January 8, 2011 - 7 Night Western Caribbean Sailing

[Sir William]

I am going to check those hotels right now. What about transportation of luggage to the cruise since we are flying the day before? I keep hearing about how Disney will take your luggage to your room but, we aren't staying in a Disney hotel the night before.

We're flying down the day before and spending the night at a (non-Disney) hotel near the airport. The next morning we'll return to the airport and catch the Disney Magical Express to Port Canaveral.

According to the DCL folks on the phone, I just put my luggage tags on my bags prior to checking in at the airport Saturday morning and DCL will take care of them, delivering them to our stateroom.

Since this is my first time on DCL, I don't know if that is how it actually works. Guess we'll have to wait and see...

 

[Gia977]

I just called Disney and they are 'affiliated' with the Orlando airport Hyatt so, they can pick up our luggage and transport it back to our cruise rooms. They only have rooms with a king sized bed left but, I held one just in case. Ahhh, this seems difficult!

Has anyone done this with 2 kids in car seats? Do they provide car seats or are we supposed to hold them?!?!

 

[scrappinsandie]

Here's my hint - fly down the day before!

We arrived in LA on Wednesday morning 3 hours late after being delayed in Sydney by Delta as their staff had not had a long enough break - which was fine but once we landed in LA we only had 1 hour and 40 minutes to clear immigration, re drop our bags and make it to our connecting flight.

No one at Delta was much help and when we finally got the the gate we missed our connection by 5 minutes! At no stage did we hear our names called or anything but it wouldn't have made a difference as we had to clear security which took ages.

After some "discussion" about how it was not my dream start to my vacation to spend a night in LA or to catch a red eye we got booked on a noon flight to Atlanta with a connection to Orlando which would have us at our hotel only 4 hours late. All four of us were in different areas of the plane but I think my kids are well travelled enough to handle that. Half an hour before our flight Delta announced taht due to bad weather in Atlanta we would be delayed by 3 hours. This jeopordised our connection but after discussing it, and again turning downa sleep over in LA, we decided to risk the connection with an agreement from Delta that they would if required pay for a hotel in Atlanta and get us on a 7 am flight the next morning.

We eventually got to Atlanta at 10.30 pm (after waiting 30 minutes for a gate) which was the time our connection was due to go. Luck was with us though and it was also delayed.

We were boarded with doors locked at midnight. At 12.30 am we were still sitting at the gate when the pilot announced they had to de-ice. We left at 2 am and arrived at our hotel at 4 am!

That was 42 hours after we left home! Although 3 days later we are over the sleep and food deprivation! If this had of happened when we had to make the cruise I would have had a heart attack

Sandie

 

[newbydisney]

Here's my hint - fly down the day before!

We arrived in LA on Wednesday morning 3 hours late after being delayed in Sydney by Delta as their staff had not had a long enough break - which was fine but once we landed in LA we only had 1 hour and 40 minutes to clear immigration, re drop our bags and make it to our connecting flight.

No one at Delta was much help and when we finally got the the gate we missed our connection by 5 minutes! At no stage did we hear our names called or anything but it wouldn't have made a difference as we had to clear security which took ages.

After some "discussion" about how it was not my dream start to my vacation to spend a night in LA or to catch a red eye we got booked on a noon flight to Atlanta with a connection to Orlando which would have us at our hotel only 4 hours late. All four of us were in different areas of the plane but I think my kids are well travelled enough to handle that. Half an hour before our flight Delta announced taht due to bad weather in Atlanta we would be delayed by 3 hours. This jeopordised our connection but after discussing it, and again turning downa sleep over in LA, we decided to risk the connection with an agreement from Delta that they would if required pay for a hotel in Atlanta and get us on a 7 am flight the next morning.

We eventually got to Atlanta at 10.30 pm (after waiting 30 minutes for a gate) which was the time our connection was due to go. Luck was with us though and it was also delayed.

We were boarded with doors locked at midnight. At 12.30 am we were still sitting at the gate when the pilot announced they had to de-ice. We left at 2 am and arrived at our hotel at 4 am!

That was 42 hours after we left home! Although 3 days later we are over the sleep and food deprivation! If this had of happened when we had to make the cruise I would have had a heart attack

Sandie

OMgoodness..what an adventure...glad you are finally safe and sound..see shortly we arrive Jan 1 8 am..nonstop from Seattle...so we should make it ok..I think..I hope..

 

[newbydisney]

I just called Disney and they are 'affiliated' with the Orlando airport Hyatt so, they can pick up our luggage and transport it back to our cruise rooms. They only have rooms with a king sized bed left but, I held one just in case. Ahhh, this seems difficult!

Has anyone done this with 2 kids in car seats? Do they provide car seats or are we supposed to hold them?!?!

Do you mean are there car seats on the Disney bus that will take you to the Port....I rather doubt it...and did yu price it?..I think it will be more expensive than renting a one way car to the Port...you have 3 children right?..Are you bringing a nanny? You are probably better at it than I but I could not have handled 3 on a bus....to me a car seems easier...and I believe you just request whatever size carseats you need...there is a good code on the boards for Budget. O sorry only 2 children...welll it may be a toss up then...

 

[jwmiss]

For those who are interested in buying bottles of pure vanilla from Mexico, please be careful and check the ingredients. There are many that are just color and water. We were in Cancun Mexico 6 months ago and surprised to find that most of the vanilla sold in stores and even many big stores the airport were fake (just color and water with no flavour at all). There is also a concern of coumarin in some of the vanilla made in Mexico. If it has a high content of alcohol (35%), then it is probably real pure vanilla.

I bought a glass bottle of vanilla last time for $25+ (contains alcohol, but didn't specify %) and wasn't really impressed. I actually saw in Costco they sell a big bottle (500?) of pure vanilla (35% alcohol content) for just $10!!!

 

[jwmiss]

I just called Disney and they are 'affiliated' with the Orlando airport Hyatt so, they can pick up our luggage and transport it back to our cruise rooms. They only have rooms with a king sized bed left but, I held one just in case. Ahhh, this seems difficult!

Has anyone done this with 2 kids in car seats? Do they provide car seats or are we supposed to hold them?!?!

We arranged private transportation to take us from MCO airport hotel to Port Canaveral round trip and they do provide car seats (we have a total of 4 little kids in our party). You may want to check with your transportation company to see if they provide car seats. One way from airport to the port is about an hour drive and my active 18 months old will not let us hold her for an hour in the bus.

 

[Sir William]

Here's my hint - fly down the day before!

We arrived in LA on Wednesday morning 3 hours late after being delayed in Sydney by Delta as their staff had not had a long enough break - which was fine but once we landed in LA we only had 1 hour and 40 minutes to clear immigration, re drop our bags and make it to our connecting flight.

No one at Delta was much help and when we finally got the the gate we missed our connection by 5 minutes! At no stage did we hear our names called or anything but it wouldn't have made a difference as we had to clear security which took ages.

After some "discussion" about how it was not my dream start to my vacation to spend a night in LA or to catch a red eye we got booked on a noon flight to Atlanta with a connection to Orlando which would have us at our hotel only 4 hours late. All four of us were in different areas of the plane but I think my kids are well travelled enough to handle that. Half an hour before our flight Delta announced taht due to bad weather in Atlanta we would be delayed by 3 hours. This jeopordised our connection but after discussing it, and again turning downa sleep over in LA, we decided to risk the connection with an agreement from Delta that they would if required pay for a hotel in Atlanta and get us on a 7 am flight the next morning.

We eventually got to Atlanta at 10.30 pm (after waiting 30 minutes for a gate) which was the time our connection was due to go. Luck was with us though and it was also delayed.

We were boarded with doors locked at midnight. At 12.30 am we were still sitting at the gate when the pilot announced they had to de-ice. We left at 2 am and arrived at our hotel at 4 am!

That was 42 hours after we left home! Although 3 days later we are over the sleep and food deprivation! If this had of happened when we had to make the cruise I would have had a heart attack

Sandie

I've had similar experiences but I don't think ever quite that bad overall. Glad to see that you were finally able to get to your destination. Hopefully all will be clear sailing after this.

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

Wow that is quite the journey! I always like to think that half the adventure is getting there... looks like the rest of your trip will be flawless!!!

Here's my hint - fly down the day before!

We arrived in LA on Wednesday morning 3 hours late after being delayed in Sydney by Delta as their staff had not had a long enough break - which was fine but once we landed in LA we only had 1 hour and 40 minutes to clear immigration, re drop our bags and make it to our connecting flight.

No one at Delta was much help and when we finally got the the gate we missed our connection by 5 minutes! At no stage did we hear our names called or anything but it wouldn't have made a difference as we had to clear security which took ages.

After some "discussion" about how it was not my dream start to my vacation to spend a night in LA or to catch a red eye we got booked on a noon flight to Atlanta with a connection to Orlando which would have us at our hotel only 4 hours late. All four of us were in different areas of the plane but I think my kids are well travelled enough to handle that. Half an hour before our flight Delta announced taht due to bad weather in Atlanta we would be delayed by 3 hours. This jeopordised our connection but after discussing it, and again turning downa sleep over in LA, we decided to risk the connection with an agreement from Delta that they would if required pay for a hotel in Atlanta and get us on a 7 am flight the next morning.

We eventually got to Atlanta at 10.30 pm (after waiting 30 minutes for a gate) which was the time our connection was due to go. Luck was with us though and it was also delayed.

We were boarded with doors locked at midnight. At 12.30 am we were still sitting at the gate when the pilot announced they had to de-ice. We left at 2 am and arrived at our hotel at 4 am!

That was 42 hours after we left home! Although 3 days later we are over the sleep and food deprivation! If this had of happened when we had to make the cruise I would have had a heart attack

Sandie

 

[TiggerAllie]

Here's my hint - fly down the day before!

Sandie-- your story is my travel nightmare! Unfortunately, we can't fly down the day before due to work, so I'm crossing my fingers that we make it there alright!.

I actually just confirmed my travel insurance purchase today to at cover us if we miss the ship departure and have to catch up later, because I am seriously worried about weather problems. At least we have a direct flight to MCO.

 

[tapia]

What a horrifying experience!

 

[cmclaura]

Sandie, I'm glad you arrived safely, and sorry that you had to go through all sorts of gyrations to get here. It's a very good thing that you were not rushing to make the cruise!!

Re the vanilla issue, and at the risk of sounding like a broken record, we bought ours at the shopping complex where Pancho's Backyard is located. It was wonderfully delicious. We bought two bottles and are nearly through one nearly a year later. We're stocking up this time (honestly, sometimes I wonder if the reason we're repeating this cruise is for the vanilla, lol!) and Joe assures me they also did have vanilla beans for sale and he intends to get some this time.

Do I have everyone's information listed on the first page of this thread? If not, please let me know! I know I am waiting on cabin number from one FE participant.

Any lurkers out there, now's your chance to let us know who you are!

 

[lbgraves]

Tips on what to bring for 3 kids?
I'm pregnant and have a limited wardrobe... is Palo super formal?
Grand Cayman ideas for the day? We haven't scheduled anything!
We don't know where to stay the night BEFORE the cruise!
Help!! :0)

Palo is the one place where they do enforce the dress code. I have seen men turned away in shorts at brunch and jeans at night. Men have to have either a tie or a jacket. It is a more formal atmosphere than the dining rooms.

 

[cmclaura]

Unfortunately, they missed at least once! Last cruise, the man at the table next to us was wearing jeans, a white shirt hanging out of his pants, and no tie.

As you would expect, I was quite horrified.

It was pure karma when one of the kids clubs called for the parents to come get their child, who was ill with a fever, and they had to leave.

Not that I wished the child ill, it was just a relief to have them out of the dining room. Oh, my delicate sensibilities.

 

[ddpaints]

Laura you crack me up. Between you and Bill I have my family looking at me like I'm a nut because I really am laughing out loud after your posts.

 

[cmclaura]

Thank you! I live to entertain.

 

[Sir William]

Laura you crack me up. Between you and Bill I have my family looking at me like I'm a nut because I really am laughing out loud after your posts.

ME!!!??? What did I do...or say???

Glad to see I've been good for something.

 

[ddpaints]

ME!!!??? What did I do...or say???

Glad to see I've been good for something.

You have a few good ones on the facebook page Bill.

 

[tapia]

Damn, I knew I was missing something by boycotting facebook!

 

[Sir William]

You have a few good ones on the facebook page Bill.

LOL! Well, there you have me!