From WDW To DL With Love - January 06, 2011

[ACDSNY]

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.

Love it! That about sums up the flight choices.

The same goes for Sacramento, that's why we're leaving on a 6AM flight to Orlando in the morning. No sleep for us tonight.

 

[LivingtheWDWdream]

Sadly folks, my mother and I have had to make the tough choice not to go on this cruise, my mother isn't sure what she will have for a job thanks to the economy by then and my work won't allow for more then 7 days at 1 time for vacation days so we are going to be booking for a shorter cruise but on the Dream instead

Have a great time ya'll!

 

[CruznLexi]

We are very excited that SW will be coming to Panama city in May and can fly SW home! Have not flown them in a while but will be glad to once they come here!

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Sadly folks, my mother and I have had to make the tough choice not to go on this cruise, my mother isn't sure what she will have for a job thanks to the economy by then and my work won't allow for more then 7 days at 1 time for vacation days so we are going to be booking for a shorter cruise but on the Dream instead

Have a great time ya'll!

I am sorry you wont make it but enjoy the dream

 

[granmaz]

Sadly folks, my mother and I have had to make the tough choice not to go on this cruise, my mother isn't sure what she will have for a job thanks to the economy by then and my work won't allow for more then 7 days at 1 time for vacation days so we are going to be booking for a shorter cruise but on the Dream instead

Have a great time ya'll!

I'm sorry you won't be on the cruise. You had to cancel the last PC one too so we missed meeting then also. I'm sure the Dream will be wonderful though.

 

[danfromca]

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.

Fair enough. If you were going to spend the extra money, I'd say give us an extra 1/2" of leg room (I'm 6'2 - there's never enough leg-room - and yes, I'd pay extra for a few inches -as compared to paying to get on the plane faster).

 

[aan1701]

Fair enough. If you were going to spend the extra money, I'd say give us an extra 1/2" of leg room (I'm 6'2 - there's never enough leg-room - and yes, I'd pay extra for a few inches -as compared to paying to get on the plane faster).

Now that I don't see happening. If we did I think we would lose six seats per aircraft, and since we are trying to put as many as we can on, it does not make sence. As I recall, American tried your idea. They have since put in the orginal seat configuration.

 

[goofprincess]

Yesterday at park was fun. Crowds thinned out after parade filming. They were filming the crowds who pretended to see the parade. Lots of Christmas hats and red shirts!!! Don't know what's up today or when actual parade will take place.

Birthday cebration cute. We frosted and decorated our own mini cake. Got picture with Mickey and Minnie. I was expecting more characters. Budget cuts I suppose.

 

[tinkryansmom]

Love it! That about sums up the flight choices.

The same goes for Sacramento, that's why we're leaving on a 6AM flight to Orlando in the morning. No sleep for us tonight.

LOL I love the Bay Area flight summary. Yep, when we lived in Tracy it was up at 4 am off to Oakland direct to Orlando at 6 am via Southwest. Arrive - starving and attempt to find dinner - usually at the hotel.

Thanks for the other flight info from LAX.

OK off to Disneyland!! have cell # for GoofPrincess so hope to meet up with her on Monday.

Take care everyone!!

 

[danfromca]

Now that I don't see happening. If we did I think we would lose six seats per aircraft, and since we are trying to put as many as we can on, it does not make sence. As I recall, American tried your idea. They have since put in the orginal seat configuration.

And there were quite a few times I flew American just because of the improved seating

 

[aan1701]

And there were quite a few times I flew American just because of the improved seating

See and now not only are they back to the orginal seating, but you need to pay to send your bags. Kind of a raw deal if you ask me.

 

[Shoshie]

See and now not only are they back to the orginal seating, but you need to pay to send your bags. Kind of a raw deal if you ask me.

Not if you are a gold member

 

[aan1701]

Not if you are a gold member

Ah, but how many are Gold members?

 

[goofprincess]

LOL I love the Bay Area flight summary. Yep, when we lived in Tracy it was up at 4 am off to Oakland direct to Orlando at 6 am via Southwest. Arrive - starving and attempt to find dinner - usually at the hotel.

Thanks for the other flight info from LAX.

OK off to Disneyland!! have cell # for GoofPrincess so hope to meet up with her on Monday.

Take care everyone!!

Spent majority of day in DCA. Got my Visa picture with Chip and Dale and gave them my Southwest peanuts!!!! Got some great pics with Muckey and Minnie and Goofy. Heard that Stevie Wonder was performing on stage in front of the castle. I miss DH running around getting fast passes.

Looking forward to a Mickey waffle in the morning. Tinkryansmom and I are trying to meet up

 

[aan1701]

Spent majority of day in DCA. Got my Visa picture with Chip and Dale and gave them my Southwest peanuts!!!! Got some great pics with Muckey and Minnie and Goofy. Heard that Stevie Wonder was performing on stage in front of the castle. I miss DH running around getting fast passes.

Looking forward to a Mickey waffle in the morning. Tinkryansmom and I are trying to meet up

Sounds like someone is having fun.

 

[Tami0220]

Tomorrow morning is DH's triple bypass surgery. I will be out of sorts for awhile and know I will have lots of catching up to do when I can find time to read this board. Please be thinking of us. I realize it's almost routine surgery these days, but DH and I are very close. In 25 years have only spent a few nights apart. He will be in hospital for almost a week, the most we have ever spent apart. I know I have lots of people praying and sprinkling pixie dust for us. Talk to you soon

 

[WeLuvDCL]

Tomorrow morning is DH's triple bypass surgery. I will be out of sorts for awhile and know I will have lots of catching up to do when I can find time to read this board. Please be thinking of us. I realize it's almost routine surgery these days, but DH and I are very close. In 25 years have only spent a few nights apart. He will be in hospital for almost a week, the most we have ever spent apart. I know I have lots of people praying and sprinkling pixie dust for us. Talk to you soon

We will be praying for him.

My 90yo GFIL had bypass surgery 2 years ago and they told us he recovered quicker that some 50-60yo that have the surgery. You can't keep a good man down!

You should get him some Panama Canal and Disney books for reading while in the hospital.

 

[Shoshie]

Ah, but how many are Gold members?

Based on what I can gather from loading procedures .... there are plenty

I will have to check ... Gold is the lowest tier -- there is also Platinum and Exec Platinum (my mom and stepfather)....

Tami: hugs & prayers!

 

[CruznLexi]

Where should I stay precruise? I can stay at our DVC home AKV or Radison at the Port?
Lexi

 

[ibouncetoo]

Yesterday at park was fun. Crowds thinned out after parade filming. They were filming the crowds who pretended to see the parade. Lots of Christmas hats and red shirts!!! Don't know what's up today or when actual parade will take place.

Birthday cebration cute. We frosted and decorated our own mini cake. Got picture with Mickey and Minnie. I was expecting more characters. Budget cuts I suppose.

Wasn't Saturday a glorious day! We upgraded my birthday pass to a park hopper and the whole gaggle of us trounced back and forth. I finally got to ride Toy Story Mania. Had I not been traveling with an entourage, I'd have tried to meet up, but I knew that would have been a nightmare to coordinate. I went a bit insane just keeping track of my crowd.