Please help me envision transfers from wdw resort to port

[Mousemommy1]

I've been following this thread.

For 2 people, myself and a 6 year old.. Is Disney transportation the easiest way to go from WDW to the port, and then back to WDW?

Does it really make a difference to arrive at the port later due to the transfers?

We did our 1st cruise last week (got back on Friday) and we did the DCL transfers from WDW and back and I have to say it was SEAMLESS. For us, I couldn't imagine it getting any easier.

 

[Kimberly9701]

We did our 1st cruise last week (got back on Friday) and we did the DCL transfers from WDW and back and I have to say it was SEAMLESS. For us, I couldn't imagine it getting any easier.

I'm so happy to read this!!! Thanks!!!

 

[longboard55]

One thing I really enjoy about WDW is I do not have to get a rental car. Let someone else do the driving.

 

[jrabbit]

We are Disney veterans too and this is our first cruise. I feel like I'm totally out of the loop. We bought the transfers at $70 each because DH trusts them that there are no mistakes. I want to stay 4 days before at WDW then do the cruise and I would like to stay a few nights at Cocoa Beach after the cruise. Can you only use Disney transportation for the day the cruise gets back???? If that is the case I guess we will rent a car.

So for your situation

• Fly in to Orlando and take Disney's Magical Express to your WDW resort ("free")
• Use your transfers from your WDW resort to the port ($35 per person one way)
• Cruise
• At the end of the cruise, rent a car for your time in Cocoa Beach. Most of the car rental places will pick you up from the ship. Enterprise, National, Alamo are (all in the same location) VERY Close in the port area.
• Drive back to MCO at the end of your vacation and drop off your car there.

you can call and change your existing transfer to one way if you need / want to. You might be able to do it online, but of that I am not sure.

 

[DisneyBarbie82]

Just as an FYI for anyone, I just called and spoke with DCL regarding booking transfers from a WDW resort (not from the airport)
The agent I spoke with told me that when you book the transfers online they are automatically set up for pickup / drop off a the airport. He was pretty sure that there was no way to change this online, he was pretty sure the only way to do it was by phoning them directly. He was very helpful and more than happy to update this for me.
So just as an FYI for anyone else in the same boat as me, don't wait around for online check-in to fix this, call DCL and they can quickly/easily set it up for you

 

[kickash]

I've been following this thread.

For 2 people, myself and a 6 year old.. Is Disney transportation the easiest way to go from WDW to the port, and then back to WDW?

Does it really make a difference to arrive at the port later due to the transfers?

It is a personal choice, but it makes a difference to us. You need to decide if you are ok with possibly missing out on meet and greet tickets and/or any other service you would want to sign up for once you board. We also like to use that day to hit the pools and aquaduck (we wear our suits under our clothes) before we head to our room and muster drill.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

We will be flying down to WDW and staying at Animal Kingdom for 3 days before our July 30 cruise. I read this thread and a few others and decided that I was not comfortable with using DCL transfers for that part of the trip because of the time. For us, setting luggage out at 8 am but not leaving until 11 or 11:30 was problematic. And then not arriving to the port until very late did not appeal to us, either. We liked our early PAT last year and then being able to board sooner rather than later.

So I decided to rent a car Friday and return it Saturday. We are having lunch at Beaches and Cream that Friday and then we will walk over to the Dolphin to pick up our rental car from Alamo. Then Saturday morning we can leave on our own and drive to Port Canaveral. The Alamo office is right down the street and they have free shuttles to take you to the port. We plan on arriving at Alamo at 10:30 Saturday to make our 11-11:15 PAT. The car rental with tax for 4 people and 5 bags was $77! Much cheaper than DCL ($35/pp x 4 =$140) AND I get to leave on my own time! We will, however take DCL to the airport when our cruise is over.

If you have more than one adult I would consider dropping your party (and bags) off at the port and then returning the car alone. The shuttles can get busy and it's easier to get one person with no bags on a full shuttle than to have to wait for room for your whole family and your bags.

 

[Kimberly9701]

It is a personal choice, but it makes a difference to us. You need to decide if you are ok with possibly missing out on meet and greet tickets and/or any other service you would want to sign up for once you board. We also like to use that day to hit the pools and aquaduck (we wear our suits under our clothes) before we head to our room and muster drill.

Oh no this is the first I've heard of that!!
So we could potentially lose out on M&Gs, gingerbread house making etc?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Oh no this is the first I've heard of that!!
So we could potentially lose out on M&Gs, gingerbread house making etc?

There is a chance you might not be able to get your first choice for these things. But I've read plenty of reports of people arriving/boarding after 12:30 who were still able to get the tickets they wanted.

 

[Kimberly9701]

There is a chance you might not be able to get your first choice for these things. But I've read plenty of reports of people arriving/boarding after 12:30 who were still able to get the tickets they wanted.

Thanks. That just made my decision more difficult. I'd love to rent a car, but since it's just me and my 6 year old, I don't know if it's too much of a hassle once arrive in Port Canaveral. But I would hate to miss out on any tickets that we want.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks. That just made my decision more difficult. I'd love to rent a car, but since it's just me and my 6 year old, I don't know if it's too much of a hassle once arrive in Port Canaveral. But I would hate to miss out on any tickets that we want.

You know, there's so much to do onboard, even if you don't get all the tickets you want, I doubt that you'll be left with nothing to do. I don't think your 6 year old will miss out on too much fun.

And, if you don't get what you want, it's a great excuse to take another cruise.

 

[Billinaz]

We rented an Avis full size car for about $40. Drop the car off at Avis then they shuttle you to (and from) the port.

 

[Billinaz]

We are Disney veterans too and this is our first cruise. I feel like I'm totally out of the loop. We bought the transfers at $70 each because DH trusts them that there are no mistakes. I want to stay 4 days before at WDW then do the cruise and I would like to stay a few nights at Cocoa Beach after the cruise. Can you only use Disney transportation for the day the cruise gets back???? If that is the case I guess we will rent a car.

Yes, we are doing the same thing. Staying at the new Homewood Suites that open in June right across from Country Inn and Suites. We rented a car from Avis for about $40 for a full size.

 

[bumbershoot]

We bought the transfers at $70 each because DH trusts them that there are no mistakes.

What sorts of mistakes is he worried about? (I didn't notice that comment earlier.)

Taking a towncar or rental car to the port means it's all under your control. You get to the port, drop your bags with the porters. Go drop off the car. (or drop off the car, take all the bags on the shuttle, then give the bags over to the porter when you get there) Go through to the security area and the checkin area, then board when it's your time.

Everyone sees their checked luggage when it gets to their staterooms later on.

For 2 people, myself and a 6 year old.. Is Disney transportation the easiest way to go from WDW to the port, and then back to WDW?

Does it really make a difference to arrive at the port later due to the transfers?

It's the difference between possibly boarding around noon vs 2 or even a little beyond. For ME it makes a difference. Especially the two times we had concierge and there is a meeting in the lounge you need to go to before continuing on to explore the ship. For others it doesn't. But I am highly "value" driven, so the more hours I have on the ship, the more value I feel I got.

If you have more than one adult I would consider dropping your party (and bags) off at the port and then returning the car alone.

YES.

Thanks. That just made my decision more difficult. I'd love to rent a car, but since it's just me and my 6 year old, I don't know if it's too much of a hassle once arrive in Port Canaveral. But I would hate to miss out on any tickets that we want.

It just depends on what you and your child feel is a hassle.

With my son there would be a lot of talking ahead of time, but then there always is. Explaining what we're doing, what will happen, etc. If I had one checked bags and maybe a carryon each, with a rental car I would just go to the rental car return place (I'm specifically talking about Alamo or National b/c that's who I like to rent from), return it, then get in line for the shuttle with all our bags. If I were packing heavier, I would drive to the port, drop the checked bags with the porters (that's where the talking would be needed with my son, who would worry about the bags...then again, he would still worry when we handed them over to the porters after getting off the shuttle!) (and if we took the bus from the resort we would be saying goodbye to the bags even earlier), then drop off the car and deal with the car shuttle with just carryons.

For others, the rental car stuff would be a total hassle. It's all just personality, IMO. But we always have a rental car when in Orlando.

We rented an Avis full size car for about $40. Drop the car off at Avis then they shuttle you to (and from) the port.

I've seen it at that price. I've also see it at over $70. Just depends.

 

[Kimberly9701]

What sorts of mistakes is he worried about? (I didn't notice that comment earlier.)

Taking a towncar or rental car to the port means it's all under your control. You get to the port, drop your bags with the porters. Go drop off the car. (or drop off the car, take all the bags on the shuttle, then give the bags over to the porter when you get there) Go through to the security area and the checkin area, then board when it's your time.

Everyone sees their checked luggage when it gets to their staterooms later on.



It's the difference between possibly boarding around noon vs 2 or even a little beyond. For ME it makes a difference. Especially the two times we had concierge and there is a meeting in the lounge you need to go to before continuing on to explore the ship. For others it doesn't. But I am highly "value" driven, so the more hours I have on the ship, the more value I feel I got.



YES.




It just depends on what you and your child feel is a hassle.

With my son there would be a lot of talking ahead of time, but then there always is. Explaining what we're doing, what will happen, etc. If I had one checked bags and maybe a carryon each, with a rental car I would just go to the rental car return place (I'm specifically talking about Alamo or National b/c that's who I like to rent from), return it, then get in line for the shuttle with all our bags. If I were packing heavier, I would drive to the port, drop the checked bags with the porters (that's where the talking would be needed with my son, who would worry about the bags...then again, he would still worry when we handed them over to the porters after getting off the shuttle!) (and if we took the bus from the resort we would be saying goodbye to the bags even earlier), then drop off the car and deal with the car shuttle with just carryons.

For others, the rental car stuff would be a total hassle. It's all just personality, IMO. But we always have a rental car when in Orlando.



I've seen it at that price. I've also see it at over $70. Just depends.

My idea of a hassle = dealing with luggage. Lol.

So you're saying I can drop everything to a porter before returning the rental?

 

[RedSox68]

Oh no this is the first I've heard of that!!
So we could potentially lose out on M&Gs, gingerbread house making etc?

On one of the threads someone posted that their bus left the resort so late (I think after 1 p.m.) that they missed the welcome aboard lunch. It can happen, but I think it's very rare!

 

[lanejudy]

Oh no this is the first I've heard of that!!
So we could potentially lose out on M&Gs, gingerbread house making etc?

I'm not going to say it can't happen, but unlikely. I don't think I've read any reports of guests arriving by DCL transfers who could not get meet & greet tickets as long as they went to get those tickets prior to the muster drill. It may not be your first choice of dates/times, but you should get tickets. If you prioritize other activities first after boarding, don't plan on getting signed up after muster drill. Mixology classes may fill up, but sometimes they run a waiting list and add another session; or check back through the week as people may change their mind and cancel. The gingerbread house is the one I most hear about closing out; but again I don't think taking DCL transfers automatically puts you too late.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[longboard55]

we have done the disney bus twice and never felt like we got there too late, its ususally just about the time they open the rooms so seemed about right.

Thanks. That just made my decision more difficult. I'd love to rent a car, but since it's just me and my 6 year old, I don't know if it's too much of a hassle once arrive in Port Canaveral. But I would hate to miss out on any tickets that we want.

I hate to give advice, but you are over planning. For a mom and child trip the DCL Bus is the only way to go. Yes things can go wrong with the Bus, but they can also go wrong with rental cars. We have used the DCL Bus twice and never felt like we got there too late, more like just the right time.

 

[Kimberly9701]

we have done the disney bus twice and never felt like we got there too late, its ususally just about the time they open the rooms so seemed about right.


I hate to give advice, but you are over planning. For a mom and child trip the DCL Bus is the only way to go. Yes things can go wrong with the Bus, but they can also go wrong with rental cars. We have used the DCL Bus twice and never felt like we got there too late, more like just the right time.

I'll gladly accept advice on this front! I am totally guilty of being an over planner..in almost every aspect lol.
The reason I chose a Disney cruise was this- after a 16 night SoFla/WDW combo in September. 9 of those nights being at WDW..I swore that next year we would do something a little more relaxing yet still Disney. Aulani or DCL. I picked DCL. THEN I had the brilliant idea to combo in 5 nights at WDW- enter the non relaxing zone, yet again.lol.

Luggage is always a huge deal for me when our vacations are more than 7/8 nights..I just can't handle it all myself.
The other option would be a car service, are there any pros to that over the transfers?

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

We always go to WDW for 2 days before the cruise.... I am more relaxed when we are there and not worried about travel issues and free Magical Express and little baggage issues.

There is usually just us 2 and the DCL bus service is cheaper then renting a car/car service and its continues the Disney magic and pixie dust. We have always been at the Ship at about 1130 to 1200. Again not baggage issues.

Another example of Disney service and ease.

Have a great cruise.

AKK