Has anyone ever taken Disney transportation between a WDW resort and the port

[Masonmj84]

and missed lunch on the ship on embarkation day?

And, in a related question, does your WDW resort class matter?

For example, we've previously taken Disney transportation from a WDW resort to Port Canaveral on two different occasions, once from AKL and other time from the Poly (both deluxe resorts). In both instances, I recall leaving the resort around 11:45 am and arriving at the port around 1 pm-ish.

And both times, after going through secruity and checking in, we spent some time waiting for the kids' club wristband thing and, despite that, I remember boarding the ship well before 2 pm and still having plenty of time for lunch at Cabanas.

But I've heard stories of busses sometimes not leaving WDW resorts until around 1 pm and arriving at the port so late that by the time passengers got through security and checked in, it was too late for lunch on the ship (or they had a really hurried lunch as CM's anxiously pushed them of the restaurant before the Muster drill).

Just trying to determine if we were sort of lucky the two previous times and a possible worst-case scenario (FWIW, this will be an adults only cruise where we plan to board the ship as soon as we've checked in).

 

[apathetic]

We've done the bus several times, usually from AKL, and never missed lunch. I think all but one time we went directly to the port from AKL. One time we made a few other stops before leaving. Once we were the last stop for the bus. I know they try to stagger the buses from WDW so you don't get 10 at the same time. It's possible to miss lunch, but from WDW I think that would be rare. I've seen buses arriving close to the muster drill, but assumed they were late arrivals at the airport.

 

[dvcdisney]

We've taken it every time we depart from Port Canaveral.

I don't know if it has anything to do with resort class. I doubt it. I thought pick up was based on location. But I can't really say for sure, we have always stayed at a DVC resort before a cruise - BCV (most of the time), AKV and GFV.

And we've never missed lunch on the ship. Sometimes, we're later in arriving, but we've always had time to have lunch. If it matters, we've always chosen to eat at the dining room and not Cabanas.

 

[kiford]

I've read the same things but never missed lunch myself and we've used DCL transfers from a WDW resort 5 times. We've been picked up as late as 12:30 (scheduled for 12:30 but didn't leave until at least 12:45 then stopped at another resort). I've always had time to go to the room, drop off and unpack carry-ons, check my port adventure tickets (twice had to go to Port Adventures desk to have them fixed), check with Guest Services and sign up for tastings and still had time for lunch. We've eaten in both Cabanas and MDRs although Cabanas is open later.

 

[amiskell28]

Related question (sorry for the hijack):

If using DCL to port, do you then get there too late to possibly book a Palo brunch (assuming you couldn't book ahead of time)? Will all the reservations be gone by then? (7 day on Fantasy, btw).

This is our 1st cruise. Would very much like to experience Palo, although I won' be heartbroken if we don't. Staying at Poly pre-cruise, and have been waffling with regard to private vs DCL transport. I think our DD7 would really enjoy the DCL bus, so am leaning that direction. TIA!

 

[dclpluto]

On my last Disney cruise. The bus left later than I had before. Can’t remember the time we left. Once we got to port they wouldn’t let us off the bus had to wait on bus for about 10 minutes for the security line to go down some. Time we got on ship it was 1:50 went to enchanted garden they close at 2. If we wasn’t platinum we probably would of miss enchanted garden and had to go to cabanas.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Your WDW resort class doesn't seem to matter. We were once picked up at BWI and the bus then stopped at a mod and then AoA. It seemed to take forever. I, personally, would never do DCL transport to the port again. We spend the extra money and hire a car service so we can get to the port exactly when we want to.

 

[diznymom]

We've done the DCL bus from AKL and AS Sports. We left and arrived about the same time for each. (I didn't check the time....I was on "Island Time"). We never missed lunch and both Cabanas and one of the MDRs were open for lunch.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

Our last cruise the bus departed SSR at 12:00 sharp for the 1 hr 20 min trip. SSR tends to be a magnet or meeting point because it fills up the bus. No other stops, direct to the port. Got through embarking process and straight to lunch.

 

[RysMomma]

We got there almost at lunch closing time two years ago from AoA. We had stopped at another resort before the Port as well. I was a little bummed but we're doing it again this year, as well. It is what it is and I'm sure I'll make up for the food I miss sometime during the rest of our trip!