Logistics when docking at Navy Mole in Key West

[Lisa Lisa]

We'll be sailing on the Magic over Thanksgiving, and one of our stops is Key West. Originally, we were to dock in Key west at Pier B on 11/28. Our itinerary changed recently, though, and now we'll be docking at Navy Mole on 11/26. From what I've gathered, Navy Mole is a bit inconvenient as compared to either Pier B or Mallory Square. I'm hoping that someone who has docked at Navy Mole can explain the process of disembarking the ship and getting off of the Navy base. Are there long lines to board the shuttles (or whatever form of transportation is offered)? Any other logistical issues to be aware of? We want to make our way over to the Old Town Trolley ticket booth near Mallory Square and are wondering how easy that will be. Thanks in advance for any info!

 

[adamki]

One of the trip reports written by dizneeat has a thorough description of arriving at the Navy Peir. She describes the procedure in detail.

 

[BigJon]

Regarding the lines, I believe it would depend on when you got off the ship. They usually have several trolleys waiting to take Disney guests. Make sure you have your Key To The World card, and your photo id, because you have to go thru security when you get back. The trolley definitely takes longer to get to town, than if you docked near town. But, the trolley from the Navy pier will drop you off right in the middle of "action". Notice the black arrow on the picture below. This is where they will drop you off......jonathan

 

[Shelebeen]

We'll be sailing on the Magic over Thanksgiving, and one of our stops is Key West. Originally, we were to dock in Key west at Pier B on 11/26. Our itinerary changed recently, though, and now we'll be docking at Navy Mole on 11/28. From what I've gathered, Navy Mole is a bit inconvenient as compared to either Pier B or Mallory Square. I'm hoping that someone who has docked at Navy Mole can explain the process of disembarking the ship and getting off of the Navy base. Are there long lines to board the shuttles (or whatever form of transportation is offered)? Any other logistical issues to be aware of? We want to make our way over to the Old Town Trolley ticket booth near Mallory Square and are wondering how easy that will be. Thanks in advance for any info!

It was super easy - there were tons of trolleys when we got off the ship. and then you just had to go back to the drop off spot to get back on a waiting trollley to get back to the ship. We made one stop on the way back - some people had gone to the beach on the base and we stopped to pick them up... we needed our passports since we were Canadian. It was certainly easier to walk around town when the ship docked right there, but docking at the base was definitely less painful then waiting for a tender.

 

[princessmommyx3]

We docked here in 2013 and we must have gotten on/off the ship at peak times because we encountered very long lines for the shuttles. We probably waited 20-30 mins getting off the ship, and 30-45 mins to get back to the ship.

 

[jlynch924]

Kind of an unrelated question... How do you find out where you're docking? We are on a Wonder cruise a couple weeks later that goes to Key West. I'd be curious to know where we are docking.

 

[lds0191]

I have the same question. We will be on he Magic at Christmas and would like to know how to check where we will dock.

 

[jlynch924]

I have the same question. We will be on he Magic at Christmas and would like to know how to check where we will dock.

I just found this....
http://www.cityofkeywest-fl.gov/department/calendar.php

 

[lds0191]

Thanks!

 

[Lisa Lisa]

Thanks for all the information! It sounds like we'll need to try to leave and return to the ship during non-peak times. We're docking early in the morning now, so we'll just take our time waking up and have a leisurely breakfast before disembarking. Hopefully if we don't wait until it's almost time to board in the afternoon we can avoid the long wait to get back to the ship!

 

[slaclandry]

Thanks for all the information! It sounds like we'll need to try to leave and return to the ship during non-peak times. We're docking early in the morning now, so we'll just take our time waking up and have a leisurely breakfast before disembarking. Hopefully if we don't wait until it's almost time to board in the afternoon we can avoid the long wait to get back to the ship!

Don't want to confuse matters for you even more, but.....
I am on the same cruise and I have been told by one rep that we are docking at Pier B and another at Mallory Square. So, not really sure what to believe. If you look at the Key West port calendar, it does say Navy Mole, but the times are not the same times that Disney has on their website.

I hadn't made any plans yet because I have been so unsure about where we will be docking!

 

[Lisa Lisa]

Don't want to confuse matters for you even more, but.....
I am on the same cruise and I have been told by one rep that we are docking at Pier B and another at Mallory Square. So, not really sure what to believe. If you look at the Key West port calendar, it does say Navy Mole, but the times are not the same times that Disney has on their website.

I hadn't made any plans yet because I have been so unsure about where we will be docking!

I just realized I had the dates backwards and edited my original post. You're right -- the times on the calendar are incorrect. I was reading them as 7:15 and 3:15 and thinking that those must be the actual times the ship was docking and leaving (vs. all ashore and all aboard times). A couple of the other port schedules I've looked at still have the Magic docking on the original date and time. I'll be very happy if we end up at Pier B, but I think Mallory Square is unlikely as it appears that the DCL ships always dock at either Pier B or Navy Mole. It sure would be nice to have definitive information! If we really are docking at Navy Mole, it might make sense to do the DCL trolley excursion since it would include dedicated transportation on and off the base.

 

[disneyluvnmom]

It was super easy - there were tons of trolleys when we got off the ship. and then you just had to go back to the drop off spot to get back on a waiting trollley to get back to the ship. We made one stop on the way back - some people had gone to the beach on the base and we stopped to pick them up... we needed our passports since we were Canadian. It was certainly easier to walk around town when the ship docked right there, but docking at the base was definitely less painful then waiting for a tender.

Do you have to pay for the trolley that takes you out of naval base into town & back to ship? Or do you just pay if you want to continue on trolley once you exit the base?

 

[phinz]

I'm just happy that the March schedule was finally released by Key West and we'll be docking at the Westin. Easy walk to hang out with friends!

 

[Anonny]

Do you have to pay for the trolley that takes you out of naval base into town & back to ship? Or do you just pay if you want to continue on trolley once you exit the base?

The trolley to get you off the base is transportation that would be free.
The conch train is a separate tour.

 

[MsOnceUponATime]

We arrived into Key West and the Navy Pier on our 8 night in 2013. I can tell you that Disney still has it "going on" as far as making their cruisers as comfortable as possible when arriving into the Naval Pier.While I don't remember every detail of this because I was traveling with a then 6 year old with a week old broken arm- I can tell you that Disney had us taken care of. The trolleys were swift and timely.... well- then the "monsoon" came and when we werr returning to the ship it became a bit chaotic, but that was only due to the pouring down rain!!

 

[dcassetta]

I just realized I had the dates backwards and edited my original post. You're right -- the times on the calendar are incorrect. I was reading them as 7:15 and 3:15 and thinking that those must be the actual times the ship was docking and leaving (vs. all ashore and all aboard times). A couple of the other port schedules I've looked at still have the Magic docking on the original date and time. I'll be very happy if we end up at Pier B, but I think Mallory Square is unlikely as it appears that the DCL ships always dock at either Pier B or Navy Mole. It sure would be nice to have definitive information! If we really are docking at Navy Mole, it might make sense to do the DCL trolley excursion since it would include dedicated transportation on and off the base.

Do you have to pay for the trolley that takes you out of naval base into town & back to ship? Or do you just pay if you want to continue on trolley once you exit the base?

.

The trolleys from the ship are free and will run regularly. You can find the same trolley tour that Disney offers, for a much lower price by doing it on your own.