Getting cold feet about the cost!! Help!

[Dreamer04]

Ok, DM, DH, DS 14, DD 6 and myself are all booked on the Jan 11 Wonder. Cat 3 and Cat 4, next door to each other. I booked through DCL and have trip insurance through them as well.

Here is what I am thinking.

#1 Switching my booking to either DU or Allseastravel. What do you think?

#2 Getting a Disney Visa and charging my balance to it. On board credit??

#3 Currently, we are flying in from JFK on the 11th. I am thinking of flying in the night before and staying near the airport. Going for a Priceline hotel and having car service take us to the port.

Am I crazy for wanting to do all this? Am I taking too much on? Is it worth it?


HelP!!

Ursula

 

[floridaminnie]

If you want to have a travel agent have your ressie do NOT cancel your ressie through DCL. Have them transfer you ressie to the agent. Otherwise you'll pay the new price. (This is assuming you booked awhile ago and received the early booking discount.)

No you're not crazy!

 

[aprilgail2]

The on board credit deal with the Disney Visa is only good if you are cruising in 2003. We are going in 2004 and were told we could not get that.

 

[wdw1972]

If I had to fly to a cruise, I would definitely fly in the day before! Particularly in January, if there's a storm or anything to delay or cancel your flight - you could miss the cruise. It's not worth the risk, in my opinion.

Plus, it's much more relaxing to wake up and take a leisurely trip to the port to board the ship, rather than dealing with airports, delays, traffic, weather, etc.

 

[Dreamer04]

All good advice!

Yes, I am going to switch to flying in the night before.

As far as switching the booking, is it worth it? I know the difference with cats 11-5 can be great, but I heard that with cat 3's there isnt really a savings..is this true??

 

[vgaskin]

Go to www.allseastravel.com and see if the rate they are showing is a big difference. If it is, then contact the TA of your choice. If not, I would just check that periodically. I would fly in the night before if possible.

We got the Disney Visa and made all the rest of our trip payments(mine and moms and she pays the bill for hers), airfare, etc on it. We already have $100 disney dollars in only 2 billing cycles. Now we have a really small limit but wouldn't normally be charging these for long, so we charge a payment and then pay it off, charge anotherone, etc. I check my visa balance online and pay online so it doesn't get over my head. We put alot of stuff on it, just to pay it off the next week and get the rewards. So why not, if you can stay ahead of it and not get in debt.

We were in a category 4 last time and loved it. Just upgraded our 10's to 5's.

 

[carole88]

Fly down the night before. After living through the blackout I wouldn't even think about flying out the day of the cruise.

 

[brack]

I would never fly down the day of a cruise. Too much can go wrong. I also would not want to fly out the day the ship comes in either.

 

[Dreamer04]

Good idea about the VISA! I can use those Disney Dollars on the cruise!! Excellent! I am now making the arrangements for switching my flight.

According to Dave's site, if you're flying in after suppertime, the best bet is to stay near the airport. Earlier, then the Radisson at the port.

First, I have to check about switching the flights, then I'll check into the hotels.

 

[Dreamer04]

Now, I'm considering changing to the 4/10 Western!! Oh boy, my poor DH is going to go nuts. This cruise is all I ever talk about. But, here is what I am thinking. First of all, it's Easter week and the children will be out of school. So, there won't be the hassle of homework and make-up tests. It's not so bad for my six year old but my DS 14 will be a freshman in high school and the four days can really put him behind.

I'll love opinions..so bring 'em on!

 

[disneyjunkie]

Originally posted by Dreamer04
Now, I'm considering changing to the 4/10 Western!! Oh boy, my poor DH is going to go nuts. This cruise is all I ever talk about. But, here is what I am thinking. First of all, it's Easter week and the children will be out of school. So, there won't be the hassle of homework and make-up tests. It's not so bad for my six year old but my DS 14 will be a freshman in high school and the four days can really put him behind.

I'll love opinions..so bring 'em on!

Will your son be taking any regents in January? If so, the April trip may be a good idea.

When I was in high school (Many years ago) teacher would start reviewing for the regents right after Christmas.


Which ever month you pick I'd fly in the day before.

 

[Dreamer04]

Good point!! It would be too much strain on him. Keeping him focused on his studies is hard enough.

Now to break the news to DH!!! Wish me luck!

Ursula

 

[my3kids]

Is there still a category 3 room available for April? Around Easter, I'd think they would go pretty quickly.

 

[jgalecpa]

As To travel insurance:

I used AccessAmerica after I found they are the people DCL Uses.

I got their family care program (kids go free) and brought the cost from $396 down to about $160, I think.

However, I found I had to call them and ask about it (the family plan), it is not obvious from their web site.

 

[Dreamer04]

Originally posted by my3kids
Is there still a category 3 room available for April? Around Easter, I'd think they would go pretty quickly.

I doubt it, but I am checking! If not, then we'll take what we can get..but I gotta have my verandah. Besides, if we get, say a cat 4 instead, then it will work out about the same as a cat 3 in Jan..so it will be worth it, I think.

 

[eye R.N.]

1) Get the Disney Visa if they are still offering the six months no interest on Disney vacations you can spread out the payments. Even if they aren't the disney reward dollars are nice. Also they are very good about fraud. My card # stayed in Cozumel and they caught it very quickly.

2) Either April or Jan fly in the night before why have the added stress of a delayed/cancelled flight. I love town cars for the ride to the port and back, again less stress, you come out and the car is there.

3) April on Jan. I would go with April, having had friends in education for 23 years now, they tell me that the first year of high school is very challenging for some kids. Having had two that have gone through it I can bear that out. Also, this is when some school systems get very strict on attendance. Heaven forbid he gets sick before or after and go over the allowable number of day so they withhold credit for that quarter. I would look into your systems rules.

 

[Dreamer04]

Excellent advice! I just checked the allseastravel site and for a cat 6 on the 7 night would cost me about 3,000 more than the cat 3 for a 4 night. Still, cheaper than DCL. Using the Visa to pay it off and relying on a tax refund, makes this a better option for us. I really was concerned about my son's attendance and now, I'm convinced. Now, I need to tell poor hubby. This cruise and these boards are all I talk about, lately. hehe

Anyway, I would rather have cat 6 and not stress out my son than have a cat 3 and only make freshman year harder.

Just told DM, she is thrilled!!

Ok..so now..who's going on the 4/10/04 Western with me?

LOL

Life is sooooo good!!!

 

[HLFDZN]

I agree with you dreamer04 about taking your son out of school.
When my kids were little we used to visit my mom in Mississippi all the time in May. It was not an issue. As soon as the oldest got into Jr high it became a BIG issue. Now in High school, our district makes the kids get a signature from EVERY teacher before the vacation and if they don't all approve it, the kid can get a failing grade in the class, due to missed days. We are lucky to have our spring break in March, when the cruise prices are still low. I was soo excited to get the rate we got. Hubby can't always take time off in summer since he is in constuction, so this is do-able for us.
I think you will be assured too that the weather will be good. Hubby and I cruised last year in February and one day was pretty cold.....we wore jeans and sweatshirts. April wil be gorgeous for you I think and stress free for you and your son.

 

[Dreamer04]

Thanks, HLFDZN, for the support. I really wasn't thinking things through very well when I originally made the reservation. But, thankfully, these are what I like to call "Luxury Problems" and easily addressed. With our tax refund and more time to save, it will be easier on our budget to go in April.

I am sending you a PM.

Ursula

 

[Dreamer04]

I just called DCL and made the changes. I am now even more excited than I was before!!

Changed my countdown clock, too. All by myself!

Ursula