From WDW to DL With Love - January 06, 2011 part 2

[DCLtravler]

Well wait a sec Alan, what if they paid for the business thing (boards A1-15)? That would ensure them early boarding and an emergecy exit. Well as must ensuring as you can get on SW for a certain seat.

Or paying the $20 (?) extra to be able to check in earlier than everyone else?--That way you could get the cheapest SW flights and still be able to check in before all but business. If you don't have much in the carry-on department, the front seats have tons of leg room...I'm 5'9 and I have to completely stretch my legs out in front of me in order to touch the wall.

 

[JenKatt]

Just a thought Alan, I fly SW so infrequently I knew there was something, but wasn't sure what....

 

[WDW Princess 71]

Have you checked price for a RT? When I used to travel for work I'd fly back and forth to the same location week after week. I'd get a RT for the weekend between work site and home, but for that final trip home it was often less expensive to get a RT ticket and not use the return than to get a one way. Just a thought.

I checked roundtrip, putting in random dates of course--it came out to $500, plus the $100 one way i need to MCO, so it would be $600 total, which is better than $800 of course but still not great. So it looks like my options are waiting until Southwest fares come out (Alan, does SW fly nonstop from LAX to PHL?), do a connecting flight, or drive down to San Diego and fly home nonstop from there--the connecting flight and the San Diego option would put my total roundtrip fare around $400, which is what I was expecting. When I lived in San Diego from 04-07, I flew back and forth to PHL 50,000 miles/year and always had fares ranging $375-$425 r/t, so thats what I'm shooting for. If I had to choose between the LAX connecting option and driving to SD, I'll drive to SD- its such a short, familiar drive for me and I also like to visit back there whenever I can, and we'll have a rental car so it should be fine. Thank you for the suggestion though--I never thought of that, and it couldnt hurt to check.

 

[aan1701]

Just a thought Alan, I fly SW so infrequently I knew there was something, but wasn't sure what....

See shows no one is perfect. LOL. Just kidding. Also as another person mentioned the paying us for the Early Bird check in. That won't gaurente exit row as well because our "A" list members will still be ahead of the Early Birds.

 

[aan1701]

Alan, does SW fly nonstop from LAX to PHL?

Not at this time we do not.

 

[sak0526]

thanks alan. kinda what i figured but wanted to ask.

 

[ChipperMerlin]

Had an interesting experience today. I found out this afternoon that I needed to be in London on June 22nd, so pulled up the fare for United from San Francisco to Heathrow, leaving on the 18th and returning on the 25th. Can you believe it was $4231!!!! This was before all the taxes, airport charges, etc, were added in. Yikes! I hustled down to my travel agent, who found a $1685 - before fees - flight on American, with a layover in New York. As we were looking at hotels, a $1355 non-stop flight on United popped up. Needless to say, I took it. By the time all the taxes were added, the ticket came to $1732. Since all my frequent flyer miles are with either United or SWA, I'm even happier. I can sleep on the way over, as we leave here at 1:09 pm and arrive the next morning at 7:30 am.

I am glad I visited my TA - saving myself almost $2900. I'm still flying "steerage," or as a friend calls it, "last class." But I will be in London instead of in Mountain View. When you don't have a 21-day - or even a 14-day - advance purchase window, you might want to check with your TA for the best rates.

 

[LindaBabe]

Well everyone - it is hump day! DH has gone to work at Boy Scout camp for the summer so he won't be home except for weekends and then not all of them until August. Just the dogs and me - what fun.

Take care and have a good rest of the week.

Lots of scrapping time for you, Missy! I'm green with envy

Had an interesting experience today. I found out this afternoon that I needed to be in London on June 22nd, so pulled up the fare for United from San Francisco to Heathrow, leaving on the 18th and returning on the 25th. Can you believe it was $4231!!!! This was before all the taxes, airport charges, etc, were added in. Yikes! I hustled down to my travel agent, who found a $1685 - before fees - flight on American, with a layover in New York. As we were looking at hotels, a $1355 non-stop flight on United popped up. Needless to say, I took it. By the time all the taxes were added, the ticket came to $1732. Since all my frequent flyer miles are with either United or SWA, I'm even happier. I can sleep on the way over, as we leave here at 1:09 pm and arrive the next morning at 7:30 am.

I am glad I visited my TA - saving myself almost $2900. I'm still flying "steerage," or as a friend calls it, "last class." But I will be in London instead of in Mountain View. When you don't have a 21-day - or even a 14-day - advance purchase window, you might want to check with your TA for the best rates.

Good deal on the savings! Remember Thornton's fruit and nut toffee! YUMmmmmmm

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Hi there.

I am Stuart and my wife is Melissa and we'll be on this cruise as well. Hope to meet some of you on board.

I tried to PM TigFanJeff however the site wouldn't seem to let me because I am a newbie on here.

Anyway, looking forward to the trip. This will be our 12th cruise w/ Disney.

welcome

you know why we all seem to know each other? Because we've spent way too much time on this thread for over 9 months ! Trust me, we were mostly strangers to start with - and some of us continue to be stranger than others

very funny

HI! Well we are getting excited!!!

Looking for friends on the Panama Canal cruise!

Our DS will have his 4th birthday while on the cruise. My DH and his mom dad and brother are also joining us!!

I am about to order our fish extender!

This is the first time I will be participating in a cruise meet so I need a little help in how it is done.

Thanks

c

welcome also
We are Lynne and Leonard from scotland.

Looked at our thread and thought, "Man, there are SSSOOO many newbies! I don't recognize anyone! Wow!" Then I realized I was on the wrong thread!!!

Anyway, Stuart and Melissa & Cindy and Family! Glad to have you along!

you daftie

Got em now. Will add to the "to do" list

That list just keeps getting bigger.

 

[granmaz]

Does anyone have any inkling when DL hotels might be available for booking for the period after the cruise?

 

[WeLuvDCL]

For all my fellow cruisers with OCPD (obsessive cruise planning disorder)

http://allears.net/cruise/dcl_repo1.htm

http://land.allears.net/blogs/debwills/2008/05/day_1_embarkation_disney_magic.html

 

[granmaz]

For all my fellow cruisers with OCPD (obsessive cruise planning disorder)

http://allears.net/cruise/dcl_repo1.htm

http://land.allears.net/blogs/debwills/2008/05/day_1_embarkation_disney_magic.html

Thanks for the links. We were on the '08 PC, and I remember reading Deb's blog when we returned. It has been great just re living it too. There is a very unflattering back view photo of me and John in there somewhere.

 

[WDW Princess 71]

Does anyone have any inkling when DL hotels might be available for booking for the period after the cruise?

Most likely WDW and DL hotels will be available to book in August. I am not 100% sure about DL ones, but I know for a fact that you can book WDW hotels before the rates are released by booking "room only" and paying a one-night deposit equal to the highest possible room rate--we always do that when we book our Yacht Club Lagoon View Club Level rooms over a year in advance, because there are so few rooms in that category. We usually have to pay around $850 for the one night deposit, and then of course when the actual rates are released, your actual room rate per night is much lower if you are going during a regular time period like we do. They just make you pay the one night deposit equal to the highest rate since they dont know what the new year's rates will be. I would imagine DL works the same way but I only have direct experience doing it for WDW.

My wonderful TA from DU said there will be plenty of availability by regular booking time in August for me to book my DL hotel, so I'm not worried about doing it now.

 

[granmaz]

Thanks.

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

Does anyone have any inkling when DL hotels might be available for booking for the period after the cruise?

Disney is to release the dates in August. I do not think there will be any problem during that time of year..on the slower side.

I am kind of MIA for a couple of days here...going to check in when I can. We could not afford a vacation this summer so DH took a few days off and we are going around to places we have never been locally. A stay-cation! Yesterday was the Redondo Beach Boardwalk, the Santa Monica Pier.. a place called Camera Obscura in Santa Monica and a diner we saw on Drive ins, Diners and Dives..callthe Nickel Diner in Los Angeles... they have a maple bacon donut (we LOVE bacon!) Today we are heading out for a cruise around Long Beach Harbor. We have to get home early today because my DD is being honored tonight at her GS award ceremony for achieving the Silver Award and for being the top seller for cookies this year for our area.

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

Most likely WDW and DL hotels will be available to book in August. I am not 100% sure about DL ones, but I know for a fact that you can book WDW hotels before the rates are released by booking "room only" and paying a one-night deposit equal to the highest possible room rate--we always do that when we book our Yacht Club Lagoon View Club Level rooms over a year in advance, because there are so few rooms in that category. We usually have to pay around $850 for the one night deposit, and then of course when the actual rates are released, your actual room rate per night is much lower if you are going during a regular time period like we do. They just make you pay the one night deposit equal to the highest rate since they dont know what the new year's rates will be. I would imagine DL works the same way but I only have direct experience doing it for WDW.

My wonderful TA from DU said there will be plenty of availability by regular booking time in August for me to book my DL hotel, so I'm not worried about doing it now.

See...this is why I should read the rest of the thread before replying to anything! Sorry!

 

[DCLtravler]

Good morning,
I am in the process of deciding what kinds of things I would like to bring for FE's for everyone. Based on the size of this group, I thought I would try to get a head start and begin budgeting for this endeavor. So...Here is my question: I know this is not exact and I understand that we cannot finalize the exact number until final payment, but I was wondering if I decided to buy multiple gifts to give to the room (not individuals) every 2-3 days, do you think planning for 100 of everything would be enough?

 

[Tami0220]

I've never done FE before but I am assuming with a group as large as ours you would be fine with only 1 delivery to the room. I have heard that it can be quite a hassle delivering to all rooms on 1 day. So if you are planning multiple trips to each participating room you wont have much time for yourself. I, too, have made room, not individual gifts. I have made 110 just in case, if less participate I will put more in the ones that do participate. I plan on doing one deck each day till they are done. Or maybe I'll make it an all nighter and do them like the tooth fairy.

 

[JenKatt]

When we did the magnets the first PC cruise, it didn't take all day. Jeff and I started on Deck 8 and worked our way down. We were done in a couple of hours.
It does take time, but it's really not that bad.

 

[DCLtravler]

I've never done FE before but I am assuming with a group as large as ours you would be fine with only 1 delivery to the room. I have heard that it can be quite a hassle delivering to all rooms on 1 day. So if you are planning multiple trips to each participating room you wont have much time for yourself. I, too, have made room, not individual gifts. I have made 110 just in case, if less participate I will put more in the ones that do participate. I plan on doing one deck each day till they are done. Or maybe I'll make it an all nighter and do them like the tooth fairy.

Ooooo...I like the tooth fairy concept! My DD loves to stay up late, so we would have a great time wandering the ship in the middle of the night