5/31/11 -- Chilling on the Wonder

[gduvall]

Is anyone starting to think about Airfare yet. We are almost at the 330 day mark to purchase tickets. Does anyone know when Disney recommends what time for departing Vancouver, after what time? I was thinking about coming in a couple days before cruise and then depart on the day the cruise ends.

 

[4boons]

Is anyone starting to think about Airfare yet. We are almost at the 330 day mark to purchase tickets. Does anyone know when Disney recommends what time for departing Vancouver, after what time? I was thinking about coming in a couple days before cruise and then depart on the day the cruise ends.

In the Planning Library section of the DCL website it indicates that the earliest flight departure from the Vancouver International Airport on debarkation day - 12:00 p.m.

Bill

 

[gduvall]

Even for Vancouver. I knew it says that for Port Canaveral. Just trying to decide, it looks like they have a 12:00 noon leaving Vancouver, if I don't make that flight, you have to wait until 6:00am the next morning.

 

[CrazyBoutDisney]

Is anyone starting to think about Airfare yet. We are almost at the 330 day mark to purchase tickets. Does anyone know when Disney recommends what time for departing Vancouver, after what time? I was thinking about coming in a couple days before cruise and then depart on the day the cruise ends.

Do any airlines have flight information published out that far? I know most of the ones we fly only publish about 6 months out.

 

[gduvall]

The legacy airlines sell out 330 days. (Delta, United, American)

 

[inspcramer]

Air Canada has their flights listed for that period as well.

 

[auntlynne]

Are you flying into Vancouver or Seattle? We are thinking Seattle and then driving or shuttling up - still checking prices. We fly out of Huntsville, AL or Nashville.

 

[gduvall]

We are going to fly into Vancouver.

 

[CrazyBoutDisney]

Are you flying into Vancouver or Seattle? We are thinking Seattle and then driving or shuttling up - still checking prices. We fly out of Huntsville, AL or Nashville.

Same here! We fly out of Washington DC (Dulles) and are hoping to fly to Seattle on Saturday, spend the night, and get up to Vancouver somehow on Sunday. After reading what DCL had to say about Vancouver, we decided it was someplace we'd really like to spend a little time exploring. Dave has been researching various forms of transportation between Seattle and Vancouver, but we haven't made any decisions yet. Luckily, we have plenty of time. He also found out there is a place in Vancouver we can use our DVC points, which would help save some money on lodging.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

We are going to fly into Seattle if it's a big price difference. Some of our fame is flying from Huntsville, Lynne, so if you find a great deal, tell me!

 

[Anjelica]

I think we are going to fly into Seattle as well that Saturday before and maybe spend 2 nights there. I can't get over how much cheaper it is for us to fly to Seattle then it is to fly to Vancouver. For a family of four we are talking close to 1000 difference, etc. I've also heard the drive up from Seattle to Vancouver is beautiful so that is tempting us as well.

We plan on staying in Vancouver the night before the trip at the Pacific Rim (rates for May 2011 aren't out yet). While I would like to explore Vancouver more with two small kids and my brother who uses a prosthetic/wheelchair it will be easier to go back when the kids are older or without kids. (I've spent alot of time in Alberta/Calagary and loved it so I am sure Vancouver is wonderful).

 

[Anjelica]

I was checking availability at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in Vancouver for the night before the cruise and I am getting no availability. Seems odd since we are still 11 months out. Has anyone successfully booked the night before at that hotel?

 

[auntlynne]

Wonder if Disney is using the Fairmont as one of their pre-cruise hotels?

Using September prices for Southwest Nashville - Seattle (nonstop) of app $360 (August prices are $400)

vs April prices Huntsville - Vancouver nearly $700 pp - we are most likely flying SWA. (almost $1800 minus parking, gas - that almost pays for one of our rooms).

With 6 of us going, I'll be checking into renting a mini-van and leaving it in Vancouver.

If we're that close to a Stuart Anderson's Black Angus restaurant, we'll be stopping - it's my sister's favorite restaurant on the planet, I think. They are only open for dinner, so we'll need to be near Lynnwood (near Everett - home to the 747, I think - not quite halfway to Vancouver). It's a steak restaurant to which I introduced my sister in Hawaii; now she's eaten there in AZ, CA, UT, and WA (3 times on one trip).

 

[gduvall]

I was checking availability at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in Vancouver for the night before the cruise and I am getting no availability. Seems odd since we are still 11 months out. Has anyone successfully booked the night before at that hotel?

Probably too far out. I was checking the Marriott, and the only one available is at the Airport. They can't be booked that far out.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Wonder if Disney is using the Fairmont as one of their pre-cruise hotels?

Using September prices for Southwest Nashville - Seattle (nonstop) of app $360 (August prices are $400)

vs April prices Huntsville - Vancouver nearly $700 pp - we are most likely flying SWA. (almost $1800 minus parking, gas - that almost pays for one of our rooms).

With 6 of us going, I'll be checking into renting a mini-van and leaving it in Vancouver.

If we're that close to a Stuart Anderson's Black Angus restaurant, we'll be stopping - it's my sister's favorite restaurant on the planet, I think. They are only open for dinner, so we'll need to be near Lynnwood (near Everett - home to the 747, I think - not quite halfway to Vancouver). It's a steak restaurant to which I introduced my sister in Hawaii; now she's eaten there in AZ, CA, UT, and WA (3 times on one trip).

When we first booked the cruise, in October of 09, I checked flights from Nashville for that same week in May of 10. I wanted to see roughly what we could expect.

Vancouver was $400 each, and Seattle was only $200! If I see that again we'll jump on it. It wasn't Southwest, I'm thinking it was United?

 

[Anjelica]

Probably too far out. I was checking the Marriott, and the only one available is at the Airport. They can't be booked that far out.

I originally thought that as well but I can book nights before the cruise except the 30th and I can book nights after the cruise. Auntlynne may be on to something - I wonder if Disney is using that hotel for their pre-cruise package, etc.

 

[4boons]

I originally thought that as well but I can book nights before the cruise except the 30th and I can book nights after the cruise. Auntlynne may be on to something - I wonder if Disney is using that hotel for their pre-cruise package, etc.

I tried the Marriott & Renaissance for after the cruise (June 7-10) and discovered after talking to the hotel that both are booked this far our for large conferences. However, the concierge said they may be able to open up some rooms in the fall, so suggested I check back.

Earlier this week the Fairmont website did show room availability for night of May 30, 2011 at the Fairmont Waterfront and Fairmont Pacific Rim, but Pacific Rim was more $$$. The website was only offering me smoking rooms when I asked for AAA rate, so I wrote the concierge to get a reservation for non-smoking room at AAA rate. e-mail address for the concierge at Fairmont Waterfront is WFC@hotelstay.fairmont.com.

I admit, I didn't even ask DCL what their room rate is. We just got back from the Baltic cruise where their price on the pre-cruise hotel in London was considerably higher than I could get booking it myself. They still let us check in at the cruise desk in the hotel and handled our luggage since we paid for resort/port transfers from London to Dover, which is a 2.5 hour trip. Not sure how they'll handle transfers since the cruise terminal is connected to the hotel, but I want them to deal with getting our luggage on the ship!

Laura

 

[DaveH]

I have been checking hotels today. Most are only doing until May 30th. The sticker shock is a bit much. I have been checking flights. We usually fly from Dulles here in Northern Virginia. I have found Baltimore Washington enough cheaper for the drive. We may fly to Vancouver from BWI. The flights are close to Dulles to Seattle. I will be checking what Disney is going to offer also. We plan on leaving here on Saturday and doing some sightseeing before the cruise.

 

[plyeng2ff]

Wow I have been checking my cruise meet for a week or two and now it three more pages. I guess I got get over here more often. Welcome aboard everyone that new.

 

[Anjelica]

Well we just bought our tickets to Seattle (one-way) from Delta/Alaska Air. They are the only non-stop from STL scheduled then. We were originally going to fly Southwest when they were non-stop but they took their non-stop out of their schedule starting this fall. I just happen to check the flights via kayak and Delta/Alaska Air was offering one way, non-stop from STL on May 28th, 2011 for 160.xx - that's a very good rate.