Best WDW Resort To Stay One Night Pre-DCL Cruise

[BWV Dreamin]

Is there any WDW Deluxe resort that is better to stay at one night pre-cruise? I am wondering how late I will get to the port using DCL transfers from a WDW Deluxe resort (say Animal Kingdom or Boardwalk)? Any comments appreciated!

 

[scrappinginontario]

It really doesn't make a difference which resort you choose if you are using DCL transfers as the times can change for each resort, each cruise. You may wish to arrange for private transportation to the port if you wish to arrive by a specific time.

 

[Maesa]

I asked the same question. We will be staying at the Disney All Star Resort the night before. We chose a cheaper hotel because we are just basically using it to sleep and bath. We decided to rent a car and drive it to the port instead of using the DCL transfers. Because the transfers, you don't know what stop you'll be. And then are going to a few different hotels so it's a bit longer. I prefer to hop in my car and get there sooner rather then stopping at each resort. Just my opinion. And we are dropping are rental there and picking up a new one on the return.

 

[quickcat]

We have stayed at the yacht club a few times and love it there. Being able to walk around the boardwalk, nice food options, good pool, it works fine for us because we don't go to the parks. We always rent a car and drive though, we do it because we like the flexibility a car offers.
Have a great trip!

 

[mernin]

We are staying at AKV before our first cruise and taking DCL transportation. We have kids so this way we won't bring our booster seats with us vs in a rental car. Also, we all can just relax both ways on the bus vs driving ourselves for the first time and worrying about missing a turn, etc. I figured a few hours later in port isn't the end of the world.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Except for one DVC Member Cruise when a Disboard group arranged a private van for the group, we always rent a car for one day, one way trip to the port.

Most often we stay at BWV the night before a cruise, but I would be happy in any DVC!

 

[tee11]

We are staying at AKV before our first cruise and taking DCL transportation. We have kids so this way we won't bring our booster seats with us vs in a rental car. Also, we all can just relax both ways on the bus vs driving ourselves for the first time and worrying about missing a turn, etc. I figured a few hours later in port isn't the end of the world.

If you could report back how it worked out in this thread, that would be awesome!

 

[Shanti]

You could also stay at the Orlando airport Hyatt the night before the cruise, then take the DCL transfer to the port in the morning. DCL can book the Hyatt for you so you'd pay in advance as part of your cruise booking. The Hyatt is every bit as nice as the Disney deluxes (maybe nicer, minus the Disney charm) and is also less expensive.

 

[The Sasquatch]

i would agree with a stay somewhere in the epcot resort area if you are not doing a park visit. Lots of things to do and an awesome pool at Yacht and Beach

 

[squirk]

Is there any WDW Deluxe resort that is better to stay at one night pre-cruise? I am wondering how late I will get to the port using DCL transfers from a WDW Deluxe resort (say Animal Kingdom or Boardwalk)? Any comments appreciated!

It sounds like by "better", you mean getting to the port as efficiently and quickly as possible. As others have said, the pickup "rounds" are different each time. You should probably expect to arrive at PC between 1:00 and 2:30 p.m.

I agree that the Epcot resorts might be the best options for a quickie one-night stay. There is enough to do around Crescent Lake where you won't feel obligated to burn a park ticket or hike over to Disney Springs to entertain yourself for a few hours that day.

 

[IBLarsen]

I asked the same question. We will be staying at the Disney All Star Resort the night before. We chose a cheaper hotel because we are just basically using it to sleep and bath. We decided to rent a car and drive it to the port instead of using the DCL transfers. Because the transfers, you don't know what stop you'll be. And then are going to a few different hotels so it's a bit longer. I prefer to hop in my car and get there sooner rather then stopping at each resort. Just my opinion. And we are dropping are rental there and picking up a new one on the return.

Out of curiosity, are you paying a lot more for a one way rental? Sometimes the pricing to do that is just crazy, so I never even consider that an option. we are in the very early stages of planning for our first cruise, so I'm on here trying to get tips on the logistics

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Right now there are no cash discounts for my desired date (10/6/17). All star Music with tax is $170/night. I have a AAA rate room reserved at Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport for $188/night. I also have 6 points left in my 2017 UY as a DVC member that I could combine with one time purchased points at $15/point. Cheapest DVC room, if available at 7 mos. is 14 - 16 pts. / night so I would at the least pay $130-$150 for the extra points, but that does not factor the value of my 6 points. So clearly using points to book a DVC room is the most expensive.

Can anyone say how cheap they have gotten a value Disney resort room when sales happen?

 

[squirk]

IIRC, the discounts offered on Value resorts are usually 15% off the prevailing rack rate nowadays. The discounts are higher for moderates and deluxes (20% and 25%, respectively), but of course, the rack rates are much higher for those.

I remember a few years ago, the respective discounts were usually 25%/30%/35%, but it seems Disney is having an easier time filling rooms nowadays, and has adjusted the discounts accordingly.

 

[Starwind]

You could also stay at the Orlando airport Hyatt the night before the cruise, then take the DCL transfer to the port in the morning. DCL can book the Hyatt for you so you'd pay in advance as part of your cruise booking. The Hyatt is every bit as nice as the Disney deluxes (maybe nicer, minus the Disney charm) and is also less expensive.

How does DCL's rate for the Hyatt compare to booking the Hyatt directly with Hyatt (eg through Hyatt website) ?

SW

 

[Shanti]

How does DCL's rate for the Hyatt compare to booking the Hyatt directly with Hyatt (eg through Hyatt website) ?

SW

It's typically a little higher.

 

[MickeyEarrings]

For our precruise stay in April we chose the Polynesian because it's so overpriced we would never spend a whole week there, but one night? Sure!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

How does DCL's rate for the Hyatt compare to booking the Hyatt directly with Hyatt (eg through Hyatt website) ?

SW

I was also wondering about that. But my rate is a AAA rate so I have a feeling it would be more through DCL.

 

[meliscan]

We did the Port Orleans French Quarter last year before our cruise. I had stayed there previously and we really enjoyed it. I just got back from the Boardwalk Villa's and loved how you could walk to so many places. The Boardwalk or Yacht and Beach club offer a lot of "free" entertainment with the hired entertainers and the people watching.

 

[MPS516]

1 night pre cruise - what time do you arrive ? The Boardwalk entertainment is mostly eating establishments with some strolling performers and Jelly Rolls. If you are looking to make a full night of it, I would look at Saratoga Springs or Old Key West with easy access to Disney Springs where entertainment is plentiful and open much later.

Getting to port - depends on what time your PAT is and when you want to get there, have you booked everything you wish to book already ? Disney transport won't put you at port until 12:30 or later, if not open boarding by then it should occur soon. If you need to board early to try and get reservations or tickets you can hire a car service and not have the issues of car return and shuttle back to port.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

We will most likely be arriving in the airport around 6pm so the night life isn't really a factor. We would like to board the ship early enough to grab lunch.