DCL bus to resort without reservation - bag storage and ecv rental

[Wosmama6]

Hi there, we disembark April 18. Will this plan work?
Pay for DCL transfer to skyliner resort (CMs have confirmed that reservation isn't required to book transfer)
Store bags at bell services
Pick up ecv rental in lobby
Skyliner to HS
Skyliner back to resort
Pick up bags, car service
Pm flight

We would just rent a car and drive to the park but we are concerned about the park being sold out of ecvs by the time we get there.

 

[happycamper47]

I didn't think that the resort would accept the ECV unless you had a room reservation since they are dropped off at Bell Services as well. Of course things may have changed.

 

[Dug720]

(CMs have confirmed that reservation isn't required to book transfer)

This is the first I have EVER heard of this. Methinks it's a case of the phone CMs not knowing what they are talking about. I have never heard of anyone being able to take a bus to a WDW resort without a reservation.

 

[Wosmama6]

Delete

 

[Wosmama6]

Methinks it's a case of the phone CMs not knowing what they are talking about.

Lol this happens too often and was my worry as well

 

[dcassetta]

I think all three elements are a no-go without a resort reservation
DCL will not book the transfer
ECV will not be dropped
Resort will not hold your bags

I do not know how often the parks run out of ECVs. Would it be possible for the person who needs assistance to use a standard wheelchair instead, as those are available to rent also.

 

[lanejudy]

I answered on your other thread, but here's a few thoughts...

• depending on transportation plans and ECV rental, you might only manage 4 hours in the park, maybe a little longer but not like a whole day
• unless you rent a vehicle, you will be paying approx. double in transportation
• a 1-day ECV rental can be hard to reserve because most vendors have a 2-day minimum, and if you do find one that's probably $50 for a few hours
• a 1-day base park ticket for April 18th is $144+tax, even if you manage a 6-hour day is it worth that much; and at the moment only EPCOT has theme park reservations available that day, so to go to DHS after 2pm would require hoppers at $209+tax per person
• rushing around post-cruise sounds like an exhausting way to end vacation

 

[Akck]

This is the first I have EVER heard of this. Methinks it's a case of the phone CMs not knowing what they are talking about. I have never heard of anyone being able to take a bus to a WDW resort without a reservation.

I saw a vlog where they did this Pre-Covid. They took DCL transportation to the Boardwalk, checked their bags and I think went to Epcot before flying home to Great Britain that evening.

 

[Wosmama6]

yeah see it makes sense. and since you did a DCL, paid for Disney transport and are paying for park tickets i wouldn't thinkthey'd be super stingy about holding a couple bags for the day. but i could be wrong

 

[Dug720]

I saw a vlog where they did this Pre-Covid. They took DCL transportation to the Boardwalk, checked their bags and I think went to Epcot before flying home to Great Britain that evening.

Interesting. I'm very curious what lies they told to get that transfer booked because you're not supposed to be able to book to WDW without a resort reservation.

 

[Akck]

Interesting. I'm very curious what lies they told to get that transfer booked because you're not supposed to be able to book to WDW without a resort reservation.

As far as I could tell, they were truthful, saying they wanted to spend the day at the parks before their flight. As far as Disney is concerned, that just means more guests who’ll be spending more money on property. This was pre-Covid, so things may be different now.

 

[Dug720]

As far as I could tell, they were truthful, saying they wanted to spend the day at the parks before their flight. As far as Disney is concerned, that just means more guests who’ll be spending more money on property. This was pre-Covid, so things may be different now.

Even pre-COVID transfers to the resort required a reservation. I guess it's possible that they had had one and then things changed? But it's not how it's supposed to go or how I've ever heard of anyone else doing it.

 

[Akck]

Even pre-COVID transfers to the resort required a reservation. I guess it's possible that they had had one and then things changed? But it's not how it's supposed to go or how I've ever heard of anyone else doing it.

All I can add is that for our cruise in May (BTW, this same as yours), we originally were scheduled to be dropped off at MCO. We booked a after cruise stay at OKW, so our TA changed. Our drop off to there. As far as I remember, we didn’t give any reservation info to our TA for the stay and she was able to change it.

 

[ambula603]

We sail in less than a week. Our return flights changed pretty drastically and our TA was able to get our Ground Transportation changed from MCO to Old Key West, and we do NOT have a reservation there. That being said, we will have stayed there 3 nights before the cruise as DVC guests. Our TA also confirmed that they would hold our luggage for us while we spend the day at Disney Springs.

I would call and confirm this with management at the resort, that is what our TA did. I will report back after our trip.