Is this WDW-PC transportation plan too ambitious?

[pangyal]

I would love some experts' input on this plan...even though we don't sail until October, I would like to figure out this transportation so I can decide whether to add ground transfers to the total now (planning on transferring the booking to Costco for the gift card tomorrow).

Quick synopsis- my kiddo is turning 10 this year and thinks that just he and I are heading down for a very short, four-day trip to WDW to do the Halloween party. What he doesn't know is that instead of heading home on the last day, we are actually going to board the Dream for a four-night cruise. I even splurged on Concierge (have never done it, have been consistently priced out, but without hubby there...it's almost justifiable in price!).

Here is my quandary: despite what the nice lady at DCL told me over the phone, I highly doubt that they would send a DCL bus to pick us up at the resort any earlier than usual just because we are Concierge and want to get there earlier. I am sure she was misinformed, but this was what she told me when I asked what time the buses leave from the resorts. My understanding from this forum is that the resort-PC buses leave WDW no earlier than about 11:30, getting guests to port between 12:30-1:30. The thing is, if we are going to be able to take advantage of trying the AquaDuck for the first time and having the benefit of anytime boarding/ stateroom ready a bit earlier, I'd like to arrive as early as possible.

We would not be renting a car, for absolute certain. But, my idea is to put the kidlet on an early ME bus to MCO, which is what he'd be expecting, around 8-9am. Then, instead of going home, we'd simply check in at the same spot for the DCL bus, which I *think* from my reading starts leaving pretty early and can get us to port around 10?

Do I have my times right? I realize that it's an extra hour of travel time on ME, but I don't want to waste that little perk of early boarding by getting there so late from the resort. If anyone has any information regarding possible earlier DCL pickup times from the resorts, please let me know!

Or, would you do a private transfer direct to the port instead?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I would love some experts' input on this plan...even though we don't sail until October, I would like to figure out this transportation so I can decide whether to add ground transfers to the total now (planning on transferring the booking to Costco for the gift card tomorrow).

Quick synopsis- my kiddo is turning 10 this year and thinks that just he and I are heading down for a very short, four-day trip to WDW to do the Halloween party. What he doesn't know is that instead of heading home on the last day, we are actually going to board the Dream for a four-night cruise. I even splurged on Concierge (have never done it, have been consistently priced out, but without hubby there...it's almost justifiable in price!).

Here is my quandary: despite what the nice lady at DCL told me over the phone, I highly doubt that they would send a DCL bus to pick us up at the resort any earlier than usual just because we are Concierge and want to get there earlier. I am sure she was misinformed, but this was what she told me when I asked what time the buses leave from the resorts. My understanding from this forum is that the resort-PC buses leave WDW no earlier than about 11:30, getting guests to port between 12:30-1:30. The thing is, if we are going to be able to take advantage of trying the AquaDuck for the first time and having the benefit of anytime boarding/ stateroom ready a bit earlier, I'd like to arrive as early as possible.

We would not be renting a car, for absolute certain. But, my idea is to put the kidlet on an early ME bus to MCO, which is what he'd be expecting, around 8-9am. Then, instead of going home, we'd simply check in at the same spot for the DCL bus, which I *think* from my reading starts leaving pretty early and can get us to port around 10?

Do I have my times right? I realize that it's an extra hour of travel time on ME, but I don't want to waste that little perk of early boarding by getting there so late from the resort. If anyone has any information regarding possible earlier DCL pickup times from the resorts, please let me know!

Or, would you do a private transfer direct to the port instead?

OK, you're already fine with the extra hour of travel. You'll also need to wrangle your own bags from resort to Magical Express, then from the bus to the DCL transfer desk to check them to the ship.

Also, arriving at the port at 10:00 (or 10:30, when they open) won't get you on the ship that much earlier. Boarding doesn't begin until around 11:30 for most cruises, with Open Boarding being called by about 12:30. Really that one hour difference doesn't make a lot of difference, once everyone's onboard.

I also doubt that they'll send an early bus just for you just because you're Concierge. Now, maybe, your bus may be one of the first pickups (getting you to the port around 11:45 or so).

 

[jdb in AZ]

I've never heard of a DCL transfer bus being dispatched just to pick up two concierge passengers early. The buses are usually busy taking disembarking passengers to the airport.

I would opt for a private transfer so you don't have to leave your resort extra early to take a bus to the airport just to transfer to another bus.

 

[mom2brooke76]

I would also do a private transfer to keep the surprise going longer

 

[pangyal]

Thanks all above! I knew for certain that the CM was completely wrong about the bus picking up early for Concierge, so I knew that wasn’t going to work. If they would pick us up at the resort around 10-10:30, I’d be fine with it, but it looks like the first one is around 11:30 or noon and the resort-Port guests are among the last to arrive.

I had actually called in to find out what item the first bus picks up at the resorts and that’s when the misinformed CM tod me they’d for sure have a bus to take early boarders down first thing in the morning, but I knew from this forum that this wouldn’t be possible. I didn’t want to argue with her, of course!

My only concern about private transfers is that my kiddo actually knows the MEA route off by heart, so he’d figure it out as soon as we were off property...lol.

 

[IrishEye]

if its all about the surprise, I would use DCL transfer to port. because bags are handled would be similar to if you were going to airport. being concierge I don't know there is a big advantage to get to port an hour earlier. he will find out once the bus leaves the property and turns on the video which talks about the cruise, unless he thinks they are just advertising. plus DCL transportation was part of the experience for our kids when they were young.

 

[seacruise]

I would do a private car service to the port as well. That way you can get there on your own time schedule and not rely on the DCL buses. We just did this a week or so ago and got picked up at 10:00am (near MCO), we arrived at the port right around 11:00 for our 11:00-11:30 PAT. We were in boarding group 5 and walked on the ship within 5-10 minutes of the family of the day. Boarding started ~12:00pm.

 

[KVH]

Def the private service. Like Happy Limo. Even for just 3 people, will be 30-40% less than the price of a Disney bus.

 

[dcassetta]

The challenge with the Disney transfers, is you won't know until the night before what time they're picking up at your resort. So it could be before 11, or it could be much later than that.

I think I would consider the private transfers also. You can pretend like you're just going to the airport, and then as you go past the airport, share with your son what's really going on.

 

[Partyof4LA]

If getting to port early is a priority, I’m another vote for private transportation. IMO, going from resort to airport just to catch a bus a little earlier is not worth the hassle to me. And there is no guarantee that you will be on the first bus out from the airport, it’s first come first served and you may have to wait for another bus. So you would have to leave your resort very early if you want to be at the front of that line.

My only concern about private transfers is that my kiddo actually knows the MEA route off by heart, so he’d figure it out as soon as we were off property...lol.

When were you planning on telling him about the cruise? As others have said, the dcl bus plays video about the cruise and that would give it away (or if you get one of the buses with the dcl theme all over it, that would be a dead giveaway).

 

[undertheradar]

The surprise would be revealed when you would leave your bags for bell services if you are taking DCL transport to the port. That, and all of the excited families gathering in the lobby area to check-in with the DCL cms to await the arrival of the DCL bus.

 

[pangyal]

If getting to port early is a priority, I’m another vote for private transportation. IMO, going from resort to airport just to catch a bus a little earlier is not worth the hassle to me. And there is no guarantee that you will be on the first bus out from the airport, it’s first come first served and you may have to wait for another bus. So you would have to leave your resort very early if you want to be at the front of that line.



When were you planning on telling him about the cruise? As others have said, the dcl bus plays video about the cruise and that would give it away (or if you get one of the buses with the dcl theme all over it, that would be a dead giveaway).

I was hoping to have him all weepy since we would be heading home and instead of hoofing it onto the Tragical Express, we would board the DCL bus that pulls up instead (if we do the resort transfer). That’s how it played out in my mind, anyway .

I’m thinking it might just be easier to lose those two extra hours on the ship and instead just take the resort to port DCL bus, whenever it arrives. Thank you to the rational and helpful people who have responded!

 

[pangyal]

The surprise would be revealed when you would leave your bags for bell services if you are taking DCL transport to the port. That, and all of the excited families gathering in the lobby area to check-in with the DCL cms to await the arrival of the DCL bus.

Oh, they take your bags from the resort to the ship? We don’t even have to haul them onto the bus like with ME? That seems super easy.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I was hoping to have him all weepy since we would be heading home and instead of hoofing it onto the Tragical Express, we would board the DCL bus that pulls up instead (if we do the resort transfer). That’s how it played out in my mind, anyway .

I’m thinking it might just be easier to lose those two extra hours on the ship and instead just take the resort to port DCL bus, whenever it arrives. Thank you to the rational and helpful people who have responded!

We've done the DCL resort transfer and, yes, it picks up quite late and then typically stops at other resorts. It felt like it took forever to get there and I really had to come up with things to do that morning to kill some time (character breakfast, walk around the Boardwalk, etc.)

We only use private transfers now. Yes, it's a little more expensive, but worth it to us to get to the ship earlier so we can settle in and start enjoying the amenities. We use Park Ave. Limo. They are scheduled to pick us up at 10:30 am so we get to PC around 11:45 am.

 

[mareed]

Guess I'll be the differing opinion and say that I'd definitely take ME back to the airport early and then catch the DCL transfer from airport to port to be able to get on the ship a few hours early. I've done this before and absolutely would do it again! Luggage handling is no big deal, and you've got an almost 10 year old who can help. Or do private transfer, but no way would I wait for the port transfer from the resort!

 

[ktb2002]

What about staying at the Hyatt inside MCO on the last night instead of Disney? You would need to take your luggage to the hotel room yourself, but if you use DCL transfers to the port they will get your luggage from your hotel room to the ship. You could tell your son that DME wants to pick you up too early the next morning and it’s better to stay at the airport. Just throwing out another option for you.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

IMO, going from resort to airport just to catch a bus a little earlier is not worth the hassle to me. And there is no guarantee that you will be on the first bus out from the airport, it’s first come first served and you may have to wait for another bus. So you would have to leave your resort very early if you want to be at the front of that li

Just wanted to push back on this part a little. Since the OP is concierge, I think they definitely will be allowed to get on the first bus at MCO when they arrive there. I have read hear numerous times that that is a perk for concierge guests taking the DCL transfers from the airport.

Otherwise, it is entirely up to what you think would be the best. Each way has advantages.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

Oh, they take your bags from the resort to the ship? We don’t even have to haul them onto the bus like with ME? That seems super easy.

Yes, they do. But! When we did this, they instructed us to have our luggage ready to be picked up at our room by 7am!! We had been out at the Park until late the night before and there was no joy in getting up early to put out our luggage. When it was finally time to load the bus at Noon, I realized We could have kept our luggage with us and put it on the bus at that time. That scenario would have worked better for us. Just wanted to mention this.

 

[mareed]

Yes, they do. But! When we did this, they instructed us to have our luggage ready to be picked up at our room by 7am!! We had been out at the Park until late the night before and there was no joy in getting up early to put out our luggage. When it was finally time to load the bus at Noon, I realized We could have kept our luggage with us and put it on the bus at that time. That scenario would have worked better for us. Just wanted to mention this.

Yes, that was my understanding also - that your bags need to be ready early, and then you leave 4-5 hours later. Wake up early and get packed up, and then sit and wait. No way for me unless I was at a resort where I really wanted to spend a few more hours. And then if I'm taking my bags anyway, I'd rather take ME to the airport and be on one of the earliest buses from airport to the port! And still sleep later than I would have in order to have my bags ready for early pickup.

 

[bumbershoot]

My only concern about private transfers is that my kiddo actually knows the MEA route off by heart, so he’d figure it out as soon as we were off property...lol.

Well he’s got to figure it out at some point.

I was hoping to have him all weepy since we would be heading home and instead of hoofing it onto the Tragical Express, we would board the DCL bus that pulls up instead (if we do the resort transfer). That’s how it played out in my mind, anyway .

It won’t work like that. He’ll know well beforehand.

If you’re getting the dcl transfer from the resort it’ll be weird bc they’ll come to your room and get your bags.

Then you check in at x time and wait around in the lobby for about half an hour. It’s all very very obvious that people are headed to the cruise. And as he figures it out it’ll either be in your room when the bags are picked up or in the lobby.

If you take dme to the airport that’ll seem normal, but you won’t be using rac, so if he’s used to that it’ll seem odd. At some point you’ll put the cruise tags on and he’ll notice that. And once you get off the bus and head to the dcl area that’s when he’ll know. So you’ll be checking in, in public, when he finds out.

If you take private transport I’d they do take a different route or once the vehicle passes the airport he’ll figure it out, and it’ll be in a private vehicle. Which is nice imo.

And if the surprise goes differently than you expect (my son’s reaction was pretty small to our ONE surprise cruise), then you are in private as well. For instance he might be super bummed that Dad isn’t there.

What about staying at the Hyatt inside MCO on the last night instead of Disney? You would need to take your luggage to the hotel room yourself, but if you use DCL transfers to the port they will get your luggage from your hotel room to the ship. You could tell your son that DME wants to pick you up too early the next morning and it’s better to stay at the airport. Just throwing out another option for you.

That’s what we did. Worked well.


OP you were right to doubt the CM. That’s not something they do. Our only from-resort transport experience was as concierge passengers. We got there painfully late and especially since it was a three night cruise missing that first hour or two on the ship made us feel behind the 8 ball the whole time. And we had non concierge family that drove in and got in ages before and texted us when they got onboard so that was painful.