Flying in the Night Before is Smart!

[inkkognito]

With winter here, I'd like to share a recent experience that shows why flying in the night before is a good idea! In 35 cruises, we've been very lucky and have never had a major delay on the outbound leg (it's happened coming home, but that's not such a big deal). But since we travel from Chicago and cruise a lot in the winter, we know we're tempting the fates.
Recently we came to Orlando (not for a cruise), and the trip was a big reminder of the wisdom of coming early. We boarded our plane pretty much on time, and then the pilot announced that it would be holding for 8 connecting passengers who were on a delayed flight. Then he announced that we could go but would need to be de-iced first. When that was done, he announced that we couldn't go anywhere because the airport had been closed to remove snow from the runways (it wasn't even a bad storm, but enough to goof things up). Time was ticking by, and eventually he got on the PA again and said that hopefully we could go soon, but first we'd have to be de-iced again! Tick, tick, tick! Eventually we got out of there over two hours late, and our midnight arrival in Orlando turned into almost 3 a.m.
I know it's not always possible, but if you can, fly in a night early. Then, if there is a delay, you will know that you have a cushion.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[ELIJAH'S GRANDPA]

35 cruises, I’m jealous.
I agree, we’ve cruised 4 times and always flown in the day of the cruise but next time we’ll go a day early.
On 12/6 I awoke at 2am and checked the computer to find our flight was cancelled. After trying to call the airline and getting no answer we drove though the snow to the airport and found we were rebooked for an afternoon flight that would make us late for our cruise. We were lucky and got a morning standby flight and just made the cruise, but the stress was not fun. Also, I ask myself, why am I getting up so early in the morning to start my vacation when we could fly in the afternoon the day before? We live in Connecticut and the only thing certain about the weather is that it will change.
John

 

[JenGang]

Originally posted by inkkognito
Tick, tick, tick! Eventually we got out of there over two hours late, and our midnight arrival in Orlando turned into almost 3 a.m.
I know it's not always possible, but if you can, fly in a night early. Then, if there is a delay, you will know that you have a cushion.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

Barb,
Reading your post made me VERY glad that I just switched my flight plans for our 2/7/04 cruise! We were supposed to fly out of Minneapolis that morning, connect in Chicago and then on the Orlando. I was getting WAY too nervous about that so I changed it to leave on Friday and instead of connecting in Chicago, we're going to Dallas first. Way less of a chance of having a snow delay there! LOL As it turned out, the flight on Friday night was so much cheaper than the Saturday day one that we only had to pay $40 per ticket for the reticketing charge. So worth it for the peace of mind!

 

[Chattyaholic]

I totally agree!! For our upcoming Wonder cruise I wanted to just let Disney do the air arrangements, but I booked thru DU and they said we'd HAVE to fly in the MORNING of the cruise!!! I said no way!!! We'll book our own air!!!

We let Disney do the air arrangements for our first cruise, but we were spending 4 nights at the Contemporary BEFORE the cruise so it wasn't a problem that time. I was just shocked that this time they would only let us fly in the morning of the cruise. Maybe in the summer that would be all right, but Michigan winters are very, very unpredictable!! I think they should let people fly in a day early when they come from "snow country!"

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

if it comes from barb and tony i would listen to. after 35 DCL cruises and counting i think they know alot about DCL. and thank you barb for all the great information you guys give use on www.castawayclub.com when we go on our 11/13/04 cruise ill scan and send you the navigators and if possible the menu's. have a great holiday in the windy city.

 

[AnnMorin]

When come to find out we are in orlando but our biggest piece of luggage was still in Hartford at the car parking shuttle place,, than goodness for federal express priority overnight or Mike would have no dress shoes to go with his suit and Jay...well he would have no PANTS

 

[cindy21494]

It can happen any time of the year. We were on the eastern 7 day this past June and our flight was delayed due to a problem with the water pressure. We got to the ship about 4:20. I almost lost it on the plane when they said the earliest we would leave was 12:00. With a almost three hour flight and the drive to the port, that was cutting it too close for me. I felt stressed for the first day of our cruise.

We have two cruises this year and are flying in early for both. I'll pay a little extra for a hotel for the comfort of knowing that we will be there on time.

 

[jeanie]

OK now I am nervous!.... I booked our air through DCL. I thought that they would hold the ship if there are any delays?? But for how long will they hold the ship?

 

[inkkognito]

Jeanie,
I'm not sure how long they will hold it, but I do remember our departure from Port Canaveral being delayed once due to air delays so it must be true that they at least hold it a while. That was one of our earliest cruises, and I think we left around 5:30 or 6 p.m.
Cindy, you're right about the year round danger! One, in the summer, we were flying from Orlando to Chicago, and thunderstorms cropped up in the Windy City more quickly than they expected. We had to divert and eventualy land in Rockford to refuel, then sit there until the storms were gone. I'll never forget that flight, as I had a sinus infection and the extra take-off and landing were torture. Then, just as our wheels were ready to touch the runway at Midway, the turbo thrusters kicked in and we took off again. The pilot explained that there was an unexpected tail wind, and with Midway's notoriously short runways and a notoriously long 757-300, there was no way we could land safely. We circled around and came in on a different runway, over 6 hours late...ugh!
Before 9/11, we used to fly in the morning of our cruise, but I'm glad we switched now. We usually work on Friday so we don't get in until late, but we still get a lot more sleep than we would trying to catch the first flight out at Midway or O'Hare.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by AnnMorin
than goodness for federal express priority overnight or Mike would have no dress shoes to go with his suit and Jay...well he would have no PANTS

 

[totallytigger]

We originally booked our 2-28-04 cruise directly through DCL but transferred to AAA to take advantage of the free refillable soda mugs---we requested to fly in the day before because of our bad winter weather and it was no problem at all!!

I'm not sure why Chattyaholic was denied this request--DCL seemed very accomodating once I explained that we are considered "southern Canada" rather than upstate NY!!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I noticed if you go through the "motions" of booking with DCL online that it says the air part of the trip only has the option of "same day travel".
Well, we ended up booking with allseastravel and we're going to do our air ourselves- we want to do a little "land/sea pkg" of our own- coming in 2 days early- but with a 7 day cruise! LOL I like the idea of both- but not with a shorter cruise. Just personal choice.. I'd feel rushed to do everything on a shorter cruise and I want some time to relax not rush rush rush.
I wonder if Disney will ever consider 3 day land/7 day cruise pkgs? Then I wouldn't care if the flight had to be "same day". I mean you might lose some time at WDW but you have a better chance of not missing the cruise! Same day is just cutting it too close for me.
And we'd be flying nonstop out of Dallas! BUT... we'll be going in Feb- and although we're not really much of a "snow" state (very very rarely) we do tend to get a lot of ice in Jan/Feb.. and that can affect flights the same, right? We tend to get cold at night/melt during the day/freeze back up at night. So if we get rain late in the evenings- there's sure to be ice in the morning (and perhaps all day if it doesn't warm up enough to melt, ofcourse)

Personally I'd rather have snow than ice, but hey... God doesn't ask me what I want. LOL

Anyway, I think that is VERY good advice not to fly in same day as cruise. I'd be a nervous wreck no matter WHERE I was flying from! My flight in Oct from Dallas was delayed over 6hrs -and there weren't any weather conditions. It was all plane issues, had to change planes waiting for it to arrive/etc. Flight delays/cancellations can happen for any reason- I won't risk missing that cruise!

 

[Alex]

From some recent posts it looks like the cruise that left saturday was held for some air delays. That only applies though if you book DCL air, if you make your own arrangements they aren't going to wait.
I have to believe there is a limit for that too!! They aren't going to wait forever.
All in all I have to agree with Barb, I have done it both ways and it is far more relaxing to come in the day before. On this last cruise we wanted DD to finish the school day so we didn't get into MCO untill after midnite but it was still better than getting up at 5 am for a same day.

 

[KathyTX]

If you want Disney to arrange the air, but you want to specify your flight time/date, you simply purchase the "air deviation."

 

[Alex]

I didn't realize there was such a thing Kathy! What does that cost?

 

[jlawall]

My brother and his family booked with Disney transfers the day of our cruise. His flight got delayed and he didn't arrive in Fl until about 3pm. He took the Disney bus and arrived on the ship at about 4:45pm. We sailed about 15 minutes later.... needless to say 3 of his suitcases didn't make it until we docked in Key West the next day.

We flew in a few days early and arrived at the port at 11am. We were about to board around noon. We enjoyed a virtual "day at sea", obtained our ressies, lunch, unpacked, swam and explored before my brother arrived (and worried about him all afternoon.)

Comparing the two experiences, I will always arrive at least a day early.

 

[disneydebk]

I absolutely agree!

We were on the 12/6 Magic and it snowed pretty heavily in Philly both the day before and on 12/6. I am so glad we flew out 12/5. It didn't matter that we were delayed a few hours on 12/5, but 12/6 would have been a different story....And then to stay at the Hyatt right there in the airport was very convenient too!

 

[KathyTX]

Originally posted by Alex
I didn't realize there was such a thing Kathy! What does that cost?

I haven't used an air deviation with DCL, but they are typically around $75 per person with other cruise lines.

A good travel agent should be able to tell you how this works.

 

[NAT&MAGSMOM]

Barb.....the first time the captain said DE ICE.....I'd be DE GONE....lol

The first four days of my trip report are on the trip report page.

Email you tomorrow...

Phyllis

 

[MrsPete]

Even if you're driving instead of flying, it's smart to arrive a day ahead! We were delayed by more than an hour by a HUGE firey wreck. If we'd been pushed for time, we very well could have "missed the boat" -- literally! A whole tractor trailer truck had burned. Very scary.