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

[goiu]

Welcome! My ds is also named Logan and he will be 4 on the cruise! So funny. Hopefully they get enough people for the shuttle because we do not want to bring our cars eats either!

That is funny! My Logan turns 4 on December 2. So, today he asked when it was his birthday and I told him when it's almost time to get on the "Mickey boat". So, he'll be a young 4.

I looked into doing a shuttle and they require you to bring the car seats with you. I don't want to store a car seat for 2 weeks on the boat just to get to the airport in Florida.

 

[Gdes1]

Hello, It's been crazy at our house with 3 y.o. DS's birthday and visits from grandparents, but I'm finally catching up. Here goes:

I do not think it is at all crazy to homeschool in order to go to Disney parks and travel when it's not peak season. I am the kind of person who would consider this option once our kids are school-aged. Just had to say that!

For the shuttle bus....we are also flying out of FLL and weighing the pros and cons of bus vs. carseats vs. renting a car and having the company provide seats. Our flight is not until 5:30pm, so if Disney drops us at the airport in the morning, we have quite a lot of time on our hands. Anyway, one post said a TA said the cost is $50 round trip. Well, since this is a repositioning cruise, there isn't really a "round trip" to and from the same airport and cruise port. Therefore, does that mean if you use Disney transportation from LAX to the LA cruiseport, and then also to FLL, that the cost is $50 pp?

Speaking of that, what is everyone doing for transport while in LA? We are flying in the day before to make sure we don't "miss the boat". We are probably not going to rent a car and do anything in LA. We will just fly in, get a hotel close to LAX, maybe swim, rest, and then wake up the next morning and go to the ship. I'm thinking of finding a hotel that offers a free shuttle to and from LAX and shuttling back in order to take Disney's transportation. I would appreciate feedback on this idea from those that are more experienced with the whole thing.

For the certificates....I'd like 3. I know they are big, but we'll do one that just says our family name, and then one for each kid so they can have them later on.

For the ruins.....because of the very cool 12/21/12 coincidence, DH and I just cannot pass up this adventure. The only catch is that the kids need to come with us. 3 y.o DS will probably like it, and one of us can wear 11 month old DD in a backpack. I see that the tour company offers a child rate, and we don't mind paying it. However, I'm concerned that they are assuming the "child" is older, like 10 or something, and they will not be prepared for anyone to bring babies or toddlers. Should I contact them and make sure it's OK for us to bring such young children?

As far as other posters who have young kids...our DS will be 3 1/2 at the time of the cruise and DD will be just under 1. I'll have to read back through and see what the "kid count" is so far.

 

[Alaska DogCat]

We (my wife Sarah and I) just booked this cruise. Can't wait. Started weeding through the posts on this forum. Great info.

 

[DindelsPA]

We (my wife Sarah and I) just booked this cruise. Can't wait. Started weeding through the posts on this forum. Great info.

If you are a FB person as well, there is a closed group there as well.

When I last spoke with DCL about transfers, it was:
1. airport to port
2. port to airport
3. both
I asked the CM if the first transfers included only LAX and she wasn't sure. Didn't even think to ask about FLL versus MIA. I read somewhere that cruiselines aren't able to transfer from port to airport in Miami but find that very hard to believe. Regardless, I was quoted at $25 per person per transfer.

 

[smootenloopers]

If you are a FB person as well, there is a closed group there as well.

When I last spoke with DCL about transfers, it was:
1. airport to port
2. port to airport
3. both
I asked the CM if the first transfers included only LAX and she wasn't sure. Didn't even think to ask about FLL versus MIA. I read somewhere that cruiselines aren't able to transfer from port to airport in Miami but find that very hard to believe. Regardless, I was quoted at $25 per person per transfer.

They will also do a few hotels to the LA port. I received this reponse when I inquired.

Ground transportation can be arranged from any of the following resorts to the World Cruise Center Terminal for $30.00 per person, 3 years and older. There is no charge for children under 3 years of age.

*Disneyland Hotel
*Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel
*Disney's Grand Californian Hotel
*Los Angeles Airport Marriott​

 

[dthogue]

We (my wife Sarah and I) just booked this cruise. Can't wait. Started weeding through the posts on this forum. Great info.

Welcome - glad to have you joining us

 

[dededisney]

We (my wife Sarah and I) just booked this cruise. Can't wait. Started weeding through the posts on this forum. Great info.

Welcome to the cruise! I had to google Homer, Alaska to see where it was...is Anchorage the closest airport for you? How long have you lived in Alaska? I thought New Hampshire had a lot of snow! (Lived in NH for 7 years).

Deanna

 

[abbyar]

Welcome to May everyone! Only 7 months and 1 week to our sailing!

I still can't believe how empty this cruise is... although I'll totally take it!

 

[dededisney]

Welcome to May everyone! Only 7 months and 1 week to our sailing!

I still can't believe how empty this cruise is... although I'll totally take it!

I will definetely take an empty ship! Hopefully then we can upgrade even with being IGT!! I was wondering when everyone put down for their dinner...early or late? Right now we are early, but contemplating doing the late seating.

 

[goiu]

Hello, It's been crazy at our house with 3 y.o. DS's birthday and visits from grandparents, but I'm finally catching up. Here goes:

I do not think it is at all crazy to homeschool in order to go to Disney parks and travel when it's not peak season. I am the kind of person who would consider this option once our kids are school-aged. Just had to say that!

For the shuttle bus....we are also flying out of FLL and weighing the pros and cons of bus vs. carseats vs. renting a car and having the company provide seats. Our flight is not until 5:30pm, so if Disney drops us at the airport in the morning, we have quite a lot of time on our hands. Anyway, one post said a TA said the cost is $50 round trip. Well, since this is a repositioning cruise, there isn't really a "round trip" to and from the same airport and cruise port. Therefore, does that mean if you use Disney transportation from LAX to the LA cruiseport, and then also to FLL, that the cost is $50 pp?

Speaking of that, what is everyone doing for transport while in LA? We are flying in the day before to make sure we don't "miss the boat". We are probably not going to rent a car and do anything in LA. We will just fly in, get a hotel close to LAX, maybe swim, rest, and then wake up the next morning and go to the ship. I'm thinking of finding a hotel that offers a free shuttle to and from LAX and shuttling back in order to take Disney's transportation. I would appreciate feedback on this idea from those that are more experienced with the whole thing.

For the certificates....I'd like 3. I know they are big, but we'll do one that just says our family name, and then one for each kid so they can have them later on.

For the ruins.....because of the very cool 12/21/12 coincidence, DH and I just cannot pass up this adventure. The only catch is that the kids need to come with us. 3 y.o DS will probably like it, and one of us can wear 11 month old DD in a backpack. I see that the tour company offers a child rate, and we don't mind paying it. However, I'm concerned that they are assuming the "child" is older, like 10 or something, and they will not be prepared for anyone to bring babies or toddlers. Should I contact them and make sure it's OK for us to bring such young children?

As far as other posters who have young kids...our DS will be 3 1/2 at the time of the cruise and DD will be just under 1. I'll have to read back through and see what the "kid count" is so far.

Sorry, when I said round trip I meant the one way in CA and then 1 one way in FL. The cost if $50 pp for this.

Concerning the hotel when we did our MR cruise in February we did the same as you and came in the night before. We stayed at the LAX Courtyard on Century Blvd. It was great! The rooms are huge so the 4 of us with all our luggage was great. They just did a huge renovation so everything was nice and new. We used there free shuttle bus to and from the airport. Our stay included a free breakfast and the food was great too. This time we are flying in a few days before to do Disneyland or we'd be staying there again.

Could you let me know what you find out about the ruins? We are interested in doing the tour too, but we'd have our 6 and 4 yr old with us. So, I want to make sure it would be something appropriate for them to come.

When we did our last 14 nighter on DCL our kids were 3 and 1 too!

 

[dthogue]

I will definetely take an empty ship! Hopefully then we can upgrade even with being IGT!! I was wondering when everyone put down for their dinner...early or late? Right now we are early, but contemplating doing the late seating.

We are doing late, but not too sure how that is going to work for us with the time change from the East Coast - I know it is going to take a few days to adjust - just hope I can stay awake

Concerning the hotel when we did our MR cruise in February we did the same as you and came in the night before. We stayed at the LAX Courtyard on Century Blvd. It was great! The rooms are huge so the 4 of us with all our luggage was great. They just did a huge renovation so everything was nice and new. We used there free shuttle bus to and from the airport. Our stay included a free breakfast and the food was great too.

How did you get to the port from the hotel? Were there any restaurants within walking distance?

 

[abbyar]

We have the late seating, Bc as first time cruisers we were assigned to it. Still debating asking for early, but likely won't as we like to eat late at home and will probably feed kids early & drop them at the club.

 

[bugsgrandma]

I will definetely take an empty ship! Hopefully then we can upgrade even with being IGT!! I was wondering when everyone put down for their dinner...early or late? Right now we are early, but contemplating doing the late seating.

We signed up for the late dinner. Since this time we won't have any grandkids with us, it will work better for us. We don't have a set time to eat at home, so somewhere between 5-8 or so be fine for us. It also gives us time to watch the shows early (so we can stay awake )

 

[JessicasMom]

I think we're doing the late seating, but we've never eaten that late before on a ship...not sure yet.

 

[DindelsPA]

We're on early dinner. Being from the East Coast I'm afraid that I'll be snoozeville by dinner time.

 

[Alaska DogCat]

Welcome to the cruise! I had to google Homer, Alaska to see where it was...is Anchorage the closest airport for you? How long have you lived in Alaska? I thought New Hampshire had a lot of snow! (Lived in NH for 7 years).

Deanna

We actually have an airport in our town--although usually expensive to fly out of. Fortunately, I was able to snag a mileage ticket for our upcoming trip that allows us to get on a twenty seat plane from our tiny town. We've lived in Alaska 16 years--it's an amazing place.

 

[Alaska DogCat]

We have convinced our in-laws to join us on this cruise. Should be an exciting time--it's their first Disney Cruise.

Does anyone know how we could go about making sure they are seated at our dinner table/rotation? They booked through Disney and we've booked through Dreams Unlimited, so different reservation processes. Can we just make this request?

 

[spiiffy]

All is good.

 

[dthogue]

We have convinced our in-laws to join us on this cruise. Should be an exciting time--it's their first Disney Cruise.

Does anyone know how we could go about making sure they are seated at our dinner table/rotation? They booked through Disney and we've booked through Dreams Unlimited, so different reservation processes. Can we just make this request?

I would email your Dreams agent and ask them to link your reservations together! Our Dreams agent has been wonderful with all my questions!

 

[skoi]

I haven't given much thought to excursions yet, but this sounds like a winner! I'd like to see what DCL offers before I make a final commitment. Do you have a maximum number?

Sorry I'm so slow in answering. Haven't been on the board-- we're finishing up our school year and getting ready for evaluations.

No maximum number. They can handle large groups.