GatorMomInNC
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2011
We are thrilled to be going on the Disney Dream over Memorial Day Weekend (5/25). It will be our first time on the Dream - and complete our Grand Slam! - and my husband's first time on DCL.
We've been to Nassau before and would normally stay on board, but my son really wants to go to the water park at Atlantis. I've been researching the different options, but I was hoping to get some input from people who may have done this before.
1) Book DCL excursion. For the 4 (2a 2k) of us this is $800!!! Pros: includes transportation and lunch, will be dropped off right at the hotel, apparently, and no worries about getting back on time and missing the ship. cons: $800!?!?! Seriously??
2) Use points from Marriott (40k) to book a room, and only use it for the "daypass" option. Pros: no cash. Cons; The RIDICULOUS cancellation policy is that if you don't cancel 15 days before hand and don't show up they will charge you 2 nights' going rate - which currently equals $1500!! So if we get sick right before the cruise, or there is a storm and the Dream can't dock, we lose $1500!
3) Book a day pass directly from Atlantis. Cost: about $550 -$600 (I checked the other day but I can't remember the exact amount). Pros: Save some money ($200) over DCL excursion Cons: Doesn't include lunch or transportation and have to go and check in when you get there, which eats up time. I'm guessing lunch for 4 at Atlantis will probably run about $100, so really not saving that much.
4) Book at Comfort Suites. Cost: less than $400. Pros: Big money savings Cons: Does it really work? Seems too good to be true. Also, from what I have read, we have to take a cab there to check in and out, then somehow walk or cab again to Atlantis, go to some place and get our wrist bands, and then we would get in. So sounds like kind of a hassle.
But this would we be worth it to save $400, I just want to make sure there is no trick or extra charge if we book a room at Comfort Suites. Do we really have the same, full access to the water park? Can we just leave straight from Atlantis to the ship when we are done, or do we have to go back to CS for some reason? Has anyone done this and can give me some input?
Thanks!!
We've been to Nassau before and would normally stay on board, but my son really wants to go to the water park at Atlantis. I've been researching the different options, but I was hoping to get some input from people who may have done this before.
1) Book DCL excursion. For the 4 (2a 2k) of us this is $800!!! Pros: includes transportation and lunch, will be dropped off right at the hotel, apparently, and no worries about getting back on time and missing the ship. cons: $800!?!?! Seriously??
2) Use points from Marriott (40k) to book a room, and only use it for the "daypass" option. Pros: no cash. Cons; The RIDICULOUS cancellation policy is that if you don't cancel 15 days before hand and don't show up they will charge you 2 nights' going rate - which currently equals $1500!! So if we get sick right before the cruise, or there is a storm and the Dream can't dock, we lose $1500!
3) Book a day pass directly from Atlantis. Cost: about $550 -$600 (I checked the other day but I can't remember the exact amount). Pros: Save some money ($200) over DCL excursion Cons: Doesn't include lunch or transportation and have to go and check in when you get there, which eats up time. I'm guessing lunch for 4 at Atlantis will probably run about $100, so really not saving that much.
4) Book at Comfort Suites. Cost: less than $400. Pros: Big money savings Cons: Does it really work? Seems too good to be true. Also, from what I have read, we have to take a cab there to check in and out, then somehow walk or cab again to Atlantis, go to some place and get our wrist bands, and then we would get in. So sounds like kind of a hassle.
But this would we be worth it to save $400, I just want to make sure there is no trick or extra charge if we book a room at Comfort Suites. Do we really have the same, full access to the water park? Can we just leave straight from Atlantis to the ship when we are done, or do we have to go back to CS for some reason? Has anyone done this and can give me some input?
Thanks!!