DCL bus transfers???

[amystevekai&bump]

Hi, I was wondering if you could help me.

I believe I have currently booked a one way DCL bus transfer from my WDW hotel to the cruise ship, but I am considering adding a few nights back at WDW after the cruise as well and therefore wondered if anyone knows how much they charge to add that on (there will be 4 of us)?

I have tried looking at my DU booking and on the DCL website, but my booking just says transfers included. How can I check whether I have already paid for two way transfers?? Do I just need to email DU (we don't travel until Christmas 2010, so the DCL website doesn't tell me very much at all at the moment!!)

Many thanks for any info!!

[kcashner]

Transfers are $35 per person each way.

If I were going back to WDW for a few days, I'd rent a full sized car; I usually pay $40-50 for a car rental. This would allow me to stop at a grocery store or whatever...and I could drop off that car at one of the WDW locations (Buget is at Doubletree by Downtown Disney, Avis is at the Hilton on the same street). These places will shuttle you back to your resort, or you can walk to Downtown Disney and get a bus from there.

Of course, I'd use my DVC points, so I'd want to grab a 1/2 gallon of milk and maybe some juice and cereal.... I like having my kitchenette. I'd strongly recommend renting DVC points if you're not an owner!

It sounds like you've paid for transfers back to MCO...you'll just need to let DCL know that you are going to WDW instead of MCO. Round trip (MCO to PC to MCO) is $69. Separate legs (MCO to PC, PC to WDW) is $35 each way...total $70. I'd also ditch the WDW to PC transfers....a rental car will be cheaper; a towncar service will be about the same price but would run on YOUR schedule, not DCL's schedule. The rental is a little effort as you have to pick it up and drop if off. The towncar/limo service is easy, but a bit more expensive.

[amystevekai&bump]

Originally Posted by kcashner

Transfers are $35 per person each way.

If I were going back to WDW for a few days, I'd rent a full sized car; I usually pay $40-50 for a car rental. This would allow me to stop at a grocery store or whatever...and I could drop off that car at one of the WDW locations (Buget is at Doubletree by Downtown Disney, Avis is at the Hilton on the same street). These places will shuttle you back to your resort, or you can walk to Downtown Disney and get a bus from there.

Of course, I'd use my DVC points, so I'd want to grab a 1/2 gallon of milk and maybe some juice and cereal.... I like having my kitchenette. I'd strongly recommend renting DVC points if you're not an owner!

It sounds like you've paid for transfers back to MCO...you'll just need to let DCL know that you are going to WDW instead of MCO. Round trip (MCO to PC to MCO) is $69. Separate legs (MCO to PC, PC to WDW) is $35 each way...total $70. I'd also ditch the WDW to PC transfers....a rental car will be cheaper; a towncar service will be about the same price but would run on YOUR schedule, not DCL's schedule. The rental is a little effort as you have to pick it up and drop if off. The towncar/limo service is easy, but a bit more expensive.

thanks ever so much for replying!!

I think the rental car sounds a good option actually - I hadn't realised that the transfers were quite so expensive!! I think I might have only booked one way, as I had planned to visit Universal for a few days after the cruise rather than going straight to the airport and I had mentioned this to my TA, so I guess she only booked me a one way slot.

I do have DVC, so I like the idea of collecting groceries and a rental car would give us more flexibility and be cheaper - always a good thing!!

So many thanks for the info!!

[kcashner]

Just another hint--you pay the same for a 23 1/2 hour rental as for a 1 hour rental...so if you wish, you can make the reservation to pick up the car at 9 am and return at 9 am the next day. That way, you'll have a lot of options for that day--drive to Universal, go out to dinner, whatever. Just be sure that you have it at the return place on time if you keep it overnight. Most places will give you a one hour courtesy, but they can charge you if you are one minute late. Check the hours of the return place to be sure they are open on Sunday morning....Parking is free at WDW to registered guests.

The 24 hours that will apply will start when you get the car. If you say 9:00, but your rental sign out form says 8:25 OR 9:25, those are the times that will count.

We typically get our car the night before our cruise if we are at WDW--that way, we have one less thing to do in the morning, and it is very convenient if we choose to have dinner at a resort other than where we are staying.

[tink,too]

We used the DCL transfers last year and had no problem at all with them. We might even use them again next year to get from the Port to WDW.

I personally never hire a car in the USA (personal preference) but I do know that it is no longer such a bargain for us Brits to do so. I'd suggest checking it out and compare costs - hire car, town car service, or DCL transfers - and see which one works out best for you.

[amystevekai&bump]

Originally Posted by kcashner

Just another hint--you pay the same for a 23 1/2 hour rental as for a 1 hour rental...so if you wish, you can make the reservation to pick up the car at 9 am and return at 9 am the next day. That way, you'll have a lot of options for that day--drive to Universal, go out to dinner, whatever. Just be sure that you have it at the return place on time if you keep it overnight. Most places will give you a one hour courtesy, but they can charge you if you are one minute late. Check the hours of the return place to be sure they are open on Sunday morning....Parking is free at WDW to registered guests.

The 24 hours that will apply will start when you get the car. If you say 9:00, but your rental sign out form says 8:25 OR 9:25, those are the times that will count.

We typically get our car the night before our cruise if we are at WDW--that way, we have one less thing to do in the morning, and it is very convenient if we choose to have dinner at a resort other than where we are staying.

another thing I didn't realise!! - thanks ever so much (again) , that really is a great help!!

Originally Posted by tink,too

We used the DCL transfers last year and had no problem at all with them. We might even use them again next year to get from the Port to WDW.

I personally never hire a car in the USA (personal preference) but I do know that it is no longer such a bargain for us Brits to do so. I'd suggest checking it out and compare costs - hire car, town car service, or DCL transfers - and see which one works out best for you.

I agree with you about how expensive it has got for car hire - we normally hire a car fo our whole trip, but as it spends so long in a car park, we can't justify one for the whole trip anymore, but are considering it for a few days as it is so convenient and plus we like to try some of the offsite restaurants (and with two small boys, I don't fancy the hassle of taxis or buses) - I will certainly weigh up both ways of getting off the ship though - thank you so much!!