What is the current procedure for getting from airport Hyatt to the ship?

[wideeyedwonder]

We will be staying at the Orlando Airport Hyatt the night before our 7-night western cruise, and we've signed up for Disney ground transportation. Over the months, I've read varying accounts of the check-in and travel procedures for getting from the Hyatt to the ship.

One account actually had "check-in" at the Hyatt, so that you had everything taken care of before even reaching the ship!

So my questions are (for a 7-night western cruise):

1. What is the earliest you can sign up for ground transportation to the ship at the Hyatt? I'd like to be on the first bus to the port if at all possible.

2. WHERE at the airport or Hyatt do you check in?

3. What time does the first bus board at MCO Hyatt, and what time does it arrive at the port?

4. Is it possible to completely check in at the airport or Hyatt, such that you have already received your ship key cards, and don't have to worry about your luggage, before even boarding the bus?

[3Bells]

We stayed at the Hyatt the night before we sailed for 3 days on the Wonder. At 7am on the morning of our sailing, I went to the Magical Express Welcome Center on the first floor with all passports and picture IDs in hand. Within 10 minutes my check in was done - received my KTTW cards and #2 boarding passes for the Wonder. I was told this was only being done for the 3 day cruises and only if you checked in between 6:30am -8:30am. After 8:30am and for all other cruises, you have to check in at port.

According to the Hyatt welcome letter we received at check in, buses leave the airport starting at 9:45am. We got on the bus around 11am and arrived at port by 11:45. Prior to checking out of the Hyatt, we attached the DCL luggage tags to our luggage and left them inside our room by the door. The next time we saw our luggage was on the Wonder around 5pm outside our stateroom.

Have a fabulous cruise!

P.S. If I were you, I would call the Hyatt directly and ask for specifics regarding your 7 day cruise.

[wideeyedwonder]

Originally Posted by 3Bells

At 7am on the morning of our sailing, I went to the Magical Express Welcome Center on the first floor

So, is the Magical Express Welcome Center (MEWC?) on the first floor of the Hyatt, or is it outside of the Hyatt, in the airport terminal? Thanks for any help, I've never been able to picture where the MEWC is located.

Originally Posted by 3Bells

P.S. If I were you, I would call the Hyatt directly and ask for specifics regarding your 7 day cruise.

Ya know, that is a great idea! (You would have thought I would have thought of that idea myself...I blame aluminum frying pans...)

[mmouse37]

I also read that some cruises had different procedures now from the Hyatt. I can only relay what we experienced in January on our 7 day. Of course this may have changed recently.

We were told to meet in a Hyatt lobby conference room the morning of the cruise. We got there around 8:00 and had to wait for them to set up in the conference room. DCL then checked you in FOR THE BUS ONLY. We did not get boarding numbers or KTTW cards. Were were on the first bus (Captain Mickey Bus) that left the Hyatt that day at 9:40 or so. We were at the port by 10:20 and received boarding pass number 2. We were escorted down to the bus which was located outside the Hyatt and only had our carryons with us. We were instructed to leave our luggage in the hotel room before 8:00 am and they would be delivered to our cabin.

Again, not sure how it is being done now on the 7 day but that was the basic procedure in January. We did receive a letter when we checked in the day before as what to expect the morning of the cruise.

Here are some pics at the link of the Hyatt lobby.

http://travel.webshots.com/album/570...X?vhost=travel

The first 8 pics or so have descriptions under them explaining the process.

MJ

[wideeyedwonder]

Originally Posted by mmouse37

I also read that some cruises had different procedures now from the Hyatt. I can only relay what we experienced in January on our 7 day. Of course this may have changed recently.

Thanks for that! I ened up calling the Hyatt's main line, and the operator conected me to the concierge. The concierge told me that we would get a letter on check-in explaining the process, but little else.

I guess I can wait until check-in to know what our actual procedure will be, but for now it looks doubtful that the 7-day cruises will pre-check in and get KTTW cards at the Hyatt. Oh well, it would have been nice, but I can live with it, considering I'm going on a Disney cruise again!

[3Bells]

Originally Posted by wideeyedwonder

So, is the Magical Express Welcome Center (MEWC?) on the first floor of the Hyatt, or is it outside of the Hyatt, in the airport terminal? Thanks for any help, I've never been able to picture where the MEWC is located.

The MEWC is located on the first floor of the airport terminal. On the flip side of the welcome letter is a map showing you how to get there from the Hyatt. The night before our sailing I did a test run getting from the hotel to the MEWC. Yeah, I'm a dork. I wanted make sure I knew where I was going, so I wouldn't waste any time the next day. You know, to beat the crowds. When I got there the next morning, there were no lines. I was told that I was the second person to check in. I never did see long lines for cruise check in

Originally Posted by wideeyedwonder

Thanks for that! I ened up calling the Hyatt's main line, and the operator conected me to the concierge. The concierge told me that we would get a letter on check-in explaining the process, but little else.

Sorry concierge wasn't that helpful. Have lots of fun on your cruise!!! I wanna cruise again ...

[clten]

We have gotten on Disney Transportation 2 different ways from the Hyatt. First I'll tell you to let the Hyatt know you are cruising with Disney when you check in. They'll give you the latest info on their procedure for luggage and bus check-in.

Then you can either meet (usually in the Hyatt lobby) and check in there for the bus. We don't enjoy this because the times we've done this, we've just done a lot of sitting around waiting to be escorted downstairs (which we can find on our own quite nicely) and then we wait in the regular DCL bus line. (I had thought there would be a bus or two waiting just for the Hyatt guests since they were escorting us down en masse, and figured we were just doing our waiting on comfortable chairs. But the 3 or 4 times we did this, we just went to the bus line and waited like everyone else. Didn't make sense to me to have everyone wait while they were checking in 40-80 people, then escort them down together and make them wait again.)

Or you can take yourself downstairs to the Magical Express check-in (baggage claim level), tell them you are cruising, they'll check you in and then you can proceed to the DCL bus line.

[Beccastuff]

So if I am reading this right we can stay at the Hyatt the night before our cruise (11/14/09 7 night w/ 2 stops at CC) and take the free Magical Express transportation to the port the next morning?

We are flying down the night before to avoid any mishaps and I have been trying to figure out how to get there without spending an arm and a leg only to have the rental car sit there for a week while I pay for it for nothing.

We'll be ging to Disney World for a few days when we get back so I thought we could rent a car for those few days once we return.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

[dietcokefan]

Originally Posted by Beccastuff

So if I am reading this right we can stay at the Hyatt the night before our cruise (11/14/09 7 night w/ 2 stops at CC) and take the free Magical Express transportation to the port the next morning?

We are flying down the night before to avoid any mishaps and I have been trying to figure out how to get there without spending an arm and a leg only to have the rental car sit there for a week while I pay for it for nothing.

We'll be ging to Disney World for a few days when we get back so I thought we could rent a car for those few days once we return.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

No, they will charge you for that Disney Bus, in fact I think you may need reservations. I think it was like $60 per person round trip.

We are sailing on the Magic at Thanksgiving and staying at the Hyatt the night before as well. We looked into all cost options for 7 of us getting to the port the following morning. We decided to go with a shuttle service that we saw here somewhere recommended. The Disney shuttle was more money and in my experience with the that type of shuttle service it may then make other stops at other hotels along the way picking up more passengers which then lengthens out my time getting to the check in. The shuttle service we got, since our party is 7 people will be our own separate van taking only our party, thus eliminating extra stops and time.

[Donna3271]

Diet Coke Fan's correct

( I LOVEEE DC too!!) You have to make a reservation for it, but it is not free like the Magical express to the resorts. I would go on the DCL site and get a quote to see how much the DCL transfer is for your party. You may find it is cheaper to rent a car. We always take the bus. It just seems easier, but then again, we have never come in the night before.

Good luck.

[wideeyedwonder]

Originally Posted by clten

Didn't make sense to me to have everyone wait while they were checking in 40-80 people, then escort them down together and make them wait again.)

Or you can take yourself downstairs to the Magical Express check-in (baggage claim level), tell them you are cruising, they'll check you in and then you can proceed to the DCL bus line.

If you go down to the ME check-in yourself (ie not with the other Hyatt guests), what happens to your luggage (that you left in the room, tagged for the cruise)? I'd have to assume that your luggage doesn't travel on the same bus as you do, but that it will eventually get there?

Also, do you have to handle your luggage when you arrive at the terminal (assuming Disney transfers), or does it magically appear in your cabin after the ship's muster drill?

I'm inclined to visit the ME desk and check in there, but I'd like to know that my luggage will find me at some point...

And what time does the ME desk itself open up?

So many questions...

[lbgraves]

DCL transfers cost $35 per person one way. That is from MCO to the port, the port to MCO or the port to WDW.

[wideeyedwonder]

UPDATE: I am currently sitting at the waiting area at the Disney Magical Express area at Orlando airport. I was able to go to the desk at 7am, get a boarding card for the first (Micky) bus, AND get our Key To The World cards. We were instructed to show up at the waiting area at 9:15am.

We are on a 7 night western, so it seems like they are offering complete check-in on the 7 night cruises now.

I was told that eventually, they hope to be able to check kids into kids club at the ME desk as well!

We are checked into the airport Hyatt, and could have done the "standard" check-in at 9am with the other Hyatt cruisers, but we wanted to get there early to see if we can get an upgrade.

[alwayslisad]

Originally Posted by wideeyedwonder

UPDATE: I am currently sitting at the waiting area at the Disney Magical Express area at Orlando airport. I was able to go to the desk at 7am, get a boarding card for the first (Micky) bus, AND get our Key To The World cards. We were instructed to show up at the waiting area at 9:15am.

We are on a 7 night western, so it seems like they are offering complete check-in on the 7 night cruises now.

I was told that eventually, they hope to be able to check kids into kids club at the ME desk as well!

We are checked into the airport Hyatt, and could have done the "standard" check-in at 9am with the other Hyatt cruisers, but we wanted to get there early to see if we can get an upgrade.

WOW - that is great -

[trimix]

Originally Posted by Beccastuff

We are flying down the night before to avoid any mishaps and I have been trying to figure out how to get there without spending an arm and a leg only to have the rental car sit there for a week while I pay for it for nothing.

At 37 posts, you are still new on the board and may have not seen the many posts describing the smart approach to car rental. What you do is get a one day rental when you arrive, with a drop off at Port Canaveral. The morning of your cruise drive to the port, drop off the luggage and everybody but the driver. The driver returns the car to the Port Canaveral/Cocoa Beach location for the rental car agency then gets a shuttle to the cruise terminal while the people who were dropped off check in and wait at the port.

Originally Posted by wideeyedwonder

We are on a 7 night western, so it seems like they are offering complete check-in on the 7 night cruises now.

I was told that eventually, they hope to be able to check kids into kids club at the ME desk as well!

Thanks for the information, and good luck on your upgrade!

I am getting really excited now - there is a Western today, then on Aug 8, then it's MY TURN!