Port to WDW questions for those in the know

[HollyMD]

Ok, so we will be going to WDW after our cruise in June. I know that I have read that the buses no longer leave as full, they will not leave until 9am. We have main seating for dinner, which would give us the early breakfast, but I intend on us sleeping in just a bit later and eat in Cabanas- this is ok, correct? Also, my biggest question is the luggage. I had read somewhere that it was best to carry our luggage off ourselves if we were trying to get to a bus to get to WDW. Is this still the case if the buses don't leave until 9? Since we will have quite a bit of luggage(family of 4, including a 9 month old and his stroller, and a 12 year old that seems to live in her own world some days), it seems it would be tough to take with us to Cabanas and even just getting it off. What is the experience with leaving it outside the door the night before and getting on the Disney buses for WDW? With our luggage tags, do they automatically take them to the bus? Or do we still need to try and carry them ourselves? Our cruise is still 23 days away, but just trying to get all of our plans completely in order and this was something I was confused about. Thanks!

 

[lanejudy]

No need to carry your luggage off unless you are trying to be one of the first off the ship early. If you put your luggage out the night before you will still need to collect it in the terminal before going through Customs, but there are porters to assist getting it all through Customs and outside to the bus. Since you aren't planning for a quick/early debarkation, might as well let DCL handle your luggage.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[HollyMD]

No need to carry your luggage off unless you are trying to be one of the first off the ship early. If you put your luggage out the night before you will still need to collect it in the terminal before going through Customs, but there are porters to assist getting it all through Customs and outside to the bus. Since you aren't planning for a quick/early debarkation, might as well let DCL handle your luggage.

Enjoy your cruise!

Thank you! This helps. In the beginning, we WERE trying to get to one of the buses ASAP, but I am seeing no sense in rushing out to it if they for sure will not leave until 9. Is this something we know for sure? OR do they still leave as soon as full? Trying to get to one of the buses quickly may be where I saw to carry your own luggage, but it will definitely be easier if we just have to grab at the terminal! Thanks again!

 

[KarriTigger]

This is what we did - We cruised in April 2016 on the Magic and went to WDW via Disney transfers the day we debarked. We were worried as we had the last dinner seating, that we would miss the bus, as we were told they depart at 9am sharp (via the letter we got in our room for transfers). We decided to eat at Cabana's the morning we debarked, and made sure we carried off our luggage at 8am in the morning. We were off the ship, through customs and on our way to the buses by 8:25am. We sat on the bus (they will sort you by resorts when you get to the bus) until 9am and then we left. The bus was full by 8:45am but we didn't leave till 9am.
We probably could have had breakfast at the later seating and let DCL handle our bags the night before. We were just worried as they said all buses were leaving at 9am, which wasn't the case as there were still buses sitting there when we left. We know for next time!

 

[lanejudy]

I think it was last month that I first read reports of the Port -> WDW buses holding until 9:00am. I honestly haven't read any more recent updates in at least the past couple of weeks. Hopefully someone who did so recently can confirm.

As to luggage... even if you hope to dash off the ship onto a bus, it's still likely to sit there for a bit of time while it fills. So again, no need to drag your own luggage off unless you truly want to be first on the bus. There used to be a few smaller vans first thing in the morning, but still most people were directed to a bus. And I suspect they aren't using the vans since they are waiting until 9am to leave now. I know people want to carry their own luggage off early to catch private transfers; but rushing off the ship for DCL buses has never really been a reason to schlep your own luggage in the morning. I wouldn't worry over it.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[apathetic]

At Port Canaveral, I don't think it has ever been better to carry your luggage off, especially with Disney transfers. They are so efficient, the luggage is usually ready as soon as they clear the ship. It's not like other places where they call each section one at a time. About all you are saving is the 5 minutes (max) it takes to locate your luggage. Now that the buses don't leave until 9, don't waste your time wrestling the bags down to the terminal, let them do it.

 

[ceecee]

You leave your luggage outside your room the night before?? Then you keep everything else in a carry on? Do most people eat breakfast before or skip it entirely?

 

[mrp4352]

On Saturday, we used DCL transport from the port to WDW. The letter we received asked us to disembark by 8:15 to ensure we were on board the bus by 9. With an 8am seating for breakfast (we were second dining), we decided to run to Cabanas and bring it back to our stateroom to eat. We let Disney carry our bags off (putting them outside the night before, except a small bag of our morning essentials) and used a porter to get through Customs (some of the best money spent on the cruise!). We left the ship about 7:50 and walked off with no line. We made it through Customs and were on the bus by 8:30, where we waited until 9am.

What I found really interesting was there seemed to be no rhyme or reason to the hotel groupings. Our bus stopped at Saratoga, then Coronado, then the Poly and there were still people waiting to get off at another resort. I don't know why Mears doesn't use the same groupings as Magic Express.

 

[HollyMD]

You all have been very helpful! Thank you for all of your opinions and experiences, esp @mrp4352, for your recent experience. Now I won't have to worry about rushing a wagging luggage off the ship. Maybe I can even get my family up for the early breakfast we will have! haha. I appreciate all of the help, you guys are great!