Private transporation from WDW to PC and back

[BlueRibbon]

We have our cruise booked and we're blessed to be able to stay a couple of days at WDW before and after our cruise. When originally booking, I added ground transportation via DCL bus. However, I want every minute I can get on the boat, and was not overly pleased to find that the DCL buses don't show up at the port until ~1:30-2pm.

This led me to look at the various private ground transportation options where I'm able to request a pick up that'll get us to Port Canaveral much earlier.

We are staying at All Star Sports, and I'm thinking a pick up time of 9:45 to get us to the port around 11am when the doors open.

The question is: What time should I tell the limo service to pick us up at PC for our return trip to WDW? We don't want to be among the first off the boat, we'd like to have breakfast, but we don't want to dither at the port either. We'd like to start enjoying WDW again as soon as possible!

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

We have our cruise booked and we're blessed to be able to stay a couple of days at WDW before and after our cruise. When originally booking, I added ground transportation via DCL bus. However, I want every minute I can get on the boat, and was not overly pleased to find that the DCL buses don't show up at the port until ~1:30-2pm.

This led me to look at the various private ground transportation options where I'm able to request a pick up that'll get us to Port Canaveral much earlier.

We are staying at All Star Sports, and I'm thinking a pick up time of 9:45 to get us to the port around 11am when the doors open.

The question is: What time should I tell the limo service to pick us up at PC for our return trip to WDW? We don't want to be among the first off the boat, we'd like to have breakfast, but we don't want to dither at the port either. We'd like to start enjoying WDW again as soon as possible!

I can’t suggest a time as we’ve only done DCL busses back to WDW. I will say though when we’ve done the busses we had breakfast for 1st seating, debarked the ship, loaded on the buses and were at the hotel by about 9:30. We got checked in and were at MK by 10:45.

We’ve never mastered figuring out a pick up time at other ports either, we always seem to be waiting for our transportation after the cruise, because I’m afraid of booking it too early.

 

[Weedy]

It’s about a one hour drive from WDW to the port. Many companies will do a grocery store stop so add a little extra time if you do that.
Remember to login to your cruise account when your booking window opens (75 days prior to your cruise for first time cruisers) and pick a Port Arrival Time. The earliest PAT at Port Canaveral is 10:30-10:45.
The terminal opens at 10:30 and they usually start boarding 11:15-11:30.
Have a great Cruise.
For the way back:
This is the last morning only
If you have early dining you are assigned early breakfast 6:30am
Late dinner late breakfast 8:00
It takes about 45 minutes to eat.
Then it takes 20-30 minutes to get off the ship, find your luggage and get through security.
**Cabanas is also open for breakfast the last morning 6:30-8:00

 

[kiford]

First question: what's your port arrival time? If it's not in sync with your transportation, early arrival is irrelevant as you'll spend time in the terminal not on the ship. Open boarding is around 12:30 pm. We've been picked up by DCL transfers as early as 10:30 am and as late as 12:30 pm. Latest we've ever arrived at the port was about 2 pm (massive traffic backup). Also, if you arrive and board prior to 1:30 when cabins are available, you do have to haul your carry on around until then. So you just need to be prepared for that. There's not really much to do before your room is ready beyond lunch and maybe the pool if you have bathing suits in your carry on and you're prepared to keep an eye on them while you're in the pool.

 

[Weedy]

From someone who likes to arrive early
Typically at Port Canaveral
10:30 Terminal opens
When you arrive the porters will take your bags and deliver them to your cabin.
Keep a small bag with you with anything you may need until your bags arrive usually 4-5:00
When you check in you will be given a boarding number. The earlier your Port Arrival Time the lower your boarding number. Platinum and Concierge get #1
11:15-11:30 boarding begins.
Once they start boarding it goes pretty fast they call the next number(s) about every 5 minutes.
They usually have everyone waiting in the terminal onboard by 12:30-12:45. At this time they go to an “open boarding” meaning you check in and walk on.
Before boarding there are some fun things to do although it can be very crowded.
The characters will come out for photos.
The only!! Disney Cruise line pressed penny machine is in the terminal at Port Canaveral. There are 6 different designs .51 each Bring change!!!
There is a outside balcony that you can get some cool pictures of the ship.
Once you board
12:00 pools and slides open. Fun to do before things get crowded
12:00 Restaurants and bars open
1:30 cabins ready

 

[xQuizx]

On our cruise last year the earliest pick up time from the resorts was 10:00AM with FLTours. Something on the website stating they couldn't drop off earlier then 11:00AM at the port.

The run down looked like this for us last year:

10:00AM - Pick up from Art of Animation
11:00AM - Grocerty store stop for water and beer
11:30AM - Drop off at the port
12:00PM - Pictures with Minnie
12:25PM - Board ship
12:35PM - Lunch on the ship
1:30PM - Dropped off carry on luggage at room

We have our private transport scheduled to pick us up at 10:00AM this year as well.

For the return trip there are Disney buses waiting to go to the resorts/WDW when you exit customs. Once they fill up they leave.

If you want private transport ours is set at 8:30AM and we have 1st seating so early breakfast.

Cheers!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Something on the website stating they couldn't drop off earlier then 11:00AM at the port.

I believe it has to do with private transportation having to pay an additional cost to access the terminal area before that time.

 

[Pooh93]

We have our cruise booked and we're blessed to be able to stay a couple of days at WDW before and after our cruise. When originally booking, I added ground transportation via DCL bus. However, I want every minute I can get on the boat, and was not overly pleased to find that the DCL buses don't show up at the port until ~1:30-2pm.

This led me to look at the various private ground transportation options where I'm able to request a pick up that'll get us to Port Canaveral much earlier.

We are staying at All Star Sports, and I'm thinking a pick up time of 9:45 to get us to the port around 11am when the doors open.

The question is: What time should I tell the limo service to pick us up at PC for our return trip to WDW? We don't want to be among the first off the boat, we'd like to have breakfast, but we don't want to dither at the port either. We'd like to start enjoying WDW again as soon as possible!

The limo service will probably suggest a time for them to pick you up and then you will call them once you have cleared customs. We have used Tiffany Town Car and they were waiting in a holding area until we called and said we were ready to be picked up and then they made their way to us.

 

[DCLDVC1]

We like to get to the port by 10:30 so we normally schedule a car service to pick us up at our WDW resort between 9:00-9:15. If we go to WDW after the cruise, we either take the DCL bus or schedule a car service pick up at 8:30.

 

[Justin Leas]

Does anyone have experience with carseats and transportation service. My family will be staying in a nondisney hotel in Orlando the night before the cruise. My question is, if we book limo service, or van service, to and from port, would it be better to bring a car seat from home or to rent them from the car company? If we are in a limo do I need a car seat? My girls are both 5 yo (one is adopted) and there is a huge difference in size. I feel like by next may the bigger one might be okay out of her booster. The little one will probably still need the full harness for another 2 years. Any experience with this would be helpful. Thanks.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Does anyone have experience with carseats and transportation service. My family will be staying in a nondisney hotel in Orlando the night before the cruise. My question is, if we book limo service, or van service, to and from port, would it be better to bring a car seat from home or to rent them from the car company? If we are in a limo do I need a car seat? My girls are both 5 yo (one is adopted) and there is a huge difference in size. I feel like by next may the bigger one might be okay out of her booster. The little one will probably still need the full harness for another 2 years. Any experience with this would be helpful. Thanks.

Any vehicle like a personal car, car seats are required. Some limo companies have them (I'm not that comfortable with using a car seat that's been used by who knows how many kids, and no record of if it's been in an accident). That's cars, trucks, and vans.

Florida requirements:
FLORIDA — (316.613)

• Children 3 and younger must be secured in a crash-tested federally approved child restraint device.
• Children 4 through 5 must be secured by either a crash-tested federally approved child restraint device, integrated child seat or booster seat. SR4K note: The RideSafer Travel Vest qualifies for children 3 and older. See best practice recommendations.

 

[LoveMickey]

We take private transportation TO the ship and use DCL busses to return to the WDW hotels.