Disney transfers from Port Canaveral to WDW resort

[Riss]

I was just wondering if anyone had any experience taking the Disney transfers from Port Canaveral to a WDW resort and your opinion on them.

My family will be taking the Disney transfers when we go on our cruise on Sept 17 and this will be our first time to do so, seeing as we've never cruised with Disney before. I've been trying to look up some things online about it but haven't really been able to find much.

If it makes any difference, since I know that some have said that you have to wait until the bus is fairly full I think(?), we'll be staying at AoA after the cruise.

 

[dcassetta]

I was just wondering if anyone had any experience taking the Disney transfers from Port Canaveral to a WDW resort and your opinion on them.

My family will be taking the Disney transfers when we go on our cruise on Sept 17 and this will be our first time to do so, seeing as we've never cruised with Disney before. I've been trying to look up some things online about it but haven't really been able to find much.

If it makes any difference, since I know that some have said that you have to wait until the bus is fairly full I think(?), we'll be staying at AoA after the cruise.

The buses will begin to depart for the resorts about 9 AM. There may be a wait once you're on your bus before it's ready to go. Depending on how many people are going to the resorts, you bus may stop at more than one resort. AoA might be the first, last or only stop. If your room is not ready upon arrival, you can leave your luggage with bag service, and head over to enjoy the parks.

 

[jdb in AZ]

How many people are in your travel group? If it's more than four, it's cheaper to take a limo, then you won't have to wait for the bus to fill, or stop at other resorts before yours.

 

[Meriweather]

We always take the transfers.....fun to be on a Disney bus.
There can be a wait. They fill the bus up, but we still were in a park before lunch

 

[Riss]

How many people are in your travel group? If it's more than four, it's cheaper to take a limo, then you won't have to wait for the bus to fill, or stop at other resorts before yours.

There are 6 adults and one 2-year-old. I think my parents like having the convenience of just organizing everything with Disney without having to sort of arrange anything else. Plus we're kind of used to stopping at other resorts since we've always used the Magical Express coming from MCO and they make stops at multiple resorts as well.

We always take the transfers.....fun to be on a Disney bus.
There can be a wait. They fill the bus up, but we still were in a park before lunch

We've never taken them so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. I also figured, based on the limited information that I could find, that we'd probably make it somewhere by noon if we wanted to. But I know that everyone will be tired, from waking up early on the ship, so we may or may not do a park that day, but have the option to.

 

[DWillowBay]

Love the Disney transport. Especially because you have a larger party..and all the associated luggage...I'd definitely use the Disney transport. You'd have to rent a pretty large vehicle to get 8 people and their luggage in it. They will handle your luggage for you with care. Then, there's the cute cartoons they play on the ride to the resort...so very cute. I've taken Disney and rented a car. The car wasn't horrible, but on our upcoming cruise, we will be using Disney transport again. Very convenient and worry-free.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Then, there's the cute cartoons they play on the ride to the resort...so very cute.

They don't do the cute cartoons so much anymore. Our last cruise, using DCL transfers MCO/Port/WDW/Port/MCO it was pretty much one long infomercial onboard about how great a vacation you're going to have.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

We like the dis bus after the cruise heading towards the resorts. We are a family of 6, so it is expensive. ...but it is easy! And it never takes long for the bus to fill. We relax and check our week's worth of emails. Then have a relaxing day at the resort.

However, we do hire a car when going from WDW to the cruise port so we can get there earlier.

 

[DWillowBay]

They don't do the cute cartoons so much anymore. Our last cruise, using DCL transfers MCO/Port/WDW/Port/MCO it was pretty much one long infomercial onboard about how great a vacation you're going to have.

Oh....that's sad....I just want to believe that a 'great vacation' at that point is a 'given'. My son and i went in March and we saw the cartoons. I'll miss 'em, but I'm still sold on the Disney Transport!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Oh....that's sad....I just want to believe that a 'great vacation' at that point is a 'given'. My son and i went in March and we saw the cartoons. I'll miss 'em, but I'm still sold on the Disney Transport!

They still run a couple of cartoons (IMO, not enough for a least an hour long trip), but mostly it's the characters doing their best "Disney is such a fun vacation" commercials.

 

[Meriweather]

They don't do the cute cartoons so much anymore. Our last cruise, using DCL transfers MCO/Port/WDW/Port/MCO it was pretty much one long infomercial onboard about how great a vacation you're going to have.

We had them in April....are they gone now? DGD loved to watch
Loved the trivia and the name the character parts too

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We had them in April....are they gone now? DGD loved to watch
Loved the trivia and the name the character parts too

Well, maybe they added them back. I know when we took our transfers (granted about a year ago) it was very few cartoons (in fact, they cut one short when we arrived at the port).

 

[mmouse37]

Love the Disney transport. Especially because you have a larger party..and all the associated luggage...I'd definitely use the Disney transport. You'd have to rent a pretty large vehicle to get 8 people and their luggage in it. They will handle your luggage for you with care. Then, there's the cute cartoons they play on the ride to the resort...so very cute. I've taken Disney and rented a car. The car wasn't horrible, but on our upcoming cruise, we will be using Disney transport again. Very convenient and worry-free.

On the way back to WDW from the port the bus driver puts your luggage under the bus but you have to claim it in the luggage hall and bring it out to the bus. DCL does not transport your luggage to WDW like they do on the way to the port. You are responsible to take it through customs and bring it out. Once at WDW you can hand it off to Bell Services to hold for you until your room is ready.

MJ

 

[jdb in AZ]

Love the Disney transport. Especially because you have a larger party..and all the associated luggage...I'd definitely use the Disney transport. You'd have to rent a pretty large vehicle to get 8 people and their luggage in it. They will handle your luggage for you with care. Then, there's the cute cartoons they play on the ride to the resort...so very cute. I've taken Disney and rented a car. The car wasn't horrible, but on our upcoming cruise, we will be using Disney transport again. Very convenient and worry-free.

We rented a stretch humvee for 10 people. It was pulling a small luggage trailer behind. Fun times.

 

[DWillowBay]

We rented a stretch humvee for 10 people. It was pulling a small luggage trailer behind. Fun times.

Wow. You have my admiration.

 

[DWillowBay]

On the way back to WDW from the port the bus driver puts your luggage under the bus but you have to claim it in the luggage hall and bring it out to the bus. DCL does not transport your luggage to WDW like they do on the way to the port. You are responsible to take it through customs and bring it out. Once at WDW you can hand it off to Bell Services to hold for you until your room is ready.

MJ

Correct. You still have to get your own luggage out of customs and to the bus. I merely meant that there is no problem with them transporting luggage for you since the OP's party is larger.

 

[mmouse37]

Correct. You still have to get your own luggage out of customs and to the bus. I merely meant that there is no problem with them transporting luggage for you since the OP's party is larger.

And it is a very easy process if you use a porter!!! I just wanted to mention the luggage situation because many think DCL provides the same seamless luggage service (picking up from your room and delivering) after the cruise as before the cruise and that is not the case.

MJ