Will Residence Inn shuttle get me to port for 11am arrival time?

[shawy1269]

Anyone parked at the Residence Inn and taken the shuttle? How often do they run? Will I definitely make my 11am port arrival time? Thanks!

 

[njdisneylovr]

Anyone parked at the Residence Inn and taken the shuttle? How often do they run? Will I definitely make my 11am port arrival time? Thanks!

When we stayed at RI in April, we had a port arrival time of 11:00-11:30. The shuttle came right at 11:00, however, time everyone got their luggage on and boarded, we didn't arrive at the terminal until 11:35. Once inside, we we literally in the terminal for 7 minutes before walking through those Mickey Ears!

 

[shandrananette]

Similar to PP - we got on the bus as soon as we could, right at 11, but then sat there for at least 30 minutes before they took off. But it was fast once we got there. One piece of advice is to get on the bus sitting in front if they have two out there - the bus in front of ours left at least 15 minutes before ours did.

 

[cblack]

I called the RI a couple months ago to ask the same question. We stayed there in 2011, and I couldn't remember. They said the absolute earliest the bus would leave is 11am, and that would be pushing it.

 

[shawy1269]

Interesting. Im wondering if the RI is a good choice for an 11am port arrival time. I really want to book Palo brunch when as soon as I board, so getting to the port by 11 is a priority.

 

[kcashner]

Interesting. Im wondering if the RI is a good choice for an 11am port arrival time. I really want to book Palo brunch when as soon as I board, so getting to the port by 11 is a priority.

Actually, it is your terminal arrival time that will matter. If you have the 11-11:30 window, your boarding pass is already determined by that window. Provided that you arrive before your number is called, it won't matter whether you got to the terminal at 11 or 11:30...or even 11:35.

If you are really unhappy with the time AND have a car, you can have your driver take everyone to the terminal and then return to the hotel to ride the shuttle himself. Alternatively, you could pay for a taxi to the terminal.

 

[shawy1269]

Actually, it is your terminal arrival time that will matter. If you have the 11-11:30 window, your boarding pass is already determined by that window. Provided that you arrive before your number is called, it won't matter whether you got to the terminal at 11 or 11:30...or even 11:35.

If you are really unhappy with the time AND have a car, you can have your driver take everyone to the terminal and then return to the hotel to ride the shuttle himself. Alternatively, you could pay for a taxi to the terminal.

Well, this is my honeymoon. It is just me and the wife. We will have a car, we are driving up from West Palm Beach. I'm thinking about either taking a taxi, or just driving and parking in one of the port lots. Dropping her off with all the luggage and carry-ons seems like a bit much to put on her.

 

[TheWescotts]

Well, this is my honeymoon. It is just me and the wife. We will have a car, we are driving up from West Palm Beach. I'm thinking about either taking a taxi, or just driving and parking in one of the port lots. Dropping her off with all the luggage and carry-ons seems like a bit much to put on her.

Look into Park N Cruise. We did it a couple weeks ago. Costs less than port parking and it was very fast and easy.

 

[Cheerio]

Well, this is my honeymoon. It is just me and the wife. We will have a car, we are driving up from West Palm Beach. I'm thinking about either taking a taxi, or just driving and parking in one of the port lots. Dropping her off with all the luggage and carry-ons seems like a bit much to put on her.

As soon as you arrive at the port, they take the luggage from her - so she'd just need to worry about the carry-ons. Our bus left from RI just after 11am, we were on board just before 12

 

[shawy1269]

Actually, it is your terminal arrival time that will matter. If you have the 11-11:30 window, your boarding pass is already determined by that window. Provided that you arrive before your number is called, it won't matter whether you got to the terminal at 11 or 11:30...or even 11:35.

So Getting there right at 11 wont get me on the ship any faster than getting there at 1130? Yes I have the 11-1130 terminal arrival window.

 

[lanejudy]

I think the 11am shuttle is a very common time for all hotels/car rentals. We were told the same by several hotels when we called around about possible reservations. We ended up renting a car (but not for reason of the hotel shuttle time) and the car rental also wouldn't leave until 11am. It's because that is the "official" opening time Disney has posted for their terminal and the shuttles don't want to end up lined up unable to drop-off passengers. The car rental did end up taking us a little earlier because they got word it was open, otherwise they had planned to wait until 11am.

Port arrival time is a window, so it's really a half-hour. Arriving early won't get you an earlier boarding number as that's tied to your port arrival time. Early arrivals may be able to do upgrades at the port, but booking things like Palo or Remy can't be done until you are onboard anyway.