Good Reason to Fly in the Night Before!

[Scratch42]

This technically has nothing to do with cruising, but I was just thinking today about how I was kicking the idea around about taking a three day over Easter since we were going to be in FLA anyways. Well Thank Goodness I didn't!

My Carrier, Air Transat, changed the flight by 13 HOURS! So instead of arriving at 9:30 am, we will be arriving at 10:30 pm.!

So for those doubting about goining in the day before, DON'T!

It seems in these times, you never know when your flight will leave!

Scratch

 

[Padre Disney]

GO EARLY,
We drove down for our 3/17 cruise and made sure that we would arrive a day early just in case. Our daughter has a friend at school that was going on the same cruise. When my daughter told me that her friend didn't even leave from home until 6:30 a.m the day of the cruise I was surprised. They weren't even scheduled to get to Orlando until after 1:00. I figure I'm on that ship as soon as I can so I can take in every minute that I paid for.

Anyway it's 5:00 and the ship should be leaving but were not. About 5:15 we notice people running to the ship and 5 minutes later luggage arriving. I think we left almost around 5:30 that day. GUESS who was showing up. YEP my daughters friend. Their flight had been delayed due to weather in Chicago. YIKES.
I have to wonder if they had trip insurance through DCL. Would DCL have held the ship if they would have had insurance through someone other than DCL or no insurance at all?????? I think there were 2 or 3 other families that got on in Grand Cayman. I would much rather go early and give my self extra time if needed then to miss one moment on that wonderful ship.

 

[Bev J]

This happened to some friends of ours. We were a group of 14, most of us went up the day before and had a nice start to our vacation. 3 of the group came the day of the cruise, we kept looking for them and soon it was time for the ship to leave, the captian announced that the ship was delayed in leaving, our friends fininally showed up 30 min later running all the way. Their luggage showed up 3 days later. Not a pleasant way to start a long awaited trip. We always arrive the day before the ship leaves unless it is out of the country then we go 2 days before. It is a small price to pay and it is so nice to start your vacation rested and ahead of schedule.

 

[Padre Disney]

Hey Bev J I am a Bev J also. Last name Johnson by marriage how about you.

 

[Bev J]

Hey, I am Bev Johnson also, there are many of us out there!

 

[tecdavidt]

We learned the hard way to fly in a day early. Our first cruise, a Carnival 3 day, ended up being a 2 nighter for us. We missed the ship because of a blizzard in St. Louis. No trip insurance but Carnival did put us up in a hotel and made flight arrangements to Nassau but we paid for the flight. They even paid for our meals. Our first DCL cruise we left so early in the morning we were dead tired the entire day! From then on it was fly in the day before, you never know what the airlines will do.

Our cruise Spring Break '02 we planned a day at Epcot. Our flight out of Des Moines had problems and instead of leaving at 7:30 am we took off when we should of been landing in Orlando . We had DCL trip insurance and our room at the Hyatt was paid for. We ended up spending 7 hours in St. Louis until the 7:00 pm flight to Orlando. First Class!!! Yes, we ended up in first class because that is all they had left. There were 5 of us on that cruise. Thank goodness for trip insurance and flying in early. So you just never know. Kathy

 

[Padre Disney]

Hey Kathy,
Have you checked out the 3/20/04 thread. We have a big group going again.

 

[Verandah Man]

We had a 7:00am flight scheduled for the morning of our cruise from Atlantic City to MCO, but thanks to these wonderful boards, we changed our flight last week, we will now arrive Friday night, and stay at the Radisson, where I found out several other DIS famiies are staying, we have now planned a DISmeet for around the pool Friday evening. I sure wouldn't want to be one of those people running for the ship at 5:00

 

[inkkognito]

Go early, go early, go early!!!
Prior to 9/11, we always used to fly in the day of our cruise. We never had a problem, but I think that's due to an amazing streal of luck, especially since many of our cruises are in the winter and we live in snow-prone Chicago.
After 9/11 and the subsequent increase in security and accompanying delays, we started flying out Weds. night for our Thurs. cruises. It really doesn't cost that much more. We fly out after work so we don't use a vacation day, and we get an MCO-area hotel via Priceline (typically the MCO Marriott for around $28). Then we get a good night's sleep and have Happy Limo pick us up the next morning for an early arrival at the port. It is so much less stressful that worrying about weather, traffic, flight delays, etc. We always feel like our trip has officially started when we've standing at the pick-up area waiting for the hotel shuttle, knowing that we have arrived safely and with plenty of time...we're off to Disney dreams in anticipation of the next day's cruise.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[tezb]

Coming from the WEst Coast, we really have no choice but to fly in the night before. We are 3 hrs behind and by the time a flight arrived in Orlando on Saturday, it would be too late. More expensive this way but it's something we just do for peace of mind.

 

[mmouse37]

We have to fly into MCO on the morning of our cruise in May....I am just keeping our fingers crossed there are no delays.

I am a bit worred because we are booked on Delta Express and I just checked my reservations online and saw the flight #changed and the name of the airline!!! I called Delta and they just started a new airline called Song and they switched us to that airline. They start their service on 4/15 but their first trip from JFK to MCO is 5/10.....we fly/sail 5/17. I hope a week is enough to work out the kinks!!

Another thing is that at least Delta gave you beverages and a snack onboard...we all know airline food has gone down hill, but hey, a bag of pretzels could hit the spot at times. With this new Song airline you get complimentary beverages put you pay for food onboard!!

I think I'll pack my own bagel for our morning flight!! Anyone else have any other info on Song. I checked out their website at www.flysong.com . I guess I'll have to wait to see how they do after they start service.

MJ

 

[alexturner74]

Yes, Song is replacing Delta Express, but the concept is the same. However, it will be much similar service to Jet Blue (although the entertainment systems won't actually be operational until later in the year).

Just to clarify, the food that you will be able to buy on board will not be the peanuts or snack mix that are typically given out on Delta flights. It will be name brand type items, exactly of which, I do not know at this time. On their website, they have a poll asking flyers what type of food they would like to be able to purchase: sandwiches, salads, wraps, yogurt, juices, breakfast bars, chips, candy, etc...

 

[mmouse37]

So then there will a regular Delta and Song....no more Delta Express...got it!!!

Yes, I saw that they would be offering more upscale food for sale. I do like the fact that each seat has 33 inches of legroom and every seat is leather!!

MJ