newbie-booking help

[musicdude]

Hi all........We are booked on the Jan. 8th 2005 Eastern and also want to spend three days at wdw first. Is it cheaper to book separately? What would be a good deluxe resort to stay at for a first timer? We booked through Small World Travel. Anybody ever use them?

 

[KELLIE JONES]

from what i understand if you want to book a resort stay first, then you have to book cruise and resort separatly because you have to go on cruise for the first leg of your trip. i have never used that travel co, i usually just book everything myself ( i have my best interest at heart ) and travel agencys i have used in the past usually just match what i could find on my own. as for the resort, go with what you like!!

 

[musicdude]

Thanks for the responses. We are doing the 7 night eastern cruise ad three nights prior at wdw. How do we get the best deal ? We are staying in a category 6 cabin and want to stay at a wdw deluxe resort. Any Comments about small world travel ?
Good or bad !!

 

[kcashner]

You get the best deal by looking carefully at whatever specials WDW is offering. You can get some good deals off season. Check www.mousesavers.com for current specials. They don't offer anything "just" because you are cruising.

Look carefully at the pass options and what you will use. Is the unlimited park hopper really the best choice for YOU based on what you want to do? A parkhopper plus is significantly cheaper if that meets your needs. Most of us waste our UPH by not using it on day of arrival.....

January is low season at WDW, so there are frequently great specials available. You will want to consider doing your travel insurance thru a company that will cover all aspects of the trip as one (air, WDW, cruise). Private companies are usually cheaper than going thru DCL, and DCL won't cover air if you don't use their air.....

 

[jrabbit]

There is NOT a land/sea package with the 7 night cruises.

Check the sources mentioned above to find "deals".

Remember you will not go to a park on embarkation day (saturday) or if you do it would only be for a few hours - so get tickets accordingly (only you will know if it is "worth it" for you). It takes about 1 1/2 hours to get to the port from WDW. If this is your first DCL cruise, you will want to be at the port by noon, so you can have the lunch buffet and start to learn your way around the ship before you set sail (and before the ship fills up with passengers). The terminal is very nice. We usually arive by 11 so we have time to get checked in, look around, take some pictures and get into line.

Hint: fill out as much of your cruise documents as possible before arriving at the port. Will make check in go much quicker.

 

[musicdude]

Thanks for all the advice. We booked everything through Small World Travel about 2 months ago but now since reading on this board about Costco travel. I got a price quote and Costco was about the same except the resort is a Deluxe instead of moderate. So now I'm debating what we should do. Again we wanted to spend 3 days at WDW(never been) and then the 7 day eastern cruise. I know its better to book way ahead on the cruise but how about WDW? Thanks