For anyone who has stayed at a DVC resort before a Disney Cruise.....

[mimmiepnp]

I just got off the phone with a less than enthusiastic DCL CM who went around in circles for what I thought was a pretty simple question (and the cruise rep for resort will not be at BC until thursday)...

Anyway, we are staying at BCV (and loving it ) before our cruise so naturally we are not doing a land/sea package. I do have transportation booked thru DCL from resort to port but here is my question.....

For any of you who have done a DCL cruise and stayed at at DVC resort beforehand, does the DCL system recognize that we are staying at resort since we are DVC'ers and put transportation information under the door like the magical express and (okay maybe 3 questions) do they pick up your luggage in the morning by your room, like when you stay at Orlando Airport Hyatt or do we bring our luggage to the bus?? Also, do we check in with the DCL cruise line rep when they are at the resort.


If you haven't figured out by now, I am pretty anal and trying to preplan and be organized for that morning.

Sorry to ask so many questions but the DCL CM just couldn't answer any of those questions.....

 

[CruznLexi]

We are doing the same thing in Jan hoping on Wed to secure BCV for Jan. My cruise is booked with AAA and the resort with DVC but it does say on my cruise paperwork pick up is at AKL. My plan is when we check in find the hours for DCL and show my transfers to the resort at check in.

 

[TiaMaria]

We have done this before, but we did our own transportation each way from SSR to the port back to SSR.

You can check in with DCL at the resort. I'm not sure that they can give you your ship KTTW since you are not on a Land/Sea package, but they can confirm your transportation and let you know the pick-up time/location etc. The cruise desk is not staffed every day - so check with the Front Desk people to find out when a Rep will be at the Cruise Desk and visit prior to your embarkation day. You will have received luggage tags with your mailed documents, and you should put them on before your luggage is picked up by Bell Services. Take a day bag with you in case you get there early enough that you want to swim, or if you have early dinner, you may want your first night's outfits with you in case your luggage doesn't get there until early dinner.

Once at the port or onboard, visit the DVC Desk just to double check that they have designated your stateroom(s) as "DVC". This will make sure that they get you an invite to the DVC Reception, etc. Sometimes they send little DVC gifts to your stateroom throughout the cruise, like hats, pins, etc.

Thirdly, for your Magical Express transportation from the port, when you check in at the Cruise Terminal, your cruise packet should have had your ME transfer voucher inside of it. Again, double check with the CM when you check in - whether it is going back to a resort or to the airport. The cruiseline will give you color-coded bag tags on the day before disembarking. Your stateroom host/hostess can give you more if needed. Mark your checked bags, 1 of 6, 2 of 6, etc depending on how many you are checking. Don't forget to keep a day bag for your pajamas and an outfit to wear the next day and toiletries!

You will indeed be able to leave your luggage outside your door the last evening. Due to US Customs, however, when you disembark, you will go to a room that holds your checked bags, and take them through the Customs line for inspection. Get a porter to assist you - it is well worth the small tip you give him as you rarely get stopped and asked to open your bags. We usually tip about $2 to $3 a bag. He will make sure that your bags (and you) get to the proper ME bus.

Hope this helps!

 

[lilpooh108]

We have done this before, but we did our own transportation each way from SSR to the port back to SSR.

You can check in with DCL at the resort. I'm not sure that they can give you your ship KTTW since you are not on a Land/Sea package, but they can confirm your transportation and let you know the pick-up time/location etc. The cruise desk is not staffed every day - so check with the Front Desk people to find out when a Rep will be at the Cruise Desk and visit prior to your embarkation day. You will have received luggage tags with your mailed documents, and you should put them on before your luggage is picked up by Bell Services. Take a day bag with you in case you get there early enough that you want to swim, or if you have early dinner, you may want your first night's outfits with you in case your luggage doesn't get there until early dinner.

Once at the port or onboard, visit the DVC Desk just to double check that they have designated your stateroom(s) as "DVC". This will make sure that they get you an invite to the DVC Reception, etc. Sometimes they send little DVC gifts to your stateroom throughout the cruise, like hats, pins, etc.

Thirdly, for your Magical Express transportation from the port, when you check in at the Cruise Terminal, your cruise packet should have had your ME transfer voucher inside of it. Again, double check with the CM when you check in - whether it is going back to a resort or to the airport. The cruiseline will give you color-coded bag tags on the day before disembarking. Your stateroom host/hostess can give you more if needed. Mark your checked bags, 1 of 6, 2 of 6, etc depending on how many you are checking. Don't forget to keep a day bag for your pajamas and an outfit to wear the next day and toiletries!

You will indeed be able to leave your luggage outside your door the last evening. Due to US Customs, however, when you disembark, you will go to a room that holds your checked bags, and take them through the Customs line for inspection. Get a porter to assist you - it is well worth the small tip you give him as you rarely get stopped and asked to open your bags. We usually tip about $2 to $3 a bag. He will make sure that your bags (and you) get to the proper ME bus.

Hope this helps!

This is such great info! We're doing the same thing...can we:
(1) check in at the resort before the cruise
(2) and them bell services our luggage even though we're not taking DCL transportation ?

 

[TiaMaria]

This is such great info! We're doing the same thing...can we:
(1) check in at the resort before the cruise
(2) and them bell services our luggage even though we're not taking DCL transportation ?

1) Unless something has changed since we cruised last July, you can only check-in for your cruise at the resort (in other words your KTTW card is good for your resort and your stateroom) if you have booked a Land/Sea package. If not, and if you are not taking Disney transportation to the port, there is no way/reason to check in at the resort cruise desk.

2) Bell Services can pick up your luggage from your villa and take it to the front transportation area even if you are not taking Disney transportation to the port. They will give you a tag, just like normal, for you to turn in once you are ready to leave and your transportation is there to pick you up or you are driving a car. I would recommend putting your cruise luggage tags on before Bell Services takes your bags, in order to save time at the port as it can be a bit chaotic on embarkation day. Once at the port, a porter or a CM will greet you and take charge of your bags. Since you are not doing a Land/Sea package and it is not covered in your cost, it is appropriate to give the porter a tip at this time. If you are driving yourself, to save time I recommend stopping to drop off your bags once at port, and then self-parking.

I wish I was cruising again this summer! Hope you have a great time and this info helps!

 

[huey578]

Check out this thread ,it might help
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2380256

 

[mimmiepnp]

Thank you for all the replies. I knew, as always, I would get the right answers here

 

[vicki_c]

As far as I know, there is no such thing as the Land/Sea package any longer, but I'm not sure what difference that makes relative to how it all works. But they did away with the Land/Sea package last year, I believe.