DCL transfers to Port Canaveral.

[Cruisin]

We have done many Disney Cruises but this is the first time we are looking at the possibility of taking transfers to the terminal by way of the DCL Ground Transportation.

My question is this: Does everyone get transferred to the port on one of those fancy Disney Cruise Line themed buses or do they sometimes use some plain old boring normal buses for some groups?

Just wanting to know what to possibly expect so no one is disappointed.

 

[jdb in AZ]

We have done many Disney Cruises but this is the first time we are looking at the possibility of taking transfers to the terminal by way of the DCL Ground Transportation.

My question is this: Does everyone get transferred to the port on one of those fancy Disney Cruise Line themed buses or do they sometimes use some plain old boring normal buses for some groups?

Just wanting to know what to possibly expect so no one is disappointed.

It would depend on how many passengers book the transfers. We've been on both the cruise-themed buses and the normal buses. (Why be normal?)

 

[Cruisin]

It would depend on how many passengers book the transfers. We've been on both the cruise-themed buses and the normal buses. (Why be normal?)

Exactly, I don't want to be normal.

I definitely want to go on the fancy DCL bus if I am going to take their shuttle service.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Exactly, I don't want to be normal.

I definitely want to go on the fancy DCL bus if I am going to take their shuttle service.

We felt more "magical" with a limo service. Orlando has several.

 

[FastPasser.]

Not sure if this will make any difference but just like the now gone Magical Express, those fancy buses are operated and maintained by a third party bus company, Mears, not Disney. And the drivers are not Disney cast members.

 

[Cruisin]

We felt more "magical" with a limo service. Orlando has several.

That is the option on the top of our list at the moment.

We have 10 people so we would need a really "Magical" limo!

Just considering all of the options.

 

[Cruisin]

Not sure if this will make any difference but just like the now gone Magical Express, those fancy buses are operated and maintained by a third party bus company, Mears, not Disney. And the drivers are not Disney cast members.

It is not really important to me who owns or drives them.

Just thought the kids might think it was cool to go on fancy Disney bus.

 

[Cruisin]

Thanks for the input so far. I appreciate all of your help.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We have 10 people

Generally, for parties of over 4, private transfers are less costly.

 

[mmouse37]

We just did round trip DCL transfers to the port from Coronado Springs Resort and from the port to MCO. Our cruise was March 4 to the 11th, 2023.

On the way to the port they needed 2 buses for the amount of people staying at Ak/CSR. Both buses were regular Academy buses.

On the way back from the port to the airport we had the DCL themed bus.

It is hit or miss. I am still glad we did the transfers from the resort as originally we had a PAT of 12:00 and a boarding group of 15 but when we booked the transfers it changed to 11:00 am with a boarding group of 3.

Luggage was picked up around 7:20 am from our rooms and we met the DCL rep in the lobby at 8:45am. Bus actually left the resort around 9:40 (one bus picked up first at AKL and the other filled with just CSR people. We arrived at the port before 11:00. Waited in the security line for about 15 minutes. Boarding started around 11:40 ish.




MJ

 

[Cruisin]

We just did round trip DCL transfers to the port from Coronado Springs Resort and from the port to MCO. Our cruise was March 4 to the 11th, 2023.

On the way to the port they needed 2 buses for the amount of people staying at Ak/CSR. Both buses were regular Academy buses.

On the way back from the port to the airport we had the DCL themed bus.

It is hit or miss. I am still glad we did the transfers from the resort as originally we had a PAT of 12:00 and a boarding group of 15 but when we booked the transfers it changed to 11:00 am with a boarding group of 3.

Luggage was picked up around 7:20 am from our rooms and we met the DCL rep in the lobby at 8:45am. Bus actually left the resort around 9:40 (one bus picked up first at AKL and the other filled with just CSR people. We arrived at the port before 11:00. Waited in the security line for about 15 minutes. Boarding started around 11:40 ish.

I appreciate all of your information. Thanks.

 

[gilsan]

When we used DCL transfers from Coronado Springs it was in a non-DCL bus. We arrived there early and that was all I really cared about once I was on the bus.

 

[auntlynne]

 

[FastPasser.]

For nearly $800, those Disney buses need to be pretty magical, too.

Plus tip. Unlike bus drivers at WDW, Mears drivers accept tips.

 

[scrappinginontario]

We took DCL transportation from ASMovies last month and also back to the airport. On the way to the port it was a regular bus and on the way back it was a DCL bus. Honestly, we were so excited to be going to the port, we didn't care about what it looked like on the outside. We were still given excellent service and the Disney movies/trivia still played inside the bus.

If you want a guarantee that you will get a DCL bus, nobody can give that.

 

[Cruisin]

If you want a guarantee that you will get a DCL bus, nobody can give that.

Just asking for other's experiences and to gather information. Not expecting any guarantees.

 

[iZon]

If doing DCL transfer from airport Does PAT matter? Or is it first come / first serve for boarding buses?

 

[lanejudy]

If doing DCL transfer from airport Does PAT matter? Or is it first come / first serve for boarding buses?

You can board the bus, first-come/first-served. However once you arrive at the port you may need to wait for your PAT before entering the terminal.

 

[Ensusieasm]

We have done many Disney Cruises but this is the first time we are looking at the possibility of taking transfers to the terminal by way of the DCL Ground Transportation.

My question is this: Does everyone get transferred to the port on one of those fancy Disney Cruise Line themed buses or do they sometimes use some plain old boring normal buses for some groups?

Just wanting to know what to possibly expect so no one is disappointed.

I just took DCL bus round trip from Disney’s Old Key West Resort. The bus to the port was an outside contractor, Academy, bus. The bus from the port was a Disney Cruiseline bus. Both were playing Disney videos, but the Academy bus driver was also listening to a political radio talk show that was VERY obnoxious and distracting. I could hear every inflammatory word of this radio talk show above the Disney videos.

 

[Ensusieasm]

. Duplicate post deleted