any downside to staying at the Hyatt MCO...

[jtba]

... then taking DCL to cruise terminal the next day? we'll be arriving around dinner time the day before the cruise. the only thing i can think of is the slightly higher cost at the Hyatt vs. Country Inn & Suites.

anything else i'm not considering?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

... then taking DCL to cruise terminal the next day? we'll be arriving around dinner time the day before the cruise. the only thing i can think of is the slightly higher cost at the Hyatt vs. Country Inn & Suites.

anything else i'm not considering?

Not in my opinion.

 

[jtba]

cool. i'm slightly paranoid about the luggage somehow going missing between our home airport and the ship. has this ever happened to a diser?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

cool. i'm slightly paranoid about the luggage somehow going missing between our home airport and the ship. has this ever happened to a diser?

I've heard of only one incident in all the time I've been on here where someone's bags were not picked up in the room at the Hyatt for delivery to the DCL transportation people.

Certainly the risk is there that the airline may "lose" your bags before you even get to Orlando, though.

For the Hyatt to collect your bags at MCO for delivery to your room there, it's an extra charge. Or you can claim your bags directly at the airport and take them to the Hyatt (if you want to be sure the airline did their job). The Hyatt delivery to the DCL people doesn't have a cost, from what I know.

 

[Tasmen]

We love the MCO Hyatt. I cannot speak to how it is with the DCL transportation but we are staying there again the night before our upcoming cruise and then taking a limo to the terminal. Either way, the convenience of rolling into your hotel right off the plane is super super nice.

 

[bumbershoot]

I see no downsides to the Hyatt Regency in the airport.

the only thing i can think of is the slightly higher cost at the Hyatt vs. Country Inn & Suites.

Higher cost of the Hyatt vs paying to get yourself to Country Inn. Might work out around the same, depending on how you get to PC and how many people are in your party.

i'm slightly paranoid about the luggage somehow going missing between our home airport and the ship.

There's no automatic way for bags to leave your home airport and then get to the cruise without you seeing them in between.

When we stayed at the Hyatt pre-cruise we got our bags at the carousel and brought them to the Hyatt. The Bell Services guy reminded us to tell them about the cruise, so we went back and did that to get our names on the list and to get our letter, then we went to our room. Next morning they came by around 8am and got the bags. Bags were transported to the ship and we got them at some point after we had access to the room.

 

[jtba]

I see no downsides to the Hyatt Regency in the airport.
Higher cost of the Hyatt vs paying to get yourself to Country Inn. Might work out around the same, depending on how you get to PC and how many people are in your party.

thanks. there will be four of us. i figured if we were to stay at the Country Inn, we'd hire Happy Limo to get us there from the airport the night before, which will come out to be around the same as using DCL transfer from the Hyatt the next day. after the cruise, we'd take either Happy Limo or DCL transfer back to MCO. again, a wash $ wise.

so the only difference seems to be the hotel cost, right? though it sounds so much nicer to go directly from the airport to the hotel for dinner followed by a good night's rest immediately.

 

[grantclaire]

No problem with the Hyatt, just eat light and save your appetite for the cruise!

 

[lanejudy]

i'm slightly paranoid about the luggage somehow going missing between our home airport and the ship.

As others have said...there shouldn't be an issue of lost bags. When you fly to MCO the day prior to embarkation, you should NOT use the luggage tags from DCL. You'll need to collect your bags and bring them to the Hyatt (or wherever you stay). The Hyatt does offer luggage service and will collect them from your room the next morning; be sure to tell them at check-in that you are taking DCL transfers in the morning. Put the DCL tags on your bags that evening after you arrive at the Hyatt.

With a dinner time/evening arrival, I'd definitely stay at the Hyatt over traveling to the port area.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[jtba]

one more question about this: my other concern about staying at the Hyatt is traffic the morning of the cruise. if we were to take DCL transfer, will the ship wait for us if there's some horrendous traffic on the way to the port?

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

one more question about this: my other concern about staying at the Hyatt is traffic the morning of the cruise. if we were to take DCL transfer, will the ship wait for us if there's some horrendous traffic on the way to the port?

Hi jtba I've stayed at the MCO Hyatt at least five times now and it's a great experience as others have mentioned. I would definitely choose it over staying at the port unless you really wanted to see things at the port and had time but I think I remember you mentioned coming in later so I'd definitely choose the MCO Hyatt.

I've read on other media sites people that were actually on the DCL transfer and there were accidents (rare but does happen) and they were delayed in getting there but they were advised the ship would wait. I think these folks were near the 230-300pm timeframe so not first thing in the morning. It's such a smooth and enjoyable process getting on the transfers and sitting back getting excited as you get closer. Sit on the left side of the bus (or for the kids) as the ship will come up on the horizon and then be on the left side.

Any more questions feel free to ask

Heather

 

[DIS_Ag]

What time does ME return to Orlando?

 

[princessmommyx3]

I have stayed at both the Hyatt MCO and Country Inn and agree with everything already said, plus I think the Hyatt is such a nicer hotel than the Country Inn. You are paying more per night but you are definitely getting a MUCH nicer hotel in the process.

 

[chocolatecake]

It is so easy we love it. We always check again with the DCL desk in the morning to make sure our name is on the list of rooms to collect luggage from. That seems to ease our minds. The hotel restaurants are really good, we check in, eat, swim and than head to bed. Checking in for DCL transportation is easy and quick too. We get to check in about 9 AM and are usually leaving the airport by 9:20 ish.

 

[jdb in AZ]

What time does ME return to Orlando?

Magical Express does not run from the port to Orlando. It runs between MCO and the WDW hotels only, and is free.

If you're referring to the DCL transfer buses from the port to WDW or MCO, they start running at 7:30 a.m. and cost $35 per person each way.

 

[theotherlostprincess]

Stayed at the hyatt the night before and it was a great idea. Just took the dcl transfer and didnt have to worry about our luggage in the morning or anything. Would def recommend it and would stay here again

 

[shelbell77]

No downside in my opinion. We've done it for any cruises that didn't have a WDW stay pre cruise. Extra cost well worth it for the convenience in our opinion.

 

[tinkerone]

There's no automatic way for bags to leave your home airport and then get to the cruise without you seeing them in between.

NOT saying anyone should do this however on one of our cruises in 2014 there was a couple at customer service on the fantasy. they were annoyed that they did not have their luggage available for the resort part of their stay. apparently they put the cruise tags on at their home airport and when they got to orlando airport the bags were removed and stored until their cruise date. the luggage was delivered to their cabin. they had nothing at all for the wdw stay. the cm at guest services said sorry but some people do this and they have no way to know that it was the intent of this couple to not do it, they go by luggage tags and luggage tags tell all.
i had never heard of this before or after but i guess it does work……if you plan it that way.

 

[jtba]

thank you, everyone. that pretty much settles it!

p.s. hello @IBelieveInTheMagic / heather! *wave*

 

[jtba]

I have stayed at both the Hyatt MCO and Country Inn and agree with everything already said, plus I think the Hyatt is such a nicer hotel than the Country Inn. You are paying more per night but you are definitely getting a MUCH nicer hotel in the process.

@princessmommyx3 i read your blog entry on this particular topic and found it very useful. thanks!