August 16, 2011, Disney Dream - Part 4

[jenanderson]

Look on google maps-- they look literally next door to each other.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=resid....398989,-80.611711&fspn=0.009853,0.01826&z=16

ETA: Zoom in on the port, and you can see either the Magic or Wonder (I can't tell which) is at the dock!

Thanks! That is a perfect way to see their locations (guess I should have thought of it)!

I might have to change my reservation to save a bit of money. Our plans include hanging out with Kristin and the others at the Residence Inn but if they are that close to each other....it should still be possible.

 

[sdchickie]

I would call Enterprise back and clarify that it is for DCL to see if they have different shuttle times. I know that was the case with the Residence Inn. She was VERY firm in the fact that DCL is telling all the shuttles what time they can leave at.

I did say it was for Disney, and even stated that the terminal didn't open till 11:00 but he still said 7:30. I think it's because they pick up people from there that early so if you wanted to you could take the ride over. I do plan on calling back at another time when someone else is working to confirm.

 

[Minniemouse07]

Does anyone know how close the CI&S is to the Residence Inn in Cape Canaveral?

Right now we have reservations at the Residence Inn but when I check rates, the CI&S is cheaper right now.

I just got off the phone w/ a lovely employee of CI&S (maybe Veronica or Victoria? Definitely started w/ a V).

Here is the skinny on their shuttle.

First off it is a BUS (holds >35 people)...so I am THRILLED about the booster seat issue being a non issue now (buses have their own built in safety systems and don't have seat belts...so no booster seats). Well worth the phone call just for that.

They have been instructed by DCL to not start their shuttles until 11am, which is when their first shuttle departs. Victoria/Veronica said I can call on the evening of the 14th to be put on the first shuttle list.

Upon check in we will receive more information as to what time to be in the lobby, etc... as well as any other special instructions.

Oh and Jen...she said they are a mile from the port.

 

[jenanderson]

I just got off the phone w/ a lovely employee of CI&S (maybe Veronica or Victoria? Definitely started w/ a V).

Here is the skinny on their shuttle.

First off it is a BUS (holds >35 people)...so I am THRILLED about the booster seat issue being a non issue now (buses have their own built in safety systems and don't have seat belts...so no booster seats). Well worth the phone call just for that.

They have been instructed by DCL to not start their shuttles until 11am, which is when their first shuttle departs. Victoria/Veronica said I can call on the evening of the 14th to be put on the first shuttle list.

Upon check in we will receive more information as to what time to be in the lobby, etc... as well as any other special instructions.

Oh and Jen...she said they are a mile from the port.

Thanks for sharing all of this. It is nice to hear that they are starting their shuttles at 11 AM.

I wouldn't change just for that but between that AND the cheaper room rate...it might be enough to make me switch hotels.

 

[sdchickie]

I stayed at CI&S in Dec for the NYE cruise and we liked it there. The bus is not that big, I think 35 people would be people sitting on laps. The nice thing is you can get breakfast, get on the shuttle, and head to port easy-peasy! The bad thing is you tip the shuttle guy when he drops you off and literally a minute later the porter has his hand out for a tip. Other than that we would definately stay there again.

 

[jenanderson]

I stayed at CI&S in Dec for the NYE cruise and we liked it there. The bus is not that big, I think 35 people would be people sitting on laps. The nice thing is you can get breakfast, get on the shuttle, and head to port easy-peasy! The bad thing is you tip the shuttle guy when he drops you off and literlly a minute later the porter has his hand out for a tip. Other than that we would definately stay there again.

Tips are going to be a big part of our budget. Two tips to get our luggage on the ship, probably two tips getting off (porters and driver again), tip on the ship and then a tip at the Poly with all our luggage there. It is going to add up with all the luggage we have!

 

[elgerber]

Morning all! Am I the only one using Thrifty Rental? They had by far, the best prices I can find. I am going to have to call them to find out their shuttle skinny. I, like many of you, was going to have dh drop us off then return the car and come back on their shuttle. But I am not sure that is the best idea now. I wonder if we should all just return the car and take their shuttle.
I am staying at CIS, but was not planning to take their shuttle, since we have a car to return. I am not sure if Thrifty is open late enough to return the car on Monday night, and I am not sure if they would shuttle us back to the hotel.
Oh boy, so many questions!

 

[jenanderson]

Morning all! Am I the only one using Thrifty Rental? They had by far, the best prices I can find. I am going to have to call them to find out their shuttle skinny. I, like many of you, was going to have dh drop us off then return the car and come back on their shuttle. But I am not sure that is the best idea now. I wonder if we should all just return the car and take their shuttle.
I am staying at CIS, but was not planning to take their shuttle, since we have a car to return. I am not sure if Thrifty is open late enough to return the car on Monday night, and I am not sure if they would shuttle us back to the hotel.
Oh boy, so many questions!

Sounds like it is time to start making calls to see what all your options are. Once you figure out how each situation would work, you can pick what would be best for you guys. I would call and at least find out Thrifty's shuttle plans.

 

[sdchickie]

Tips are going to be a big part of our budget. Two tips to get our luggage on the ship, probably two tips getting off (porters and driver again), tip on the ship and then a tip at the Poly with all our luggage there. It is going to add up with all the luggage we have!

I guess I should have realized that it was 2 different people that would need 2 different tips, but I wasn't in my right mind (I had Disney brain) so it kinda tripped me up to hand out money to 2 people almost at the same time. I think it's the tipping in advance that gets me with the porters. Has anyone else ever noticed the porters that hint that the quality of baggage care = the amount of tip they get (in advance)? On my last cruise they were even going as far as saying "Tip the people that have all your luggage for the next 2 hours."

 

[sdchickie]

What was Thrifty's rate? We got Enterprise from Disney to PC for $37 for an intermediate. I thought that was a pretty good rate, but now I'm wondering if I can do better.

 

[jenanderson]

All of this talk about tipping makes me think of a new question....

How much do you tip the porter and/or the shuttle driver?

 

[Minniemouse07]

All of this talk about tipping makes me think of a new question....

How much do you tip the porter and/or the shuttle driver?

I'm planning on $1/bag or $5 whichever is more.

...Not sure how many bags we will have just yet! I think we may have 3?

If it were a shuttle driver at the airport (where we usually check about 2 bags for our family of 4), I usually tip $1/bag but with the amount of bags on a cruise I figure $5 for all of them.

 

[disfaninca]

My parents got that email-- none for us!

If anyone else is renting from Avis, it sounds like we'll be having a minimeet on the shuttle bus!

LOL. We'll be there!!

 

[sdchickie]

All of this talk about tipping makes me think of a new question....

How much do you tip the porter and/or the shuttle driver?

We usually do $2 a bag or so, it depends on how many bags we have. If we only have 2 bags we usually tip $5.

 

[elgerber]

What was Thrifty's rate? We got Enterprise from Disney to PC for $37 for an intermediate. I thought that was a pretty good rate, but now I'm wondering if I can do better.

My rate is for 3 days, so I can't really compare for you. But for my 3 days, I got a minivan for less than a fullsize car at the other places.
And no way I could get my luggage in an intermediate LOL.

 

[disfaninca]

Good Morning Fellow Cruisers!!

Good morning Kristin!! Well it's actually the afternoon for you!! That's the bummer about being three hours behind!!

 

[disfaninca]

Good morning!

We're so excited, we leave for WDW in 10 days!

Now, I have to work on the details of Phillip's b.day party. Have to confirm everything with the Lego Store. He's so excited about it!

We are so excited too!!!! What a great way for Phillip to celebrate his birthday!!!!

 

[disfaninca]

Does anyone know how close the CI&S is to the Residence Inn in Cape Canaveral?

Right now we have reservations at the Residence Inn but when I check rates, the CI&S is cheaper right now.

Jen, they are right next to each other. They are just walking distance. Their parking lots are literally right up against each other. In October we stayed at CI&S and Randy couldn't find parking in that parking lot so he parked at the RI parking lot and it was a very easy walk to the car the next morning.

 

[TiggerAllie]

Question: What's the best way to drive to the rental car return at PC? I'm worried about running into that giant line of traffic I saw posted on the "Live from PC" thread yesterday.

We'll be coming from Vero, if that makes a difference, aiming to get to there in the 10-10:30 range. (Since I don't know how long the drive from Vero is with traffic--or the best route--I think we need to have some leeway in time.) It looks like we could cross the water on either 520 or 528/1A...

 

[disfaninca]

I guess I should have realized that it was 2 different people that would need 2 different tips, but I wasn't in my right mind (I had Disney brain) so it kinda tripped me up to hand out money to 2 people almost at the same time. I think it's the tipping in advance that gets me with the porters. Has anyone else ever noticed the porters that hint that the quality of baggage care = the amount of tip they get (in advance)? On my last cruise they were even going as far as saying "Tip the people that have all your luggage for the next 2 hours."

Wow, that is pretty bold of them to say! Not to mention scary!!