The Race to port: Minnie Van vs DCL-Ground Transportation

[goofman]

We have been successful in the past getting port ungrades by getting the first bus from MCO. This time around we will be staying on property. We are thinking of getting a Minnie Van in an attempt to get to port early and snag an upgrade. Does anyone know the earliest Minnie Vans can pick you up at the resort for earliest arrival time at port? Would love to beat the MCO bus. Thanks

 

[jdb in AZ]

We have been successful in the past getting port ungrades by getting the first bus from MCO. This time around we will be staying on property. We are thinking of getting a Minnie Van in an attempt to get to port early and snag an upgrade. Does anyone know the earliest Minnie Vans can pick you up at the resort for earliest arrival time at port? Would love to beat the MCO bus. Thanks

This web site says 6:30 a.m. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/minnie-van-service/ but it only mentions going to/from the airport, not the cruise port.

 

[Trera]

Has it been determined that riders on the Minnie shuttles get early access to the port?

 

[dcassetta]

Has it been determined that riders on the Minnie shuttles get early access to the port?

If I recall correctly, someone said they were able to book the Minnie shuttle for a 9:30 pickup at the resort. As the resorts are further from the cruise port than the airport, I would guess the first bus would arrive before a Minnie shuttle.

 

[poohs4me]

Wouldn’t the Minnie people be dropped off with the rest of the drop offs or would they get special access to the bus area?

If they get dropped off outside of the bus area, you may get to the port earlier but not necessarily inside earlier

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Here is a great review of the Minnie Van service from WDW resorts to PC. The guests in this review were picked up at 9:30 am:

https://blog.touringplans.com/2018/11/07/review-minnie-van-service-to-port-canaveral/

 

[DisneyEcho]

We have been successful in the past getting port ungrades by getting the first bus

How much did the upgrades cost?

 

[Jillpie]

What do you mean, snag an upgrade? Do they do it for free? And if not, why not call now and get one, what is the benefit of waiting till you check in?

 

[Dug720]

How much did the upgrades cost?

What do you mean, snag an upgrade? Do they do it for free? And if not, why not call now and get one, what is the benefit of waiting till you check in?

Apparently sometimes you can buy an upgrade for less than upgrading before the cruise. They use a chart and you have to pay based on your original booking and category.

HOWEVER, I have done 4 DCL cruises so far and every time, there has been a “Captain Mickey has informed us that this sailing is full” sign up at check-in - meaning no upgrades. So that is the chance you take by waiting to the port - IF they have any you can buy them if you are early enough; but you may be the first person checked in and there are none available.

Bottom line is - there is never a guarantee that any upgrades will be available for purchase at the port. So if you see a cabin at a higher level that you want and will not be happy if you get “stuck” in your initially selected category as opposed to this higher level cabin, you should change in advance because they may not be offering any at the port.

 

[msec]

We have been successful in the past getting port ungrades by getting the first bus from MCO. This time around we will be staying on property. We are thinking of getting a Minnie Van in an attempt to get to port early and snag an upgrade. Does anyone know the earliest Minnie Vans can pick you up at the resort for earliest arrival time at port? Would love to beat the MCO bus. Thanks

When we booked our Minnie van from resort to port - I asked the cast member what is the earliest time I could book and she said he Port opens at 10:00AM and it takes about 1 hour so she said 9:00am would be the earliest she could book it. Hope this helps!!

 

[serenitynow]

Reports are that for now, Minnie Van guests join the line outside the terminal with all the others arriving by private transportation.

 

[Marc D]

What do you mean, snag an upgrade? Do they do it for free? And if not, why not call now and get one, what is the benefit of waiting till you check in?

Port upgrades, especially to Concierge staterooms, can be cheaper than upgrading online before the 3-days blackout comes into effect.

 

[BCV23]

Reports are that for now, Minnie Van guests join the line outside the terminal with all the others arriving by private transportation.

If you are referencing my report, I should make it clear it may not always be that way. Our driver told us as he pulled up to the terminal that he was a bit uncertain where he was going (my words not his exact ones) as it was his first Minnie van trip to the port and he thought ours was only the second one in total. So it may be evolving.

 

[serenitynow]

If you are referencing my report, I should make it clear it may not always be that way. Our driver told us as he pulled up to the terminal that he was a bit uncertain where he was going (my words not his exact ones) as it was his first Minnie van trip to the port and he thought ours was only the second one in total. So it may be evolving.

Good point, it may all be done differently by the OP sails.

 

[Ben E N]

This is playing around a lot, and has the potential to cost you a lot of money just for the gamble that you may save some on an upgrade, but could you take a minnie van or uber to the airport really early in the morning, then take the first shuttle to the port? Too much work for my liking but it sounds like being there first is your priority.

 

[Trera]

Keep in mind that B2B cruisers will be the first one in the port and could have the first access to port upgrades. We have upgraded numerous times on the second leg of our B2B cruises. Means we have to repack once back on board but worth it for us.

 

[FigmentSpark]

How much of a saving are you hoping for vs upgrading, say now? Include the cost of the minnie van difference from whatever transportation you would have taken to the port into the total cost of the possible upgrade. Once you add it in, unless you are getting a concierge upgrade, the difference might not be worth the hassle, when you could book it now.

 

[serenitynow]

Keep in mind that B2B cruisers will be the first one in the port and could have the first access to port upgrades. We have upgraded numerous times on the second leg of our B2B cruises. Means we have to repack once back on board but worth it for us.

Plus concierge passengers have boarding 1

 

[Dug720]

Plus concierge passengers have boarding 1

Yes, but the OP is concerned about being in the terminal first to try for an upgrade (that may not even exist).

Concierge is Boarding Group 1, but their PAT could be any time (or no PAT if they have previously booked DCL transfers).

 

[jrabbit]

RE: your thread about getting to the port on embarkation day by 2pm.

Is this an option for you? Or is it price prohibitive? Just a thought.