DCL Ground Transfer info needed

[Trera]

I am looking for someone that has ridden the Disney transfer bus recently from the airport to Port Canaveral that can answer the following:

1. What time does the first bus leave MCO?
2. When you arrive, can you enter directly into the terminal?
3. Is this usually prior to everyone else entering the terminal?
4. How early does the first bus leave on disembarkation day?

Thank you.

 

[Dug720]

I am looking for someone that has ridden the Disney transfer bus recently from the airport to Port Canaveral that can answer the following:

1. What time does the first bus leave MCO?
2. When you arrive, can you enter directly into the terminal?
3. Is this usually prior to everyone else entering the terminal?
4. How early does the first bus leave on disembarkation day?

Thank you.

1) They usually start loading at 9am and depart when it is filled and people are seated (usually 9:15 or so).
2) Yes. If you're too early and/or there was a delay getting people off the previous cruise and/or out of the terminal they may hold you on the bus until it was cleared for entry.
3) Assuming the bus didn't hit traffic or anything getting there, usually yes. Other than B2B people of course.*
4) Not a clue.

*Please note however that your boarding group will remain as it was scheduled based on your PAT. I was on the first bus a couple of years ago, and a family that was on that bus had a much later PAT and received a really high boarding group. When they asked, the agent explained that the number was based on their scheduled port arrival time. Now, there have been a few people report that their check-in agent seemed to change something, but this one did not for this family. Whether they're really not supposed to or it's at their discretion (the father was pretty loud about it, so it's possible the agent COULD have changed it but based on his attitude she chose not to) I don't know.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I am looking for someone that has ridden the Disney transfer bus recently from the airport to Port Canaveral that can answer the following:

1. What time does the first bus leave MCO?
2. When you arrive, can you enter directly into the terminal?
3. Is this usually prior to everyone else entering the terminal?
4. How early does the first bus leave on disembarkation day?

Thank you.

4. As soon as it's full. It's difficult to say when that would be, but most likely by 8:00 at the latest would be the first bus (probably earlier). They start loading the buses for the airport as soon as the ship is cleared for debarkation.

 

[bonnielynn]

4. How early does the first bus leave on disembarkation day?

I was told the first bus was 7:15 a.m., and we got off the boat at 7:45 and the bus was almost full. We were the last of the people to get on.

 

[Trera]

1) They usually start loading at 9am and depart when it is filled and people are seated (usually 9:15 or so).
2) Yes. If you're too early and/or there was a delay getting people off the previous cruise and/or out of the terminal they may hold you on the bus until it was cleared for entry.
3) Assuming the bus didn't hit traffic or anything getting there, usually yes. Other than B2B people of course.*
4) Not a clue.

*Please note however that your boarding group will remain as it was scheduled based on your PAT. I was on the first bus a couple of years ago, and a family that was on that bus had a much later PAT and received a really high boarding group. When they asked, the agent explained that the number was based on their scheduled port arrival time. Now, there have been a few people report that their check-in agent seemed to change something, but this one did not for this family. Whether they're really not supposed to or it's at their discretion (the father was pretty loud about it, so it's possible the agent COULD have changed it but based on his attitude she chose not to) I don't know.

Thank you for the info.

We are platinum, so boarding group isnt a concern anymore.

 

[Dug720]

Thank you for the info.

We are platinum, so boarding group isnt a concern anymore.

Ok. I didn't know so I figured better to act as for a first-time cruiser. Just in case.

 

[jrabbit]

I thought that if you took DCL transportation to the Port that PAT didn't matter. You would get a low boarding number regardless of the PAT you got during online booking.

 

[Dug720]

I thought that if you took DCL transportation to the Port that PAT didn't matter. You would get a low boarding number regardless of the PAT you got during online booking.

I think there have been reports that those at the Hyatt MCO who booked through DCL do not. But AFAIK anyone else doing DCL transfers from MCO DO have to select a time.

 

[lanejudy]

I thought that if you took DCL transportation to the Port that PAT didn't matter. You would get a low boarding number regardless of the PAT you got during online booking.

That was correct at one time. It has varied over the years. A few years ago PAT was a moot point if taking DCL transfers, as they would assign your boarding number at check-in. But in recent years, they have based boarding number on the PAT not actual check-in time, so those with a later PAT would still get a higher boarding number even if arriving on the first DCL bus from MCO. It seems to be hit-or-miss whether those booked at the Hyatt MCO by DCL will need to select a PAT at all. Best advice -- if the PAT page is available when you do online check-in, select a PAT.

 

[tjlitzi]

How does DCL know you have a Hyatt res? We did the Hyatt once but it was years ago and I don't remember a place to tell DCL that we were staying there.

 

[Dug720]

How does DCL know you have a Hyatt res? We did the Hyatt once but it was years ago and I don't remember a place to tell DCL that we were staying there.

Unless you booked it THROUGH them, they don't. So you'd just select your PAT as usual if you have transportation from MCO. And take your luggage to the truck provided.

 

[tjlitzi]

Ah, we booked it outside of DCL since I used the certificate to get a better rate. They did take our luggage straight to the boat though from the Hyatt since we were using ME as transportation.