FEBRUARY 14, 2009 (very early roll-call!)

[vavalynn2]

Welcome-

Rubbergypsy -We are right down the thruway from you in Syracuse.[/B][/B]

Shmoopea- Thanks for the immigration info. PJs do seem like the way to go.

Wachsdds- Sounds like you had a great trip.

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Thank you- PURTYPAT1, for the advice about the Hyatt. My gift certificate or whatever it is called is on its way. We will be coming in the night before as there is too much weather to worry about in February here.

Disnutt- We have decided to do the rental car over a limo service. I have already peeked at car rental rates for the day and it just seems to make more sense for us to do it. There are just two of us and looks like with tax it will not be over 50.00 each way. And then of course we can stop where ever we like on the way.

But if we were to book a limo service, I was talking to HappyLimo.com. Mousesavers.com has a coupon on the site for them. They seem to come highly recommended.


Up next... keeping my fingers crossed that airfare won't be too outrageous.

When we went on our last cruise, I often used a site about disney cruises. They had an excellent detailed map of the Port Canaveral/Cocoa Beach area with hotels, stores, and rental car agencies marked. Does anyone know where I could get something like this or know what I am talking about?

Thanks again!!

And hopefully we will not have to snowblow the driveway again by morning.

 

[Wachsdds]

Hi Wachsdds Welcome

Glad you had a great time. I have a few questions if you don't mind. When did you buy your airline tickets last year? Did you leave out of NY? Did you get a good fare. I was shocked at the fare of airline tickets.

Also, did you leave the day before? If so, where did you stay? How did you get back & forth to the port.

Please tell, we are all ears

I also saw ticket shock when we booked the our cruise a year ago. We were finding prices with United, American, and Delta of about $800-$900 per ticket. Ouch! We held off to see what Jetblue priced out at which did come out until October. Talk about stress in waiting! However, Jetblue priced out at $450 from JFK/ Laguardia and $399 out of Stewart. We went with Stewart for the first time. We live in Northern Westchester County so it was an easy airport to get to. The only problems with Stewart was the delays. On our flight to Orlando, our delay was because the Jetblue pilots are required to sleep at JFK. Of course, the pilots were over an hour late to the flight. On our flight home, we were delayed 3 hours because the prior flight was delayed from Rochester secondary to snow and then another 30 minutes due to the fact they were short a flight attendant. I am not sure if we are going to fly out of Stewart next time.

We flew down to Orlando Thursday prior to the cruise. I wanted to allow time in case of weather cancellations to in the worst case drive down. We stayed at WDW at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We rented a car for a Thursday and Friday and enjoyed the parks. We turned in the car Saturday morning and had Tiffany Limousine take us to and from the ship. It was much cheaper for our family of six. I hope this helps.

 

[disnutt]

Wachsdds-Welcome to the group! I didn't see that other rudeness thread you mentioned. I've lived in and visited lots of places and noticed differences in which behaviors are considered rude. When I lived in CT (shout out to Jodi!) it was 'rude' of me to follow my old 'polite' WV tendency to chat up the check out lady. There were so many people behind me in line that my leisurely check out was keeping people from getting home to their families so I learned to shut up and just smile at folks. What I thought was being 'nice' was actually rather inconsiderate considering the needs of those around me. I still prefer to talk to check out folks but I let them take the lead now.

Shmoopea- Glad to know that we can go down in our pajamas. I'll know to bring a hat to cover my bed head!

Valvalynn-I'll check out Happy Limo! We're going to have at least 8 folks 2 of whom are very heavy packers. I'm not sure we'll all fit in a rental van. Maybe we could do 2 rentals? I have more research to do!

 

[Jodi]

Glad to know that some people thought that it wasn't the New Englanders that were "rude" on the ship. While I am from CT, I don't think that has anything to do with how rude & heinous I can be...I think it's just in the genes

PJS on the early immigration is the way to go it seems !

I have a question for ya'll who are renting a car...where do you return the car? At the port? Then do they bring you to the ship? Or how do you do this whole thing? I'd much rather do that than take HappyLimo so we could stop wherever we want...

We're planning on flying on Fri. as well, however, I can't rule out renting a one-way from up here & driving down on Thurs. to save at least one way worth of airfare (there are 5 of us). I'd have to "crunch" numbers & see what gives...Those are pretty steep prices you guys are talking about for this years' trip, sheesh!

Hey DisNutt, did you sign up for the Goofy again for '09?

Our little thread is growing! I can't wait! I have to admit, though, that in addition to my DH, the DKids even think I'm a bit premature w/ my level of excitation!!

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Hi Everyone

I have been traveling to Orlando, RT NS for President's week the lsst 5 plus years. What I do, is book 330 days in & usually always book one ways. I have never paid over 300.00 RT non stop. I usually pay ball park of $250.00

We only travel on holidays or Jersey week, so 330 days is the way to go for me. Honestly, what ever price I get, I usually never see it lower. Even Jet blue, or Southwest, never goes below $200.00 RT on a holiday, which would be President's week.

I am flexable on the airlines(though I am not a big fan of USair) & flexable with airports. That said, I will be booking in a few weeks, for 2/13/09 this will also give me peace of mind.

Jodi, with a Rent a car, you should reserve it, for a one way, where it says one way on the internet. On the phone last week, I reserved Enterprise 2/14/09 to drive to the port. At the port, they have a shuttle that will take us to the Magic. Total charges = 36.45 for a compact(Holds 5 passengers)We are 2 adults & 2 children

I have the same rent a car on reserve for 2/21/09 Enterprize will pick us up at the port, and the we will drive to Orlando, spend the day in the World, & then off to the Hyatt that night.

For those of you, who need a place, here is the link for the Hayatt hotel. It comes to $141.00 a night which is a great deal. We are staying the night before, & the night after the cruise. Keep in mind, if you choose the Hyatt, you need to reserve the room now, since they only take a few certificates reservations.

https://www.certificates.hyatt.com/p...CertsStay.aspx

Since we are staying at the Hyatt, we are thinking about taking the Disney bus to the port, instead of the one way rent a car, unless anyone wants to share a limo. We are 4.

Hope this helps

 

[rubbergypsy]

i booked this past pres week trips airfare in the beginning of July, it was shortly after airtran released july fares. i paid 132 one way, so 264 rt, they were non stop flights and i thought it was a great deal. the year before i paid the same although we flew out of buffalo and that was a pain in the bad weather. i also bought those tickets closer to december, it really is a crapshoot, there are deals you just have to be lucky enough to find them. i plan on looking at the 330 day mark as posted above.

 

[rubbergypsy]

i plan on flying out on thursday evening and spending the two nights at one of the dvc resorts prob ssr. we will book a breakfast at ohana on 2/14 and catch the cruise bus right at the poly. we did that this past week. bus leaves poly at 11:30 and we were in our stateroom by 1:30.

 

[vavalynn2]

Booked the Hyatt today. It only took two days for the voucher to arrive. At the time they still had rooms left for the voucher. We look forward to not having to drive anywhere after travelling.

Also, booked Avis one way rentals for the day of and the day we return from the cruise.
Getting there:36.20/44.92 compact
Coming back: 39.60/44.55 compact, but may get free upgrade
The Cape Canaveral Avis has their own website http://www.aviscapecanaveral.com/
And if you give them your email, you get a coupon for a free upgrade *if available. Avis is in the MCO terminal which will be convenient and the return appears to be a short drive from the cruise ship in Port Canaveral. We used Budget before, but as of now they do not have rates for Feb '09.

It is early to rent a car, but I just wanted to get a reservation for something since the rates are out. Although, we may be interested in sharing a limo but we are only two.

Jodi -DH also thinks that my excitement is a little premature. But I guess I can't help it. We had a wonderful time on the Western and can not wait to go back. And well, I love planning trips

PURTYPAT1 -Thanks for the advice on the airfare. I marked the 330 day mark in my calendar. No matter what time of the year we go it ranges from 250-325. The first day I see flights I like (Friday 13th after 4pm) I will most likely book.

I just realized we will be fliying on Friday the 13th. Yikes!

Thanks again. And time to clear out the driveway... again.

 

[PURTYPAT1]

I booked at cat 12 gty and hope for an upgrade although i know it is not a given. the agent onboard said that we prob would get one but she did not know what type. we have sailed in cat 9 and it will be hard to go to an inside cabin. she said the earlier you book the greater chance of being upgraded.

Did you book cat 12 for you last cruise too?

 

[Sandaneli]

Hi, We just got back from the 2/16 Magic cruise and it was wonderful. We really didn't encounter any rude people on the cruise. But I'm from Boston so maybe I just don't notice rude behavior any more. .

Anyway, I'd like to book the same dates for next year but DH is thinking of switching to Royal Caribbean because it goes out of NJ and we would save a lot not paying for airfare. We paid almost $1600 for airfare this trip for 4 people so it really does add signifigantly to the cost of the trip. We've only cruised on Disney and it is comfortable but our kids are getting older DS will be 17 next year and DD14.

Has anyone cruised with Royal Caribbean out of NJ? If yes, what did you think?

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Hi, We just got back from the 2/16 Magic cruise and it was wonderful. We really didn't encounter any rude people on the cruise. But I'm from Boston so maybe I just don't notice rude behavior any more. .

Anyway, I'd like to book the same dates for next year but DH is thinking of switching to Royal Caribbean because it goes out of NJ and we would save a lot not paying for airfare. We paid almost $1600 for airfare this trip for 4 people so it really does add signifigantly to the cost of the trip. We've only cruised on Disney and it is comfortable but our kids are getting older DS will be 17 next year and DD14.

Has anyone cruised with Royal Caribbean out of NJ? If yes, what did you think?

Hi Sandra,

Glad you had a good time. I was following your cruise thread, & had fun doing so.

I wrote in an earlier thread, that I met a women then other night, who just came back from leaving out of NJ. I was shocked as she told me that there were lines everywhere. Even dinner. She said, that it was hard getting drinks never mind getting refills. It just didn't seem as organized to handle the President's week crowd, (that's what she told me)

I have always wanted to cruise out of NY or NJ too, but that story kinda freaked me out. I will now do much reasearch. Maybe you should go to Cruise Critic and check it out reports


http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=9

 

[rubbergypsy]

PURTYPAT1-we booked at cat 9 for this past 3 night cruise. Last pres week I booked a cat 11 on the 4 night wonder. Both cruises were using the annual pass discounts and this year the discount was for a cat 9 and last year it was for a cat 11. I am almost thinking of changing my cat 12 to the 9 , as there is no guarantee that we will be upgraded.

 

[rubbergypsy]

vavalynn2 -hi neighbor!! cannot stand all this snow. do you fly out of syracuse? how is the airfare for you?

 

[vavalynn2]

rubberygypsy-I have not flown president's week in a few years. I have been going the week or two weeks after to Florida.

We used to look into Rochester and Albany, but it is not convenient for middle of February not knowing what the weather will do (like doing the driveway AGAIN this morning). I hope to grab anything under 300 a person that is leaving on Friday after 3pm and Returning anytime on Saturday or Sunday starting 330 days out as suggested by PURTTPAT1. I just want to get out of here the day before the cruise.

 

[disnutt]

Jodi-Yes, I am going Goofy again! I have a friend who went down w/ me this year and she 'only' (her words-not mine) did the full. Once she saw my groovy Goofy medal she wanted in on the action and got me to sign up while I was still weak from running.

Sandy-You must just be immune to the higher rudeness levels which are native to the Boston area! I'm sure there was rudeness going on all around you but you were incapable of recognizing it. Hope you come on our cruise not RC!

I'm hoping that I'll have a few free SWA tickets because I've been flying for work a lot. That can help defray the cost of the tickets for our family of 5!

Have a great weekend! We're off to pick up our new puppy we're adopting today! I'll be busy doing housebreaking patrol!

 

[Jodi]

DisNutt - UGH! I only signed up for the 1/2 next year...that was enjoyable...I leave you to it for the Goofy!!

Thanks for the info re: the rental car, Patty. That's most definitely what we'll do...I think . I guess I've got some time to mull it over. I'm too pumped for our first 7 day cruise .

In the meantime, I'm sure the 6" of snow we get tonight will bring me back down to reality. I HATE shoveling!

 

[Wachsdds]

What is the Goofy?

 

[Jodi]

Wachsdds - The Goofy is a race @ Disney World. Over marathon weekend they have a 1/2 marathon on Sat (you get a Donald Duck medal), and a full marathon on Sun. (Mickey Medal). Now if you are GOOFY enough to do BOTH races, 13 miles on Sat. & 26 on Sun. you get all said medals AND a Goofy medal!! It's crazy....but fun!

 

[vavalynn2]

Just an FYI- Budget car rental rates are now out. We used them last time. It was okay, but we booked with AVIS for now. Both companies seem to have similar reviews.

I have a large credit with jetblue and wondered if you would trust getting out of the NE knowing you would have to connect at JFK in the middle of winter?

It would save us some money, but I would hate to miss the boat.

Thank you.

 

[Jodi]

VaVa - Thanks for the heads up on Budget...If you could leave on JetBlue the Thurs. b4 the cruise I would definitely chance it. If you have that much credit with them, that would far outweigh the extra nights hotel, no? I'd go for it...but definitely leave on Thurs.