July 6 2008 Anyone else

[hskale]

We will be a family of 5 (only 4.5 right now) and are friends with 6powaydisneyfans. They convinced us to go on the cruise, which will be our first cruise ever. We are all very excited. At time of the cruise, we will be:
Heather
DH
DS almost 7
DD 3.5
DD probably almost 1

We had a wonderful day in Disneyland yesterday where my DS got to be in the Jedi show and DD got to meet Ariel for the first time!

 

[Dsnylndlvrs]

A belated WELCOME!!!! to Heather and family! How fun for you to be cruising with friends!

It's going to be a hot sunny day here - definitely spring, getting close to summer weather. A year from right now, we'll all be busy making our plans and thinking about what to pack!

 

[diznygirrl]

Just wanted to say a quick HI and WELCOME to all the new folks! I'm very excited about this cruise, even more so now that we have convinced friends of ours to join us. They have 2 DDs who will be 9 and 12 when we cruise. I just can't believe we have more than a year to wait -- I have NEVER planned a vacation this far out before!

 

[WestCoastMice]

Just wanted to add our family to the list along with three other families who will be traveling with us this same date. This will be a first Disney trip for my wife who has sailed on other cruise lines, but never with Disney. My daughter (14) and I have sailed on the Magic for both East and West Caribbean adventures as well as the initial 2005 West Coast journey. Each voyage is comfortably the same, but each one is also a brand new adventure. I wish there were a Castaway Key on the West Coast, but the last 2 days at sea is a great way to decompress from a wonderful journey!

Two of the other families have enjoyed Disney cruises before. One will be having a new experience to cruising as well as to Disney.

We are all coming from the West Coast and to me this is a great benefit in not having to add a cross country air flight and hotel to the mix.

One year seems like a very long time away...but I know it will be here before you know it.

 

[Dsnylndlvrs]

Welcome WestCoastMice and friends! It's fun to see more join in!

 

[TrojanJulez]

Welcome! Wow, we have quite a large group already! I hope the next year goes by quickly!

 

[6powaydisneyfans]

Hi, I have been too busy to come back to disboards but I am back now... How is everyone doing? My kids keep wishing the cruise was this July!! I heard that we can start booking our stuff in March yippee!
We are going to Disneyland June 8th for my son's birthday and the new Nemo ride will be open... What does the ticker say now? I still haven't mastered how to do everything in this site...Heidi

 

[ansky922]

Hi am really excited my self. We have never been to California before so I plan on staying a couple of days after the cruise.


My Ticker should be accurate

 

[Dsnylndlvrs]

Hi Heidi - Wish I was going to Disneyland next month - and we were just there in November. Have fun - I'll be curious what you think of Nemo!

Ansky - I don't think I've asked - are you planning on visiting anywhere in California other than just the LA area? It's such a huge state with so much to see. I grew up here and still haven't seen everything!

We're counting days till summer here. Lots planned for the kids with day camps, etc. and we're doing a med cruise in July - not Disney though (boo hoo - just too expensive by the time we got around to booking.) That's not stopping me from reading the trip reports for the transatlantic cruise going on right now!

Anyway, hi to everyone!

 

[ansky922]

Ansky - I don't think I've asked - are you planning on visiting anywhere in California other than just the LA area? It's such a huge state with so much to see. I grew up here and still haven't seen everything!



See I am already confused I didn't know DL was in the LA area.
I was thinking of staying an extra 4 days to see DL and whatever else I could squeeze in. So any info and ideas would be helpful

 

[Dsnylndlvrs]

See I am already confused I didn't know DL was in the LA area.
I was thinking of staying an extra 4 days to see DL and whatever else I could squeeze in. So any info and ideas would be helpful

DL is in Orange county which is in the general LA area, just a little bit south. To me, being from northern California (San Francisco area) Orange county and LA is a trip all in the same area at least! Someone from Southern California might feel a little different. (Keep in mind that to most Californians, an hour drive is nothing! )

I lived in Massachusetts for a short time and it gave me a lot more perspective on the size of this west coast state. I was amazed that in New England, we could drive through several states in a day if we wanted. For us here (not even close to the northern border of the state) we would have to drive about 7-8 hours south to get to DL, and still not get to the Southern border of the state!

Others might have ideas too, but if you're going to spend an extra 4 days, you might want to spend a day or two at DL? There might be some stuff in the LA/Hollywood area you want to go a little north for or maybe you'd enjoy going a little south to the San Diego area - great area and lots of things to see and do. Either way you'd want to plan and get a hotel in the direction you're headed because the freeway traffic can sometimes make what should be just an hour drive, a whole lot longer!

I'm not sure, does that help at all?? I'm sure some others of us will be able to chime in with more info. If you have other questions, I'd be happy to see what I can find out if I don't have the answers!

 

[ansky922]

Okay lets start with what airport do I need to fly into?
I want to come out a day early.

What is the distance from a DL hotel to were the boat is? Should I get a hotel closer to the boat?


Aren't you glad you offered to help with my questions

 

[Dsnylndlvrs]

I'm not a total expert in the Southern California (SoCal) area but I'll do my best!

I had to look up where the port of los angeles is - it's in San Pedro, south of LA and west of Disneyland, but all in the big old LA area . I think you've got 3 choices for airports - LAX (Los Angeles International,) Orange County (also known as John Wayne and it's closest to DL) and Long Beach. LAX is a BIG airport and you'd have lots of choices in airlines and flights. Orange County is a nice smaller airport with a little less choice of airlines and I'm assuming flight choices. I've been to both those airports. I'm not familiar with Long Beach airport, but from it's website, it seems like it's probably smaller than Orange County - fewer still airlines and probably even smaller number of flights. When I look at a map, Long Beach is fairly close to San Pedro. Of the other two, distance wise LAX may be closer to San Pedro for the port but Orange County is probably easier to deal with.

For us, we're probably driving down and spending a few days at DL before the cruise. If we were flying though, we'd likely choose to fly into Orange County because it's the best bet for DL. I'm really not sure where the best place to stay is if you're not doing DL before. I'd think the DL resort hotels would be more expensive than necessary if you're not planning on doing DL until after, but you could probably find some nice decent hotels in that area (I'm thinking a little under an hour to get to the port?) There would probably be some hotels closer to the port, but I really don't know that area and how nice it would be to stay. Maybe someone else is more familiar?

I know that I've read somewhere that the last time DCL sailed out of SoCal, they ended up offering packages of hotel/Disneyland stay/port transfers for people to take advantage of, but I don't know at what point people could add that on and if they'll do it again. It would be worth checking into I think.

Gosh, I sure hope that helps some, even if it's not a definite fly here and stay there answer! Take care!

 

[ansky922]

thank you so much

That is great to start with.

I will be using some DVC points for my hotel stay before and after the cruise

 

[cali4niacruisin]

I am not sure which airport you are planning to leave from but Jet Blue has flights from JFK to Long Beach which is close to the port.

 

[Kelley Family]

Hi All, I just found you and we are also booked on this cruise. This is our second Disney cruise. We will be traveling with my sister in law's family as well. Who's going?

Me (mom and planner)
DH
DS (Will be a few days from 13 at the time of crusie)
DD (Will be 7 at cruise)
DSL
DBL
DN (Will be 12 at time of curise)
DN (Will be 10 at time of cruise)

My family is in Texas now but until three years ago we were the original So. California family! My sister in law and her family still live there. If you have any questions about So. Cal I should be able to help. I am still trying to figure out our pre cruise plans. We will be flying into Orange County on the 5th and I'm trying to figure out the best way to get to the port without renting a car. Probably a limo. If anyone hears of Disney transfers I would love to get the details! We will be staying for a week in So. Cal after the cruise to do Disney and other parks in the area as well as visiting family and friends. If you have the choice between going to DL before or after the cruise I would highly suggest after. It will be busy either way but the 4th is absoutly CRAZY at DL! Can't wait to meet everyone!

Tamara

 

[ansky922]

Welcome
Aboard

Hi All, I just found you and we are also booked on this cruise. This is our second Disney cruise. We will be traveling with my sister in law's family as well. Who's going?

Me (mom and planner)
DH
DS (Will be a few days from 13 at the time of crusie)
DD (Will be 7 at cruise)
DSL
DBL
DN (Will be 12 at time of curise)
DN (Will be 10 at time of cruise)

My family is in Texas now but until three years ago we were the original So. California family! My sister in law and her family still live there. If you have any questions about So. Cal I should be able to help. I am still trying to figure out our pre cruise plans. We will be flying into Orange County on the 5th and I'm trying to figure out the best way to get to the port without renting a car. Probably a limo. If anyone hears of Disney transfers I would love to get the details! We will be staying for a week in So. Cal after the cruise to do Disney and other parks in the area as well as visiting family and friends. If you have the choice between going to DL before or after the cruise I would highly suggest after. It will be busy either way but the 4th is absoutly CRAZY at DL! Can't wait to meet everyone!

Tamara

 

[ansky922]

Another great option

I am not sure which airport you are planning to leave from but Jet Blue has flights from JFK to Long Beach which is close to the port.

 

[Dsnylndlvrs]

Hi Tamara and family! Welcome!!

So funny, I hadn't even thought about the fact that we're cruising right after July 4th (duh!) We were planning on doing DL before simply to make the cruise our recooperation time - we always do the parks marathon/wipe-us-out-style! May have to reconsider a little...

Take care all!

 

[Kelley Family]

DL before would be my first choice as well but I will NEVER do DL over the 4th again! Living in So. Cal we had passes and thought that would be a good idea one year. They had to close the park before noon because it was full! I don't want to wast my DL day.