First trip questions

[tom1944]

Booked our cruise.

I did not book the transportation from WDW to the cruise and from the cruise to MCO yet. Should I have done that when I booked the cruise, or do I have time to research the various options?

 

[Girl of the South]

You have time. Unless your cruise is this week?

 

[Mommb]

Booked our cruise.

I did not book the transportation from WDW to the cruise and from the cruise to MCO yet. Should I have done that when I booked the cruise, or do I have time to research the various options?

If your cruise is next year, you have plenty of time. If you are using Disney transportation to the port, it’s helpful to book it before you do online check-in (30 days before the cruise) since it may affect your port arrival time. Other than that, you can wait until you are sure what you want to do.

 

[tom1944]

You have time. Unless your cruise is this week?

Not until August 2025

 

[tom1944]

If your cruise is next year, you have plenty of time. If you are using Disney transportation to the port, it’s helpful to book it before you do online check-in (30 days before the cruise) since it may affect your port arrival time. Other than that, you can wait until you are sure what you want to do.

Any recommendations on what is best? I understand the Disney transportation is more expensive but I get the feeling that might be the safest way to go

 

[auntlynne]

DCL transportation is the best way to be guaranteed you get on the ship - either at the embarkation port or the next port. Boy, I hope that’s true. Pretty sure that happens on excursions.

For some group sizes, there may be less expensive options. And for those who don’t like buses or have difficulty climbing up the stairs into them, alternatives are available. Other shuttle/ bus companies, rideshare, rental cars.

It also depends on where you stay pre-cruise and when you arrive.

We did the Hyatt hotel inside MCO + DCL bus (dedicated to the Hyatt) on our last cruise due to a flight arrival after midnight.

If you want to take advantage of the free check-in day Water Park admission at WDW resorts in 2025, you could take DCL transportation from the resort to the port for Boarding. There is no more free Magical Express between airport and WDW.

(My choice - if rental car price is good, would be fly in early the day before cruise, stay at a WDW resort. Do the water park, then drive to the ship the following day.)

If staying near the airport, DCL buses leave from the ground floor of the main terminal. Most hotels have free airport >< hotel shuttles.

And some guests like to stay close to Port Canaveral. That pretty much means a rental car or rideshare. The hotels don’t have a lot of walking-distance restaurants. Maybe in Cocoa Beach, itself.

One-way rentals to Cape Canaveral (official address for these) have a high turnaround, so there usually is not the added drop-off fee. Rental locations are within 1-5 miles from the port and offer shuttles.

Happy Planning!
Happy Anticipation!

 

[tom1944]

We will be doing 5 nights at WDW and on our departure day heading for the 4-day cruise.

Most likely I will sign up for the Disney transportation from the resort to the port. Also, from the port to the airport.

I will need to determine what time I would expect we will get to the airport when I book my airline tickets

 

[auntlynne]

Excellent! Fun before the fun.

And the transfer is an established method.

For return flights, there is a recommended earliest time. I am finding 11:25 as that time.

Other guests have reported booked and boarded flights earlier than that time.

They often skip breakfast or go to Cabanas.

Often do Express Walk-off, taking their own luggage off the ship. Those choosing this option are front of the line for disembarkation.

The airport bus should be there when you exit, taking guests first-come, first-serve. Timing for subsequent buses and guests using this transport are the unknown. You will not be mixed with resort guests on the airport-bound bus.

If US citizens, sounds like they are doing facial recognition for Customs; a quicker method.

 

[motherdaughtercruisers]

We just booked for the EBTA in May and they did not have the transportation figured out yet, so you have plenty of time.