Can Someone PLEASE Figure Out My Cruise Details???

[Madi100]

My DH has absolutely no opinion. If I suggested to him that I get my own room, and he shares with the kids, he probably wouldn't argue. Hmmmm, no I like my DH (and my kids, too). I have no idea what to plan for this wonderful cruise that I am so looking forward to. It's not so much the cruise, it's the pre and post cruise that I can't decide. Do we

1. Go to WDW before the cruise and stay at the Dolphin like everyone else? This is a great choice, but then we have to DRIVE. And, one of the ways I get DH to go to WDW so often, is that he has never driven one single time in the ten years we've been visiting.

2. Got to WDW and stay at SSR, our home resort. This is also a great idea, except we'll be WAY on the other side of the world from everyone else.

3. Go to WDW and stay at a DVC resort by the Dolphin. But, will I be able to get a room?

4. Got directly to the port and sit there like a loser. I don't even know. Do we still have to rent a car this way?

With 1,2, and 3, we will definitely have to rent a car, and I'm not completely opposed to this. But, I just can't decide.

When we return, as much as I'd like to stay at the Dolphin, I think we'll opt for DVC, even though it will be outrageous for the weekend. Trying to decide if we can get by with a studio. I figure close quarters for a few days, the space won't mattter, or we'll really anticipate the one bedroom.

Do you see my issues???? I just can't figure it out. Can someone please figure this out for me?

 

[MenashaCorp]

It's not so much the cruise, it's the pre and post cruise that I can't decide. Do we

1. Go to WDW before the cruise and stay at the Dolphin like everyone else? This is a great choice, but then we have to DRIVE. And, one of the ways I get DH to go to WDW so often, is that he has never driven one single time in the ten years we've been visiting.

DCL Transfer?

2. Got to WDW and stay at SSR, our home resort. This is also a great idea, except we'll be WAY on the other side of the world from everyone else.

...But VERY close to DTD!!

3. Go to WDW and stay at a DVC resort by the Dolphin. But, will I be able to get a room?

That's what I'm gonna try to do!

4. Got directly to the port and sit there like a loser. I don't even know. Do we still have to rent a car this way?

I think the term is "DISer." See previous posts in cruise thread re: low boarding #s.

Do you see my issues???? I just can't figure it out. Can someone please figure this out for me?

This looks like a job for..... winoooooooooTracyyyyyy. (insert Superheroine fanfare)

 

[DisneyKevin]

Might I suggest that whatever plans anyone makes could change once we announce the pre- and post- Podcast Cruise activities?

I'm just sayin....

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Might I suggest that whatever plans anyone makes could change once we announce the pre- and post- Podcast Cruise activities?

I'm just sayin....

Kevin -- You are going to have to stop this, you big meanie!

All I want for a clue is one simple answer...onsite or not? (and don't just answer "yes"!)

 

[DisneyKevin]

Kevin -- You are going to have to stop this, you big meanie!

All I want for a clue is one simple answer...onsite or not? (and don't just answer "yes"!)

The $99 rate at the Swolphin really cant be beat.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Was that too ambiguous?

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

The $99 rate at the Swolphin really cant be beat.

Okay...you've convinced me!!! I'm going to officially forget about staying at the port the night before and PM Tracy. Am I a pushover, or what?

 

[DisneyKevin]

Okay...please dont read more into this than what I'm saying.....

There are a lot of us going on this cruise.

Many will be staying at the Swolphin prior to the cruise.

Something will be going on the night before we sail.

Whether it's a group planned activity or a Podcast activity or both is to be seen.

Folks here on the board are talking about activities.

We (the Podcast) are kicking around ideas

And you will be at WDW.

All great reasons to be on property

************************************************************************************************************

I know everyone is looking for something concrete as far as plans are concerned and I know it seems that I am teasing but there are things to consider....

* DCL will not even discuss ship board things as it's too far out.

* We dont know if there will be 200 or 1200 of us (or anywhere in between) and no place is going to allow us that kind of flexibility. I cant make arrangements for 200 people and show up with 375.

* We want this to be as inclusive an operation as possible. Solidyfying arrangements now could exclude people who sign up later and we would feel awful if we did that. Eventually we will have to set a cut off date...but we are too far out and dont want to exclude anyone that wants to join us.

I would love to be able to tell you that we are going to do X. Y and Z but we just arent there yet.

I made some calls this week about "something" and was told " May 10th?????? Call back after the 1st of the year."

As soon as we know something....you know we will spill our guts. We all like people to have a good time and be excited.

 

[ADP]

$99 bucks at the Dolphin is a great deal. You don't have to twist my arm...I'm there!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I'm sorry Kevin....could you repeat that? I'm just so excited about spending even more time with my DIS Unplugged Podcast Cruise BFF's that I really wasn't paying attention.

Seriously Kevin -- It's all good. I think we know that a lot can happen between now and May. I don't care when or where any of these activities are planned because I know all of you are working as hard as you can to make this special for us. And that's what gives me the warm fuzzies and adds even more to the excitement.

 

[Madi100]

Might I suggest that whatever plans anyone makes could change once we announce the pre- and post- Podcast Cruise activities?

I'm just sayin....

That was REALLY helpful. Thanks, Kevin. I don't want to miss anything. Decisions, decisions.

I realize that you guys can't give us any details, but I'm trying to decide for us... We should be making our reservations sometime soon, I would think. Being DVC owners, that's all we do. So, to think of something else is hard to do. But, it might sound like the Dolphin is the best option because of the times. When we return, we'll be using weekend points for most of it.

And, I didn't start this thread with the hopes that you would let us know what's going on. I seriously have to figure out what we are going to do.

 

[Madi100]

Okay...you've convinced me!!! I'm going to officially forget about staying at the port the night before and PM Tracy. Am I a pushover, or what?

That helps me, because you were one that I was talking with about going to the port the night before. If you're not going, I don't want to go

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

That helps me, because you were one that I was talking with about going to the port the night before. If you're not going, I don't want to go

Yep, I just decided it wasn't worth the anxiety of wondering what to do...so I made an executive decision. Besides, when would we ever have the opportunity to stay @ the Dolphin for that price again? Let's just go with the flow and let everything fall into place as the date gets closer.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Kevin -- You are going to have to stop this, you big meanie!

All I want for a clue is one simple answer...onsite or not? (and don't just answer "yes"!)

I should have included some smilies...as reading this again I could see where it might be perceived the wrong way. But it was honestly done in jest.

 

[tmli]

Madi.....no matter what you do the night before you need transportation. If you go right to a port hotel you need to rent a car, get a shuttle or take private car. If you stay at wdw on points you can use dme, but need to get to port next day. If you stay at the swolphin you need to get from mco to hotel and then from hotel to port.

I don't own DVC (yet), but weekend pts are high. Personally I would pay the $99 and not waste those valuable pts!! Of course then there is no dme....boy I am helpful!!

I drive in Orlando every time we go, it really isn't too bad.
I think you will regret not being at wdw as I am sure there will be something happening!!!

 

[Madi100]

Madi.....no matter what you do the night before you need transportation. If you go right to a port hotel you need to rent a car, get a shuttle or take private car. If you stay at wdw on points you can use dme, but need to get to port next day. If you stay at the swolphin you need to get from mco to hotel and then from hotel to port.

I don't own DVC (yet), but weekend pts are high. Personally I would pay the $99 and not waste those valuable pts!! Of course then there is no dme....boy I am helpful!!

I drive in Orlando every time we go, it really isn't too bad.
I think you will regret not being at wdw as I am sure there will be something happening!!!

Thanks. I think we will stay there the night before and just rent a car. We have children, so we can't go to Jellyrolls, like everyone else is planning. Our kids aren't quite old enough to leave by themselves in the room. I know we'll have a good time no matter what. I just need to get planning, at least I feel like I do. It's just always so easy other times. We fly in, take ME, stay at the resort, and take ME back. Easy as pie.

 

[Disneybridein2k3]

My DH has absolutely no opinion. If I suggested to him that I get my own room, and he shares with the kids, he probably wouldn't argue. Hmmmm, no I like my DH (and my kids, too). I have no idea what to plan for this wonderful cruise that I am so looking forward to. It's not so much the cruise, it's the pre and post cruise that I can't decide. Do we

1. Go to WDW before the cruise and stay at the Dolphin like everyone else? This is a great choice, but then we have to DRIVE. And, one of the ways I get DH to go to WDW so often, is that he has never driven one single time in the ten years we've been visiting.

2. Got to WDW and stay at SSR, our home resort. This is also a great idea, except we'll be WAY on the other side of the world from everyone else.

3. Go to WDW and stay at a DVC resort by the Dolphin. But, will I be able to get a room?

4. Got directly to the port and sit there like a loser. I don't even know. Do we still have to rent a car this way?

With 1,2, and 3, we will definitely have to rent a car, and I'm not completely opposed to this. But, I just can't decide.

When we return, as much as I'd like to stay at the Dolphin, I think we'll opt for DVC, even though it will be outrageous for the weekend. Trying to decide if we can get by with a studio. I figure close quarters for a few days, the space won't mattter, or we'll really anticipate the one bedroom.

Do you see my issues???? I just can't figure it out. Can someone please figure this out for me?

Since DVC is so high for the weekends, how about visiting the DVC forums rent/trade board and selling your points you would've used and then using that money for the great rate at the Dolphin? That way, you are in the middle of the action and at the low, low price of $99/night. It's a great deal, you won't feel like you've wasted your points, and you will be in the middle of the madness.

* We want this to be as inclusive an operation as possible. Solidyfying arrangements now could exclude people who sign up later and we would feel awful if we did that. Eventually we will have to set a cut off date...but we are too far out and dont want to exclude anyone that wants to join us.

You snooze, you lose - the cruise was annonced months ago - cut it off and spill your guts!
As for feeling awful, I'm sure you'd get over it sooner or later, right?

 

[scarlett873]

Oooooh...teasers teasers teasers...

I think that the "plans" everyone else is making would be pretty flexible at this point. At least I'd be willing do drop whatever plans if the podcast crew announced some kind of event/get together!!

I think, at least at this point in the game, that we are going to rent a car to get us to the Dolphin and then to the port. We'll use one of those companies that allows us to turn the car in in Port Canaveral. We'll probably also rent a car to get us back to MCO. We'll see what happens

 

[tmli]

We are just going to rent a car for the entire time. We are arriving the Friday before the cruise and staying til the Monday after. Its a bit more money but I like the convenience of having it at my disposal, I also like not having to take everything on the cruise with us. We will leave some luggage in the car.

Last time we used Budget and dropped off at port and rented again after to return to wdw. We were happy with them and thought the shuttle was convenient. (for anyone planning on using this route!) Be careful though, they have an unusual refueling policy. Make sure you understand it, some people got stuck paying twice!

 

[winotracy]

Ok, someone needs to give me a heads up when there's a new thread where my expertise is needed

My DH has absolutely no opinion. If I suggested to him that I get my own room, and he shares with the kids, he probably wouldn't argue. Hmmmm, no I like my DH (and my kids, too). I have no idea what to plan for this wonderful cruise that I am so looking forward to. It's not so much the cruise, it's the pre and post cruise that I can't decide. Do we

1. Go to WDW before the cruise and stay at the Dolphin like everyone else? This is a great choice, but then we have to DRIVE. And, one of the ways I get DH to go to WDW so often, is that he has never driven one single time in the ten years we've been visiting.

2. Got to WDW and stay at SSR, our home resort. This is also a great idea, except we'll be WAY on the other side of the world from everyone else.

3. Go to WDW and stay at a DVC resort by the Dolphin. But, will I be able to get a room?

4. Got directly to the port and sit there like a loser. I don't even know. Do we still have to rent a car this way?

With 1,2, and 3, we will definitely have to rent a car, and I'm not completely opposed to this. But, I just can't decide.

When we return, as much as I'd like to stay at the Dolphin, I think we'll opt for DVC, even though it will be outrageous for the weekend. Trying to decide if we can get by with a studio. I figure close quarters for a few days, the space won't mattter, or we'll really anticipate the one bedroom.

Do you see my issues???? I just can't figure it out. Can someone please figure this out for me?

You can get transfers from the Dolphin to the port and back. You cannot get Magical Express to the Dolphin. The Dolphin does have an Alamo car rental location though.

You cannot get DCL transfers to the port any day but cruise day. So if you go a day prior to the port, you will have to use a towncar service or drive.

DCL Transfer?

This looks like a job for..... winoooooooooTracyyyyyy. (insert Superheroine fanfare)

You called??

The $99 rate at the Swolphin really cant be beat.

Dolphin only - this rate is not good at the Swan.

Madi.....no matter what you do the night before you need transportation. If you go right to a port hotel you need to rent a car, get a shuttle or take private car. If you stay at wdw on points you can use dme, but need to get to port next day. If you stay at the swolphin you need to get from mco to hotel and then from hotel to port.

I don't own DVC (yet), but weekend pts are high. Personally I would pay the $99 and not waste those valuable pts!! Of course then there is no dme....boy I am helpful!!

I drive in Orlando every time we go, it really isn't too bad.
I think you will regret not being at wdw as I am sure there will be something happening!!!

I'm staying at the Dolphin the night prior, but likely staying at DVC after because we'll be there 9 nights and I don't want to have to move from resort to resort after.