Drop off luggage then car? Or vice versa?

[DancingBear]

We have a one-way Budget car rented. I figure we can either:

1--Go directly to DCL Terminal at opening (10:30), check luggage with porter and drop off DW and DS4, then go to Budget to drop off the car and ride Budget's shuttle to the terminal; or

2--Same as 1 but keep DW and DS with me, and all 3 of us ride the Budget shuttle; or

3--Go directly to Budget around 10, and all ride the shuttle with our luggage to the terminal.

What would you do?

 

[faireygod mother]

We dropped off luggage first then dropped of the car. It was a lot easier on the shuttle ride back.

 

[GrayFal]

DH dropped me and the luggage at curbside check-in at 10:45ish. I went upstairs and checked us in, then wandered around the terminal meeting my DIS buddies. I would say he took about an hour to get back to the terminal, because the Cat 3 friends boarded around 11:30 and he was not back yet. He was there by the time they started the 'regular' boarding at 11:50ish.

 

[GenieDana]

IMHO - Option 1

Your other half can check-in, and get a place in the boarding line. Then only one person has to suffer the shuttle ride.

 

[Buddy Bear]

Definitely #1!!

Your DW can have all the paperwork filled out and processed while you go return the car. We did this in August and it saved a lot of time.

The line at Budget waiting to go back to port was long even though they had three shuttle vans running. Since I was by myself I was able to go ahead of others waiting because families like to ride together and there was one seat on one of the vans so I was happy to ride "shotgun".

When I got back to port all I had to do was show my ID and we all walked on the ship.

Jeff

 

[DancingBear]

Thanks for all of the replies! This is an amazingly active and helpful board!

 

[mackymaddyconnorsmom]

#1. We did this and my husband made it back to the port even before we started checking in. Budget was very quick. On our return from sea, he went and got the car. I stayed with the kids and luggage. It is so easy and the people dragging all there luggage onto the bus looked like a big hassle

 

[Red71]

DH dropped me and the luggage at curbside check-in at 10:45ish. I went upstairs and checked us in, then wandered around the terminal meeting my DIS buddies. I would say he took about an hour to get back to the terminal, because the Cat 3 friends boarded around 11:30 and he was not back yet. He was there by the time they started the 'regular' boarding at 11:50ish.

Is that the experience most of you have, that it takes an hour to drop off the car and get back to the terminal????? We were going to rent Budget anyone have better luck then 1 hour?

 

[Buddy Bear]

The Budget rental car place is only a couple of miles from port and can take less than 10 minutes to drive there. The problem isn’t getting there, it is getting back.

To save time make sure you have your paperwork filled out with the current mileage. If you are not late returning the car and don't need a receipt right away (they can mail you one) then you don't have to stand in line at the desk; just give them the paperwork and keys.

After you hand in your keys and paperwork you can stand in line outside and wait for the shuttle to take you back to port. If you are by yourself you maybe able to go ahead of others if there is only one seat left in the van.

If all goes well it may take a half hour or so, but I wouldn't count on it. Sometimes "stuff" happens so give yourself closer to an hour.

Jeff

 

[dbond]

We waited outside on the curb for DH. Maybe we could have gone in, but it looked like they were checking cruise documents at the security clearance inside the doors and he took off to return our car without any of his documents. If I had gone on in, I was afraid they wouldn't let him in. Be sure and check on that before you split up.

But other than that, I agree, you should drop off your luggage first, then deal with the car, and whether or not the familuy stays at the terminal or goes to Budget might depend on how security is set up that day.

 

[Buddy Bear]

We waited outside on the curb for DH. Maybe we could have gone in, but it looked like they were checking cruise documents at the security clearance inside the doors and he took off to return our car without any of his documents. If I had gone on in, I was afraid they wouldn't let him in. Be sure and check on that before you split up.

But other than that, I agree, you should drop off your luggage first, then deal with the car, and whether or not the familuy stays at the terminal or goes to Budget might depend on how security is set up that day.

When you first pull up with your car you are going to be directed to the check-in area. Some nice folks with clipboards will ask you your names to see if they are on the manifest.

Once they confirm your names are on the list and check your identification they will tell you where to go to drop off your luggage. You won't get past these people without ID.

Once you dropoff your luggage you can split up. Your DH can return the car and take the shuttle back while you start the check-in process.

When the shuttle returns it will take him to a parking lot across the street from the terminal. He can walk across the street towards the terminal, but once again some nice folks with clipboards will double-check to make sure he is on the manifest. It may or may not be the same people so make sure he has his indentification. He doesn't need any cruise documentation since his name should be on the manifest.

I have done it a couple times and had no problems.

Jeff

 

[kdicey]

I was wondering has anyone used National car rental ?

If so did they use the same process of drop off ?

 

[dbond]

Jeff, I don't know if things were different for some reason last summer or not, but just inside the doors, there was a security check, they were checking docs, identification, doing the X-ray screening, etc. We had not done that on previous cruises so when DH took off after dropping off the bags we expected to go up to the terminal, get checked in and wait for him there and do the security thing on the ramp to the ship like we had done in the past. This time it was at the bottom of the stairs just inside the door. They appeared to not be letting anyone into the terminal without docs. It was a crowded bottleneck so I did not push my way to the front to ask and we just sat outside on the curb and waited so we could all go in together, since I had the docs & the passports. Maybe they had a heightened security thing for that cruise or something, it was certainly different from previous cruises. I just assumed it was a permanent thing, maybe not.

 

[NYGiantsRule!]

We have done this many times, the latest in December 2004. DH drops us off at the terminal and returns the car to Budget (usually takes one DS with him for company). Other DS and I go inside and upstairs with all of the docs. I get in line and check everyone in and get KTTW cards for myself and DS's. The CM get DH's card ready and holds it at the counter. When DH returns from rental car place, he shows photo ID to the CM holding his card and we board the ship. Very easy.

 

[goofyforlife]

I think it may have taken us a half hour -45 minutes to get back to the port.

We "dropped" our checked luggage at the port first.....

There wasn't a line to return but we had to wait for the next shuttle which took a few minutes..... There were other DCL people and a couple going on Carnival. They dropped off Carnival first which also added time.

After our cruise, I waited with the luggage about 20 minutes if that for my DH to return with the car.

(I didn't want to have to load/unload/tip any more times than necessary.)

 

[disneypilots]

Always drop off the luggage first !!!!

 

[Lilo5]

We (8 of us) all dropped off our luggages and checked in. Then, my DH and I returned the van to Budget. We rode the shuttle back and met up with the rest of the family in the terminal. Didn't have to wait long for the shuttle at all. Would've arrived at the DCL terminal earlier, but the shuttle had to drop off another couple at the RCCL terminal. It was about 12:15 when we boarded the ship. Still had time to eat before making our Palo ressies.