What happens when it's over???

[Princess49]

I know I've been asking so many questions.... I feel like everyone on the boards is going to start to say... "Ok Princess we've heard enough from you, STOP asking so many questions you're becoming a pain!!!" I'm so sorry, it's getting closer to our first cruise & there are all of these questions popping into my head!!! So, here I go again...

What goes on between breakfast on the last morning & the airport? We have Disney transfers & I know that they take the bags the night before, but I was under the impression that our bags would just go right to the airport & be checked for us & we wouldnt see them again until we were home at the baggage claim. Now I'm reading all kinds of things about color coded sections & customs & porters to get your bags faster.... and do I tip the disney driver? Even if I don't actually take bags from him? How much do I tip?I don't even know what customs is?!?! AAAHHH!!! I am starting to think that this whole cruising thing is a LOT more complicated than I thought!! Thanks for listening & sorry again for chewing all of your ears off!!

 

[inkkognito]

You can never ask too many questions...that's what DIS is all about!
When they take your bags, they bring them downstairs in the terminal and you pick them up in a section that is designated by the color of your luggage tag. You don't have to put your bags out if you don't want to; we usually just take them off the ship with us so we don't have to worry about getting them packed and out by a certain time.
If you are flying on an airline with checkin at the port, you can ditch your luggage there. If not, you will take it with you on the bus. You can carry it yourself or get a porter to help you. The porters expect a tip; I haven't taken a Disney bus in a long time (we used a towncar), but I don't recall anyone tipping the drivers.
There is a debarkation talk that will explain everything (you don't have to attend in person, as they will repeat it all evening on your stateroom t.v.). But in a nuthshell, you fill out your customs form and produce it with your ID to get through customs. You could be selected for a search, but that doesn't happen too often. Usually it's a painless process; they review your paperwork and wave you through. Every now and then they ask the city where I was born, and even though I obviously know it, it always makes me nervous and tongue tied, although I eventually get it out.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[tvguy]

I tipped the Disney driver $1 per person in our group both ways.
No sure if that was too little, or too much, but if all 56 folks on the bus did that, he made good money for 45 minutes of driving.

The baggage system Disney uses is great. The system for getting off the ship was the pits for us compared to other lines, but that may have been because the ship was packed to the gills for the New Year's cruise. We were in line on the ship for 45 minutes after late (8am) breakfast......now once we were OFF the ship it took about 10 minutes to get our bags, clear customs/immigration, check out bags in with American Airlines, and board the Disney bus for the airport.
Most other lines ask passengers to gather in specific clubs, theaters and lounges on board, and wait there until your group is called to get off the ship. When you get off the ship depends on what time your flight is. On HAL, were were in the last group off the ship since we had a 3 pm flight, and the wait was shorter than on Disney, where it was first come, first serve to get off the ship. We had a 12:35 flight and made it to the airport by 10:30, but I was wondering for a while if we were goint to make it.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by Princess49
What happens when it's over???

 

[Verandah Man]

Nick, you beat me to it, I was going to say, that's when the crying begins.

 

[faithmagicmickey]

Originally posted by Verandah Man
Nick, you beat me to it, I was going to say, that's when the crying begins.

Your not kidding thats when the crying begins!!!!

On our last cruise as we were pulling out of the terminal a little boy on the bus said in a crying voice "BYE MICKEY" after that I think the entire bus started to cry.
So as soon as I got home I booked another cruise. I think the next cruise I will book another cruise before I get off that one.


Faith

 

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by faithmagicmickey
Your not kidding thats when the crying begins!!!!

On our last cruise as we were pulling out of the terminal a little boy on the bus said in a crying voice "BYE MICKEY" after that I think the entire bus started to cry.
So as soon as I got home I booked another cruise. I think the next cruise I will book another cruise before I get off that one.


Faith

That was the best feeling for me, booking the next cruise before we even left the ship!!!

 

[natdencro]

Each time we say goodbye to the Magic I cry! Not just because the cruise is over, but because we are leaving our daughter(CM) behind! Thank goodness for video cameras: viewing our cruise at home is almost like being back there: except for the wind/rain outside the window here at home. All the people you mention on the dis-boards (Cms) are like family to our daughter! Only another 20 weeks before we see her again. Sob sob. Nat

 

[inkkognito]

Even with a 45 minute line (which has only happened to us once or twice in 37 cruises...you can usually walk right off), DCL is much better than other cruise lines. On Royal Caribbean, you cannot leave the ship until they call your specific luggage tag color. And believe me, the wait can be literally hours! It's horrible! It was the same way on all four of the RCCL cruises we took. You cannot wait in your stateroom, so people are crammed into little areas throughout the ship. And I won't even go into the hideous embarkation process in Alaska. Disney has RCCL beat hands-down.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[faithmagicmickey]

I'm definitely convinced we are going to book our next cruise while we are on the ship. We've never done the wonder before. My DD loves Ariel from "The Little Mermaid" so that would be a real treat for her.

 

[wdw47]

we envy the cruisers that can book there next cruise while onboard

 

[Princess49]

Talk about crying when it's over... I'm sure it will be the same on the cruise but in WDW, you can always tell which of our pitctures were taken on the last day because in everyone of them my eyes are all puffy & almost swollen shut from crying so much the night before!!!

Is there a port check in for Jet blue? If there isnt we will just have to get our luggage to the disney bus, then have the driver take them on the bus & back off at the airport & check them ourselves? I was so looking forward to not having to deal with the luggage-- if jet blue has no port check in what airlines do- maybe I will use them next time out of convinience. Is it safe to do the port check in? is your luggage more likely to get lost? And, if we are taking a late flight, can we wait untill the last minute to get off the ship, is there anything still open? This way we won't have to wait on a long line? and do we just get on any disney bus or do we have to make a certain one-- Oh my this is so overwhelming!!! thanks again so much for understanding while I go nuts with a billion question!!!

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by Princess49
Is there a port check in for Jet blue? If there isnt we will just have to get our luggage to the disney bus, then have the driver take them on the bus & back off at the airport & check them ourselves? I was so looking forward to not having to deal with the luggage-- if jet blue has no port check in what airlines do- maybe I will use them next time out of convinience. Is it safe to do the port check in? is your luggage more likely to get lost? And, if we are taking a late flight, can we wait untill the last minute to get off the ship, is there anything still open? This way we won't have to wait on a long line? and do we just get on any disney bus or do we have to make a certain one--

Jet Blue does NOT have check-in at the port. The major air carriers do(Continental,US AIR,American,etc).We checked our luggage at the port for our 5:00 pm flight.

There are different DCL busses at the port. Some go to the WDW resorts and the others go to the airport(MCO).

 

[Mary Anne]

Does anyone know what the price is to just do the one way from the ship to MCO with Disney transportation? Thanks!

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by Mary Anne
Does anyone know what the price is to just do the one way from the ship to MCO with Disney transportation? Thanks!

We did that in February and it is $25 per person. You can book it anytime while you are on the ship at Guest Services. They put a sticker on your KTTW card.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Princess49, I felt the same exact way before our first cruise as you do right now (and now we're going on our fourth DCL)! And trust me, when you get into the flow of everything you'll be laughing at yourself...everything will make sense and there is nothing to worry about.

You are doing the right thing by asking all of your questions and reading as much as you can. You are ten steps ahead of where I was before our first cruise...I never even looked at a book on disney cruise line let alone even discover the DIS boards.

You'll be fine! No worries!

 

[Princess49]

Thanks so much CRSNDSNY-- It's nice to know that EVERYONE won't know more than me!!! Truly, I am worried that by the time I get the hang of it it will all be over But, I am excited & I'm on TOTAL brain overload!!! Thanks for the encouragement--- I needed it!!!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by Princess49
Thanks so much CRSNDSNY-- It's nice to know that EVERYONE won't know more than me!!! Truly, I am worried that by the time I get the hang of it it will all be over But, I am excited & I'm on TOTAL brain overload!!! Thanks for the encouragement--- I needed it!!!

Just remember that you don't have to do everything they offer onboard. Take time to kick back, relax and enjoy one another in paradise! If you enjoy your cruise (which I suspect you will), you can always rebook and try different things next time.

 

[Princess49]

Thanks again CRSNDSNY, I think my heartrate has come down enough to be normal again!! I will try and remember not to try & do everything but it won't be easy! Thanks again!

 

[EmmasGrammy]

princess49,

I wanted to pop in and say thank you for all your questions. You are really helping others who may have the same question, but don't want to ask or don't realize that they also need that information. Ask away!! I know, I personally, have had many questions answered through you.