disney cruise line buses

[dvcspain]

hello!!!!

i would like to know if somebody has take the disney buses from the airport?

how long do you take to arrive to cape canaveral?

what time they are leaving? i think at 10 am but i want to be sure and know when i'm going to be there at the port

thank you very much!!!!!!!!

 

[samoyed]

It takes 45 mintes to the Port from the Airport. They have TV's with what to expect on the ship... Basically a Promo Video... but it is nice to see.

 

[invaderzim]

We have only taken the DCL buses once -- but that was after staying overnight at the airport in the Hyatt. The Hyatt has it's own format for DCL guests and you meet in their lobby and they take you to the DCL buses. We got on the first bus leaving at 9:45 a.m. and were at the port by 10:45. It's only an hour away (with good traffic).

I know that the LAST bus from the airport is at around 1 p.m. If you miss that one, then you have to take other transportation to the port. You must be onboard by 4 p.m.

 

[WDWLVR]

We've taken them from the airport. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic. I think they start leaving the airport about 9:30 but I could be wrong on that. I know they have a line and when they fill up one bus they start loading another.

 

[dvcspain]

disney told me about 10 am but you are talking about earlier

so it's better if i go there at 9,30 am,am i right?

 

[PinClubs]

Depending on the size of your party you may consider renting a towncar.

I have looked into the buses a few times, but they don't make sense for my family of four.

Disney (last I checked) charges $25 per person. I can get a towncar to take us from WDW to Port Canaveral for around $100 - $120. The reverse is of course the same price.

The car picks us up at our resort or the port and drives us directly to where we need to go. We don't have to worry about the bus schedule, waiting for everyone to get on board the bus, or where the bus is going to drop us off. The bus more than likely won't be going directly to the resort you are staying at.

A towncar is much easier and for the most part not much more.

Just another avenue to consider,

Jeff

 

[MamaQuack]

INVADERZIM,
This will be our 1st experience staying overnight at the Hyatt. Do we "HAVE" to leave at a certain time or can we take a later bus?
We are not "early" risers while on vacation and don't care that much about getting to the ship so early, especially if our cabin is not ready. Thanks.

MamaQuack

 

[randytenn]

We paid $45 each round trip for our transfers last week.

The buses are nice, comfortable, and good transportation. Plus, a DCL rep will meet you at the exit area from your airline. We've used transfers 3 times, and never had a problem.

 

[invaderzim]

Originally posted by MamaQuack
Do we "HAVE" to leave at a certain time or can we take a later bus? We are not "early" risers while on vacation and don't care that much about getting to the ship so early, especially if our cabin is not ready. MamaQuack [/B]

Call the Hyatt's # directly in Orlando and ask when their last bus is. I'm not sure if they just have a certain amount that leave during the hour or not. Since they know from when you check in how many will be taking the DCL buses, they may plan it that you are all out of the hotel by a certain time. Also, it may depend on check-out time.

I know that when we stayed there, they were very efficient. You go down and check in with the reps and they give you the name of the bus you will be on and then when they call that bus, you all get escorted down to the exit. We saw huge U-Hauls at the entrance loading everyone's luggage for the Cruise. You only take the carryons onto the bus with you.

If I remember right, they also had juice and coffee and danish for those waiting for their buses. It was a beautiful lobby and the convenience can't be beat!

 

[Cheryl592000]

Definetly take the DCL buses. No driving hastle, no getting lost. The 45 min. ride goes by pretty quickly when you are watching the video. It gets your Disney blood pumping when you see what you will be doing. Makes the time go fast. Then when you get close to Port Canaveral, you see the massive Disney ship. Brings tears to your eyes. It is very exciting!!

 

[drclaws]

I didn't notice any refreshments in the waiting area a week ago, but then again we had just had a large buffet in the restaurant. We were checking in just as the first bus limit was reached (Pluto) so we ended up on the Donald bus. At the time they were decidind how many busses they needed that day from the Hyatt group, and it was "four, maybe five."

I suspect you could also somehow arrange a later bus by joining a group flying in that day since the DCL folks are in the terminal areas at their own small counters.

Be careful though, we met a mom and her daughter who flew in that morning and were directed to a DCL bus. Thinking that all DCL busses go to the port, they never asked and the DCL rep didn't ask either. They ended up on a bus that went to WDW and ended up taking a cab to the port to make it on time. The DCL driver apparently was less than helpful and just told them they had to get off the bus at one of the resorts.

 

[disneyjunkie]

So there are a set of buses that transport only Hyatt guest and a set of buses that transport those that fly in that morning or stay at other airport hotels?


If you stay at the Hyatt,are you assigned a bus when you check in or do you have to take care of that the following morning? Can you request the first bus?

 

[drclaws]

Originally posted by disneyjunkie
So there are a set of buses that transport only Hyatt guest and a set of buses that transport those that fly in that morning or stay at other airport hotels?


If you stay at the Hyatt,are you assigned a bus when you check in or do you have to take care of that the following morning? Can you request the first bus?

DCL has a meeting room area reserved at the Hyatt. You go in enter a small line and get yourself initially checked in for the transfer to the port. First-come, first served as far as who gets on the first bus. But the busses go as soon s they're filled. We were on the 2nd bus and we loaded less than 10 minutes after the 1st one.

Edited to include that the above-referenced check-in is on the morning of your cruise, not at hotel check-in the day before....

 

[MamaQuack]

Invaderzim & everyone else,

Thank you so much for the info - you have been very helpful to me.

Thanks again,

MamaQuack

 

[dvcspain]

i'm not going to be at the Hyatt so is the same for everyone?

at what time have i to be there? how long is the wait between a bus and another one?

thanks

 

[kcashner]

The busses officially start at 10, but in reality start at about 9:30. It is about a 45 minute trip from the MCO area to the port. The port opens to incoming traffic at 10, and the counters open for check in at 10:30. Boarding the ship starts a few minutes before noon.

The busses run such that as soon as one is full, it leaves and the next one starts boarding. As soon as it is full.....you get the picture. This means that they run every 10-20 minutes most of the morning.

Bus transfers cost about $45 roundtrip per person. If there are more than 3 of you travelling, a private limo service is cheaper and runs when YOU want it to.

 

[tvguy]

I don't think the last bus leaves at 1 pm, that's way too early.
We left the airport at 11 am, and were on the ship by 1 pm and sat on our Verandah and watched a steady stream of buses until about 4 pm, and then they held the ship due to late flights, so the last bus arrived at 5:45 pm, which indicates to me it didn't leave the airport until about 5 pm.
I suspect under ideal situations that last bus leaves by 3 pm or so.

 

[invaderzim]

TV GUY:

Yes, that IS true. And just to be double-sure that I am forwarding the correct information, I just called a DCL rep again and here is exactly what I was told:

LAST BUS LEAVES MCO AT 1:45 p.m. If you miss that bus, you are on your own. She also said that you must be onboard by 4 p.m. since the Coast Guard must conduct the safety drill.

I am sure that there are special circumstances where they may hold the ship for a large group who had airline problems, but I have always been told that the last bus is 1:30-1:45.

 

[jcemom]

So, if we're spending the night at the Hyatt, do I just check in for the DCL buses the morning of our cruise and pay at that time...or do I need to "sign up" ahead of time through my TA?

 

[drclaws]

Originally posted by jcemom
So, if we're spending the night at the Hyatt, do I just check in for the DCL buses the morning of our cruise and pay at that time...or do I need to "sign up" ahead of time through my TA?

At some point you will need to purchase the Disney transfers in order to use the bus. YOu cna do that ahead of time with your TA. I don't know this, but suspect you can purchase the transfers that morning at the Hyatt.

If booked ahead of time, there will be a transfer page to tear out of your documents booklet to present during the DCL bus Hyatt check-in process.