Is there free airport transportation and hotel night before help please?

[Jillpie]

I just finished booking my DS20 flight to Orlando on Jan.4th. He'll be coming alone, the night before registration. Now we need help. Recommendations for hotel (is there one across the street I read?) and how are their rates? How does he get from the airport? Is there a Magical Express for the CP kids? thanks so much!

[impsythealmighty]

I stayed at the Holiday Inn Sunspree, which is right across the street from Vista Way, where checkin is held. Mears shuttles are very reasonably priced - around $20 - and that's what I took to get there. A lot of CPs stay at that hotel, too, I had a lot of fun and staying there worked out really well! :) Good luck!

[wendy darling]

You may want to look into Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort. It's right across the street from the apartment complex. Also, the magical express is only for guests staying on property. You may think about using your DVC points and let him stay on property (just an idea), if you have any left, so you wouldn't have to pay out of pocket for a room.
What role did your son get? I'm sure he's excited!!

[Jillpie]

ok, thank you. So I'm so surprised Disney doesn't provide airport transportation for these kids. So is the best thing to stay at the Sunspree and not at one of the Disney hotels and use Mag. Express? But then they'll have to pay for transportation to get to Vista Way the next morning, so I guess that doesn't make sense. He got "attractions" for his job.

[Jillpie]

One more question..so what are the logistics of dealing with luggage on the morning of registration? Should he leave his stuff at the hotel, and walk over to registration, then come back and get a taxi for wherever he was assigned?

[Joanna71985]

One more question..so what are the logistics of dealing with luggage on the morning of registration? Should he leave his stuff at the hotel, and walk over to registration, then come back and get a taxi for wherever he was assigned?

What time would he have to be checked out of the hotel? It might be easier to bring it over with him (there is an area to leave luggage) then have to worry about going back for it.

[wendy darling]

another idea would be to book a disney resort for him for one night, use the magical express to get to the resort for that night, and then in the morning he could take a cab to the apartments. That way he would only be paying for a one-way trip from the resort to the apartment. If he checks in at the Sunspree, he would be paying for the transportation from the airport to the hotel, and then from the hotel to the apartments.
Attractions is a great role!!

[Jillpie]

another idea would be to book a disney resort for him for one night, use the magical express to get to the resort for that night, and then in the morning he could take a cab to the apartments. That way he would only be paying for a one-way trip from the resort to the apartment. If he checks in at the Sunspree, he would be paying for the transportation from the airport to the hotel, and then from the hotel to the apartments.
Attractions is a great role!!

That does sound like a good idea. He mentioned booking All Stars for that night or maybe I will take a look at our points for that one night. Do the incoming kids ever talk about getting a room together for that night or is that just a crazy idea, especially not knowing each other?

[Jules76126]

There are a lot of hotels in the area that he could stay at and that Holiday Inn is literally right across the street from Vista. He could walk to check in if he wanted to. Some kids might try to get a room together the night before but im really not sure about that. Last time and this time my parents are coming with me so I just stayed with them. Personally i would book a hotel on property like everyone has been saying and take the magical express to the hotel and then a cab to Vista way in the morning. Vista way is close to all he hotels so the cab would def be cheaper than paying for a hotel and then transportation from the airport to the hotel. And last time if I remember there was a place to leave your luggage while you went through the check in process. I didnt really pay attention though since I just mine with my parents.

[bridgetzoe]

If he has a facebook account, there is a group called "Attractions CP's for the WDWCP Spring 2009" he might be able to find some other people coming in specifically in his role that are also in the same situation. Maybe he could split a room night and/or transportation with him?

When I did the CP two years ago I know as time got closer we planned a CP get together the night before so people could all meet up! :)

[SweaterInJune]

I drove down when I was on my CP and stayed at Sunspree. I had met 2 friends through the boards and a side-project we did with a gropup of us. We knew that we wanted to be roommates for the CP, and we all stayed together the night before check-in. It worked out well because Sunspree was not cheap. You are almost certain to get better rates at an All-Star...and with magical express, that's an obvious perk if you don't have a car! :)

If he's talked to anyone, has a roommate lined up, etc. sharing the hotel is a lot of fun and a great way to spend the night before check-in. After picking up my new roommates, we went to DTD for the evening and had dinner at Rainforest Cafe. Then, we walked to check-in the next morning, right across from Sunspree, leaving our luggage at the hotel until afterward. It's certainly something to think about.

Keep in mind that if he doesn't choose to live in Vista, he'll need transportation from check-in to his complex...

Good luck! He'll have a great time!