Feb 16 2014 Western Caribbean on the Wonder

[Dhew79]

Yay, we have 8 months and 13 days to go. I just booked my transportation from the fll hotel to the Miami Port, I am SUPER excited.

 

[TinkJFM]

We are a family of three. Mom, Dad and DS8 (at cruise time). Going with a family of four. Mom, Dad, DD8 (cruise time) and DD4 (at cruise time).

 

[skier_pete]

Hey all,

We are booked on this as our first ever cruise. Myself(43), DW(let's say mid-40s) and DD (10 now and also at time of cruise). We've been booked for a few months, but haven't 100% decided to go until just recently, based on that Southwest is opening the flight dates next month. Frequent WDW trips (and even a couple recent DLR trips including just did the DIS-exclusive Backstage Magic) but cruise rookies. Decided to spend our 2014 Disney trip on a boat instead of at the world. (My enthusiasm is still not high for this.)

Dhew79 - we are also from the BUF also and intend to fly down on Saturday as a "just in case" plan. Are you planning on Flying into FLL using Southwest? Where did you find a hotel for Saturday night? I've never been to Miami or Fort Lauderdale so all new experience for me.

SkierPete

 

[graymouse]

Hey all,

We are booked on this as our first ever cruise. Myself(43), DW(let's say mid-40s) and DD (10 now and also at time of cruise). We've been booked for a few months, but haven't 100% decided to go until just recently, based on that Southwest is opening the flight dates next month. Frequent WDW trips (and even a couple recent DLR trips including just did the DIS-exclusive Backstage Magic) but cruise rookies. Decided to spend our 2014 Disney trip on a boat instead of at the world. (My enthusiasm is still not high for this.)

Dhew79 - we are also from the BUF also and intend to fly down on Saturday as a "just in case" plan. Are you planning on Flying into FLL using Southwest? Where did you find a hotel for Saturday night? I've never been to Miami or Fort Lauderdale so all new experience for me.

SkierPete

This will be my families first cruise as well. Joining me will be DH39, DS13, DD9. We are from upstate NY as well!!!! small world

 

[EDLK03]

We just booked our first cruise on DCL. It will be myself (Danielle), my husband and my son (6). I am excited, but nervous because we have always done Royal Caribbean cruises. We will be going down to FL from NY 2 days early. Can anyone give me any info about the Disney Wonder or any advice about Disney Cruises?

 

[Dhew79]

Hey all,

We are booked on this as our first ever cruise. Myself(43), DW(let's say mid-40s) and DD (10 now and also at time of cruise). We've been booked for a few months, but haven't 100% decided to go until just recently, based on that Southwest is opening the flight dates next month. Frequent WDW trips (and even a couple recent DLR trips including just did the DIS-exclusive Backstage Magic) but cruise rookies. Decided to spend our 2014 Disney trip on a boat instead of at the world. (My enthusiasm is still not high for this.)

Dhew79 - we are also from the BUF also and intend to fly down on Saturday as a "just in case" plan. Are you planning on Flying into FLL using Southwest? Where did you find a hotel for Saturday night? I've never been to Miami or Fort Lauderdale so all new experience for me.

SkierPete

We are planning to fly into FLL on Southwest or actually JetBlue. I have been looking at the times for both in January to just get ideas and SW has early arrivals nonstop but early departures. I would rather leave FLL later in the evening and Jetblue has that. I personally would pay a little extra to get nonstop We will be staying a day before and after. We will be staying at Cambria Suites in Dania Beach, they also have free transportation to and from the airport and book transportation thru GOMJSTRANS for transportation to and from the port.

 

[skier_pete]

We are planning to fly into FLL on Southwest or actually JetBlue. I have been looking at the times for both in January to just get ideas and SW has early arrivals nonstop but early departures. I would rather leave FLL later in the evening and Jetblue has that. I personally would pay a little extra to get nonstop We will be staying a day before and after. We will be staying at Cambria Suites in Dania Beach, they also have free transportation to and from the airport and book transportation thru GOMJSTRANS for transportation to and from the port.

Hey thanks! I've also been looking at the flights. While I would prefer a non-stop, I would say I wouldn't pay MUCH more for non-stops! We ideally will fly in on Saturday, and if we can stay until Sunday. I am not really thinking about WHERE until we actually know the when.

We have also added another family coming with us - making at least THREE Buffalo families on the ship - I hope they have a satellite to watch Sabres games!

 

[Dhew79]

Hey thanks! I've also been looking at the flights. While I would prefer a non-stop, I would say I wouldn't pay MUCH more for non-stops! We ideally will fly in on Saturday, and if we can stay until Sunday. I am not really thinking about WHERE until we actually know the when.

We have also added another family coming with us - making at least THREE Buffalo families on the ship - I hope they have a satellite to watch Sabres games!

I agree about the Sabres and hopefully they have a better season then last yr!

 

[Dhew79]

Hey thanks! I've also been looking at the flights. While I would prefer a non-stop, I would say I wouldn't pay MUCH more for non-stops! We ideally will fly in on Saturday, and if we can stay until Sunday. I am not really thinking about WHERE until we actually know the when.

We have also added another family coming with us - making at least THREE Buffalo families on the ship - I hope they have a satellite to watch Sabres games!

Just looked at JetBlue leaving from Buffalo to Fll and for 1 person it was over $700!!! Crazy!!!!! fingers crossed southwest is a lot better. We will find out on the 22nd when they come out

 

[skier_pete]

Just looked at JetBlue leaving from Buffalo to Fll and for 1 person it was over $700!!! Crazy!!!!! fingers crossed southwest is a lot better. We will find out on the 22nd when they come out

Looks like we'll be on-line battling for the best price!

Unfortunately, the first day of sales is no longer always the cheapest. However, if I can get near $250 round trip, I will be buying.

 

[Disney1430]

Looks like we'll be on-line battling for the best price!

Unfortunately, the first day of sales is no longer always the cheapest. However, if I can get near $250 round trip, I will be buying.

Hi everyone - My Family and I have been booked for this trip since last February. We book while on the DREAM. We still are not sure this trip is a solid go for us, but I thought I would chime in.

Last February we actually flew down on JetBlue, but left mid-week and drove back using a one way rental from Avis.

The airline prices will be HIGH flying out of New England, this week because winter break is going on for a lot of the New England Public Schools.

 

[graymouse]

Just looked at JetBlue leaving from Buffalo to Fll and for 1 person it was over $700!!! Crazy!!!!! fingers crossed southwest is a lot better. We will find out on the 22nd when they come out

$700 for jet blue seems nuts! we are on the east side of upstate ny so we were finding jet blue prices cheaper flying out of Boston.its definitely worth the drive if prices stay that way. Only time will tell...

 

[skier_pete]

New York is all on break too, but we also get a TON of Canadians that fly out of Buffalo, and their big school break isn't until March, so I am hoping we can get a decent price. We have some flexibilty with flying down (14th OR 15th) and flying back (21st, 22nd or 23rd).

Again, SWA opens up next Monday. Hoping that by buying early we can get a good fare. This isn't always the case, but it worked out well for our November trip to WDW, and there I was shooting for specific flights. Here I am looking for "best price" even if it means not the ideal day.

 

[Dhew79]

We have also added another family coming with us - making at least THREE Buffalo families on the ship - I hope they have a satellite to watch Sabres games!

Well the Sabres schedule came out, good news there will not be a chance of missing a game. They will not be playing !!!! On a good note less then 7 months to go

 

[skier_pete]

Well the Sabres schedule came out, good news there will not be a chance of missing a game. They will not be playing !!!! On a good note less then 7 months to go

Haha, I was thinking the same thing...we will be missing the Winter Olympics instead, which is a bit of a bummer for me (Love watching the Winter O.) but not worth changing my plans. We missed the summer Olympics almost entirely last year because we were in Australia.

 

[Dhew79]

Super excited that Southwest came out with more dates and the prices are SO much better then Jetblue. Can't wait to book the plane. But I unfortunately need to wait 2 weeks. This is a surprise cruise for my mother-in-law and 5 yr old daughter. She'll get suspicious if we book going to FLL and not Orlando. I am going to bust soon, 6 months and 25 days

 

[skier_pete]

Super excited that Southwest came out with more dates and the prices are SO much better then Jetblue. Can't wait to book the plane. But I unfortunately need to wait 2 weeks. This is a surprise cruise for my mother-in-law and 5 yr old daughter. She'll get suspicious if we book going to FLL and not Orlando. I am going to bust soon, 6 months and 25 days

I didn't book either - mostly because the initial prices they came out with are in my view too high. Look just a week earlier than the dates just opened and you are looking at $50 less a ticket Round Trip. SWA no longer offers the best prices right out of the gate. Watching the prices closely - I expect to be able to get $275 RT or less...

 

[WiscBill]

We ( Bill , Maureen (DW), and Kay (DD)) are set for this cruise! Depending on whether we keep a cruise over the holidays (depends on DD's schedule) this will be either our ninth or tenth Disney cruise. This one is a definite since DD will be turning 12 on the day we sail. We are booked in main seating.

We are doing a back to back and staying on board. It turned out to be considerably cheaper to do 10 days on the Wonder than 7 days on the Fantasy. The only port that is a duplicate is Cozumel and we skip Costa Maya , which I think is a fair trade. Plus we got four sea days in total and a chance for two Palo brunches and dinners, two Castaway club receptions, and two different variety acts.

I enjoyed reading the discussion on when to book airfares on Southwest and Jet Blue. In my case, I booked the airfares on Southwest the day they came out. Unfortunately, I made a mistake on the last page (forgot to enter a phone number for an emergency contact) and while I was doing that the price went up $70. I went ahead and booked and was glad I did. By the end of the day the price had increased again and as of today there are only full fare and business select seats left at nearly double the cost. We fly out of a local airport (Islip) so unless we are willing to drive to LaGuardia or JFK (which is a bit of a pain) Southwest is the only option. We are coming in the day before. Haven't worked out how to get from FLL to our hotel that night, but it seems as if there are lots of options ranging from car services to taxis to even taking the train.

 

[Dhew79]

Feeling very frustrated about the airfares. I should have booked them the very first day they came out. The way this is going we will either be driving or flying out of Pittsburgh. I really don't want to drive but I also have no interest in paying over 3k for 5 people

 

[skier_pete]

Feeling very frustrated about the airfares. I should have booked them the very first day they came out. The way this is going we will either be driving or flying out of Pittsburgh. I really don't want to drive but I also have no interest in paying over 3k for 5 people ��. Hopefully, there is a light at the end of the title, at least it's just a little over 6 months to go

I am in the same boat. Watch for Rochester too...Southwest flies out of there. The prices are real high there right now. Just be patient. I think we'll see better pricing before all is said and done. They just aren't "sale-ing" those dates yet.