Resort > MCO > Port Bus Question

[bumbershoot]

for the return ME with no flight before the cruise: this could not be booked in advance.

Totally could have been booked in advance. People do it all the time; it's a very common question on the Transportation forum here. Some CMs at DME know that you don't need a flight, and they are happy to work it out for you. Some rogue CMs get bees in their bonnets and NEED a flight number. Either get one or just hang up and call again to get a different CM.

If I keep asking the question I will someday understand the thought process.

Best answer? Because they want to be there. That's all the understanding needed, really.

More of an answer... We were around 2 hours later than my cousin and her family (who had driven in). They got to take the ship's tour, they got to get better familiarized with the ship, they got to explore. She, hubby, and her kids had been on the ship a year prior, but my aunt hadn't, and they all wanted to remember and my aunt got to explore. We did NOT get to do that same exploration. We got onboard and almost immediately afterwards the announcements that staterooms were open was made. We also needed to chat with concierge. From there on in it was rush rush rush. We never caught up to the level of understanding of the ship that my cousins hit.

And they allow people to be there at x time if we take transfers from MCO or get ourselves there in another way with an early PAT. So...we can be there at x time if those things are done. Because we want to.

 

[mevelandry]

I experimented both shuttles (from airport, and from resort).

I find very little advantages to get there early: you get to wait a long time at the Cruise Terminal before you get in, then everybody rushes to Guest Services to book stuff, then your room is not ready until 1:00 PM, Cabanas is a mess...

When you take the shuttle from the resort, yes you do arrive late but when you get to the cruise terminal, you embark pretty much right away, lines for Guest Services goes by fast, your room is ready and you can find seats in Cabanas.

 

[mevelandry]

And I'd like to clarify we are not trying to get to the port early because we have a "me first" attitude, it is our first Disney cruise and we are excited to board and have lunch and have time to do the scheduled ship walking tour and check our dining assignments and attempt to change our Palo Brunch. Not that boarding as early as you can should need to be justified!

I couldn't say about the walking tour but even when arriving after 1:00 PM, we had the time to book Palo brunch, check dining assignment and have lunch, change, swim and go get a drink before the fire drill and we did not even feel rushed.

 

[Amy11]

I couldn't say about the walking tour but even when arriving after 1:00 PM, we had the time to book Palo brunch, check dining assignment and have lunch, change, swim and go get a drink before the fire drill and we did not even feel rushed.

Yep that could work! It's just since we are pretty set on taking a DCL bus, from resort direct we could get picked up at 12:30 or 12:45, pretty common pick up times. On ship at 2:30 that way. And won't know til the night before!

 

[tinkerone]

Best answer? Because they want to be there. That's all the understanding needed, really.

That may be all the understanding you need however I like to know how people think, hence the question. Yes they want to be there but there is a reason for the want. There is always a reason for the want. That's what my question was referring to. Plus, maybe with the understanding of the reasons, they could be offered some help or suggestions with the things that matter most to them.

Thanks @Amy11 and @Starwind for the open and honest answers. Hope you have great cruises and a magical time.

 

[RedSox68]

Doesn't ME require flight information so they know what terminal to drop you off at? Not sure if you can just take the bus so you can get another bus.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Doesn't ME require flight information so they know what terminal to drop you off at? Not sure if you can just take the bus so you can get another bus.

As far as I know, you only have to tell them what time you need to be at the airport. In the past you've actually had to supply a flight time & number.

 

[RedSox68]

I'd like to ask a serious question. Please do not take this as judgmental in any way, its meant to be a simple question. I get why people want to be at the port early, I just don't understand it and I am hoping that one day I do. What are the several things you want and need to accomplish on board right away? I ask this because more and more things are being done online and the things, like dinning changes, do not begin to take requests until one.
Again, no judgment, just trying to understand why people feel this way. If I keep asking the question I will someday understand the thought process.
Truthfully when it was my first cruise I wanted to be their asap as well but I found it rather a crowded mess so I have never gone out of my way to do it since.

I think this bodes well for first time cruisers. I know for our first couple of cruises, we wanted to be at the port ASAP so that we could take pictures, look around the terminal, take pictures outside and enjoy just relaxing and watching all the activity and characters.

However, after 10 Disney cruises, arriving first PAT has become a favorite for us simply because we like to get an early boarding group. We don't, however, obsess about getting there early and if there is a delay, we go with the flow. Yes, we still have to lug our bags around as rooms aren't ready, but we like getting onboard and taking pictures of the hallways and venues and shop areas before they fill up with people during the cruise. And I like being onboard early because then our vacation has started. We are usually staying somewhere pre-cruise and do a towncar service which gives us a grocery stop, so we get picked up at about 9 a.m. Once we are done with parks, I don't want to hang around the resort until the DCL buses start picking up at 11 a.m. or later. I have read some stories about delayed arrivals from Disney resorts missing the whole welcome aboard lunch.

 

[RedSox68]

As far as I know, you only have to tell them what time you need to be at the airport. In the past you've actually had to supply a flight time & number.

Good to know. Thanks.

 

[bumbershoot]

Doesn't ME require flight information so they know what terminal to drop you off at? Not sure if you can just take the bus so you can get another bus.

They only drop at one spot now.

With a WDW reservation we are entitled to one trip to and one trip from MCO at some point between checkin and checkout days. It doesn't matter why you are going to the airport or if you came in on a flight. Many CMs understand this and can do it without a flight number. Some CMs don't get it. Doesn't mean it's not something we're allowed to do.

 

[RedSox68]

They only drop at one spot now.

With a WDW reservation we are entitled to one trip to and one trip from MCO at some point between checkin and checkout days. It doesn't matter why you are going to the airport or if you came in on a flight. Many CMs understand this and can do it without a flight number. Some CMs don't get it. Doesn't mean it's not something we're allowed to do.

Maybe they finally caught on that people go back to the airport to take the DCL bus.

 

[mevelandry]

Yep that could work! It's just since we are pretty set on taking a DCL bus, from resort direct we could get picked up at 12:30 or 12:45, pretty common pick up times. On ship at 2:30 that way. And won't know til the night before!

Yes, that is the risk. We got lucky and were picked up at 11:45.

 

[Starwind]

Totally could have been booked in advance. People do it all the time; it's a very common question on the Transportation forum here. Some CMs at DME know that you don't need a flight, and they are happy to work it out for you. Some rogue CMs get bees in their bonnets and NEED a flight number. Either get one or just hang up and call again to get a different CM.

I know others have been able to. We were not. I called multiple times and spoke to different people. All gave the same song and dance. So we gave up and followed what they told us, which other than the slight hiccup worked out ok.

SW

 

[AngelDisney]

They only drop at one spot now.

When I did this in 2011, ME dropped passengers off at different airline locations. Since I gave a fake flight number and I was afraid I would be dropped off somewhere far from the DCL counter, I told the driver I would like to be dropped off at the DCL location and he did.
Does it mean now ME only drops passengers off at ONE fixed location and we have to find our way inside the terminal to the DCL counter? Please confirm. TIA!

 

[bumbershoot]

Maybe they finally caught on that people go back to the airport to take the DCL bus.

People go to the airport for many reasons. Staying at the Hyatt the night before a flight, to meet someone arriving then get a rental car, etc.

When I did this in 2011, ME dropped passengers off at different airline locations. Since I gave a fake flight number and I was afraid I would be dropped off somewhere far from the DCL counter, I told the driver I would like to be dropped off at the DCL location and he did.
Does it mean now ME only drops passengers off at ONE fixed location and we have to find our way inside the terminal to the DCL counter? Please confirm. TIA!

I'm sure one of the stickies on the Transportation forum addresses it, but from what I've heard there is just one dropoff spot for DME now.

ETA, allears disagrees with that.

 

[bumbershoot]

I know others have been able to. We were not. I called multiple times and spoke to different people. All gave the same song and dance. So we gave up and followed what they told us, which other than the slight hiccup worked out ok.

SW

Well, for others... Just call back with a flight number that works to get you there when you want to be there.

 

[AngelDisney]

People go to the airport for many reasons. Staying at the Hyatt the night before a flight, to meet someone arriving then get a rental car, etc.



I'm sure one of the stickies on the Transportation forum addresses it, but from what I've heard there is just one dropoff spot for DME now.

ETA, allears disagrees with that.

 

[bumbershoot]

Yes, that is the risk. We got lucky and were picked up at 11:45.

FWIW, we were picked up at POR at that time, then stopped at 2 more resorts, and got in nearing 2. My cousins had driven in from Daytona and had been on the ship for ages and ages, texting me all about what they were doing. It was sad.

 

[Boopuff]

Please clarify: you can indeed take Disney transport to the port (is it free or cost$$) Once you're on board around lunch time is only one restaurant available for lunch on that day? Or are some of the smaller "snack" counters open as well? Does meal service start upon ariival or just dinner on the first day? Thanks

 

[kiapepito]

We did that last July. Stayed at AOA and took magical express back to MCO to catch the bus to go to port. It was the best decision we did! We were at port by 10:45 am and on the boat by 12 pm at guest services getting tickets for Anna Elsa, princess and Disney he breakfast. Ten minutes later we were on the aqua duck and then we had lunch and still had enough time to walk around the boat before our room was ready.

Was it worth going the extra mile... I'd sure say so as the others that were staying at AOA did not arrive port until 1:30 pm.