Check In and Check Out Questions

[mcgrawfan]

I am just wondering what all is involved in checking in on the ship. How is the luggage handled?? We are not coming from a Land portion, we are crusing first. We will be taking the Disney transportation from MCO.

I understand at check out to have a piece of carry on with us because the night before checkout we put the luggage outside the room. We will be taking Disney transportation back to MCO and then catch a bus to the Grand Floridian. How is the luggage handled at checkout. Also do we need to set up a time for the bus or is it first come first served?? Are there many Disney busses headed back to the airport??

 

[cjsmith]

When you arrive at the DCL terminal, there are porters who will take you bags for you. Make sure that your stateroom tags are on them, (they will come in your tickets). Carry on anything important and or breakable as well as your ID, camera, and bathing suit if you choose to swim prior to your luggage being delivered. You luggage will be delivered from about 1:00 on until 5:00 and place right outside your door in the hallway.
As far as the last night of the cruise goes, you will have to have your bags packed and outside in the hallway no later than 11:00 PM. Make sure you leave your pajamas and clothes for the next day in your cabin and have a bag to place your toilitries and pj's to carry off the ship.
I'm not sure how it works for you, but someone else will answer this properly. I'm sure that your bags will go straight onto Disney transportation the next day or something like that. Hopefully someone who has cruised this way can help you out.
Enjoy your cruise and Disney World!

 

[mcgrawfan]

Bump

 

[outahere]

If you're flying in the day of the cruise............ If you have your DCL tags on your luggage when you check in at your home airport, a DCL rep will get your luggage from baggage claim at the airport and put it on a truck going to the port, where it will be taken aboard the ship to your room. Otherwise you need to claim it and take it to the bus.

The last night you will need to have all your luggage, except carry-ons, in the hall. The next morning, you will go to the luggage pick up area in the terminal, find your luggage (very easy to do, the way they have it set up), go through customs and then outside the terminal. Your luggage cannot go straight onto the DCL bus, because you have to personally clear customs with it.

I think there are DCL buses that go directly from the port to the WDW resorts, without having to stop at MCO. Someone can confirm whether that is true, or you could give DCL a call and ask.

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

outahere's description matches my experience. On arrival at the port, you won't have to deal with the porters. As was mentioned, if you fly in on the morning of the cruise, the DCL reps will claim your luggage and transport it to the ship. Make sure you call (or have your travel agent call) and give them your flight arrival information, so that they know to go get your luggage (that is, if you booked your own air). In this case, you should put the cruise line's tags on the bag before checking them at your home airport.

If you fly in the night before, do not put the cruise luggage tags on your bags until after you have claimed them at MCO. On the morning of the cruise, you can meet with the DCL reps and check your luggage, it will be transferred to the ship separately from your bus. Your cruise docs should tell you where to meet the bus if you're flying in the night before. The docs should also give you instructions as to what to do with your bags and luggage tags.

I believe that some of the buses DO go to the resort, or at least this was the case at one time.