Arrive day of or day before?

[Aisling]

Just wondering what everyone does. I've flown to orlando 5 times and was never delayed on my flights. For my cruise this time, we're flying down the night before.

Have any of you ever missed the cruise because you came in the same day?

How about any success stories of flying in the same day?

 

[markºoº]

We always arrive a day in advance. It makes boarding a lot less stressful, we can sleep in and still board early. This also reduces the chance flight problems will cause us to miss the ship.

 

[inkkognito]

DEFINITELY day before!
We've always done this, but a couple of cruises ago we realized just how lucky we were. If we had planned to leave Chicago the day of our cruise, we would NOT have been able to fly out due to the weather. The price of an MCO area hotel is well worth the "safety margin."
Barb

 

[CRSNDSNY]

In four cruises, we've flown down at least the day before three of the four times. We had no choice for the last cruise which we flew down the morning of. I was a nervous wreck, but thankfully it worked out perfectly and we were an hour ahead of expected schedule.

For peace of mind, I would fly down at least a day before given a preference.

 

[Hollua]

Have you ever seen the television show called Airline? It follows passengers of Southwest Airlines. There is at least one show where a boat load of passengers (pun intended) are freaking out about making it to their cruise ships on time. because of a flight mishap.

Day before sounds good to me.

 

[Lynderella]

Day before. Even if the weather is perfect where you are, the plane may not make it from its departure city. And, unfortunatly, sometimes there are mechanical or crew delays. DH is former airline pilot. He knows all too well what can happen.

 

[TheWog]

2 cruises.... day before for each one.

 

[ambushangel]

For the last week, I think that I have been keeping Ms Clairol (for those who don't know, it's hair dye company) in business by giving myself more grey hairs about this.


We don't leave till day of cruise. Tried changing the flight, but so far no luck.

I think that I might have made a mistake, I hope all goes well.

 

[alanapapa]

While our cruise is not until July, and it is after our land portion, my DW & I decided to fly down the day before. This way we will be all rested up for WDW and if anything happens, we know we have time we can use that will not be taken from our fun.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

For the last week, I think that I have been keeping Ms Clairol (for those who don't know, it's hair dye company) in business by giving myself more grey hairs about this.


We don't leave till day of cruise. Tried changing the flight, but so far no luck.

I think that I might have made a mistake, I hope all goes well.

best wishes to you!!!

 

[webray]

We drive up to the port..and we still go the day before. We don't need any surprises that would make us miss the ship. Besides, spending the day at the port..before the cruise is wonderful, and we get to eat at Grills..lol. My husband talks non-stop about it.

 

[allears]

Here's our experience over 5 cruises:

First was land and sea, with the land first, so we were there already.

2 and 3: Flew down the day of, no problems, even though it was winter. We took the earliest flight, as a buffer should we have a problem. But all went well. The biggest disadvantage is how long it makes the day. We left our house at 4:30 am. By number 3 we learned to put our two boys down for some relaxation or preferably a nap or they couldn't make it through dinner (late seating)

4 & 5: Well 4 was planned for a day ahead, but Hurricane Jeanne hit and we stayed in Orlando Friday night, Saturday and Sunday. Number 5, day early, very early flight again. It was just DW and I so we spent the day at the Magic Kingdom. Had a good night's rest and on to one of the first busses to the port. Loved this.

Also is God forbid your luggage gets lost, the air line has more time to get it too you rather than the day you're sailing.

It also depends if you book your air fare through Disney. They will fly you in the day of, unless you book the night before hotel with them. But if there are problems, they make sure they get you to the ship, either by holding it or getting you to the next port should things get that bad.

Bottom line, we vote for day before. Just like the safety margin when it's possible.

 

[marycaym]

I think it depends on when you are cruising and where you are coming from. On other lines I have always flown down the day off, since they tend to leave from port in late evening. On our first DCL we flew down the day off (from eastern PA), we had snow, we were delayed I was panicked - I think we were on the last bus to leave MCO.

This past cruise (2/5) we flew down the day before. Got a great deal at amerisuites - close to the airport w/free shuttle and free breakfast.

I think if you are flying down from a snow state in winter, I would recommend the day before. Can't imagine what I would do if I missed it, however I have heard that if you book your air w/DCL and are delayed they wait for you, if you book your air on your own, they don't have to wait for you - anyone have any info on this?

 

[DisneyDreamer8]

We always fly in the day before....from Oregon to Orlando is one LONG flight. We would have to do a red eye to get there in time to board otherwise...that makes me cranky so we don't do it

 

[Disneyfamfan]

We are flying the red eye from Portland to Seattle and Seattle to Orlando on the 16th of March and are cruising on the Wonder on the 17th. We land in Orlando at 6:38am. We felt that would insure us any delays to give us enough time for shuttle to Wonder. I am praying this will work

 

[CarolAnnC]

We always fly in a minimum of one day prior to a cruise. If I can sneak in some extra time, then WDW before and after cruise, too, lol.

 

[MCazer]

We always fly the day before. Being from New York also, you never know when snow or wind or ice will delay you.

A few years ago, I had a flight cancelled because of snow, then delayed til the next day, then delayed because of winds, and then bussed to another airport.

Well, by the time we got down, it seemed we had to turn around and come back. That was the last time. Now we fly down a day early. YIKES is all I have to say.

Oh, by the way, we flew out the day before the big storm here (Jan 22). But alot of people missed the boat, and alot of people got room upgrades because of it. I believe one family came onboard in St. Maarten or St. Thomas, (I can't remember).

 

[disneysooz]

Fly in the day before gets our vote! It is one less thing to worry about. And besides, your vacation officially gets started one day earlier!
Susie

 

[mickeyboat]

We flew in the day of. I don't recommend it. We cruised last March. There was no snow or ice, but there was fog the night before our flight. That caused a delay for our flight because the flight crew had a mandatory four hour rest period. We were supposed to leave at 7:30, we left at 11:30.

We had a connecting flight in Atlanta and were told we would not get a connection. I started to bawl at the check-in counter. Finally I asked to speak to a supervisor who took pity on me and booked us on stand-by from Atlanta. When we got to Atlanta, we sprinted to the connecting flight (carrying our 3 and 4 year old DD's and all our carry-on luggage). We were cleared from stand-by and made the flight just as they were closing the doors.

When we got to MCO, a DCL rep. met us at the gate and we sprinted again to the DCL bus. It was 4PM. We were the only people on the bus. We boarded the Magic at 5PM through the bottom of the ship (no embarkation photo for us). We made it, our luggage didn't. We missed half the sail away party and had an all-around stressful day.

Our luggage arrived on St. Maarten day. We managed o.k. with DCL's assistance, but I don't recommend it. Still had a great time.

I thought going down the day before was a way DCL could make more money. Now, I wouldn't go any other time.

By the way, we booked our air through DCL.

Denae

 

[Dodie]

Flying in the day of the cruise is just way too risky. Your poll shows that same opinion, which I've seen voiced over and over again on this board throughout the years.

It's so much more relaxing to book yourself a one-night room at Disney, near the Marketplace, or even at Port Canaveral. Less rushing. Less uncertainty.