DCL bus transfer question

[jane115]

Hello! I'm planning to stay at a non-disney resort the night before my disney cruise departure. The travel agent was willing to pre-book my dcl bus transfer and said that if I get myself to a specific disney resort the morning of, i can get onto a disney cruise line bus to get to port canaveral. Has anyone successfully gotten a DCL bus transfer without staying on disney property the night before? I'm worried that since i'm not actually staying on disney property that there will be some mix up with me getting on the bus. How will I get my magical express bus information letter the night before?

 

[jdb in AZ]

Hello! I'm planning to stay at a non-disney resort the night before my disney cruise departure. The travel agent was willing to pre-book my dcl bus transfer and said that if I get myself to a specific disney resort the morning of, i can get onto a disney cruise line bus to get to port canaveral. Has anyone successfully gotten a DCL bus transfer without staying on disney property the night before? I'm worried that since i'm not actually staying on disney property that there will be some mix up with me getting on the bus. How will I get my magical express bus information letter the night before?

How close will you be staying to MCO? It would be simpler to just catch the transfer bus there, so you wouldn't have to worry about getting to a WDW hotel in time.

Also, depending on the size of your travel group, it may be cheaper to just hire a limo service. Check Happy Limo's web site and use a discount coupon from Mouse Savers.

Or you could rent a car and drop it off at the port.

 

[lanejudy]

I have never heard of a guest taking the DCL resort transfer if not staying at a WDW resort. I'd be worried that you would 1) not know the right time and/or 2) not be expected and the bus is full. Then you'd be stuck arranging last minute transportation. I agree with jdb that you'd be better off going to MCO for the DCL transfer or making other plans.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[jane115]

I will be staying at the Four Seasons Orlando which is nearby the Magic Kingdom. The price estimate for a private car service from the hotel to port canaveral is $220. The cost for four of us to go on the DCL bus would be $140. I was just thinking the Dcl bus would be a better deal but yes, i am worried about things going wrong. It would be terrible if the bus was already full or I didn't get the time right! I'll look at Happy Limo's website and check out the coupon. Thanks for both of your suggestions!

 

[Woth2982]

Have you looked into a one way car rental? That is what we are doing.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I have never heard of a guest taking the DCL resort transfer if not staying at a WDW resort. I'd be worried that you would 1) not know the right time and/or 2) not be expected and the bus is full. Then you'd be stuck arranging last minute transportation. I agree with jdb that you'd be better off going to MCO for the DCL transfer or making other plans.

Enjoy your cruise!

The DCL needs to know who is going to the port, from what resorts. That's how they schedule what time the bus picks up at any given resort, and how many resorts that particular bus will stop at. There's no way to let them know that a party, staying off-site, will be coming from a resort they haven't stayed at.

The buses aren't just on a loop and people get on them when they want to go.