MagicBands + Margaritas + Muggles + Minions = TRP. New TR link is up! 10/31

[saintstickets]

Here I've been away from the DISboards for a few months only to return and find that uber-planner Cynthia has a new TR...and what a trip it is! I can't imagine trying to herd all those people into a cohesive unit but if anyone can, I know you can! Looking forward to more.

 

[eandesmom]

Here I've been away from the DISboards for a few months only to return and find that uber-planner Cynthia has a new TR...and what a trip it is! I can't imagine trying to herd all those people into a cohesive unit but if anyone can, I know you can! Looking forward to more.

Bill!!!!!

So happy you are here just a little bit of cat herding on this one

 

[MEK]

I was just stopping by to see why there were no updates from you and I now know why. Sorry life has been so darn hectic. And that whole paycheck thing - OMG - so NOT fun! Glad you were able to get everything straightened out.

I hope this week has been much, much better for you!

 

[eandesmom]

I was just stopping by to see why there were no updates from you and I now know why. Sorry life has been so darn hectic. And that whole paycheck thing - OMG - so NOT fun! Glad you were able to get everything straightened out. I hope this week has been much, much better for you!

Better but busy, weekend was crammed with the great furniture move and then had a business trip. A fair amount of planning activity too, Jeff has a big birthday in a couple of weeks and we've been making some cruise plans, our ADR tweak and signing up for the race the day after I get back from our F&G trip,. Not to mention some picture issues lol. Update soon though and hopeful getting caught up everywhere else.

 

[eandesmom]

There has been a fair amount of trip stuff going on around here which has kept me from my TR update.

That and I was kind of waiting for the first PP CD to arrive, which it did, but not until Monday.

Jet Blue released fares through our cruise travel dates so I got on it looking at our options.

Turns out Jeff REALLY has no interest in a few nights prior to the cruise in San Juan.

Turns out flying out 2 nights before REALLY makes a huge difference in flight cost.

We've been exploring a myriad of options but kind of keep coming back to one that seems to make a lot of sense to us.

Fly into Orlando, spend a couple of days there and then fly to SJ for the cruise. This would mean we would be flying in the DAY OF the cruise.

Which freaks me out.

A little.

Except...

Our cruise doesn't depart until 9:30pm! DCL is giving 6:30 pm as the latest suggested flight arrival time to ensure you make the ship. There are several flight options that land as early as 9am and have multiple flights after that that would still get in long before 6:30 on the chance something went wrong with the first flight.

Of course, Food and Wine does not start until the 26th which means the only way we could enjoy that...would be to stop on the way back as well.

here are the options on the table in order of price

1. Red Eye weds night with 1 stop, 2 nights in Orlando, Cruise, home.
2. Red Eye weds night with 1 stop, 2 nights in Orlando, Cruise, 2 nights in Orlando after.
3. Non Stop to Orlando on Thursday, 2 nights in Orlando, Cruise, home.
4. Non Stop to Orlando on Thursday, 2 nights in Orlando, Cruise, 2 nights in Orlando after.
5. Non Stop to Orlando on Friday, 1 night in Orlando, Cruise, home.
6. Non Stop to Orlando on Friday, 1 nights in Orlando, Cruise, 1-2 nights in Orlando after.

Prices do no change if we do 1 night versus after the cruise but I'd vote for 2 simply because we'd get in early evening on Saturday and if we only stay one night, would have less than 24 hours to do F&W and that hardly seems worth it. All of the options assume an evening direct flight from Orlando or an afternoon 1 stop one from San Juan. Only 1 night in Orlando on the way down and it's basically a sleepover, 6pm to 4am so not a huge fan of that option (plus it costs more). Only real advantage is one less vacation day away from work.

Thoughts??? Dizzy yet?

I'll spare you the resort options until we decide how many dates. Oh and yes, in this instance if we go this route...we WILL be getting travel insurance.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Travel insurance and option 4 for me. Maximum holiday length, time at WDW before AND after. Jeff can relax at the resort before the cruise.

 

[eandesmom]

Travel insurance and option 4 for me. Maximum holiday length, time at WDW before AND after. Jeff can relax at the resort before the cruise.

Well it's actually less holiday time since we lose a whole day in travel by doing the direct flight, and it doesn't facilitate the time change. Sadly the direct red eye is only on Friday and Saturday and I am not brave enough to attempt that as tempting as it might be as there are just no back up options if the first leg falls through.

But direct is certainly a lot more comfortable than a red eye with a 2.5 hour layover! Question is if the cost difference and loss of vacation day is worth the comfort.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Well it's actually less holiday time since we lose a whole day in travel by doing the direct flight, and it doesn't facilitate the time change. Sadly the direct red eye is only on Friday and Saturday and I am not brave enough to attempt that as tempting as it might be as there are just no back up options if the first leg falls through.

But direct is certainly a lot more comfortable than a red eye with a 2.5 hour layover! Question is if the cost difference and loss of vacation day is worth the comfort.

I don't sleep on planes; so taking the red eye is something that I hate doing. Sadly for me, whenever I head to the US, I end up being awake for a very long day (we leave in the daytime and arrive in your daytime). I'm also pretty much running on adrenaline and caffeine to get through the day. If you're like me and can do that, then catching the red eye might be worth considering; if it means that you have extra time at Disney.

But it sounds like the cruise is the main reason for this trip. Perhaps it might be better to be nice and relaxed when you get onboard to enjoy it; rather than maybe needing to still catch up on sleep.

Difficult call.

 

[eandesmom]

I don't sleep on planes; so taking the red eye is something that I hate doing. Sadly for me, whenever I head to the US, I end up being awake for a very long day (we leave in the daytime and arrive in your daytime). I'm also pretty much running on adrenaline and caffeine to get through the day. If you're like me and can do that, then catching the red eye might be worth considering; if it means that you have extra time at Disney.

Well it means a couple of things. We actually generally prefer the red eye but this one isn't ideal as 2.5 hours in LAX pretty much bites. But the price is right. The lovely thing for us on the red eye is that if we can power through the day, and we do, we make the switch to east coast time right away. It is much more difficult to do with a daytime flight, we will stay up WAY too late and get up late and that doesn't bode terribly well for an early am flight on Saturday. If we do the red eye on Weds, we have 2 nights to get caught up and rested. If we do the direct on Thursday, same thing but without the forced time change. Direct on Friday, while saving one vacation day at work seems a horrible idea as we'll have an impossible time getting to sleep but then needing to be at DME at 4am...which will be 1am our time. Might as well not go to bed and then we are a wreck for day 1 of the cruise, probably sleeping through dinner!

But it sounds like the cruise is the main reason for this trip. Perhaps it might be better to be nice and relaxed when you get onboard to enjoy it; rather than maybe needing to still catch up on sleep.

Difficult call.

The cruise is the main event, fitting WDW around it and maybe Food and Wine is a total bonus prize that I'm a bit in shock Jeff is going for.

Given how late we are boarding I don't want to be completely out of it while we are "homeless" that day. It isn't clear yet what time we can even board, whether it is normal start time or not. And given that it's a re-positioning transatlantic arrival I imagine that could delay boarding but who knows.

 

[annmarieda]

So my question is this... do you have your spreadsheet going? I know I had to start mine up too. My dh has no desire to play with scenarios... so I am glad to have both my spreadsheet and dis for support.

I guess first, I would throw out the red eyes with stops. It doesn't sound fun to have to wake in the middle of the night to get off the plane and on to another. Doable, yes... fun, no. But then you handle red eyes well.... I (or more importantly my family) don't.

Maybe 6 is good? But if I am understanding correctly you just would not really get any time in Orlando before you then fly to SJ. But flying in on Thursday at least give you friday to go to food and wine?

What ever the pre cruise plan, I vote 2 days in orlando after. It will give you just enough recovery from the cruise and allow you to enjoy food and wine. one might not quite do it.

 

[eandesmom]

So my question is this... do you have your spreadsheet going? I know I had to start mine up too. My dh has no desire to play with scenarios... so I am glad to have both my spreadsheet and dis for support.

Oh my word yes, I wouldn't be able to figure it out without a spreadsheet!

I also had to play with a curve ball...as in what if we cancelled the cruise and did Cabo or Aruba instead

I guess first, I would throw out the red eyes with stops. It doesn't sound fun to have to wake in the middle of the night to get off the plane and on to another. Doable, yes... fun, no. But then you handle red eyes well.... I (or more importantly my family) don't.

Well the red eye doesn't leave that late from Seattle, it's a 4:55 pm via LAX, land at MCO at 5:20 am flight (which means a 2.5 hr layover) So we wouldn't be asleep when we got there but the layover would suck.

Maybe 6 is good? But if I am understanding correctly you just would not really get any time in Orlando before you then fly to SJ. But flying in on Thursday at least give you friday to go to food and wine?

Unfortunately F&W will not have started yet before the cruise. It will start the Friday while we are on the cruise. It would have been perfect to go before but it's not an option. #6 would get us into MCO around 4pm I think but we'd have to be back on DME at 4am, or earlier. With not being able to make the time change I think it sounds brutal as we will have a hard time getting to sleep and then have to get up when our brains think it's 1am and then be homeless all day in SJ till we can get on the ship. Doesn't sound like a good day one on the cruise, we might sleep through dinner!

What ever the pre cruise plan, I vote 2 days in orlando after. It will give you just enough recovery from the cruise and allow you to enjoy food and wine. one might not quite do it.

I really want 2 days after as well. One, given the time we'd get into MCO on Sat, just seems to not cover it at all. And if we stay where Jeff wants, we will need some transportation time in there.

The sucky thing of course is some of these deals are well, now. Some we can wait on. Airfare for this wasn't really planned quite this early but that seems to be how it goes sometimes.

 

[annmarieda]

Oh my word yes, I wouldn't be able to figure it out without a spreadsheet!

I hear ya!!!

I also had to play with a curve ball...as in what if we cancelled the cruise and did Cabo or Aruba instead

Sheesh... I too played around with what ifs today in the "what if we cancelled this..what would we do then " way.

Well the red eye doesn't leave that late from Seattle, it's a 4:55 pm via LAX, land at MCO at 5:20 am flight (which means a 2.5 hr layover) So we wouldn't be asleep when we got there but the layover would suck.

So that could be ok, yes? While a layover sucks... you would get in early to MCO and would have the entire night to sleep...well, I guess not exactly the entire night. It would be like arriving at 2:20... and unless you fell right to sleep at 6:30pm when you left LAX... that wouldn't amount to a lot of sleep.

Unfortunately F&W will not have started yet before the cruise. It will start the Friday while we are on the cruise. It would have been perfect to go before but it's not an option. #6 would get us into MCO around 4pm I think but we'd have to be back on DME at 4am, or earlier. With not being able to make the time change I think it sounds brutal as we will have a hard time getting to sleep and then have to get up when our brains think it's 1am and then be homeless all day in SJ till we can get on the ship. Doesn't sound like a good day one on the cruise, we might sleep through dinner!

ugh... that sounds not fun.

I really want 2 days after as well. One, given the time we'd get into MCO on Sat, just seems to not cover it at all. And if we stay where Jeff wants, we will need some transportation time in there.

The sucky thing of course is some of these deals are well, now. Some we can wait on. Airfare for this wasn't really planned quite this early but that seems to be how it goes sometimes.[/QUOTE]

Oh yes! I hear ya on that too. I am toying around with booking a car and airfare. I wasn't thinking I would be doing that for a couple months at least (and with the car...if at all)

 

[Pinkocto]

Why doesn't Jeff want to do SJ pre cruise? That would be a bit easier on the sleep schedule. Beautiful beaches and lots of history to explore.

 

[jedijill]

Well, I have my spreadsheet going for the cruise too. I'm thinking flying in on Wednesday before the cruise and exploring SJ. I'm waiting on SW to release their schedule in 2 weeks to be able to know for sure. Not sure about the way back either...I think it will depend on flights. I don't really have points to play with for WDW...I just hate spending the time and money on WDW for a F&W Saturday night...way too crowded!

Jill in CO

 

[MEK]

Well,you know my vote is for 2 days in Orlando before AND after the cruise, but clearly you will have to work with the best flight options. The more F&W the better!

Happy Planning! I'm sure you will get it all figured out!

 

[rentayenta]

I'm dizzy and with PIO and don't do the red eyes either. I don't sleep well on them either so they're not worth any $$ savings as I lose a day of vacation due to exhaustion.

Okay....going back to catch up.

 

[Poolrat]

I vote for #2. Not much more in price and maximizes the time.

I think for you , who does the red eye pretty good and still gives you time instead of a sleepover works.

I know you will get it all straightened out even if you have to be homeless for the day in SJ.

 

[KatMark]

I am totally confused. But I say you pick whichever one would have you at Disney the same time Mark and I are (we are there the 19th and leave mid-afternoon on the 26th).

 

[Chilly]

So what time would the layover in LAX be?

 

[eandesmom]

Why doesn't Jeff want to do SJ pre cruise? That would be a bit easier on the sleep schedule. Beautiful beaches and lots of history to explore.

It would likely be about the same on the sleep schedule depending on what route we took to get there. Flight I liked best actually was a red eye on Thursday that got us into SJ at 3am I think lol. PR is having a lot of economic issues and Jeff is pretty up on what is going on. While I personally don't think it would be an issue at all, the numbers are not good in terms of crime, murder, closed businesses and what is a rather large exodus of the upper and middle classes. We are unclear on really how that has effected tourism and I think he's being a bit over the top on it but honestly if it's his one issue/request, I can work with it.

He has sent over some compelling info about what is going on, and for him, it's just not a place, regardless of beauty and history he wants to spend extra days. We do want to see the fort but unless we were to book a beach hotel it could eat up some time and money to try and stay over there versus the port. Staying near the port seemed easy enough but once I started looking into the beach locations it started to get complicated to get there, then to the port and I wasn't convinced it was worth the time and money for it. I guess we kind of think we will have a week of gorgeous beaches and views so don't "need" the beach time in SJ. I think we should have plenty of time to hit the fort if nothing else.

He'd rather hang out at WDW, which honestly surprises the heck out of me but I am not complaining!

I just saw this, apparently someone contacted DCL and was told the following

They said they are treating San Juan like a port day. So port opens at 11, check in starts at 1. Once you check in, you'll be able to leave the ship but doors close at 9:30, leaving port at 10:30.

So if we take the Jet Blue first flight, land at 9am, we've got tons of time. Almost too much! Then I wonder what the heck we do with our stuff until check in. There is a later one we could take but I'll feel safer landing there early. My guess is we will head to the Sheraton or another hotel, leave our bags with bell services, have breakfast there, see things for a few hours, check in on the ship and then head back out. Something like that. But I've not looked into it at all.

Well, I have my spreadsheet going for the cruise too. I'm thinking flying in on Wednesday before the cruise and exploring SJ. I'm waiting on SW to release their schedule in 2 weeks to be able to know for sure. Not sure about the way back either...I think it will depend on flights. I don't really have points to play with for WDW...I just hate spending the time and money on WDW for a F&W Saturday night...way too crowded!

Jill in CO

Is it in 2 weeks? For some reason I thought SW fares came out in April for our dates.

We are uber point poor too but can swing 2 nights before and 2 nights after. Just. No more than that! It will dip into the Aulani trip a little but I think it will be ok. Especially given that it is not a for sure thing. If we do that it's really almost 3 days for F&W, yes it'd be Sat night but all of Sunday and a large chunk of Monday as our flight wouldn't leave until 6pm. I can't believe he is up for it so I need to seize the moment! No mention then it will really lessen my gap in WDW trips, only 1 year instead of 18 months and get bang for the buck out of my AP.

Well,you know my vote is for 2 days in Orlando before AND after the cruise, but clearly you will have to work with the best flight options. The more F&W the better!

Happy Planning! I'm sure you will get it all figured out!

We went out last night to celebrate my birthday and Valentines and I think we have a plan!

I'm dizzy and with PIO and don't do the red eyes either. I don't sleep well on them either so they're not worth any $$ savings as I lose a day of vacation due to exhaustion.

Okay....going back to catch up.

It's funny, we've actually paid more to be able to do the red eye. I think we are of the mind set that we can power through one day no problem. It's funny, it's always worked well for WDW as it's arrival day of vacation so you are amped up. When we do it coming back from Hawaii we are a wreck...because we have to go to work, the vacation is over!

I vote for #2. Not much more in price and maximizes the time.

I think for you , who does the red eye pretty good and still gives you time instead of a sleepover works.

I know you will get it all straightened out even if you have to be homeless for the day in SJ.

#2 is the front runner, I may be booking some things later today! We chatted about it quite a bit last night and it's a relatively painless red eye even with the layover. Layover is actually dinner time so pretty easy to kill time there.

I am totally confused. But I say you pick whichever one would have you at Disney the same time Mark and I are (we are there the 19th and leave mid-afternoon on the 26th).

We would be! We would be arriving on the 18th, leaving on the 20th and then there 27-29.

So what time would the layover in LAX be?

7:30-9:45 pm I think. So dinner time, not bad to kill time there.