Some "Day Before" Questions for the Pros..

[LissafromSJ]

Now that I only have nine or so months left before our November cruise, obviously I feel I'm running short of time to plan things ( (!!) So here's my lastest question I thought of at 2 am - We're arriving Friday before a 7 day cruise and staying Friday night at the MCO Hyatt. My MIL is our TA, and even though we booked everything together (air, transfers, etc), she said to shop around for cheaper flights. If I stay with what Disney gives us for air, do they tend to get you in late Friday? I'd love to get in early Friday and spend the day in MK.
This leads to my second question: How have you guys done that? Is a taxi too expensive? I'd hate to rent a car just for one day, since we have the transfers to Port from Disney the next morning. I want convenience over money (after all, this is already costing us, so the extra few $$ don't bother me at this point).
Also, weird question here: Do you really just put your luggage outside your room at the Hyatt? When do you do this, and how do you know it got on the bus safely?
Hmm. Maybe I should just chill and wait until at least spring before obsessing!
Thanks anyone who has some helpful hints for me. I hate last minute confusion and just wanted to get things straight in my head.
Melissa (aka Nuts in NJ)

 

[KaitlinsMom]

Hello - and welcome to the DIS!

Most people here will tell you NOT to let DCL book your airfare - Reasons being: you might get a red-eye flight - families have noted that their seats on the plane were NOT all together - people have gotten really EARLY or really LATE flights - Connecting flights - etc -

You would probably save lots of money and piece of mind if you booked the flights yourselves (or have your MIL do it)

I am not quite sure what you are asking as far as shuttle service - Do you mean from the airport to the hotel? There are several shuttle service companies that people use here - Happy limo - I can't think of the others right now, but I am sure someone else will post them!

Yes, you do leave your luggage outside your room and it does get to the bus fine - no worries -

Enjoy - and welcome from the rest of us compulsive planners!!!


Karen

PS - This board is very addicting - you'll soon see

 

[LissafromSJ]

Thanks - believe me, I know they're addicting! I give myself a cookie if I go an hour without checking them (I'm only partially kidding...) My question regarding transportation was this: once we're at the airport Hyatt on Friday, what is the easiest way to get to Magic Kingdom for a day of fun? I have used a car service on a prior trip there, but that was around $80 plus tip for one day. Have any of you used a taxi for this?
Melissa

 

[aprilgail2]

We were goign to use Disney booked air but they get you in the same day and I really wanted to be on line early to get all the ressies I wanted upon boarding. We book our own, fly in the day before and go right to the Raddison 10 minutes from port so we can be there early the next morning. Plus we take the day to enjoy the nice big pool at the hotel since we don't bother much with the tiny, crowded on board ones.

 

[RKB]

We flew in on a Friday. We booked our own flights. We took a taxi from the airport to the Pop Century Resort (didn't want to get an expensive resort since we were just going to be sleeping there). I don't remember the dollar amt for the taxi, but was not bad. There were a zillion taxis waiting so no problem to get a ride. We went the the MK till closing then back to Pop Century. The next morning we had an employee shuttle us from Pop to the Swan (gave him a tip) then caught the DCL bus from the Swan. We had already paid for the round trip DCL bus ride to the port. We got to the Ship after lunchtime - but I was not in a hurry to make any particular reservations. So basically I had to buy the DCL bus transfers, had to pay for a Taxi from the airport to the Pop and had to tip one employee to take us from the Pop to the Swan. You do have to tell Disney where you will be getting on the bus so they have you on their list (the Swan in our case). And also let the Pop know that you will want a ride to the Swan so they can be ready - it took me awhile to figure out that they would do this for guests. They didn't volunteer the info readily. Hope this all makes sense!

 

[drclaws]

One thing....don't look for you luggage on the bus, it won't be there! The luggage is trucked separately after it's been collected. It would be difficult to match luggage to which bus you're on since you're assigned at the time you check in with DCL at the Hyatt Saturday morning. You don't have to worry your luggage until it's delivered to your stateroom.

I've seen people nervous about leaving luggage out to be collected. I've never seen any problem posted here (and if there had been a problem, I'm sure it would surface here).