First Ever DISUnplugged Podcast Cruise Take Three

[scarlett873]

Jen are you staying at WDW following the cruise? We are still trying to figure out what to do. We really want to stay around the Dolphin, but we don't have enough points. So, I think we're just staying at the Dolphin, which means we need transportation. We are trying to decide if we want to rent a car or if we want to hire a towncar. We'd be up for sharing, but we are headed back to WDW following the cruise. There are four of us.

We might be up for sharing transportation too! I'm pretty certain that there would just be 2 of us, but I won't know that for sure until my mom decides whether or not she wants to cancel the cruise for my brother and sis-in-law. We're staying at the Dolphin pre-cruise, but if we do post-cruise, we'll be at AKL. We can always grab a cab there from the Dolphin or wherever...

DH really wants to do a towncar from the airport to the hotel and back to the airport. It's just the hotel to cruise to hotel part that's giving me grief...

 

[stenogoddess]

Thanks for the positive vibes guys...i'm sure...no...I KNOW it helped! My friends rock...

Very happy for you all!

Work out after bar hopping/crawling!!

Wouldn't be the first time I've done that!

That dedication is inspiring. Must do better on my cross training days for the 1/2, must do better on my ..... oh, look, cake!

So what have I missed? I have been gone on vacation since the 2nd. Here are a few pictures of where I have been. Hint it was very warm.

Looks like a great trip! Happy Birthday!

Isn't it about a 45 minute-1 hour drive from WDW to the port? Or am I delusional?

Don't forget cash for the stupid toll road, but, yes, it is about that. Also note, no good places for restroom stops on the way. We left right after breakfast once, and it was not a pleasant experience. Just wanted to warn people with tiny bladders, like me!

Todd: If Namine wants some full resolution pictures of Castaway for any more projects (like personalized luggage tags for your rolling cooler LOL) I have Mt. Rustmore and the Wonder and the Flying Dutchman and a few others that I took last Oct. I'm happy to hook y'all up.

 

[Madi100]

We might be up for sharing transportation too! I'm pretty certain that there would just be 2 of us, but I won't know that for sure until my mom decides whether or not she wants to cancel the cruise for my brother and sis-in-law. We're staying at the Dolphin pre-cruise, but if we do post-cruise, we'll be at AKL. We can always grab a cab there from the Dolphin or wherever...

DH really wants to do a towncar from the airport to the hotel and back to the airport. It's just the hotel to cruise to hotel part that's giving me grief...

When does your flight get in on Friday?

 

[winotracy]

Are there weight restrictions on luggage for a cruise like there are for planes? We will be staying at the Dolphin precruise and BWV post cruise. If I packed so that our luggage was packed half for crusie and half for WDW, can I leave half of our luggage at the BWV and claim it after we return? I know I've shipped things to resorts before and they've held it. But will they do that with our luggage if we drop it off?

No there aren't weight limits with the cruise. You will need to check with BWV about leaving luggage there. I think they will do it, but can't guarantee that.

 

[scarlett873]

When does your flight get in on Friday?

We're aiming for the early flight on SW that gets in at 10am on Saturday 5/9.

I just realized you said Friday...did I say Friday in my previous post? I am so losing my mind...

We're coming in on Saturday and then leaving the following Saturday.

 

[Madi100]

We're aiming for the early flight on SW that gets in at 10am on Saturday 5/9.

I just realized you said Friday...did I say Friday in my previous post? I am so losing my mind...

We're coming in on Saturday and then leaving the following Saturday.

Sorry. I thought you were one of them getting in on Friday also. We arrive on Friday and was going to suggest sharing on that end also.

Definitely up for sharing on Sunday, though. That would be fun.

 

[dpuck1998]

Sorry. I thought you were one of them getting in on Friday also. We arrive on Friday and was going to suggest sharing on that end also.

Definitely up for sharing on Sunday, though. That would be fun.

We get in on Friday also and haven't figured out transportation. I guess since we are at AKV we can do ME though....hopefully its gotten better. Anyone use it recently?

 

[Madi100]

We get in on Friday also and haven't figured out transportation. I guess since we are at AKV we can do ME though....hopefully its gotten better. Anyone use it recently?

We love ME. We have never had any problems with it at all. I'm completely bummed that we can't use it for our Dolphin stay. That is the only drawback to the Dolphin. So, much of a drawback, we've considered not staying there.

 

[Madi100]

From looking at Tracy's list it shows that many people are celebrating anniversaries on this cruise. Just wondering how many of those dates actually happen during the cruise. DH and I will celebrate our 15th anniversary in June. So, while not while we're on the cruise, it's probably all we're going to get to do. Hmmm, I really wasn't thinking when I decided the kids could come along was I???

 

[jeanigor]

Todd: If Namine wants some full resolution pictures of Castaway for any more projects (like personalized luggage tags for your rolling cooler LOL) I have Mt. Rustmore and the Wonder and the Flying Dutchman and a few others that I took last Oct. I'm happy to hook y'all up.

I think he would like that. He talked about something like that.

 

[chirurgeon]

I am arriving on Thursday morning, early and leaving mid day on Sunday the 17th. I was thinking of starting a thread where we could put down our arrival and departure dates to see if there are those who want to do other things besides the DATW and Breakfast. And of course my Kitchen Sink meet on Saturday.

Kim

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I am arriving on Thursday morning, early and leaving mid day on Sunday the 17th. I was thinking of starting a thread where we could put down our arrival and departure dates to see if there are those who want to do other things besides the DATW and Breakfast. And of course my Kitchen Sink meet on Saturday.

Kim

And the Dole Whip/Poly/Wishes meet, too, don't forget...

 

[chirurgeon]

And the Dole Whip/Poly/Wishes meet, too, don't forget...

How could I forget that? Silly me.

Kim

 

[chirurgeon]

Who else is going to be bringing a bit of video stuff i.e. cameras (yes, plural), camcorders? I have my DSLR, my point and shoot and my camcorder. I am a photo geek. Who else?

Kim

 

[chickie]

We most likely will rent a car for the whole week, also. We arrive sometime Saturday, late morning hopefully. Don't have airfare yet. We are staying at the Dolphin on Saturday night, and then we are staying at BCV 'till Saturday. We originally had a 1 bedroom at OKW, but our waitlist came through for Beach Club yesterday. So, we'll be just across the lake from the Dolphin and all the action there after the cruise.

We would definitely be willing to share our car with anyone who wants to. There are 3 of us, Jeff, myself and our DD9.

 

[winotracy]

From looking at Tracy's list it shows that many people are celebrating anniversaries on this cruise. Just wondering how many of those dates actually happen during the cruise. DH and I will celebrate our 15th anniversary in June. So, while not while we're on the cruise, it's probably all we're going to get to do. Hmmm, I really wasn't thinking when I decided the kids could come along was I???

Not all are during the cruise. Some before, some after. I didn't include our anniversary because it's closer to the cruise after that one, though still in the same month, but I'm considering celebrating DHs birthday (April 26).

 

[DVCsince02]

Jen are you staying at WDW following the cruise? We are still trying to figure out what to do. We really want to stay around the Dolphin, but we don't have enough points. So, I think we're just staying at the Dolphin, which means we need transportation. We are trying to decide if we want to rent a car or if we want to hire a towncar. We'd be up for sharing, but we are headed back to WDW following the cruise. There are four of us.

We plan to arrive Saturday morning (first flight out) and staying at BWV. We will be going home on Thursday, since MIL is watching kids and dogs.

 

[dpuck1998]

Who else is going to be bringing a bit of video stuff i.e. cameras (yes, plural), camcorders? I have my DSLR, my point and shoot and my camcorder. I am a photo geek. Who else?

Kim

I'll have a big bag of equipment, including video cam and my 70-200 2.8 Canon lens!

 

[scarlett873]

We plan to arrive Saturday morning (first flight out) and staying at BWV. We will be going home on Thursday, since MIL is watching kids and dogs.

Like a 10am-ish arrival into Orlando???

Maybe we could figure something out and share a towncar to the hotels for the ride there! You'd just have to figure out getting back to the airport after the cruise...but i'll bet the towncar folks could help with that...Interested? If not...that's alright...just thought i'd offer to try and keep the costs down!

 

[jeanigor]

So I started making a spreadsheet to compare costs for renting a car. Splitting the rental in two sections, 5/9-5/10 along with 5/14-5/16 (keeping in mind to add the $30 in one-way fees for some companies) and keeping the car from arrival at MCO until departure (adding the $60 port parking charges). I did it for Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, and Thrifty. I did it without any special rates or promos. I also did it for multiple car sizes: sub-compact, compact, intermediate.

It wound up being a whole lot more money than I expected.

In order have something to compare to, I figured the rates for FL Tours to take me by Town Car.
Here are the totals I found (split rate/parked rate):
(remember this is without discounts, etc.)
Sub-Compact(Chevy Aveo, Hyundai Accent, similar)
A-$135.27/$334.22
B-$237.06/$253.27
D-$210.17/$474.91 (need to add taxes)
H-$297.92/$457.31
T-$182.24/$368.92 (need to add taxes)

Compact(Chevy Cobalt, Hyundai Elantra, similar)
A-$239.56/$346.50
B-$239.16/$253.27
D-$222.89/$488.39 (need to add taxes)
H-$309.79/$470.63
T-$184.24/$380.98 (need to add taxes)

Intermediate(Pontiac G6, similar)
A-$257.15/$357.42
B-$250.81/$267.96
D-$231.43/$503.00 (need to add taxes)
H-$335.56/$483.96
T-$192.24/$375.28 (need to add taxes)

FL Tours was:
$109 round trip MCO to the Dolphin.
$240 round trip Dolphin to Port.
$349 total

Confused yet?


I am.