Earliest DCL transfer?

[Happy2BMommy0812]

What is the earliest time I can get a DCL transfer from MCO to the port?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

What is the earliest time I can get a DCL transfer from MCO to the port?

The DCL transfer desk opens at 9:00. Once the first bus is full, it departs (generally around 9:10-9:15). Subsequent buses depart as the fill, or every 20 minutes, whichever occurs first.

 

[Dug720]

However, do be aware that your Boarding Group is tied to your PAT. So even if you are on the first bus, if your PAT is later, you will get a higher Boarding Group and will be watching as others who arrive after you but closer to your PAT board the ship. I saw it happen to a family checking in next to me two years ago. First bus, but had a much later PAT and had something like Boarding Group 26 or something.

 

[lbus42]

Expanding on what Dug720 said, even if you have an early PAT, if you arrive at the terminal on the first DCL bus, you will be waiting in long lines for about an hour. You won't be able to get on the ship till 11:00 or 11:15 at the earliest. If you take a 10:45ish bus to the terminal, you will arrive to open open boarding and a pretty much empty terminal. You will only lose about an hour, maybe less on the ship.