First Cruise with Disney on the Wonder-Arriving on Embarkation Day

[misskatr5]

Hello Everyone. My family and i will be sailing out of Galveston in December. My husband didn't want to fly into Galveston early so as a family we decided to fly into Houston the same day. We land in Houston at 11AM so we got a Disney transfer to take us to the port when we land.

Has anyone flown in the same day to make it to the port and how do you prepare for it. I'm starting to do my research and plan for every scenario. (Im a big planner and researcher) I have a 2.5 year old with me so i need some tips to make it as smooth as possible even though traveling with a toddler its very unpredictable.

TIA for all your help and tips.

 

[m3owbox]

I would never fly in same day. There are so many things that could cause a flight to be delayed or canceled. And a cruise ship isn't going to wait for anyone who has flight problems.

 

[misskatr5]

I would never fly in same day. There are so many things that could cause a flight to be delayed or canceled. And a cruise ship isn't going to wait for anyone who has flight problems.

normally i wouldnt but we wanted to do something different this time. Crossing our fingers for no flight delay or cancellation.

 

[m3owbox]

Where are you flying out of?

 

[misskatr5]

Where are you flying out of?

Los Angeles

 

[m3owbox]

At least you wont have to worry about snow there in December.

 

[misskatr5]

At least you wont have to worry about snow there in December.

lol. its a non stop flight into houston(IAH). i looked online for other carriers that have nonstop flights from Los Angeles to IAH and i found a couple.

 

[dcassetta]

If You're flying in same day, then I think taking Disney transportation is the best choice. If for some reason your flight is delayed, you can get a cab from IAH to the port of Galveston. It will be pricey but it is available.

You'll be on the bus for at least an hour, so I would bring snacks and games for your little one to keep them entertained on the bus. If you were traveling into Orlando and going to Port Canaveral, I know there would be videos that might entertain a child, but I would guess the coaches from IAH are just standard buses and may not have any of the Disney videos.

An upside to your travel decision, is that when you arrive you should be able to check in immediately and walk right onto the ship. Your state room may even be ready, so you don't have to drag your carry-on bags around.

Have you gotten your cruise documents yet? One of the things that will be in there are the tags for your luggage. Make sure and read the directions about whether to apply your tags before you check your bags onto your flight or after you pick them up at the baggage carousel. In Orlando, Disney will handle the transfer of your bags from the airport to the ship and you don't even need to go to the baggage claim to pick them up. I don't know if the same is true at IAH, as Disney has so few sailings out of Galveston.

 

[EmilysDad]

Did you buy insurance in case flights are delayed or cancelled? Are you flying into IAH or HOU? I know there are direct flights into HOU on AA from LAX... and HOU is much closer than IAH. If everything is on time, you should be able to make it by 1:30PM or so.

 

[jetskigrl]

I'll second the insurance part. And make sure you have a contact number for DCL handy in case of delays. They may or may not delay departure if they know you are coming. Our recent cruise left about an hour late because some guests were stuck on the highway due to a mudslide (so not Disney transportation, but in that case they were able to wait a little longer for them).

If weather is bad in other parts of the country, it may not matter what it is like in LA and Houston if your plane originates back East, etc. I was on an LA to Las Vegas flight that was delayed three hours because the plane was coming from San Francisco and it was delayed due to fog. You just never know what could cause a delay, especially that time of year.

Mainly, just be mentally prepared that you are taking a risk that could mean missing the cruise. If you know that risk going into it and are OK with it, then just hope that everything goes smoothly (as it probably will).

 

[misskatr5]

I'll second the insurance part. And make sure you have a contact number for DCL handy in case of delays. They may or may not delay departure if they know you are coming. Our recent cruise left about an hour late because some guests were stuck on the highway due to a mudslide (so not Disney transportation, but in that case they were able to wait a little longer for them).

If weather is bad in other parts of the country, it may not matter what it is like in LA and Houston if your plane originates back East, etc. I was on an LA to Las Vegas flight that was delayed three hours because the plane was coming from San Francisco and it was delayed due to fog. You just never know what could cause a delay, especially that time of year.

Mainly, just be mentally prepared that you are taking a risk that could mean missing the cruise. If you know that risk going into it and are OK with it, then just hope that everything goes smoothly (as it probably will).

Thank you so much for your reply. No i didnt get insurance for our trip. im hoping that we are going to be okay. Planning my best

 

[misskatr5]

Did you buy insurance in case flights are delayed or cancelled? Are you flying into IAH or HOU? I know there are direct flights into HOU on AA from LAX... and HOU is much closer than IAH. If everything is on time, you should be able to make it by 1:30PM or so.

im flying into IAH and its an early flight at 5:30AM with a toddler.

 

[misskatr5]

I'll second the insurance part. And make sure you have a contact number for DCL handy in case of delays. They may or may not delay departure if they know you are coming. Our recent cruise left about an hour late because some guests were stuck on the highway due to a mudslide (so not Disney transportation, but in that case they were able to wait a little longer for them).

If weather is bad in other parts of the country, it may not matter what it is like in LA and Houston if your plane originates back East, etc. I was on an LA to Las Vegas flight that was delayed three hours because the plane was coming from San Francisco and it was delayed due to fog. You just never know what could cause a delay, especially that time of year.

Mainly, just be mentally prepared that you are taking a risk that could mean missing the cruise. If you know that risk going into it and are OK with it, then just hope that everything goes smoothly (as it probably will).

i have to look into gettting a contact info for DCL to keep it handy so if we do have some delays. Hopefully not. crossing my fingers

 

[ukintheus]

Assuming that life goes as planned and you don't have any crazy delays out of LA then you will be fine. All aboard is 3:30 pm or 4:00 pm depending on your sailing and you are likely looking at a 2 hour max trip down to Galveston from IAH. Even if you leave on a Friday (busier traffic through Houston), I think having 4 1/2 hours as a transfer is plenty. I will try and find out more information for you on transfers. We are doing a B2B on the 11/6 and 11/13 cruises and there are several people on our cruises that are taking the tranfers. I will try and get specifics about where you need to go etc to make your route through IAH (which is a large airport) easier. The process last time DCL was here is that, unlike Orlando, you did need to claim your luggage before you head to the transfer bus. I'll post back here or send you a message mid-November. The reality is that LA(X)? and IAH both have good weather 99% of the time so hopefully flight delays won't be an issue.

 

[princessebird]

Barring a delayed flight, you should be fine. IAH is about 1.5 hours from the port. Just be prepared to drive through some pretty ugly parts of Texas (strip malls, lots of refineries) on your way in. And while there definitely won't be snow, bad weather isn't out of the question. We came back from a RCCL cruise into Galveston in early January a couple of years ago to a sleet and ice storm. It's unlikely, but it's possible.

 

[laceltris3]

Ice is mainly a January and February problem. I have flown IAH to MCO the morning of a PC cruise before, but I also confirmed that there were at least a half dozen alternative flights that would still get us there on time. We got into MCO at around 9 if I recall correctly.

The biggest worry, barring a flight delay would be a big rainstorm that floods the roads and bayous that night or morning. Like last night, and last Saturday when Patricia remnants came through. Driving from IAH to Galveston would be pretty challenging in those circumstances, especially since it is usually freeway underpasses that flood. I45 which you would need to take frequently floods in downtown.

 

[MPS516]

Oh the beauty of Disney Transfers, as long as you are at the airport transfer point by the designated time you will make the ship regardless of traffic. We were on a Mediterranean cruise where the ship waited about 2 hours for a late flight where DCL had booked a dozen or so people. Our experience with IAH over the years has been very positive, in fact even though we can get cheaper flights into Hobby, we always fly into IAH. You will need however, plan for the bus ride to port, it is a regular motor coach and while we have had some with video screens, nothing like transfers in Orlando. You do not mention which day of the week, but I would plan for at least 1 1/2 hour transfer, if heavier traffic or road issue may be on bus a couple hours.

 

[MollyE]

We just sailed 3 weeks ago and flew in a day before our cruise. We missed our first flight out and we were delayed by a few hours. It was totally out of our control. If we would have been sailing out that same day we would have missed our cruise. When you spend that amount of $ on a vacation, I think.. why risk it? So many things can be out of your control even when you plan it perfectly. We had cruise insurance, but if we would have missed our cruise, we all would have be devastated and insurance can't make up for a boat that has left you behind.

 

[diznymom]

Definitely check the weather before heading out.

If it does snow / ice, be warned that Texas does not have the equipment to clear the roads. We just shut everything down.

Also, we have been flooding lately. Roads are closed, people are stranded. It was really bad Friday. And, it's raining again today.

Without insurance, definitely have a Plan B and a Plan C.

If it were me, I would definitely see about getting insurance. A small price to pay to save a vacation.

 

[SonicGuy]

For what its worth, we live in Dallas and are going down the day before just to be safe. Texas weather is just too unpredictable that time of year