blue cruise bus. Did it with luggage twice last summer and the five of us had no issues.

Could someone please explain to this newbie what the "blue cruise bus" is? We are arriving in Barcelona on Thursday, so we will need to figure out how to get us and our luggage to the ship.

I join others in saying a big "Thank You" to all the organizers. It's my first TA cruise and first time with the DisBoards, so this is all new to me. I truly appreciate all the effort going into the special DIS events as well as the valuable information from those that have done this before. Thanks Y'all!

Cristi

 

[Dgentrysim]

Hello to everyone and welcome to all new cruisers!!!! I'm heading up the Mixology and the Rum Tasting for the WBTA and wondered if anyone knew how far in advance you can call DCL and schedule the day and time for each of these? Don't want to wait too late......hope I'm not late as it is!!!!

Thanks for any information you can provide!

 

[MandyGirl]

For those asking what the blue cruise bus is, it is essentially affordable public transportation between the cruise ships and Columbus Monument. Their website may be of help:

http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/transport/barcelona-cruise-port.html

And no, it is not advised to walk from Columbus Monument to the ship. Huge bridge and lots of traffic, especially with luggage.

ETA: I believe the price had actually increased to €2.50 per person (up from their website posting)

 

[MandyGirl]

Some other info on Barcelona might be helpful that I incorporated into our EBTA DIS Navigator last year. Here is a link to that should anyone be interested...

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=48400473&postcount=2883

 

[offtoseemickey]

I actually have a quick Barcelona question while we're on the subject...

Can I check my bags into / onto the ship, then go and have a little wander around Barcelona for an hour or so, then board the magic. Or does my luggage and I have to stay 'together', ie one on, all on?!

Hope this make sense!

Michala