Check in For Magical Express if staying at Hyatt

[scootch]

Has been a few years since we went this route, is it still like 8am you can check in at Magical Express if you have paid for ground transfers to port? First bus leaves about 930 am if I recall??? Also, do you still leave your luggage in the room and they transport to Disney? Thanks.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Has been a few years since we went this route, is it still like 8am you can check in at Magical Express if you have paid for ground transfers to port? First bus leaves about 930 am if I recall??? Also, do you still leave your luggage in the room and they transport to Disney? Thanks.

First, a little clarity - Magic Express is the free shuttle service between WDW resorts and MCO. Transfers from MCO to port are DCL transfers.

You will fill out a paper to let the Hyatt know that there are bags to be picked up and transferred to the DCL truck. The DCL desk opens at 9:00. The DCL "desk" (actually a couple of podiums) is on one side of the terminal (across from the Magical Express check in) And the first bus departs when full (generally by 9:15).

 

[Weedy]

FYI- you don't do the check in for the cruise, get you key card, boarding #(to get on the ship) and such until you get to the Cruise Terminal at Port Canaveral.

 

[scootch]

FYI- you don't do the check in for the cruise, get you key card, boarding # and such until you get to the Cruise Terminal at Port Canaveral.

Last time we stayed at the Hyatt, we had to check in at DCL Desk though to get our number for which bus we take. Has this changed? Thanks.

 

[scootch]

FYI- you don't do the check in for the cruise, get you key card, boarding # and such until you get to the Cruise Terminal at Port Canaveral.

First, a little clarity - Magic Express is the free shuttle service between WDW resorts and MCO. Transfers from MCO to port are DCL transfers.

You will fill out a paper to let the Hyatt know that there are bags to be picked up and transferred to the DCL truck. The DCL desk opens at 9:00. The DCL "desk" (actually a couple of podiums) is on one side of the terminal (across from the Magical Express check in) And the first bus departs when full (generally by 9:15).

Ok thanks. Yes, I knew the difference, I just didn't recall a separate DCL desk. Doesn't open until 9? I do recall going down earlier, getting a number and was told what time to come back. Then we went and had breakfast. So this has changed? Thank you. This is our 7th cruise, but we only utilized the Hyatt twice before.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Ok thanks. Yes, I knew the difference, I just didn't recall a separate DCL desk. Doesn't open until 9? I do recall going down earlier, getting a number and was told what time to come back. Then we went and had breakfast. So this has changed? Thank you. This is our 7th cruise, but we only utilized the Hyatt twice before.

Well, last year, for our cruises, we arrived at the airport very early. We went down to where the check in is and waited. Shortly before 9 the CMs arrived and started setting up the ropes/podiums for check in. And announced about 8:50 that we could all start lining up. Check in (for the DCL transport) started just before 9, and we were on the bus and leaving about 9:10.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Ok thanks. Yes, I knew the difference, I just didn't recall a separate DCL desk. Doesn't open until 9? I do recall going down earlier, getting a number and was told what time to come back. Then we went and had breakfast. So this has changed? Thank you. This is our 7th cruise, but we only utilized the Hyatt twice before.

Well, last year, for our cruises, we arrived at the airport very early. We went down to where the check in is and waited. Shortly before 9 the CMs arrived and started setting up the ropes/podiums for check in. And announced about 8:50 that we could all start lining up. Check in (for the DCL transport) started just before 9, and we were on the bus and leaving about 9:10.

The process works just as PrincessShmoo mentioned. It changed in 12/2012 as my Mom and I were able to take advantage of actually checking in for the cruise at the MCO desk but that stopped. You aren't given any numbers now and as mentioned, they have podiums set up and it's first come first served and for us, they didn't open up the podiums to allow people in line for the DCL transfers until 9:00am. Most people try and line up according to when you got there or where you are sitting but don't count on that. The busses leave as soon as they are full so first one should be around 9:15am.

Heather

 

[LoveKermit]

To clarify, you just have to be at the DCL transfer desk, but you could come from any hotel (or even the airport)? We have a free Marriott night and just want to transfer back to MCO. This is all with pre-arranged transfers, right? When you purchase a transfer in the time before the cruise, are you assigned a bus departure time? Or is it just a ticket to get on a bus? Are they prepared at 9:00 with 2 or 3 buses ready to go? DH hates when he has to wait for something he paid for (especially if times are included). If I can buy a ticket at the desk, what's the point of pre-arrangement? Or is that the only way to go from MCO to the port?

Thanks.

 

[lanejudy]

To clarify, you just have to be at the DCL transfer desk, but you could come from any hotel (or even the airport)? We have a free Marriott night and just want to transfer back to MCO. This is all with pre-arranged transfers, right? When you purchase a transfer in the time before the cruise, are you assigned a bus departure time? Or is it just a ticket to get on a bus? Are they prepared at 9:00 with 2 or 3 buses ready to go? DH hates when he has to wait for something he paid for (especially if times are included). If I can buy a ticket at the desk, what's the point of pre-arrangement? Or is that the only way to go from MCO to the port?

Thanks.

Yes, you can come from any hotel or airline flight or private residence if you living/staying in the general Orlando vicinity. You check-in for DCL Transfers at the desk at the airport, same area as the Magical Express.

I believe you can walk up to the DCL Transfers desk to purchase pre-cruise transfers on the spot and have it charged to your onboard account. There are no "tickets" or assigned buses or assigned departure times. Buses fill on a first-come/first-served basis starting around 9:00am (first departure 9:15/9:30 when full) until sometime mid-afternoon. There does tend to be a line at 9am or prior, and I supposed if a bus just filled and pulled out when you get there you might have a short wait for the next bus to arrive; however you do not have to wait for that same vehicle to go to the port and back, there will be others coming along shortly. I can't guarantee ANYTHING will be "no wait" -- you may have a short wait at the port terminal to check-in as well once you arrive, and depending on arrival/check-in time you may also wait to board the ship. To avoid much wait at the terminal, arriving around 12:30/12:45 is sort of a "sweet spot" after the initial rush has boarded and before the buses start arriving from WDW. And just to clarify since your DH doesn't like to wait when times are assigned -- your PAT is a port arrival time, not a boarding time; your boarding number will be assigned when you check-in on arrival at the port.

Alternative transportation from MCO to the port includes limo/private car service or a rental car. You do not have to take DCL Transfers.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Weedy]

FYI- if your husband doesn't like to wait you may want to get to the port a little later. Because if you have s 10:30-10:45 PAT they don't even start boarding the ship until 11:15-11:30. The port is very crowded and the lines are long.
As PP said if you arrive about 12:30 the sweet spot there are little to no lines in the terminal and you can usually walk right on the ship.

 

[LoveKermit]

We're good waiting at the port. It's when we pay ahead of time and we don't get on a bus ahead of the people who just walk up. It's a principle thing for him. He will be fine once he's at the port. It's not our first cruise, just first from Canaveral and flying into Orlando. Our other DCL was Miami.

 

[bumbershoot]

t's when we pay ahead of time and we don't get on a bus ahead of the people who just walk up.

And you get now that there's no "boarding pass" for the bus, that you sign in and when they tell you to go to the bus, you go. And you wait until it's full and then you go.