November 1, 2012 ~ 3-Night Dream

[Zandy595]

Whats the earliest we can get onboard anybody know? Shall I save myself for lunch!

From what I've heard, boarding should start around 11:30am. Since you (and I) have an 11am port arrival time, we'll probably get boarding #3 or close to it. That's what we got last year. We ended up getting to the port a little later than I wanted (11:30) and were still sitting at a table in Cabanas before noon.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Ph my goodness at Cabanas by noon! How fantastic. We decided to drive ourselves to the port this year as the disney transport gets you there too late! I want to maximise it! Plus its free handicap parking at the port

I am too excited for words. I have a disney days countdown on my ipad. 71 days till we fly London to Orlando..

Do you fly also?

 

[Zandy595]

Do you fly also?

No, we drive. The port is about 2 hours from our house.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Awesome! What a nice place to live

Is it easy to get a parking space? You dont have to prebook it or anything?

 

[Zandy595]

Awesome! What a nice place to live

Is it easy to get a parking space? You dont have to prebook it or anything?

There are always plenty of parking spots available when we get there. I know you can't prebook regular parking at the terminal, but I don't know anything about the free handicapped spots. You may want to call or email DCL about that. I didn't even know that handicapped parking was free.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Thanks. No I didn't realise about the free parking until the CM told us when we booked the cruise through member services. I didn't think it was too pricey anyway. Hope its secure parking! We were considering leaving some luggage in the car as next year we will check out of our room at SSR whilst onboard.

 

[RDP]

Cant wait for this cruise (just saying ) Welcome Paula!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Thanks! I cant wait either Wonder what rotary dining order we will get!

 

[RDP]

Has anyone bought the wine packages? Any good? Is it worth the money? love my wine but not sure if is worth the price? may just buy as I go.

 

[RDP]

We have transfers booked via DCL from the airport to POR where we are staying pre cruise. Will we be transferred by the Magical Express or a DCL bus? Where do we go when we get off the plane?

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Hi RDP. It is a DCL bus that takes you to the port. Not the same as the ME bus. If it is Orlando international then the cruise check in and bus depot is sign posted and when we went was next to the ME bus check in and pick up. It is really easy to find as we had the same worries. It is marked all through the airport and we flew in from the UK and saw it with jet lag! Hope this helps. The bus is cute it was round windows like port holes!

 

[RDP]

Hi RDP. It is a DCL bus that takes you to the port. Not the same as the ME bus. If it is Orlando international then the cruise check in and bus depot is sign posted and when we went was next to the ME bus check in and pick up. It is really easy to find as we had the same worries. It is marked all through the airport and we flew in from the UK and saw it with jet lag! Hope this helps. The bus is cute it was round windows like port holes!

Does the DCL bus take you to the pre cruise accommodation? We are staying at Port Orleans Riverside for 2 nights pre cruise? MTIA.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Hi RDP. No actually if you are staying before then the ME takes you to PO from the airport and then on the day of the cruise the DCL transport takes you to the port. We did this. The night before the cruise you put your luggage outside your room at PO with the labels they provide and they come and take them for you. The next you see them they are in your stateroom its so cool!

You have to book both the ME and DCL transport separately. We had to pay for the DCL transport bit but the ME is free. Just booking the DCL transport doesnt book the ME or vice versa.

On the night before you disembark from the cruise they take the luggage from outside your cabin and put it in the port for you to pick up when you get off the ship. You then take it yourself to the DCL transport which is clearly marked for each resort. We actually had a mini van last time on the way back because they were not that many of us going to SSR.

HTH.

 

[arao]

First time sailing disney dream, just made my final payment. Super excited about it. My 3 yr olds gonna be even more excited to meet Mickey Mouse and Goofy.

 

[Zandy595]

First time sailing disney dream, just made my final payment. Super excited about it. My 3 yr olds gonna be even more excited to meet Mickey Mouse and Goofy.

Glad to have you join us.

If you haven't already, don't forget to do your online check-in to choose your port arrival time. Some people sailing DCL for the first time don't realize they have to do that.

 

[arao]

Thanks!! Anyone knows about the photo packages. Had read somewhere that there are disney photographers near the character encounters. Last time we visited Disney World, we brought the unlimited photo package before we arrived there. Does anyone know if Disney cream has any such packages? Also, what is the deadline for disembarkation on Nov 4th?

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Hello. They take lots of lovely photos when you board, at the restaurants and castaway cay etc. they display them every evening in shutters the photo studio. We use to enjoy viewing them after dinner. They do plenty of packages to choose from I think the most expensive was something like $300 for 15 each of the two sizes think it was. So about 30 in total or something like that. The photos are 6 x 8 and 8 x 10 I think and wonderful quality. We purchased them separately and soon regretted it! They do cheaper packages also. I dont recall an unlimited package but I may not have noticed. Hth

 

[Zandy595]

Thanks!! Anyone knows about the photo packages. Had read somewhere that there are disney photographers near the character encounters. Last time we visited Disney World, we brought the unlimited photo package before we arrived there. Does anyone know if Disney cream has any such packages? Also, what is the deadline for disembarkation on Nov 4th?

They want everyone out of their staterooms by 8am.

On the last morning you will be assigned a dining room for breakfast (it will be the one you had dinner at the night before). If you have early dinner, breakfast will be either 6:30am or 6:45am. If you have late dinner, breakfast will be 7:45am or 8am.

We have early dinner and don't want to go to breakfast that early, so we'll go up to Cabanas instead. I like the buffet better anyway.

Cabanas starts closing up the buffet at 8:30am, but you can sit at a table and eat until around 9:15am.

They want everyone off the ship by 9:30am.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Hi everyone

Not long now! I am so excited! Castaway cay here I come!

 

[RDP]

Hi everyone

Not long now! I am so excited! Castaway cay here I come!

I hear you ! Can't wait!