What time does dcl bus pick up at resorts?

[Lollipop's Mom]

How early do they pick up? Staying at AKV.

 

[MrsJobba1]

Hi not sure if it has changed recently but for our first 3 cruises we were picked up between 12.15 and 12.45 . There is only one bus a day. As we didn't get on boat till after 1.30 we stopped using the transfers and our last 3 cruises used a town car instead.

 

[holula]

On the 10/18 cruise we got picked up at 11.15am at AK.

 

[kcashner]

The scheduled departure times from the resorts are 11:30, 12, and 12:30 and you are asked to be there at least 15 minutes before the departure time (they won't wait if you are not there by departure time). Each bus makes up to 3 stops.

AKL is generally the first stop on a typical 3 stop rotation meaning that you need to be there at 11:15. HOWEVER, if any resort has enough guests to fill a bus (rather than needing 3 stops to fill up), they will alter the schedule. For example, if there is a full load or close to it from AKL, they will make that a 12:15 or 12:00 time and go directly from there to the port. It takes longer to load 60+ people than 3, thus allowing more boarding time.

Example--on one cruise we boarded at AKL at 11:30. There were 3 of us. The bus went to Pop and probably put on 60 more people (the driver audibly groaned and made a comment as he pulled up) Those were the only 2 stops for that bus. On another occasion, we left from Saratoga at 11:30. That bus went to Port Orleans and OKW before heading to the port, adding 20-30 guests at each stop.

Bottom line, while there is a "typical" schedule and they do try to keep the buses going to only a small area of WDW, the schedule does change based on guest numbers.

I'm with the others--we don't opt for the DCL transfers any more if we have enough people to justify another method.

 

[CruznLexi]

The one and only time we used them we picked up at AKL they had to have 2 buses and did not get to the port until almost. 2pm no thanks as the food stuff has closed down before boat drill and had second seating. Lucky we had breakfast as Boma.

 

[luv2sleep]

Will the ship wait for you if you are using DCL transport and its really late?

 

[aan1701]

Will the ship wait for you if you are using DCL transport and its really late?

To a point, but lets put it like this, if the only people missing are using private transport and the ship is ready at 5 to sail, it's leaving without them. People using DCL transport are also paying for piece of mind. Yes you get to the port later, and may cost a little more, but to me and my wife, that's ok for piece of mind.

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[kcashner]

Will the ship wait for you if you are using DCL transport and its really late?

If you mean that you are ON a DCL bus and the bus is late--yes, they will hold the ship. There have been instances of an accident closing the highway, one time when a DCL bus caught on fire (no one was hurt, driver did a super job of getting all guests off safely), etc.

If you are using private transportation and the same thing happens, you'll need to arrive before the last DCL bus gets there. They will let guests using private transportation board provided they are at the terminal and checked in before the last DCL bus arrives.

If you mean that you have booked transfers but have not yet arrived at the welcome center or boarded a bus, there is no promise that they will hold the ship for you. There have been situations where a plane booked thru DCL was late and they held the ship as well as having a late bus run from MCO to the cruise terminal for those guests.

When you do your on line check in, DCL asks for your transportation info (regardless of how it was booked). They DO track flights, so they know if you are late. However, they only assist those guests who booked thru DCL.

 

[luv2sleep]

I meant if you are using a DCL bus to get from the parks to port. If the bus is late picking you up or the transport from the resort to the port is delayed due to traffic, will the ship wait until the DCL bus gets there. I wouldn't use private transport.

 

[kcashner]

I meant if you are using a DCL bus to get from the parks to port. If the bus is late picking you up or the transport from the resort to the port is delayed due to traffic, will the ship wait until the DCL bus gets there. I wouldn't use private transport.

Yes, in this case the ship will be held. You'd have to be pretty late though--the bus is designed to get you to the terminal about 1:30 and sailing time isn't till 5. But it certainly could happen. The ship will not sail till all the DCL buses have arrived.

 

[luv2sleep]

Yes, in this case the ship will be held. You'd have to be pretty late though--the bus is designed to get you to the terminal about 1:30 and sailing time isn't till 5. But it certainly could happen. The ship will not sail till all the DCL buses have arrived.

Good to know.

 

[aan1701]

I meant if you are using a DCL bus to get from the parks to port. If the bus is late picking you up or the transport from the resort to the port is delayed due to traffic, will the ship wait until the DCL bus gets there. I wouldn't use private transport.

Yes it will wait but not forever. In this case DCL is responsible for you. That's why we only use them to get us to the port. It's the unknown things that can happen. Like I said, we could go cheaper, on our own time frame, but I like knowing that if something happens I will be taken care of. To me that's worth the extra price of DCL transport and getting to the port a little later.

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[Disney Dreams]

When we went from AKL to Port Canaveral the bus picked us up around 10-10:30am. We arrived at the port at prior to noon. My photo from the Welcome Line says 12:25pm.

- Dreams

 

[aan1701]

When we went from AKL to Port Canaveral the bus picked us up around 10-10:30am. We arrived at the port at prior to noon. My photo from the Welcome Line says 12:25pm.

- Dreams

Wow. Last time I used it from AKL and that was just over a year ago, we got picked up at 11:45. I know lots of people complain about the late pick up times. Maybe they are listening and pick up are earlier.

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[Disney Dreams]

Wow. Last time I used it from AKL and that was just over a year ago, we got picked up at 11:45. I know lots of people complain about the late pick up times. Maybe they are listening and pick up are earlier.

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My above experience was in 2010.

 

[BlakeandMaddysMomma]

We are taking DCL transfer from the airport, does it also pick up that late?

 

[kcashner]

We are taking DCL transfer from the airport, does it also pick up that late?

DCL bus transportation from MCO to the terminal starts at 9:30 on cruise mornings and runs every 30 minutes or less (so you'll never wait more than 30 minutes). If the bus fills up in 15 minutes, it will depart and the next one will start filling; if it isn't full in 30 minutes, it will depart anyhow.

The last scheduled bus is like 2:30 or 3, but if people who booked air thru DCL are running late, they will send later buses.

 

[aan1701]

My above experience was in 2010.

I was picked up in Oct of 2010 at it was around noon. In Jan 2011 it was at 11:30. Interesting.

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[papertraveller]

How and when do they let you know which bus pickup time you have?

 

[jdb in AZ]

How and when do they let you know which bus pickup time you have?

If you're being picked up at a WDW hotel they'll give you a sheet of instructions in your room the day before your cruise. The luggage travels separately on a truck and is usually picked up around 8:15-8:30 a.m.

We were picked up at the Grand Floridian Jan 2011 about 11:30.