Magic express to port canaveral

[clten]

I just hope its an earlier pick up than 11:30 to 1:30

As others have said, if you are hoping to get to the port early, plan a different method of transportation. When you are picked up at the resorts you should plan on arriving at the port 12:30-1:30. If your pick up time is early, it usually means you have several stops to make. If you get to the port before 12:30, consider that lucky. But there is a chance you could be unlucky. Last time we were picked up from Port Orleans, we had a 12pm meet time. The first part of the group was put on a bus and filled that bus so they left a little after noon and headed right to the port so I'm sure they got there around 1. We weren't so lucky, we were the second family on the second bus. We had to wait about 15 minutes before the driver started letting us load the bus, then we had 2 other stops to make. We didn't get to the port until 2:30. This was the latest we ever arrived via DCL bus.

 

[nikkyluvsmickey]

Wow that must have been annoying..kinda kills the excitement a little

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Wow that must have been annoying..kinda kills the excitement a little

Riding the DCL transfer bus didn't used to be so bad, even if you do arrive later. Time was they showed a nice video of Micky & Minnie getting ready for and heading out for their cruise. With Disney cartoons afterward. Now they show mostly advertising videos (Adventures by Disney; DCL; visit the parks; etc). If the trip is long enough you might a couple of "edited" classic cartoons just before arriving.

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

Right. But if it takes around 45 minutes to get there, that would put you at MCO around 8:30. I think anyway.

IMO, it seems like a lot of extra stress on the morning of the cruise just for what ends up being very little extra time on the ship. In addition, in order to take that early of a bus, you will need to get up what would be for many on vacation super early as well. We plan on taking the DCL bus from WDW for a Wonder cruise next March, and I plan on getting up, getting a good run in, and having a nice, relaxing breakfast and then relax and take the bus over. That sounds far better (at least to me).

 

[Dug720]

IMO, it seems like a lot of extra stress on the morning of the cruise just for what ends up being very little extra time on the ship. In addition, in order to take that early of a bus, you will need to get up what would be for many on vacation super early as well. We plan on taking the DCL bus from WDW for a Wonder cruise next March, and I plan on getting up, getting a good run in, and having a nice, relaxing breakfast and then relax and take the bus over. That sounds far better (at least to me).

I agree with you. I was pointing out the lengths you would have to go to in order to stay on Disney property, take DCL transportation, and be on the ship early.

I am really debating with myself right now for Feb. I have a room at Hampton Inn Gateway reserved, but I am planning to get an early enough flight to go to Disney Springs. I figure by the time I paid Lyft back and forth plus the hotel I might as well stay on property. But I have never not been in the first or second non-platinum boarding group and am not sure if I *want* to be later (especially if I'm going to have to try for tastings on board) - but I do not want to be in the silliness of getting back to MCO. Both sides have pluses and minuses - I just have to make a decision - stay at the airport and pay for a Lyft back and forth to DS and catch that early bus or stay on property and get to the ship later.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

We are getting picked up at por riverside to go to the disney dream has anybody had any experience what time they usually pick u up at por?

IMO, it seems like a lot of extra stress on the morning of the cruise just for what ends up being very little extra time on the ship. In addition, in order to take that early of a bus, you will need to get up what would be for many on vacation super early as well. We plan on taking the DCL bus from WDW for a Wonder cruise next March, and I plan on getting up, getting a good run in, and having a nice, relaxing breakfast and then relax and take the bus over. That sounds far better (at least to me).

This is exactly what we did- up at a decent hour. Great run around the property. Breakfast a an easy pace. Took some pictures. It was nice. Thought it might be late getting to ship, but we had all our bags, so rolled right on, right to room. Kind of nice.

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

I agree with you. I was pointing out the lengths you would have to go to in order to stay on Disney property, take DCL transportation, and be on the ship early.

I am really debating with myself right now for Feb. I have a room at Hampton Inn Gateway reserved, but I am planning to get an early enough flight to go to Disney Springs. I figure by the time I paid Lyft back and forth plus the hotel I might as well stay on property. But I have never not been in the first or second non-platinum boarding group and am not sure if I *want* to be later (especially if I'm going to have to try for tastings on board) - but I do not want to be in the silliness of getting back to MCO. Both sides have pluses and minuses - I just have to make a decision - stay at the airport and pay for a Lyft back and forth to DS and catch that early bus or stay on property and get to the ship later.

I'd be surprised if the tastings are booked out by 2:00 PM on boarding day, but I have never tried to get on that early. I've done the wine and beer tasting before, but both were on the classics, so I don't know about how quickly they fill up on the newer ships.

But if you stay at the airport, I'd probably just do a cheap one day car rental (if you don't plan on drinking). Parking at Disney Springs is easy and cheap (much easier to find a space than at the old Downtown Disney). And by the time you pay for two trips between the airport and DS, even with Lyft or Uber, you're probably very close to the cost of a rental anyway.

 

[Dug720]

I'd be surprised if the tastings are booked out by 2:00 PM on boarding day, but I have never tried to get on that early. I've done the wine and beer tasting before, but both were on the classics, so I don't know about how quickly they fill up on the newer ships.

But if you stay at the airport, I'd probably just do a cheap one day car rental (if you don't plan on drinking). Parking at Disney Springs is easy and cheap (much easier to find a space than at the old Downtown Disney). And by the time you pay for two trips between the airport and DS, even with Lyft or Uber, you're probably very close to the cost of a rental anyway.

It depends if they are holding any back from the pre-booking online - which from reports is filling up with Platinum cruisers.

I haven't driven in over 11 years since moving to NYC. A rental car is NOT the time or place to try again.

 

[mareed]

IMO, it seems like a lot of extra stress on the morning of the cruise just for what ends up being very little extra time on the ship. In addition, in order to take that early of a bus, you will need to get up what would be for many on vacation super early as well. We plan on taking the DCL bus from WDW for a Wonder cruise next March, and I plan on getting up, getting a good run in, and having a nice, relaxing breakfast and then relax and take the bus over. That sounds far better (at least to me).

It really added no stress when I did it, and the extra 2-3 hours was much better spent for me on the ship rather than at my (value) resort. Also, if you're having your luggage picked up, then it needs to be packed and ready by 8:30 so you'd be up and ready about the same time either way. Who could sleep in on the day of a cruise anyway? Certainly not me!

 

[nikkyluvsmickey]

It really added no stress when I did it, and the extra 2-3 hours was much better spent for me on the ship rather than at my (value) resort. Also, if you're having your luggage picked up, then it needs to be packed and ready by 8:30 so you'd be up and ready about the same time either way. Who could sleep in on the day of a cruise anyway? Certainly not me!

That reminds me i think i asked this question in another thread but who do i ask at por if i can leave my extra luggage there not take it on the cruise since i am returning to pofq when i get off cruise..the cm at check in , a manager, or bell services?

 

[Donna3271]

We are getting picked up at por riverside to go to the disney dream has anybody had any experience what time they usually pick u up at por?

It does vary. We've left from Riverside once, and pick up was 11:45.

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

It really added no stress when I did it, and the extra 2-3 hours was much better spent for me on the ship rather than at my (value) resort. Also, if you're having your luggage picked up, then it needs to be packed and ready by 8:30 so you'd be up and ready about the same time either way. Who could sleep in on the day of a cruise anyway? Certainly not me!

I think we were picked up at ~ 12:30, got to the port ~ 1:30 and were on the ship by ~2:00. Again, this was on a classic, so a lower crowd level than the Dream class ships, but definitely not a 3 hour difference, and probably not even a two hour difference, since boarding doesn't normally even start until after 12 and your PAT usually determines your boarding time. Plus, you have to handle your luggage more, first taking the ME, then retrieving it at the airport to go to the DCL counter to check-in. Add in the fact that you need to grab some breakfast somewhere before your ME leaves. Definitely a personal preference, but for us, especially travelling with children, the gain is not worth the extra rush and hassle.

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

It depends if they are holding any back from the pre-booking online - which from reports is filling up with Platinum cruisers.

I haven't driven in over 11 years since moving to NYC. A rental car is NOT the time or place to try again.

Wow, 11 years is a long time. Yeah, I can understand not wanting to start up again with a rental car, especially with Florida drivers they way they are. I took a two week trip to Germany this summer and did not drive at all there (their buses, trains and subways are top-notch), and I had to get used to it again even from that.

 

[Chirple]

That reminds me i think i asked this question in another thread but who do i ask at por if i can leave my extra luggage there not take it on the cruise since i am returning to pofq when i get off cruise..the cm at check in , a manager, or bell services?

We did this at BLT. We had our bags taken to Bell Services at the Contemporary from our villa, where they put them into long-term storage while we were on our cruise (4 nights). We even left our Owner's Locker with them.

 

[nikkyluvsmickey]

We did this at BLT. We had our bags taken to Bell Services at the Contemporary from our villa, where they put them into long-term storage while we were on our cruise (4 nights). We even left our Owner's Locker with them.

Long term storage? Is that at the resort or they send it somewhere else?

 

[Chirple]

Long term storage? Is that at the resort or they send it somewhere else?

It's at the resort, but it's in a different area from where there will be constant movement of stored bags (those checking in and checking out that day). When we returned from the cruise, we called Bell Services to have our bags taken out of long-term storage; we got them shortly after the call.

 

[nikkyluvsmickey]

Oh ok gotcha..but i think i might have a problem then because we are staying at por riverside going on cruise then going to porfq so i dont know how i will get my luggage from por to porfq lol

 

[Chirple]

Oh ok gotcha..but i think i might have a problem then because we are staying at por riverside going on cruise then going to porfq so i dont know how i will get my luggage from por to porfq lol

When you check in at POR, ask Bell Services what procedure you need to follow to have your bags stored/transferred. I know that luggage can be transferred between resorts by Bell Services (have done that as well), but I'm not sure which order it will happen when you check out of one and move to another upon return.

 

[nikkyluvsmickey]

Ok thanks

 

[lanejudy]

Those are "sister" resorts so transferring from POR to POFQ shouldn't be a problem. I don't know if they'll guarantee in advance about storage, but as others suggested just ask when you are there.

Enjoy your cruise!