From WDW To DL With Love - January 06, 2011

[Shoshie]

I agree go with Riverside. You won't even be able to use the pool (unless you're from Canada and then you might think it's warm enough). And Riverside if just wonderful!

I just wish Boatwrights was still open for Breakfast -- their Banana-Stuffed French Toast was THE BEST

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Is riverside a hotel?

 

[Shoshie]

Is riverside a hotel?

Yup -- Port Orleans Riverside (was called Dixie Landings at one point). It is the picture in my countdown sig.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Yup -- Port Orleans Riverside (was called Dixie Landings at one point). It is the picture in my countdown sig.

we went there when we were 1st married nearly 15 years ago !!! Is it just the same?
We loved it.was very special, I thought you guys were talking about cocoa beach area.

 

[Tigfanjeff]

There is only one direct every day on American from LAX to Orlando and it lands in the afternoon.... we might take that one (I'm an AA Gold advantage so we can book exit rows).

I get CM rates at WDW so we're staying on property (Port Orleans Riverside, Yacht or Beach) the night before.

If you want a red eye, Delta has a direct one to Tampa and it's only an hour up to Disney. Dirt cheap too ($150 o/w)

 

[Tigfanjeff]

Yup -- Port Orleans Riverside (was called Dixie Landings at one point). It is the picture in my countdown sig.

Request a room in the Bayou. Much nicer IMO.

 

[aan1701]

Request a room in the Bayou. Much nicer IMO.

Funny, my wife and I allways requested Magnolia bend. Never cared much for the Aligator Bayou.

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

Wish we could meet up on Monday...we are close enough but my car will be in the shop and not sure we will be out in time to meet up.

Not sure how long we will be spending in WDW before the cruise.. probably only 2 nights...we will have DVC so will stay in our usual Beach Club I expect. I have the hotel by the port booked too...just can't decide yet..have a little bit of time still.

 

[goofprincess]

Hello Fellow California Cruisers!! I am here at PP. I am here with family friends celebrating two November birthdays. Heard from DH who made it to Australia. Strange being down here at the park without him!! If wanting to meet up PM me your cell # . I am wandering around on my own Monday morning and would enjoy company. I'm going in early admission in morning to scope things out re Cmas decorations, parade filming etc. I'll post again soon with update. If I weren't so tired I would go down to the pool deck to watch fireworks. Oh well always tomorrow night.

 

[danfromca]

Fellow CA cruisers - anyone have a guess as to the flight schedules to Orlando? We have usually flown from Oakland direct to Orlando - flight always arrived in the early evening and we stay at the port. Still debating on the Hyatt MCO or the Port - What is everyone else doing?? Port DIS Meet!!?

The airlines have developed very sophisticated schedules from the Bay Area to Orlando. There are basically three options:
1. Wake up insanely early in the morning to catch a ridiculously early flight that will ultimately get you to your hotel in Orlando in time for a late dinner by which time you will be starving.
2. Catch a morning flight that will get you in to Orlando starving, 30 minutes after every possible restaurant has closed except for Hooters and Dennys.
3. Catch a red-eye flight that will get you into Orlando early in the morning exhausted and hungry, so you can wait in a hotel lobby praying for a room to be ready (any minute now, really....)....

Seriously though...
1. You want to arrive 2 days before the cruise. First, becuase it makes it virtually certain your luggage will arrive (I can assure you, from personal experience, that a cruise without luggage is... challenging). Second, because Islands of Adventure will have the new Harry Potter world open by then - how can anyone resist that?

2. Consider flying SouthWest. Yes, the flight is boring because they have no entertainment system, but they give you the best flexibility (no change fees) and the best deals on luggage.

 

[Shoshie]

If you want a red eye, Delta has a direct one to Tampa and it's only an hour up to Disney. Dirt cheap too ($150 o/w)

We can do a red eye to Miami -- then to Orlando -- but I think we want the luxury of the day before. plus, I'm a princess and I like my exit row

And we requested Magnolia Bend or Acadian House for next weekend (yay!)

 

[Carys]

We LOVE Riverside, I've had three stays there, each time over a week in length. Great value for a moderate resort, beautiful mature foliage that just relaxes you as soon as you start walking to your room. Plenty of quiet pools. Boat to DTD. We've had good luck with the buses. Pianoman Bob in the bar! So many great things about this resort.

Food court has some delicious good value options too, we split one single choose-your-own pasta order as a light meal between three adults when we got off the cruise this year. That was our last light meal due to the excesses of the DxDP!

 

[aan1701]

The airlines have developed very sophisticated schedules from the Bay Area to Orlando. There are basically three options:
1. Wake up insanely early in the morning to catch a ridiculously early flight that will ultimately get you to your hotel in Orlando in time for a late dinner by which time you will be starving.
2. Catch a morning flight that will get you in to Orlando starving, 30 minutes after every possible restaurant has closed except for Hooters and Dennys.
3. Catch a red-eye flight that will get you into Orlando early in the morning exhausted and hungry, so you can wait in a hotel lobby praying for a room to be ready (any minute now, really....)....

Seriously though...
1. You want to arrive 2 days before the cruise. First, becuase it makes it virtually certain your luggage will arrive (I can assure you, from personal experience, that a cruise without luggage is... challenging). Second, because Islands of Adventure will have the new Harry Potter world open by then - how can anyone resist that?

2. Consider flying SouthWest. Yes, the flight is boring because they have no entertainment system, but they give you the best flexibility (no change fees) and the best deals on luggage.

Thanks for the plug. I work for southwest.

 

[shushh]

Wow. you blink and suddenly you're behind on the thread! Glad to hear that everyone loves PO Riverside cause that's where we're staying when we head over to WDW in Dec 2010!

 

[LindaBabe]

Thanks for the plug. I work for southwest.

One of my reasons for switching from the westbound TA to the PC was . . . Southwest doesn't fly to Spain! (I *HATE* to fly)

 

[aan1701]

One of my reasons for switching from the westbound TA to the PC was . . . Southwest doesn't fly to Spain! (I *HATE* to fly)

That's funny. I love it. Have fun on your cruise next week. You know I work at LAX with photocjr. He works our Ramp. He is with you on your Douple Dip next week.

 

[Carys]

Southwest flies out of LAX? We will probably book return international flights to LAX and then a one way to MCO, we will have to check out SW when the time comes to book - thanks for the recommendation everyone!

 

[aan1701]

Southwest flies out of LAX? We will probably book return international flights to LAX and then a one way to MCO, we will have to check out SW when the time comes to book - thanks for the recommendation everyone!

We shure do fly out of LAX. No non stops to Orlando though. Most of the time you have to stop once and change planes. Sometimes there is a direct, you stop but do not change planes, but these days that seems rare.

 

[danfromca]

Thanks for the plug. I work for southwest.

Any time. Now, about the lack of entertainment systems...

 

[aan1701]

Any time. Now, about the lack of entertainment systems...

You know we did a study on that. We figure why spend the money to outfit the planes with that stuff. Since most people, not all but most, travel with some type of entertainment ( Like a labtop, portable DVD, iPods, ect.) why bother. We are instalung wi-fi in all the planes and it should be done by next year. There will be a cost to use the wi-fi.