Has anyone flown in from L.A. the day before?

[monkeygirl]

Has anyone flown in the day before from L.A. with the Disney Vacations Air Program? It says it has a complimentary hotel stay in a non-Disney hotel. I was wondering if anyone knew which one it was.

Thanks!!

 

[rsjj]

we will be, but not using their air program. we booked our own air & hotel stay. turned out cheaper that way, and we got to pick our own flight times...cuz i read/heard that with disney's air program, you won't have much choice in flight times. and we have little ones, so we wanted that flexibility!

your TA might be able to suggest something...that's what ours did, when i opted out of disney's air program.

let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[din]

We are not from LA but up from bay area. Like rsjj we also book our own flight and hotel. More control on times and location.

I would guess that Disney will put you up in the Hyatt in the airport. When we stayed there there once, (booked our own) and there were many DCL cruisers. It is convinent as it is in the airport and in the morning if you tell the front desk that you are DCL they will pick you bags up from you room and it will appear in your state room on the ship (don't forget the bag tags in the morning).

If you are using DCL transport, go down to the fountain area in the airpot by the entrance to Hyatt and you will see the DCL transportation CM.

If you are using you own limo catch the elevator down to the ground level and they will be waiting for you there. As least ours did.

 

[goingbacksoon]

Flying in from LA, it's almost obligatory that you fly in the night before, unless an 11PM departure is in your future. With that said, we booked our own air because orbitz and expedia are cheaper than DCL air. We stayed in Downtown Disney (Formerly the Courtyard, now Holiday Inn) and had some dinner and did some shopping. From there, we met the bus the next morning at PO Riverside.

I liked the DD stay, because we were able to relax and have some time for a leisurely day-before-DCL.

This time, we are doing the priceline gamble for an MCO hotel.

goingbacksoon

Oh and shout out to Californians!

Where are you at in the east bay, din? I am from there originally

 

[TootyJane]

Originally posted by monkeygirl
Has anyone flown in the day before from L.A. with the Disney Vacations Air Program? It says it has a complimentary hotel stay in a non-Disney hotel. I was wondering if anyone knew which one it was. Thanks!!

Have flown in the day before from San Diego and used Disney Air Program. They put us at the Hyatt MCO. HTH

 

[deebs]

We're flying in from LAX on the red eye with DD3 and DS9mos. We'll get a day room at the Hyatt MCO to try and catch some zzzs before the first bus to the port.

 

[jweiss]

On our first cruise, we got the air/hotel/transport package thru DCL. Ever since, I've booked it on my own. for one thing it's cheaper. More importantly, they had us on Delta wihich was AWFUIL. the times of the flights were horrible, and you are completely at their mercy. I've been successful at getting much better times and connections myself. They do have you stay at the Hyatt, which is great. but you can book that yourself as well!!!
Southwest has $94 one way flights from CA NOW>>>>>>>> I booked this am and got two people round trip from bay area to orlando for under $450 round trip.

 

[PizzieDuster]

We are flying from LAX the day before our 7 day western on May 8th, 2004.

We are staying at the MCO Hyatt.

Last year, returning from our 4 day Wonder Cruise April 2003, we had a return flight at 5:30 pm. We booked a day room at the Hyatt ($60) and all 5 of us quickly fell asleep for a good nap for 2 to 3 hours. Was worth every penny, we were exhausted from the trip.

We rebooked onboard last year and knew in order for us to really RELAX and begin our vacation, we would fly in the day before and stay at the Hyatt at the airport again. We'll see if we need another day room on our return home once we get our flight information.

There are Disney signs all over the lobby regarding where and what time to meet. A Disney rep has her own desk there too.

 

[KaitlinsMom]

We booked our own flights - Ended up saving a ton of money this way - I have also read on these boards that sometimes, DCL will put you on the red eye flight - I would rather be rested on my first day on the boat -



I have read too much on these boards about booking your own flights - I have even read where families are not even sitting together on the flight!

Book your own - You will be happier - and arrive the day before - That way you don't have to worry about missing the boat!

 

[din]

[
Where are you at in the east bay, din? I am from there originally [/B]

Pleasanton!! and you?

 

[CAMICKEY]

PizzieDuster - What flight are you taking from LAX? We are flying American and I believe we get into MCO at 3:46 PM. We are also staying at the Hyatt MCO. What are the ages of your children? I have a DS6. - Mike

 

[goingbacksoon]

Originally posted by din
Pleasanton!! and you?

I am originally from Hayward, a stone's throw down the 580. When I am back there, I raid your mall.

My friends from my high school say I have defected to the south, lol.

goingbacksoon

 

[tvguy]

Don't know which hotel Disney uses, but because they Hyatt at the airport is so expensive, I doubt they use that one.
We flew in from Sacramento the day before and booked our own room at the Sheraton. $69 for the four of us. There are a cluster of hotels and suites just off the airport property. They all offer free shuttles to and from the airport. Ours dropped us off right at the Disney Cruise bus desk.
We thought about the airport Hyatt, but the lowest price we could find was $129 for the 4 of us.

 

[PizzieDuster]

Originally posted by CAMICKEY
PizzieDuster - What flight are you taking from LAX? We are flying American and I believe we get into MCO at 3:46 PM. We are also staying at the Hyatt MCO. What are the ages of your children? I have a DS6. - Mike

Hi Mike! A local!

I booked our air with Disney and I haven't a clue what our flights are! What time do you depart?

I have a DS14, DS11 and DD5. I know there's someone else here who has a DD14 Last year, we sat with a family from PA who had a DD13 - which made small talk interesting..... THERE WAS NONE between the two.... teenagers! After the first night my DS13 was delighted to learn they were a table mates EVERY night.

 

[tezb]

We usually fly out of SFO to MCO and have always flown the day before. Our first cruise, we used Disney to book and had a red eye w/ Delta. Did not like it...Anyway, this time we are flying in 2 days before because while we thought 1 day was enough (usually getting in late since FL is 3 hrs ahead)but last year we had a close call w/ almost not getting on a flight because of delays starting in SFO but originating in Dallas which was our layover...bad weather. The ticket guy at American couldn't believe we only allowed one day for a cruise in case these things happen. When they found out we were taking a cruise, they made it a point to get us on another flight. Now we don't want to take the chance even though it has worked the other 3 times.

 

[PizzieDuster]

Originally posted by tezb
We usually fly out of SFO to MCO and have always flown the day before. Our first cruise, we used Disney to book and had a red eye w/ Delta. Did not like it...Anyway, this time we are flying in 2 days before because while we thought 1 day was enough (usually getting in late since FL is 3 hrs ahead)but last year we had a close call w/ almost not getting on a flight because of delays starting in SFO but originating in Dallas which was our layover...bad weather. The ticket guy at American couldn't believe we only allowed one day for a cruise in case these things happen. When they found out we were taking a cruise, they made it a point to get us on another flight. Now we don't want to take the chance even though it has worked the other 3 times.

Wow....... Do you mind if I ask what time of year this was? I would be thrilled to pull DH away from work an extra day if needed..... but we are coming in a day early in May.

Okay.... I'm getting paranoid... I may just need to chill.....
pass me a conk cooler now please!

 

[CAMICKEY]

Originally posted by PixieDuster

Hi Mike! A local I booked our air with Disney and I haven't a clue what our flights are! What time do you depart?!

We are flying out at 8:00 AM. What city do you live in? - Mike

 

[cotomom]

We do our own arrangements, most recently with Song airlines out of LAX. Sat next to Tanya Roberts from Charlies Angels and That 70's show!

Anyway, it was the cheapest we could find and direct, a GODSEND with children!

Flew in day before, arriving around 7pm and stayed at the Hyatt.

 

[Maleficent59]

We've flown out of SFO, OAK, ONT and LAX to MCO many times, usually the day before the cruise and haven't had any problems. We've always booked our own flights. We usually took the first flight out in case of potential delays (could always try to catch a later flight that day). However, since we met so many people with disaster stories (black out in NY area a couple of days before our cruise last August; one family drove all the way from NY to Port Canaveral), we are now flying out two days before cruising.

 

[PizzieDuster]

Originally posted by CAMICKEY
Originally posted by PixieDuster


We are flying out at 8:00 AM. What city do you live in? - Mike

Hi Mike....

Rancho Santa Margarita!

8:00 sounds good.... but so, so early! At least we get to chillone night and get ready for our cruise! That's the best part!

On our last trip, coming from the Floridian on the DCL Bus, there was a really bad accident and it delayed us almost 2 hours! We left at 11:30 am and arrived at 3:00pm. I was freakin..... I'm thinking, there is no way that could happen twice!

So it will be nice to be all relaxed and we won't miss all the pre boarding happenings!