September 17, 2006 - 11 Night Southern Caribbean Part 2

[EnchantedPlayroom]

*Sopranos theme song revised* Woke up this morning, got myself a GLUE gun A handful of 3rd degree burns later, I have finished my fish extender. I've been working on door signs for all 3 of our cabins. I am having so much fun!! I was born for arts & crafts. Also, it's nice to have something to do besides worry about the DH in Iraq. But now that I'm done with those projects, I'll need to find something else to do/make. Guess I'll start hunting down pirate costumes.

Anyone know if the post-cruise Disney transportation will take you back to one of the designated drop offs even if you are NOT staying there? (Does that question make sence?) We'll be staying at Shades of Green after the cruise, and want a ride back w/ the Disney bus. Or would it be in our best intrest to rent a car?

 

[Scott H]

soooo... here's a question for the people that tend to know everything... like Tracy, Peter, Scott, and others.

I just stay at Holiday Inn Express when I travel.

Sorry not much help here with admission media, we get AP's with the DVC discount. I think there is a military discount. Best to call Central Reservations at WDW to see what is avail. Sorry I don't know their number, Maybe DVC MS could answer this question. That's it call MS first.

I would think that DCL transport would drop at all resports, then again I could be wrong.

Be careful with that glue gun. I was just going to use our old fish extender from the PC cruise, now I might feel pressured into getting creative. Oh well it is a good excuse to get an arc welder.

 

[Sunshine56]

We will be staying at the park for 2 days after the cruise...(Fri/Sat) soooo... here's a question for the people that tend to know everything... like Tracy, Peter, Scott, and others.

Is there a special discount park ticket offer for DVC members? or Returning DCL cruisers? We are also a Military ID card holders, AAA members, and one of us is a Senior! hahaha trying to save money any way we can...

Check Mousesavers and of course Credit Unions usually get you the best deal.

 

[Sunshine56]

*
Anyone know if the post-cruise Disney transportation will take you back to one of the designated drop offs even if you are NOT staying there? (Does that question make sence?) We'll be staying at Shades of Green after the cruise, and want a ride back w/ the Disney bus. Or would it be in our best intrest to rent a car?

If you will need a car for anything after the cruise - then I would advise getting a car. Just MHO.

 

[Scott H]

Hey don't forget to shop for a grass skirt. But be really careful with the glue gun around the grass skirt.

 

[krdisneybound]

SO - who will be staying at the Radisson the night before the cruise??

 

[pahrumpgirl]

We will be staying at the park for 2 days after the cruise...(Fri/Sat) soooo... here's a question for the people that tend to know everything... like Tracy, Peter, Scott, and others.

Is there a special discount park ticket offer for DVC members? or Returning DCL cruisers? We are also a Military ID card holders, AAA members, and one of us is a Senior! hahaha trying to save money any way we can...

Sandy,

Having just retired from AAA I know that our office and most other AAA offices do offer discounts on tickets. Since Disney came out with so many different tickets the offices were given an option as to which ones they wanted to carry so you should check with your club to see which ones they carry and what kind of discount they offer. As far as I am aware I have never heard of a senior discount. .

 

[EnchantedPlayroom]

SO - who will be staying at the Radisson the night before the cruise??

We're all (enchanted & Sandysplayhouse) discussing it right now. But I'm thinking we are leaning towards a YES.

QUESTION: Is the Orlando International the nearest airport to Cocoa Beach/Port Canaveral??

Were thinking of renting a 12 passengar van (6 people + all our luggage should fit) and driving down to the Radisson there by the port. Then just doing the reverse to spend the next 3 days at the parks after the cruise.

 

[winotracy]

Brandy, I would get a car. It'll be a lot cheaper for all of you. DCL charges $30 per person each way. We got an SUV after (one way to MCO) for two days. I can get a small one for $104 or a Trailblazer for $140. So if you have more than 3 people in a vehicle, it's cheaper.

As for before the cruise, we will be hopefully in Celebration for the tour and Old Key West for the Wine & Cheese Meet. As for where we're staying...somewhere on property, it's a secret

 

[sweetsue]

Sorry for so many questions. Just trying to work out the logistics for ease, convenience and as early as possible boarding. Kinda like we want to be the first ones on. I mean somebody has to be first!

Not like we are excited or anything.

TIA for any and all advice or recommendations.

We actually WERE first! The very first family to cross the gangway. It was loads of fun being first. The crew is just a bit relaxed since no one is one yet. It was quite fun.

I haven't even read enough to see whether anyone answered your questions or not but... they now board by "groups". You get a group number in a first-come, first-served order immediately when you pass through security before you go up the escalator/elevator. I know they call some groups at the same time (like 1 and 2). Concierge and handicapped guests enter first. I was in the concierge waiting area (although not concierge, just happened to have someone take pity on my DD5). At the checkin desk at concierge they exchanged our group number for group number 7. Guess that's the concierge group. We were onboard around 11:40a.m.

We stayed at the Radisson and took the shuttle. It was easy-cheesy as my DD would say. You bring all of your luggage out front by the lobby. They load it into the bus for you (it was a trailer on our shuttle). We never touched the luggage again (they drop it off right at the baggage handlers). We even put a couple of carry-on items into the trailer that they took out for us. Making reservations was also easy-cheesy. Anytime after you have booked, just call the hotel and ask to make shuttle reservations. They have shuttles every half hour from 10 - 4 I think. We were on the 10:30a.m. shuttle - but don't all rush at once - that is OUR shuttle!!! Guess I better start calling....

Sweet Sue

 

[sweetsue]

QUESTION: Is the Orlando International the nearest airport to Cocoa Beach/Port Canaveral??

There is an airport in Melbourne. It's closer that Orlando. Although Orlando airport might be just as far time-wize. Orlando to the port is 100% freeway. Melbourne to port is 100% surface roads (unless you go way out and around). Melbourne is a really cute airport with only 6 gates last time I was there.

And we will be staying at the Radisson too! Now don't go taking up my shuttle space, okay?????

Sweet Sue

 

[first timers]

Be careful with that glue gun. I was just going to use our old fish extender from the PC cruise, now I might feel pressured into getting creative. Oh well it is a good excuse to get an arc welder.

Scott- We were discussing the fish extenders just this morning. I guess we will have to get creative as well. Not sure I can use a glue gun, I'm a duct tape kind of guy. At least the duct tape comes in colors now! Alex

 

[sandysplayhouse]

first of all, you will be staying Thursday and Friday if you are staying 2 nights. I don't know about park tickets. I bought a multi-day pass last summer and still have plenty of days on it so I haven't been looking for deals. Sorry.

Tracy...
OK... FIRST of all..(head rolling, finger waving) We are actually staying 3 nights & 4 days.. but just 2 days will be park days... so its like 2 days.

The way I look at it is: We really are only gonna be in Florida for 2 days... we are deboarding on Thursday and checking into our hotel... so that day is pretty much over... then Fri/Sat will be park days... then Sun we check out and head to the airport and fly home... so that day is also shot... see, just 2 days... most of my friends say that they feel like they are in the twilight zone regarding time when they are around me...

Anyway, Tracy, Scott, Peter, Sunshine, Carol, Thanks for all the info... if you guys weren't here to help, alot of us would be totally screwed... oops .. can I say that?... I meant lost, really lost.

Edit out Peter's name... I thought he replied also.

 

[pahrumpgirl]

Be careful with that glue gun. I was just going to use our old fish extender from the PC cruise, now I might feel pressured into getting creative. Oh well it is a good excuse to get an arc welder.

Come on Scott join in the fun!

 

[sandysplayhouse]

another perhaps dumb question... is there NOT a shuttle from the Orlando airport to the Radison? or to any other hotel close to the port?

 

[pahrumpgirl]

another perhaps dumb question... is there NOT a shuttle from the Orlando airport to the Radison? or to any other hotel close to the port?

Not a hotel shuttle. Most hotel shuttles will only do a couple of miles and it is quite a bit further than that to the Radison.

Carol

 

[Scott H]

OK OK OK Were in on the Fish extender decoration, forgot about colored duct tape, beer cans, and old wine bottles, could there be a Wyoming Division, might have a chance at placing.

Sandy, no set shuttle but you could get a town car to make that trip. Just a guess that the round trip would be about $250.00 with a town car service. Use magis express to get from WDW to MCO, that is our plan.

 

[sandysplayhouse]

Sandy, no set shuttle but you could get a town car to make that trip. Just a guess that the round trip would be about $250.00 with a town car service. Use magis express to get from WDW to MCO, that is our plan.

Thanks Scott, but we have sort of figured that we would NOT all fit in a town car. In fact, we were thinking of being snotty and getting a limo for $300 round trip, but again, we would not fit will all our luggage... so I think we will be needing a 12 - 15 passanger van from Budget if they have one that size.

 

[Sunshine56]

We actually WERE first! The very first family to cross the gangway. It was loads of fun being first. The crew is just a bit relaxed since no one is one yet. It was quite fun.

We stayed at the Radisson and took the shuttle. It was easy-cheesy as my DD would say. You bring all of your luggage out front by the lobby. They load it into the bus for you (it was a trailer on our shuttle). We never touched the luggage again (they drop it off right at the baggage handlers). We even put a couple of carry-on items into the trailer that they took out for us. Making reservations was also easy-cheesy. Anytime after you have booked, just call the hotel and ask to make shuttle reservations. They have shuttles every half hour from 10 - 4 I think. We were on the 10:30a.m. shuttle - but don't all rush at once - that is OUR shuttle!!! Guess I better start calling....

Sweet Sue

SS- thanks for the feedback. How awesome to be the 1st one. The 10:30 is yours. We just reserved the 10:00. Doubt we wil be the first one but at least close to it. I can not wait!!!!

Not like we have nothing going on until then. We leave for Hawaii 4 weeks from now and then we will be in Virgina for 4th of July.

from another SS (Susan Sunshine)

 

[sandysplayhouse]

Not like we have nothing going on until then. We leave for Hawaii 4 weeks from now and then we will be in Virgina for 4th of July.

Wow.. how great to have so much going on. I'm calling the Radisson right now.