Getting From Orlando to Dover

[inkkognito]

I know this is a bit opposite, but I am in Orlando and need UK experts to tell me the best way to get from Disney World to Dover. I'm hoping to one of the Disney cruises in 2010 which would leave from Dover and so far I haven't been able to find an airline flying there. Do I fly into a different city and take a bus or transfer? What airport would be my best bet? How far would it be? What are good airlines and airlines to avoid? Sorry to be so clueless but this is all new to me...I'm VERY excited about the prospect of visiting England and the European capitals on this cruise but it will all be new territory.

 

[Claire L]

London Gatwick would be the best and from Orlando you could fly direct with British Airways or Virgin Atlantic. Once at Gatwick I would get the train to London Victoria and change there to a train to Dover, once at Dover railway station can get a bus or a taxi. You would have to land one day in Gatwick and stay overnight probably in London or Dover to get to the port for the afternoon boarding.

Claire

 

[wickesy]

There is no international airport at Dover so you would probably be better off flying in to London Gatwick or London Heathrow. Unless anybody knows of any direct bus services I think you would then need to get a train into Central London and then a train or bus from there to Dover.

Virgin Atlantic and British Airways are the two main UK airlines with a scheduled service from Orlando to London although a lot of people find it cheaper to fly indirect with one of the US airlines.

By the way I love the line about life in your signature.

 

[UKDEB]

Yes, London Gatwick is the closest international airport. London Heathrow wouldn't be too much further to travel, but if you're flying from Orlando, the two scheduled airlines (Virgin and British Airways) both fly into Gatwick.

 

[inkkognito]

I like the idea of the direct flights so I think we will choose Gatwick. I'm guessing that Disney might run bus service to Dover so we'll go that route if they do...if not, it looks like there are enough other options. I'm soooo excited...it's gonna be hard to wait almost two years!

 

[disneyholic family]

I like the idea of the direct flights so I think we will choose Gatwick. I'm guessing that Disney might run bus service to Dover so we'll go that route if they do...if not, it looks like there are enough other options. I'm soooo excited...it's gonna be hard to wait almost two years!

i think you're right that disney will make arrangements for port transfers...

which one are you thinking of doing? tallin or helsinki? (they seem to be identical except for that)...

i'd love to do one of them, but i don't know if DH can do a 12 day cruise.....

if he has good computer/cellphone connections, he can be anywhere...

 

[inkkognito]

We're looking for Tallin because the date falls on the 4th of July holiday, which means less vacation days. I will most definitely be working during the trip...thank goodness for laptops and wireless!

 

[Andy B]

Transatlantic flights are mostly overnight so you may well find you arrive at about 9am and would have time to get to Dover the same day. Once through the airport about 40 mins by train to London and then less than 2 hours to Dover probably quicker.

 

[disneyholic family]

We're looking for Tallin because the date falls on the 4th of July holiday, which means less vacation days. I will most definitely be working during the trip...thank goodness for laptops and wireless!

that makes sense...
i think our first cruise (the one we met you and tony on) was over the 4th of july....i chose it for that reason....easier for DH in terms of being out of touch....at that time, cellphone connections weren't good at all on board..

i wonder if they've improved....

 

[tink too]

Transatlantic flights are mostly overnight so you may well find you arrive at about 9am and would have time to get to Dover the same day. Once through the airport about 40 mins by train to London and then less than 2 hours to Dover probably quicker.

Although that's true, I'd be afraid I'd miss the boat if we cut it that close! Especially if there was any delay at all with the flight leaving Orlando. Plus it might help to fly in a day or two early to avoid/minimise jetlag.

I'm gonna try to talk DH round for the return transatlantic because we would be travelling over DH and DD's birthdays.

 

[Claire L]

Although that's true, I'd be afraid I'd miss the boat if we cut it that close! Especially if there was any delay at all with the flight leaving Orlando. Plus it might help to fly in a day or two early to avoid/minimise jetlag.

I was thinking the same you never know when a flight may be late or cancelled. Giving the overnight stop will also leave you feeling more refreshed for arriving at the ship.

Claire

 

[Andrew Bichard]

To add to what you have already been told...

Bookmark this Link It's a link to the National Rail timetables and ticket booking site.

You will see that you can get from Gatwick Airport to Dover with one change at Tonbridge Wells in either 2 hours 17 minutes or 2 hours 36 minute depending on what time you depart Gatwick. This would be faster than going into London to change to the Dover train.

There are also fast express rail services Heathrow airport (LHR) to London and Gatwick airport (LGW) to London, if you want to spend a few days in central London before or after your cruise.

By road Gatwick to Dover is about 80 miles by motorway (freeway) - 1hour 15 minutes drive. A one way car rental, a limo service, or even a taxi might work for you. If you take local roads the journey would be shorter, much more scenic, but would take longer. (there are taxi/limo companies based at Gatwick, just as there are at MCO, that will meet you off your flight and take you to Dover or to London for an agreed fixed price)

If you are using a Disney provided transfer, check with them first as they might be picking up guests from Heathrow as well as Gatwick.

According to the itinerary for my next trip to WDW, I leave MCO at 18:05 on VS08, arrive LGW 06:55 I would allow a maximum of 2 hours for baggage reclaim, immigration & customs so you should be on the road by 9am and in Dover before lunch.

On your return to Orlando, the flights leave earlier in the day, 11am and 1pm, with at least two hours before that for check-in, security & passport control. I always arrive Gatwick the night before and stay at one of the two airport hotewls (Hilton or Sofitil) Hilton is most convenient for Virgin because it is at the right terminal.

Hint ... they have beds in the 'pointy end' of the aircraft so you arrive with the minimum of jet-lag.

Andrew

 

[Claire L]

To add to what you have already been told..

According to the itinerary for my next trip to WDW, I leave MCO at 18:05 on VS08, arrive LGW 06:55 I would allow a maximum of 2 hours for baggage reclaim, immigration & customs so you should be on the road by 9am and in Dover before lunch.

Andrew

Do you not mean the VS028? As the VS08 leaves from LAX to LHR?

Claire

 

[disneyholic family]

Although that's true, I'd be afraid I'd miss the boat if we cut it that close! Especially if there was any delay at all with the flight leaving Orlando. Plus it might help to fly in a day or two early to avoid/minimise jetlag.

I'm gonna try to talk DH round for the return transatlantic because we would be travelling over DH and DD's birthdays.

very good point.....
this is why for our two disney cruises out of port canaveral, we flew to the US several days early...
i wanted a big buffer of time in case of airport strikes/airline strikes/weather/mechanical difficulties....

our first cruise was on a thursday - we arrived in Orlando on monday and spent a few days in WDW first.....but it wasn't so that we would have time at WDW since i had WDW scheduled for after the cruise....

the early arrival in the US was specifically to have buffer of time in case of whatever happening en route...

as it turned out, nothing got in our way, but i was much calmer in advance of the trip..

our second cruise was a land/sea, with the land portion first....but even in that case, i had us arrive a few days early........

i've been held up too many times on the way to the states due to strikes/weather/techinical malfunctions, to cut it so close as to schedule our arrival the day before a cruise...

the people coming from the states for the european cruises would do well to do the same...

 

[Andrew Bichard]

Do you not mean the VS028? As the VS08 leaves from LAX to LHR?

Claire

Yes VS028, not VS08.

I am having trouble with my new keyboard, which often misses occasional characters if I don't hit the keys hard enough.

Andrew