Newbie needs help....

[goldilocks_63]

I've booked the 7 Day Western for the last week in March next year (spring break), and have one of the secret cat 7's. So thanks for that advice.

Now I need a bit more for the next part. I live in Chicago, so need to fly out I think Friday night, and stay somewhere, before we can board on Sat. Where do you stay? I was thinking at the airport Hilton, in Orlando? Opinions please.

And if I fly a day early, do I really need the travel insurance (like $400). And should I use the complimentary transportation, or is there a better way to do it.

I'm a DVCer, so I could stay in an OKW studio, the night before, but really just want a place to sleep til 10:30 ish, and then to board, and register for Palo's, Spa, and DD-7 in kids club.

And we love swimming and snorking. Can we go on excursions while DD-7 is in kids club? How do you preregister for tours, and which one's do you like.

Thanks, Goldi

I am so excited! This is my first DVC cruise...

 

[mommasita]

I've booked the 7 Day Western for the last week in March next year (spring break), and have one of the secret cat 7's. So thanks for that advice.

Now I need a bit more for the next part. I live in Chicago, so need to fly out I think Friday night, and stay somewhere, before we can board on Sat. Where do you stay? I was thinking at the airport Hilton, in Orlando? Opinions please.

And if I fly a day early, do I really need the travel insurance (like $400). And should I use the complimentary transportation, or is there a better way to do it.

I'm a DVCer, so I could stay in an OKW studio, the night before, but really just want a place to sleep til 10:30 ish, and then to board, and register for Palo's, Spa, and DD-7 in kids club.

And we love swimming and snorking. Can we go on excursions while DD-7 is in kids club? How do you preregister for tours, and which one's do you like.

Thanks, Goldi

I am so excited! This is my first DVC cruise...

Hi, and congratulations for booking...dcltribute.com is an excellent place for help, especially for hotels, and transportation...I always stay at an inexpensive hotel near the beach for the one night..I hate to pay too much for one night, just a clean spot..WE have used Best Western, and Comfort Inn and Suites, both in COcoa beach...5 minutes to the port...They have free shuttles, but we usually take a taxi to be at the port a bit earlier

Now, your insurance question is a good one...You are not travelling in hurricane season, but you just never know what could happen...Considering the price of the cruise, I would say YES get the insurance, just not through DCL...insuremytrip.com is very reasonable...

We get a car pick-up at MCO to our hotel, and then they pick us up when the cruise is over, and bring us to the airport again...Usually around 200$ with tip, and is soooo much easier than worrying...Some also rent cars, very cheap..

Yes, you can leave the children in the clubs, you just let them know what excursion, and what time it is..You can book your excursions 90 days out,or 60 ( i forget) and sometimes they fill up, so if you know you want a certain one, then it is best to book ASAP..

On DCL's direct site, there is lots of info on excursions and tours....

Hope that helped...anything else..holler away..

 

[goldilocks_63]

"They have free shuttles, but we usually take a taxi to be at the port a bit earlier"

***
Sorry, still confused. With the free shuttles, is that from Orlando Airport, and then to the boat.

Or do I need to find another way to the hotel (like Limo)?

I had purchased Disney transportation, will that take me to the hotel the day before?

Goldi

 

[mommasita]

"They have free shuttles, but we usually take a taxi to be at the port a bit earlier"

***
Sorry, still confused. With the free shuttles, is that from Orlando Airport, and then to the boat.

Or do I need to find another way to the hotel (like Limo)?

I had purchased Disney transportation, will that take me to the hotel the day before?

Goldi

Yes, sorry the free shuttle, is from hotel to port...
You do need a car service, if you are not renting. Disney transportation only brings you to the port the day of the cruise. A good choice may be to stay at the Hyatt at the airport, so you can go straight to the disney busses the day of your cruise. I believe they also take care of your luggage, transporting it straight to the ship....

IF you decide to either rent a car, or use a pick-up service, you may cancel your disney transportation....

dcltribute.com is great, really, for help with these things..

 

[poohssmum]

Hi Congratulations on booking your cruise

I'll offer what I can by way of advice. I recommend flying in the day before. Have flown in the morning of, and it made for a very long day for all of us. We've rented a car one-way from the airport to the port, and then from the port to the airport after the cruise.

On our last cruise, we used the complimentary shuttle from the Radisson to the Magic. This time, we'll keep the rental car and drive to the port, unload the luggage and the kids and one of us will return the car to the rental office, then hop the shuttle back to the ship. The shuttle from the Radisson was fine, but we had booked an 11:00 reservation and didn't actually get put onto a shuttle until closer to Noon.

Yes, you can leave your child in the club/lab while you leave the ship for an excursion. Just make sure you book a later excursion as the club/lab doesn't open until 9:00 most mornings. We've left our kids on the ship while we explored some ports on our own. HTH and have a GREAT time