Consider the likely dates of the
MVMCP (or whatever it will be in 2022). In 2019 the first few dates were: November: 8, 11, 12.
There will not be magical movement of your luggage throughout as you describe. Based on our experience with multiple
DCL cruises bookended by WDW resort stays, and assuming they don't change things post-covid, this is what you can expect:
You can purchase ground transfers from DCL. The cost $39 per person for each direction. They will take you WDW hotel to port and port to WDW hotel. Travel is on a highway coach with other guests from your hotel and possibly other WDW hotels.
The last afternoon/evening of your pre-resort stay, you will receive a letter under your hotel room door advising you of the process that will take place the next day to get you to the port. It will provide instructions on what to do with your checked luggage and where and when to meet the DCL representative to check in for the bus to transfer to the port.
You will put the luggage tags DCL mailed to you on the bags you want DCL to transfer to the ship for you [your "checked bags"]. In the morning, you will leave these bags INSIDE your room near the entranceway [the letter will provide instructions], away from any other bags you have, by a certain time -- for us it has always been by 8 am. Around that designated time, someone from Bell Services will come around and collect those tagged checked bags. The next time you will see them is that afternoon/evening on the ship outside your stateroom door !
For yourselves and any carryon bags you have, you will present yourselves and them at the designated time and meeting place and meet up with the DCL rep and everyone from your hotel who is on your cruise. You will get checked in and wait a bit and then as a group you will board the bus. Note that on the bus the overhead space is very tiny so a carry-on size suitcase will have to be stowed under the bus. A personal item MIGHT fit in the overhead, otherwise it could go under your feet (literally - there is no underseat space) or on your lap.
When you arrive at the port you will gather your carryon items (remember any that were carried under the bus or in the overhead!) and make your way into the terminal. You will go through security and then up into the terminal to check in.
Since you will be in concierge you will be able to wait in the concierge lounge until boarding starts.
Checked baggage starts showing up outside stateroom doors in the afternoon into the evening.
For the departing the ship:
You will receive a letter with instructions.
The last night, you are instructed to leave your labeled checked bags in the hallway outside your stateroom by a certain time (usually about 10 pm). They will be taken and you will not see them again until the next morning. It is therefore important that you set aside clothes for the next day and anything you may need for overnight/the next morning and not pack them in your checked bags !
In the morning if you decide to eat in the main dining room you will eat at a designated time [much earlier than the normal breakfast times]. You will have to be out of your room by a specified time [about 8 am]. You will take yourself and your carryon baggage with you off the ship.
There will be instructions on when to be off the ship to get the buses to the resorts. When you get off, you will enter a large hall in the terminal where everyone's checked baggage is located. You will have to find your baggage [they gave you tags to put on the bags that are both colour coded and have a disney character on them and the bags are arranged by those colour/characters to make it easier). There are porters in the hall you can hire to help you - I find them very efficient in locating our baggage and they are much better at hauling it that we are !
Once you find your checked bags you get in line for Customs/Immigration. This line can be long but is steady-moving. Once you clear Customs you follow the signs to exit the building and go to the DCL buses to WDW. You will be assigned a bus going to your resort - it may also go to one or more other resorts. Your checked and larger carryon bags will be put under the bus. These are the same kind of buses you arrived on.
You may have to wait a while on the bus until it has everyone on it is is supposed to. We've waited as long as 20 minutes. Your resort may not be the first resort it stops at - we've had as many as 3 stops before ours.
When you get to your stop, make sure they unload any bags you have that are under the bus.
If you need help from Bell Services to get your bags into the resort, you may get luck and someone will be there meeting the bus, or you may be like we have found most times and you have to go get someone from bell services to come and help [rather annoying.... you would think they would proactively meet the bus to see if anyone needs assistance... but apparently not...]. Fortunately, the bus lets off near or beside the port cocherre so it is not too far to go get someone. There being more than one of you means someone can stay with the bags while someone goes to get assistance. Worst case, you may actually have to go inside the building to the bell services desk for assistance [we have had to do this].
Bell services will load whichever bags you want onto a luggage cart and keep them until they are ready to be delivered to your room. They will give you a tag - keep it!.
Once you are checked in and actually in your room and ready for your bags to be delivered, call bell services and let them know you would like your bags delivered to your room. Make sure to ask how long they think it will take so you have an idea how long the wait will be. They will deliver them to you and bring them into the room.
So, not seamless as you will be doing some of the bag-handling. But fairly easy to navigate.
SW
