DCL Ground Transportation from port to airport worth it?

[Mrs_dee]

Hello, first time cruiser here:

How did you guys get home from your cruise port to the airport - Disney’s ground transportation or another company? If different company, can you kindly share the link? We’ll be coming from Port of Miami going to MIA airport.

We’re not planning to bring car seats for our small children (4 and 6), so the Disney shuttle makes sense... I heard Uber/Lyft offer car seat options but not definite... any other shuttle service you guys have used? Thank you in advance!!

 

[Canadian Girl]

We almost always use Disney transportation. I find it convenient and easy to find. The cost really isn't much different than other means of transportation a lot of the time.

 

[Mrs_dee]

We almost always use Disney transportation. I find it convenient and easy to find. The cost really isn't much different than other means of transportation a lot of the time.

Do you have small children as well that still need car seats that’s why you almost always use the Disney transportation? Also, did you ever utilize Disney’s online onboard check in where they directly check in your bags instead of taking them directly at the airline counter... I wonder if people encountered losing their bags that way or not really Thanks!

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

Also, did you ever utilize Disney’s online onboard check in where they directly check in your bags instead of taking them directly at the airline counter... I wonder if people encountered losing their bags that way or not really

Yes, we use Onboard Airline check-in and love it. No, DCL has never mishandled our luggage.

 

[mevelandry]

We have tried Go Port Canaveral and they were much more affordable (15$/pp each way) and very efficient.

The only « downside » if there is one is that you may not be their first stop but other than that, they are great.

 

[mmackeymouse]

We have tried Go Port Canaveral and they were much more affordable (15$/pp each way) and very efficient.

The only « downside » if there is one is that you may not be their first stop but other than that, they are great.

I am assuming that by going through them, you would have to go to baggage claim to get your luggage?

Also, do they handle the luggage-to-porter part of it at the port or do you get your own luggage and take care of it?

 

[Dug720]

Yes, we use Onboard Airline check-in and love it. No, DCL has never mishandled our luggage.

I have only used it a couple of times as I tend to go carry-on only, but I also had no issues using it.

To be fair, though, IF a piece of luggage gets lost it is more likely to be on the airline’s end.

 

[mevelandry]

I am assuming that by going through them, you would have to go to baggage claim to get your luggage?

Also, do they handle the luggage-to-porter part of it at the port or do you get your own luggage and take care of it?

Yes, you have to take care of your own luggage.

 

[JPTexan82]

Go put my luggage out the night before and not see them until I get back to Texas is worth it. You walk off the boat, the 10 min wait at customs and you walk right to the bus. I’m. It so worried about getting my boarding passes. I book a later flight on purpose. When I get in the bus to gauge how busy it is, I will switch my flight to the earlier flight via my AA app.

 

[Mrs_dee]

How do you kill time with a later flight?

 

[DCLObsessed]

For us, taking the Disney Transportation is worth it - less worry, check in is done for us on-board, luggage is taken care of. I don't want to end the cruise with stress so for us, this is a good solution. There is an exception to this, when we've cruised out of Puerto Rico we take a cab to the airport as we have had plans before our flights.

 

[SL6827]

I watched Adam Hattan's cruise video today and he went and scheduled the Disney transport back to the airport through because the Uber driver who dropped them off at the port, from a Disney resort, quoted him an insane amount to take them back to the airport after they would have gotten off the ship. Surge pricing perhaps?

 

[Mrs_dee]

Was wondering though, if we use Disney transportation, since they’ll be handling our checked in bags - can we leave the airport after Disney drops us off then take Lyft to eat around the area since our flight is later in the afternoon... thoughts?

 

[DCLObsessed]

Was wondering though, if we use Disney transportation, since they’ll be handling our checked in bags - can we leave the airport after Disney drops us off then take Lyft to eat around the area since our flight is later in the afternoon... thoughts?

Sure, if you've got ample time. Miami is incredibly busy though and I would caution you to plan more time to get back than you think necessary. In fact depending on how much time you had to wait for your flight you might actually spend a good chunk of your time sitting in traffic. My personal preference would be to find one of the sit down restaurants at the airport, have an unhurried meal, and then peruse the shops, etc. before going through security. I don't know how familiar you are with Miami but the traffic can be insane (again it all depends on how you hit it). Bayside Marketplace (not too far from port and short ride from MIA) has great shopping and dining choices. Whatever you decide, enjoy your trip!

 

[Mrs_dee]

Sure, if you've got ample time. Miami is incredibly busy though and I would caution you to plan more time to get back than you think necessary. In fact depending on how much time you had to wait for your flight you might actually spend a good chunk of your time sitting in traffic. My personal preference would be to find one of the sit down restaurants at the airport, have an unhurried meal, and then peruse the shops, etc. before going through security. I don't know how familiar you are with Miami but the traffic can be insane (again it all depends on how you hit it). Bayside Marketplace (not too far from port and short ride from MIA) has great shopping and dining choices. Whatever you decide, enjoy your trip!

Thanks for the quick reply! our flight is at 3:30 pm... let’s say the Disney bus leaves Port around 9:30 am (do we get to pick what time we disembark? I’m hoping to stay on the ship at 9 am the latest you can stay I heard) - get to the airport within an hour depending on traffic... the Bayside Marketplace for an hour or two should be ok before we go through TSA line around 1:30 Pm?just want to spend more time in Miami before heading home

 

[Dug720]

Thanks for the quick reply! our flight is at 3:30 pm... let’s say the Disney bus leaves Port around 9:30 am (do we get to pick what time we disembark? I’m hoping to stay on the ship at 9 am the latest you can stay I heard) - get to the airport within an hour depending on traffic... the Bayside Marketplace for an hour or two should be ok before we go through TSA line around 1:30 Pm?just want to spend more time in Miami before heading home

Your debarkation is tied to your seating. If you have early dining, you have early breakfast and leave after that. If you have late seating, you have slightly later breakfast and leave after that. Yes, people will tell you go to Cabanas, but you are asked to be out of your cabin by 8 at the latest. Remember that everyone waiting to get on is just as excited as you were and that cannot even begin to get ready to start until the ship is zeroed out, meaning all passengers are disembarked.

You also have to clear customs, which in Miami can take a while, even with the smaller ships.

If you are taking the Disney transportation to the airport, remember that you will then have the travel time from the airport to Miami, which can also take a while.

You say you want to spend more time in Miami, but by wanting to stay on the ship as long as possible, you're decreasing that available time, so you're kind of contradicting yourself.

MIA is a huge airport. I have PreCheck, and I would not even be comfortable starting the line as close as 2 hours before. 1pm would be the absolute latest I would dare.

 

[Mrs_dee]

I meant spend time in Miami (outside the airport) while waiting for my flight, even for a short while. We have main seating so I guess our disembarkation is at 8 am the latest like you said. And the reason we’re considering DCL transportation to the airport so we don’t have to haul our checked bags around Miami (just our backpacks) so after airport (probably past 9 am), Uber to Bayside Marketplace (thanks for the suggestion) for some more food and souvenir shopping then back to airport by 1 Pm the latest so leave the marketplace around 12 noon, doable?

 

[DCLObsessed]

So essentially you want to pay for the Disney Transfer just to get your bags to the airport. If you are going to do as you describe I think I would just arrange an Uber/Lyft from the Port and save yourself the hassle of riding to the airport to just get into a Uber/Lyft to return to basically the same area you just left on the bus. Your bags do not go on the same bus as you - they are transported separately so I don't see any reason you couldn't head to Bayside from the port. Disney doesn't care if you aren't using a bus that you've paid for. I have TSA PreCheck and have been thankful for that at MIA. It's not always like that but I would give yourself extra time....no later than 1:00 at the airport. I've never actually done this (paying for transport to solely transport the luggage) so someone else may see a flaw in this scenario and weigh in here.

 

[bumbershoot]

You say you want to spend more time in Miami, but by wanting to stay on the ship as long as possible, you're decreasing that available time, so you're kind of contradicting yourself.

agreed.

Miami is huge.
Traffic there is insane and not to be underestimated.

The bayshore I'm looking at is 11 miles away and right now 37 minutes according to google maps. Doing that twice between leaving the airport after the Disney bus gets you there, and walking in that airport BY 1pm doesn’t yield much time for fun.

far better to see if you can change your flight to another day for more time there. Or just schedule another trip to Miami. For me the stress and low benefit combine to a nope.

 

[mevelandry]

How do you kill time with a later flight?

A "day stay" at the Hyatt?

EDIT: I'm sorry, I thought you were flying from Orlando.

I'd probably spend the day in Miami Beach.