Luggage in disembarkation day

[DisneyMom111]

I just wanted to get some clarification on how the luggage situation works. We will be taking the Disney bus to MCO. Do we leave the luggage out the night before and then they take it to the airport for us? Do we have to get it ourselves after we leave the ship and then check it in at the airport? If you can carry your own luggage off the ship, why would you put it out the night before and be without it in the morning? I'm a little confused on how this works.

thanks!

 

[DizneyNutz]

I just wanted to get some clarification on how the luggage situation works. We will be taking the Disney bus to MCO. Do we leave the luggage out the night before and then they take it to the airport for us? Do we have to get it ourselves after we leave the ship and then check it in at the airport? If you can carry your own luggage off the ship, why would you put it out the night before and be without it in the morning? I'm a little confused on how this works.

thanks!

If you are using Disney transport to MCO then you will have DCL luggage tags. You put it out the night before and they get it to the airport. If yuou are taking it off the ship yourself you do not put it out the night before and just take it with you when you Disembark.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

It depends on whether your airline participates in the onboard check in program or not. If you are flying with an airline that participates and you are taking DCL transfers to the airport, you have the option of using the onboard check in which will allow you to put luggage tags on your bags and have them checked through to the airport. If your airline doesn't participate, you will have to pick up your bags in the terminal, take them through customs and have them stored under the bus to retrieve when you get to the airport. Either way, you put your larger bags out in the hallway by 10:30 the night before. Be sure to hold back a carry on bag or two for the stuff you will need the final night. And be sure to keep a change of clothes out of your bags for debarkation day. I've heard stories (although haven't seen it myself) of people having to go through customs in their pajamas because they put all their clothes in the bags they set out the night before.

You can also do express walk off where you keep your bags with you the night before and carry them off the ship yourself.

 

[Jestocost]

It depends on whether your airline participates in the onboard check in program or not. If you are flying with an airline that participates and you are taking DCL transfers to the airport, you have the option of using the onboard check in which will allow you to put luggage tags on your bags and have them checked through to the airport. If your airline doesn't participate, you will have to pick up your bags in the terminal, take them through customs and have them stored under the bus to retrieve when you get to the airport. Either way, you put your larger bags out in the hallway by 10:30 the night before. You can also do express walk off where you keep your bags with you the night before and carry them off the ship yourself.

Right on. The most notable non-participating airline is Southwest.

 

[Weedy]

If you keep your luggage with you it's a bit of a pain to carry it off yourself. You need to be out of your cabin by 8am so if you have second seating for breakfast you will need to take it with you. The elevators are very crowded the last morning and to try and get one with all your luggage is near impossible. So you may need to carry it all up or down the stairs. even if your not taking the bus it's nice to have Disney take bags. Disney as usual does a great job. You will receive a luggage tag the night before you disimbark. It will have a Disney character on it (just remember what character) Once you get off the ship you will go into a large warerhouse area. There will be over head signs of the characters the bags will be in the area of your luggage tag. There are porters availabe to help with the bags.
Just keep a small day bag with you the night before.

 

[DisneyMom111]

Right on. The most notable non-participating airline is Southwest.

Of course we are flying Southwest too. Oh well. Thank you everyone for clearing this up for me!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Of course we are flying Southwest too. Oh well. Thank you everyone for clearing this up for me!

When flying SouthWest, you will put your bags outside your room the last night. DCL will see to getting them off the ship for you. Once you've left the ship, you claim your bags in the terminal and take them through customs/immigration check.

Then head for the buses (with your bags). You will be directed to the correct bus going to MCO. You give your bags to your bus driver for putting beneath the bus for the trip. Once at the airport, you claim you bags from your driver and check in for your flight.

 

[DisneyMom111]

When flying SouthWest, you will put your bags outside your room the last night. DCL will see to getting them off the ship for you. Once you've left the ship, you claim your bags in the terminal and take them through customs/immigration check.

Then head for the buses (with your bags). You will be directed to the correct bus going to MCO. You give your bags to your bus driver for putting beneath the bus for the trip. Once at the airport, you claim you bags from your driver and check in for your flight.

Got it, thanks so much!

 

[kmronnie3]

Keeping that in mind do you think we would make an 11:40 flight on Southwest?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Keeping that in mind do you think we would make an 11:40 flight on Southwest?

Probably. DCL's recommendation for flights is "after 11:30" for MCO.

 

[Jestocost]

Keeping that in mind do you think we would make an 11:40 flight on Southwest?

We made a noon flight with plenty of time to spare last month, but be aware that the lines to check bags for Southwest can be quite long and are typically very disorganized. Assume that process is going to take at least 30 minutes and may be stressful, so keep that in mind if considering an early flight.

 

[mmouse37]

We waited over 30 minutes for security line at MCO a few weeks ago. It was nuts trying to get through the security line. Keep that in mind as well.

MJ

 

[cedricandsophie]

Even if we could pre check bags we never do. We just out out the big ones the night before and keep the rest. Then in the morning, I pack our clothes from last nite, pjs and shampoo, conditioner, face cream and take if off ship. Once we get bags from customs I put in all the stuff we can't take with us on the plane, we usually fly United and I'm premier so I can forego the longest lines to check bags and we usually get pre so we can get into the shorter line at security. But it still takes a while at the airport.

 

[Disneyholic]

And if you are buying things that need to be declared at customs be aware that they only take cash or checks. No credit cards. We ended up having to be taken to the bank to get cash because we had no cash or checks with us. Don't know what would have happened if it had been a Sunday, because the banks are closed and our bankcard will only give us $330 in 1 day and our amount was higher than that.

 

[MinnieMouse64]

We flew Southwest the past two years and used the Disney transfer back to MCO. We sat out luggage out the night before (I sat out an outfit, and everything we needed to get ready with) and just kept a carry-on bag with us to put everything in afterwards. When you get off the ship yes, you have to pick up your luggage since Southwest does not participate and head to Customs like everyone else has said. But, there are people there that is MORE than willing to help you put your luggage on carts to help wheel them out to the bus (just for tips we always give $20, the best money we spent with all that luggage). Honestly, they will greet you as soon as you enter the terminal to pick up your luggage and helped us get through Customs, I feel even faster than if I was doing it myself. These people are even there if you need help to your cars too. The first time we cruised we drove and my DH thought we could do it ourselves, I gave him the look and looked at all the luggage and he immediately allowed the guy to help us to our car. He said WOW that was easy! So now he always reminds me to have my money ready to tip the guy to take our luggage…LOL. Once you get to the airport they will unload your luggage off the bus and you have to find it, and then head to the Southwest desk.

 

[Kimberly9701]

We flew Southwest the past two years and used the Disney transfer back to MCO. We sat out luggage out the night before (I sat out an outfit, and everything we needed to get ready with) and just kept a carry-on bag with us to put everything in afterwards. When you get off the ship yes, you have to pick up your luggage since Southwest does not participate and head to Customs like everyone else has said. But, there are people there that is MORE than willing to help you put your luggage on carts to help wheel them out to the bus (just for tips we always give $20, the best money we spent with all that luggage). Honestly, they will greet you as soon as you enter the terminal to pick up your luggage and helped us get through Customs, I feel even faster than if I was doing it myself. These people are even there if you need help to your cars too. The first time we cruised we drove and my DH thought we could do it ourselves, I gave him the look and looked at all the luggage and he immediately allowed the guy to help us to our car. He said WOW that was easy! So now he always reminds me to have my money ready to tip the guy to take our luggage…LOL. Once you get to the airport they will unload your luggage off the bus and you have to find it, and then head to the Southwest desk.

Where do you find them/how do you know who to ask/do they offer to help you? This would be of sooooo much help to me!! We are going to DW after the cruise, using Disney transfers, and I am not at all looking forward to dealing with all of mine and my son's bags myself!

 

[Silver Queen]

Where do you find them/how do you know who to ask/do they offer to help you? This would be of sooooo much help to me!! We are going to DW after the cruise, using Disney transfers, and I am not at all looking forward to dealing with all of mine and my son's bags myself!

The porters will be very apparent and very plentiful when you reach the big room with all of the luggage. I agree with the previous posters. They are extremely pleasant and efficient about getting you ang your luggage through customs and to your bus. Well worth the $20 that we give them.

 

[MinnieMouse64]

The porters will be very apparent and very plentiful when you reach the big room with all of the luggage. I agree with the previous posters. They are extremely pleasant and efficient about getting you ang your luggage through customs and to your bus. Well worth the $20 that we give them.

Yes, they will come up to you as soon as you enter the terminal to find your luggage. Shoot our Porter even helped us look for our luggage (it was pretty easy since I tied a lime green ribbon on our black luggage handle - there are TONS of black suitcases with red ribbons..lol). That is another helpful tip if you have have black suitcases, buy a spool of colorful ribbon and tie it onto your suitcase handle (don't do red-everyone does that color), it makes your suitcase standout from everyone else's. You can tip them whatever you want, but we felt to give them $20. Some people may give less and others may give more. The Porters are really nice and helpful people and like I said they help you get through customs with no difficulty.