1st cruise and Disney transportation

[FishyMom]

So excited to have booked our 1st Disney cruise! 3-night on Dream in November, just DH & I...no kids. It's for my 50th birthday. I booked the Disney transportation both ways, but I don't know if I need to do something to let them know that we're staying at a WDW resort prior to the cruise and where they would need to pick us up. I booked the WDW resort room separately, and it didn't ask when I added the transportation option to my cruise booking online. Do I need to call DCL to let them know?

194 days to go! Woohoo!

 

[thumpie's mom]

Yes, if you are using DCL transportation, you need to let them know. Have a great time!

 

[TiggerBouncy]

We always stay at WDW the night before the cruise since we almost missed one due to a late flight.

Call them and tell when where you are staying. They will pick you up from your resort (luggage and all). They will tell you the exact time to meet them. It's generally after 8am and before 11am. You will usually get to the port by 12-1. The buses pick you up at the same place as the magical express to the airport does, but it's a different bus so make sure you ask the driver to make sure you get on the right bus as sometimes they use the cruise buses for airport transportation.

Have a great time!

 

[NAB]

Yes like others said you have to call DCL directly to book your cruise transportation. That will let them know too if you are going back to the airport or a resort after your cruise as well. This will be marked on your key to the world card at the port to where you go after. Show them your card only after leaving the terminal and they will tell you to follow a line to your right bus.

Their also is a representive at the hotel that will check you in there. We stayed at POR a few times before and they seat you in the bar area until the bus comes.

There will also be a letter left in your room the night before telling you to leave your luggage just inside your door so it can be picked up for the cruise, you keep your carry on stuff with you just put your cruise tags on the other ones before they take them. . This happens at 8:00am we were still in bed when they came and got ours since we were not getting picked up until closer 12 pm .

We forgot our luggage tags once don't worry...they will look you and your cabin number up if this happens. Don't stress about anything and have fun! They have been doing this a long time.

Hope you marked on your reservation that you were having a birthday !

 

[lanejudy]

Call them and tell when where you are staying. They will pick you up from your resort (luggage and all). They will tell you the exact time to meet them. It's generally after 8am and before 11am.

Not quite my experience... luggage should be ready for pick-up from your WDW room at 8am. But passengers aren't picked up until sometime between 10:30am and 1:00pm, and you will NOT know exactly what time until the night before when you are already at WDW. Depending on pick-up time and how many other stops the bus makes (it may be as many as 3 resorts per bus), you can expect to arrive at the port between 12:30 and 2:30pm, occasionally earlier if your bus is direct with no other stops.

But to the OP's question -- yes, you can call DCL to let them know your pre-cruise transport is from WDW. Then when you do the online check-in you'll also let them know pre-cruise plans.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Not quite my experience... luggage should be ready for pick-up from your WDW room at 8am. But passengers aren't picked up until sometime between 10:30am and 1:00pm, and you will NOT know exactly what time until the night before when you are already at WDW. Depending on pick-up time and how many other stops the bus makes (it may be as many as 3 resorts per bus), you can expect to arrive at the port between 12:30 and 2:30pm, occasionally earlier if your bus is direct with no other stops.

But to the OP's question -- yes, you can call DCL to let them know your pre-cruise transport is from WDW. Then when you do the online check-in you'll also let them know pre-cruise plans.

Enjoy your cruise!

Guess I was lucky. We have never had them pick us up later than 11 (done it 4 times) and never gotten there later then about 1:30.