Pros/cons of using Disney transportation

[goofy4prez]

Ugh, no. Not for us. I hate getting up early, getting on early and waiting for my room to be ready, hauling my bag about. I liked being picked up later and going directly to my stateroom after open boarding.

To each their own. I appreciate and respect your choice. For me, I want to explore the ship. I want to be able to eat lunch without inhaling it. If not staying concierge, I want to book some activities before 75% of everyone is already onboard. I'd like to find a quiet spot on the ship and relax. I want to experience the DCL feel as soon as I can. But then again, we are the opposite of you. We get up early, we exercise early, we eat early, and we are rarely up well into the night.

It would be awesome if DCL offered an early pickup and a later pickup.

 

[mousefan73]

The more I think about it I think if we were to sell again, we would take DCL but only if they still keep it where those transfers are the first to port. The main driver, why we didn’t take them was because we want an early PAT.

When I think about our last cruise, it was such a stress dropping off our rental car because the place was packed. There were people coming and going and it was a nasty fight trying to get on the next shuttle to the boat and then we ended up waiting a half an hour in traffic just to pull up. I think it took us two hours from when we crossed over the bridge to get to Port Canaveral to when we were actually checking in but this might’ve been a fluke because we’ve dropped rentals off before and it wasn’t this bad but the idea of just simply being dropped off by Disney does sound much more relaxing.

 

[Budzooka]

To each their own. I appreciate and respect your choice. For me, I want to explore the ship. I want to be able to eat lunch without inhaling it. If not staying concierge, I want to book some activities before 75% of everyone is already onboard. I'd like to find a quiet spot on the ship and relax. I want to experience the DCL feel as soon as I can. But then again, we are the opposite of you. We get up early, we exercise early, we eat early, and we are rarely up well into the night.

It would be awesome if DCL offered an early pickup and a later pickup.

I’m with you. Much prefer the early pickup and getting on board early to explore the ship. Last time we did DCL transport was 2018 and it was a late pickup and that is partly why we haven’t done it again. But all set for pickup from MCO for our first Wish sailing in May.

 

[lanejudy]

But all set for pickup from MCO for our first Wish sailing in May.

Be aware that you still need to select a PAT when you do online check-in. DCL Transfers from MCO do not automatically give the early boarding group; only the Transfers from WDW resorts and the Hyatt Lobby provide that.

 

[Budzooka]

Be aware that you still need to select a PAT when you do online check-in. DCL Transfers from MCO do not automatically give the early boarding group; only the Transfers from WDW resorts and the Hyatt Lobby provide that.

Thank you for raising that point. We are staying at Hyatt MCO the night before, so does that make a difference?

 

[Anna131517]

We’ve done both and we prefer doing our own transportation because it allows us to do a nice breakfast that morning. Last cruise we did breakfast at the Grand Floridian Cafe and wandered around the GF before heading to the port. It made for a nice morning. Edit - we are not “get on the ship as early as possible people.” I think we showed up over an hour after our PAT.

 

[jimmymc]

Disney transport pros:

• Easy to add and pay for
• Prices per person, which is better for small groups
• Nice busses, less cramped than most shuttle vans

Disney transport cons:

• Can't pick your time
• Priced per person, which is worse for large families
• Won't stop at grocery stores or anywhere else along the way

 

[DSLRuser]

Rent a car. It saves you at least 1 hour going to port and 1 hour coming back.

2 hours in my life is worth a lot.

We do not subscribe to the "be 1st on the boat" mentality. We prefer to show up around 1pm. Have a nice lunch when it is not as crowded, and then have access to our room at 2pm.

1pm arrival time means we can sleep in and enjoy our resort then have a leasurly drive to the port. Makes it easy to stop and buy sun screen or what ever. Disney busses are a cattle call mentality and I have sat on a bus several times where I was unfortunately one of the 1st to board, and we sat there for 45 minutes or more waiting for others to fill the bus.

Again my time is more valuable then that.

 

[sponica]

Another pro (for me) for DCL transfers: I don't have to worry about car seat, I'm still in 5 point land, so even though I'll have to pay 4 * 39 * 2, by the time I book a car service that can fit 4 and our luggage/stroller once I add in the car seat fee and tip, a round trip car service is about the same (or more expensive)

 

[Cruising Engineer]

Another vote for the DCL transportation from WDW resort to the port and port to MCO. No PAT is required; we're early risers, and enjoy being on the ship early.

 

[lanejudy]

Thank you for raising that point. We are staying at Hyatt MCO the night before, so does that make a difference?

It does... but make sure that your Transfers are listed as "Hyatt Lobby" and not MCO or airport. You (or your TA if you used one) may need to contact DCL and have your Hyatt reservation noted if you didn't book through DCL.

 

[Budzooka]

It does... but make sure that your Transfers are listed as "Hyatt Lobby" and not MCO or airport. You (or your TA if you used one) may need to contact DCL and have your Hyatt reservation noted if you didn't book through DCL.

You rock! Thanks for making me aware of this. I booked the hotel myself so will definitely need to inform TA. Thanks so much!

 

[lklgoodman]

OP - there are plusses and minuses which may or may not pertain to your family or your particular plans:

PROS for DCL transfers:

• guaranteed to get you to the ship
• if taking from WDW resort or the Hyatt, no PAT needed
• usually early arrival at the port if picked up at WDW or the Hyatt lobby
• from WDW resorts/Hyatt, CMs will collect your bags from your resort room and transport to the port
• easy to book and DCL just informs you what time to show up
• convenient
• entertainment on the ride

CONS for DCL transfers:

• cost, especially if 4 or more in your party
• from WDW resorts you don't get a say in the pick-up time
• may make multiple stops at other resorts before heading to the port
• port terminal may be crowded when you arrive and you may need to wait for boarding
• if taking from MCO you still need to select a PAT
• not guaranteed the special decorated bus

PROS of private transfers:

• may be less expensive, especially if 4+ in your party
• many vendors will make a stop on the way to the port (grocery, liquor store, etc.)
• you can set your own time frame for pick-up, not arrive at the port when it's really crowded

If that's what he said it's not exactly correct. WDW did end the contract with Mears for the Disney Magical Express. However obviously DCL still contracts with Mears for the DCL Transfers. But it is a third party (Mears) providing the transportation and the contract probably doesn't guarantee a specially decorated bus, just coach bus service.

I knew about the Magical Express at that time. He told us they weren't going to use Mears for anything any more. It's been a year since our last cruise, so I haven't been keeping up with all the changes.

 

[shananigans]

Be aware that you still need to select a PAT when you do online check-in. DCL Transfers from MCO do not automatically give the early boarding group; only the Transfers from WDW resorts and the Hyatt Lobby provide that.

Thank you for clarifying that! We are staying at the Hyatt - but not through Disney. I called the Hyatt and had to book on my own.

 

[European]

In my opinion, this is how it should have been even back then, and glad it's how it is now.

Exactly my opinion too. Hope it stays that way.

 

[JulieBeeRN]

It has changed since your 2019 cruise. DCL Transfers from WDW resorts used to pick-up in the late morning, arriving to port early afternoon -- typically after "open boarding" was called. Since the restart, DCL Transfers from WDW resorts pick-up early- to mid-morning, sometimes arriving at the port before the terminal opens or shortly thereafter. Those taking DCL Transfers from WDW resorts are now among the first to board.

This is good information. I didn’t realize the buses picked up that early. We had a one-way rental car for our January cruise bc we were concierge and I wanted to get on the ship early.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Disney transport cons:

Sorry but the point highlighted below is not correct. We sailed last month and took DCL transfers both directions.

According to the time stamp on our pictures, we did not leave customs until almost 10AM and we could have left later but understood others were excited to begin their cruise!

Have to be off the ship and through customs by 9 am

 

[Marc D]

According to the time stamp on our pictures, we did not leave customs until almost 10AM and we could have left later but understood others were excited to begin their cruise!

What you experienced is certainly not the norm. They have to close the previous cruise by making sure everyone is off the ship before letting new guests on, the first ones being the B2B who can get on right away. We’ve never waited to get back on later than 10:30, and that’s after being the lasts off the ship at around 9:30. The last resort busses usually leave at 9AM and they try to close the ship ASAP after that. We’ve heard them call out passengers by name on the PA at 9:30.

 

[jimmymc]

Sorry but the point highlighted below is not correct. We sailed last month and took DCL transfers both directions.

According to the time stamp on our pictures, we did not leave customs until almost 10AM and we could have left later but understood others were excited to begin their cruise!

Interesting! Some friends of mine said their bus was scheduled to leave at 9, so they should be off the ship by 8. They were going to a resort instead of the airport. Or it's possible I heard them wrong.

 

[Pixie Dust Believer]

Thank you for clarifying that! We are staying at the Hyatt - but not through Disney. I called the Hyatt and had to book on my own.

You can have your TA try to book transfers from the Hyatt even if you didn’t book your room through Disney.

We are sailing out of Miami next month and the Disney block of rooms at the Hyatt were sold out, but they still had transfers available. We booked the room on our own and then called Disney to add the transfers.