first time DCL cruiser here with a question

[WINTER]

What is the process if taking transfer to the port? I know if I rent a car, Covid testing can be done in the car before parking. Please take me through the process if using transfer from airport. TIA

 

[Calantha]

Please take me through the process if using transfer from airport

From last week:
If you are using a private transfer, you will pull up outside the terminal and the porters will take all the luggage you give them (I'd hold onto a bag with snacks and some water though). Then you walk across the street to the first big tent. In the tent, they scan your arrival code and then send you to a small cubby (there were only 2 of us, not sure what they would do with a bigger party). In the cubby was a person who instructed me on how to swab myself and then DS. After the test was completed, I gave her the bag and then we walked to the next room, where my phone was scanned again and they told us to go to Tent A (there are Tents A-D I think). She said it could be up to an hour.

Then we went to the bathrooms (very nice for portable restrooms) and then went to tent A. Lots of chairs with a big TV showing 'cleared passenger numbers'. I decided it was too hard to read, so I just sat there and refreshed the Safe Passage website every few minutes. I don't think we waited more than 30 min for "clear to sail" - and we walked out of the tent and across the street into the terminal to start security and boarding processes.

Happy to answer any more questions - just let me know.

 

[Kwami]

The process is similar if you arrive on a DCL bus. When you get off the bus, you're shepherded toward one of the testing tents where you wait in line to be assigned a testing cubicle. Then, you take your test and process to the tents to wait for the results. The only difference is the luggage, I guess. Sometimes, the luggage is loaded onto the DCL bus and you can see if when you get off the bus to confirm that it's all there. Other times, it's sent in a separate truck. Either way, you don't get it back until your stateroom is ready.

 

[daedelus]

We were on Fantasy 2 weeks ago and took the DCL bus from MCO to the port. They loaded our luggage into a white box truck and we didn't see it again until we were in our staterooms. That's one of the reasons people who test positive at the port have to wait so long before they can leave - it takes forever for them to find your luggage. I have a list of all of our bags in my notebook in my backpack before we turn them over. Just to be safe.

With the DCL bus, you don't have a "port arrival time." You are in the queue when your bus arrives. Once you clear the COVID testing, we went right through registration, security and then right onto the ship. We **technically** were boarding group 6, but there was literally no one in line when we walked through the terminal and they ushered us right on board.

The bus at MCO is usually at B40, B41 or B42. They'll have a DCL kiosk set up right inside that you have to check in at first. Make sure you remove your airline tags and put your DCL ones on first though.

 

[Kwami]

We were on Fantasy 2 weeks ago and took the DCL bus from MCO to the port. They loaded our luggage into a white box truck and we didn't see it again until we were in our staterooms. That's one of the reasons people who test positive at the port have to wait so long before they can leave - it takes forever for them to find your luggage. I have a list of all of our bags in my notebook in my backpack before we turn them over. Just to be safe.

With the DCL bus, you don't have a "port arrival time." You are in the queue when your bus arrives. Once you clear the COVID testing, we went right through registration, security and then right onto the ship. We **technically** were boarding group 6, but there was literally no one in line when we walked through the terminal and they ushered us right on board.

The bus at MCO is usually at B40, B41 or B42. They'll have a DCL kiosk set up right inside that you have to check in at first. Make sure you remove your airline tags and put your DCL ones on first though.

Keep in mind that if you take the bus from the Hyatt, you might have a different experience. For me, they loaded all of our luggage onto the bus itself and we were escorted directly to the bus, which was in a different place than the others. The rest of the experience is the same, though.

 

[MomOTwins]

Keep in mind that if you take the bus from the Hyatt, you might have a different experience. For me, they loaded all of our luggage onto the bus itself and we were escorted directly to the bus, which was in a different place than the others. The rest of the experience is the same, though.

That is also true for the bus from the WDW resort hotels—luggage goes with you.

 

[WINTER]

Which is a better way to go if you want to get on the ship sooner rather than later? Bus or rental? or does it matter?

 

[MomOTwins]

Which is a better way to go if you want to get on the ship sooner rather than later? Bus or rental? or does it matter?

Bus. Earliest PAT for those arriving by car is 10:30. Our DCL bus pulled in before 10. The terminal was a ghost town when we got done with our testing and we boarded as the first family after family of the day and Concierge.

Only exception I believe is the bus from the airport Hyatt, which some said doesn’t leave until after 10. But you can bypass that by just booking a bus from the airport to port instead of a Hyatt pickup and the. Wheeling your luggage down to the airport DCL check in area.