Transportation - Driving to WDW, then DCL transport to PC. What are my options with my car?

[motherdaughtercruisers]

We will be doing WDW staying on property prior to our cruise out of PC. We will be driving to WDW, not flying. Wondering how it works for people who want to take DCL transportation to PC, but have a car.

Can we leave our car at the resort property where we stayed? I’m assuming if possible, it will cost, does anyone happen to know that amount?

Sorry if this has been answered previously, I have used the search function, but haven’t found anything that answers my questions. I admit could be user error - not using the correct keywords. Anywho, would appreciate any advice or previous experiences doing such.

 

[happycamper47]

Used to be at no charge, just let the front desk know and they usually have you park away from the building. They normally give you a parking pass for your dash as well.

 

[motherdaughtercruisers]

Used to be at no charge, just let the front desk know and they usually have you park away from the building. They normally give you a parking pass for your dash as well.

Gotcha! Thanks! When I contact DCL to add-on transportation, should I tell them or just tell the resort?

 

[happycamper47]

I just worked with the front desk.

 

[motherdaughtercruisers]

I just worked with the front desk.

Appreciate it! Thanks!

 

[Bonnie1222]

We will be doing WDW staying on property prior to our cruise out of PC. We will be driving to WDW, not flying. Wondering how it works for people who want to take DCL transportation to PC, but have a car.

Can we leave our car at the resort property where we stayed? I’m assuming if possible, it will cost, does anyone happen to know that amount?

Sorry if this has been answered previously, I have used the search function, but haven’t found anything that answers my questions. I admit could be user error - not using the correct keywords. Anywho, would appreciate any advice or previous experiences doing such.

I would work it out with the hotel first before you arrive (get the persons name). If they charge you per day to continue to park the car (I know resort are charging for parking), it may be a lot less to drive yourself to the port and pay to park your car there rather than pay per person for the transport and then pay the parking.

Personally I am local to WDW and I debated doing a stay at a DVC resort (free parking) but the cost of the DCL Transportation for 1 person round trip was more than it was to park the car at the port for a week. So.... we drive ourselves. Just my two cents

 

[erionm]

I would work it out with the hotel first before you arrive (get the persons name). If they charge you per day to continue to park the car (I know resort are charging for parking), it may be a lot less to drive yourself to the port and pay to park your car there rather than pay per person for the transport and then pay the parking.

Personally I am local to WDW and I debated doing a stay at a DVC resort (free parking) but the cost of the DCL Transportation for 1 person round trip was more than it was to park the car at the port for a week. So.... we drive ourselves. Just my two cents

Disney owned resorts at WDW don't charge a daily parking fee. It was added back in 2018, but was eliminated at the beginning of 2023.

 

[Bonnie1222]

Disney owned resorts at WDW don't charge a daily parking fee. It was added back in 2018, but was eliminated at the beginning of 2023.

Well that is good news. I hated that they added parking fees.
The round trip DCL transporation is still expensive in my opinion, so parking a personal vehicle at the port may still be a big money saver depending on how many people are going and how many days you are on the cruise.

 

[lanejudy]

I would work it out with the hotel first before you arrive

I don't believe they'll give you any confirmation in advance. Unfortunately PP won't know for certain until they arrive. It may depend on the resort and how much parking is available (some have larger lots than others) and how busy the resort is expected to be at that specific period of time. That said... I don't think I've ever seen a report of someone told "no" but the uncertainty has definitely caused people to go with a "plan B" and not try it anyway.

I agree the DCL Transport fee may be more expensive than parking at the port.

 

[Flcruising]

We will be doing WDW staying on property prior to our cruise out of PC. We will be driving to WDW, not flying. Wondering how it works for people who want to take DCL transportation to PC, but have a car.

Can we leave our car at the resort property where we stayed? I’m assuming if possible, it will cost, does anyone happen to know that amount?

Sorry if this has been answered previously, I have used the search function, but haven’t found anything that answers my questions. I admit could be user error - not using the correct keywords. Anywho, would appreciate any advice or previous experiences doing such.

As others have suggested, compare DCL costs with port parking costs. It is not difficult to drive and the drop off and parking are well organized. Plus you will have a car that enables you to see some other things before or after your cruise. In addition you won't have to get through Orlando traffic as you would if you returned to WDW to get your car. So With a car maybe take a different route and avoid some traffic, see other sites and maybe save money and time.
Again it's not difficult to navigate to the parking lot at the port.

 

[motherdaughtercruisers]

Thank you all for your responses. Here is what I did:

First, I called WDW and spoke to a wonderful woman who then called Guest Services and the resort and was able to confirm that we could use DCL transportation from the resort to PC and that leaving the car at the resort during the cruise would not be a problem, but from WDW’s side they were uncertain that DCL would allow us to get transport from PC back to the resort without a resort reservation. She mentioned that they did not know this and didn’t know much about DCL’s system of who is and isn’t allowed to use the transportation because there is virtually no communication between the two. So according to this info, the solution would be to make a reservation for the day of disembarkation. I then called DCL to see if that was our only option, but the helpful woman at DCL told me that it is not necessary to have reservations at a resort to book the PC to Resort transportation, but that she was uncertain about being able to keep the car parked at the resort during the duration of the cruise but she didn’t really know and had never been asked about it before. So then it seemed that we could go ahead and book transportation, but I wanted to call WDW again just to reconfirm. I called WDW and explained the whole thing to another helpful woman who called Guest Services and the resort again. She said that leaving the car at the resort should not be a problem and that they would just have me fill out a form about why the car would be there and that it posed no danger.

To address the concern of cost, yes, I realize that driving is likely cheaper (I only say likely because I haven’t crunched the numbers myself, not to undermine anyone, please don’t take offense). The reason I would like to take the DCL transportation is for the insurance. We are checking out of our resort the morning of the day of our cruise. I know it is only an hour to an hour and a half drive, but a lot can happen between here and there. We usually drive/fly in the day before, but not this time. I am wanting to take the transportation just for the insurance that the ship is far less likely to leave a DCL sponsored transport than two women in a Prius.

We are still considering our options at this time.

 

[Flossbolna]

Thank you all for your responses. Here is what I did:

First, I called WDW and spoke to a wonderful woman who then called Guest Services and the resort and was able to confirm that we could use DCL transportation from the resort to PC and that leaving the car at the resort during the cruise would not be a problem, but from WDW’s side they were uncertain that DCL would allow us to get transport from PC back to the resort without a resort reservation. She mentioned that they did not know this and didn’t know much about DCL’s system of who is and isn’t allowed to use the transportation because there is virtually no communication between the two. So according to this info, the solution would be to make a reservation for the day of disembarkation. I then called DCL to see if that was our only option, but the helpful woman at DCL told me that it is not necessary to have reservations at a resort to book the PC to Resort transportation, but that she was uncertain about being able to keep the car parked at the resort during the duration of the cruise but she didn’t really know and had never been asked about it before. So then it seemed that we could go ahead and book transportation, but I wanted to call WDW again just to reconfirm. I called WDW and explained the whole thing to another helpful woman who called Guest Services and the resort again. She said that leaving the car at the resort should not be a problem and that they would just have me fill out a form about why the car would be there and that it posed no danger.

To address the concern of cost, yes, I realize that driving is likely cheaper (I only say likely because I haven’t crunched the numbers myself, not to undermine anyone, please don’t take offense). The reason I would like to take the DCL transportation is for the insurance. We are checking out of our resort the morning of the day of our cruise. I know it is only an hour to an hour and a half drive, but a lot can happen between here and there. We usually drive/fly in the day before, but not this time. I am wanting to take the transportation just for the insurance that the ship is far less likely to leave a DCL sponsored transport than two women in a Prius.

We are still considering our options at this time.

Another benefit of taking DCL transport is that you get onto the ship earlier as those on the busses from WDW recently have gotten early boarding times and low boarding groups.

 

[motherdaughtercruisers]

Another benefit of taking DCL transport is that you get onto the ship earlier as those on the busses from WDW recently have gotten early boarding times and low boarding groups.

I totally get that this is something that many people find a huge attraction for taking their transport, (and by all means LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE! ) but to be completely honest, we are the types that prefer to take the PAT and BG that is most likely to be walk on time (ie generally around the end of the PATs and BGs). I completely understand that this is a personal preference kind of thing, but hey, if you think about it, we’re two less people you have to worry about when trying to check in and get that early PAT!

 

[Flossbolna]

I totally get that this is something that many people find a huge attraction for taking their transport, (and by all means LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE! ) but to be completely honest, we are the types that prefer to take the PAT and BG that is most likely to be walk on time (ie generally around the end of the PATs and BGs). I completely understand that this is a personal preference kind of thing, but hey, if you think about it, we’re two less people you have to worry about when trying to check in and get that early PAT!

Oh, same here! Just wanted to mention it! We like to sleep in on vacation and the early pick up time would be a reason for us not to take the DCL transport!

 

[motherdaughtercruisers]

Oh, same here! Just wanted to mention it! We like to sleep in on vacation and the early pick up time would be a reason for us not to take the DCL transport!

Yes! That is the only downside because a leisurely breakfast/brunch that morning would be legit! But I’m going to have to weigh the pros, cons, my anxiety, and if it is worth possibly putting DM through any anxiety I can’t keep to myself.

You may not know, but figured I would ask, do you know what the cut off is to add transportation?

 

[Flossbolna]

Yes! That is the only downside because a leisurely breakfast/brunch that morning would be legit! But I’m going to have to weigh the pros, cons, my anxiety, and if it is worth possibly putting DM through any anxiety I can’t keep to myself.

You may not know, but figured I would ask, do you know what the cut off is to add transportation?

I have no clue, but I am sure someone else on here would know!

 

[motherdaughtercruisers]

I have no clue, but I am sure someone else on here would know!

Ha, I figured it wasn’t something you would just know right off the top of your head! It was a little silly for me to even ask. I’m going to say most people don’t really know that! Haha.