Dec 5, 2009 -- now traveling to Tortola - Page 13 - The DIS Discussion Forums

carmie3377 · 03-01-2009, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tower

Hi All!

Thought I would share this with you in case you would be interested. When we did our last family cruise on Carnival in December of 2007, we booked a flight a day ahead of the start of our cruise in case foul weather slowed our departure either at the beginning or mid-route. In our case, it turned out to be very prudent because, had we booked our travel the day of the cruise, we would have missed our cruise due to the inclement weather around the eastern seaboard.

We're doing the same thing this year and flying into Orlando on the 4th. Because there are 6 of us, and booking 2 rooms is rather expensive, I found the Marriott Residence Inn Airport to have a 1 bedroom suite with 2 queens and a pullout that will fit us nicely for around US$107 (or US$120.50 including tax). It has a free airport shuttle, free breakfast in the morning and even cocktails on the Friday night!

Not sure if anyone else wanted to add a little arrival time insurance to their trip, but I think it will work for us.

Just go to www.marriott.com to check it out. (There are also other hotels in area with decent deals so go to the airport website www.orlandoairports.net and check to see what works best for you.

It would be interesting to meet any earlybirds on the Friday night beforehand and get a good start to the vacation.

TTYL

Yeah, we're planning on doing the same thing, assuming DH can get off work in enough time on Friday. SWA has several daily flights to MCO from Houston and there has usually been one around 7:30 pm. We could probably do that but that would be just about the earliest one we could do. I don't want to be pushing it on Saturday morning and not arrive on time. I've taken a couple of first morning flights to MCO from Houston and haven't had any problems, in fact arrived about 20 mins early on each one. Those were flights when we were visiting WDW and it really wouldn't be a big deal if we arrived late. However, would hate for a problem to arrive when it would matter.

We're renting a car upon arrival at MCO. We were hoping to go ahead and drive to Port Canaveral that night but that would put us there around midnight if we depart here around 7:30. I'll check into the Marriot, that might work better. Thanks for the link!

Inkmahm · 03-01-2009, 04:24 PM

We're coming in early, too, but on Wed night. We'll be at Villas of Wilderness Lodge for a couple days so that we can do MVMCP and a couple parks ahead of the cruise. We won't be driving over until Saturday morning.

PirateMaiden · 03-02-2009, 09:08 AM

We'll with you all on this one- our 1st cruise!!!

It'll be me, DH and DD(8) can't wait!

Tower · 03-02-2009, 05:58 PM

HEy There Ms. Pirate!

Welcome! It's Going to be a Fantastic Time!!!

Noticed you're in VA! Love the mountains there, but I have a feeling the ocean breeze is what we're all looking for!

Just spent the day outside working with a client. -15C out there today! Man do I EVER need some nice tropical breezes now!

mrstbalt · 03-04-2009, 09:59 AM

We are planning on coming in the night before too. Can't afford the Hyatt so we are looking into other options. We are staying at Disney for 2 nights after but it will be a surprise for the kids. I can't wait to see the holiday decorations.

disneytraceyl · 03-05-2009, 06:51 AM

Hi. We will be coming down on the Wednesday before. We love seeing all of the Christmas decorations. We will be staying on Disney. Can't wait to see everyone.

NHdisneylover · 03-05-2009, 10:33 AM

Our current plans are to arrive a week early and stay at the Aniaml Kingdom Villas with my best friend and his husband and enjoy all of the holiday decorations. We just completed a major move (from New Hamoshire to Germany) so things are a little fuzzy right now as far as what we can afford and what airfare might be, etc. so I cannot be sure. We love to spend a week at the parks and then relax for a week on the ship afterwards

George Rada · 03-05-2009, 02:50 PM

Hi everyone, I just joined disboards today. We booked this cruise also and it will be our 4th Disney Cruise. Is anyone planning a disboards group social while onboard?

George

George Rada · 03-05-2009, 03:53 PM

Hi everyone, I saw the posts about flying in a day before the cruise! A little over 3 years ago we had booked our second Disney Cruise for the end of Sept. or beginning of Oct. and it was just after the 5th anniversary of 9/11. We planned to fly to Orlando on Friday morning and had booked a hotel very near the port, with a huge pool and slide for my boys to enjoy and then we could liesurely make our way over to the ship on Saturday. I guess it was all the 9/11 stuff from a few weeks before in the school's and on TV that my older son freaked out so bad when we boarded the plane in DC that we had to get off at the last minute before they closed the door. The flight crew was outstanding. They did everything they could to calm his nerves including the pilot's letting him push switches and buttons in the cockpit, but nothing worked and we decided we couldn't put him through the trama of the flight (even though I believed he would be OK once we were at cruising altitude). His younger brother even threatend to kill him if he made us miss the cruise!

So we watched the aircraft take off with our bags onboard and head for Orlando. We decided our only option was to drive overnight to Orlando and get our bags at the airport and then head to the ship. We also decided that altough our minivan was it good shape, it had alot miles on it and we should rent a car for the drive rather than risking a breakdown and not making it to the ship. I confirmed that our bags had made it to Orlando in 2 hours and that they would store them overnight for us. We took the minivan into DC and parked it at my office and rented a car. It's now early Friday afternoon and head out of DC. My wife and I alternated driving through the night while the kids slept and we arrived in Orlando about 4am. Luck would have that there was a hotel next to the airport with a free shuttle service, so we got a room to try nd get a few hours of solid sleep. Guess who wakes up and thinks it's time to start the day, our two boy's. Man was I mad and exhausted. After a very stern look and threats of impending doom they laid down and fell back to sleep.

The story has a happy ending! I got our bags from the airport and we made it to the ship about 1pm. Needless to say the first night onboard was an early one.

Moral of this story is that when cruising I recommend arriving a day early, you don't what will happen!

Tower · 03-05-2009, 10:14 PM

Welcome to the board George! Always good to see yet another cruising veteran join us for this adventure!

Well, the snow is starting to melt some more here in Canada so the thoughts of tropical breezes are starting to wane right now with the promise of warm weather over here. Still, I can't wait to get on that ship 9 months from now. Just need to focus on the important matters prior to that.

Have a great night all!

George Rada · 03-06-2009, 11:43 AM

Hi Tower,

Thanks for the welcoming message. The snow is also starting to melt here in the suburbs around Washington, DC, altough I think you guys get alot more than we do. I know Canadian people can actually function in the snow, whereas people around DC absolutely panic about a few inches of snow.

White sandy beaches and warm tropical breezes are on my mind also!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll buy the first round of beers when we get onboard!

George

PirateMaiden · 03-08-2009, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tower

HEy There Ms. Pirate!

Welcome! It's Going to be a Fantastic Time!!!

Noticed you're in VA! Love the mountains there, but I have a feeling the ocean breeze is what we're all looking for!

Just spent the day outside working with a client. -15C out there today! Man do I EVER need some nice tropical breezes now!

Just saw your message... the mountains are pretty but I'm a beach girl, we live on the coast. Our weather here today was in the mid 70's and you would have thought it was the middle of summer! Can't wait to be in the islands during the winter though! We are so excited

TChrist05 · 03-08-2009, 08:48 PM

Hello fellow cruisers...my DW and I are joining you on this cruise. We just got off the Magic yesterday doing the same itinerary that we are on....St. Croix was nice and St. Thomas was great. The ship rocked a bit more than we would have liked and was very windy most of the week...they said onboard that the weather was unusual for this time of year...but all and all it was great...wish it was next week already.

Tom

& Marilou

Inkmahm · 03-09-2009, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TChrist05

Hello fellow cruisers...my DW and I are joining you on this cruise. We just got off the Magic yesterday doing the same itinerary that we are on....St. Croix was nice and St. Thomas was great. The ship rocked a bit more than we would have liked and was very windy most of the week...they said onboard that the weather was unusual for this time of year...but all and all it was great...wish it was next week already.

Tom

& Marilou

You must have liked it if you signed up to do the same cruise again!

What did you do in St. Croix and St. Thomas?

TChrist05 · 03-09-2009, 09:38 PM

Howdy...we had the December cruise booked before this one...we wanted to take advantage of the fall back offer and never had cruised in February or March....so it was very good. We liked St. Thomas much better than St. Croix...we will probably stay on the ship in December in St. Croix....but were glad to be joining you all.

03-01-2009, 04:24 PM	#182
Inkmahm Disney nut Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 7,949	We're coming in early, too, but on Wed night. We'll be at Villas of Wilderness Lodge for a couple days so that we can do MVMCP and a couple parks ahead of the cruise. We won't be driving over until Saturday morning. __________________

03-02-2009, 09:08 AM	#183
PirateMaiden Family calls me CruEllen! HMMM??? Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 99	1st cruise We'll with you all on this one- our 1st cruise!!! It'll be me, DH and DD(8) can't wait! __________________

03-02-2009, 05:58 PM	#184
Tower DIS Veteran Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mississauga, Ontario, CANADA Posts: 1,502	HEy There Ms. Pirate! Welcome! It's Going to be a Fantastic Time!!! Noticed you're in VA! Love the mountains there, but I have a feeling the ocean breeze is what we're all looking for! Just spent the day outside working with a client. -15C out there today! Man do I EVER need some nice tropical breezes now! __________________ Past Disney Visits: Mar 28-Apr 5, 2004 - Off Site & Magic Kingdom Nov 10-16, 2006 - Off Site & Magic Kingdom Nov 8-14, 2008 - WDW All Star Movies Resort Dec 3-12, 2009 - CBR & Disney Magic Eastern Caribbean 7-Day Tour! Feb 1-10, 2012 - WDW Port Orleans Riverside Nov 10-17, 2012 - Disney Magic Western Caribbean to Grand Cayman & Cozumel!

03-04-2009, 09:59 AM	#185
mrstbalt Mouseketeer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chicago Area Posts: 472	We are planning on coming in the night before too. Can't afford the Hyatt so we are looking into other options. We are staying at Disney for 2 nights after but it will be a surprise for the kids. I can't wait to see the holiday decorations. __________________

03-05-2009, 06:51 AM	#186
disneytraceyl Loving All Things Disney Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan Posts: 455	Hi. We will be coming down on the Wednesday before. We love seeing all of the Christmas decorations. We will be staying on Disney. Can't wait to see everyone. __________________ ************************ Princess Kayley (11) Princess Kyley (6) 3/31/2013 Disney Dream 4 night then to The Caribbean Beach 2012 Caribbean Beach; B2B 2011 Disney Cruise on the Dream; 2010 Shades of Green; 2009 Coronado Springs2008 Pop Century Halloween; Caribbean Beach, 7-Night Western Caribbean Disney Cruise and Polynesian; 2007 Shades of Green; 2006 All-Star Movies; 2005 Shades of Green; 2004 Caribbean Beach & Disney Cruise; 2003 Grand Floridian & Disney Cruise; 2003 Shades of Green; 2002 Animal Kingdom Lodge & Disney Cruise; 2001 All-Star Music; 2000 All-Star Movies; Disney Cruise; 1999 Dixie Landings; 1998 Wilderness Lodge

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03-05-2009, 10:33 AM	#187
NHdisneylover Lanyards are taking all my poor organizatioanl skills mice and such creatures tend to like to travel aorund Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heidelberg, Germany (formally from New Hampshire) Posts: 11,773	Our current plans are to arrive a week early and stay at the Aniaml Kingdom Villas with my best friend and his husband and enjoy all of the holiday decorations. We just completed a major move (from New Hamoshire to Germany) so things are a little fuzzy right now as far as what we can afford and what airfare might be, etc. so I cannot be sure. We love to spend a week at the parks and then relax for a week on the ship afterwards __________________ Hadley My blog about my wanderings and ramblings in Europe, Disney and where ever else life takes me: http://hadleyswanderingsandramblings.blogspot.de/

03-05-2009, 02:50 PM	#188
George Rada Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: La Plata, MD not far from DC. Posts: 44	Hi everyone, I just joined disboards today. We booked this cruise also and it will be our 4th Disney Cruise. Is anyone planning a disboards group social while onboard? George

03-05-2009, 03:53 PM	#189
George Rada Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: La Plata, MD not far from DC. Posts: 44	Not so funny story about arriving a day early! Hi everyone, I saw the posts about flying in a day before the cruise! A little over 3 years ago we had booked our second Disney Cruise for the end of Sept. or beginning of Oct. and it was just after the 5th anniversary of 9/11. We planned to fly to Orlando on Friday morning and had booked a hotel very near the port, with a huge pool and slide for my boys to enjoy and then we could liesurely make our way over to the ship on Saturday. I guess it was all the 9/11 stuff from a few weeks before in the school's and on TV that my older son freaked out so bad when we boarded the plane in DC that we had to get off at the last minute before they closed the door. The flight crew was outstanding. They did everything they could to calm his nerves including the pilot's letting him push switches and buttons in the cockpit, but nothing worked and we decided we couldn't put him through the trama of the flight (even though I believed he would be OK once we were at cruising altitude). His younger brother even threatend to kill him if he made us miss the cruise! So we watched the aircraft take off with our bags onboard and head for Orlando. We decided our only option was to drive overnight to Orlando and get our bags at the airport and then head to the ship. We also decided that altough our minivan was it good shape, it had alot miles on it and we should rent a car for the drive rather than risking a breakdown and not making it to the ship. I confirmed that our bags had made it to Orlando in 2 hours and that they would store them overnight for us. We took the minivan into DC and parked it at my office and rented a car. It's now early Friday afternoon and head out of DC. My wife and I alternated driving through the night while the kids slept and we arrived in Orlando about 4am. Luck would have that there was a hotel next to the airport with a free shuttle service, so we got a room to try nd get a few hours of solid sleep. Guess who wakes up and thinks it's time to start the day, our two boy's. Man was I mad and exhausted. After a very stern look and threats of impending doom they laid down and fell back to sleep. The story has a happy ending! I got our bags from the airport and we made it to the ship about 1pm. Needless to say the first night onboard was an early one. Moral of this story is that when cruising I recommend arriving a day early, you don't what will happen! Last edited by George Rada; 03-05-2009 at 04:02 PM.

03-05-2009, 10:14 PM	#190
Tower DIS Veteran Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mississauga, Ontario, CANADA Posts: 1,502	Welcome to the board George! Always good to see yet another cruising veteran join us for this adventure! Well, the snow is starting to melt some more here in Canada so the thoughts of tropical breezes are starting to wane right now with the promise of warm weather over here. Still, I can't wait to get on that ship 9 months from now. Just need to focus on the important matters prior to that. Have a great night all! __________________ Past Disney Visits: Mar 28-Apr 5, 2004 - Off Site & Magic Kingdom Nov 10-16, 2006 - Off Site & Magic Kingdom Nov 8-14, 2008 - WDW All Star Movies Resort Dec 3-12, 2009 - CBR & Disney Magic Eastern Caribbean 7-Day Tour! Feb 1-10, 2012 - WDW Port Orleans Riverside Nov 10-17, 2012 - Disney Magic Western Caribbean to Grand Cayman & Cozumel!

03-06-2009, 11:43 AM	#191
George Rada Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: La Plata, MD not far from DC. Posts: 44	Hi Tower, Thanks for the welcoming message. The snow is also starting to melt here in the suburbs around Washington, DC, altough I think you guys get alot more than we do. I know Canadian people can actually function in the snow, whereas people around DC absolutely panic about a few inches of snow. White sandy beaches and warm tropical breezes are on my mind also!!!!!!!!!!! I'll buy the first round of beers when we get onboard! George

03-08-2009, 08:48 PM	#193
TChrist05 DIS Veteran Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Bellmore, New York Posts: 1,293	Were joining you.... Hello fellow cruisers...my DW and I are joining you on this cruise. We just got off the Magic yesterday doing the same itinerary that we are on....St. Croix was nice and St. Thomas was great. The ship rocked a bit more than we would have liked and was very windy most of the week...they said onboard that the weather was unusual for this time of year...but all and all it was great...wish it was next week already. Tom & Marilou

03-09-2009, 09:38 PM	#195
TChrist05 DIS Veteran Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Bellmore, New York Posts: 1,293	We had it booked before.... Howdy...we had the December cruise booked before this one...we wanted to take advantage of the fall back offer and never had cruised in February or March....so it was very good. We liked St. Thomas much better than St. Croix...we will probably stay on the ship in December in St. Croix....but were glad to be joining you all.

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