Talk to me about land and sea

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

DH and I first cruised in 2004. (GARWSH that is a long time ago...) anyway...At that time, you could book land and sea. We did 3 days land and 4 sea. Where we stayed on the boat determined where we stayed on property.
Now it looks like this is all booked separately...
Anyone have some insight? I need an update!

TIA

 

[MUN]

DH and I first cruised in 2004. (GARWSH that is a long time ago...) anyway...At that time, you could book land and sea. We did 3 days land and 4 sea. Where we stayed on the boat determined where we stayed on property.
Now it looks like this is all booked separately...
Anyone have some insight? I need an update!

TIA

Yes, it has changed a lot since 2004. I recommend using a TA to book your land and sea package.

MUN

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

We have a wonderful TA...However, with the holidays I haven't wanted to bother her and figured I'd ask here..(I'm too excited to wait!)

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We have a wonderful TA...However, with the holidays I haven't wanted to bother her and figured I'd ask here..(I'm too excited to wait!)

Yes, many of us found that booking the land and sea portions separately was really the way to go. You have better options on room type (on land) and can participate in other options (like meal plans) when booked separately.

That said, it's still possible to book a short stay at a WDW resort (or at the MCO Hyatt) via DCL, but not really a land/sea plan.

 

[tee11]

We booked separately, and while it was not "officially linked" in any way, it was still one seemless vacation - just tailored to what we needed...

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

Yes, many of us found that booking the land and sea portions separately was really the way to go. You have better options on room type (on land) and can participate in other options (like meal plans) when booked separately.

That said, it's still possible to book a short stay at a WDW resort (or at the MCO Hyatt) via DCL, but not really a land/sea plan.

I remember that conversation when we put together our first trip. I liked knowing the cost up front but didn't realize you couldn't add dining...That alone makes booking separately better.

We booked separately, and while it was not "officially linked" in any way, it was still one seemless vacation - just tailored to what we needed...

Good to know. Thanks!

 

[TML2012]

Booking separately also gives you the opportunity to take advantage of WDW room discounts (if available).

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

Booking separately also gives you the opportunity to take advantage of WDW room discounts (if available).

Well, then...Guess it is a better deal all the way around!

 

[mmouse37]

We always combine a WDW stay before or after our DCL cruises out of Port Canaveral. We always book separately. There really is no benefit to book your WDW stay thorough DCL anymore. As mentioned you can take advantage of any offered promos WDW is offering if booked separately. You no longer have to stay at WDW resort dependent on your cabin type on DCL. You have the flexibility of staying at a value resort if you want and a verandah on the ship or any combo of accommodations. You also don't have to limit yourself to just 3 or 4 days at WDW or 3 or 4 days on the ship like you use to on the official land/sea package. You can stay just the night before at WDW if you choose or a week. It doesn't matter as each reservation is separate.

You can easily make it a seamless vacation from WDW to ship if you purchase the DCL transfers that will pick you up at your WDW resort and bring you to the ship. The cost of this transfer service is $35 pp each way.

You can also rent a car for the day or get a towncar service. You would have to compare the prices of the different modes of transportation.

MJ

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

We always combine a WDW stay before or after our DCL cruises out of Port Canaveral. We always book separately. There really is no benefit to book your WDW stay thorough DCL anymore. As mentioned you can take advantage of any offered promos WDW is offering if booked separately. You no longer have to stay at WDW resort dependent on your cabin type on DCL. You have the flexibility of staying at a value resort if you want and a verandah on the ship or any combo of accommodations. You also don't have to limit yourself to just 3 or 4 days at WDW or 3 or 4 days on the ship like you use to on the official land/sea package. You can stay just the night before at WDW if you choose or a week. It doesn't matter as each reservation is separate.

You can easily make it a seamless vacation from WDW to ship if you purchase the DCL transfers that will pick you up at your WDW resort and bring you to the ship. The cost of this transfer service is $35 pp each way.

You can also rent a car for the day or get a towncar service. You would have to compare the prices of the different modes of transportation.

MJ

Thank you. I guess I see the pro's and con's of each. We liked knowing what we were paying for and being able to stay at a deluxe resort (something we probably would not have been able to do otherwise) On the flip side, I can definitely see the benefits to separating the two. Being able to use promo's is huge and being able to add dining (which we like to do) is also big for us. I always thought Disney Transportation was included in the cost of travel...That could be my own naivety...Live and learn.

 

[Shanti]

I always thought Disney Transportation was included in the cost of travel...That could be my own naivety...Live and learn.

Disney transportation between the airport and WDW resorts ("Magical Express") is free, but not between the ship port and WDW resorts, or between the airport and the ship port (the buses to and from the ship port are called "DCL transfers"). Port Canaveral is a much farther drive from the airport than WDW, and I guess they figure that cruise passengers can afford to pay for their own transport.

Transportation within WDW is free as well, naturally.

 

[mmouse37]

Thank you. I guess I see the pro's and con's of each. We liked knowing what we were paying for and being able to stay at a deluxe resort (something we probably would not have been able to do otherwise) On the flip side, I can definitely see the benefits to separating the two. Being able to use promo's is huge and being able to add dining (which we like to do) is also big for us. I always thought Disney Transportation was included in the cost of travel...That could be my own naivety...Live and learn.

DCL transfers were included in the official land/sea package of years gone by but if you broke down the package you would see that they were $35.00 pp each way...it is just that they gave a total price so you think it is free but it was just built into the total price. As mentioned above Magical Express is a complimentary service from the airport to WDW and WDW back to the airport. WDW to port and port back to WDW or the airport would be $35 pp each way and the service is called DCL transfers.

MJ

 

[KristiMc]

Disney transportation between the airport and WDW resorts ("Magical Express") is free, but not between the ship port and WDW resorts, or between the airport and the ship port (the buses to and from the ship port are called "DCL transfers"). Port Canaveral is a much farther drive from the airport than WDW, and I guess they figure that cruise passengers can afford to pay for their own transport.

Transportation within WDW is free as well, naturally.

I think the reason that Magical Express is free is that with going to the parks, they don't want you to have your own transportation thus being able to go off-site to spend money elsewhere. With the cruise, they already have you on the ship so why give you free transportation to get there.

 

[Garyjames220]

I only have two words to sum up what I think you should do

BOOK IT