boarding time with DCL shuttles?

[daisyx3]

We are flying down the night before and won't land until 1130 so we are staying at the Hyatt. How early can we board the DCL bus? Or do they give us a boarding time now?

 

[lanejudy]

I think DCL transfers from MCO are loading based on PATs. Everyone except concierge gets a PAT now.

 

[mmouse37]

And you will get your PAT when you do your online check in

 

[Kwami]

I don't think that's correct. I'm also using the DCL bus from the Hyatt for my cruise. I completed my online check in yesterday and I was given boarding group 2 and told that I don't need a PAT. I'm not sailing concierge or anything fancy like that.

 

[mmouse37]

I don't think that's correct. I'm also using the DCL bus from the Hyatt for my cruise. I completed my online check in yesterday and I was given boarding group 2 and told that I don't need a PAT. I'm not sailing concierge or anything fancy like that.

Wow...that's a change (no surprise there!) Recently everyone except Concierge had to pick a PAT. Are you Platinum by chance? Maybe they are going back to both Platinum and Concierge not having to pick a PAT. If not then who knows!! Things change literally daily.

 

[Kwami]

Wow...that's a change (no surprise there!) Recently everyone except Concierge had to pick a PAT. Are you Platinum by chance? Maybe they are going back to both Platinum and Concierge not having to pick a PAT. If not then who knows!! Things change literally daily.

No, I'm only Silver. I can try to get a screenshot if you'd like.

 

[mmouse37]

I believe you.....they probably changed things yet again!

 

[jimandshane]

I was told with our resort transfer on 8/13 that we didn't need a PAT either (and also got BG 2).

However, the system wouldn't let me select "Disney transfer" via online check-in (not even tech support could assist), so they had me choose a random PAT (ended up getting the earliest one anyway).

 

[TinkerMouse]

I'm silver castaway club staying on property with ground transfers and during the online check-in I was also told that we were Boarding Group 2 and didn't need a PAT. Instead it pretty much said we could board whenever (probably because they control when we get to port) but that we had to board no later than sometime between 3 & 4p (can't remember the exact time). This was almost three weeks ago before they shortened our Fantasy cruise to 4 nights.

 

[BlueRibbon]

I booked the Hyatt after we had already paid for our Transport. We got an early PAT and were on the first bus out. The podium opened up a little after 9, but the bus didn't leave until around 11:30. This was on 8/20.

There was a family though who was pretty distraught that DCL couldn't find thier bus reservation. Seems like they were supposed to be out in front of the Hyatt. This whole Hyatt DCL bus thing seems ripe for a thread..

 

[Narcoossee11]

I'm silver castaway club staying on property with ground transfers and during the online check-in I was also told that we were Boarding Group 2 and didn't need a PAT. Instead it pretty much said we could board whenever (probably because they control when we get to port) but that we had to board no later than sometime between 3 & 4p (can't remember the exact time). This was almost three weeks ago before they shortened our Fantasy cruise to 4 nights.

If you have ground transfers from a wdw resort, you will get a letter telling you the time bus will pick you up. So you are correct you have NO control over the time

 

[john1012a]

Similar here....silver member staying at Hyatt Regency using DCL transfer. Boarding Group 2, no PAT, and CM originally told us podium opens at 830am and first bus leaves when full. Second CM said port didn't open until 1230pm so she couldn't see how the the first CM was accurate.
Then we got email saying Everyone's PAT was moved up by 2 hours. So I assumed the port was opening earlier and that meant we would leave the airport by 10 to arrive around 11am.
However received email two days ago and it said expect departure from airport at 1130am. So that would confirm Blue Ribbon's post. So hopefully on board by 2pm

 

[WishUponAStarryNight]

Would love to hear from folks who have taken the bus with kids who need testing. What is the process since the testing seems to be set up in the parking garage? Thanks!

 

[ariel-and-eric]

I don't think that's correct. I'm also using the DCL bus from the Hyatt for my cruise. I completed my online check in yesterday and I was given boarding group 2 and told that I don't need a PAT. I'm not sailing concierge or anything fancy like that.

I got the same message from DCL. I have been watching videos of people who have stayed at the Hyatt and were in the lobby by 9:00.

 

[lanejudy]

Would love to hear from folks who have taken the bus with kids who need testing. What is the process since the testing seems to be set up in the parking garage? Thanks!

My understanding is there are 2 testing locations, depending on your mode of transportation for arrival. Those driving themselves and parking use the testing in the garage. Those arriving on shuttles or drop-off (Uber/towncar, etc.) use a testing location at ground-level.

 

[jimandshane]

Would love to hear from folks who have taken the bus with kids who need testing. What is the process since the testing seems to be set up in the parking garage? Thanks!

As we got off the bus, they scanned our QR code and split us into 2 lines. One line they walked to testing, and the other they walked directly into the terminal for check-in.

 

[TinkerMouse]

As we got off the bus, they scanned our QR code and split us into 2 lines. One line they walked to testing, and the other they walked directly into the terminal for check-in.

Was there social distancing on the bus? Did they skip a couple of seats between parties?

 

[jimandshane]

Was there social distancing on the bus? Did they skip a couple of seats between parties?

No -- they told us we could sit anywhere (and the bus was maybe 1/4 full).

Magical Express at the airport assigned us seats, but we also weren't distanced.

 

[kathi]

Does concierge need to get there when the podium opens to hold their place in line, or are they automatically on the first bus?

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Does concierge need to get there when the podium opens to hold their place in line, or are they automatically on the first bus?

Great question! And if the first bus leaves at 9:45 (earlier than those first cruises), does podium open at 9?