Heathrow to Southampton Port using Disney Transportation

[hmsTigger]

Hello

It's 2 weeks until our cruise and we have paid for transportation to and from Southampton port by Disney Bus. We are paid up but have not received any acknowledgement where to meet the bus.
I called the DCL number and spoke with a CM who told us there is a bus leaving from Terminals 2,3,4,5 on the day of the cruise.
Not clear where to meet and the Disney rep or coach and CM was not sure either and did not know where in the airport they would be located. To us this is the mist important part of our upcoming trip and the most anxiety provoking.
Has anyone travelled this summer on the Dream from Heathrow to Southampton and used DCL Bus transportation that could provide any information or clarity? Many Thanks!

 

[auntlynne]

I offer this to help ease your concerns.

I tried various word combinations in an online search. Then came across Carnival Cruise’s info:

”Transportation Instructions:
After collecting luggage, guests should walk through customs and into the arrivals area. A representative will be located at the arrivals halls (T1, T2, T3 and T5) and will escort guests to the next available pier transportation.”

Which triggered my memory of seeing this type situation when I landed in other airports.

Get off the plane, go through Customs and luggage collection. Look for the Representatives for Disney. Expect to see name tags, clothing different from tired travelers - and often a lectern or table. Often, there will be more than one cruise line there. Or a person holding a sign that says Disney Cruise Transfers.

It should go better than the lack of help you get from calling someone located in Orlando. It would be nice if they had a Helpful Hints binder, sure.

Just be mentally prepared that Heathrow is big and busy. It’s an adventure. Soon you will be on the familiar? Disney ship.

Have a great cruise! Cheerio!

 

[Girl of the South]

It’s been a few years since I did this. They were after customs and after you get your luggage and there were maybe 6 DCL reps and one had a pair of those big white Mickey hands on! I remember they took my bag and I wanted to get a magazine. 15 minutes later they were boarding. I had NOT just flown in. I had spent a couple nights in London and then just took the Tube back out to the airport. Although it’s a big airport, everyone arriving from overseas funnels into an arrival hall. What terminal do you arrive at? I can post a little map for you if you tell me. As I recall, it was very easy. We did a very quick “loo” stop on the way there and a quick stop at the castle. If you want to buy anything like a magazine or some candy for the cruise, get it before you get on the bus.

 

[auntlynne]

…there were maybe 6 DCL reps and one had a pair of those big white Mickey hands on!…

Yes - Mickey hands!

 

[hmsTigger]

Terminal 3 arrival but we are arriving 2 days earlier staing near the airport and will go back on the day of cruise morning to get the bus. Thanks for the info. I'd feel better if Disney contacted us with a time and place to meet
Yesterday we got an email about transportation oprions and how to take trains from London and how to get a taxi from the train in Southamptom to the ship????

 

[Girl of the South]

The Tube station is between T2 and T3. Here is the map of the Arrivals Hall of Terminal 2. I saw a post from a private transfer company that will take you to Southampton and it said to wait in front of WHSmith (magazines, candy). But that's just for one family. Think about it. Disney will be waiting for more than one family. And they will be standing there with a sign, really obvious that they are Disney - and as I recall they were smack dab in the middle, sort of near a door because they had luggage carts that they would fill up and then take out to the bus.


So there's the Nero coffee shops at each end . . and see the big orange box on the right? That's where everyone enters after having gone through customs - everyone files into the center. Only the white part is where you can be. If I had to guess, I seem to remember they were sort of near the Plaza Premium Lounge and that exit - because I had to walk to the other end (like 3 minutes) to get the magazine. Other staff were trying to catch people just coming off a flight. You honestly can't miss them. And if they told you to stand in front of a specific store or shop then that would block people from going in there. And the DCL staff is actively trying to find the people on their list. If you look lost they will ask - wear a pair of ears or a Disney shirt when you go back to the airport and trust me, they will find you!

As for the email - is it a generic email to everyone on the ship? Maybe you should confirm the transfer? Or is it on your reservation? I know it's stressful but I promise you, you can't miss the Mouse!!!

 

[Girl of the South]

PS. They should at least give you a time - unless they are going off the flight info you gave them? They might try to meet that flight even though you came in early???

 

[bcwife76]

Hopefully since you are getting transport TO Southampton it will be easier for you getting it again after the cruise....we disembarked the 11 night on Saturday and Southampton was awful. They were horribly disorganized and trying to find our DCL bus (the CORRECT one) was a nightmare. Some of the staff were incredibly rude as well We were headed to Gatwick (flight was the following day but we had a hotel booked) but they sent us to a bus that was only going to the Hilton Gatwick. The driver was amazing and he actually took us to our hotel as well, plus another couple going to a different hotel AND two other families going directly to Gatwick. Also, no one asked for confirmation....so glad I paid $70USpp with no one asking for confirmation

 

[plutolovr]

From the DCL website:
Upon arrival at London Heathrow International Airport or London Gatwick International Airport, proceed through Immigration. A Disney Cruise Line representative will be available outside the baggage claim area to direct you to your designated transportation. Transportation may include a motorcoach, minibus or taxi, depending on arrival time and party size.

 

[hmsTigger]

PS. They should at least give you a time - unless they are going off the flight info you gave them? They might try to meet that flight even though you came in early???

When I did online check in I put that we were arriving 2 days early. Then I called to let a CM know that we would return to the airport on the morning of the cruise to access the bus. CM said, go to terminal, 2,3,4,or 5 around 11. I thought that was so unusual because DCL should know which terminal you would arrive at in order to know which bus to take? CM said it didn't matter. If we miss a bus or its overcrowded we are concerned Not much time to get this straightened out.
IDK if others got a generic email about train transportation. Gives you a start receiving this email as we have had this on our reservation since January and credit card was charged for DCL bus. I appreciate the map and all of the info!

 

[hmsTigger]

Hopefully since you are getting transport TO Southampton it will be easier for you getting it again after the cruise....we disembarked the 11 night on Saturday and Southampton was awful. They were horribly disorganized and trying to find our DCL bus (the CORRECT one) was a nightmare. Some of the staff were incredibly rude as well We were headed to Gatwick (flight was the following day but we had a hotel booked) but they sent us to a bus that was only going to the Hilton Gatwick. The driver was amazing and he actually took us to our hotel as well, plus another couple going to a different hotel AND two other families going directly to Gatwick. Also, no one asked for confirmation....so glad I paid $70USpp with no one asking for confirmation

WOW! Chaos you don't need after a relaxing cruise.
How long was the return trip? What time did you disembark?
I know it was $75 pp for 1 way You would think they would ask for confirmation. I don't remember this disorganization 4 years ago in Dover. We walked right off the Magic and were shown to a bus So easy Stress is not needed for a vacaction.

 

[bcwife76]

Disembarkation chaos was not just the fault of the port, Disney stopped calling luggage tags after the 4tgvtag We had the last breakfast seating at 8:30am in Enchanted Garden. The last tag we heard called was at 8:45am. Breakfast was slow (weird, last day is usually quick). Lots of us still in the dining room at 9:15. I went to use the ladies room, tons of people in deck 2. Came out and saw on the screen several more luggage tags including ours! We finally got off the ship a couple minutes after 9:30. Lots of people still coming off behind us. It was probably 9:50/9:55 by the time we were on tbe bus, he was told to wait until 10:30 to leave. Took us 2+ hours to get to the Gatwick area, one family on our bus may or may not have made their flight as it left at 2:10 and they started boarding the flight before 1pm DCL told them this bus time would be fine, they should have done express walk off, I felt so badly for them. We were dropped off at our hotel near Gatwick at 1:05. Lonnnggg morning. An hour later we went and caught a train to Brighton for the afternoon Sorry for the run on paragraph, I'm on my phone replying

 

[Girl of the South]

Terminal 5 is hard to get to - I'd do 2 or 3. I guess they have a master list that they go off of - but if you told them you that you were not going to actually be arriving at T3 - I guess it doesn't matter? I was going to say I thought it was around 11. Takes about 2 hours with the stops. I think we only stopped at the castle because we were a bit early to arrive at the Port. Will you have phone service (like just the $10 a day kind?)
Just in case here is Disney UK info:

For assistance with your Disney Cruise, please call 0800 171 2317.
We're here 7 days a week: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Saturday 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM; Sunday 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

And if push comes to shove, grab a taxi. Not cheap but at least you'll make your cruise!

 

[hmsTigger]

Disembarkation chaos was not just the fault of the port, Disney stopped calling luggage tags after the 4tgvtag We had the last breakfast seating at 8:30am in Enchanted Garden. The last tag we heard called was at 8:45am. Breakfast was slow (weird, last day is usually quick). Lots of us still in the dining room at 9:15. I went to use the ladies room, tons of people in deck 2. Came out and saw on the screen several more luggage tags including ours! We finally got off the ship a couple minutes after 9:30. Lots of people still coming off behind us. It was probably 9:50/9:55 by the time we were on tbe bus, he was told to wait until 10:30 to leave. Took us 2+ hours to get to the Gatwick area, one family on our bus may or may not have made their flight as it left at 2:10 and they started boarding the flight before 1pm DCL told them this bus time would be fine, they should have done express walk off, I felt so badly for them. We were dropped off at our hotel near Gatwick at 1:05. Lonnnggg morning. An hour later we went and caught a train to Brighton for the afternoon Sorry for the run on paragraph, I'm on my phone replying

I love all of the info and updates. It's so helpful to travelers coming after your cruise. We will try to be first off How do you do express walk off? We definitely will need that Our flight is 1pm However, we are prepared if we miss the flight.

Your favorite port this cruise?

 

[bcwife76]

I love all of the info and updates. It's so helpful to travelers coming after your cruise. We will try to be first off How do you do express walk off? We definitely will need that Our flight is 1pm However, we are prepared if we miss the flight.

Your favorite port this cruise?

For Express walk off you keep your luggage with you (don't put it in the hallway the night before) and as soon as they clear the ship you can leave. If you have early breakfast you should still be able to eat at your assigned restaurant (leave the luggage in the hall outside the restaurant) or you can go to Cabanas. Our fave ports....hard to choose! Fredericia (Denmark), Stockholm and Amsterdam Bruges was also pretty cool.

 

[DCLMP]

Disembarkation chaos was not just the fault of the port, Disney stopped calling luggage tags after the 4tgvtag We had the last breakfast seating at 8:30am in Enchanted Garden. The last tag we heard called was at 8:45am. Breakfast was slow (weird, last day is usually quick). Lots of us still in the dining room at 9:15. I went to use the ladies room, tons of people in deck 2. Came out and saw on the screen several more luggage tags including ours! We finally got off the ship a couple minutes after 9:30. Lots of people still coming off behind us. It was probably 9:50/9:55 by the time we were on tbe bus, he was told to wait until 10:30 to leave. Took us 2+ hours to get to the Gatwick area, one family on our bus may or may not have made their flight as it left at 2:10 and they started boarding the flight before 1pm DCL told them this bus time would be fine, they should have done express walk off, I felt so badly for them. We were dropped off at our hotel near Gatwick at 1:05. Lonnnggg morning. An hour later we went and caught a train to Brighton for the afternoon Sorry for the run on paragraph, I'm on my phone replying

It was a bit of a mess wasnt it? Guest services said it was an hour to Heathrow. but it was two. I heard someone say they had a flight at 1 I’m not sure if the made it. We got on the bus at 0945 and arrived around 1145.

 

[hmsTigger]

It was a bit of a mess wasnt it? Guest services said it was an hour to Heathrow. but it was two. I heard someone say they had a flight at 1 I’m not sure if the made it. We got on the bus at 0945 and arrived around 1145.

Were there earlier DCL buses to Heathrow? Hoping to get an earlier one to make our flight. WE'll try to do an express walk off. Thanks for posting your experience.

 

[DCLMP]

Were there earlier DCL buses to Heathrow? Hoping to get an earlier one to make our flight. WE'll try to do an express walk off. Thanks for posting your experience.

Yes I believe they start at 8am.

 

[bcwife76]

Yes I believe they start at 8am.

Yes we heard the same, earliest bus was 8am. Latest was supposed to be 9:30 but they would 'hold' the bus for anyone who had prepaid. We left at 10:30 along with some other buses and there were still buses that hadn't left yet. Really don't know how Southampton screwed this up so badly......

 

[DCLMP]

Yes we heard the same, earliest bus was 8am. Latest was supposed to be 9:30 but they would 'hold' the bus for anyone who had prepaid. We left at 10:30 along with some other buses and there were still buses that hadn't left yet. Really don't know how Southampton screwed this up so badly......

I was going to say there were a ton of people still waiting for buses at 0930. Our flight didn't leave until 515. I was hoping we would get there with enough time to store our carry-ons and jump on the tube to central London, but we got there at noon. Not really enough time to do anything in town, but gave us a long wait in Heathrow. I was wishing we would have stayed on the ship until the last bus. We were flying business class so we were able to lounge hop all the one-world lounges. I was a little tipsy by the time we boarded the plane.


If anyone is wondering Cathay Pacific is the winner for lounges.