Best WDW Resort To Stay One Night Pre-DCL Cruise

[ilovebassets]

We've stayed at SSR and POR for one night before cruises and found the, both to be just perfect. Good food courts, beautiful grounds to walk around and enjoy, good pools for the kids. I'd stay at either one for this purpose again.

 

[PurplePencil]

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!

We usually stay at Animal Kingdom since there's things to do and you don't feel that since you're near a park you have to go to the park. Plus, there is Boma (one of our favorite restaurants) to fill up at the morning of

 

[MPS516]

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.

Coming in that late I would probably be looting at the MCO Hyatt, get something to eat and call it a night, catch the Disney Shuttle to port the next morning. If I wanted to do the hour and a half from the airport, wait for DME and travel to resort, I would look at the best deal and where I planned to have breakfast.

 

[kiford]

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.

We've always managed to get lunch even with taking DCL transfers from a WDW resort, however, given the lateness of the hour you're coming in, it's really better to stay at the MCO Hyatt. You won't get to the hotel at WDW until at least 7-7:30 at best, then you'll have find somewhere to eat. You'll probably want to pick up your luggage rather than having Disney do it just in case it comes in late so that doesn't save you any time.

We usually come in a few days before a cruise, stay at WDW, then cruise (then sometimes WDW again). However, this last time we were just coming in the night before our cruise and we didn't get to MCO until a little after 7 pm. It was nice to be able to just get our luggage and basically head right to our room. We did online check in so we just had to quickly pick up our key from the front desk. Tossed the luggage into the room and went down for dinner. So much less stressful and time consuming. Our original intention had been to take the DCL transfers but some friends who live in Florida decided to come along on the cruise and picked us up so I can't comment on that part of it but I'd definitely do it again if I was only coming in the night before.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We like to stay at vero beach. Drive there and spend either one or two nights. Then drive to the port, usually about hour and half and drop off car before getting on ship.

 

[Maesa]

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

it wasn't expensive. we are paying about $75 for a one day rental with pick up at the Walt Disney World location and drop off at the Port. and returning is the same but dropping off at the airport. cheaper then the doing the Disney transfers and cheaper then keeping the car while on the cruise, parked at the parking lot.

 

[mernin]

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

As I mentioned above, we stated at AKV before our cruise and used DCL transport to and from the resorts. The resort was awesome! We got picked up around 11:15 and were the first of 3 pickup locations. Got to the ship around 1 if I remember right. Coming back after, the bus left at 8:20 and we were the last of 4 stops at PVB where we arrived around 10 am or so. The bus was perfect for us. Would it be nice to get on the ship a bit earlier, sure. But not a huge deal over 2 or 3 hours imo.

 

[dvcdream4fld]

We are DVC members so staying at DVC resort before the cruise is easy and relatively inexpensive. We like Disney bus transfers because of the convenience of luggage delivery (be sure to have a small overnight bag with you in case of luggage delivery delays) and no need for traveling with child seats. We have both rented a car and used Disney transfer. We have found Disney transfers more convenient and require less effort/planning. My top DVC resorts for an overnight stay is AKV and SSR. AKV because it allows a lazy morning of watching animals from the balcony or SSR because of the stuff at Disney Springs. The EPCOT resorts are nice but I think the options are limited if you don't plan to go to the parks.

 

[Starwind]

FYI, for those considering the Hyatt... check their rates every so often even after you have booked, as it may go down !

In early January I booked our one night stay at the Hyatt Regency in MCO for our one night pre-cruise stay in December 2017. At the time the AAA rate for a two queen room was #317 + taxes.

Just now I checked the hotel's rates for that date online and discovered that all the rates had decreased. The new AAA rate for that room was $263. I called the toll free "Reservation Assistance" number on my confirmation from the original reservation and Hyatt quickly changed me to the new, cheaper, rate. Yeah !

While I am still hoping the rate will end up closer to the rate we paid in 2015 ($192), any decrease is good !

SW

 

[LSUfan4444]

There are a few things that could make one "better" but it comes down to personal planning.

If I had a dinner ADR the night before my cruise at California Grill, Bay Lake might be better than Boardwalk. BUT, if I was renting a car from The Swan to drive to the port and had breakfast at Cape May the day we embark things would change.

My advice is to not pick the resort first then see what you want to do but rather plan your perfect evening then see what resort or hotel fits the best within your plans.

 

[peaches0313]

We usually stay at Animal Kingdom since there's things to do and you don't feel that since you're near a park you have to go to the park. Plus, there is Boma (one of our favorite restaurants) to fill up at the morning of

What time is a good/ safe time to make a breakfast ADR? Didn't know what time DCL bus typically picks up...

 

[LSUfan4444]

Ours is for 7:45 at Cape May but thats because we plan on doing some laundry after breakfast before heading to the port and staying at The Boardwalk. The most appropriate answer would depend on where you were staying and where you wanted to eat.

 

[cheapster316]

We had 9:10 adr at 1900 Park Fare. We easily got back in plenty of time. We were at AOA and had a 12:30 pick up, same time as 2 years ago. We did not pick up at any other resorts.
We got to the port and checked in around 2:15. We then waited to do the kids club check in.
I rented a limo coming back to Pofq. It was $287 plus 20 percent tip. They offered me s town car service which without tip was a few dollars cheaper than dcl transfer.
Next time I'll book the town car both ways. It gives me more control over when we get there and leave.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

What time is a good/ safe time to make a breakfast ADR? Didn't know what time DCL bus typically picks up...

The DCL buses pick up from the resorts anywhere from 10:45-12:30 (sometimes a little earlier or later). You won't know when your particular pick up is until the night prior, when you receive the letter in your room outlining your process.