Transferring to resort FROM Port Canaveral

[baddogchalet]

Hello. We are doing a Disney Cruise followed by a stay at Port Orleans French Quarter. I see all kinds of posts about going from reaorts to PC but not much about the reverse. Are there buses for each of the resorts or do we get on any bus and they run around to all of the resorts? Do we have to get off the ship earlier or later than other people? Assuming we are off the ship no later than 9:30, what time (roughly) should we expect to be at the resort? Will the resort keep our luggage for us if we cannot check into our room yet? (I am assuming we are responsible for getting our luggage there on our own.) Thanks so much!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Good questions. We are doing the same post cruise (but staying at Wilderness Lodge). If my memory serves me right, we will get back onto a Disney cruisline bus or Mears bus if you purchased the Disney transportation ( which we did). It will make multiple stops at the various Disney resorts. Our bags should get delivered right to the room but if not we will board the bus with our luggage and leave it with bell services until our room is ready. We should be given our departure time the night before.

 

[baddogchalet]

From what I have read DCL does not transfer your bags for you (from the resorts). You have to take your bags with you (they store them under the bus) then take them to the porter once you get to PC, so I am assuming you have to do the same in reverse...

 

[mmouse37]

DCL DOES NOT transfer luggage to the resort....only to the airport if you purchased On Board Airline Check In (but that is not relevant to this topic).

What happens is you put your bags outside your stateroom the last night of the cruise and they are taken off the ship for you but you must claim them in the terminal and go through customs with them. Having a porter makes this much easier. A CM will ask you if you are going to airport or resort and you will be directed to a bus to the resorts. You may make a few stops at different resorts. No set order of stops as it all depends how many people are going to the different resorts per cruise.

Your luggage will be put under the bus and bell services at your WDW resort will hold your luggage if you rooms are not ready yet (don't count on them being ready when you arrive). You can purchase your transfers in advance or even during the cruise at guest services.

The bus for the resorts usually leaves around 9:00 and will wait until it fills. If many people are going to the resorts they will add more buses. It is about an hour bus ride once on your way.

MJ

 

[mmouse37]

From what I have read DCL does not transfer your bags for you (from the resorts). You have to take your bags with you (they store them under the bus) then take them to the porter once you get to PC, so I am assuming you have to do the same in reverse...

Actually DCL does provide luggage service from WDW to the ship but not the other way around. It usually is picked up from your resort room about 8:00 am and transported via separate truck but sometimes if the truck has left already they will store them under the bus and you would hand them off to the porters at the port. If they are transported via the truck you will see them when they are delivered to your cabin later in the day.

MJ

 

[lizabu]

From what I have read DCL does not transfer your bags for you (from the resorts). You have to take your bags with you (they store them under the bus) then take them to the porter once you get to PC, so I am assuming you have to do the same in reverse...

We did the resort to port transfer and they stopped at one resort before us. The asked us to bring our bags down. We handed them off to the driver and got on the bus. He stowed the bags under the bus. Once we got to port he handled everything and had the porters bring over a large cage type luggage cart and they loaded everyone's bags and took them away. Later when we go to our room our bags were already there.

 

[IrishEye]

Several years ago, staying at AKL we brought our bags down to DCL check out front when departing for our cruise. Since that time and staying in several different resorts, they have always picked up our bags around 8am in the room and transferred, we check in with the DCL rep in the lobby or lounge and are escorted to the bus.

The OP is asking the other direction and our experience has been we collect our begs in the terminal and hand them off to the bus driver, at the resort bell service met us and we checked bags, they delivered after room ready.

 

[Jack & Monica]

Yes, I am going on an 18-day Disney Adventure -- staying 1 night (FRI) at the Boulder Ridge Villas (to get the fast pass advantage). We then are going on a 7-day cruise out of Port Canaveral. We then are going back to the Boulder Ridge Villas for 10 days.
It is daughter (12), wife, mom (in her 70's) and I. Mom cannot take the WDW portion of the trip because of all the walking so she is only going on the cruise portion of the trip. The plan is for us to take the magical express on the Friday we arrive to Boulder Ridge. We have the Disney Cruiseline transfer to get to the ship. Our bags are going to be picked up at 8:00 am at BRV on the day of our cruise (SAT). The bus is going to pick us up at the Lodge at around 11:30. I have been told to check on the time for the bus, but that it almost always is 11:30 am.
On the trip back to Disney World, it gets complicated. We will set our bags out on Friday night of the cruise. My mom's bags will be marked for the airline for the trip home. DW, DD, and my bags will be marked for pick-up on Friday night but going to Boulder Ridge Villas. We will get off of the ship together. I will get DW and DD and claim our bags and get them onto a resort bus. My mom and I will then go to the airport. The good thing is that my mom will not see her bags again until she lands at our home airport where we have family friends picking her up. I will then escort my mom to her gate and ensure she gets on her flight. I will then catch the Magical Express to Wilderness Lodge (pre-coordinated). DW will have to take care of our resort luggage on arrival at Boulder Ridge. She will use a porter to hold the bags for us.

 

[uchi]

How do people who book a private transfer to pick them up know the time their driver is supposed of pick the up. I was looking at different companies and they usually have penalties for being late. How do you calculate how long you're going to take getting off the ship, if it is depends on how many people are in line, how fast the line moves, how staffed is customs, etc.?

 

[Donna3271]

Everyone gave you great info, so my reply is redundant.

We do this all the time. We are going to GF in Sept after our Disney Cruise. We bought the transfers ($35 pp). We always take our luggage off the ship with us, and the driver puts it under the bus. Just peace of mind for me. Have fun!!!!

 

[Donna3271]

How do people who book a private transfer to pick them up know the time their driver is supposed of pick the up. I was looking at different companies and they usually have penalties for being late. How do you calculate how long you're going to take getting off the ship, if it is depends on how many people are in line, how fast the line moves, how staffed is customs, etc.?

True... and the larger ships can have quite a backlog exiting. I just love DCL transfers. Mindless, no meeting up with anyone. The bus is right there at the terminal exit.

 

[kiford]

I have been told to check on the time for the bus, but that it almost always is 11:30 am.

You won't need to check on the time for the bus - you'll get a letter in your room (usually about 8 pm) that will tell you where and when. Typically the front desk does not know the answer. The time is set based on the number of people going to the cruise and may or may not go to more than one resort for pickup. Our bags have always been picked up at 8 am no matter which resort we've stayed at including twice in Barcelona and once in London.

My mom's bags will be marked for the airline for the trip home.

I presume you mean that you will be arranging for her luggage to go to the airport. I think you have to do this with Guest Services the night before - others who've done this can confirm. I don't know that you set her bags out in the hallway once they've been checked in for that service.

Also, make sure that when you book the transfers, you make sure that you are booked going to the airport, not to the resort. Your KTTW card will have an "A" on it to indicate transfers from port to airport; it is marked "R" if you are going to the resort. They will ask to look at your KTTW at the buses to make sure you are on the correct one and it will just confuse them if you get on the airport bus instead of the resort bus.

DW, DD, and my bags will be marked for pick-up on Friday night but going to Boulder Ridge Villas.

They aren't actually marked for a location. You'll get luggage tags that identify where your bags will be located in the port. You pick them up from that location and take them through customs. You'll get a letter in your stateroom with luggage tags plus I seem to recall that there's instructions aired on the TV for at least a day beforehand about the process.

 

[mmouse37]

Yes, I am going on an 18-day Disney Adventure -- staying 1 night (FRI) at the Boulder Ridge Villas (to get the fast pass advantage). We then are going on a 7-day cruise out of Port Canaveral. We then are going back to the Boulder Ridge Villas for 10 days.
It is daughter (12), wife, mom (in her 70's) and I. Mom cannot take the WDW portion of the trip because of all the walking so she is only going on the cruise portion of the trip. The plan is for us to take the magical express on the Friday we arrive to Boulder Ridge. We have the Disney Cruiseline transfer to get to the ship. Our bags are going to be picked up at 8:00 am at BRV on the day of our cruise (SAT). The bus is going to pick us up at the Lodge at around 11:30. I have been told to check on the time for the bus, but that it almost always is 11:30 am.
On the trip back to Disney World, it gets complicated. We will set our bags out on Friday night of the cruise. My mom's bags will be marked for the airline for the trip home. DW, DD, and my bags will be marked for pick-up on Friday night but going to Boulder Ridge Villas. We will get off of the ship together. I will get DW and DD and claim our bags and get them onto a resort bus. My mom and I will then go to the airport. The good thing is that my mom will not see her bags again until she lands at our home airport where we have family friends picking her up. I will then escort my mom to her gate and ensure she gets on her flight. I will then catch the Magical Express to Wilderness Lodge (pre-coordinated). DW will have to take care of our resort luggage on arrival at Boulder Ridge. She will use a porter to hold the bags for us.

Just to clarify that you don't really mark them to go anywhere. You just put them out in the hall and then claim them in the terminal and bring them through customs and out to the bus. Your mom, if she booked Onboard Airline Check In, will receive airline luggage tags that she will put on her bags to go to the airport. You would just put your "character" luggage tag on your bags before you put them out in the hall the last night of the cruise. You would then go to that "character" area of the luggage hall to retrieve your luggage.

MJ

 

[Sytrace]

Hello. We are doing a Disney Cruise followed by a stay at Port Orleans French Quarter. I see all kinds of posts about going from reaorts to PC but not much about the reverse. Are there buses for each of the resorts or do we get on any bus and they run around to all of the resorts? Do we have to get off the ship earlier or later than other people? Assuming we are off the ship no later than 9:30, what time (roughly) should we expect to be at the resort? Will the resort keep our luggage for us if we cannot check into our room yet? (I am assuming we are responsible for getting our luggage there on our own.) Thanks so much!

When you purchase transportation from DCL (35.00 per person each way) You will be asked for the resort you will be going to at the end of the cruise. ( It is part of the online check in process) The day or so before the last morning, there will be a letter in your cabin telling you what time to meet at the bus at the terminal.
Collect your luggage, go thru customs and tell the porter to take you and luggage to the bus line( to the left of the terminal)
The buses leave the port starting at 9 AM but you will be asked to be there a bit earlier. The bus will make several stops at various resorts yours might be first out of 3 or it might be last. Chances are you will arrive to the resort between 10 and 10:30 IF you are on one of the first buses leaving at 9 AM.

 

[ExCMbeau]

How do people who book a private transfer to pick them up know the time their driver is supposed of pick the up. I was looking at different companies and they usually have penalties for being late.

We just used a private car service on debarkation from the Dream on our 6-16-2017 sailing. We set our time for 8:30 am since we had a 6:45 am breakfast on debarkation day. This worked out perfectly. You will need to coordinate with the car to let them know what time you want to be picked up. Then BEFORE you go to customs to get your bags you need to call them and let them know you are entering baggage claim and customs. You are NOT allowed to use cell phones in this area and the next time you will be able to call is when you have your bags and exit towards the car pickup area. This will minimize your wait at the pick up lanes.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

When you purchase transportation from DCL (35.00 per person each way) You will be asked for the resort you will be going to at the end of the cruise. ( It is part of the online check in process) The day or so before the last morning, there will be a letter in your cabin telling you what time to meet at the bus at the terminal.
Collect your luggage, go thru customs and tell the porter to take you and luggage to the bus line( to the left of the terminal)
The buses leave the port starting at 9 AM but you will be asked to be there a bit earlier. The bus will make several stops at various resorts yours might be first out of 3 or it might be last. Chances are you will arrive to the resort between 10 and 10:30 IF you are on one of the first buses leaving at 9 AM.

Be aware it doesn't always work.

I filled out our online check in indicating DCL transfers from MCO to port and the beginning of our cruise and port to WDW resort at the end of our cruise. When we got our little booklet it indicated DCL transfers from MCO to port at beginning of cruise and port to MCO at end of cruise.

I went back to my online check in and, yes, it still indicated "port to WDW resort" (with resort specified) at end of cruise.

I didn't worry about it, I figured I could get it straightened out onboard.

When checking in at the port - KTTW card indicated "PA" in the upper right (indicated "Port" and "Airport" for transfers). Go to guest services with page I printed out from online check in to tell them we had transfer to resort for end of cruise. They issued a new KTTW card with "PR" in the upper right ("Port" and "Resort").

The day we got off the ship, we headed to the buses and checked in with the resort bus director (check off list to tell us what bus to get on). Guess what ---- they had no transfers indicated on their schedule for our resort that day. So, we got assigned to what I called the "catch all" bus. That bus wound up going to 7 different resorts (thankfully, our stop was number 3).

We were directed to be off the ship by 8:15, but the resort buses don't start leaving until 9:00 (on the dot).

 

[Sytrace]

Be aware it doesn't always work.

I filled out our online check in indicating DCL transfers from MCO to port and the beginning of our cruise and port to WDW resort at the end of our cruise. When we got our little booklet it indicated DCL transfers from MCO to port at beginning of cruise and port to MCO at end of cruise.

I went back to my online check in and, yes, it still indicated "port to WDW resort" (with resort specified) at end of cruise.

I didn't worry about it, I figured I could get it straightened out onboard.

When checking in at the port - KTTW card indicated "PA" in the upper right (indicated "Port" and "Airport" for transfers). Go to guest services with page I printed out from online check in to tell them we had transfer to resort for end of cruise. They issued a new KTTW card with "PR" in the upper right ("Port" and "Resort").

The day we got off the ship, we headed to the buses and checked in with the resort bus director (check off list to tell us what bus to get on). Guess what ---- they had no transfers indicated on their schedule for our resort that day. So, we got assigned to what I called the "catch all" bus. That bus wound up going to 7 different resorts (thankfully, our stop was number 3).

We were directed to be off the ship by 8:15, but the resort buses don't start leaving until 9:00 (on the dot).

That sounds like a mess!
We had no problem with DCL transport for my husband and son one way from port to resort. It was as smooth as silk. We all drove to the port and my husband and son took the DCL bus to the Yacht club while my daughter and I drove. Of course we got there MUCH earlier than the DCL bus, which is one reason why it is doubtful we will do it again. I arrived at YC at 9:00 AM (left at 8:15 AM) and the boys arrived at 10:30 AM.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

That sounds like a mess!
We had no problem with DCL transport for my husband and son one way from port to resort. It was as smooth as silk. We all drove to the port and my husband and son took the DCL bus to the Yacht club while my daughter and I drove. Of course we got there MUCH earlier than the DCL bus, which is one reason why it is doubtful we will do it again. I arrived at YC at 9:00 AM (left at 8:15 AM) and the boys arrived at 10:30 AM.

Well, we've used DCL transfers for all our cruises. Both to and from airport and/or resorts to/from port. With no issues in the past. That's why I was surprised with the events on this trip.

 

[Sytrace]

Well, we've used DCL transfers for all our cruises. Both to and from airport and/or resorts to/from port. With no issues in the past. That's why I was surprised with the events on this trip.

We live local to PC, so we only tried it that once as a surprise for my husband and son and they did have fun. I am glad your other multiple experiences were successful and that this one seemed to be a glitch.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We live local to PC, so we only tried it that once as a surprise for my husband and son and they did have fun. I am glad your other multiple experiences were successful and that this one seemed to be a glitch.

Actually this whole trip had a few glitches. The easiest one - I had booked the same two seats on the plane from LA to MCO and MCO back to LA, and on the flight out, they had changed our seat assignment. Not bad, though, basically the same seats but two rows back.

And then, for the return flight, after we got off the ship and to the resort (with better internet) we found our seats had been changed on the return flight. One row back and they split us up (me in the middle seat on one side, DH in middle seat on the other side of aisle).

Tried to change it online but all they had was middle seats.

We didn't have it as bad as some others, though. While waiting in line to see about getting put in seats together, I was talking to a couple of of other people (large family groups, with kids) who had seat assignments and when they printed their boarding passes at the airport, it said "seat assignment at gate".

We flew on a totally booked flight. There was an extremely large storm that passed through FL yesterday and I think there were a lot of people being rebooked from cancelled flights. I know the people in front of us (hubby's seat got moved next to mine, yay!), who were sitting in the seats we had originally booked were flying from Nashville to Pocatello, apparently via Orlando/LA/Salt Lake City.

I believe they may have also had an "equipment change". That is, the plane we wound up on was not the actual plane that all the tickets were originally booked on. Even though the seating configuration was identical on the new plane, the compute has to reassign already booked tickets as it sees fit (regardless if you have the same last name, or have booked both tickets together). There were families that were split up with 1 or 2 seats all over the plane regardless if they were kids or adults.

I really have to say Delta did a great job (that I could see) getting pretty much everyone sorted out to be seated at least within one or two rows/seats of each other, many actually being able to sit all together.