booked my flight...now more ???

[bostonlass]

I'm so happy! I cancelled my flight and transfers through Disney (total was $1220) and booked a round trip flight through Northwestern coming in Friday and returning the day the ship comes back on Thursday. ($750 total) Booked a room for two nights at Holiday Inn for a total of ($72 including tax)

Here's my ????

1) My return flight is leaving at 12:40pm....I just spoke to a car rental agency and the guy said that I should plan on getting off the cruise at 10am. Is this right??? I thought since we dock at around 7:30am we should be able to get off the ship at around 9am at the very latest. I'd like to get to the airport early enough so that I won't worry. Any suggestions or anyone done this before?

2) Is it cheaper to rent a car for before the cruise and then another after the cruise or to just rent one for the whole time I'm down there and pay for parking? Is it a safe place to park or do I run the risk of it getting vandelized and having to pay for damages?

Sorry for all the ?'s.

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

I'll give these a shot:

1) The ship usually ties up at about 5:30 in the morning. It's almost always at the pier when I get up on the last morning at around 6:00am. If the ship is on time and everything with Customs goes in routine fashion, they actually want everyone off the ship by 9:00am. Our return flight is usually around 12:45 and we're always to the airport in plenty of time. We usually get off the ship soon after they clear it for debarkation, around 7:30, and the latest we've ever been to the airport and through security was around 10:30, using the DCL busses.

2) I would price it both ways, it may end up being cheaper with a weekly rate, if you find a special. Bear in mind that parking at the port is $10/day, so add that to whatever the weekly rate would be. From what I've heard, it's a secure lot, so you wouldn't have to worry unduly about vandalism. I would think that it will be cheaper to do two different rentals. Check out Dave's site for some good info on car rentals.

 

[bostonlass]

Thanks. It ended up being over $222 for the whole time and not even including the parking so I opted for the two car deal. I get a corporate rate through Avis so the total for the two rentals adds up to $102 and change including unlimited mileage. Don't ya just love a bargain???

 

[Hygiene99]

Good for u ..... want even less stress
just do the one way rental The way to the port and
when u r on the ship u can purchase a ride to the airport on the disney bus and not have to deal with going and geting the rental car and returning it just go to the bus and relax...
r there 4 of u ??? if so the transfers r about 25.00 each

if there r only 2 of u then there is not if any difference in the cost... 4 then about 50.00 bucks more but u dont have to drive or go get the car ....

 

[inkkognito]

The car rental place was probably thinking about the other cruise lines, where late disembarkation is the norm. Disney is AWESOME...they let you leave when you want to. With the others, you have to sit around and wait until your luggage tag color is called, which can take literally hours. They should all take a lesson from Disney.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[bostonlass]

I'll think about the transfers from the ship to the airport on the way back. I do get nervous flying so maybe it's worth the extra $27 it will cost me (I have three people and the rental is $43)

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by Hygiene99
Good for u ..... want even less stress
just do the one way rental The way to the port and
when u r on the ship u can purchase a ride to the airport on the disney bus and not have to deal with going and geting the rental car and returning it just go to the bus and relax...

Thats exactly what we are doing.....using a rental the day before the cruise(at OKW) and then using the DCL bus on the return.

Our flight doesn't leave MCO until 5:00 so we got a "Day room" at the Hyatt at MCO($60) so we can just relax at the airport before our flight. We figure to be at MCO around 10:00 am.

 

[DoomBuggieDriver]

Hey Nick, That's a great idea. I didn't know they had day rooms at the Hyatt. Our flight is also leaving around 5 and I was thinking of getting the rental and hanging at the beach for a few hours. But the more I thought of it, the easier it would be to take the Disney transfers to MCO and just relax. Do they happen to have a pool? Just hoping as that would keep the kids busy for while waiting. I just think planning another "excursion" for the day back will stress us out on the other end of the day.
Thanks for the idea!
Buggie

Originally posted by Nick@ VB+OKW
Thats exactly what we are doing.....using a rental the day before the cruise(at OKW) and then using the DCL bus on the return.

Our flight doesn't leave MCO until 5:00 so we got a "Day room" at the Hyatt at MCO($60) so we can just relax at the airport before our flight. We figure to be at MCO around 10:00 am.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by DoomBuggieDriver
Hey Nick, That's a great idea. I didn't know they had day rooms at the Hyatt. Our flight is also leaving around 5 and I was thinking of getting the rental and hanging at the beach for a few hours. But the more I thought of it, the easier it would be to take the Disney transfers to MCO and just relax. Do they happen to have a pool? Just hoping as that would keep the kids busy for while waiting.

Yes the Hyatt does have a pool. Here is a link for the Hyatt below.
http://orlandoairport.hyatt.com/property/index.jhtml

 

[Hygiene99]

Great what else can we help u with since we have saved u around $500.00 bucks

where r u going to stay day before the cruise
Was it u that wanted to go to the World ????

if so try www.mousesavers.com to look up rate that may work for u....


oh yea alll u have to do is go to Guest services on the ship and they will charge the bus passes to your room

Peter

oh yea no pretrip planning would be complete if u did not
check out these to sites www.castawayclub.com and www.dcltribute.com TONS of great info at each check em out......

 

[bostonlass]

Peter are schools closed today in Wakefield? Our school just made the decision to close here in Swampscott.

Actually I got two nights at the Holiday Inn at Downtown Disney for $30/night and we're going to go to the Magic Kingdom on Saturday and to the Aloha dinner at the Polynesian on Friday night.

Thanks for helpin' me out! You should open up your own discount travel agency.