stay at the mco or Port Canaveral at the night before cruise

[BCV23]

With a family of 5, one room at the Hyatt may not be an option. Many years ago, our family of five stayed in a room there after a late flight before heading to WDW the next morning. The hotel brought a cot for our DD but the room was impossibly crowded. I remember we had to crawl over the cot to get out of bed. Some years later, I noticed the rooms would not allow more than four.

The restaurant off the lobby is very good. McCoy's? We were not impressed with the breakfast buffet on an upper floor of the hotel.

 

[JWG]

What are you doing for transportation to the port? The problem with staying at the Cape if you're not driving is you have to get there, and then get from the hotel there to the ship the next day. If we drive, we stay at the cape. If we fly, we stay at a MCO hotel with a free shuttle from the airport (or the Hyatt) and then charter a car from there to the ship.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are looking to stay at the Hyatt at mco for our upcoming October cruise. I am also hoping to maybe snag an upgrade. Does anyone know what time we should be downstairs to make sure we get on the first bus? Also, can we leave the luggage in our room if we go old own before they pick it up or should one of us wait with the bags?

The DCL bus transfer location opens at 9:00. It's pretty busy then. To ensure being on the first bus, you'd probably need to be there by 8:15-8:30 at the latest. When you check in be sure to mention that you're taking the DCL transfers the next day. They'll give you a paper to fill out and turn in at the DCL transfer desk when you check in. It alerts the DCL transfer people to be sure to look for your bags. Just leave your bags in your room, pick up from the rooms is generally 8:00-8:30.

One more question, if you board the disney bus transportation at 9:15 will you be able to go directly into the terminal or do you wait in the parking lot at the terminal?
I'm trying to decide if we should go w/happy limo or bus??

If you arrive at the port via DCL transfers, you will be allowed to enter the terminal at that time. Sometimes there may be a few minutes wait before getting off the bus, but it's pretty immediate. As a note - regardless of when you enter the terminal, the boarding number you get at check in will be the same as if you actually entered the terminal during your Port Arrival Time window. That's because boarding numbers are tied to the Port Arrival Time you selected during your online check in process.