Extra Day in Orlando After Cruise

[DisRecruit]

We have a sailing on the Fantasy (out of Port Canaveral) booked for next year. It debarks on Saturday, and we're considering spending the night in Orlando and flying home on Sunday. Unfortunately, a pre-cruise stay will not be a possibility.

We're thinking about staying at the Hyatt Grand Cypress. Of course we'd be arriving there well before check-in, so we'd like to know if any of you have experience with using their facilities prior to official check in? Ideally we'd be able spend the day at their pools, but I don't know whether that will be possible? Any other hotels/resorts worth considering?
For the evening, I think we'll make a trip to Disney Springs.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[dcassetta]

I have not stayed at that particular resort, but if it works like the other resorts in the Disney World area, you should have access to the facilities on the day you arrive.

 

[Disturbia]

We have a sailing on the Fantasy (out of Port Canaveral) booked for next year. It debarks on Saturday, and we're considering spending the night in Orlando and flying home on Sunday. Unfortunately, a pre-cruise stay will not be a possibility.

We're thinking about staying at the Hyatt Grand Cypress. Of course we'd be arriving there well before check-in, so we'd like to know if any of you have experience with using their facilities prior to official check in? Ideally we'd be able spend the day at their pools, but I don't know whether that will be possible? Any other hotels/resorts worth considering?
For the evening, I think we'll make a trip to Disney Springs.

Thanks for the advice!

I would strongly recommend arriving the day before a cruise. We were booked on the Fantasy for the first week of April. Our flights were delayed by over 7 hours and arrived at the Hyatt at Orlando airport at 4:30 am. If we flew in the morning we wouldn’t have made it to the cruise. For an 11:30 am PAT we had to check in with Mears around 8:30 am. We kept our younger kids at home the Friday we flew and our teen skipped her afternoon classes. Last call is 4 pm (no one allowed after that) and then there is the mandatory muster drill at 4 pm (sail away is 4:30 pm). It took us about 30 mins to check in and go through security.

We are booked on the Fantasy again next year (western) and will be flying in again. With the new regulations/changes (airlines being required to pay for accommodations if canceling flights) hopefully air travel is better next year. We will still get insurance.

 

[DisRecruit]

I would strongly recommend arriving the day before a cruise. We were booked on the Fantasy for the first week of April. Our flights were delayed by over 7 hours and arrived at the Hyatt at Orlando airport at 4:30 am. If we flew in the morning we wouldn’t have made it to the cruise. For an 11:30 am Mears bus to the cruise we had to check in around 8:30 am. We kept our younger kids at home the Friday we flew and our teen skipped her afternoon classes. Last call is 4 pm (no one allowed after that) and then there is the mandatory muster drill at 4 pm (sail away is 4:30 pm). It took us about 30 mins to check in and go through security.

Oh yes, we are definitely planning to fly in the night before the cruise (and spend the night at the Hyatt MCO). I just meant that we won't have time for any extra fun before the cruise. :⁠-⁠)

While we don't have qualms with our elementary school aged child missing a day or two, DW is a high school teacher, and there's no way she can get off early for a vacation :⁠-⁠(

So glad you were able to make it! We'll definitely opt for travel insurance as well.