Disney Cruise Line Transportation from the Resort to the Port

[mareed]

Well, no one says you have to stay up after they've picked up your bags.

I just leave out anything I might need to be put in my carry on bag, and have my checked bag ready by 8:00 (usually baggage pick up time). Then I can still stay in bed, get up when I want, take my time getting ready, have breakfast. Of course, all that's speeded up a bit if my DCL transfer time is 10:30.

PrincessShmoo, I know we have different opinions on this, and I'm very glad there are multiple options available! I guess you could keep everything you need to get ready in your carry-on that you'd take on the ship yourself, but in my case I travel with a blanket, pillow, and fan, so all of that would have to be packed up inside luggage they pick up at 8:00 am, so no more sleeping for me. And would you seriously be able to go back to sleep after getting up to hand off your luggage on the day your cruise starts?! I'd be so excited once I woke up that there's no way I could get back to sleep, but I am admittedly a very poor sleeper in general (hence the bedding and fan that travels everywhere with me!).

 

[PrincessShmoo]

PrincessShmoo, I know we have different opinions on this, and I'm very glad there are multiple options available! I guess you could keep everything you need to get ready in your carry-on that you'd take on the ship yourself, but in my case I travel with a blanket, pillow, and fan, so all of that would have to be packed up inside luggage they pick up at 8:00 am, so no more sleeping for me. And would you seriously be able to go back to sleep after getting up to hand off your luggage on the day your cruise starts?! I'd be so excited once I woke up that there's no way I could get back to sleep, but I am admittedly a very poor sleeper in general (hence the bedding and fan that travels everywhere with me!).

I suppose because of the many venues I've slept in over many years of travel, I don't really have much issue falling back asleep. As the bags would be set to go the night before, I'd only have to rouse myself enough to get up and open the door for them. Bags are right beside the door, and it doesn't take long. Then back into bed for some more shut-eye.

Only item I HAVE to have for sleeping is my iPod, and it fits in my pocket.

 

[elvispursley]

Where do they usually have you put your luggage for pick-up at the resort?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Where do they usually have you put your luggage for pick-up at the resort?

Just inside your door.

 

[1 Minnie & 3 Mickeys]

Are they timely with the 8am luggage pick up? Hoping the luggage is tagged and picked up before the kids wake up...

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Are they timely with the 8am luggage pick up? Hoping the luggage is tagged and picked up before the kids wake up...

Can only address one time we were still in the room and the did pick up shortly after 8:00. Other times, we've been out eating breakfast. And the bags were gone when we got back to the room.

 

[1 Minnie & 3 Mickeys]

Can only address one time we were still in the room and the did pick up shortly after 8:00. Other times, we've been out eating breakfast. And the bags were gone when we got back to the room.

Ah good to know! I assumed we had to be there to hand off. That may change my plan...kids don't know about the cruise part of our vacation so trying to cover all of the logistics to keep it a secret

 

[BCV23]

Our luggage has been picked up between 8 and 8:30 at both WDW resorts and the MCO Hyatt. Definitely would not count on 8 am pickup as the bellmen go to multiple rooms but it must be ready by 8 sharp. You are asked to put the luggage near the door to differentiate it from your carryons. I leave the tip with a thank you note on top of the luggage if we are headed out to breakfast at that time.

Happy sailing.

 

[bumbershoot]

For a solo traveler, what would be the better option?

I ran the numbers and the cheapest rental car was nearly twice what I'm paying for the Disney transfer.

Ah, yes, for 1 or 2 people the numbers do change a bit.

in my case I travel with a blanket, pillow, and fan, so all of that would have to be packed up inside luggage they pick up at 8:00 am

You could carry* those on to the ship. They don't limit the number of carryons you have; they just have to fit through the scanner. And then you do have to cart them around until rooms open. But those things don't have to be in checked bags that are picked up ahead of time.

And then you COULD check the bag containing those items once at the port** and therefore not have to cart them around.


*Anything much bigger than a backpack will go under the bus; you can't literally carry bigger items onto the bus b/c there's simply no room.

**Though now that I've finally realized I'm a princess who travels with her own very small pillow (hotel pillows are too big!), I realize that it is VERY important for travel, and I would keep the pillow with me.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I ran the numbers and the cheapest rental car was nearly twice what I'm paying for the Disney transfer. I suppose it's not that important to get on earlier, but I did want to try and procure a ticket for Anna and Elsa meet. It's not going to make or break my vacation if I don't meet them, so I'm going to leave things as they are and hope for the best. I've always used DME to the cruise ship from the airport and have had a great experience every time. This will be my first time using the DME service from resort to ship, so I'll see how it plays out. Thanks for the tip, PrincessShmoo.

Car rental prices tend to drop quite a bit as you get closer to sailing, so don't necessarily make that decision on the rates you are seeing right now.