40 DAYS TO GO . . .

     MONDAY MARCH 14, 2011

     GET THERE EARLY!  WHERE?  THE TERMINAL.  SOME PEOPLE, AS IS RECOMMENDED BY MANY, FLY OR DRIVE TO THE PORT (CANAVERAL IN THIS CASE) THE NIGHT BEFORE THEIR CRUISE.  THE LOGIC IS THAT JUST IN CASE SOMETHING WERE TO GO WRONG, YOU'D HAVE THE TIME TO STILL MAKE YOUR CRUISE AND NOT RISK MISSING IT.  SO IF YOU'RE ALREADY NEARBY YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH PICK WHEN TO LEAVE FOR THE PORT.
     SOME OF US CAN'T FLY IN TIL THE SAME DAY AS OUR CRUISE, FOR A PLETHORA OF DIFFERENT REASONS.  SO YOU MAY BE LIMITED TO ARRIVING AT THE PORT BASED ON YOUR FLIGHTS ARRIVAL TIME IN ORLANDO OR WHATEVER OTHER AIRPORT YOU CHOOSE.
     WHAT I CAN SAY IS, IF YOU CAN, TAKE AS EARLY A FLIGHT AS POSSIBLE.  I KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC OF, "I DON'T WANT TO BE WAITING AROUND FOREVER".  BUT, YOUR VACATION STARTS AS SOON AS YOU ARRIVE.  I'LL USE MYSELF AS AN EXAMPLE.  I LIVE NEAR ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. AND IT'S AIRPORT, WHICH MEANS I HAVE TO FLY SPIRIT AIRLINES (KING OF THE EXTRA FEES).  I CAN ARRIVE AROUND 8AM OR AROUND 2PM.  I COULD PROBABLY HAVE A FEW MORE OPTIONS IN BETWEEN ON OTHER AIRLINES IF I FLEW OUT OF PHILADELPHIA AN HOUR AWAY, BUT YOU GET THE IDEA.
     MY SON AND I WILL MOST LIKELY BE ON OUR FLIGHT FROM A.C. TO ORLANDO BY 6AM, ARRIVING AROUND 8-8:30AM.  WHY, DISNEY CRUISE LINES TRANSFER BUS SERVICE ISN'T EVEN OPEN YET?  THE ANSWER IS SO WHEN IT DOES OPEN AND THE FIRST BUSES START LOADING AND TRANSPORTING PEOPLE TO THE PORT, WE'RE ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE ON THEM. 
     A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO ARRIVE AT THE PORT EARLY, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T TOO.  BY ARRIVING EARLY, YOU AT LEAST GIVE YOURSELF THE BEST OPPORTUNITY YOU CAN TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST ON-BOARD.  EXCLUDING THE V.I.P.'s WHO ALWAYS BOARD FIRST, THE FIRST TO CHECK-IN AT THE PORT GET THE LOWEST BOARDING NUMBERS.  THIS IS LITERALLY A CARD WITH A NUMBER ON IT THAT TELLS YOU WHAT NUMBER TO LISTEN FOR AS THEY START BOARDING.  FIRST IN THE TERMINAL, FIRST ON THE SHIP. 
     WHY DOES IT MATTER?  I'LL GIVE YOU A FEW REASONS.  WE'VE BEEN AT THE AIRPORT AND TRAVELLING SINCE 5AM, LUNCH SOUNDS GOOD RIGHT ABOUT NOW.  IF YOU'RE ONE OF THE FIRST ON, YOU KNOW THERE'S NO CROWDS AT THE BUFFET OR COUNTER SERVICES, BECAUSE MOST AREN'T ON YET.  AND BELIEVE ME, THEY'RE ALL GOING TO EAT ONCE THEY'RE ON-BOARD.  SECOND, AS IS GROWING IN POPULARITY, IS RIDING THE DISNEY DREAM'S NEW "WATER COASTER" THE AQUADUCK.  IF YOU'RE ON EARLY AND ALREADY EATEN LUNCH, YOU CAN HEAD TO THE POOL AND RIDE THE DUCK BEFORE THE LINES START TO GET BIG.  AND FROM ALL REPORTS, THE LINES ARE PRETTY BIG FOR MOST OF THE CRUISE, SO PICKING AND CHOOSING WHEN YOU WANT TO RIDE, WITHOUT WAITING A LOT THAT IS, CAN BE A REAL TIME SAVER.  THIRD, REMEMBER, THIS IS THE VACATION YOU PAID FOR.  YOU CAN'T GET INTO YOUR STATEROOM TIL 1:30PM, AND WHILE YOUR LUGGAGE MAY ARRIVE FAIRLY EARLY, DISNEY ONLY GUARANTEES YOU'LL HAVE IT BY 5PM.  SO WHY NOT GET ON-BOARD EARLY, EXPLORE THE SHIP, GO TRY TO MAKE FORMAL DINING RESERVATIONS, GO TO GUEST SERVICES, CHECK OUT THE RESTAURANTS OR BARS.  THERE'S PLENTY TO SEE AND DO.  YOU COULD HAVE AN EXTRA 3 OR 4 HOURS ON-BOARD IF YOU PLAN ON IT.  IF THIS WERE A DISNEY THEME PARK, YOU WOULD NEVER GIVE UP 3 OR 4 HOURS IN THE PARK AS IF IT WERE NOTHING.  SO GET THERE EARLY.  PUT UP WITH THE CROWD IN THE TERMINAL OR THE LINE YOU MAY HAVE TO WAIT IN, IF YOU WANT TO GET A FEW EXTRA HOURS IN ON THE SHIP WE ALL CAN'T WAIT TO SEE.
     SEA YA REAL SOON!   ºOº
TONIGHT'S MOVIE IS "PETER PAN".  LOVE THE MOVIE.  LOVE THE RIDE.