new booking dates

[cannonn824]

Does anyone know when DCL will annouce the sailing date for 2006? They have already released them for January, but I'm not looking to go until July and I can't wait to book it. This will be my first DCL cruise and I can't wait.

 

[Pacha]

Just looked at DCL site and the only dates for January 2006 are the 7 day western that departs on Dec 31 , 2005.

Pacha

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

You just do not know,

The magic summer dates were only released at May 5th this year for 2005.

The Wonder appeared quite early in the year for the full year, and the start and end of the year 7 day carribean trips for the Magic.

You need to keep looking at the RESERVATIONS pate of the DCL rather than RATES,DATES, and MORE, as I found you could book a lot of 2005 dates but they didnt show on the summary on rates and dates.

Updates have seemed to be in January and May before, but who knows they might send both ships to the West Coast and delay an annoucement.

 

[cannonn824]

Thanks for the info. I have been looking on DCL but I was wondering if anyone knew of an exact date. I was also wondering, do you have to do the land portion first of a land and sea or can you do the sea part first?

 

[crisi]

A lot of people here suggest you book the land sea parts yourself rather than buying a package. You can put all the same pieces in, but its often cheaper and you will be able to craft the vacation the way you want it - sea first or sea last. You'll also have more flexibility - want to splurge on a land resort, but take an inside cabin. Or splurge on a veranda on the ship but stay at a value resort (or - gasp! - offsite) you aren't hampered by the preconfigurations.

 

[crisi]

Oh, as to exact dates - four day cruises leave every Sunday and arrive back every Thursday. The ship empties and three day cruisers get on board on Thursday and home on Sunday. Seven day cruises leave and return every Saturday.

There may be a few exceptions (the seven day West Coast cruises are a big one), but in general, that's the schedule.

 

[TootyJane]

Originally posted by cannonn824
Thanks for the info. I have been looking on DCL but I was wondering if anyone knew of an exact date. I was also wondering, do you have to do the land portion first of a land and sea or can you do the sea part first?

When we our first Disney cruise (May 1999) we only wanted to do 3 days at sea so we first did the 4-day land portion and then 3 days at sea. I would imagine that if you were to do 4 days at sea, you would do sea portion first, then 3-day land portion. Can anyone else confirm this?

 

[Memaw2Wm]

I would imagine that if you were to do 4 days at sea, you would do sea portion first, then 3-day land portion. Can anyone else confirm this?

No, unfortunately you do three days at Disney, then 4 days at sea ... so your vacation runs Thursday to Thursday unless you book the land separate from the sea.

 

[cannonn824]

Thanks I didn't even think about doing it that way. I just thought that it is easier to do them both together.

 

[cannonn824]

Why can't you start your vacation on a land after the sea as long as u are on the boat on the right day?

if i do them separate will i save money or is it more of a pain? I was also thinking of adding more days on land, put i'm not sure it depends on $$$$$.

 

[clh2]

We did version of a sea/land last October. I really wanted the 4-nt cruise, but couldn't start it on a Thursday.

With a land/sea package - you get "length of stay" passes. So if you don't arrive until 4pm on the first day - you are paying for a full day's worth of passes. Same with the day you go to the ship. Your length of stay pass will also get you in a park the morning you will be going to the port. A full day's pass for only a couple hours of usage - is not the best of deals in my book.

If you end up buying a 4-day park hopper and only use 3 days - they never expire so you can use up the remaining days some other time.

We stayed at the Swan - LOVED IT!!! and did a category 10 on the ship. It was the perfect combo for us.

 

[crisi]

Originally posted by cannonn824
Why can't you start your vacation on a land after the sea as long as u are on the boat on the right day?

if i do them separate will i save money or is it more of a pain? I was also thinking of adding more days on land, put i'm not sure it depends on $$$$$.

Possibly both.

With a land sea through Disney, you make a few decisions, they take care of the rest. You pay one bill, but there is no quibbleing.

If you book the parts seperate, you may save money. You will almost certainly save money (or time) on things like air. You'll have a lot more choices. You can book whatever hotel is cheapest based on codes and stay on land for as long as you like. You can not get UPHs (as mentioned) and have fewer ticketed days. You can still book Disney transfers from the hotel to the cruiseship if you want. But you'll need to make several phone calls instead of one.

 

[cannonn824]

Why will i have to make more phone calls? I would go thru a TA for all my reservations.

Also what do you get with the UPH that would be different from a PH? I don't know a whole lot about this stuff since I have never been to any resorts or even WDW. This will be the first trip ever, so i want to make the best of it.

 

[crisi]

If you go through a TA, you'd only need to make one phone call - but you'll want to do your own research. For instance, the previous poster stayed at the Swan - a lovely hotel, but is it right for you? Some travel agents are equiped to help you make these choices, others have never been to Disney, or at least don't specialize in it. A travel agent specializing in Disney would be a better choice if you don't want to do your own research. Also, a TA might not get you the best possible rates on things like rooms and hotels. TAs have their own interests as well as yours in mind when they help you book a vacation - you never know if the rental car agency they recommend is the best for you - or merely the one offering them a promotion for bookings. Most people around here think they do better - particularly with the land portion of the trip - booking themselves - both financially and in the amount of control they have to weigh each option. Try www.mousesavers.com and you'll start to get an idea - rental cars, airfare, hotels, etc. We booked our cruise through DU (the sponsor of this site that specializes in Disney travel) and saved a few bucks over booking through DCL - but DU didn't seem interested in upselling us airfare, hotel, and the other add ons - we booked those ourselves.

A UPH gets you admission to all Disney venues from check in to check out. But if you don't fly in until 3:00 in the afternoon and the parks close at 6:00, and you leave for the boat at 10:00am, you aren't really using two of the days you paid for. A Park Hopper gives you X days of admission to the parks - and with longer hoppers a few "plus" admissions - waterparks and admission to Pleasure Island. UPHs need to be bought through Disney as part of your room or package - hoppers can be bought through discount ticket brokers, so in addition to the benefit of dropping days, you can sometimes save a few bucks...once again, check out mousesavers.

 

[cannonn824]

Thank you SOOOOOOOOOOOO very much for all the info. I will check out that site.

 

[mum of two pirates]

I called Disney the other day and was the new 06 dates will not be out tell late fall. I'm waiting also was thinking of feb- as it is cold here or sept, maybe nov. MUM

 

[cannonn824]

Well than I guess that just give us more time to save.

By the way how do you put the count downs on your screen?

 

[TootyJane]

Originally posted by mum of two pirates
I called Disney the other day and was the new 06 dates will not be out tell late fall. I'm waiting also was thinking of feb- as it is cold here or sept, maybe nov. MUM

If the past is any indication, 2006 dates probably willl be out late this year. When we booked our June 19, 2004 cruise the remaining 2004 dates opened on Dec. 30. HTH