Thinking about a cruise . . .please help!

[Pammy jo]

I've tried reading through several pages of threads here to get me started and checked out mousesavers and the disney page. I'd sure appreciate some help here from the real experts please!!
We are a family of 5, so I assume we need a cat 4 at least. What would be my best bets?
I'm thinking about a land/sea package. Is it cheaper to book the package or book them separately?
When booking the package, does the price include park hoppers?
There doesn't seem to be a cheap way for a family of 5, anyone have any suggestions on how to reduce prices?

Appreciate your help!

 

[mermaidlady]

We are also a family of 5. It helps to book early and check lots of places. we booked at cruises.com which was the cheapest of all I could find if you can book off peak the rates are also better. We got a Cat 4 because DH wanted us all in the same room

 

[clh2]

Many groups of 5 get 2 connecting rooms instead of the CAT 4. The connecting rooms are not available in cat 11 or 12. There is apparently more space, and twice the bathrooms by getting 2 rooms. Although, depending on the category may not have the verandah.

Many people also separately plan the land and sea portions of the their trip. The Disney packages include the park hoppers on the 1st and last day of your land stay, which you may not be using - although you would be paying for them in your package.

Also - if the trip is planned separately - you can get the specific accomodations you want on each segment. When we did our version of the land/sea, we had a fabulous room at the Swan, and a category 10 on the ship.

 

[makaylee]

Originally posted by Pammy jo
Is it cheaper to book the package or book them separately?
When booking the package, does the price include park hoppers?
There doesn't seem to be a cheap way for a family of 5, anyone have any suggestions on how to reduce prices?

Appreciate your help!

Hi! Welcome to the DIS boards! Most people say it is much cheaper to book the land and sea package seperate.

As far as a family of five, it is usually cheaper to book two cat. 10's than it is to book one cat. 4. You also have two bathrooms this way and quite a bit more space all around. You wont have a varandah of course so I guess it depends on how bad you would like one of these. If you have children who still take naps it might be nice to have one, but if you dont I would go for the 2 cat 10's because you'll find you wont spend much time in your room at all. We were only in ours to sleep and dress. I hope I was able to help some. Good luck!

 

[Pammy jo]

Thank you all for your help. A veranda isn't that impt to me so I will look into 2 cat 10 rooms. And I'll check into separating the land and sea. Thanks for all the tips.

 

[Hygiene99]

As far As the transportation from the Airport to the resort and then to the ship and back to the airport it will be less expensive for u to use a private towncar service the have 8 passenger van
that would suit your needs.. Disney charges $65.00 per person for the trip described.... and a town car service will be alot less

330.00 Disney

ABOUT $200.00 town car service....

check out some of the sites to get town car there was also a thread around here some
and u need this Site A MUST HAVE FOR CRUISE PLANNING

36 cruise so far and they will have 40 by year end
this is there site www.Castawayclub.com

BOOK your own air