Tell me will we make it.....please!!!!!! ****UPDATE****

[CGBatch]

Originally posted by NYGiantsRule!
If at all possible, try to re-shuffle your schedule. When we went on our cruise in August 2001, I thought I was very organized and we planned to fly down on Friday evening so that we could get a good nights sleep and get on one of the early buses to the port. Unfortunately our flight was cancelled at the last minute and we spent the night sleeping (at least my kids did) in the airport while I frantically re-booked a flight on another airline. We could not get our checked luggage back from the carrier we were originally scheduled to fly with. I started calling the cruise line as soon as they opened on Saturday morning and called them frequently with updates of our projected arrival time. We finally made it to Orlando at 3PM and made the last bus out to the port. Yes, check-in is easy because there is no one else there at that time, but we literally got on the boat during the lifeboat drill and no one will help you or barely speak to you. We had to find our way to everything without any assistance, it did not make the stress of the previous 24 hours any easier. You can make it on the ship late, but it has several drawbacks.

Thanks mom you already beat me!

 

[bettemom]

Here are a couple more ideas to save time.

1) At your departing airport explain your SEVERE time issue and ask for seats as far forward as possible on your flight(s).

2) Make sure everyone has visited the Bathroom while on the plane so no stops on the way to baggage claim

3) Perhaps you can ship your luggage ahead ??? . You can call DCL and see if that is possible.

4) Try to carry what you need for the cruise on the plane with you. You are on a 4 day cruise so that should be very easy to accomplish. Anything else you need after the cruise if you are taking extra vacation days could be shipped to a hotel or relatives very easily.

5) Enroll in the frequent renter program for the car agency you will use, you can then skip all lines and go right to your car.

6) Do NOT think that using th motor cars in the airport will save time, you can walk/run much faster.

7) Do not wait for elevators at the airport they take way too long..

8) Get a skycap to help you gather the luggage and get it to the car, they are strong and can muscle their way through the crowds much easier than you would be able to.


Hope you make your trip...

Bye, Kim

 

[floridaminnie]

I would keep your luggage, b/c you'll be able to walk right on the ship and you can head straight to your room to drop it off.

 

[4nana]

It sounds like you don't have much alternative.
I say 'where there is a will, there is a way.'
Come one ~ you're a NY'er...
I think you'll do just fine ^i^
Hope all goes well and have a wonderful cruise
Life is short.

 

[jetsetter90]

goodstarr

It's good to see people giving jetsetter some advice that she may be able to use.

Thank you for your support goodstarr and to everyone else.

The new advice being received is just what I was looking for. Some positive thinking and a few that may have been almost in the same boat.

bettemom I like your suggestions.

1. Already have seat assignments in row 6.

2. Will make sure about potty or get everyone depends or pullups.

3-4. Won't have time to pack that much ahead of time since family is visiting from Canada and not leaving until two days before.

5. As stated already Emerald club member so just need to go to full size ailse, pick out car and leave.

6,7,8 Will have everyone on rollerskates I will pick up car. Hubby will get luggage. I drive around and pick everyone up so we won't need skycap and off we go.

CGBatch Glad you made it after that. Hopefully they'll wait for us also.

sdoane Like your suggestion. If it's allowed heck I'll carry on our own luggage, not a problem for me.

4nana My thoughts exactly, Thanks

Thanks all for now making it seem a little more realistic, I said LITTLE. I'm counting on our Positive thoughts. I will let you know what happens.

Thanks again.
Jetsetter90

 

[MrsPete]

I just noticed that your post mentions kids -- are they going on this cruise? If so, how old are they? I could see middle schoolers or teens rushing through the airport, but if they're toddlers . . .

I agree with the person who says you have about a 50-50 chance of making the boat. Yes, some people have done it, but any little thing can spell disaster.

One more suggestion: You know that there's a chance that you won't make it. What's your back-up plan? You really should come up with one now -- especially if kids are involved. Would you fly ahead to meet the ship at the next port? Would you go to WDW? Would you stay in Cocoa Beach? Will your travel insurance reimburse you? I understand that you're sure you'll make it, but I suggest that you come up with a contingency plan -- just in case things don't go well.

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Hi MrsPete.

What's your back-up plan?

They got a good deal on the rental car, so I guess a pragmatic back-up plan would involve a leisurely drive to Key West...

 

[SideshowBob]

OK, maybe three or four.... haha!

Your date first caught my eye, as you depart on your cruise on my birthday, which at first made me a bit jealous.... haha!

SSB SO wishes that I could help... but I fly BACK that day, from North Carolina... not getting to airport until 5:30. I will check but don't think that I can change it. Would have been glad to pick you up and drive over, so that you would not have had to worry about rental car.

However, if you do NOT make it, I may also be able to help.... so PM me and I shall give you details on a back up plan.

Best of luck, and thanks for posting about!

 

[nuke]

I have one suggestion.

I think it would be better to collect the luggage and go to the car all together. I have been stuck at the Orlando airport in line for 20 minutes just trying to get to where you can pick people up. If you get to the area they should be and they aren't outside yet, you have to drive around again. This could eat up a bunch of time.

Otherwise, I think you can and will make it.

 

[goodstarr]

When people say that you have a 50/50 chance of missing the ship, does this mean that half of the time they've flown into MCO that they've had 2 hour delays at some point? The numerous times that I've flown in, i can only remember being 2 hours late once (due to being bumped because I didn't arrive 2 hours early). Other times, my delays have only been about 15-30 minutes (and those were rare). DISers go to Florida alot, but I haven't heard them say that half of the time that they fly in, they have over a 2- hour delay. I feel that the chance is minimal that you'll miss the ship although there is a chance. Any DISers out there who would like to share their stories of having 2hour delays over half of the time into MCO?

 

[disneyholic family]

i certainly hope they make it....and the suggestions they've received have been great...
but when i say 50-50 i'm not just referring to the plane but all the other things i mentioned....mostly involving weather.....two years ago we set off for the kennedy space center for one of the launches...as we pulled onto the highway at one in the afternoon, the sky opened....a wall of water came down on us and there was no way i could drive at all...nor could anyone else....the traffic came to a near stop and crawled along at 5 miles an hour....i got off at the next exit and turned back to WDW......there was no way we could get to KSC in time for the launch....actually, the launch was cancelled for the same reason....but we wouldn't have made it...
however, yes, to answer your question, in 30 years of flying to orlando every summer, we have NEVER been on time....ever....
in recent years our delays have been monumental.....again mostly weather related, but not exclusively.....3 years ago we had to wait 1.5 hours for our luggage in JFK....our friends missed their connecting flight to their alaska cruise.....we were flying to orlando and had set more time between flights so we were lucky in that case....
of course, as i said, we come in from overseas so our trials and tribulations are increased exponentially as a result....but our weather delays have all been related to US weather problems...2 years ago we were delayed for 3 hours in newark due to weather...and as i said, last year we were delayed on the tarmac for 3 hours while we waited for the longest thunderstorm ever to pass......we have never ever ever ever arrived at WDW at the time we should have....that is, when we came by plane....30 years ago when we drove it was another story...

oh...and of course we've had our share of mechanical difficulties....definitely more upsetting than weather......(like when we were delayed for 10 hours in amsterdam due to mechanical difficulties....we were dead when we finally landed at MCO in the middle of the night instead of the middle of the day)..

that's why for our july 4th cruise last year, i had us fly on july 1st....i figured we'd HAVE to make it that way....although even with that much of a window, i wasn't 100% positive we'd make it (we live in an area of strikes that have been known to close down airports for days...)

 

[disney6]

Since there is obviously nothing you can do about the arrangements ........... here's some pixie dust from us to you!

 

[WebmasterAlex]

I agree with Nuke... I think it would be faster to just grab the luggage and run across to Emerald aisle, from there you just drive right out anyway.
I know people have said they have had to wait 20 minutes for luggage but I have also had it coming off the belt as I got there.
Our last cruise I was already in Florida, I went to pick up DW and DD from the airport. By the time they were coming down the escelator to the baggage area I was already standing there with the luggage, we rolled across to emerald aisle grabbed a Buick century and drove off. I doubt it was much more than 15 or 20 minutes from the time their plane landed untill we were driving out of the airport.

 

[disneyholic family]

i agee with Alex..
driving straight out of the rental places is very very fast...you're basically already out when you exit....no airport traffic at all to contend with...

 

[Michelle]

Jetsetter, I wish you the best and hope you do make it.

I've been to Orlando probably 15-20 times in the past five years and have been delayed about 1/3 of the time. It ranges from MAJOR delays (due to mechanical issues, arrived 10 hours late) to minor delays, about a half hour late. Weather is a big factor in Florida. I come from the West Coast and always have to come in at least a day ahead when cruising.

If you are on time you most definitely will make it to the ship on time, so I will think positively for you.

 

[bettemom]

Here is one more thought,

Luggage can be tagged to be last on the plane fist off the plane, you need to see a supervisor where you check your luggage and explain your problem. The luggage guys outside the terminal can be a big help with luggage ticketing problems, just make sure you tip them well if they go the extra mile for you, or your luggage might end up in Moscow...

Bye , Kim

 

[goodstarr]

Has anyone heard from jetsetter? Did she make the ship? She was due to sail on the 17th. Remember, she was worried because her flight got in around 1pm and she was renting from National and wanted to know what the latest boarding time was. We sent pixie dust and I want to know if it worked.

 

[moinab]

Don't know if she made it, but we had picture perfect weather here in NE FL yesterday, so I think chances are pretty good that she's cruising into Nassau as I type this.

 

[goodstarr]

Has anyone heard from jettsetter? I'm curious to find out if she made it to the ship on time. Her cruise was the 17th.

 

[mad4themouse]

I'm hoping that she made it. We cruised on 8/16 Magic and flew in the night before. Good thing, too, because USAir misplaced all of our checked luggage and it arrived 4 hours after we did.

There was also the issue of the major blackout in the northeast and upper midwest that weekend! What a mess! Flights were delayed and cancelled in airports all over either due to closed airports or a lack of aircraft.

We did see some people boarding the Magic in Grand Cayman. That was 3 days into our cruise! They had finally made it from the New York area!

According to her posts, jettsetter was renting her car for 2 weeks while in Orlando, so she probably is not home and on the computer yet. Here's hoping that she made it to the Wonder and had a fantastic cruise!