Transfers from Disney resorts?

[Luv2trav]

Can you select what time they pick you up? Or are you subject to their schedule like Magical Express? I would like to arrive as early as possible to port.

 

[JMHDisney]

It is their schedule - they will tell you the time for your pick up, you don't choose. If you want to be at the port early, Disney transport is generally not a good choice.

I like private transport from the resorts - more flexible.

 

[wilma-bride]

Generally, DCL transport does not arrive at port until late morning. If you want to arrive earlier than that, you would be better off using a car service or renting a car.

 

[mevelandry]

I was told it happens between 11:30 and 12:30.

They ask you to leave your luggage in the room for 8:00 AM, then they will pick them up.

We were picked up at 11:45 and arrived to the port at 1:00 PM. We got into the cruiseship right away. We did not have to wait at all.

 

[Luv2trav]

Thank you!! I will look into that.

 

[bumbershoot]

You are told the time the night before. It is not going to be early. I r never heard of s meet up time before 11, and there's a process to getting on the bus, and you can have stops at other resorts.

If you want to get there early, rent a car or hire a towncar service. Might be cheaper since the bus is $35 per person each way.

 

[kiford]

I was told it happens between 11:30 and 12:30.

I r never heard of s meet up time before 11, and there's a process to getting on the bus, and you can have stops at other resorts.

We were once picked up at 10:30. Surprised me a bit so I was glad that I'd previously already booked breakfast for 8 am. They don't tell you what time they'll pick you up until the night before and we were out late so wouldn't have had time to change our breakfast time.

 

[Donna M]

We wanted to get to the terminal early since we are early risers anyway, so we took the ME back to the airport with a fake departure time, then got the transfer from the airport to the terminal. We arrived at the port early and waited there. It was much better for us than sitting around the resort to wait. We didn't mind the busses.

 

[Tink1987]

Funny to see this as I just came on to post a very similar question! We are at Wilderness Lodge before the cruise and wanted to get DCL transport for the ease of it. However, reading that we won't get to the port until maybe 3 worries us as we may not be able to book all the alcohol tastings we want to do. You can tell where my priorities lie!

Is there a certain way they pick up people, i.e. deluxe resorts first or concierge, verandah etc? Sorry to piggyback on your post Luv2trav !

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Funny to see this as I just came on to post a very similar question! We are at Wilderness Lodge before the cruise and wanted to get DCL transport for the ease of it. However, reading that we won't get to the port until maybe 3 worries us as we may not be able to book all the alcohol tastings we want to do. You can tell where my priorities lie!

Is there a certain way they pick up people, i.e. deluxe resorts first or concierge, verandah etc? Sorry to piggyback on your post Luv2trav !

No, the reason that you won't know until the night before embarkation what your specific pick up time is has to do with the fact that they don't do the schedules, until that day or just before. That way they know for sure how many are requiring transport from each resort and can schedule the buses to best fill them.

We've taken the WDW resort/port transfer 3 times. The last time we were picked up at 12:30, with 2 more pick up stops after ours and were at the port by 1:45. The other two times we were at the port shortly after 12:00. Never have arrived at 3:00.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I was looking for this info as well. Seems to expect to get there late but may get lucky and arrive before 1.

 

[Aby]

We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge back in August. Our pick up time was 1130 am, and we were walking through the Mickey Ears and onto the ship at exactly 1:06pm. We were able to get our beverage seminars, rainforest passes, and dining requests no problem!

Aby

 

[Tink1987]

Thanks for your help

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

For our DCL Trsnsfers from the Contempory resort and Polynesian, we were told the day before, we had a letter delivered to our room, stating the time of the pick up. So they know on the day before. We had the note saying pick up at 11am, and bags out by 8 am, we had character breakfasts booked, Chef Mickeys and Ohanna, so we called and had our bags taken earlier and held by bell hop.

We did not have any other pick ups, we went straight to port.

We had friends at the All Stars who were picked up at 10.45 am and went direct from the three All Stars,

 

[Kesohio63]

We were picked up from POFQ at noon and stopped at a couple of other resorts on the way; except for the security check when we arrived at port, we didn't have to wait in any other lines. We dropped off our luggage at our stateroom and were sitting down for lunch at Cabanas at 2:00, which seems kind of late, but we were still able to sign up for the beverage tastings we wanted, no problem. I like being able to drop off my carry on bags as soon as I get on the ship and not have to lug them around. Our checked luggage showed up right before dinner time; we had packed a change of clothes in our carryons just in case it didn't arrive in time (we had main seating).

 

[starousse]

We wanted to get to the terminal early since we are early risers anyway, so we took the ME back to the airport with a fake departure time, then got the transfer from the airport to the terminal. We arrived at the port early and waited there. It was much better for us than sitting around the resort to wait. We didn't mind the busses.

Oh wow. That's a great idea. I didn't know you could do that. Just to understand, you arranged for Magic Express to take you to airport early and then booked Disney Cruise Bus to pick up from airport?

 

[Donna M]

Oh wow. That's a great idea. I didn't know you could do that. Just to understand, you arranged for Magic Express to take you to airport early and then booked Disney Cruise Bus to pick up from airport?

Yes, but the Disney Cruise bus normally leaves from the airport too. When the airport bus fills it departs to the port. Magical Express would like a departure flight number, so look something up that works out to get you to the airport when you want to get there. It will pick you up at a Disney hotel 3 hours before your departure time, you have to be staying at a Disney hotel.

 

[starousse]

Yes, but the Disney Cruise bus normally leaves from the airport too. When the airport bus fills it departs to the port. Magical Express would like a departure flight number, so look something up that works out to get you to the airport when you want to get there. It will pick you up at a Disney hotel 3 hours before your departure time, you have to be staying at a Disney hotel.

Thanks. We'll be staying onsite, so I guess I could do that. One last question, what did you do about all of your luggage? Did you have to lug it to the airport and onto the bus? or were you able to have the hotel do the transfer for you to the boat?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks. We'll be staying onsite, so I guess I could do that. One last question, what did you do about all of your luggage? Did you have to lug it to the airport and onto the bus? or were you able to have the hotel do the transfer for you to the boat?

You have to handle your bags from hotel to Magical Express (not sure if the hotel will bring them out for you). Then from the Magical Express to DCL transfer desk to check in (but that's pretty much in the same place).

 

[starousse]

You have to handle your bags from hotel to Magical Express (not sure if the hotel will bring them out for you). Then from the Magical Express to DCL transfer desk to check in (but that's pretty much in the same place).

Thank you!