Disney Transport-Port to MCO-luggage go straight to final destination??

[PinballFamily]

Just booked Disney transport back to airport (the $35 one-way pp one) for our upcoming cruise and are flying home on JetBlue out of MCO.

Can anyone confirm that our luggage will be taken off the ship (during that last night) and it will *magically* show up at the baggage claim area back at home?

Thanks for any help here - we've cruised DCL before, but handled the ground transport portions (and thus, the luggage) differently then...

 

[mmouse37]

Just booked Disney transport back to airport (the $35 one-way pp one) for our upcoming cruise and are flying home on JetBlue out of MCO.

Can anyone confirm that our luggage will be taken off the ship (during that last night) and it will *magically* show up at the baggage claim area back at home?

Thanks for any help here - we've cruised DCL before, but handled the ground transport portions (and thus, the luggage) differently then...

Yes...as long as you sign up for onboard airline checkin (OAC). JetBlue does participate but your flights have to fit within certain timeframes.

Here are the requirements: From the DCL site:

Onboard Airline Check-In

Enjoy the comfort and convenience of Onboard Airline Check-In when you purchase air or ground transportation through Disney Cruise Line.

When you register for Onboard Airline Check-In, you are entitled to:

Receive your boarding passes and check your luggage for your return flight before you disembark the ship.
Skip luggage claim at the port terminal.
Bypass the airline check-in counter at the airport.
Here's how it works:

Reserve air or ground transportation through Disney Cruise Line and sign up for Onboard Airline Check-In when you check in for your cruise at the port.
On the day prior to disembarkation, your airline boarding passes and valet luggage tags will magically be delivered to your stateroom, along with a letter answering common questions you may have.
Attach the tags to your luggage and leave your bags outside your stateroom on the evening prior to disembarkation. Disney Cruise Line will collect and deliver your luggage to your airline.
When you arrive at Orlando International Airport, proceed to security with your boarding passes already in hand and continue on to your scheduled departure gate.
Available to Guests flying out of Orlando International Airport on domestic flights (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) on AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines and US Airways.Pre-registration is required and scheduled flights must be after 11:25 a.m. On the day your cruise ends. Guests are limited to 2 bags per person and each piece must not exceed 50 lbs. Additionally, some Guests may be selected to check in at the airport and will be unable to use this service.

We recommend that you allow a minimum of 4 hours at the beginning and end of your cruise for travel time, customs/immigrations clearances and security checks at Port Canaveral and the airport. Additionally, on the day of your sailing, all Guests must board the ship no later than 3:45 p.m. Please plan your arrival accordingly to avoid the possibility of not being permitted to sail with us.

For more information, please call (800) 951-3532. Guests under age 18 must have parent or guardian permission to call.Just want to add that we yhave used this service several times and it really is wonderful. We just keep what we need for the next day in a carry on bag and put everything else out the night before. So very convenient.

We usually rent a car to the trip to the port but if our flights fit the criteria we always do the OAC for the return...so worth $35 pp.

You will receive a letter in your cabin explaining when you need to leave the ship by.
If your flight is before 1:00 pm you MUST leave the ship by 8:00 am per DCL. On the last morning we skip the dining room breakfast and head up to the buffet for breakfast. We are back to our cabin before 8:00 am, we gather our things and head off the ship.

MJ

 

[PinballFamily]

Just want to add that we yhave used this service several times and it really is wonderful. We just keep what we need for the next day in a carry on bag and put everything else out the night before. So very convenient.

We usually rent a car to the trip to the port but if our flights fit the criteria we always do the OAC for the return...so worth $35 pp.

MJ

Thanks so much for the speedy and helpful reply! Our flight looks like it fits the criteria and we are expecting to do just what you do with small carry-ons for that last morning and send the big stuff ahead with the OAC this time. It does seem VERY convenient and worth paying Disney the few extra $$$ over what we typically pay for the private limo/van companies we've used before! I appreciate your advice!!!

 

[stlkeeler]

On our first cruise I had every intention of doing this. But I didn't realize it was something I needed to sign up for in the terminal. The night we got the debarking info in our stateroom and it didn't say anything about it, I went down to guest services. They said I "didn't qualify" or something like that (we met all their criteria). Our second cruise, I got a form in with our boarding info packet that they send about 2 weeks out. They asked me at check in if I wished to participate. Let me tell you, it was well worth the price of transfers! So, just make sure to sign up before you get on the ship.

 

[mmouse37]

Thanks so much for the speedy and helpful reply! Our flight looks like it fits the criteria and we are expecting to do just what you do with small carry-ons for that last morning and send the big stuff ahead with the OAC this time. It does seem VERY convenient and worth paying Disney the few extra $$$ over what we typically pay for the private limo/van companies we've used before! I appreciate your advice!!!

My pleasure!!

MJ

 

[saraheubanks1]

On that note, if we go to a Disney resort after our cruise, does the luggage go straight to our room, or do we have to pick it up when we debark?

 

[mommy2tati]

Has the process changed since I last cruised in 2009? I used DCL transfers and I didn't "sign up" for anything or use the onboard checkin. I just put my luggage out the night before like usual, picked it up right before customs....ooohhhhh here's the difference...than got on the bus. Didn't see my luggage until I got home.

If you use onboard check in you don't have to pick up your luggage before you go through customs correct?

 

[jdb in AZ]

If you use onboard check in you don't have to pick up your luggage before you go through customs correct?

In theory. I'm paranoid enuff I'd still check the luggage area to make sure my bags didn't end up there by mistake.

 

[laughinplace2]

Hi everyone,
I'm wondering, does airline check in work the same way, more or less, as the at the Disney resorts? I'm specifically wondering, do they have you check in the morning you're leaving and do they take your luggage to the plane for you?
And also, how do you pay the airline baggage fee ahead of time? Can they accept credit cards at their desk, the morning you check the luggage with them?
Thanks so much!!

 

[jetskigrl]

You will register for the onboard check-in when you are checking in for the cruise (there is a paper in your travel documents that you need to fill out). On the day before the end of the cruise, they will deliver your boarding passes and special luggage tags that have your flight information on them(you won't use the character tags).

You place your luggage outside your door the night before you get off the ship. You won't see it again until you reach your home airport so remember to keep out a change of clothes and anything else you might need in the morning.

Any luggage fees that are required by the airlines will be charged to your shipboard account.

It is super easy and super convenient

 

[CandyMandy]

Does anyone know if this service is available on the Med cruises and if so, for just the major carriers flying back to the U.S. or does it also in include European carriers flying to other destinations in Europe?

 

[obrien622]

I noticed Southwest is not listed as an airline where to can use the OAC. Is it possible Southwest will be added as it was for the Disney resorts?

 

[mmouse37]

I noticed Southwest is not listed as an airline where to can use the OAC. Is it possible Southwest will be added as it was for the Disney resorts?

There has been rumors for months that SW will be added to the OAC program but nothing yet.

If you use onboard check in you don't have to pick up your luggage before you go through customs correct?

Correct...you do not have to pick up your luggage and bring it through customs...it will be delivered straight to the airport and you won't see it again until your home airport.

MJ

 

[laughinplace2]

Maybe I'm just paranoid/untrustworthy, but am I the only one who feels weird about leaving my luggage sitting outside my door all night? What if someone wants to just come by and snatch them? Is there a special way they do this so that they can't get stolen?
And on the same note, can you do the airline check in to get boarding passes ahead of time, but still choose to bring your luggage with you? B/c although it sounds super convenient, I am a little leery of leaving it in the hallway all night.

 

[mmouse37]

Does anyone know if this service is available on the Med cruises and if so, for just the major carriers flying back to the U.S. or does it also in include European carriers flying to other destinations in Europe?

I believe it is only available for cruises out of PC....maybe someone who did the Med last year will confirm or correct. Did you see the thread that is about the OAC program from today....i will merge this thread with that one.

MJ

 

[mmouse37]

Maybe I'm just paranoid/untrustworthy, but am I the only one who feels weird about leaving my luggage sitting outside my door all night? What if someone wants to just come by and snatch them? Is there a special way they do this so that they can't get stolen?
And on the same note, can you do the airline check in to get boarding passes ahead of time, but still choose to bring your luggage with you? B/c although it sounds super convenient, I am a little leery of leaving it in the hallway all night.

This has been done for years with minimal problems....the luggage is carted away almost as soon as you leave it out....it is not left out all night. All the luggage must be put out by 10:30-11:00 or you can't participate....so it is not out there for very long.

No, if you are doing the OAC program DCL takes your luggage the night before....really, it is done every week with little to no problems...

MJ

 

[laughinplace2]

Oh, ok...well that makes me feel better Thanks!

 

[cwbagne]

We sailed the Dream 4/21 - 4/24 and our 4 bags magically disappeared! We had a connecting flight on American through Dallas to Orange County, CA. When we arrived in Orange County at 8PM on Easter Sunday, our bags were no where to be found. I was assured by my friends on the Dream that they would be at my final destination, but I was really afraid they would not make it. I was right. The bags I had packed with the wet bathing suits the kids had worn at Castaway Cay on Saturday and thrown into the bags so they could get outside my stateroom door, were so smelly by the time American Airlines located our bags ... somewhere in Dallas because they missed the transfer. They were delivered (finally) on Tuesday morning at 9:30AM.

I learned my lesson ... don't ever let your luggage out of your sight! This would have been worse if it was at the beginning of our trip, but these 4 bags were full of dirty clothes, souvenirs, papers, and shoes. I know for next time ... like all those other people with all their bags at breakfast on the last morning ... better safe than sorry!

 

[patsal]

So, since I have Southwest can I just keep my luggage and take it with me to breakfast then off the ship without having to play the "look for my luggage" game and make a bus to get to the airport in time for my 12:30 flight?

 

[cwbagne]

You can keep your luggage with you. We saw plenty of people who did.