Stupid Question - Do I just call DCL?

[Mousemommy1]

We have 2 nights at WDW before our Dream cruise and 2 nights after. I have paid for round trip transports. But obviously, we need to be picked up from our hotel and dropped off at our hotel. Do we just call DCL and give them our hotel information? And then will they give us the pick up times, etc...?

Sorry for the dumb question, it's our first time.

Also, when can we book excursions and Palo and stuff? Our cruise is in April. We are already PIF, but our PIF date isn't until 2/10/16 if that means anything?

Oh! And do most people do pre-paid gratuities? When is that done?

Thank you!!!

 

[dclpluto]

We have 2 nights at WDW before our Dream cruise and 2 nights after. I have paid for round trip transports. But obviously, we need to be picked up from our hotel and dropped off at our hotel. Do we just call DCL and give them our hotel information? And then will they give us the pick up times, etc...?

Sorry for the dumb question, it's our first time.

Also, when can we book excursions and Palo and stuff? Our cruise is in April. We are already PIF, but our PIF date isn't until 2/10/16 if that means anything?

Oh! And do most people do pre-paid gratuities? When is that done?

Thank you!!!

Yes just call DCL for your hotel information but they won't give you a pick up time. You will get the pick up time the last night of your wdw stay.

Since this is your first DCL cruise I think you can book excursions, palo, etc at the 75 day mark.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Yes just call DCL for your hotel information but they won't give you a pick up time. You will get the pick up time the last night of your wdw stay.

Since this is your first DCL cruise I think you can book excursions, palo, etc at the 75 day mark.

Ok, thank you!!! I was always curious as to whether the two systems (WDW and DCL) "talk" to each other with all of that information. Like, if I ask the front desk about DCL transfer info, would they be able to answer me?

 

[dclpluto]

Ok, thank you!!! I was always curious as to whether the two systems (WDW and DCL) "talk" to each other with all of that information. Like, if I ask the front desk about DCL transfer info, would they be able to answer me?

Depends on who you ask. Some are clueless and some have their act together. The last night of your wdw stay you will get a letter from DCL saying that have your bags pack and bell services will start to pick up your bags at 0800. Remember not to pack your passports,medicine, cameras,swim wear if you want to go swimming when you arrive on the ship. You might not see your bags until 1700. In the letter they will tell you where to go and what time DCL will pick you up. Someone from DCL will be there to help you.

 

[mmouse37]

Ok, thank you!!! I was always curious as to whether the two systems (WDW and DCL) "talk" to each other with all of that information. Like, if I ask the front desk about DCL transfer info, would they be able to answer me?

Sometimes...they are not completely synched but WDW can answer some general DCL transfers questions but not all. In May at the Beach Club I had asked if it would be possible to change our bus pick up to MCO since we were heading there early in the morning of the cruise but wanted to see if our luggage could still be picked up from the Beach Club (to avoid lugging our luggage to MCO). I was at the desk for over an hour while they pondered and checked with various people. Turned out they could not definitively get an answer on this so I said forget it and we brought our luggage to MCO and it was transported to the port from there. Probably could have just left it in the room and it would have been taken but I didn't want to take the chance.

MJ

 

[Mousemommy1]

Oh boy!!! Getting so nervous! I hope it all goes smoothly!!!

 

[dclpluto]

Oh boy!!! Getting so nervous! I hope it all goes smoothly!!!

You will have a great time. Since you are using DCL transfers and you will be at wdw for a couple of nights prior everything will go smoothly I'm sure.
enjoy your cruise

 

[Mousemommy1]

You will have a great time. Since you are using DCL transfers and you will be at wdw for a couple of nights prior everything will go smoothly I'm sure.
enjoy your cruise

Thank you.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Oh boy!!! Getting so nervous! I hope it all goes smoothly!!!

You did the right thing for your first cruise by booking DCL transfers, it's sooooo easy that way.

You're going to have a great time and the bus ride is actually a lot of fun. I'll never forget our first cruise when the bus driver announced, "look to the left and forward and you can see the Disney Dream", it was so exciting. Then seeing her up close and live was amazing, she's HUGE.

I wish you a DREAMy cruise.

 

[Mousemommy1]

You did the right thing for your first cruise by booking DCL transfers, it's sooooo easy that way.

You're going to have a great time and the bus ride is actually a lot of fun. I'll never forget our first cruise when the bus driver announced, "look to the left and forward and you can see the Disney Dream", it was so exciting. Then seeing her up close and live was amazing, she's HUGE.

I wish you a DREAMy cruise.

Thank you! I can't even imagine. I can't wait to see her in person!!

 

[mrp4352]

One thing to be prepared for with WDW hotel transfers is the lateness (to me) of the pickup. When I used that service last time, the cruise bus left my hotel at 12:15 and stopped at another one before heading to port. If your heart is set on being at the port early and on board as soon as possible, you're probably better off taking ME back to the airport (give them flight information for a flight that departs three hours later than when you want to be picked up - ie a 10am Southwest flight means an approximate 7am ME pickup). Then, carry your stuff to the ME location in the airport, which is where DCL transfers pick up and queue up for the next available transportation. If I remember correctly, they start heading to the port around 9:30 - 10am...

 

[Starwind]

One thing to be prepared for with WDW hotel transfers is the lateness (to me) of the pickup. When I used that service last time, the cruise bus left my hotel at 12:15 and stopped at another one before heading to port. If your heart is set on being at the port early and on board as soon as possible, you're probably better off taking ME back to the airport (give them flight information for a flight that departs three hours later than when you want to be picked up - ie a 10am Southwest flight means an approximate 7am ME pickup). Then, carry your stuff to the ME location in the airport, which is where DCL transfers pick up and queue up for the next available transportation. If I remember correctly, they start heading to the port around 9:30 - 10am...

For our December cruise on the Dream, when we booked our ME transfers we explained we needed to go back to MCO the day we check out of WL because we were going to spend the night before the cruise at the Hyatt at MCO. ME said not a problem, but that the return had to be scheduled by us via our resort concierge the day before we checked out.

The morning before checkout day we went to Concierge. The CM did not know how to book an ME transfer without a flight time and had to call ME; but at 6 am ME was not open I went back to Concierge in the afternoon and the CM knew how to do the booking (no flight, just a return to MCO), did it, and printed us our confirmation/instruction letter.

My suggestion for someone wanting to transfer to the airport at the end of their WDW stay so they can do the DCL transfer from the airport (whether the night before or morning of) is to call ME and talk to them; they can explain what you need to do and when.

We also do not like how late the DCL transfers are from the resorts, which is why we spent the last night at the Hyatt. We chose to spend the night there so we did not have to deal with transfers in the morning (EARLY). We were able to have dinner at the airport, relax and use their pool area, and enjoy the Pure room at the Hyatt. We also did a bit of exploring at the airport, something we usually do not have time to do. And we got to choose what time we went back to the airport, so we enjoyed most of the day at WL.

SW

 

[diznymom]

Our second cruise, we stayed at AS Sp before our cruise. They came and got our luggage about mid-morning (around 9 or 10....don't remember. Then we went to the lobby a bit later (after 11) and met w/ a DCL representative. She made sure everyone had everything they needed (IDs mainly). Then the bus came. When we got to the port, there were no lines. We walked to the check in desk, then walked onboard............and went straight to lunch.

It is easy and smooth.

 

[Ofinn]

I can rent a car for 2 weeks for less than what it cost us for a dcl transter. Last time we rented a car at the swan and dolphin for 35.00 and dropped it off at the port. People ask how some people can cruise so often.....well its the little things that save a lot of money that make a difference.

 

[n2mm]

I can rent a car for 2 weeks for less than what it cost us for a dcl transter. Last time we rented a car at the swan and dolphin for 35.00 and dropped it off at the port. People ask how some people can cruise so often.....well its the little things that save a lot of money that make a difference.

Absoultely agree! We always rent a car. The drive is not bad at all.

 

[Hundredacre]

I also would reconsider the time you might arrive at port. For our first cruise we arrived quite late, but for every cruise thereafter we have arrived early. Just the few hours difference makes it feel like an extra day on the ship.

 

[Ofinn]

Absoultely agree! We always rent a car. The drive is not bad at all.

I hate depending on other people to get me where I want to go.I would also hate getting to the ship at 3 pm.

 

[phinz]

I hate depending on other people to get me where I want to go.I would also hate getting to the ship at 3 pm.

I'm the same way. We stay at a PC hotel beforehand and drive ourselves (this last time was in a rental van) to the port because I don't like sitting on a shuttle waiting for everybody else to get on, and I don't like waiting for a taxi to arrive when I just want to get to the port. Heck, I have a hard enough time standing around at the port before they open the terminal, but I don't like the idea of waiting until all-aboard before getting onto the ship. I *like* the energy inherent in the day of departure, and it's strongest early on.

 

[shelbell77]

We always just put the WDW hotel information in when we do online check in. Have never had an issue. We do normally stop at Bell Services at the resort the day before the cruise and make sure they have us on their list so that we get our letter with pick up time.