February 12, 2011 - 7 night Eastern

[TiredOfCold]

Hey Jax - I'm going to wager that the girls you are taking on the cruise go to the same school as Eva! It's a private school on the west side of the city...
I don't think too many schools in Calgary have a week off in February - I know the public schools don't.

I still haven't booked flights and am now getting nervous. The prices on Westjet just WENT UP again...
I was hoping there would be a seat sale, think I will hold out a bit longer.

There are still some reasonable AC code share flights that go through Denver - but unfortunately all of the US airlines charge for bags now. I would definitely prefer to fly on a Westjet or AC flight so we can take our checked luggage for free (especially with all of the FE stuff I have acquired - hahahaha)

 

[ilovedevin]

Emma,

This is for Southwest airline's hope this help's

Baggage Allowance:
Southwest allows two (2) checked pieces of baggage per ticketed Customer. Size and weight limitations apply.

Excess Baggage:
Your 3rd through 9th bag or item will incur a charge of $50 per piece, and any bag or item thereafter will be $110 per piece.

Weight and Size Allowance:
Maximum weight is 50 pounds and maximum size is 62 inches (length + width + height) per checked piece of luggage. Effective June 17, 2009, overweight items from 50 to 100 pounds and oversized items in excess of 62 inches but not more than 80 inches (e.g.; surfboards, bicycles, vaulting poles) will be accepted for a charge of $50 per item. Any item weighing more than 100 pounds must be shipped as Air Cargo. However, Customers cannot use SWA Cargo unless classified as a Known Shipper as defined by the TSA or TSA approved Indirect Air Carriers (IAC). For full details about shipping cargo, visit www.swacargo.com.

 

[Jax]

Yep the girls are in the Southwest, but they are in 2 different schools, so maybe at least one of them is in the same school.

Ya we have our heart set out on the Westjet direct flights so fingers crossed the prices will go down. We paid 525 pp for round trip direct flights last time, right now it is stilling over 1200 a person Fingers crossed that the prices will start going down soon, I hate not having the flights booked.

Jess Warren, seems like you made a good choice with your flights. I am currently trying to figure out what we are going to do about transportation. I have a quote for a car service (SUV) and it is only a little cheaper than Disney Transportation. Not sure what to do yet.

So is anyone planning on spending a few days in Orlando before or after the cruise? Are you doing WDW?

 

[mrbudyhed]

Jess Warren:

My friend went on a Disney Cruise two years ago in Feb. and she had some sort of delay with the airline. I remember her being stressed about making it on time to the boat, but she said that they told her that since she booked her airline through Disney, they would "hold the boat for them." I would think that the same would hold true if you are using Disney transport, but I don't really know. Also, I wouldn't book my airfare through Disney--I've heard they're super-expensive!

 

[Jess Warren]

mrbudyhed: Thanks- I think worse case scenario is that if it is getting toward the end of the week and the weather is looking "iffy" we could just drive to Orlando- it is a 12 hour drive... but at least we would be there! Yes- the flights through DCL were very high priced and I had a reward flight on SW- so that was even better!

capitalmom: thanks for the clarification- I was pretty impressed, thinking that the cabbies are driving around with car seats in their trunks and ready to pull out if the need arises!

 

[TiredOfCold]

Thanks IloveDevin for the Southwest info... unfortunately for us, they don't fly into Canada and we aren't close enough to an American gateway to make it worthwhile (minimum 4 hour drive each way - likely through snow and ice in February).

Westjet was working on a partnership with SouthWest but unfortuntely it fell through

The only American carriers that fly in and out of Calgary are UA, AA, Delta, Continental and Alaska Air.

 

[capitalmom]

So Westjet finally came out with a seat sale... that ends on Feb. 10!! of course, we were planning to fly down on the 11th (which now costs $300 per person more!!). I wonder the chances are of another seat sale covering the timeframe we need or whether we should just take the plunge and book something?? We could fly down on Thursday night, but flight doesn't arrive til 11 which will make for two very tired and cranky girls...

 

[Jess Warren]

Tired and cranky is no way to start a vacation... maybe you could plan nothing for the next day... I know my girls are no fun when they are tired and cranky. I know that I NEVER am tired and cranky.

 

[Jax]

I am sure hoping that the Westjet flights from Calgary go on sale soon. We want to leave on the 10th and right now the direct flights are sitting at over $1200 per person.

My thought is that it is still early and that there should be another seat sale coming up, but you never know for sure.

Good luck getting your flights capitalmom!

 

[capitalmom]

Wow - $1200 per person is insane... though Noel just looked it up and apparently it's only $153 one way from Calgary to Orlando on the 10th if you connect through Toronto but 4x the price to fly direct... crazy... I think we're going to go ahead and book the return on Westjet for the 20th, for $269 - a bit more than I'd like to spend but it's non-stop to Ottawa and not too late in the day. However, I think we will give it another week or so before we book the flight down, and hope something better comes along... Right now the best option seems to be flying into Tampa on AC, and then driving straight to the port the next morning, but we'll see... Here's hoping there's a better deal to be had for all of us Then I can spend the savings outlet shopping in Orlando post-cruise

On another topic - I'm starting to get organized for FE gifts and would like to do something personalized. If you could all PM me with either first names (for you and your kids) and/or family name, that would be great. Thanks!

Danielle

 

[Jax]

I noticed today that on the Westjet site they have a 10% off all flights, valid for flights between now and Feb 28.

If you are using this coupon though you need to book by Oct 15.

 

[pajl]

My name is Paulette, will be travelling on the Magic Feb 12 with my 10 dtr (turns 11 on the cruise) , hubby and my mother!

We are SOOO excited..you see we are a family who has not had a vacation abroad ever!!!
Seriously..only within Canada we have travelled!
So this is HUGE for all of us!

I am feeling a little overwhlemed with the boards so far..alot of experienced people here ...almost like you are the new kid at the school...you know ?

But I will learn tips and suggestions from you all...to make sure our trip is in fact a trip of a lifetime!!

It would be great to meet up with some new friends...and have my dtr keep as Pen Pals!

 

[Jax]

Welcome Paulette!

Congrats on booking your cruise and traveling abroad

Disney cruise is new to me to (went on one when I was a teenager, first time planning one so it is a whole new ball game).

We have a great group of people here in our Dis Meet forums so I am sure it will be a great cruise.

 

[ilovedevin]

Hello and Paulette,

Just to get you up to speed we are having a FE exchange to those who are interested. It's like a secret santa where you make or buy small gift's for those who are participating. We are also having a DIS-meet at 3:00 boarding day at the Prominade lounge, there is a map on page six. It's for everyone who is on our thread to meet and get greet. Both are optional. Should you decide to participate in the FE, I will need to know your room number to be added to the list. My personal e-mail is julieandkavin@yahoo.com. Also it seem's that a lot of us are staying at WDW the night before, they currently have at least 25% off and up depending on which resort you stay at. If you have any question's feel free to ask, everyone on here are more than willing to help just a FYI though I don't think anyone on here has ever been on a Disney Cruise so most of the answer's are from what we have learned from reading the boards.

Julie

 

[pajl]

As Danielle mentioned, we're starting to think a bit more - call it the early-planning phase.

I know some folks have already booked their flights - I've started looking at airfare...and hoping a seat sale comes around this fall! With a two year old, it will be so much easier to fly from Ottawa (20 minutes in the car to the airport and we're on our way)...but right now, taking early morning flights and such, that would run us $2500 round trip including taxes for four (!) ... it's the extra taxes, charges and fees that really make it add up!

The alternative for us it to drive the night before to Syracuse, NY, which has non-stop flights on JetBlue to Orlando...it's a 3 1/2 hour drive (300km/186 miles)...but the cost of the flights is just $1400 round trip for four. That's a savings of over $1000! Of course, if those flights from Ottawa go on sale, the savings wouldn't be so dramatic...

Anybody else drive significantly out of their way to save a lot on airfares?

Noel, we will be driving from Ontario to save on fares...

 

[pajl]

Hello and Paulette,

Just to get you up to speed we are having a FE exchange to those who are interested. It's like a secret santa where you make or buy small gift's for those who are participating. We are also having a DIS-meet at 3:00 boarding day at the Prominade lounge, there is a map on page six. It's for everyone who is on our thread to meet and get greet. Both are optional. Should you decide to participate in the FE, I will need to know your room number to be added to the list. My personal e-mail is Also it seem's that a lot of us are staying at WDW the night before, they currently have at least 25% off and up depending on which resort you stay at. If you have any question's feel free to ask, everyone on here are more than willing to help just a FYI though I don't think anyone on here has ever been on a Disney Cruise so most of the answer's are from what we have learned from reading the boards.

Julie

Hi Julie...thanks for youer message...I just assumed you all had been on a cruise before!!
thanks for the great info.....the FE exchange? Is there links about what exactly it is..the criteria..do I have to make one for entire family...etc etc..
Hard not to get excited on these boards!!

 

[pajl]

Welcome Paulette!

Congrats on booking your cruise and traveling abroad

Disney cruise is new to me to (went on one when I was a teenager, first time planning one so it is a whole new ball game).

We have a great group of people here in our Dis Meet forums so I am sure it will be a great cruise.

Thanks Jax...looking forward to getting to know some people and learn from you all!

 

[robinpgma]

Welcome to the group.. ..We are first time Disney Cruisers....It will be an AWESOME experience especially meeting everyone....

We still haven't booked our flight from the Boston area yet....hoping the fares will come down soon.


Robin

 

[ilovedevin]

The Fe exchange is up to each person on how they want to handle it. They can make or buy gift's and they can give as many or as little as they want ie, one per stateroom or one person. They can give just once or they can give several time's. Only thing is not to make or buy items that are going to be too big that are going to take up too much space in their luggage for flight restrictions. You can buy Disney related items's at Michael's, Target and of course dollar stores for a dollar or less and if your lucky like me and have a Disney outlet store close by there as well. I got all the little girls Silvermist fairy neckless that came with a booklet for .99 at our local Disney Outlet, I was very excited with that find.


Here are three great thread's www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1980639, www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1219607, www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2473209



Hope this help's
Julie

 

[capitalmom]

Noel, we will be driving from Ontario to save on fares...

Welcome Paulette!! I'm Danielle - Noel's wife... Our DD is celebrating a birthday on the cruise as well, but since she'll only be turning 2, driving to Florida would probably not be a good option for us
We've done a few cruises but this is our first time on Disney, so we're pretty excited... It's a great way to travel, but I should warn you, it's highly addictive!! We talked my mom into coming on her first cruise with us last January, and she hasn't travelled outside of Canada much either, and now she has two more cruises planned (including 12 nights in Europe next summer!!) and is probably wishing she'd booked Disney with us as well... I think we've created a monster Anyway, I'm sure you'll love it!