Booking a land/sea some questions....

[lzj21428]

We are in the process of booking a land/sea package. I've received a quote from DreamsUnlimited. I'm happy so far w/ the info provided and the fact that we are able to get the same rooms that we have had on our past 2 cruises.

My question is, what have been you experience w/ using Dreams Unlimited? Any problems? Want to hear the good and bad.

Also, we want to book a limo for our transportation needs. Any suggestions on what is the best limo service?

Thanks

 

[shannon1219]

My current cruise is booked thru DU and I love them. They respond propmtly to all of my emails and they make everything so easy. I plan on booking my next cruise onboard and then transfering to DU.

 

[jlowejd5]

I've had nothing but good experiences dealing with DU. I just got a quote from them that beat the other best price I could find by about $500.

a woo hoo!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

For the land/sea package does a person have to do the land portion before the sea? I think I would prefer to do the land after the cruise.

T&B

 

[sweet angel]

I think you have to do the land portion first.

 

[pediatric-rnp]

For the land/sea package does a person have to do the land portion before the sea? I think I would prefer to do the land after the cruise.

T&B

They can be done either way...the 4 day land/3 day sea has you arrive at WDW on Sunday, and cruise leaves on Thurs, returning you to port the following Sunday. On the 4 day cruise/3day land I believe you start the cruise Sunday and return to port Thurs, at which time you go to WDW until the following Sunday. We did the 4 day land, with 2 extra days tacked on, and the 3 day sea - 3 days was NOT enough!

 

[sweet angel]

From DCL website:
7-Night Land & Sea Vacation

3 Nights on Land & 4 Nights at Sea
Thursday - Saturday Walt Disney World
Sunday Port Canaveral
Monday Nassau
Castaway Cay
Wednesday At Sea
Thursday Port Canaveral

4 Nights on Land & 3 Nights at Sea
Sunday - Wednesday Walt Disney World
Thursday Port Canaveral
Friday Nassau
Saturday Castaway Cay
Sunday Port Canaveral

So, no. If you book land/sea through Disney, land must be first.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Thanks for the land/sea info!

Guess we need to think through which we'd want to do first, but I'm thinking the sea first. Maybe I'll post a new thread sometime with the pros and cons to doing it each way. I love these boards!

T&B

 

[lzj21428]

I would perfer doing the land portion first as that part is usually hectic and then once on the cruise, even though there is lots to do, it is more relaxing.
I just think you end up going home from vacation more relaxed than stressed and tired. JMHO

 

[sweet angel]

I would perfer doing the land portion first as that part is usually hectic and then once on the cruise, even though there is lots to do, it is more relaxing.
I just think you end up going home from vacation more relaxed than stressed and tired. JMHO

 

[vossjemi]

If you want the land afterwards, just don't book it as a package. When you do a package, certain resort types match up to certain cabin types and you cannot mix and match. Whereas if you do it separately, you can do cruise/land in whatever order you prefer and you can do mod/deluxe versus mod/mod. We just did that through DU. We have a 4 day cruise booked through them in a category 10 SPR room. Then we tacked on a few days at Disney at a deluxe resort, the poly. So, it can be done, you just have to be creative.

 

[C230K]

Try FLTours limo service: http://www.fltours.com/

We had excellent service and pricing last April.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

My reasons for thinking that doing the cruise first would be...mainly the less chance of sickness onboard. Since we'd be going in summer I could pretty much quaranteen my family the week before the trip (withing reason--I'm not a germaphobe, but since the kids wouldn't be in school I could lessen our contact with people in general and sick people in particular). Of course we'd be increasing our chances of being sick when at WDW, but we've been there so it wouldn't be as disappointing.

Also, I could have all my ship bags packed and be more organized going onto the ship than what I would if we went to WDW first. We'd also be able to be at WDW as late in August as possible, which would help as far as summer crowds go. I know it would still be busy at WDW, but the later in August for the parks the better.

Oh, another advantage that I thought of to going on the cruise first is that we'd be so stuffed after cruising that we'd spend less on food once we got to WDW AND we'd have a chance to walk off some of the calories eaten on the ship.

Of course there are advantages to going to WDW first, mainly what lzj21428 mentioned.

I've also thought about splitting it up. Doing a couple days in Orlando before the cruise and 2-3 after.

Part of this will be determined by when oour schools end up starting the year that we cruise. If it's an early start date that year we might need to go to the parks before the cruise.

T&B

 

[champagne27]

I know you can book the parts seperately but check prices first.- it may help you make a decision as well I was all set to book sperately but when priced the 4 night cruise alone for our family of 4 and it was $3,000. To add 3 nights at the Poly was only another $600 which included park admission for our family of four - unbelievable price in my mind.

Of course I thought the price was so good I would add an extra night or two at the the Poly - the price - almost $700 a night with park tickets - ouch - how do they do that math???? Anyway, we will just book a few nights at a moderate or try to rent points to add a few more nights.

Good luck and happy planning!

PS - booked package through DU and no complaints at all!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I will look into pricing it both ways. Thanks for the heads up. I'm so used to the assumption that packages are more expensive (I think it might even be in the DIS training manual ).

T&B

 

[lzj21428]

Tigger, I can see what you are saying about the getting sick part. I took the kids to WDW last summer in August and all three of them got sick on three different days. DS got sick in front of a shop at MGM, DD fainted in the concierge lounge at the Poly and little DD got sick on the night of the hurricane. Try getting mousekeeping to come out and clean up in the midst of a hurricane!!!

As for booking seperately, I found the difference in price to be minimal, like $79 more for the package. I have until Monday to put my deposit down w/ DU. Still debating. Our dates are 8/4 thru 8/11.