Pre-cruise plans

[KrisApple]

I need some suggestions. We are flying into MCO the night before our cruise out of PC. We could either (1) stay at the Hyatt in the airport and take the DCL transport in the morning or (2) get a shuttle to a PC hotel that night and stay near the port.

Goport . com is quoting almost $600 for the Fly, Snooze, Cruise package for a hotel in Port Canaveral. That seems high but since we are coming from the west coast, I would rather let my children sleep in a bit. Does anyone know how late the shuttles pick up? Our flight may not come in until 10pm

But the less I have to do, the better. With DCL transfers, they take all our luggage from hotel straight to the ship, right?

I need help!!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I need some suggestions. We are flying into MCO the night before our cruise out of PC. We could either (1) stay at the Hyatt in the airport and take the DCL transport in the morning or (2) get a shuttle to a PC hotel that night and stay near the port.

Goport . com is quoting almost $600 for the Fly, Snooze, Cruise package for a hotel in Port Canaveral. That seems high but since we are coming from the west coast, I would rather let my children sleep in a bit. Does anyone know how late the shuttles pick up? Our flight may not come in until 10pm

But the less I have to do, the better. With DCL transfers, they take all our luggage from hotel straight to the ship, right?

I need help!!

Are you arriving into MCO at 10pm? For me, I'd opt for the Hyatt at the airport if arriving that late.

Yes, your luggage goes from Hyatt to ship (to your room) currently.

 

[tvguy]

There are about a dozen hotels just off MCO property on Augusta National Drive. They are cheaper than the Hyatt and they offer a shuttle from the airport, most offer free breakfast, and then you take their shuttle back to the airport and drop you off at the DCL bus stop at the airport.
I know what you are saying as a fellow west coaster. Our flight got in at 11 pm EST.......and we were at the hotel and in bed by midnight......up at 8 am and on the way to the port by about 930 am. We literally spent only about 8 hours at the hotel. And despite the long flight, it was tough to get to sleep at what was 9 pm for our bodies, and up at 5 am.

 

[auntlynne]

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

You don't mention any children. If you're traveling with children, I'd keep it simple and stay at the Hyatt. I would only deal with the shuttle and stay off site from MCO if:
1. Using a private transfer company that would pick us up at the offsite hotel.
2. If it's just 2 adults and you don't mind dealing with the extra shuttle ride back to MCO.
3. If the Hyatt is outrageously expensive which it sometimes is when they're hosting a convention.

You just can't beat the convenience of the Hyatt. We usually just pack some instant oatmeal for breakfast. It's easy to run water through the coffeemaker to get it hot enough and I don't have the patience for a long sit down breakfast on the morning of a cruise.

 

[auntlynne]

 

[Clarkson U]

The Hyatt is a great hotel and super convenient.

However, if you want to sleep in you may be better off taking an Uber/taxi to a hotel by PC, checking in late at night and then sleeping in. Many of those at PC have a shuttle to bring you to the port.

It’s really all about personal preference as there is no bad option here.

Other option is stay at an off mco airport hotel with free shuttle and then take your own transport to the port (Uber taxi etc) instead of Dcl shuttle so you can get plenty of rest and sleep.

 

[lscrivan18]

Does anyone know what time you need to be ready for the shuttle if choosing the Hyatt/DCL option?

 

[justafigment27]

Does anyone know what time you need to be ready for the shuttle if choosing the Hyatt/DCL option?

Not sure. But, unless you want to be the first on the ship, I’m wondering if you could just book DCL transfers as if you’re arriving on a same day flight, sleep in a little and cart your own luggage to the bus? Hyatt checkout is noon.

 

[lscrivan18]

Not sure. But, unless you want to be the first on the ship, I’m wondering if you could just book DCL transfers as if you’re arriving on a same day flight, sleep in a little and cart your own luggage to the bus? Hyatt checkout is noon.

That's a great point. I'm assuming that shouldn't be a problem if you buy the transfer as if you were flying in.

 

[ktate82]

We have done the Hyatt option a few times. We would 100% recommend it if flying in late. When you check in at the Hyatt, you can pay bell services to claim your luggage and bring it to your room. So we would go right to the hotel after getting off the flight, check in, give our claim tickets to bell services, and be in our room in under 15 minutes from leaving the plane. We carry PJs in our carry on, so kids would get ready for bed and about that time, we would be getting our luggage. The next morning, just take our carry ons with us to the lobby, check in, and onto the bus we went. The transfers left about 10, so that gave time to sleep in a bit and grab some breakfast sandwiches from Starbucks.

In short, the Hyatt was super easy and simple. My husband has said it's a shame more airports don't have a Hyatt option lol.

 

[saraheli]

We flew into MCO at 7pm so opted to take an Uber to hotel near port. We stayed at Home2Suites on Astronaut Blvd. In the morning we had the free breakfast at hotel and then took another Uber to the port. I think all in we paid less than $100 for the Ubers total. Everything was easy and the hotel was perfect, nice, clean and convenient.

 

[MrMagoo]

Does anyone know what time you need to be ready for the shuttle if choosing the Hyatt/DCL option?

If I remember correctly, you are to have your bags ready to be picked up from your room at the Hyatt by 8am or maybe 8:30.
You do leave your luggage in the room and they will pick it up and it does get transferred to the Disney Cruise ship.
As we were going down to the lobby we did see some luggage sitting outside a couple of rooms but DO NOT do this.
They do get it from your room!

You are to meet in the lobby area around 9-9:30 for the bus to the port.

The last time we stayed at the Hyatt it must have been have the bags ready by 8:30 and meet downstairs at 9.
We were nervous about our bags being collected since we had to go downstairs and our luggage hadn't been collected before we left our room. We did check downstairs and they did have our room as one to be collected from and our luggage did make the ship! And if your luggage hasn't been picked up I recommend checking to make sure
your room and name is on their list.

I believe I would stay at the Hyatt, airport rather than take an hour to get to the port from MCO that night.
Staying at the airport, you probably wouldn't get to bed much before midnight anyway after getting your luggage,
checking into the hotel, and getting the kids settled and ready for bed. I know that is like 10pm according to your
west coast time but you will probably have had a long day already.

Plus you would not have to try to schedule a port arrival time!
You would also be able to embark the ship before others.

 

[kiford]

The last time we stayed at the MCO Hyatt before a cruise (early 2020), we were supposed to arrive around 7 pm but didn't get in until nearly midnight so I was very glad we'd decided to stay there. Basically a short walk, up the elevators and drop into bed. We slept in a little and had a late-ish breakfast. I think 8 or 8:30 was when our luggage had to be ready so we couldn't sleep too late and then ended up waiting until after pick-up to go for breakfast and then just took our time. We went down to get the bus around 11:45 am. I think we got on the bus about 12:15 or so. The clerk at the Hyatt told us that the "sweet spot" for buses was around 11:30-12:00 with fewer people in line but you still get to the ship at a reasonable time as well as accounting for any potential traffic. And you can sleep in and have breakfast without rushing.

We originally considered going to PC to stay or going out to WDW but thought that this would be most convenient if our flight was late which it always is. As it turns out, yes, it was very late.

 

[enzy65]

Not sure. But, unless you want to be the first on the ship, I’m wondering if you could just book DCL transfers as if you’re arriving on a same day flight, sleep in a little and cart your own luggage to the bus? Hyatt checkout is noon.

We just book MCO Hyatt on our own, arriving night before. DCL transfers are from the airport next day, 9:20am to around 2pm or so. We sleep in and take our own luggage down and they put it in a truck to take to the port. I do not like to surrender my luggage so early.