some cruise questions for a Merrytime

[daisyx3]

I am suddenly thinking of a Merrytime 3 night (can't really do a 4 due to work). I am looking at Nov. 5-8 which has CC and a sea day instead of Nassau. We are both fully vaccinated and this would be our first cruise as Gold CC members. We have no issue masking inside. I have not been following this board for a while so I have some basic post-COVID questions before I pull the trigger:
1) do we now take our own bags on DCL busses like MDE?
2) we would have to fly in late at night or early in the morning. Is it still recommended to fly in the night before? We wouldn't get to Orlando until about 1130 PM because we would have to leave after work. If we fly in the AM we would arrive about 915AM.
3) Is the recommended time to leave MCO still after noon or has it been pushed back? We would get late seating.
4) is rainforest open? We are both late 50s , traveling without any kids or grands. My main draw on this trip would be the Christmas decorations, since we usually travel in summer and I've never been able to do a Merrytime--but I am close enough to retirement I don't mind taking a couple of personal days. But we like to go sit on the heated loungers too.
Thanks for any info.

 

[auntlynne]

2. My preference - If at all possible, day/night before gives you the cushion if there are flight problems. Of course, if night flight has problems, there is no guarantee of seats in the morning.

As for arriving at the port, for Sep 20 cruise, PATs start at 11:15. Last is 2:30.

4. They have been offering rainforest room to groups for a period, somewhere between 1-2 hours. You and your party of 1-10 pax have exclusive use of the room for a fixed price for the room, not per person. I’ve seen different prices. Hoping someone has clearer details - although subject to modification, of course.

 

[auntlynne]

I, also, suddenly decided to book my cruise at the 30-day mark, just before Bahamian government vaccination rules came out.

Hope you have a great cruise.

 

[AquaDame]

I am suddenly thinking of a Merrytime 3 night (can't really do a 4 due to work). I am looking at Nov. 5-8 which has CC and a sea day instead of Nassau. We are both fully vaccinated and this would be our first cruise as Gold CC members. We have no issue masking inside. I have not been following this board for a while so I have some basic post-COVID questions before I pull the trigger:
1) do we now take our own bags on DCL busses like MDE?
2) we would have to fly in late at night or early in the morning. Is it still recommended to fly in the night before? We wouldn't get to Orlando until about 1130 PM because we would have to leave after work. If we fly in the AM we would arrive about 915AM.
3) Is the recommended time to leave MCO still after noon or has it been pushed back? We would get late seating.
4) is rainforest open? We are both late 50s , traveling without any kids or grands. My main draw on this trip would be the Christmas decorations, since we usually travel in summer and I've never been able to do a Merrytime--but I am close enough to retirement I don't mind taking a couple of personal days. But we like to go sit on the heated loungers too.
Thanks for any info.

1) Yes
2) Yes, now more than ever as airlines have been flakey with their scheduling in the last year.
3) I'm not sure on this one - it doesn't seem they have updated the site so I guess the suggested times have not changed? https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/guest-services/ground-transportation/
4) Kind of - poster above me answered already.