Time to leave resort?

[steve_rob]

We've never done a cruise before but are seriously thinking about doing one next year. However, we have some questions about timings that hopefully one of you cruise vetrans can help us out with.

We're planning to stay at a Disney hotel both before and after the cruise. What time would we need to leave the hotel in order to get to Port Canaveral in good time to check in (and does this process take longer because we've got UK passports)? And after the cruise has finished, what time do you think we'd be back at WDW by?

 

[kcashner]

You didn't say how many people are in your party or how you are planning to get from the resort to the port. If there are more than 3 of you, a private limo service would be cheaper than DCL transfers, and would give several advantages. It would run on YOUR schedule, not DCL's. It would allow a 15 minute grocery store or Walmart stop if there's anything you've forgotten to pack.

It is about an hour from WDW to the port. We've cruised on the Magic 10 times, and never had a problem with ressies. We plan to arrive at the port about 11. That usually puts us in the first 100-150 to board the ship, and we send one person to dining changes (if needed) and another to Palo/Spa ressies. There is no rush to register kids as every child has a guaranteed registration spot...we save this till after lunch.

There is a separate line for international check in--it takes only a few minutes longer for the check in, and the line is usually shorter than the US citizen line.

They want everyone off the ship by 9 am. That would get you back to the resort by about 10. If you have early seating, you will be off the ship even earlier. You won't be able to check in then, but they will do a preliminary check in and take your luggage. You'll be able to call from the parks to obtain your room assignment, or stop again at the desk when you return to the resort.

You also should be aware that not all Disney World resorts are designated as "cruise resorts" which means that not all have DCL bus transportation. If you are staying at one where the bus doesn't provide transportation, the bellman will transport you to the nearest one where you can get the DCL bus.

All said....I'd definitely go private limo from WDW to port. For the other legs, do whatever is cheaper for you.

 

[steve_rob]

There's just the two of us, but I think we'd probably hire a towncar anyway. Disney don't seem to have an option for Airport -> Resort -> Cruise -> Resort -> Airport according to their website, plus I think our flight gets in too late to get picked up from the airport anyway (lands after 4pm, which is when Disney say their coaches stop running to MCO). I also like the idea of the 15min grocery stop.

The reason I wanted to be clear on timings was because we want to know how long we'd have (if any time at all) in the parks on our check-in and check-out days.

From the sounds of it, we'd have to be leaving WDW at about 10am for the cruise, so we wouldn't bother even trying to get into a park then. But if we arrive back still in the morning after the cruise as you suggest we might, then we can plan on having almost a full day in Epcot (as we're probably staying at the Boardwalk) for our first day back.