Cruise, Cars & baggage - clarification needed

[zippy99]

Right, so planning next year's trip and pricing a few options.

Initial thoughts are:

Fly out Sun 17th or Mon 18th with 3/4 nights at RPR Universal
21st - 23rd - Disney Cruise
24th - 31st Aug or 1st Sep - Disney with DDP, probably OKW.

Few questions:
1) If we hire a car, where can we leave this whilst we cruise? - I don't want to drive all the way to the port
2) As we are due to check-in to a Disney resort, will they hold excess luggage for us or do we have to take everything?

I need to wait until DH has confirmed his leave before I can book - the executive chef wants 2 weeks off in August for a family wedding that currently has not got a date set other than August - wish they would hurry up - do they not realise the free dining offer has a time limit!

Thanks in advance for help - I know Wayne and a few others have suggested a 4 night cruise but we are not 'big' relaxers and prefer to be on the go - so for a first cruise we do not want too long and think 3 nights should be ok as a taster... after all there is always 2015 if we want longer!

 

[RDP]

A few thoughts:

From what I have read on the cruise line forum, disney hotels will not leave you park your car with them even if you stay with them pre cruise. (Although I have read conflicting reports.)

You may be better off driving your car to the port and parking, as its relatively cheap for a 3 night cruise and you can just get in your car and get to your Disney hotel post cruise. (This is what we are planning on doing next year)

I mentioned in my 2 weeks of AKV thread that bell services will transfer your luggage free of charge to your post cruise hotel if you stay with Disney pre cruise.

Your plans sound great! We plan to do Universal post cruise and will probably leave excess cases in the rental car at the port.

 

[zippy99]

Sounds like we will have almost identical plans for next year RDP!!

Great thing about booking direct with Loews for the universal hotel is paying a deposit only and the flexibility to change your dates without penalty - plus paying the balance of the room when there is great for our budgeting!

 

[RDP]

Sounds like we will have almost identical plans for next year RDP!!

Great thing about booking direct with Loews for the universal hotel is paying a deposit only and the flexibility to change your dates without penalty - plus paying the balance of the room when there is great for our budgeting!

When you book through Loews directly can you purchase the park tickets and benefit from the express pass or do you have to buy the park tickets separately through universal?

 

[zippy99]

You can purchase the park tickets from anywhere - we had ours from Attraction Tix - when you check in at the Hotel you use your room key to print the express pass - so you do end up carrying round express passes, park tickets and room keys! but hey ho! the benefit of the pass is fab and the early access allows you to get Forbidden Journey ridden and some fab pictures of Hogsmede crowd free

See my picture here:
http://zowina.wordpress.com/2013/08/31/day-12-harry-potter/

As we did Disney first we checked in to RPR at 11am (our room was even ready) we literally dumped the bags, printed our express passes and headed straight to the Will Call kiosk to claim our tickets and were straight on Despicable Me that had a 90min wait!!

 

[RDP]

You can purchase the park tickets from anywhere - we had ours from Attraction Tix - when you check in at the Hotel you use your room key to print the express pass - so you do end up carrying round express passes, park tickets and room keys! but hey ho! the benefit of the pass is fab and the early access allows you to get Forbidden Journey ridden and some fab pictures of Hogsmede crowd free

See my picture here:
http://zowina.wordpress.com/2013/08/31/day-12-harry-potter/

As we did Disney first we checked in to RPR at 11am (our room was even ready) we literally dumped the bags, printed our express passes and headed straight to the Will Call kiosk to claim our tickets and were straight on Despicable Me that had a 90min wait!!

Your TR is fab, really enjoyed reading it. We haven't been to Universal for years and the children have never been, cant wait!

 

[zippy99]

Your TR is fab, really enjoyed reading it. We haven't been to Universal for years and the children have never been, cant wait!

Thank you - I really enjoyed doing it and love looking through it now. I am back! Although I will have to correct the typos at some stage! I love reading live trip reports but having followed Wayne's son Matt's blog I like the ease of reading them in a blog format without trawling through thread pages to find the latest update. Also a handy way of keeping non DisBoard family & friends updated of your activities.

 

[disneyholic family]

we just went on a cruise in august (allure of the seas - highly recommended for anyone in the market for a 7 day cruise).

we stayed at the pop century before and after the cruise and were able to leave our excess bags there (in the luggage area).

 

[wayneg]

Driving to the port is very easy, one straight road from the I4. Then you can leave the luggage you don't need in the boot. Taxi's or Disney buses to and from the port are very expensive.

There is no-one dislikes relaxing more than me, we haven't been in a waterpark for years, last year spent a couple of hours by the pool before our flight, we were bored stiff. A cruise is not relaxing if you don't want it to be, there is as much or as little you want to do. I would be very surprised after 3 days you don't think, "I wish we had booked 4 days"

 

[wilma-bride]

We must be the odd ones out as far as 3-night cruises. We loved the 3-nighters we did and, although we now tend to cruise for 7 nights, the 4 night was never really an option for us. Didn't really fancy paying the extra just for a day at sea.

As far as driving to the port, I'm with Wayne on this one - it's a really easy drive. Then you can park at the port - probably not cost effective to drop off and re-rent (unless you are planning on not having a car post cruise).

If you stayed at Disney prior and post cruise, you would be able to leave bags there but not sure that's an option if you didn't stay with them prior to the cruise. There really is no issue with taking the bags as there's plenty of storage space under the beds.

 

[Celestine]

We must be the odd ones out as far as 3-night cruises. We loved the 3-nighters we did and, although we now tend to cruise for 7 nights, the 4 night was never really an option for us. Didn't really fancy paying the extra just for a day at sea.

As far as driving to the port, I'm with Wayne on this one - it's a really easy drive. Then you can park at the port - probably not cost effective to drop off and re-rent (unless you are planning on not having a car post cruise).

If you stayed at Disney prior and post cruise, you would be able to leave bags there but not sure that's an option if you didn't stay with them prior to the cruise. There really is no issue with taking the bags as there's plenty of storage space under the beds.

I love sea days. Doing a 3 night next year which I know will be no where near enough as we tend to do the longer 12 nights & even 15 on the Panama Canal, but as we are travelling with cruise newbies they are worried they won't like it

The new parking structure is safe, easy & convenient. I know on the cruise board there is some-where off site cruisers recommended that were less $$ but for 3 nights I'm not sure the savings are worth it.

Have a great time

Celestine