First DCL Experience and Feeling Overwhelmed

[dhardawa]

We'll be flying down on Friday, September 30 for an October 1 cruise. I'd like to get in around noon, check into a hotel, and get tickets to MNSSHP that evening. I don't want to spend a fortune on a room, but I also don't want to spend a fortune on transportation. I'm leaning toward taking Magical Express to Pop Century, using Disney transportation to and from MNSSHP and then getting some other transportation to the cruise terminal the next morning. Does this sound like the most economical choice? That night at Pop is over $170. Ugh.

 

[Disneychica18]

You may get a room discount for Pop. Disney has not yet released offers past the summer.

 

[Disney Obsession]

Agree that you will probably get a discount. Honestly, when you look at other hotels and the cost of transportation to and from (and some may not have transportation late enough to transport you back to the hotel after the party), it ends up being about the same, especially with a discount. If you want to attend the party, staying on property will be your easiest option considering the transportation to and from the party.

 

[mevelandry]

We always use the DCL shuttle to PC and from PC to the airport. It's fun and stress free.

 

[dhardawa]

I think I'll go ahead and plan to stay onsite then and take DCL transportation. I've priced out a few places and it's very close to the same price. Not to mention, I can't imagine they'd let the boat leave if their own transportation was running late.

Now I've just got to figure out this airfare fiasco. All the schools here do fall break, so the local airport rates are ridiculous. I just feel like this whole cruise is going to nickel and dime me to death. Ugh. This is why I do Disney World vacations. They make it so simple.

 

[k3chantal]

We'll be flying down on Friday, September 30 for an October 1 cruise. I'd like to get in around noon, check into a hotel, and get tickets to MNSSHP that evening. I don't want to spend a fortune on a room, but I also don't want to spend a fortune on transportation. I'm leaning toward taking Magical Express to Pop Century, using Disney transportation to and from MNSSHP and then getting some other transportation to the cruise terminal the next morning. Does this sound like the most economical choice? That night at Pop is over $170. Ugh.

How many people are in your party? We have always rented a car to the terminal and found this to be the most economical way. Using Disney's transportation for everything else makes the most financial sense though.

 

[mevelandry]

I think I'll go ahead and plan to stay onsite then and take DCL transportation. I've priced out a few places and it's very close to the same price. Not to mention, I can't imagine they'd let the boat leave if their own transportation was running late.

Now I've just got to figure out this airfare fiasco. All the schools here do fall break, so the local airport rates are ridiculous. I just feel like this whole cruise is going to nickel and dime me to death. Ugh. This is why I do Disney World vacations. They make it so simple.

I think you are making the right choice. When you stay on site, they are very good with all the arrangements. Just tell DCL where you are going stay and on your last night at the resort, you will receive a letter telling you when and where to put your luggage in the room so they can pick it up and send it to the cruiseship and tell you when they'll pick you up to go to PC.

The shuttle is just like the Magical Express, very relaxing... They are playing videos (about cruising). Very pleasant.

 

[CamColt]

How many people are in your party? We have always rented a car to the terminal and found this to be the most economical way. Using Disney's transportation for everything else makes the most financial sense though.

I was going to suggest looking into renting a car too. We did this, this past summer and were able to get a great rate renting at MCO and returning near the port the next day. We went through Budget who had a very efficient shuttle to the port. So even though ME would have been "free" renting the car was less expensive than having to worry about transfers to the port in the morning.

 

[jrabbit]

It doesn't sound like the cruise is "Nickel and Dimeing" you. You are choosing to your pre cruise activities @ WDW and those are not inexpensive.

Our last cruise we chose to spend the night in Cocoa Beach vs Orlando / WDW and saved some money. And I feel your pain on airfare. That last cruise we paid over $700 for one person and about $800 for the other two of us!!!

I've said this before here, if the last $500 of the trip makes the trip too expensive / too stressful, then maybe you need to look at other options for your vacation. I know that we have...

And I like taking the DCL bus from the Hotel or Airport to the cruise. After 16 DCL cruises I still enjoy watching Mickey and the Gang head to the cruise. At $35 per person each way it's more expensive than other options, but it's convenient.

 

[k3chantal]

I was going to suggest looking into renting a car too. We did this, this past summer and were able to get a great rate renting at MCO and returning near the port the next day. We went through Budget who had a very efficient shuttle to the port. So even though ME would have been "free" renting the car was less expensive than having to worry about transfers to the port in the morning.

The other 'advantage' is deciding when you are arriving at port. When you do online check in, they will ask you to choose a PAT, (port arrival time) which could be as early as 10:30. With Disney's transportation, you will NOT be arriving that early and you are unable to make that decision. We always like getting there early so that we can enjoy the ship when it is not so full (as I write I actually question my decision to share )

Anyway, obviously both ways work.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

With Disney's transportation, you will NOT be arriving that early and you are unable to make that decision

We've arrived via DCL transfers often. And, every time, we've been directed to select a Port Arrival Time.

 

[diznymom]

When you stay on property and take DCL transport to the ship, you get there a little later, but you get to walk right on..........no lines, no crowded terminal.

We love Disney transport. They make life simple for us.

 

[k3chantal]

We've arrived via DCL transfers often. And, every time, we've been directed to select a Port Arrival Time.

This is interesting because my friend is taking DCL transfers and her PAT page said, "No need to choose a time." or some similar sentence.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

This is interesting because my friend is taking DCL transfers and her PAT page said, "No need to choose a time." or some similar sentence.

Is she in Concierge, or a Platinum CC member? OR, is she staying at the Hyatt MCO the night before the cruise (booked through DCL)?

All those can cause the system to not require selecting at PAT.

To add to the comment I made - our cruises in 2014 (Dream & Fantasy B2B), we were directed to select a PAT for all transfers. That's from MCO to port (for the Dream cruise); WDW to port (2 day stay between Dream & Fantasy cruises); and even the B2B turnaround day we had to select a PAT (and we were already on the ship).

 

[k3chantal]

She is none of the above.

Personally, I am glad that there are so many ways and times to get on board. It allows for all of us to have a more personalized vacation. It sounds like people feel as strongly about taking the transfers as I do (and others) about driving ourselves. Besides what I mentioned before, I like going to the store if I need to before.......we have made last minute purchases for water shoes, wine and additional sun screen.

 

[kiford]

This is interesting because my friend is taking DCL transfers and her PAT page said, "No need to choose a time." or some similar sentence.

We've always taken DCL transfers and had it both ways - sometimes we have to pick PAT and sometimes not. It's kind of irrelevant, however if you do DCL transfers. You'll get there when you get there. So if we have to pick a PAT, we pick a late one so as not to take an early one away from someone who'll use it.

 

[JW9DVC]

We always use the DCL shuttle to PC and from PC to the airport. It's fun and stress free.

Also more expensive than a rental car or other options.

 

[mevelandry]

Also more expensive than a rental car or other options.

I don't mind paying a little more, as long as it's entertaining and confortable. + if I compare with any similar bus trip I would take in my country, it ends up being 20-30$ more/pp. If I can afford to go to Disney, I can afford that.

 

[JW9DVC]

I don't mind paying a little more, as long as it's entertaining and confortable. + if I compare with any similar bus trip I would take in my country, it ends up being 20-30$ more/pp. If I can afford to go to Disney, I can afford that.

$30 for a rental car with a family of 4. That's an average of $7.50 per person. The DCL shuttle also arrives later than I would want by 2-3 hours. No stops for quick shopping. Also it costs about $35 per passenger on DCL shuttle.

 

[mevelandry]

$30 for a rental car with a family of 4. That's an average of $7.50 per person. The DCL shuttle also arrives later than I would want by 2-3 hours. No stops for quick shopping. Also it costs about $35 per passenger on DCL shuttle.

You can pick the car rental if you want... It's your choice.

I don't drive (by choice), neither does my husband or my in-laws. I'm talking busses because this is how we travel when we get out of Montréal. If I compare with a similar bus trip (an hour and a half round trip) it cost us around 50$ Each at home vs 70$ Each for a round trip with DCL.

We've never felt the need to shop before going on a cruise. If we need something, we'll buy it in one of the boutiques of the resort before we leave (they have everything you need for a vacation).

Also, the last time, the shuttle picked us up at 11:45 and we were in the port around 1:15 PM? We had the time to book our activities at Guest Services, eat at Cabanas, unpack, change clothes, have a drink on our verandah and do a quick tour of the cruiseship before the firedrill...

Our first cruise: we arrived directly from the airport... after long wait at PC we were boarding the ship around 11:45. Yes, it was nice to be on board early but our room wasn't ready. I prefer to arrive when the rooms are ready (after 1:00 PM) so we don't need to take our day bags with us everywhere.