Port Arrival Times using Disney transfer from Orlando Airport

[Rob1872]

My apologies if this is an old question; I did a quick search and didn't see the answer and it is my first time on the forum in about 2 years.

My kid's school just increased their Thanksgiving break to all week. I'm retiring on December 1st from the Navy (29 1/2 years!!) and decided to grab a military rate for a Dream 4 night starting next week on Monday, using Disney transfers from the airport. When I did the online check-in, I was given the choice of 4 Port Arrival Times. I thought that if you took Disney transfers that you didn't get a Port Arrival Time but instead your PAT was by default whenever your bus arrived.

With the new COVID testing at the port, will I be required to not take a bus from MCO until it won't arrive until my 2:15 pm PAT, or can I still take a 11:00 am bus and plan on a late lunch onboard?

Also, anyone know about what time open boarding is being called now? I'm in boarding group 26 so there is no reason to try to get to the port too early.

 

[Rob1872]

No one has used Disney Orlando Airport transportation since COVID???

 

[lanejudy]

Some folks have needed to pick a PAT when taking DCL transfers, others haven’t. There doesn’t seem to be any pattern. Based on other reports, I don’t think you will need to wait until 2:15 for your transfer.

 

[stkgator]

My understanding is that if you are using DCL transpiration to PC, your PAT time is not enforced and you will go through the COVID testing when the bus arrives at PC. In the online check-in process, you will be asked about your transportation plans for both arrival and departure, with one of the options DCL airport/hotel transfer.

On our past two post-COVID cruises, the boarding group was meaningless as once you cleared the COVID test, customs, and security, you just walked directly on-board.

On our cruise last week, the earliest PAT that was available to me was 11:45 when I checked in right at the 30-day mark. When I arrived at PC at 11:40, I could see that passengers were already on board. Seeing that it has been taking approximately 45 minutes for the COVID test, I am thinking that there must have been an earlier DCL bus drop off.

FWIW, I just checked in for a Dec cruise, the earliest PAT available was 12:00 noon.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

I'm retiring on December 1st from the Navy (29 1/2 years!!) and decided to grab a military rate for a Dream 4 night starting next week on Monday,

Congratulations and thank you for your 29.5 yrs of service.

 

[Cheburashka]

On our cruise last week, the earliest PAT that was available to me was 11:45 when I checked in right at the 30-day mark. When I arrived at PC at 11:40, I could see that passengers were already on board. Seeing that it has been taking approximately 45 minutes for the COVID test, I am thinking that there must have been an earlier DCL bus drop off.

Yes, people staying at Disney resorts pre-cruise are reporting 8am & 9am pick-ups. It will take them 2 hours max to get to the port, so there are definitely people being processed by 11am.

 

[Rob1872]

Thanks. I didn't want to check out of our hotel, take the hotel courtesy shuttle to get to the airport and then have to hang out for 2-3 hours until I was allowed to board a bus. (Not the end of the world if we had to wait for our PAT; just would rather wait in our hotel room than sitting on a bench at the airport!)

 

[frozenmania]

Our WDW resort bus transfer in August was pretty late with arrival to PC about 1:30pm. Per previous post, resort pick up time is 8a or 9am. Is this a recent change? We have another cruise on Disney Fantasy 12/26. Thanks.

 

[Kwami]

Our WDW resort bus transfer in August was pretty late with arrival to PC about 1:30pm. Per previous post, resort pick up time is 8a or 9am. Is this a recent change? We have another cruise on Disney Fantasy 12/26. Thanks.

Pickups have been early since cruising resumed after the shutdown. I agree that they used to be quite a bit later!

 

[insureman]

Bravo Zulu on 29.5 years in the Navy!