EBPC December 9, 2012!!! Who's in????

[LindaBabe]

So my FIL booked my flight home for this cruise through yahoo travel. I have never booked flights before on my own but I am going to for my WDW/Fantasy trip next June. What is the best way to book the flights? Online through yahoo? Online directly through the airline? Any other suggestions?

I always fly Southwest - book on line, check in on line, right on the airline website. No charge for 2 bags, and no charge to change flights.

 

[tweetybabee]

When I book flights, I look at all the options you have listed to find the best price. Usually they are pretty much the same and I end up just booking with the airline themselves, but I have also booked with Orbitz b/c of their low price guarantee...if someone books the same flight you did for a lower fare, they will refund you the difference. Of course that didn't help me with getting a lower fare, but I had hoped it would.

We do the same thing when we can't fly Southwest. Just keep in mind that some airlines like Southwest sell tickets only on their own website and not 3rd party sites. Not sure what those other airlines are.

 

[skayrobe]

I am watching the local weather and they are going over possible landfalls for Ernesto. Costa Mayo is one of the possible sites for landfall. I am hoping the damage in the area is minimal. We have had so few hurricanes this year that I was actually surprised to see one pop up. Sherry

 

[socababy]

I always fly Southwest - book on line, check in on line, right on the airline website. No charge for 2 bags, and no charge to change flights.

Is Southwest the airline that doesn't have assigned seating? That would make me nervous since I am flying alone with the kids. Are they a participating airline with DCL?

 

[dededisney]

Well, today I started my training as a travel agent I am interning at a friend's agency and the first thing I started doing was the College of Disney Knowledge! It will take a bit of time, but hopefully I'll be able to complete it fairly soon. My first section I completed was none other than DCL! I had hoped I would pass the test easily and it turns out I did. It was a fun day to get back to work after so long!

 

[CaptainandTennille]

Is Southwest the airline that doesn't have assigned seating? That would make me nervous since I am flying alone with the kids. Are they a participating airline with DCL?

They don't have assigned seating but they do let familys with children board first. I have traveled on Southwest a few times with my 3 children and have yet to have a problem.

 

[ChipperMerlin]

They don't have assigned seating but they do let familys with children board first. I have traveled on Southwest a few times with my 3 children and have yet to have a problem.

Actually, families with children are boarded between the A and B groups. A group is 60 people. If you download your boarding passes as soon as it is 24 hours before departure, you might get an A group pass. At that point, you board with the As and don't have to wait for family boarding. Because we will be on the ship, it will be hard to get this early pass. Perhaps you will have someone at home who can sign in for you, and then you just get your actual boarding passes at the airport.

 

[socababy]

They don't have assigned seating but they do let familys with children board first. I have traveled on Southwest a few times with my 3 children and have yet to have a problem.

That's good to know! I did end up booking my flights today directly through United as they were the cheapest as of right now. Southwest doesn't have my dates available yet. My FIL booked our flights for this August to WDW around March and the tickets were about $500 each r/t from LAX to MCO, direct red eye flight. I was able to book today from SNA (much closer to my house!) to MCO (day flight,) with a plane change in Denver, for 330 each. I am hoping that holds true as a good deal. Knowing I have my trip booked is priceless though! I stress way to easily! LOL

Now my focus can return to this fabulous trip! Just 3 more sleeps until I can book excursions! Woohoo!

 

[ChipperMerlin]

Just made the final payment! Now it feels like it is official

We made the final payment today, too. Now I just have to wait until this weekend to book Palo and excursions.

 

[socababy]

Actually, families with children are boarded between the A and B groups. A group is 60 people. If you download your boarding passes as soon as it is 24 hours before departure, you might get an A group pass. At that point, you board with the As and don't have to wait for family boarding. Because we will be on the ship, it will be hard to get this early pass. Perhaps you will have someone at home who can sign in for you, and then you just get your actual boarding passes at the airport.

Actually I was looking for flight for my June trip. I have an AA flight after this cruise. I do need to call and make sure that I can just show up at the airport and get my boarding passes or maybe concierge can print them for me? Flying without other adults who handle the flights is new to me!

 

[magicmaker1]

Well, today I started my training as a travel agent I am interning at a friend's agency and the first thing I started doing was the College of Disney Knowledge! It will take a bit of time, but hopefully I'll be able to complete it fairly soon. My first section I completed was none other than DCL! I had hoped I would pass the test easily and it turns out I did. It was a fun day to get back to work after so long!

That is my dream "retirement" job! How fun

 

[mnewcomer]

Which Sheraton did you stay at? The Sheraton Anaheim at 900 Disneyland Drive or the Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort, 1855 South Harbor Boulevard? We will be staying at a Sheraton using points and can't decided which one to stay at?

It is good to know we will be able to pick up some wine and beer. We always like to have a few drink in the room while we get ready for dinner and snack on a room service cheese platter! I do enjoy drink of the day in a bar though.

I think we are going to plan on picking up liquids at the store in CA as well. I see no need to fly with enough mouth wash for 2 weeks for 2 people.

We have stayed at both we celebrate my son's birthday at the parks since it always falls on labor day weekend & no one wants to go to a birthday party. The Sheraton on Disney drive is older but it has its own shuttle which is nice. The Sheraton on Harbor is newer & a lil nicer but you have to buy bus passes or drive, you can walk it, it is not to bad but not when my son was little.
Both have on site dining & little stores. Hope this is helpful, happy planning.

 

[adnil530]

Actually, families with children are boarded between the A and B groups. A group is 60 people. If you download your boarding passes as soon as it is 24 hours before departure, you might get an A group pass. At that point, you board with the As and don't have to wait for family boarding. Because we will be on the ship, it will be hard to get this early pass. Perhaps you will have someone at home who can sign in for you, and then you just get your actual boarding passes at the airport.

They don't have assigned seating but they do let familys with children board first. I have traveled on Southwest a few times with my 3 children and have yet to have a problem.

We fly Southwest a lot also. What I do is I purchase the early bird check-in for at least 2 in our travel group. It is $10 each way but Southwest will automatically check you in 36 hours before your flight, that's 12 hours before the regular public. We seem to get around A30 boarding numbers and there has never been a problem with all 4 of us sitting next to each other when only 2 board early. Of course, I am right there 24 hours before to check the others in. We've been very lucky as we've never had a B or C boarding card.

This will be especially helpful since there are only 2 of us traveling this time and we will be out to sea 24 hours before check in. I purchased early bird check-in for both of us for $20. We'll be checked-in and don't have to worry about someone forgetting to check us in.

Linda

 

[dthogue]

We fly Southwest a lot also. What I do is I purchase the early bird check-in for at least 2 in our travel group. It is $10 each way but Southwest will automatically check you in 36 hours before your flight, that's 12 hours before the regular public. We seem to get around A30 boarding numbers and there has never been a problem with all 4 of us sitting next to each other when only 2 board early. Of course, I am right there 24 hours before to check the others in. We've been very lucky as we've never had a B or C boarding card.

This will be especially helpful since there are only 2 of us traveling this time and we will be out to sea 24 hours before check in. I purchased early bird check-in for both of us for $20. We'll be checked-in and don't have to worry about someone forgetting to check us in.

Linda

We did the same thing - the $30.00 for the early check in was worth it to us - this way I'm not worried about it while we are on the ship. We have flown Southwest alot and have never had a problem sitting together.

 

[socababy]

Has anyone renewed their child's passport recently? I know we were talking about passports not long ago and was wondering if anyone had theirs renewed since then. I need to get dd's renewed now since it expires in March. I am oretty sure I need to send her current one in when I send the paperwork in for her new one. The problem is that I need it (well I know I don't need it but definitely want it!) for our Dream cruise in a couple weeks and then again for our Wonder cruise next month. So I won't be able to send hers off until the first week of Oct. Will that be enough time or will I have to expedite the application?

 

[Cruise]

Has anyone renewed their child's passport recently? I know we were talking about passports not long ago and was wondering if anyone had theirs renewed since then. I need to get dd's renewed now since it expires in March. I am oretty sure I need to send her current one in when I send the paperwork in for her new one. The problem is that I need it (well I know I don't need it but definitely want it!) for our Dream cruise in a couple weeks and then again for our Wonder cruise next month. So I won't be able to send hers off until the first week of Oct. Will that be enough time or will I have to expedite the application?

I'm in the same boat, so to speak. I need mine for my cruise next month, but need it renewed for the PC one. From everything I've seen reported in the main cruise forum, it seems people are getting them back in about 4 weeks. The State Dept website itself says current processing time is 4-6 weeks for routine service and 2-3 weeks for expedited.

I'm going to go ahead and submit mine with regular service. I think it'll be fine. Just have to make sure I have all my Is dotted and Ts crossed.

 

[Started With a Mouse]

We are definitely leaning on Tropicante. DH is a bit concern about fanatical doomsayers showing up at the ruins doing crazy things.

That's EXACTLY why DH has us doing the Tropicante.

 

[decked out]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Travelbee
We are definitely leaning on Tropicante. DH is a bit concern about fanatical doomsayers showing up at the ruins doing crazy things.
That's EXACTLY why DH has us doing the Tropicante.

How perfect to apocalypse on DCL!

What? You would rather be at work?

 

[dededisney]

Has anyone renewed their child's passport recently? I know we were talking about passports not long ago and was wondering if anyone had theirs renewed since then. I need to get dd's renewed now since it expires in March. I am oretty sure I need to send her current one in when I send the paperwork in for her new one. The problem is that I need it (well I know I don't need it but definitely want it!) for our Dream cruise in a couple weeks and then again for our Wonder cruise next month. So I won't be able to send hers off until the first week of Oct. Will that be enough time or will I have to expedite the application?

We just renewed our two boys passports in April this year. It only took about 3 weeks to get them back and I did not expedite them at all. You do not send their old passports in when you renew...however, you do have to send in their certified birth certificates. Of course when I went to the post office to do it, I only had their passports and not their birth certificates, so had to go home to get them. Don't really understand why they just wouldn't take their passports since we had to have the birth certificates to get the passports in the first place. And, you cannot renew by mail for the kids...you have to go into a passport office/post office for them to send it in. HTH

 

[socababy]

We just renewed our two boys passports in April this year. It only took about 3 weeks to get them back and I did not expedite them at all. You do not send their old passports in when you renew...however, you do have to send in their certified birth certificates. Of course when I went to the post office to do it, I only had their passports and not their birth certificates, so had to go home to get them. Don't really understand why they just wouldn't take their passports since we had to have the birth certificates to get the passports in the first place. And, you cannot renew by mail for the kids...you have to go into a passport office/post office for them to send it in. HTH

That's good to know that yu don't have to send in their current passports like you do with the adult ones. I will try to get dd's done at the end of this month then.