Port Arrival Time and Boarding Groups Using Disney Transport

[Lady_S]

Hi All - Just wanted to bump this thread to see if there were some more recent experiences from Hyatt MCO. Are they still boarding transportation by castaway level? I see from the email that there are set check-in times by castaway level. How do those correspond with the time you board the bus? Do you go straight from check-in to boarding? Selfishly, I'm curious what time silver was allowed to board TIA!

 

[natties10]

Hi All - Just wanted to bump this thread to see if there were some more recent experiences from Hyatt MCO. Are they still boarding transportation by castaway level? I see from the email that there are set check-in times by castaway level. How do those correspond with the time you board the bus? Do you go straight from check-in to boarding? Selfishly, I'm curious what time silver was allowed to board TIA!

I sailed on the fantasy in October as a silver. It was right after they went to tiers, it was a bit unorganized. The email and front desk said to go down at 9:15, I went down about 8 to get the lay of the land. Disney representative told me to come around 8:45. I went at 8:30, made it clear I was silver, so they knew I was there. They grabbed me around 8:45 and I was one of the first ones to check in. We had to wait for a bit after that, but got our bus character. We were on the second bus from the Hyatt, arrived at the port around 11 and walked straight onto the ship! We were originally BG 6. Have fun and good luck!

 

[MissStitch626]

We sail in the Fantasy in April for our first cruise. We're staying at All Star Movies the night before and booked DCL transfers. I understand PAT will be assigned automatically based in this. When do we find out what time the bus to the port will be - will that show after check in?

 

[randumb0]

I sailed on the fantasy in October as a silver. It was right after they went to tiers, it was a bit unorganized. The email and front desk said to go down at 9:15, I went down about 8 to get the lay of the land. Disney representative told me to come around 8:45. I went at 8:30, made it clear I was silver, so they knew I was there. They grabbed me around 8:45 and I was one of the first ones to check in. We had to wait for a bit after that, but got our bus character. We were on the second bus from the Hyatt, arrived at the port around 11 and walked straight onto the ship! We were originally BG 6. Have fun and good luck!

This is DCL transfer from MCO or something else?

 

[lanejudy]

When do we find out what time the bus to the port will be - will that show after check in?

You will receive a letter/email the evening prior. It will tell you what time for luggage pickup at your room and what time to meet for the bus.

 

[Disturbia]

The Mears bus is staggered by Castaway club level as of fall 2023. We sailed April 2023 and it was not staggered by club level. We got assigned 9:15 am (we are silver) but pushed back to the latest (9:45? am) to be able to eat breakfast at Mccoys (45 min wait).

https://www.disboards.com/threads/my-experience-with-dcl-check-in-at-hyatt-mco.3930868/page-2

 

[Disturbia]

We sail in 2 days and I have not received any letter from DCL regarding this change. We were going to show up Sat at 8 am to get our bus boarding time; but we can relax and put our name on the restaurant waitlist first before trying to check in (was a long line for Mears; restaurant had a 45 min wait).

Since there are more Silver members (younger families) this change is going to mean a lot of people trying to board around noon (last year we barely waited 10 mins). Hopefully we can get to Cabanas before it closes.

Edit:

Got the email (1 day before cruise - Thur morning for a Fri pm Hyatt check in; Sat am cruise) with the following schedule:

 

[foodiddiedoo]

Can you update us with how it went? I just checked in last night for my October cruise - staying at MCO Hyatt with DCL transfers and got group 6. Would love to hear your experience including what time you got down to the lobby, what bus you were on, and if you had to wait until group 6 was called! Many thanks!

I know this was last year but I am sailing Treasure in April and wanted to hear your experience since I will be in a similar boat.

 

[Disturbia]

Despite the email, you can walk up to the CM infront of the conference room and ask what the procedure is (changed from the year prior). We were allowed inside where silver and gold members were already lined up (we got inside around 9). There were tables set so some people could sit with the kids and there were coloring pages/crayons. Announcements are made when you can line up. When the line starts moving, you get back out to the desk setup up front and get your IDs verified and are given boarding stickers.

So you need to be inside the conference room to hear when you can line up vs outside. I thought we could only go in when our time started but that is the time the line opens to ID checks (so you line up 20-30 mins before inside).

FYI breakfast at Mcoys usually has a 45 min-1 hour wait before you can sit down around 8 am.

 

[tee11]

When I checked in for our cruise, our PAT wasn’t assigned and we received BG 3. Later, when I checked online, the BG had changed to 6. It seemed for the bus check in, we had been assigned to the second bus, as others who checked in after us, went on the first bus. When we checked in at the terminal, the CM said to go with BG 3 (I printed it out when I checked in online), and there was no problem as they just checked the document I had with BG 3 on it.

To clarify for me: You had booked DCL transfers ahead of check in day? When checking in online for the cruise your PAT remained empty, but BG 3. You printed it out. Some time in between check in and the cruise it showed BG 6. When you arrived at the hotel lobby at MCO you showed your print out (BG 3) and CM assigned you to the BG 3 (earlier) bus? Thanks!