Disney Fantasy ~ December 22, 2012 ~ 7 Night Western Caribbean

[McPackers]

199 days til we leave...​

Is this exciting or what... Just broke out of the 200's into the 100's..

 

[HFC1969]

I have tickets for MVMCP as well for the night of Dec. 21. That is the day we are flying in and I so have enough time to get to WDW to enjoy the festivities!!

Awsum..

As of now there will be 2 couples.. 5 kids (6 to 12) 1 gma... with the potential for more in our group.

We fly in early... our STL friends land around 1... We are WDW soon after I belive...

 

[McPackers]

My flight lands at 2pm and I'm have both Magical Express / Poly and rental car / Hyatt MCO booked. I can decided if I want the ease of staying on-site or the joy of getting DCL check-in at the airport and a low boarding number. I'm leaning toward ME / Poly.

Awsum..

As of now there will be 2 couples.. 5 kids (6 to 12) 1 gma... with the potential for more in our group.

We fly in early... our STL friends land around 1... We are WDW soon after I belive...

 

[HFC1969]

My flight lands at 2pm and I'm have both Magical Express / Poly and rental car / Hyatt MCO booked. I can decided if I want the ease of staying on-site or the joy of getting DCL check-in at the airport and a low boarding number. I'm leaning toward ME / Poly.

All of us are at the Hyatt MCO... F&B Bunch..

There is discussion of swimming on the roof top then heading to WDW... Playing it by ear.

 

[McPackers]

All of us are at the Hyatt MCO... F&B Bunch..

There is discussion of swimming on the roof top then heading to WDW... Playing it by ear.

I may stick with the Hyatt as the cost is much, much less than the Poly. Plus we seem to have a large crew over nighting at the Hyatt that plan on making the first bus to the Fantasy. I think my decision will hinge on our Aug. Dream cruise as I have the airport / pier transfer and if I make it onboard before the masses, I will happily stay at the Hyatt in December.

 

[HFC1969]

192 days!!!​

 

[GarakDS9]

192 days!!!​

I am sure as soon as summer vacation has past I will be right there with you counting down the days. For now, thanks for keeping us on track.

 

[whamma]

Still can't bring myself to book the airfare. Prices still too high but some have gone up since I first looked a couple of weeks ago. In my opinion, booking airfare is is the worst part of planning a trip anywhere!

 

[HFC1969]

Still can't bring myself to book the airfare. Prices still too high but some have gone up since I first looked a couple of weeks ago. In my opinion, booking airfare is is the worst part of planning a trip anywhere!

Airfare is all rolled into one...

We booked the day SWA opened up.. and it has only gone up from there.

DCL @ is so worth it.... take comfort in that.


190 days!

 

[whamma]

I may stick with the Hyatt as the cost is much, much less than the Poly. Plus we seem to have a large crew over nighting at the Hyatt that plan on making the first bus to the Fantasy. I think my decision will hinge on our Aug. Dream cruise as I have the airport / pier transfer and if I make it onboard before the masses, I will happily stay at the Hyatt in December.

I've been looking into staying at the Hyatt Friday night too. Trying to decide whether to use DCL transfer to/from the port or book a limo company. Pricewise for us (4 people) the cost is nearly the same. The boarding number is what's got me wondering right now. Last time we cruised (on the Dream) we stayed at a Port Canaveral hotel and got to the terminal fairly early. We didn't have any trouble getting a boarding number (I think we were in group #4--or at least in the single digits). Since then I think DCL has changed how they issue boarding numbers. If we use our own transport and arrive at the terminal early we still be issued a low boarding number or are chances better if we take the DCL transfer from MCO on Saturday?

 

[JoeSchmieg]

I've been looking into staying at the Hyatt Friday night too. Trying to decide whether to use DCL transfer to/from the port or book a limo company. Pricewise for us (4 people) the cost is nearly the same. The boarding number is what's got me wondering right now. Last time we cruised (on the Dream) we stayed at a Port Canaveral hotel and got to the terminal fairly early. We didn't have any trouble getting a boarding number (I think we were in group #4--or at least in the single digits). Since then I think DCL has changed how they issue boarding numbers. If we use our own transport and arrive at the terminal early we still be issued a low boarding number or are chances better if we take the DCL transfer from MCO on Saturday?

Does anyone know what the changes in the boording assignments are? I am staying at BCVto use points and like everyone else in a dis resort you are at the mercy of when your bus shows up.

 

[GarakDS9]

Does anyone know what the changes in the boording assignments are? I am staying at BCVto use points and like everyone else in a dis resort you are at the mercy of when your bus shows up.

I am not certain about the changes, but I have figured out some things from the boards. If you stay at MCO like many on this thread are then assigned check in time will be meaningless. It will depend on our arrival at the check in desk and what bus we are put on.

Like you I will be arriving at the port from the resort for our first trip on the Fantasy in a few weeks. I have been told that using this transportation means we are at the mercy of the bus. We will be lucky to arrive before 2. The terminal should be empty by then and we should be able to just walk on. I'll update you on our experince.

 

[HFC1969]

We have used the bus,,,and driven... We were actually the second family up the escaltors one year....

It seems you are always waiting..

Don't stress folks... your on vaca...

 

[Agent555]

To be honest it doesn't really matter what my boarding number is I just like getting to the ship first and taking pictures!!!

 

[whamma]

Hey folks--haven't changed our reservation yet but--I think we're bailing on this cruise. Sorry! Once I got adding up the airfare prices plus the cost of what we're paying for the Christmas week cruise ($$$$$$)-- I realized that we could make a WDW trip this summer AND do another cruise for spring break 2013. SO I booked the summer trip today and bought the airplane tickets. I'll probably call DCL tomorrow and change the cruise date. I know we're missing out but I think it's the right decision for us. HAVE FUN EVERYONE!!!

 

[KSDisneyDad]

Hey folks--haven't changed our reservation yet but--I think we're bailing on this cruise. Sorry! Once I got adding up the airfare prices plus the cost of what we're paying for the Christmas week cruise ($$$$$$)-- I realized that we could make a WDW trip this summer AND do another cruise for spring break 2013. SO I booked the summer trip today and bought the airplane tickets. I'll probably call DCL tomorrow and change the cruise date. I know we're missing out but I think it's the right decision for us. HAVE FUN EVERYONE!!!

We also just changed our reservation to a cruise later in the year so are bailing on the Christmas cruise.

Our decision was based on Christmas traditions in our household and having difficulty with the decision to be away from "home" at Christmas. It sounds like a blast, but it's just not for us. We decided to do a short trip to DLR just after New Years Eve instead and another DCL cruise early next summer.

Hope everyone has a great time this Christmas! We'll be thinking of you. I hope we get a foot of snow on Christmas Day so we forget about the cruise, but it'll probably be 60 and sunny on Christmas here in Denver.

 

[HFC1969]

Gosh... hate to see everyone leaving..

Believe me... we know about the pressure to be home for the holidays... espically from the inlaws...

And Disney charges $$$ for Christmas..


For those of you who are first time Christmas cruisers... ITs so worth it!! Hang in there... This is #8 Christmas cruise for us...

184 days....

 

[whamma]

For those of you who are first time Christmas cruisers... ITs so worth it!! Hang in there... This is #8 Christmas cruise for us...

184 days....

I think that is exactly what I am afraid of--we will want to go again and again and again.... $$$$$. We spent our first Christmas at WDW in 2009--missed it so much in 2010 we HAD to go back in 2011. I'm sure we'll be there again in 2013 after missing another year.

So at this point, if we don't do the Christmas cruise we won't know what we're missing so we can't get hooked!!

 

[HFC1969]

I think that is exactly what I am afraid of--we will want to go again and again and again.... $$$$$. We spent our first Christmas at WDW in 2009--missed it so much in 2010 we HAD to go back in 2011. I'm sure we'll be there again in 2013 after missing another year.

So at this point, if we don't do the Christmas cruise we won't know what we're missing so we can't get hooked!!

I agree with you... 1) I can not think of any other place in the world... I would be then with my family & friends on DCL @ Christmas...

2) DCL knows how special it its.. they charge for it..

Have a super Christmas... wherever you spend it..

 

[McPackers]

We are still planning on going and have no intentions to change. I got in the habit of traveling at Christmas many years ago to skip all the hype / stress that the holidays bring. I take a break when my little one became an early Christmas present one year but now he travels along with our portable Christmas tree and decorations.

I agree with you... 1) I can not think of any other place in the world... I would be then with my family & friends on DCL @ Christmas...

2) DCL knows how special it its.. they charge for it..

Have a super Christmas... wherever you spend it..