Is it really a disadvantage to take Disney Transfer to Ship?

[msbinky]

Hello all! I am going on th Land and Sea 4 day Cruise/3 day land and scheduled the Disney transfers but am concerned we will not arrive in time to make ressie for spa or Palo. I have seen that some say you don't board until 1230-100. When do they start taking ressie? Have you been able to get them when using the Disney transfers? Any experience? Thanks!

 

[Chattyaholic]

Our first Disney cruise was for our 25th anniversary, and we let Disney make all the arrangements (air, hotel, transfers). We spent 4 nights at the Contemporary Resort at Disney World before our 7-night Magic cruise. The bus picked us up at the resort, at noon if I remember correctly. But we then had several other resort stops to pick more people up, plus we had to make an unscheduled stop at Downtown Disney for a woman and her child who had missed their original pickup point. We did not get to the port until 1:45 p.m. Granted, there were no lines to check in, but had we wanted to make Palo or spa ressies I'm sure we would have been out of luck at that late time. Our next cruises we drove to the port ourselves (stayed the night before at the Radisson), that way we could control the time we got there and had time to make the ressies we wanted. I would take the Disney transfer from the ship to the airport, but not from the airport/resort to the ship.

 

[poconoboatniks]

Ditto! Our first cruise DCL air & transfer got us to the port around 3:00. By the time we checked in and got onboard, we had very few choices left for Palo reservations. We missed out on dolphin swim ressies that were available onboard and lunch.

The transfers back to the hotel are great. We claimed our baggage, wheeled them to the USAir desk at the port (all of 50 feet away from the baggage claim) and didn't have to worry about our bags until we got to Philly.

Enjoy your trip!

Poconoboatniks

 

[Jiffymom]

Do you have a choice? I thought you paid for round trip transfers. Can you get a one way?

 

[mmouse37]

It not a disadvantage....except if you were on this bus!!! Sorry I could not resist.

http://www.local6.com/news/3683875/detail.html



Jiffymom....one can definately purchase one way transers from DCL. You can do it before you cruise or if you have no transfers booked yet, you can do it onboard (for the return).

MJ

 

[cruisedis05]

I would love to know the same thing. I'm going on a land/sea but want to get to the ship in time to do what I have to. Can you use DIS BUS for everything except going to the ship? Can I get a car service for just that? How would I price the dis transfer just for what I want?

 

[Rence]

Taking DCL transportation was the low point of our trip and the one thing that I would never do again.

We didn't get to the ship very late, but reservations for just about everything were long gone.

My advice, do not take DCL transfers.

 

[kar313]

MJ - Very interesting story!

That would def be a major disadvantage for the bus to catch fire! Those poor people. I hope they were able to get belongings off first. The article said most of luggage had been transferred to ship already but usually you are carrying the important stuff. Passports, money etc.

Guess will have to wait till those folks get back from the cruise to hear if anyone from the DIS boards was on the bus. Hope not!

 

[mhb]

I arrive at the Orlando airport at 9:30am. I thought when the bus fill they take off. I should be at port by 11:30am. Am I being miss lead?

Thanks,
Michelle

 

[DisneyBill]

Originally posted by mhb
I arrive at the Orlando airport at 9:30am. I thought when the bus fill they take off. I should be at port by 11:30am. Am I being miss lead?

Thanks,
Michelle

I believe most of the problem/concern here is the transfers from a Disney Resort the day of the cruise departure. 3 weeks ago, a party we were cruising with who flew-in that morning at the same time as you, was at the port when we got there about 11:00. (we drove over) Obviously later arriving flights will get to the port later.

 

[mhb]

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly DisneyBill

Thanks Michelle

 

[brack]

We love the bus ride and have had no problem getting the reservations we wanted. This was done on two cruises

 

[kcashner]

Some of the replies here were comparing apples and oranges. The original poster will be leaving from a WDW resort. In that case, the bus leaves at a scheduled time, usually about 12:30.

A reply poster is leaving from MCO. In that case, the first bus departs MCO as soon after 9:30 as it is filled. Follow-up busses leave about every 15-20 minutes, again, as soon as one is filled , it leaves for the port and the next one starts filling.

To the first poster--the transfers from WDW are a long way from my favorite thing because of the late arrival at the port. The land/sea package does include transfers normally. However, you can purchase transfers one way (cost is $25 per "leg." A leg is one bus ride. MCO - WDW is a leg, WDW to Port is a leg, Port to MCO is a leg). You very well may be disappointed in the lack of available ressies on a 4 day if you use DCL transfers to the port from WDW. Alternatives are to use private limo for that leg or to do the REAS package where you can book Palo and spa ressies in advance.

The leg from MCO to Port is not bad, especially for first timers. There is a nice video about the ship, and they get you there fairly quickly.

 

[kellib36]

Originally posted by kcashner
Some of the replies here were comparing apples and oranges. The original poster will be leaving from a WDW resort. In that case, the bus leaves at a scheduled time, usually about 12:30.

Exactly! We took the DCL bus from the Poly in Sept. They picked us up at exactly noon, but then went to GF and AKL. Then, its a good hour to the Port. Fwiw, we only had 8 people on that trip, and the driver made sure everyone on the radio knew it at each checkpoint. He'd radio in and say the bus number, and "a grand total of 8 onboard" or something to that effect.

As far as I know, no DCL bus leaves WDW before noon.

 

[domiii]

We took the transfer from WL and had no problem. We didn't stop at any other resort and got to port about 12:30. No problem with Palo reservatiosn on the 3 day!

Loved not having to handle our luggage.

 

[1stNoel]

Anyone know what time the CMs show up at the Hyatt to check people in for the bus?

We are telling the kids we're staying at the Hyatt after WDW because we have an early flight out. We are trying to secretly check in for the bus while DHs take the kids to the food court for breakfast.

Thanks,
Noel

 

[allears]

1stnoel,

From what I've read here on the boards there is a CM at the Hyatt at 9:30. They check you in and start loading busses right from there. We are staying there the night before our cruise and I'm excited about this option. Make sure your on the list for DCL at the Hyatt.

msbinky, on our first cruise we were doing the land/sea package as well. You do get to the port a later. Shore excursions can be booked in advance, but Palo is another story of course. I'm pretty sure you can do one way only with DCL. When we're coming from the airport, I defninetly book DCL transfers, love not handling my luggage, but also enjoy the bus, cast memebers and the video. We tend to get a really early flight so we can get to the port as early as possible.

The upshot is, I love DCL transfers, but wouldn't use them when coming from the resorts. We're too eager to get to the ship.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I remember a couple of years ago there was a traffic problem while we were on our way from the resort to the cruise. The bus driver assured us they would hold the cruise because we were using DCL transportation but not for other transportation delays.

It felt like extra trip insurance.

Maybe that isn't true anymore. Does anyone know?

 

[kellib36]

Originally posted by domiii
We took the transfer from WL and had no problem. We didn't stop at any other resort and got to port about 12:30. No problem with Palo reservatiosn on the 3 day! Loved not having to handle our luggage.

This is why I made sure to say we only had 8 people on our bus. Obviously, they weren't going to send 3 busses out to the port, 2 with 2 people and 1 with 4, so they combined those resorts in that day. But you won't know how many stops your bus is going to make until they do. Still, I'm guessing most resorts will have people picked up by 1pm, though that's just a guess on my part.

We saw busses heading to the port WAY later than I'd be wanting to go on more than one occasion. Some as late as 3pm, and I say that because there was more one together. I assumed that they were coming from the airport, and not WDW.

And, yes, the luggage handling is an awesome help. When I took my mil and we had 4 suitcases, a carryon, and her medication bag and wheelchair, baggage assistance was most welcome.

Luggage assistance is also the reason that bus that caught on fire didn't have much luggage onboard. They pick up your luggage REALLY early, in our case 8am, so your luggage is already at the port before they ever come to get you.

DCL transfers are good under certain conditions, but they do have limits as with anything. Not everyone will be happy with just one option, so you have your choice.

Good luck everyone and let us know what you decide. Kelli

 

[allears]

From what I've read and understand, if Disney is responsible for getting you to the port, and through no fault of your own they are delay, I do believe they would hold the ship. I've also seen other posts, where if you've purchased Disney Transportation they get you there, even if it means from another air port or to an emergency boarding in Key West, like the 8/14 cruise when people were diverted all over because of Charly. I too look at it as a little extra insurance. After all if you're on one of their buses and it's stuck somewhere, they should wait. But if you're on your own, they have no obligation to hold the ship.