Air Travel and Transportation Confusion

[mimmiepnp]

I am not sure if this is the right thread to post this questions but not sure where else to do it ........ (sorry if it is the wrong spot)

Although we are Disney fanatics we are going to be first time disney cruisers in October for the 3 night cruise for our 10 year wedding anniversary.

As vacation time is limited and we cannot do any extensions, we are having disney do the complete package which includes booking our airline tickets for us out of JFK. We are planning on flying in to MCO the morning of departure and fly back out on Sunday when we return.

Can anyone share their experiences with flying in on the same day and dcl doing all the booking?
In reading all the threads, I see many of you fly in prior to the departure day so I am getting a little nervous about flying in on the same day. Please make me feel better (or not)!

Also, do you think that it is worth the extra $50 pp to be more specific and request certain times and airlines as we would like to take a 7am Jet blue flight out of JFK or just leave it up to the DCL travel reps?

Thanks so much.

[lbgraves]

Welcome to the Cruise boards!

Many people have posted about their experiences over the years of missing a connection and almost missing the ship. Some have missed the cruise all together. Boarding starts around 11:30 so we like to enjoy every possible moment of vacation time onboard. I would definitely pay the extra fee to have more control of my vacation. You never know what the weather will be like [especially during hurricane season] and there could always be a mechanical problem that could delay a flight. Even if you have a nonstop flight, the plane that you need to board has to come from somewhere and there could have been delays previously that day/night.

[NejTheLion]

We always fly in the day before, and we've never used DCL to book that. Once when we flew in early Friday afternoon, one of our bags didn't make it, and the airline finally delivered it to our hotel around 1 AM. Because of that, we will always arrive the day before.

[mousemom11]

Here's a post to put the Fear of God (or the Fear of Flying the Same Day that your Cruise Departs) into you.

A friend of mine related this story to me today of how he missed a relative's wedding and the reception due to flight problems. He was due to fly out the day of the wedding at 8 am. That flight got canceled. The airline booked him on an 11 am flight, which would have gotten him there just in time for the wedding. Well, that flight was delayed by mechanical problems for 2 1/2 hours, so he ended up missing both the wedding and the reception.

Is it at all possible to squeeze in an extra day of vacation and fly in the day before? If not, I think it's definitely worth it to pay the extra $ to specify your flights. Try to get the earliest possible flight (is there any before 7 am?) just to give yourself extra time in case of delays/cancellation. I'd sure hate to see you miss this special cruise because of flight problems.

Here's some pixie dust for your 10th anniversary!

Becky

[Olga]

Originally Posted by mimmiepnp

I am not sure if this is the right thread to post this questions but not sure where else to do it ........ (sorry if it is the wrong spot)

Although we are Disney fanatics we are going to be first time disney cruisers in October for the 3 night cruise for our 10 year wedding anniversary.

As vacation time is limited and we cannot do any extensions, we are having disney do the complete package which includes booking our airline tickets for us out of JFK. We are planning on flying in to MCO the morning of departure and fly back out on Sunday when we return.

Can anyone share their experiences with flying in on the same day and dcl doing all the booking?
In reading all the threads, I see many of you fly in prior to the departure day so I am getting a little nervous about flying in on the same day. Please make me feel better (or not)!

Also, do you think that it is worth the extra $50 pp to be more specific and request certain times and airlines as we would like to take a 7am Jet blue flight out of JFK or just leave it up to the DCL travel reps?

Thanks so much.

I am also arriving same day and will allow Disney to decide which airlines to book. They can do it better than I.

The deviation ($50 fee) might limit your choices for same day.The air trasportation states that transportation will be to a mid Florida airport, it may not be MCO.

You might want to refer to the terms and agreement and the Disney Cruise Line brochure to put your mind at ease.
Enjoy your cruise!

edited to add, consider buying trip insurance if you have not already done so.

[Donald_Quackers]

I would also recommend, if possible, to book your own flights and try to at least come in the night before. Nothing can spoil a cruise (based on what I read, and I'm taking that to heart for my first cruise), than having flight problems the day of and missing it.

Likewise, some pixie dust your way to help things go smoothly for you!

[mimmiepnp]

Thanks for all the replys.
I have two more questions. If you come in the night before where do you stay and how do you get to the port?

Actually three questions.......someone just posted that the flight that disney books may not be orlando but a mid florida airport. I just assumed it would always be orlando airport because of ME. Did I misinterpret what the post said?

[lbgraves]

I have never heard of DCL booking to anywhere but Orlando airport. Also, ME doesn't apply to the cruise. That is only to transport you from the airport to the parks. You can stay at the airport if you arrive very late, if you fly out after work that night, and then rent a car to go to the port early the next morning. It is about an hour to the port so I would recommend getting more sleep and driving to the port the next morning.

[dismom73]

I will agree with the other posters and say it is always better to fly out the day before (if at all possible). I have been a flight att. for over 13 years and I can't tell you how many people I've seen miss cruises, not to mention weddings and funerals. If you fly in late the night before I highly recommend the MCO Hyatt, it is right inside the terminal (you don't even have to go outside). As far as transportation, if it is just two of I would do the DCL transfers, they even have an arrangement with the Hyatt, they will pick up your luggage early in the morning outside of your room and you wont see it again until it arrives at your cabin on the ship. Busses start leaving MCO around 9:30 (I think). If there are more than two of you it is less expensive to rent a car. Good luck with the plans.

[HoosierFrog]

I'm in about the same position as OP. I chose to allow DCL to book everything for me. Actually for me to book the flight it would have been about $300...our airport is not the least expensive to fly out of. I am assuming that the flight is to MCO since it includes ground transfer to port and I beleive the only airport they transfer from is MCO. There was only one choice online and that was the day of. I would also like to hear from positvie individuals flying the day of the cruise to help ease my concerns.

On a happyier not, I do have trip insurance.

[slk]

Originally Posted by mimmiepnp

Thanks for all the replys.
I have two more questions. If you come in the night before where do you stay and how do you get to the port?

Actually three questions.......someone just posted that the flight that disney books may not be orlando but a mid florida airport. I just assumed it would always be orlando airport because of ME. Did I misinterpret what the post said?

We flew in on Fri. night on Southwest (Disney did not book that) and we
had a party of 14. We stayed at the Fairfield Marriott which is about
5 mins. from MCO. They (the hotel) had a van pick us up at the airport
(we got all our luggage and took it with us) and in the morning the van
took us back to MCO where we got on the DCL bus which took us to the
port. This was our first cruise and I was very nervous about it but it
all went so smoothly.
As far as a mid florida airport - not sure about that. I guess I just thought
they all went to MCO if you wanted to be in central Florida. I can't imagine
Disney sending you to a small airport.

[mimmiepnp]

I am considering to change and come in the night before and stay at the Hyatt that dismom73 recommended. I e-mailed dcl for a flight modification and am waiting to ask tham about transfers from the MCO Hyatt tthe cruise ship. Taking a late afternoon flight out the day before and staying at MCO Hyatt is not a bad option. With AAA 199 for the night. I know it adds $$$ on to the cruise but I just don't want to have any issues. I will update when I hear from dcl rep about transfer from MCO HYatt to ship. I can't imagine it being a problem as we are at the airport but one never knows....

[lilo62]

I would also recommend flying in the day before. Best to be safe than sorry. I've done 4 DC's and we feel more at ease being there. The drive to Port Canaveral is about 45 min. from MCO. We've always stayed in Port Canaveral the night before and we always rent a car.

We have stayed at Ron Jon's Caribe Resort, Raddison and Country Inn and Suites. My fave out of the them all was Ron Jon's because you can go to the beach, walk the pier and see the cruise ships. We haven't stayed there in 2 years; didn't go on a cruise in 2007 and the price was a little high for this year. It is a time share and the 2 times we stayed, we never got the sales pitch or was asked. My least fave was the Raddison.

We chose Country Inn and Suites this year. New hotel and for an overnight stay, it was fine. The rooms were clean, noise level was fine. It had a pool and is close to the Ports. Also, if you do rent a car, you venture along the strip farther down into Cocoa Beach. I would stay at Country Inn and Suites again.

I would recommend you do your own travel arrangements as well. I use Orbitz alot and have never been disappointed.

Good luck and happy cruising!

[mimmiepnp]

We decided to fly inthe day before the cruise as you all recommended. I called disney and added a pre cruise day and staying at the Hyatt at the Orlando airport. On Wednesday before the flight (for an additional $195 but less stress). The following morning DCL will pick up our bags at the hotel and all we have to do is walk down to the DCL bus check in and off the the ship. I called the air deviation reps and they were very helpful in trying to book a 4:15 Detla (they don't use Jet Blue) out of JFK and land at 7 collect our bags and then just walk to the Hyatt in the main terminal by the shopping..

I feel better about this. Both the DCL reservation rep and the air transportation rep said that they also think best that people try to come in a day early.....

Thanks again for everyones help with this. I feel sooooo much better now! Now I can just count down until it is time.

[HoosierFrog]

Even though I haven't heard any positive thoughts about flying in on the same day, we are still going to attempt it. I'm sure DCL knows what they are doing. Worst case scenario, we hit WDW instead. We did purchase cruise insurance, so that should spare some concern and I'm sure we would have an enjoyable time at WDW.

Wish us luck on making the cruise. We won't know our flight info until 8/28, but I did notice three flights that got in around noon and I'm trusting our aircrafts will make it on time.