Pick up from a resort if NOT staying at the resort (instead of MCO)

[Adventurelawyer]

I have paid transfers from MCO to PC, but I was wondering about doing breakfast embarkation AM at a resort, is it possible to get picked up from the resort, instead of MCO, even though I won't be staying on property? Figured I would ask here, before I start making phone calls.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I have paid transfers from MCO to PC, but I was wondering about doing breakfast embarkation AM at a resort, is it possible to get picked up from the resort, instead of MCO, even though I won't be staying on property? Figured I would ask here, before I start making phone calls.

No, it's my understanding that resort pickups are only for those staying at the resorts.

Are you planning on going from MCO to a resort for breakfast and then heading to the port?

 

[Adventurelawyer]

No, it's my understanding that resort pickups are only for those staying at the resorts.

Are you planning on going from MCO to a resort for breakfast and then heading to the port?

Thats the plan. I had initially considered doing dinner when my flight got in the night before, but my options are late and very late, so I thought breakfast would be a better idea. I really need to get my DH to Wilderness. He isn't "Disney" guy beyond the ships and I think the ambiance at Wilderness and Poly will change all of that for him. So I am scheming hard.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thats the plan. I had initially considered doing dinner when my flight got in the night before, but my options are late and very late, so I thought breakfast would be a better idea. I really need to get my DH to Wilderness. He isn't "Disney" guy beyond the ships and I think the ambiance at Wilderness and Poly will change all of that for him. So I am scheming hard.

You'll also need to keep in mind, if they do allow it, that they (at the resorts) don't know until the night before the cruise what time the pickups are at any given resort. It can be anywhere from 10:40-1:30.

 

[Adventurelawyer]

You'll also need to keep in mind, if they do allow it, that they (at the resorts) don't know until the night before the cruise what time the pickups are at any given resort. It can be anywhere from 10:40-1:30.

Excellet point.

What about this hypothetical:

We are early risers. An Early PS and Whispering wouldn't be a big deal. Do you think its better to just head over in an Uber from the MCO area hotel (TBD) and then head back and collect luggage, etc, then head to MCO (via hotel shuttle or Uber, however)? I don't care about getting to the port early, we would rather breeze on than wait for the cattle call. My biggest thing is making it smoooooth.

 

[Rob1872]

then head to MCO (via hotel shuttle or Uber, however)

You'd have to use Uber or some other transportation each way; you won't be able to use the Disney hotel shuttle to MCO without staying at a Disney Resort.

If it were me, I'd just pick up a rental car the night before at MCO and drive to my hotel for the night. Then you can drive over to a WDW breakfast, drive back to MCO, drop off the rental car and take the DCL bus. Of course, I would rather keep control of my transportation than use a ride share.

 

[Adventurelawyer]

You'd have to use Uber or some other transportation each way; you won't be able to use the Disney hotel shuttle to MCO without staying at a Disney Resort.

If it were me, I'd just pick up a rental car the night before at MCO and drive to my hotel for the night. Then you can drive over to a WDW breakfast, drive back to MCO, drop off the rental car and take the DCL bus. Of course, I would rather keep control of my transportation than use a ride share.

Very wise. I think the only reason I would be ok with an Uber back to MCO is that I just don't care about my PAT. Uber charges could run me double the daily rate of a rental car though, so that something to consider.

 

[Mommb]

If you are renting a car to go from the airport to Walt Disney World, you can then drive to the port area and return the car there. That may even be less expensive than taking the DCL bus. It is an easy drive from WDW to Port Canaveral, and would save a lot of time versus driving back to airport, unloading and reloading luggage, etc.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Excellet point.

What about this hypothetical:

We are early risers. An Early PS and Whispering wouldn't be a big deal. Do you think its better to just head over in an Uber from the MCO area hotel (TBD) and then head back and collect luggage, etc, then head to MCO (via hotel shuttle or Uber, however)? I don't care about getting to the port early, we would rather breeze on than wait for the cattle call. My biggest thing is making it smoooooth.

OK, MCO hotel to WDW resort/breakfast = Uber
WDW resort to MCO hotel = Uber
MCO hotel to MCO = shuttle
MCO to port = DCL transfer?

That's a lot of traveling that day. It's about one hour MCO/WDW; as well as MCO/port. You'd have to build that into the schedule. Plus allow time at MCO to get on the bus to the port (could be a line).

Working backwards (figuring you want to arrive at the port around 1:00)
12:00-1:00 travel MCO to port
11:30-12:00 load up on DCL bus at MCO
11:00-11:30 shuttle from MCO hotel to MCO
10:00-11:00 Uber WDW resort to MCO hotel
8:00-10:00 breakfast
7:00-8:00 Uber MCO hotel to WDW resort

How long do you need to get ready in the morning (including packing up)?

 

[Adventurelawyer]

OK, MCO hotel to WDW resort/breakfast = Uber
WDW resort to MCO hotel = Uber
MCO hotel to MCO = shuttle
MCO to port = DCL transfer?

That's a lot of traveling that day. It's about one hour MCO/WDW; as well as MCO/port. You'd have to build that into the schedule. Plus allow time at MCO to get on the bus to the port (could be a line).

Working backwards (figuring you want to arrive at the port around 1:00)
12:00-1:00 travel MCO to port
11:30-12:00 load up on DCL bus at MCO
11:00-11:30 shuttle from MCO hotel to MCO
10:00-11:00 Uber WDW resort to MCO hotel
8:00-10:00 breakfast
7:00-8:00 Uber MCO hotel to WDW resort

How long do you need to get ready in the morning (including packing up)?

I don't need as much time as he does, lol. Now that you have written this out, it is a lot of travel. I could remove a leg by staying at the Hyatt or by staying on prop, or remove any wait times by renting my own vehicle and driving myself during all of these legs, but the timeline is still going to be tight irrespective of the option(s) I choose. I might need to rethink my plan. How is breakfast at the Hyatt? Lol.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I don't need as much time as he does, lol. Now that you have written this out, it is a lot of travel. I could remove a leg by staying at the Hyatt or by staying on prop, or remove any wait times by renting my own vehicle and driving myself during all of these legs, but the timeline is still going to be tight irrespective of the option(s) I choose. I might need to rethink my plan. How is breakfast at the Hyatt? Lol.

We've stayed at the Hyatt, but we just picked up a cinnamon roll at one of the food court locations as we headed to the DCL bus location.

Another option could be come in a day early, stay at WDW resort (Magical Express MCO to resort) and then do dinner that night, with DCL transfers to port the next day.

 

[SG131]

I think if you contact Disney they might allow it. I did it on the post-cruise end not the pre-cruise end so similar but not exactly the same circumstances. Our dreams TA was the one that contacted Disney about the request and they allowed us to be dropped off at GF instead of MCO. Our plane didn’t leave until 5 and I wanted to take my mom to tea as an early 70th bday present.

 

[lanejudy]

I really need to get my DH to Wilderness. He isn't "Disney" guy beyond the ships and I think the ambiance at Wilderness and Poly will change all of that for him. So I am scheming hard.

If i put myself in the role of your “non-Disney guy” — i think the breakfast experience to see the resort would be lost in all the back-and-forth travel. Could you stay at WL or Poly the night before the cruise? Or if you have to stay at an airport-area hotel, skip the DCL transfers and do a one-way rental or Uber each leg: hotel -> WDW, WDW -> port without returnimg to MCO.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[kiford]

How is breakfast at the Hyatt?

We liked it. The restaurant on the top floor has both a la carte and buffet (assuming they haven't changed it recently). We thought the food was quite good and, while more expensive than a "normal" restaurant (i.e., one not in a hotel), less expensive than WDW resorts for what you got. It really is a huge hassle to go back and forth to WDW for breakfast and you don't know if you'll run into traffic issues.

However, I second the suggestion to stay at WL the night before if you can swing it and convince your husband. Much more convenient. You can catch DME when you arrive, sleep in, have a nice breakfast there and get the DCL bus from the resort. Gives you much more time to tour the resort. While DH does love WDW as much as I, he resisted going to WL for many years until we stayed there in Feb of this year. Now he wants to stay there again and I'd say it's probably now become his favourite even over the GF which was his favourite for years. He says he really feels like he's in a resort bubble when he's there and really loves both pools, Geyser Point, the couches by the water, the walking trails. He even likes the QS place (Roaring Forks) which is nearly unheard of for him. He says he really feels like he's in the Pacific Northwest. Try using that to convince your husband that it's not exactly Disney but a really nice resort with lovely amenities (and convenient).

 

[Adventurelawyer]

If i put myself in the role of your “non-Disney guy” — i think the breakfast experience to see the resort would be lost in all the back-and-forth travel. Could you stay at WL or Poly the night before the cruise? Or if you have to stay at an airport-area hotel, skip the DCL transfers and do a one-way rental or Uber each leg: hotel -> WDW, WDW -> port without returnimg to MCO.

Enjoy your vacation!

I just spent the last hour pricing it out a few different ways. Its cost prohibitive for us to stay at Wilderness this time around, even with the generous discount I get through my work. Honestly, I think we are going to do Hyatt and stick with the transfers. You can only jam so much fun into a limited amount of time before it becomes drama. This just isn't the trip to tip the scales and I can live with that if I can get him out that way again.

Thank you for all the help and suggestions!

 

[Jmedica83]

I have paid transfers from MCO to PC, but I was wondering about doing breakfast embarkation AM at a resort, is it possible to get picked up from the resort, instead of MCO, even though I won't be staying on property? Figured I would ask here, before I start making phone calls.

Absolutely, my family and I booked with a transportation company called smooth ride transportation, they only charged us $15 per person to pick us up at the county inn and suites behind the Orlando airport. You can find them on google.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Absolutely, my family and I booked with a transportation company called smooth ride transportation, they only charged us $15 per person to pick us up at the county inn and suites behind the Orlando airport. You can find them on google.

OP is asking if they can still use the DCL transfers that they already have booked, if they are not going from MCO, but from a resort (that they will not be staying at prior to the cruise).

 

[bumbershoot]

My biggest thing is making it smoooooth.

You’re figured this out, but yeah, there’s nothing smooth about airport to Disney for breakfast then to the port.

Rental car starts to even it out, but it’s still back and forth and tolls and potential for accidents in your way. Especially heading to the port; after a certain point there’s no way off that road, so if there’s an accident, you’re stuck.

You can only jam so much fun into a limited amount of time before it becomes drama.

Oh where was that sentence about 6 years ago when i started trying to pack as much “fun” into trips as possible, and started losing track of the other adult not finding it that “fun”?

Dang. Smart.