"Double Dip Delight" 09/27/08 - Take 2 with Link to Original Thread!

[Elliott's_mommy]

Ok. You guys have gotten me thinking....are we the only ones flighing in the morning of the cruise? Southwest flies direct from New Orleans to Orlando so we'll leave here around 8 and arrive there around 10:45 with the time difference. I'm beginning to worry now if we shouldn't stay near the port the night before instead. If we do this what happens with luggage? one of the things we were looking forward to is putting our bag on the plane and then not dealing with them again until we got on the boat.

 

[Fizzgig]

Ok. You guys have gotten me thinking....are we the only ones flighing in the morning of the cruise? Southwest flies direct from New Orleans to Orlando so we'll leave here around 8 and arrive there around 10:45 with the time difference. I'm beginning to worry now if we shouldn't stay near the port the night before instead. If we do this what happens with luggage? one of the things we were looking forward to is putting our bag on the plane and then not dealing with them again until we got on the boat.

Honestly, I'd fly in the day before. In September, flying from NOLA to MCO... thunderstorms..? I'd just rather BE there and know I'm getting on the boat, even if there's any delay.

If you fly in the night before, just stay at the Hyatt in the airport and take their shuttle, if you don't care to deal with your bags.

Hope that helps! Living here in Denver, we ALWAYS fly anywhere a day before we need to be somewhere at a certain date. If it isn't a blizzard, it's a wind storm or a thunderstorm or something!!!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Personally I could not sleep if I were flying in same day (though I do know those who have done it several times and never had an issue). Of course, we often (including this trip) spend a week at WDW precruise so we have plenty of time to make alternate arrangements if soemthing goes haywire with our flights

So, I am packing Rio up for camp and this is the first year he has been diagnosed with asthma so now we are sending meds. it is soo strange and stressful. All of his astham attacks have seemed to be triggered by either an infection or allergy to pollen/cats. He was on Zyrtec earlier in the spring but seems fine without it now. None the less, his doctor recomended (and I agreed) that he should take it daily at camp to decrease the odds of him having an attack. He is VERY good at using his peak flow meter and knowing when to use the inhaler and knowing to ask to use the peak flow at any time if he feels like his breathing may be getting restricted (and then using the inhaler if needed) so I am sure he wil be just fine--but it is still a bit nerve racking

 

[NHdisneylover]

If you fly in the night before, just stay at the Hyatt

Speaking of the airport Hyatt what can you all tell me about a day room there (we have never stayed there at all). We should be at MCO by 10:00-10:30 on the 4th (Erik and Jason have an early flight and we are sharing a van) but we do not fly out until 5:15. Is a day room worth it? What do they tend to cost? Is the pool good (and does it tend to be very crowded)? Also, does the Hyatt have it's own security entrance into the terminal for guests (Detroit has this)?

Thanks bunches in advance to all of you who will rush to answer me I am sure

 

[NHdisneylover]

Yes, I am just on a posting spree today
Rio just brought down his 7 t-shirts to pack into his trunk for camp. He is not much of a T-shirt kid so we rarely buy them and he is not going to take a show or dance t-shirt becuase he values those too highly. So, of the 7 he is taking 3 are DCL shirts from the show the kids put on at the end of the cruise

 

[skoi]

I believe it is Saturday night/ Sunday Morning. At least that is when I plan to make my rush for Palo. Lois

Here I thought it was tonight. Good thing I read this. I'd have had to stay up two nights and would've been awfully grumpy. Okay, grumpier than usual.

Am I totally losing my mind? Yes. Must be because we haven't had meat in almost a week. I hate fasting.

Julie

 

[skoi]

Any suggestions on ground transportation from Disney to the port? I finally got return trip plane tickets for the 6th, so now I need to get back and forth between Disney and the port.

Julie

 

[NHdisneylover]

Any suggestions on ground transportation from Disney to the port? I finally got return trip plane tickets for the 6th, so now I need to get back and forth between Disney and the port.

Julie

We have had the best luck with Tiffany Towncar. They were even GREAT a few years ago when our flight to WDW was delayed by a day and we ended up arriving on Thanksgiving Day (the estiamted flight time changed at least a dozen times!). We tried Happy Limo the last time and had a lot of problems so we are back on Tiffany now

 

[AQW]

Speaking of the airport Hyatt what can you all tell me about a day room there (we have never stayed there at all). We should be at MCO by 10:00-10:30 on the 4th (Erik and Jason have an early flight and we are sharing a van) but we do not fly out until 5:15. Is a day room worth it? What do they tend to cost? Is the pool good (and does it tend to be very crowded)?

We booked an overnight room at the Hyatt for the 4th; our flight also leaves MCO after 5pm. We're planning to let the kidlets work off some energy in the hotel pool. Sorry I can't answer your question about the pool (we've never been there) and I can't tell you what they charge for a day room, but we got our overnight room on Hotwire for $83. WELL worth it for us to have a "home base" for those 6-7 hours.

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

I am feeling overwhelmed!! We booked this cruise so recently, and with all the craziness of late, I haven't really had time to think about it at all.

Now, I need to pick excursions, figure out a plan and my brain just wants to explode!!!

Just trying to breathe here...

Anyway, right now I'm focusing on GC.

1. How do we know what time we're expected in GC? Does anyone know what time that is?

2. I've never tendered before, how the heck long does that take?

3. Has anyone done the Atlantis Submarine excursion before?

4. Is the tender area within walking distance of the town?

I have searched and am just coming up empty handed - which makes me feel really dumb.

Thanks so much!!
Stella

P.S. Hadley, where does Rio go to camp? My two are in Vermont for the summer. It's SOOOO quiet in my house!

 

[NHdisneylover]

We booked an overnight room at the Hyatt for the 4th; our flight also leaves MCO after 5pm. We're planning to let the kidlets work off some energy in the hotel pool. Sorry I can't answer your question about the pool (we've never been there) and I can't tell you what they charge for a day room, but we got our overnight room on Hotwire for $83. WELL worth it for us to have a "home base" for those 6-7 hours.

How did you know it was the Hyatt on Hotwire???? Inquiring minds want to know

 

[NHdisneylover]

I am feeling overwhelmed!! We booked this cruise so recently, and with all the craziness of late, I haven't really had time to think about it at all.

Now, I need to pick excursions, figure out a plan and my brain just wants to explode!!!

Just trying to breathe here...

Anyway, right now I'm focusing on GC.

1. How do we know what time we're expected in GC? Does anyone know what time that is?

2. I've never tendered before, how the heck long does that take?

3. Has anyone done the Atlantis Submarine excursion before?

4. Is the tender area within walking distance of the town?

I have searched and am just coming up empty handed - which makes me feel really dumb.

Thanks so much!!
Stella

P.S. Hadley, where does Rio go to camp? My two are in Vermont for the summer. It's SOOOO quiet in my house!

Hi Stella,
I wish I oculd answer your GC questions. I can say that sometimes tendering (I have not been to GC, just experience from other ports) is pretty darn quick. Then again, if you are returning to a ship at an odd hour (or leaving much later than most) they may hold the tenders for a half hour or so trying to fill them up before actually taking you anywhere which can be botehrsome (especially if you have tired/hungry/hot kids with you).

Rio goes to Camp Me Ti Na here in NH. It is only about 45 minutes from our house which is pretty cool because at least half the campers coe in from out of state (and a fw international). A great advantage of living in the Lakes Region is that some of the best and oldest summer camps around are right in our backyard. Where in Vermont are your boys?

 

[Magic3forme]

Tendering takes about 15 minutes, it depends on how many people are waiting to go ashore.

The shopping district is right by the docks. ( literally across the street.) The liquor store is further down the block.

 

[Fizzgig]

Here I thought it was tonight. Good thing I read this. I'd have had to stay up two nights and would've been awfully grumpy. Okay, grumpier than usual.

Am I totally losing my mind? Yes. Must be because we haven't had meat in almost a week. I hate fasting.

Julie

You can do it, Julie!!! Hey, you could have EATEN that!!!

So, I am packing Rio up for camp and this is the first year he has been diagnosed with asthma so now we are sending meds. it is soo strange and stressful. All of his astham attacks have seemed to be triggered by either an infection or allergy to pollen/cats. He was on Zyrtec earlier in the spring but seems fine without it now. None the less, his doctor recomended (and I agreed) that he should take it daily at camp to decrease the odds of him having an attack. He is VERY good at using his peak flow meter and knowing when to use the inhaler and knowing to ask to use the peak flow at any time if he feels like his breathing may be getting restricted (and then using the inhaler if needed) so I am sure he wil be just fine--but it is still a bit nerve racking

Fiona does daily Claritin. Zyrtec seems to put us to sleep. Might want to send a bottle of Benadryl with him, too. When Fiona's allergies get out of hand, we have to double up with that. Hope that helps, and I know that I've personally relaxed a bit only after years of watching Fiona like a hawk.

Yes, I am just on a posting spree today
Rio just brought down his 7 t-shirts to pack into his trunk for camp. He is not much of a T-shirt kid so we rarely buy them and he is not going to take a show or dance t-shirt becuase he values those too highly. So, of the 7 he is taking 3 are DCL shirts from the show the kids put on at the end of the cruise

I noticed Fiona has 2 t-shirts, too. One says, "Property of DCL Kids Program." Each time I see it I wonder if they're talking about the KID or the SHIRT.

I am feeling overwhelmed!! We booked this cruise so recently, and with all the craziness of late, I haven't really had time to think about it at all.

Now, I need to pick excursions, figure out a plan and my brain just wants to explode!!!

Just trying to breathe here...

Anyway, right now I'm focusing on GC.

1. How do we know what time we're expected in GC? Does anyone know what time that is?

2. I've never tendered before, how the heck long does that take?

3. Has anyone done the Atlantis Submarine excursion before?

4. Is the tender area within walking distance of the town?

I have searched and am just coming up empty handed - which makes me feel really dumb.

Thanks so much!!
Stella

Tendering isn't a big deal IF the weather cooperates. Check out the pictures about the Pirate Excursion on the DDD website. Once you get on land, it's a short but hot walk to the dock for the various excursions.

I've learned my lesson about times in port. I know they're posted in the Navigators, but every time I open my mouth to report about them, we stay till 1 am that ONE time (Cozumel), or we're delayed for some reason, etc. Here's what I will say... Friends who were with me on the May cruise managed to make a 7:15 am tender, even though their excursion wasn't booked with DCL. Make of that what you will. In addition, the last tender is scheduled for half an hour before we are supposed to leave port, whenever that is for our cruise.

 

[Fizzgig]

How did you know it was the Hyatt on Hotwire???? Inquiring minds want to know

There are websites that track Hotwire and Priceline... betterbidding comes to mind. In addition, it seems like when people get good rates for that hotel, they come back to the DCL board to share info. I know I've done that and seen others do so.

 

[Fizzgig]

Ahaaaa..... DISBoards is doing a delay before posting thing... Interesting...

Shorter posts (answers to questions) are posted before the questions (longer posts).

If you create a short post and then edit it, you keep your place "in line."

 

[zweihund]

Deck 10???

I have joined a new group so I will not be much fun.

No more Drinking, Cigar Smoking and I am going Vegetarian.

What are you talking about? Vegetarians have ALL the fun!

Can you tell I'm a vegetarian?

Okay...I'm freaking out a little. Anyone notice that Erik's response to my post showed up BEFORE my post did, and the same happened to my response to Brandie. I PROMISE. I ONLY had peach iced tea to drink for lunch. Really!

ETA: It did it again! This post is showing up before Brandie's post that was previously on the board.

SPOOKY!

How did you know it was the Hyatt on Hotwire???? Inquiring minds want to know

I don't know if this is the answer, but we booked our Miami hotel on Hotwire and it told you right afterwards which hotel it was. We got $62 a night for a $150 a night room. In MIAMI! Score!

Of course, now that I type this I think you were asking how you know it's the Hyatt BEFORE you book, right? So, err.....nevermind. I'm going to finish drinking my coffee.

Happy Friday! Too bad I'm working tomorrow

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

Hi Stella,
I wish I oculd answer your GC questions. I can say that sometimes tendering (I have not been to GC, just experience from other ports) is pretty darn quick. Then again, if you are returning to a ship at an odd hour (or leaving much later than most) they may hold the tenders for a half hour or so trying to fill them up before actually taking you anywhere which can be botehrsome (especially if you have tired/hungry/hot kids with you).

Rio goes to Camp Me Ti Na here in NH. It is only about 45 minutes from our house which is pretty cool because at least half the campers coe in from out of state (and a fw international). A great advantage of living in the Lakes Region is that some of the best and oldest summer camps around are right in our backyard. Where in Vermont are your boys?

I love the camps up north - we take the ferry over to Bridgeport, and it's about a 5 1/2 hour drive up. Our son is at Keewaydin (has been for years) and our daughter is at Songa (this is her 3rd summer, but first for the full 8 weeks, the first two were 4 weeks). Our oldest did Keewaydin as well - he was thinking of staffing there this summer, but made other plans. He'll staff there next summer. He did the 40-day intense wilderness trip that left out of Temagami and took him through Northern Quebec. Amazing stuff.

Me, I'm a hotel and room service kind of gal. Camping is NOT for me. My kids amaze me with how much they love the ruggedness and simplicity of life in tents and cabins with no electronics. It's wonderful.

Anyway - back to our cruise. Here's my next question - if we book an excursion, is there a timeframe within which we can cancel? Or, once you book, you're stuck with it?

Thanks again!!!

 

[Fizzgig]

You can change your mind about excursions up until 3 days before the cruise starts.

 

[skoi]

Thanks for the tip on Tiffany. We're going to need a van and car seats, since I'm parking at the airport and leaving my car seats. Bad enough to lug two strollers.

Just two more days of no meat, so I'll make it. Last year, this particular fast was 26 days, this year just 6. The joys of being Russian Orthodox. Ds 9 tried to convince me hot dogs shouldn't be classified as meat, so he could eat corn dogs for lunch. Too smart for his own good, that one.

Julie