Disney Vacation Plans for 2014 Are Taking Shape!

With Disney vacation plans for 2013 well in hand, it is time to start planning 2014.  The husband used to shake his head at this and mumble things like “let’s get this vacation over before you start another one” but he has since stopped saying stuff like this, at least at a volume I can hear.  He was even willing to have a conversation about tentative 2014 plans while driving to a soccer tournament.  What he has learned is that I am much happier with a Disney trip in my future and that planning IS part of the fun!

Here’s what we have got so far for 2014:

• A 7 night sailing on the Fantasy—Western Caribbean itinerary with a stop in Jamaica. 
• Discussions about flying in 2 days prior to our cruise rather than 1 day and stay at the Hyatt at Orlando International Airport for both nights. (I just can’t give up the easy and early access to the ship from the Hyatt)
• A day at Universal prior to sailing—hence the 2 day early arrival.  We haven’t been to Universal since 2008.  We could easily get a cab to and from as none of us want to drive!
• Days at Walt Disney World upon disembarking our ship.  The number of days/nights has yet to be determined and will most likely be decided by flight prices, availability, etc.  We know that we do have some limitations with work, etc.

All in all, it looks like a two week jaunt; very doable.

After as many trips as we have taken, we know what works, what we like, what is easy, etc.  For example, we could have a longer stay at the World if we added the number of days we wanted to stay at the beginning of our cruise, rather than at the end, but we just do not want to give up easy and early access to the ship from the Hyatt.  You see, if taking Disney transports—which we will—the buses leave Orlando International around 9:00 am, getting us to the Port Terminal early and giving us an early boarding group number which means getting on the ship earlier in the day.  If we took the same Disney transports from the parks and resorts, the buses pick up later in the day and have later arrival to the terminal and thus, later access to the ship.  I know, I know, we could get a town car service from the resort to the port, but since it isn’t Disney, the time of arrival to the port will be somewhat restricted with the system of port arrival times.

Also, getting from the ships to the resorts is easy, fast, and I don’t have to worry about TSA when packing!  Which means I have access to all of my toiletries while getting ready on the morning of disembarkation—bonus!  And, knowing that we are on our way to Walt Disney World makes getting off that beautiful ship less painful.

Obviously we still have some thinking and deciding to do, but the skeleton of our plans is in place.  And, what the husband doesn’t know yet is that plans for 2015 are also rolling around in my head!