new to cruises questions

[ktglads]

I've never taken a cruise before and I am starting to plan a 3 or 4 day one into our summer trip. For those who have done this, what time do you make it to the parks after leaving the ship? Also, if you take the Disney transport, would it be faster? If we did this and just had our luggage stored without checking in, would it be any faster? Is it even possible?

Also, is there any way to book 2 people into a land and sea vacation and then add 2 more people for just the sea part? 2 of us will have APs so we do not need the tickets. Usually you can just add people to the room when you get there and pay the extra fee, but can you do that on the ship for that package?

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Hi ktglads,

If you're looking at Disney's package the land portion would take place before the sea portion.

Depending on which package level you're in determines the hotel. All of the packages include transportation from WDW to the port - again if you book the package. You can book the components separately and then you could do land after sea, select your own transportation, etc. Haven't done this ourselves but others have.

If you book the package, then the higher levels will leave WDW and head for the port earliest. For instance the buses pick up at Grand Floridian first, when that resort is clear of cruise passengers then they move to Poly, etc. So if you want online earlier that is something to consider.

One of the nice things about the package is that once you check your bags at the originating airport, Disney handles it all from there. Including transportation to the port, etc. You also check in at your hotel and simply get in the boarding line when you reach the port.

I'm not sure about the "adding" if you're looking at everyone in the same stateroom. But if it is a separate stateroom, all you would need to do is make that reservation, make your stateroom requests, and then ask that the reservations be linked. This would lead to being seated together at dinner, etc.

Hope this helps your planning!

Deb

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

We were at MCO by 9:30am after our 3-Day last November! The 3-Day ends on a Sunday, so there was very little traffic on the freeway.

We did five days at WDW prior to our cruise, and it took us a little over an hour to get from WDW to the port on a Thursday morning.

Since we didn't use Disney's land/sea package, we were responsible for our own luggage. We had no problem getting luggage on/off the ship. We left several suitcases with clothes used at WDW in our vehicle at the port. The parking lot there seemed to be very well protected. It worked well for us!