How to book Land Sea vacay using points

[ScrappinGran]

Not sure I am asking in the right place...DH and I considering a fall Disney Cruise, but want to do a " Land, Sea " trip. We are DVC owbers at BLT. We would not use our points toeard the cruise, but would toward the land part. And is it better to do the cruise first, then the land? I would think the other way around, to end with the cruise, after land. We have never been on a cruise before. Does Disney help you put all this together? HELP!!!

 

[dapod423]

I did this last October after having bought DVC in May. We did the cruise first and then 2 nights at WDW (& the highly recommened MNNSHP). I do hear alot of people say that they do it the other way around but I was happy with what we did. We used points for everything but I remember when I called MS they asked if I wanted to pay cash or points for the cruise. So I am fairly certain that you can call MS and they can help you book the cruise even though you are paying cash.

Have a great time!! We loved our first cruise!!

 

[ncstate7991]

Follow-up question to this. When you book sea and land vacations, how does the transporation work? Do you take DME back to MCO for the transfer to the cruise ship? Or do you go straight from WDW to the cruise ship? Is the transportation included or extra? Thank you!

 

[goofystitchfan]

If you use DME that is free, however the transportation to/from the port is not. We usually fly in the day before the cruise and stay at SSR (take DME there) and the transportation to the port. After cruise, transportation from port to SSR for the balance of our trip then DME back to the airport.

 

[sesame_123]

We went to disney early February and finished with a quick Disney cruise. The way we did it was pretty simple and worked well for us. We booked the WDW part and did everything ourselves, (we called for room, ticket, magical express.....) Then pretty much did the same for the cruise. Then once we had everything set we called Disney cruise line and asked for the transfer from WDW to the port. The cruise lines reps were very knowledgeable and everything went nice and easy. You have to pay for the transfer so they don't care how you do it as long as they get your money.

We had looked into a land/sea package but it was too confusing. This way I was in controll of everthing. The cruiseline picked us up and then went to 3 other resorts before leaving and the transfer was not cheap I think it was $30 per person one way so $60 round trip. If you have a large family it is actually cost effective to rent a car for the trip. (even just one day for there and one day for back to avoid parking fees) The plus with the car (other than saving you money) is then you can arrive earlier. The cruise transfer we didn't get on the ship until close to 2 and had to wait really long in the terminal because of the buses all arriving at the same time.

If we could do it again I would rent a car and arrive at the port by 12. On the way home we arrived at the airport before 10 and couldn't even check in because our flight was at 4 so had to sit around the airport for 6 hours!! If we had the car we could have done something.

(Sorry if this rambled a bit)

 

[com_op_2000]

Not sure I am asking in the right place...DH and I considering a fall Disney Cruise, but want to do a " Land, Sea " trip. We are DVC owbers at BLT. We would not use our points toeard the cruise, but would toward the land part. And is it better to do the cruise first, then the land? I would think the other way around, to end with the cruise, after land. We have never been on a cruise before. Does Disney help you put all this together? HELP!!!

DW and I usually stay the night before a DCL at VB, then cruise, and then go to WDW at one of the DVC resorts. We book the cruise first, usually as soon as they become available, when the prices are lowest, then at 11 months out, we book both stays at our home resort, then at 7 months transfer the VB night and the ending stay depending on what we want to do after the cruise.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Disney Cruise Line no longer offers packages that used to be called "Land and Sea" vacations. So anyone seeking to do this simply makes the reservations via DCL for the cruise and CRO or DVC for the before and/or after resort stay.

Member Services only books your cruise if at least one adult is booked on points. The cash portion they can book will be a prearranged contracted price that they negotiate each year. It will not be the most expensive, but it will not be the cheapest price, either. If you are seeking to book all on cash you need to do this either with DCL direct or your travel agent.