6hrs in LA post-cruise help me fit Disney in!

[clairegreenhills]

I love all things Disney and was desperate to go back to WDW for my honeymoon in Feb 2011. Sadly as its not just 'my' honeymoon I am now going on a Hawiian cruise, you think I'd be grateful LOL

Anyway we dock back in Long Beach at 7am on sunday 13th Feb and fly back to england at 6pm (so we'll need to be at LAX for 4pm).

There must be a way of fitting in Disney HELP!

Ok realistically I don't think actually going to a park is ever going to happen, we'd have to leave at 2

I've never been to Disneyland, do they have a downtown disney or something? Do any of the hotels do a good character breakfast (preferably with Donald).

I just need some honeymoon Mickey, there has to be a way.

Sorry to waffle (especially as its my first post) but I was hoping someone could give me some ideas and spread some pixie dust on our honeymoon

thanks Claire

xx

 

[blackjackdelta]

Welcome to the boards. You can get from LB to DLR in about 1/2 hour and should be able to get 4 hours in but you will have to move right along.

Jack

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Well... let's see, you dock at LGB at 7 am?? I have no idea how long it takes to actually get off the boat and into a taxi--but let's say you can do it by 8? Then figure 45 minutes to DL--I found some random site that figured out taxi fares, looks like $100 and they say 43 minutes. So, if you already have your 1 day park hopper purchased (do it online before you go, and have it with you) and you get to the gate at 9 am to turn it in. Then you have from 9-1:45 pm to play at both parks--just hitting the highlights... could be fun... I would only grab counter service I can eat while walking to something else... and head out at 1:45 pm for the cab to LAX, to get there by 4, we've done that drive in an hour, but just to be safe, be in a cab at 2 pm...

The only trick is your bags--where to put them while you are riding rides?? Or will the cruise ship deliver them straight to the airport for you??

 

[tommya60]

There is a Downtown Disney and several dining options. You need to check with the cruise line about when you disembark. Chances are you can carry your own luggage off the cruise to disembark more quickly (we did this at the Long Beach port a year ago). That will save you time, but you will have to carry your luggage. Or see if the cruise line will transfer the luggage for you (they may, especially if you purchased your airline tickets through the cruise line). Grab a cab and off you go....
You can take an Airport bus from the Disneyland hotel to LAX. So that will be cheaper than another taxi. The hotel will know when the bus leaves, it might be on the website.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Welcome to DIS!

No need to apologize for anything. Everyone here has questions and also finds ways to help others from their own experiences.

Congrats on your upcoming marriage. And who on earth told you it's not just YOUR honeymoon? LOL! Oh yeah, it's that couple thing, huh?

A Hawaiian cruise sounds fabulous - but throwing in a Disney visit would make it PERFECT!

So... it is do-able? Yes. You will have to balance how much money is worth it to you for how-few-hours it worth the money.

You could have a few hours actually in Disneyland. They do not sell a half day ticket so it would cost you a full day's admission, but that's where it comes to you determining if it's worth it and if you think this is your one chance.

Or, there is Downtown Disney and the hotels to just check out and wander around if you want.

Does this help get you thinking in the right direction?

- Dreams

 

[jtown]

I don't know that I would enjoy it but it's possible. 1-1.5 hours to unload, find a taxi ($100), and get to disneyland. You'll have to deal with your luggage, though, and I don't remember the lockers being big enough to hold full size suitcases. Figure it'll be at least 9am by the time you get there and are ready to hit the park. If you're feeling lucky, you might stretch that visit to 3pm which would give you an hour to get to the airport via taxi (another $100) and 2 hours to get through security/customs.

You could take the shuttle to the airport but, depending on the schedule, it may take a bite out of your already short visit.

Perhaps it would be possible to swing by the airport on your way to Disneyland and check your bags in early to get them out of the way. Check with your airline first, tho. They may not allow that. Heck, I don't even know if curbside baggage checks still exist. I haven't checked a bag in over a decade.

Research Note: There are apparently a range of locker sizes so maybe you could stash your luggage at the park. $7, 10, 11, 12, and $15/day depending on size ranging from 12"x18"x12.6" to 18"x25"x37"

 

[Nala83]

Just a word of warning...getting off the ship can take a long time. I took a cruise this spring, and I was really surprised by how long the disembarkation process took. They called us by deck. I was in the "cheap seats" so was (not surprisingly) among the last off. We docked at Long Beach at 7:30 and I got to LAX a little before noon. Granted, I had to wait for a shuttle bus to get me there. A cab would be much quicker. Still, the whole thing took a long time!

 

[GrandBob]

Are there any car rental companies near the cruise terminal in (I assume) San Pedro? I would look into a one-way rental from San Pedro to LAX. That saves you some big taxi fares, and solves the luggage problem -- leave it in the trunk when you park at Disney!

-Bob

 

[Lissame]

I have heard there are suitcase sized lockers right outside of the Disneyland entrance.

When we went on our cruise three years ago, they let the people who had very early flights out disembark first, some of them even carried their own luggage off. So if you inform the cruise line of your plans, they may help you out by scheduling your time off the ship sooner rather than later.

 

[sonnyjane]

When we went on our cruise three years ago, they let the people who had very early flights out disembark first, some of them even carried their own luggage off. So if you inform the cruise line of your plans, they may help you out by scheduling your time off the ship sooner rather than later.

That's they key - getting off the ship ASAP. I've gone on cruises that "docked" at 8:00 AM, but by the time I actually got to my vehicle, it was closer to 10:30. Since you're going on a Hawaiian cruise, however, maybe you won't have the long customs inspections to worry about?

 

[Karenann*]

A character breakfast would be a great way to have up close and personal time with several characters.

 

[tinksdreamwishes]

tell the cruise line- that you feel sick, like you caught a bug and must get off the ship immediatley! hehehehehe

 

[bumbershoot]

I am one for last minute things like this...but I"m not sure I would try it.

Have you looked on cruisecritic.com for cruise info? If you haven't, do. Ask there how long disembarking usually takes. Docking at 7 doesn't mean that anyone will get off at 7, and if you're one of the later groups to be allowed off, it might be hours and hours.

Honestly I would be having a chat with your future spouse and remind him/her that it is not only *their* honeymoon either, and that flights need to be changed. Even if you just gave yourself one more night it would be nice.

Our honeymoon was a cruise as well. We got up to Vancouver the day before the cruise, and spent one more night after the cruise (to see comedian Eddie Izzard, front row seats!), and it was so nice and relaxing. I just can't imagine rushing off the ship to get on an international flight, so I would have recommended a night in the LB area anyway, and especially since you want to go to DLR.

So if flights *can* be changed, I'd try for it.

Going back to the few hours idea...I guess if you can keep it really spur of the moment it might work. You *might* get off the ship very very fast, you might be able to catch a cab quickly. You might have a nice time, a short time, if those things work out.


The huge lockers are outside security, but on the DownTown Disney side of the esplanade. If the cab dropped you off on the Harbor side, you'd need to get through security with them, in order to stash them in the huge lockers. They are in the picnic area...if you came through the Harbor bag check, you'd cross right over to the DTD bag check (just go through to exit, no checking required), turn right, and go towards the big skinny tall "wind break" type of trees. The concrete picnic area is back there, with the enormous lockers. And then you'd have to get back through bag check on the DTD side (not a problem without bags, but it IS another line).

YOu could have a cab drop you at DLH, which would be a pain to walk through DTD with your bags (they won't let you check them with bell services if you're not staying there...I asked!), but then you stash the bags in the jumbo lockers and THEN go through bag check. No double bag check line, no big bags being carried through security.


Aw, just go change your flights and reserve a room.

 

[aristocat65]

We did Disneyland after a cruise one year and didn't get to Disneyland until 11:30 am. We requested early debarkation, and took our own bags off but had to wait in a LONG customs line. As luck would have it, ours was the day all the cruise staff had to do customs. ( I think they have to do this every 3 months or so) You will likely have to do customs, as your ship by law will have to had to have a foreign port (usually Ensenada).

We did pick up a car and check in to a hotel before arriving at the park though, so maybe that's not too bad. Another time we were delayed coming in to port because of fog. Just so you know anything can happen. I've also been on cruises and been off the ship by 8am

One thing I do want to say is that I think Princess docks at San Pedro Pier, not Long Beach. San Pedro is about 10 min away from Long Beach. I am not sure of the closest car rental, but I am pretty sure there is not one at the pier. We actually took a cab to Long Beach Airport and picked up our car there as it was on the way (sort of). The car rental there is across the parking lot from the airport in a trailer

I would NOT buy the park tickets in advance though, just in case it doesn't work out for you time wise. Just wait until you are at the gate. I think the best suggestion is to change your flights to the next day if possible. Might be worth the cost to change. Good Luck to you.

 

[Stacerita]

Honestly, there really isn't enough time. Why would you want to ruin the end of your cruise by trying to shove something extra in that probably won't fit. Its too many variables and such to actually get there and to LAX on time. And that's if everything goes smoothly. Enjoy your cruise and take a trip to DLR another time.

 

[clairegreenhills]

Thanks guys hmmm you have sadly confirmed what I thought, it would be a horrible rushed experience.

We're sailing with Cunard so it is Long Beach and we can get off quickly if we drag our own suitcases but yes its not going to be super quick.

So the plan now is two fold, firstly ring Virgin and see if I can get a flight the following day. If I can't then we'll go to Goofy's kitchen for brunch (10ish), have a wander round downtown disney and then go up to the airport.

thanks again can't believe how many kindly responsed

 

[farmfresh]

Surely you can have 14 February as a honeymoon day...seeing as it's Valentine's Day!

 

[clairegreenhills]

UPDATE!

I've managed to alter our flights so we're now flying back to london the next day WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

So now we've got all day Sunday in Disneyland after we get off the boat, find a cheap hotel then go back to Disney on the Monday (Valentines Day with Donald woo wooooo) until we leave for our flight at 2pm ish.

Thank you so much everyone you gave me the push to ring and see if we could alter things.

Its cost £50 ($70) to change flights but what the heck.

Now I just have to tell the OH

 

[GrandBob]

WOOHOO!

 

[aristocat65]

Thanks guys hmmm you have sadly confirmed what I thought, it would be a horrible rushed experience.

We're sailing with Cunard so it is Long Beach and we can get off quickly if we drag our own suitcases but yes its not going to be super quick.

Oops, sorry. I thought you had said you were sailing with Princess Must have been past my bed time.

So glad you were able to change your flights and it all worked out for you