20050514..May 14, 2005...Official Check in Disney's 1st 14 Day thru Panama Canal Part 2

[ImprovGal]

Wow! So much going on since I went away to WDW a little over a week ago!

Unfortunately I returned home older, no wiser, and with a really bad ear infection (Jeff, Jen, Catherine -- I really hope you didn't catch this bug!) and have been totally out of commission since I got back.

Thank you to Dreams Unlimited for hosting the regional wine tasting party! I'm interested in going to this and will bring a couple of bottles of some RI wines. For the non wine-drinkers I'll bring along a bottle of coffee syrup so you can have one of our two state drinks -- coffee milk.

I'll also be at the sailaway party and will bring along some party favors for that, too.

I've been poring over the shore excursion list and trying to decide what I want to sign up for. Decisions, decisions!

Fortunately my parents have offered to take care of my 2 cats at their house while I am away. Normally my mom would just pop in on them every other day at my house while I'm away but I didn't feel comfortable leaving them with run of the house for so long. Boarding would've cost nearly $500 and then they would've spent the 3 weeks in a cage. So I'm really grateful for this generous offer from my parents!

-- Amy

 

[3DAN]

Jen, If you get there at 9:30, do they have guards that stop you? Where do you stay and can you actually get up to the door? What do you do with your luggage? We were planning to arrive at 9:45, but DVC absolutely forbid us to do this on the phone. There will be the four of us with our luggage in the limo.
Bill

 

[TDC Nala]

I've been poring over the shore excursion list and trying to decide what I want to sign up for. Decisions, decisions!

Is that "POring and POring?"

 

[JenKatt]

DCl is putting in/ or already has put in, a drop off location for guests outside the terminal. You won't be able to get near the terminal until 10ish, that's either to park in the terminal lot or get past security.

Amy, you did get me sick... it's okay, I'm managing

Talked to Jeff some more about the traffic around the port with a possible shuttle launch. Jeff reiterated what I already said. There are only 2 major roads from Orlando to the port. The Bee line and Route 50. If the shuttle does go off as planned people will be lined up early to get near the cape. Jeff has bumped up our leave WDW time by an hour if the shuttle does go off as planned. We'll have his laptop and movies to watch from the drop off area if we have to wait.

 

[videogal1]

JenKatt:
Has DCL made a change to the flow of traffic entering the terminal area to drop off luggage? Karaeric, Seaulater, Videogal are you aware of any changes?

What are your thoughts....Is traffic going to be a problem for those of us staying at the port the night before? We have a rental car. Is it a better idea to return the rental car and take the shuttle with all our luggage?

I feel a little removed from the normal flow on sailaway day... It's always the same...I get picked up and dropped off, thoroughly escorted and assisted to the point that I can honestly say I've never even seen the ship model in the waiting area. I get whisked up to the document checkpoint via back elevators and special tunnels, hauling my carry-on baggage behind me (The wagon train). This time I will be staying at the Hyatt MCO the night before the cruise so the DCL shuttle will be calling the shots. Last month I had almost the entire bus to myself. When I arrived at the bus unloading area there was very little going on and off I went...The only things that slowed my progress were the security checkpoint that had to empty and search all Cash's bags and that one back elevator that was too shallow for the wagon train... The back tunnel ladies are beginning to remember my name...

 

[first timers]

So can we get a head count going for the Sail Away Party...



Count us in for the sail away party. Alex and Carolyn

 

[bettemom]

So can we get a head count going for the Sail Away Party...



Count us in for the sail away party. Alex and Carolyn

Mom & I will be at the sail away party. Like a few other I also hope to get anew video camera before the cruise.

Bye, Kim

 

[Hygiene99]

Talked to Jeff some more about the traffic around the port with a possible shuttle launch. Jeff reiterated what I already said. There are only 2 major roads from Orlando to the port. The Bee line and Route 50. If the shuttle does go off as planned people will be lined up early to get near the cape. Jeff has bumped up our leave WDW time by an hour if the shuttle does go off as planned. We'll have his laptop and movies to watch from the drop off area if we have to wait.

This Has us rethinking our pre cruise stay..

Im thinking of going to the port Friday evening probably Stay at Ron Jon"s
or the Radisson... and avoiding any of the space shuttle Traffic that may happen on Saturday morning.. once we sat in almost stopped traffic on the way to the ship and it was no fun...

just a Thought...

Peter

 

[JenKatt]

I would hope that staying near the port would help, but not sure if it will. Jeff when he did the security for the last shuttle launch said it was stopped everywhere, even the local roads. It would just be a matter of getting an early jump on it. If there is a shuttle launch book a room near the port soon, they'll become scarce.

Still gonna be cool if it does happen.

 

[Scott H]

We will leave WDW early to drop off the rental car on 5/14.

 

[Hygiene99]

I would hope that staying near the port would help, but not sure if it will. Jeff when he did the security for the last shuttle launch said it was stopped everywhere, even the local roads. It would just be a matter of getting an early jump on it. If there is a shuttle launch book a room near the port soon, they'll become scarce.

Still gonna be cool if it does happen.

Rooms at the port Booked

called the rad.. and have 2 on Reserve will see how it goes ..

Tryed Ron Jons But reservations closed today...

 

[Q's My Princess]

Boy, I was very excited about the shuttle, but now I'm worried about all the traffic! My DM & DF are driving us down from Lady Lake (just north of Orlando). Knowing my Dad he'll want to leave at Odark:30. (i.e. pre-dawn)! This is a man who really follows FAA timing for airports!

I think I'll reserve us a room near the Port, just in case, and then arrive around 9:30 - 9:45 to beat the traffic.

Oh, the planning!!

Laurie AKA Captain Mary Flint

 

[Scott H]

OK Help Please, Was there a post with links to our ports o call? I thought there was but can't find it.

 

[Scott H]

Found it !!!!!

Thinking of camping at the entrance the port, Tee Hee.....

 

[Kevin&Randall]

We are brand new to the boards, but have found everything very informative. Thank you to all who keep the information fresh.

We had no idea about the Space Shuttle launch. I have mixed emotions about that. Will be cool to see it if it does launch. The traffic could get a bit dicey.

We are looking forward to sailing and to meeting others on this board.

 

[Hygiene99]

Welcome Kevin&Randall

Here is a link to the web site we have going with a list of folks ..
And Any input you have on the space shuttle will be Greatly accepted..
right now we are stayying at the World thursday night and would like to stay there Friday but DO NOT want to have to deal with Traffic to the ship so we have a room booked down at the port for Friday ..
and would drive down Friday night. ??????


http://www.tiggerfan.net/canal/

If You Wish you may email them and they could add you to the list ...


Welcome aboard.... it is going to be a blast...

 

[Scott H]

Welcome aboard KevinandRandall.

 

[Q's My Princess]

Kevin and Randall,

Welcome!!!

Laurie AKA Captain Mary Flint

 

[seaulater]

JenKatt: Thanks for all the ideas for sailaway gifts.

Chet (DH) and I will be at sailaway.

The shuttle launch the day we board the Magic....how cool is that. When DH hears this, he's probably going to buy that new mini camcorder he wants.

Has DCL made a change to the flow of traffic entering the terminal area to drop off luggage? Karaeric, Seaulater, Videogal are you aware of any changes?

What are your thoughts....Is traffic going to be a problem for those of us staying at the port the night before? We have a rental car. Is it a better idea to return the rental car and take the shuttle with all our luggage?

Okay, here is what the new configuration looks like at DCL at the drop off point.

Ignore the black plastic up. I took this picture in November 2004 when it was just getting finished. But it is completely done and worked like a charm in December.

You can pick up and drop off at any time, we were there when DCL was closed and no ship was in port and you can drive all around up to all the locked gates.

The gate is locked at the drop off point and then DCL unlocks it when they are ready to have you go to the building that morning. THey state they do not open until 10:30 a.m., but they have opened it a little earlier.

At the entrance (at the first gate) Mr. Security dude will ask your party's name and ask to see the driver's license of all of the adults in the party. He then finds you on the list and lets you go forward walk on the walkway and then enter in the building and through security.

If you are on a bus (Disney), they come through on the back side and not at the front drop off.

It goes pretty darn smooth. But if you want to be first in line, I suggest you check with the Scuba family over on the 10 day thread and ask about camping out with a tent!

Linda

 

[seaulater]

Now I am no expert on shuttle launches, but we have been to three so far.
The first, we were staying at Vero Beach and they actually had a tour lined up and we took that and Disney actually took us up hours early and we actually got to stand on the top of the building for private viewing (along with about 100 other people) to see the launch. It was awesome!

The second one was a night launch and we drove over 3 times from WDW and had it on the shuttle launch radio station. The first two were delayed after we had driven with all of the traffic and finally the third night it went.

The third, we were on the ship and I think we were headed back from Castaway Cay right after 5 p.m. and the shuttle launched.

All three shuttles were delayed and never went on time. My guess is that the shuttle will not launch on the 14th. So I'm not going worry now about traffic and all that stuff. If it does happen to launch, we will just leave an hour or so earlier than planned from Orlando to head over. I'll be at the port at 10 a.m. so I'm not too worried!

Linda