Port arrival time

[Garyjames220]

If your DME bus is scheduled to leave the resort at 8:30, you will not be on one of the first transfer buses to the port. It takes an hour for DME to get you to the airport, and buses will have started departing for port (with people already lined up for the next ones) by the time you arrive at the airport.

Nothing wrong with that, of course. You'll probably still board the ship before noon. But I just wanted you to be aware that you won't be among the very first onboard, & it probably will give you 2 or 3 extra hours onboard at most, not 4.

What time would u leave AKL

 

[Garyjames220]

It would be too much hassle for me, I would just pay the extra $100 (average) to take a Uber or Lyft from the hotel. What is $100 on the entire vacation?

Yeah but I would lose the money I have already paid for the transfers

 

[Dug720]

What time would u leave AKL

People will usually begin gathering in the area at MCO around 8. If you want to be on one of the first busses, I would aim to be at MCO by around 8, 8:15 at the latest.

 

[Karin1984]

Yeah but I would lose the money I have already paid for the transfers

I get that, that's why it is indeed an extra expense, and that would definitely suck. But to me the extra 100 will be worth more than being on time for the bus to the airport, hoping there will not be any stops at other resorts, then an hour-ride to the airport, wait for the next bus, then to the port. Yes, you might be at the port earlier, but there is a lot of wasted time.
To me, it would be a more relaxing morning to start the cruise by getting up a little later, taking your time to pack and have relaxed breakfast, maybe watching the animals at AKL, or some pool time if you are early risers, and then around 10am get an Uber/Lyft to port.

 

[Garyjames220]

When I get told the time it’s due to get to AKL the day before if i am not happy with that could I change my transfer to go from airport then

 

[mmouse37]

When I get told the time it’s due to get to AKL the day before if i am not happy with that could I change my transfer to go from airport then

You don't find out your bus until the evening if I can remember correctly. They slip a piece of paper under your door (at least that was the way the last time we took transfers from WDW). I think it may be too late by then to switch pickups from WDW to MCO.

My two choices would be just suck up the extra expense (chalk it up to a convenience fee) and take a towncar/ Uber to the airport/port or get a Magical Express to MCO around 7:00 am. Your bags will go on the bottom of the bus and you take them to the DCL check in area. Both area are near each other so it should not be hard to move the luggage over to the DCL area.

 

[Dug720]

When I get told the time it’s due to get to AKL the day before if i am not happy with that could I change my transfer to go from airport then

As you were told in Post #10 in this thread, no. If you are booked for the resort to port bus, you will be expected to be on that (and have a lot of people mad at you if you do not show because they would have to wait a certain amount (no I do not know the specific length) of time before the cast members decide to leave you. And you will not have a seat on the bus from MCO unless that is what you have booked in advance - or changed to that one in advance (I believe the deadline would be 3 days).

 

[Garyjames220]

As you were told in Post #10 in this thread, no. If you are booked for the resort to port bus, you will be expected to be on that (and have a lot of people mad at you if you do not show because they would have to wait a certain amount (no I do not know the specific length) of time before the cast members decide to leave you. And you will not have a seat on the bus from MCO unless that is what you have booked in advance - or changed to that one in advance (I believe the deadline would be 3 days).

Ah well I’ll just need to have a think and decide

It’s a shame dcl transfers get there so late

 

[Dug720]

Ah well I’ll just need to have a think and decide

It’s a shame dcl transfers get there so late

It’s actually nice. My last two cruises I got on board just minutes before the cabins opened and I dropped off my carry-on stuff and did not have to schlep it around. Cabanas was calmer too.

 

[Garyjames220]

It’s actually nice. My last two cruises I got on board just minutes before the cabins opened and I dropped off my carry-on stuff and did not have to schlep it around. Cabanas was calmer too.

I don’t think I would mind it to much but I wouldn’t like to get on and then get told cabanas is shut

 

[Dug720]

I don’t think I would mind it to much but I wouldn’t like to get on and then get told cabanas is shut

I have gotten there to be boarding by 1:30 staying at Value resorts. I think it is only very unusual circumstances when a bus gets there later than 3 (which I believe is when Cabanas closes).

 

[Garyjames220]

I have gotten there to be boarding by 1:30 staying at Value resorts. I think it is only very unusual circumstances when a bus gets there later than 3 (which I believe is when Cabanas closes).

So even if I spent more or got the magical express to airport and went through that hassle. I might only get about two hours more on the ship

Mybe your right just get the bus for AKL and hope for the best

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

Yeah but I would lose the money I have already paid for the transfers

You should be able to get a full refund on the transfers even after PIF. If getting there early is important to you, I recommend some kind of car service. Your current plan is fine is you want to board around noon, which is fine.

 

[Garyjames220]

You should be able to get a full refund on the transfers even after PIF. If getting there early is important to you, I recommend some kind of car service. Your current plan is fine is you want to board around noon, which is fine.

I booked a package in uk with Disney travel company and if you lower your package there is a £50 fee so I would more less loss it all

I’m thinking I’ll just go for it from AKL and hope it’s not to late

 

[Dug720]

So even if I spent more or got the magical express to airport and went through that hassle. I might only get about two hours more on the ship

Mybe your right just get the bus for AKL and hope for the best

You would likely be on an earlier bus - but it depends on how many people are there before you (those on red-eye or very early arrival flights, those staying at the Hyatt, and those staying at MCO-area hotels could all be there before you - though even then I would think you would be on a bus by 10/10:30 at the latest) waiting to get a bus.

Your boarding time could also be later as at least some of the time when you pre-book transfers before final payment you do not get to select a PAT but get given a boarding group.

But either way, especially if you are there before open boarding is called you will be dealing with a loud, crowded, and chaotic terminal. Much more relaxing start IMHO to just take the bus from the resort - sleep in a little, get some breakfast, have a nice ride to the port, and pretty much walk onboard as soon as you get there.

 

[Garyjames220]

You would likely be on an earlier bus - but it depends on how many people are there before you (those on red-eye or very early arrival flights, those staying at the Hyatt, and those staying at MCO-area hotels could all be there before you - though even then I would think you would be on a bus by 10/10:30 at the latest) waiting to get a bus.

Your boarding time could also be later as at least some of the time when you pre-book transfers before final payment you do not get to select a PAT but get given a boarding group.

But either way, especially if you are there before open boarding is called you will be dealing with a loud, crowded, and chaotic terminal. Much more relaxing start IMHO to just take the bus from the resort - sleep in a little, get some breakfast, have a nice ride to the port, and pretty much walk onboard as soon as you get there.

I think you have talked me into doing that

 

[Lanie]

Does anyone knoe if a taxi be about the same amount as uber or lyft?

 

[Lilsia]

Ok think I’ll get the magical express about 8.30.

Get to the airport then get one of the first busses to the port

That way am not losing about 4 hours on the ship

That is a good plan. We like to get on the ship right away too. So we just booked a private car to take us last time. But I would go with your plan of going to the airport for the bus there. People start lining up at the DCL bus area around 8-8:30. They take people first come, first served. You will need you ID, and the cruise booklet that they mail you. Children under 18 do not need ID. Have a great trip!

 

[DCLDVC1]

I get that, that's why it is indeed an extra expense, and that would definitely suck. But to me the extra 100 will be worth more than being on time for the bus to the airport, hoping there will not be any stops at other resorts, then an hour-ride to the airport, wait for the next bus, then to the port. Yes, you might be at the port earlier, but there is a lot of wasted time.
To me, it would be a more relaxing morning to start the cruise by getting up a little later, taking your time to pack and have relaxed breakfast, maybe watching the animals at AKL, or some pool time if you are early risers, and then around 10am get an Uber/Lyft to port.

This. I know I'd forget about spending the extra $100 long before I forgot about how late we arrived to the port and missed a few hours on the ship.

 

[kiford]

It’s actually nice. My last two cruises I got on board just minutes before the cabins opened and I dropped off my carry-on stuff and did not have to schlep it around. Cabanas was calmer too.

This is why we always do DCL transfers. I hate schlepping the bag around, I hate waiting in lines in the terminal and then waiting to board. Only once did we not take transfers because friends who live in Florida who were cruising with us picked us up earlier than we would normally leave (they were coming from Tampa and wanted to make sure there were no traffic issues) so also had to get up early for breakfast. Waited in line to get into the parking garage to park, waited in line in the parking garage to enter, waited in line to check in, found a chair and waited while people packed in around me and used me to lean on, literally had to push my way through scores of people using my elbows as no one would move aside and then had to shove our carry on bags under the table in the MDR and constantly trip on them or kick them while we ate lunch and waited to get into our rooms. Ugh. Never again.

I don’t think I would mind it to much but I wouldn’t like to get on and then get told cabanas is shut

I've never had that happen. We've been picked up at the resorts as early as 10:30 and as late as 12:30. Even once got stuck in traffic but Cabanas and the MDRs were still open when we arrived and we even had time to go to Guest Services to book tastings, correct some errors on our Port Adventure tickets, and unpack my carry on.