May 18, 2013 MAGIC EBTA - Who is with us?

[twopeasonepod]

Originally Posted by Grandma x3

okay - I'm really into this planning mode - any suggestions for hotels in Barcelona? I'm staying the day we disembark then flying the next day to Italy. When I was in Barcelona in 2007 I stayed on the ship and went sight seeing prior to sailing - no hotel experience.

And anyone in the London area - I'm looking at the Comfort Hotel near Heathrow to stay for a couple of days before we head back to the USA. Last time I was in London we stayed in central London and I don't anything about this place.

Thanks !! Don't know what I'd do without checking here - so much expertise and so helpful !!

Hi Chris,

I've been researching for hours on end the last couple of days. It is really hard to find a hotel that will accommodate four in one room. Hello? They are SEVEN haha. I think it depends on whether you want to relax or totally check out the city. We currently have four reservations (at Catalonia Port, Grand Hotel Central, Hotel Barcelona Catedral, and Hotel Miramar Barcelona). Not sure if our "requirements" are similar to yours. I want a pool and fitness center (scared to run in a town I don't know). And of course, room for four (my parents in a separate room).

NancyIL, when I saw "Starwood", I thought for sure you were staying at the W. I was going to be super jealous!

[padalyn]

Originally Posted by twopeasonepod

Hi Chris,

I've been researching for hours on end the last couple of days. It is really hard to find a hotel that will accommodate four in one room. Hello? They are SEVEN haha. I think it depends on whether you want to relax or totally check out the city. We currently have four reservations (at Catalonia Port, Grand Hotel Central, Hotel Barcelona Catedral, and Hotel Miramar Barcelona). Not sure if our "requirements" are similar to yours. I want a pool and fitness center (scared to run in a town I don't know). And of course, room for four (my parents in a separate room).

NancyIL, when I saw "Starwood", I thought for sure you were staying at the W. I was going to be super jealous!

I wouldn't worry about running in Barcelona - I walked around at 2am alone without worry. I found the city to be safe and comfortable. I did make sure I stayed in well lit areas of course (I am not foolish, maybe crazy!)

We are at the Hotel Gaudi, right near the Gaudi houses. We got a good rate (my wonderful fiance found this one!) We used TripAdvisor and were happy with the location, rate, and pictures.

[kaseyC]

Originally Posted by twopeasonepod

Hi Chris,

I've been researching for hours on end the last couple of days. It is really hard to find a hotel that will accommodate four in one room. Hello? They are SEVEN haha. I think it depends on whether you want to relax or totally check out the city. We currently have four reservations (at Catalonia Port, Grand Hotel Central, Hotel Barcelona Catedral, and Hotel Miramar Barcelona). Not sure if our "requirements" are similar to yours. I want a pool and fitness center (scared to run in a town I don't know). And of course, room for four (my parents in a separate room).

NancyIL, when I saw "Starwood", I thought for sure you were staying at the W. I was going to be super jealous!

Try Casp74, it's an Apartment style hotel. We stayed in a 2 bedroom 3 bath unit in 2011. It's in a great neighborhood close to a metro stop and a quick walk to Placa Catalunya. They offer a 3 bedroom unit that I believes sleeps 8 but you may need to email and check.

http://www.apartmentscasp74.com/apartaments.php?idm=3

[kaseyC]

Nancy, I just wanted thank you for your recommendation for a Paris Apartment rental company. We found a great apartment through Vacations in Paris for 4 nights after our Baltic cruise much less expensive than a hotel for our family of 5. They've been easy to work with and I love that they are located in the U.S. Very excited about exploring Paris.

Question: Do you think a day trip to DLRP would be doable? We want to take the girls because we will be so close but we also really want to enjoy our days in Paris. I was thinking about taking the RER from Paris one morning and coming back to the city around dinner time. What do you think?

[NancyIL]

Originally Posted by twopeasonepod

NancyIL, when I saw "Starwood", I thought for sure you were staying at the W. I was going to be super jealous!

No such luck! The W in Barcelona requires 25,000 Starwood points/night for a free stay vs. 3,000 (weekend) or 4,000 (weekday) points at the Four Points Sheraton! 25K points = a free domestic plane ticket on American Airlines, and I won't use that many points for a hotel room.

Originally Posted by kaseyC

Nancy, I just wanted thank you for your recommendation for a Paris Apartment rental company. We found a great apartment through Vacations in Paris for 4 nights after our Baltic cruise much less expensive than a hotel for our family of 5. They've been easy to work with and I love that they are located in the U.S. Very excited about exploring Paris.

Question: Do you think a day trip to DLRP would be doable? We want to take the girls because we will be so close but we also really want to enjoy our days in Paris. I was thinking about taking the RER from Paris one morning and coming back to the city around dinner time. What do you think?

You're welcome, and I'm glad you found an apartment in Paris that will work for you.

I did a day trip to Disneyland Paris via the RER in 2002, but I was in Paris for a week. If you decide to go there for the day, I would personally stay as long as possible, rather than try to get back in time for dinner.

If you don't already have it, I highly recommend getting Rick Steves' Paris 2013 guide book, available soon: http://www.amazon.com/Rick-Steves-Pa...ves+paris+2013

[gramfrog]

Originally Posted by kaseyC

Question: Do you think a day trip to DLRP would be doable? We want to take the girls because we will be so close but we also really want to enjoy our days in Paris. I was thinking about taking the RER from Paris one morning and coming back to the city around dinner time. What do you think?

We have been to DLRP each of our three trips to Paris in the past few years, and it's REALLY easy to get there (under an hour each way on the RER train to Marne La Valee) and a great way to spend a day. They now have two parks, so if you want to "do it on the cheap"-er, choose the Main Park only, rather than Studios. Plenty to see and do. Remember, though, that it is set up much like the US parks (only prettier in a park setting), and therefore the charm, IMHO, is the signage in French and the "Disneyland Paris" mementos. (If I can figure out how to post a pic, I will). Plenty of time afterwards to take the excellent Seine tour boat at the tip of Ile de la Cite to tour Paris at night in the lights!(fantastic bridges).

[gramfrog]

anyone know how to post a picture from the computer's library (mac)? I don't have a url to have it search for....

[kaseyC]

Originally Posted by NancyIL

No such luck! The W in Barcelona requires 25,000 Starwood points/night for a free stay vs. 3,000 (weekend) or 4,000 (weekday) points at the Four Points Sheraton! 25K points = a free domestic plane ticket on American Airlines, and I won't use that many points for a hotel room.


You're welcome, and I'm glad you found an apartment in Paris that will work for you.

I did a day trip to Disneyland Paris via the RER in 2002, but I was in Paris for a week. If you decide to go there for the day, I would personally stay as long as possible, rather than try to get back in time for dinner.

If you don't already have it, I highly recommend getting Rick Steves' Paris 2013 guide book, available soon: http://www.amazon.com/Rick-Steves-Pa...ves+paris+2013

Got the Paris 2012 on my iPad.

Originally Posted by gramfrog

We have been to DLRP each of our three trips to Paris in the past few years, and it's REALLY easy to get there (under an hour each way on the RER train to Marne La Valee) and a great way to spend a day. They now have two parks, so if you want to "do it on the cheap"-er, choose the Main Park only, rather than Studios. Plenty to see and do. Remember, though, that it is set up much like the US parks (only prettier in a park setting), and therefore the charm, IMHO, is the signage in French and the "Disneyland Paris" mementos. (If I can figure out how to post a pic, I will). Plenty of time afterwards to take the excellent Seine tour boat at the tip of Ile de la Cite to tour Paris at night in the lights!(fantastic bridges).

Thanks for your advice. We are a Disney family and I know we would regret not visiting DLRP. I will plan my itinerary to include it because I'm sure this will not be our only visit to Paris.

[gramfrog]

You're welcome, Kasey! Incidentally, we have three princesses, too, although they are most likely decades older that yours We have a Casey, and we apparently live relatively close to you, in Barrington. If you have any questions about DLP I'll be glad to help.

[twopeasonepod]

Originally Posted by padalyn

I wouldn't worry about running in Barcelona - I walked around at 2am alone without worry. I found the city to be safe and comfortable. I did make sure I stayed in well lit areas of course (I am not foolish, maybe crazy!)

We are at the Hotel Gaudi, right near the Gaudi houses. We got a good rate (my wonderful fiance found this one!) We used TripAdvisor and were happy with the location, rate, and pictures.

Hahaha I meant because I'll get lost, not because I'm worried about "bad" people in Barcelona. I loved it so much when I was there for school (a long time ago haha).

Originally Posted by kaseyC

Try Casp74, it's an Apartment style hotel. We stayed in a 2 bedroom 3 bath unit in 2011. It's in a great neighborhood close to a metro stop and a quick walk to Placa Catalunya. They offer a 3 bedroom unit that I believes sleeps 8 but you may need to email and check.

http://www.apartmentscasp74.com/apartaments.php?idm=3

I was wondering why I didn't know Casp74. It's because there's no pool

Originally Posted by NancyIL

No such luck! The W in Barcelona requires 25,000 Starwood points/night for a free stay vs. 3,000 (weekend) or 4,000 (weekday) points at the Four Points Sheraton! 25K points = a free domestic plane ticket on American Airlines, and I won't use that many points for a hotel room.

Holy crap, 25,000? A night??? Wow, that isn't even close to what I'd pay for!

Okay so after some additional emailing, we are down to three: Grand Central Hotel, Suites Avenue, and Catalonia Port (but that is really a stretch because we would have to get three rooms -- but one of them is spectacular with it's own terrace on the whole entire floor and it's own hot tub). I have one more day off to research!

[Tink1987]

Originally Posted by Grandma x3

okay - I'm really into this planning mode - any suggestions for hotels in Barcelona? I'm staying the day we disembark then flying the next day to Italy. When I was in Barcelona in 2007 I stayed on the ship and went sight seeing prior to sailing - no hotel experience.

And anyone in the London area - I'm looking at the Comfort Hotel near Heathrow to stay for a couple of days before we head back to the USA. Last time I was in London we stayed in central London and I don't anything about this place.

Thanks !! Don't know what I'd do without checking here - so much expertise and so helpful !!

I personally wouldn't stay at Heathrow if you want to spend a couple of days exploring London. You would spend extra £/$ getting back and forth to your hotel then you probably would to upgrade to a central London hotel. Also, if you are going to be there in the week and want full days in London, you would be fighting rush hour traffic getting into London early because you are so far out. Whereas if you are staying in London, you could get up a little later when everyone is in work

I only live 2 hours from London and visit around 15 times a year, if anyone wants tips on restaurants, sights you can't miss etc, let me know

[Tink1987]

Originally Posted by kaseyC

Nancy, I just wanted thank you for your recommendation for a Paris Apartment rental company. We found a great apartment through Vacations in Paris for 4 nights after our Baltic cruise much less expensive than a hotel for our family of 5. They've been easy to work with and I love that they are located in the U.S. Very excited about exploring Paris.

Question: Do you think a day trip to DLRP would be doable? We want to take the girls because we will be so close but we also really want to enjoy our days in Paris. I was thinking about taking the RER from Paris one morning and coming back to the city around dinner time. What do you think?

A day trip to DLP would be more then doable, as others have said its really easy to get there from central Paris. If you are visiting during a weekday normally it is super quiet and you could even get both parks done at a stretch. Unfortunately though, I've checked the school holidays for you and whilst the French, Spanish and German schools are in attendance, it's a half term week for the British school calendar. Therefore it may be a little busier then normal....with using Fastpass though and a little forward planning you should be fine

For anyone going to Paris, again I am more then happy to help with planning and advice for you all. The website link I've added below as well is the most helpful DLP site to use as well. Unfortunately there's no such thing as crowd calendars etc :-(

I've also added my Flickr link to my Paris and DLP set, gives you an idea of what it all looks like - Gosh, sorry I will do anything to push my photos out

http://www.flickr.com/photos/markcol...7629774672267/


http://www.dlrpmagic.com/

Have a great day all

[kaseyC]

Originally Posted by Tink1987

A day trip to DLP would be more then doable, as others have said its really easy to get there from central Paris. If you are visiting during a weekday normally it is super quiet and you could even get both parks done at a stretch. Unfortunately though, I've checked the school holidays for you and whilst the French, Spanish and German schools are in attendance, it's a half term week for the British school calendar. Therefore it may be a little busier then normal....with using Fastpass though and a little forward planning you should be fine

For anyone going to Paris, again I am more then happy to help with planning and advice for you all. The website link I've added below as well is the most helpful DLP site to use as well. Unfortunately there's no such thing as crowd calendars etc :-(

I've also added my Flickr link to my Paris and DLP set, gives you an idea of what it all looks like - Gosh, sorry I will do anything to push my photos out

http://www.flickr.com/photos/markcol...7629774672267/


http://www.dlrpmagic.com/

Have a great day all

So June 12-16 is a British school break? I will have to keep that in mind as I plan. Thank you for that information.

[valbob89]

Here are the most current shirt design images, with the updates recommended. Also a model of how they would be positioned on a shirt.

[bobbiwoz]

What a great souvenir that will be!

Bobbi