How's the port/terminal looking these days?

[ruadisneyfan2]

I talked to Happy Limo last night to book our transfer to the port for our Halloween sailing. I've always gotten a 9 or 9:30 am pickup. I was told the earliest they let people arrive now is 10:30. When I questioned why, as we didn't have to arrive so late in the past, she said it's due to port construction for the new ships.
She said it 'looks nothing like it used to'.
Is she exaggerating?
I know the work has to get done somehow but wish they could do it in a way that doesn't impact current cruisers too much.

Friends of ours will be joining us and though it's not their 1st cruise, it will be their first Disney cruise. I hope it doesn't look awful!


Any recent pictures?
Thanks!

[moet7]

Originally Posted by ruadisneyfan2

I talked to Happy Limo last night to book our transfer to the port for our Halloween sailing. I've always gotten a 9 or 9:30 am pickup. I was told the earliest they let people arrive now is 10:30. When I questioned why, as we didn't have to arrive so late in the past, she said it's due to port construction for the new ships.
She said it 'looks nothing like it used to'.
Is she exaggerating?
I know the work has to get done somehow but wish they could do it in a way that doesn't impact current cruisers too much.

Friends of ours will be joining us and though it's not their 1st cruise, it will be their first Disney cruise. I hope it doesn't look awful!


Any recent pictures?
Thanks!

we drove to the port in July, just a few weeks ago and got there at 10:00 had no problems at all with getting in or with the construction. Everything stilll looks as nice as it did when we cruised 3 years ago. Yes, there is some construction, but it doesn't take away from how nice it looks.

[ruadisneyfan2]

I wonder if it's a line of BS I was given about not be allowed early drop offs.
Why would DCL care on a Saturday morning? Wouldn't construction happen on weekdays?
Maybe they were booked up for earlier slots and didn't want to lose my business?
hmmmm...

[ppony]

I've got a FL Tour limo booked and have them picking us up at 9:30. They said they usually do pickups at 10-10:30 but earlier is no problem if we requested it. They made no mention of port restrictions. Makes you wonder. (pun intended )

[lbgraves]

I would call another company and see if they will meet your request. As of a few weeks ago people have reported arriving at the terminal at 10 am.

[ruadisneyfan2]

Well, they are still willing to pick us up at 9:45. We've used HL twice and got free upgrades both times. There's really no need for us to get there so early. We already have Palo ressies and basically will just be sitting around waiting & getting character photos. We just like to board asap for the excitement of it all! lol!

We'll be staying at the Hyatt MCO. What time does the 1st DCL bus leave?

Any other reports about the terminal area looking very torn up?

[tvguy]

Originally Posted by ruadisneyfan2

I wonder if it's a line of BS I was given about not be allowed early drop offs.
Why would DCL care on a Saturday morning? Wouldn't construction happen on weekdays?
Maybe they were booked up for earlier slots and didn't want to lose my business?
hmmmm...

I wonder if the issue really is them having a car available that early. I bet that car probably came from the port with a passenger from the previous cruise. If they have an 8 or 8:30 am pickup at the port, it would be at least an hour or so before the driver would be available to pick up another passenger at the airport to go back to the port. I would hope maybe the driver gets a 10 minute break in between. Same reason I suspect the Disney buses don't start running until about 10 am, they all start their day at the port.

[ppiew]

Call another Limo! I am sure they are trying to coordinate the drop off with the pick up of passengers. Nothing wrong, just be honest about it and adjust affairs accordingly.

[truck1]

Originally Posted by tvguy

I wonder if the issue really is them having a car available that early. I bet that car probably came from the port with a passenger from the previous cruise. If they have an 8 or 8:30 am pickup at the port, it would be at least an hour or so before the driver would be available to pick up another passenger at the airport to go back to the port. I would hope maybe the driver gets a 10 minute break in between. Same reason I suspect the Disney buses don't start running until about 10 am, they all start their day at the port.

Originally Posted by ruadisneyfan2

I wonder if it's a line of BS I was given about not be allowed early drop offs.
Why would DCL care on a Saturday morning? Wouldn't construction happen on weekdays?
Maybe they were booked up for earlier slots and didn't want to lose my business?
hmmmm...

What it may be is that the terminal may not be ready to accept incoming passengers until then. Figure the porters have all of the off loading bags to deal with, and the terminal crew will be busy getting everyone squared away for their trips home etc. Then turn the terminal from a departure area to an arrivals area(Basicallly getting the cms upstairs and ready to receive the new guests) so it may a few hours to clear the terminal and ship of the departing guests. Then turn around and accept the incoming guests.
Even though there is 2 levels, there may not be enough cms, and land support to go around.

[Renysmom]

RU - I see you are going to be a cruisemate.. Please come join our meets thread. We have a few meets planned on the ship, including a milk shake meet .

As we are sailing on Halloween it is possible that some things may change that day, lucky for us though two of our shipmates have the Walt and Roy suites so they are working with Consierge to find out all the changes as soon as possible. We already have the first update, which you will find on the thread. We also have our own website and chatroom for this cruise (outside of the DIS Chatroom). These have proven to be a blast as we are really getting to know each other. Lastly, the cruise if FILLED with NJ folks due to Jersey week , there is even a pre-cruise picnic scheduled in NJ for all of you.

Hope you will join us

[snelsonbrown]

Norm goes to the port 5 days out of the week and so far he has had no problems although in the beginning there were a great deal of detours etc.
It always seems to go easy for him but then he gets there between 8 and 8:30 AM.
Anyhow it is going to be awesome when it is finished.
Always
Shirley

[mmouse37]

Originally Posted by truck1

What it may be is that the terminal may not be ready to accept incoming passengers until then. Figure the porters have all of the off loading bags to deal with, and the terminal crew will be busy getting everyone squared away for their trips home etc. Then turn the terminal from a departure area to an arrivals area(Basicallly getting the cms upstairs and ready to receive the new guests) so it may a few hours to clear the terminal and ship of the departing guests. Then turn around and accept the incoming guests.
Even though there is 2 levels, there may not be enough cms, and land support to go around.

DCL has always let guests arrive by 10:00. They do an excellent job in coordinating the leaving guests with the incoming guests. I think this sounds more like the limo company trying to coordinate times, not DCL. Leaving guests don't normally go through the upper terminal upon debarking the ship, they take the escalator down to the luggage hall and exit from there. The only time it can get confusing is the drop off/pick up area as there will be some leaving and arriving guests there at the same time. FYI to leaving cruisers...keep an eye on your luggage as you don't want the porters taking it back onboard!!! or vice versa....arriving guests having their luggage left there!! LOL!! I saw it almost happen.

But, maybe we will get an update from PorterBob who would have first hand knowledge of the construction goings on as he is a porter there.

MJ

[kcashner]

I'm with the others...this is an issue with the limo company, not the port or terminal. Yes, there is construction going on but YOU won't be affected by it at all. The terminal is as it has always been; the disembarkation and embarkation process flow as smoothly as ever (or more so). The port area continues to open at 10 to incoming traffic and the terminal about 10:15 (although technically 10:30).

[mmackeymouse]

I think, and I may have interpreted it the wrong way, but the OP was more concerned with the aesthetics of the building, not necessarily whether the construction affects the check-in process.

It would kind of be like going to Paris, and seeing the Notre Dame Cathedral with scaffolding around it. Sure, it is still an amazing building, and on the inside it might be just the same, BUT there is still a little bit of a let down when you arrive.

You understand that maintenance and construction is inevitable; you just don't want it to happen while you are there.

[LoveMickey]

We are leaving from a Disney resort and they wanted to pick us up at 10:30, saying that we could not get on the ship that early. This is in January.

I requested and was finally given a 9:30 pick up at a MK resort.