11/14/09 - Special Western - 2 CC stops

[binky1]

Hey fellow cruisers, mrp and I have been busy beavers planning the Saturday DISMeet. Here is what we've come up with so far:......

This all sounds terrific - thanks for getting us organized!! I can't wait!! Oh, and Happy Mother's Day to all those great moms/grandmoms/stepmoms out there!!

Cheers,
Lisa

 

[LindaBabe]

Really excited to hear plans shaping up! I'm working on my FE gifts tomorrow at the crop - makes the trip seem closer!

Happy Mom's day, all Moms!

Hypermommy, GOOD FOR YOU! I had to retire to get away from my misery.

 

[sandiegosusie]

Thanks for posting this info!!! We're driving down to Rochester - I've got tickets for 4 for $660.(US) - NONSTOP!!! That is an awesome price since to fly from Ottawa to Orlando (with 1 stop) is close to $3000. (Cdn)....

Pretty ridiculous!!

Nice price Binky! We haven't booked yet, I think we will tonight. Bummer, though it is 1500+ from So. Cal. I am really bummed. Hoping for a deal!

 

[mousemom11]

Nice price Binky! We haven't booked yet, I think we will tonight. Bummer, though it is 1500+ from So. Cal. I am really bummed. Hoping for a deal!

You might want to wait for Southwest to open their November calendar on June 23rd. Even if you don't fly SW, it still drives down the price of other airlines. Also, I've heard that you can usually find the best prices of the week if you book Tuesday afternoons.

 

[sandiegosusie]

You might want to wait for Southwest to open their November calendar on June 23rd. Even if you don't fly SW, it still drives down the price of other airlines. Also, I've heard that you can usually find the best prices of the week if you book Tuesday afternoons.

Thanks for the tips! I am nervous about waiting for SW only because last month the prices for JB stayed the same and there are only 5 seats left for the flight we need at the same price as last month. However, to save $400 on SW is appealing, even though I am not a SW fan at all...what to do, what to do?

 

[mousemom11]

Thanks for the tips! I am nervous about waiting for SW only because last month the prices for JB stayed the same and there are only 5 seats left for the flight we need at the same price as last month. However, to save $400 on SW is appealing, even though I am not a SW fan at all...what to do, what to do?

Really? I've always had good experiences with SW. I don't mind the boarding routine. We've always gotten good seats as long as you check in 24 hours in advance.

Just for grins, I priced both JB and SW for RT from Seattle to Orlando in October since SW doesn't have November posted yet. JB was $2,800 and SW was $1,400 on the exact same dates for the 4 of us.

 

[big jack 2002]

For those of us who are making FE gifts, do we have any kind of count yet of how many we will need?
Thanks!!
Barbara

 

[sandiegosusie]

For those of us who are making FE gifts, do we have any kind of count yet of how many we will need?
Thanks!!
Barbara

I was wondering the same thing... My only concern is since we are 6 months out, how many add-ons should we expect?

 

[sandiegosusie]

Really? I've always had good experiences with SW. I don't mind the boarding routine. We've always gotten good seats as long as you check in 24 hours in advance.

Just for grins, I priced both JB and SW for RT from Seattle to Orlando in October since SW doesn't have November posted yet. JB was $2,800 and SW was $1,400 on the exact same dates for the 4 of us.

Too bad JB doesn't price match!

 

[mrp4352]

If you are organizing an event/meet/exchange/etc for our cruise, would you please PM me? Mousemom11 and I are working on the pre-Safety Drill meet and were thinking of building a packet for each family that has all the Dis-related material in one place.

thanks!!!
Michelle

 

[Travelbee]

mrp is creating a DIS Navigator for us that will list the DIS events for the week (Palo brunch, Lumiere lunch, FE stateroom chart, Secret Mickey info, etc), and we'll hand it out at the start of the program.

You and mrp are doing such an awesome job already!!

As for Jetblue, the rates are higher for us, which is a total bummer. We were considering the outbound flight from Fort Lauderdale to Long Beach listed for $99 for October dates, but for November it went up to $249! For that price, we'd probably fly out of Orlando nonstop to LAX for $199...

 

[sandiegosusie]

You and mrp are doing such an awesome job already!!

As for Jetblue, the rates are higher for us, which is a total bummer. We were considering the outbound flight from Fort Lauderdale to Long Beach listed for $99 for October dates, but for November it went up to $249! For that price, we'd probably fly out of Orlando nonstop to LAX for $199...

How low have you seen JB to Florida from West Coast? SW has $99 from Ontario in October. Hoping JB would follow suit!

 

[Travelbee]

How low have you seen JB to Florida from West Coast? SW has $99 from Ontario in October. Hoping JB would follow suit!

The lowest I saw on JB was $99 OW from Fort Lauderdale to Long Beach as late as 10/31. I was hoping this fare would be available in November since LB is a short skip from us and we'd do the 3-hr dr from the port to Fort Lauderdale to save $300! But no luck... I think it has to do with our outbound date being the weekend before Thanksgiving??

 

[sandiegosusie]

I think your right about the return flight...Thanksgiving is what is driving up those prices! Let me know if find anything good...

 

[glindamood]

I was lucky and had enough miles to use them for both DH and myself so I got our tickets a while ago. Then today I look to see if our time has changed and sure enough - the flight out of Traverse to Detroit was cancelled and they put us on another flight that would get us to Detroit - 15 minutes after our connection left for MCO! What were they thinking? So, I called to see what could be done. DH would like to arrive early afternoon. I whined (well, stronger than whined but you know what I mean) when we were going to leave at 7:05 AM but the best we can do now leaves at 5:35AM. I am not really pleased with any of our options so I have not done anything as yet. Probably should just book the 5:30 flight and wait for the next schedule change!

Good luck with your flights! Sometime, I would like to take the train down - but that is pricey as well and takes more than a day but I do think it would be fun.

 

[binky1]

Booked our flights and our Disney stay at POFQ for 3 nights/4 days after the cruise yesterday!! The JetBlue fare had gone up $2. from Friday so I convinced my DH that we must book NOW!! I still have to book the MCO Hyatt for Friday night and our transportation to the Port (there will be 8 of us) but it's all starting to come together.

My mom is here for a visit and she's going to be making my FEs and some special gifts. Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!!!

Have a great day!!
Lisa

 

[smye1stdisneycruise]

Great Canadian minds think alike!! We are hoping to stay @POFQ as well except we are going from the 7th-14th. I have not booked yet as I am hoping Disney comes out with some special price breaks for the fall! I will ride it out and see! Congratulations!

 

[big jack 2002]

We are staying at POFQ also before the cruise..the 9th through the 14th. We plan on going to MVMCP on Friday evening. I haven't booked us at the POFQ yet, though. I am hoping that a special rate will come out.
Barbara

 

[mousemom11]

Lisa, are you going to use a Staycation certificate for your MCO Hyatt booking? I intend to book them for Saturday night post-cruise, but wasn't sure the cheapest way to do it. Right now, their online price for a regular room is $165, and you can get a Staycation certificate for a regular room for $135. Any advice on this?

Becky

 

[binky1]

Yes, I looked at the certificates but once I added in the shipping ($20. to Canada), it was actually cheaper for me to book using the CAA/AAA rate. I read very positive things about cruisers using the certificate so I would have gone that way for sure if it had worked out.....

I'm too much of a chicken to use Hotwire or Priceline although I know that some people have gotten some very good deals. With my luck, I'd end up at Sam's Sleazy Hideaway with bedbugs and cockroaches (no offence to any Sams out there...)

Okay, that thought just made me itchy....

Lisa