I booked connecting flights from dallas to orlando 24hrs straight...ehhhh

[Andona]

Can you lay down in the AA lounge and how does it work with boarding the plane? Do you board from the lounge or walk back to the gate area What if we feel asleep Do they still call the flights out on a speaker so you know what is going on. I am seriously thinking about it for $75 I think it may be money well spent. Even if it means having a shower there so that when we land in MCO we can go straight to bed!

We bought the day pass to spend a 5 hour layover in the AA lounge at LAX. We were enroute to WashingtonDC so it was a similar time scale to your trip.

We thought the lounge was worth every penny, it was quiet, there were snacks and drinks and somewhere comfy to relax, although nowhere to lie down. The other handy thing was there were plenty of outlets so we could recharge laptops etc. our DS was happy cause he could recharge and play his PSP while we waited, and we all know if the kids are happy, Mum & Dad are happy!

They had the departure screens in the lounge, but I can't remember if they announced flights, sorry we were very tired but too keyed up to sleep anyway. We had to make our way back to the gate to board the flight but the lounge was in the same terminal so it wasn't a hassles.

Maybe you could wait and see how much time you have on your hands once you get through customs before deciding whether to buy the lounge pass?

Andona

 

[kyl]

I thought I would have to pre-purchase the lounge pass, can you buy it on the day. That would be great!

 

[Royal Consort]

We're doing the same thing, arrive in LAX and right on through. We've done it to London so many times, it's not any different. It's hellish yes, but I'd rather not waste precious holiday time having a break between.

 

[BemaniAK]

You'd be surprised how much it helps to get some DVDs beforehand and watch them on a laptop.
I'm planning on doing a marathon of Arrested Development on the way down, just drink lots and lots of water so you never forget to stretch your legs.

 

[australiankaren]

we get the $90 30 day pass with delta...priceless....showers at LAX, open bar, snacks, free internet.....using lax 2, msp ,mco, this trip..so works out $11 per person per visit.......that would cover 1 drink and a snack in the terminal

 

[BecBennett]

You'd be surprised how much it helps to get some DVDs beforehand and watch them on a laptop.
I'm planning on doing a marathon of Arrested Development on the way down, just drink lots and lots of water so you never forget to stretch your legs.

What sort of battery does your laptop have? Or do you just book seats with power?

 

[Andona]

I thought I would have to pre-purchase the lounge pass, can you buy it on the day. That would be great!

It's a few years ago but, yes, we were able to buy the AA lounge pass at the Lounge on the day. We just had to have our boarding pass for the AA flight to Washington DC with us.

According to the AA Admirals club one day pass FAQ (http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/airportAmenities/admiralsClubArticles/oneDayPass_FAQs.jsp ) you can buy it in advance online or on the day at the lounge or using self service machines at the airport. The One Day pass only lets in one adult and up to 3 dependent children, so you'd need 2 passes for two adults.

The online price for a 1 day pass is $50 ( it's not clear if the price is the same if you buy on the day, I have a recollection that we paid $100 for the two of us and our son, but that may be wrong ) Their 30 day pass is $99 and will allow you to bring in the family - so it's at least $1 cheaper than the 1 day pass . You can buy it on the day too. http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/airportAmenities/AdmiralsPasses.jsp

Andona

 

[australiankaren]

sometimes you can get cheaper day passes on groupon..just sign up and put your location as LA.....doesnt hurt

also some people just hang around the club entrance and ask total strangers to guest them in....works more for single female passengers..but you never know, especially when there is a group of businessmen all as members...

 

[shadowblue]

I'd echo what others have said kyl - you'll all do the flights easily. Ours were SYD - SFO/2hr layover - MCO, arrived WDW about 11pm local time. Up and at 'em in next morning. But return... MCO - CLE - LAX - SYD (diverted first to BNE for fog) and I still went to work the next day...
And definitely better to be in Orlando the day before the cruise. You say you've checked out the DCL area to glean much there is there (as I did - that's how I found Disboards) but it's only on 'Australia' you'll get the long-haul love.

I'm sure you'll love Disney Dream.

I just had a look at your trip report mum from oz. The dream looks great now I am even more excited! Just a quick question....if you had your time over would you of booked something for Nassau? Or just stay onboard? I am at such odds with that one. Also did you dress up for the shows and dinner. Some people in their photos seem very dressed up, I would rather go casual?!

I wasn't going to chime in here as it seemed in your thread about booking the cruise you were arranging to do Atlantis but noticed you posted this later than on there. We didn't feel like doing a massive hotel, casino, waterpark thing, even with the Comfort Suites strategy but unlike Americans, who have often been before and frequently stay on board (making the pools and Aquaduck crowded) we ere always going to have a look around our only ever Bahamian town.

Our time ashore involved a walk out of the port, through the straw market and along to (free) Junkanoo Beach, less than 1km away, which is pleasant enough and has a view back to the ship(s). Then up to the Pirate Museum (small entry cost) which was quite well done and interesting. Got a drink and wandered back to the ship through a few mid-town stores - one 'Cariloha' where I got a very cool (in two ways) 70% bamboo 30% cotton pirate themed Tshirt, way better than any straw market souvenir version. Easy.

Re dress: Nothing better than neatish-casual ever needed on the Dream.

I'm not checking all the time but will keep an eye open for any specific questions about DCL and the ship.

 

[kyl]

Thanks Shadowblue! Did you end up swiming at the beach you went to? Thinking honestly now of not doing Atlantis...its going to cost as over $700 for the day and I just can't justify spending that sort of money for a water park for one day! So we will most likely do as you say get of the ship and wonder around to get a feel of the place. Maybe do a horse carriage ride. I was considering blue lagon as this would be about $300 ish for the five of us....anyone done the blue lagon?
And the advice about the AA club....thank you all. I am sure at our stop over when I am having a nice warm shower I will be thanking you all!

 

[alicia1506]

hey kyl, which itinerary are you doing on the dream? we're doing the western caribbean but we honestly can't decide on port adventures for 2 of our stops. we're thinking of maybe staying on board and just exploring, relaxing, visiting some of the stuff on board (lord knows, they have heaps to do) but we do plan on getting off at costa maya (ruins tour) and castaway cay .. would love to hear about your plans if you've decided or are tossing up pros/cons of different stops

 

[kyl]

Each day I decide something different. I really think Atlantis is not an option due to the cost! But I have seen that they have horses and carriage rides when you get of the cruise from other peoples pictures and reviews, so maybe that would be good? We are doing the four night Disney Dream cruise. I wish we were doing 7! But this will be our first cruise and I thought if anyone gets sick at least four nights is sort of alright?! With two land stops thrown in there. I booked mid-ship in the hope of helping this NOT happen. Have you been on a cruise before? If so did you find the motion of the ship alright?

 

[kyl]

Sorry Alicia I just read what you asked me again and realise I didn't quite answer you. We are doing the Bahamas for four nights. Stopping at Nassau and castaway cay! Can't wait!

 

[australiankaren]

Each day I decide something different. I really think Atlantis is not an option due to the cost! But I have seen that they have horses and carriage rides when you get of the cruise from other peoples pictures and reviews, so maybe that would be good? We are doing the four night Disney Dream cruise. I wish we were doing 7! But this will be our first cruise and I thought if anyone gets sick at least four nights is sort of alright?! With two land stops thrown in there. I booked mid-ship in the hope of helping this NOT happen. Have you been on a cruise before? If so did you find the motion of the ship alright?

re Atlantis, some people book the cheapest room there, and get all the benefits but not the cost of the excursions etc....maybe that may work??

 

[kyl]

Yeah I tried that but it still works out to be quite alot as we need two rooms again the whole family of five thing!

 

[kyl]

I was just reading some of your post from the diet thread Karen.....you had me laughing out loud at your comments. You are such a hoot!

 

[shadowblue]

Thanks Shadowblue! Did you end up swiming at the beach you went to?

We could have but didn't go prepared for swimming. Saved that for Castaway Cay. DD17 went in for a wade...

Junkanoo Beach would be on the upper left just in front of Carnival Sensation's funnel

Here she is looking pretty at CC and (one of) the captain(s)...

 

[alicia1506]

no, this is our first cruise too, but we decided to go big as it will be just the 2 of us this trip. it's proving to be quite $$$ with all the extras thrown in, such as prepaid tips, port adventures, money for shopping and souvenirs and just general expenses etc. lol. so i can totally see the whole family of 5 thing being prohibitively expensive for a lot of those adventures. we have boiled it down to 1 x port adventure (we are on the western caribbean doing port stops in grand cayman, costa maya, cozumel, then CC. we'll do our PA in costa maya, then just stay on the ship in GC and Cozumel. we'll definitely get out at CC but i'm not sure if we want to go swimming (we like the look of beaches, but we're not big swimming people outside a pool) or whether we'll just belly up to a bar, and maybe lie on the beach and read, then roll our pants up to dip a toe in the water....

i think the dream is a lovely ship, and the 4 night is a smart move. i'm thinking of investing in some sea bands for the trip as i'm not sure how bonine or any other anti nausea medication might interact with us...

we are also mid ship... we're on deck 5 in a family oceanview stateroom with verandah - 5542.

 

[australiankaren]

yep..spent a small fortune, enough to bail out the Greek economy

so all dining, shore, padi course, drink packages are now paid for and locked in...until i change my mind again

On freedom of the seas, so we have to pay for soft drink package $49 each..the only real difference between DCL & RCCL ....

we also are mid ship, although I always get sea sick day 2 no matter where we are located.....go figure

 

[BecBennett]

I wanna go on a cruise!! *hrumph*