Transportation from Disney resort to Port Canaveral

[cleighc]

Does transportation to the port need to be set up when booking your Disney resort? How do you book it? Is there an additional cost or any benefit to taking Disney transportation versus say Uber/private transfer?

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

You should be able to book it in your reservation on the DCL website.

I don't recall the per person charge for Disney transportation. Depending on how many people you have, it may or may not be more expensive than rideshare.

The main advantage to it over uber/lyft is you know it is going to be there to take you. WDW to the Port is a long haul so finding rideshares to take you there and/or bring you back may be a challenge.

 

[2010dvcfan]

Add it thru DCL, yes there is a fee. I'm boarding Fantasy in May 2026 from one of the resorts it is $45 one way, if you want to take it back to airport after the cruise it's $45, that cost is per person. I use it for two main reasons the early boarding group. All cruisers using Disney transportation get an early boarding group even if you don't check in for your cruise at first available timeframe to check in. I didn't check in for two days past opening timeframe, I got boarding group 3 still.

I also like the luggage pick up from the resort room is nice, I don't have to haul my luggage around they pick it up first thing in the morning from the resort room.

 

[Mommb]

You do not need to book transportation at the same time as you book either your cruise or your Disney hotel stay -- you can add it later by calling Disney Cruise (or having your travel agent call, if you used a travel agent).

If you use Disney transportation, you will be allowed into the terminal when the bus arrives. If you arrive on your own, you may need to wait outside until your Port Arrival Time (PAT). You can select the PAT during online check-in, about a month before your cruise, and will then be assigned a Boarding Group number (BG) based on the PAT. As 2010dvcfan mentioned, if you take Disney transportation, you will be assigned at PAT and BG automatically, and the BG is usually lower (meaning you board earlier) when you take a Disney bus.

For large groups, it may be less expensive to take private transportation. For one or two people, the Disney bus is typically less expensive than a car service.

 

[RedHead0186]

No, you don't need to book DCL transportation when you book your resort. You can definitely add it later (note if you used a travel agent for your cruise, they will have to call to book it). It's $45/person each way (but you can just book going to port or coming back, you don't have to book a round trip).

Keep in mind that even if you get a really nice boarding group, you may get held on the bus-that just happened to me on Friday. Took the bus from Coronado Springs, arrived at port about 11:20ish but because there was a long line going into the terminal they held us on the bus for about 20 minutes or so. By the time I got through security and in to check in, they were already calling boarding group 10.

 

[Thumper99]

We are struggling with this decision. We are staying at OKW a few nights before our cruise. Wondering if getting to the port earlier than what the Disney bus does may not be worth the convenience of it. Does it matter if we are platnium status? They base the BG on what? When you check in online? This is our first cruise after reaching that status so I don't know if it will help us. I just know my hubby will be disappointed if he doesn't get lunch on the ship Lol!

 

[Jillpie]

Add it thru DCL, yes there is a fee. I'm boarding Fantasy in May 2026 from one of the resorts it is $45 one way, if you want to take it back to airport after the cruise it's $45, that cost is per person. I use it for two main reasons the early boarding group. All cruisers using Disney transportation get an early boarding group even if you don't check in for your cruise at first available timeframe to check in. I didn't check in for two days past opening timeframe, I got boarding group 3 still.

I also like the luggage pick up from the resort room is nice, I don't have to haul my luggage around they pick it up first thing in the morning from the resort room.

I just booked the bus from the BC to the port, for the Fall. I was contemplating keeping our luggage and placing it on the bus, I am petrified it will be left behind. Were you worried and what time did you have to have it out in the hallway by?

 

[Chirple]

Were you worried and what time did you have to have it out in the hallway by?

Luggage remains in the room by the door. The last time we used DCL transport from a WDW resort the luggage pickup occurred before we left our room. The person checking us in confirmed our room number for luggage pickup as well.

 

[lanejudy]

I was contemplating keeping our luggage and placing it on the bus

I don't recommend this unless you only have carry-on sized bags and plan to carry-on all your luggage. I'm not sure that luggage brought to the lobby would be put on (under) your bus because resort bus arrival at the port isn't set-up to accept checked luggage. I would worry your bags would end up separated from you at the lobby and they would try to get the bags connected with the rest of the luggage collected from rooms -- which may or may not have already occurred at your resort.

 

[Scalemaster34]

We are struggling with this decision. We are staying at OKW a few nights before our cruise. Wondering if getting to the port earlier than what the Disney bus does may not be worth the convenience of it. Does it matter if we are platnium status? They base the BG on what? When you check in online? This is our first cruise after reaching that status so I don't know if it will help us. I just know my hubby will be disappointed if he doesn't get lunch on the ship Lol!

When you are able to do the online checkin, you be assigned a PAT (port arrival time), your Boarding Group gets assigned based on when you check in at the port.... which is relative to you PAT. Using Disney Transportation gets you the earliest PAT, so earlier BG.

I've never missed LUNCH and have never used Disney Transportation, and have had to wait on some first time cruisers to board... as online check-in is opened based on Castaway Club status. Just don't forget to do Online Check-in the earliest possible - set a reminder/alarm.

 

[Skippyboo]

We are struggling with this decision. We are staying at OKW a few nights before our cruise. Wondering if getting to the port earlier than what the Disney bus does may not be worth the convenience of it. Does it matter if we are platnium status? They base the BG on what? When you check in online? This is our first cruise after reaching that status so I don't know if it will help us. I just know my hubby will be disappointed if he doesn't get lunch on the ship Lol!

Definitely can still get lunch. Platinum can do their check in before Gold and under but the concierge people, pearl and bus people will probably have earlier boarding groups. It’s a good hour from WDW to Port Canaveral so that’s why a Lyft might not want take it since the people getting off the ships are already gone when they start loading the new people on

 

[2010dvcfan]

I just booked the bus from the BC to the port, for the Fall. I was contemplating keeping our luggage and placing it on the bus, I am petrified it will be left behind. Were you worried and what time did you have to have it out in the hallway by?

No I wasn't worried, you keep your bags in your room at resorts, and they usually call me first and ask if I'm ready, sometimes they don't call just knock on the door to pick up. They do start early 7 am so be prepared for that early pick up time if your first on the list.

If I go down early for breakfast or a run, I just leave a $5 bill on the bag, when I get back the bags are gone.

When you go down to lobby to get checked in with DCL cast members they ask how many bags were picked up.

 

[Thumper99]

When you are able to do the online checkin, you be assigned a PAT (port arrival time), your Boarding Group gets assigned based on when you check in at the port.... which is relative to you PAT. Using Disney Transportation gets you the earliest PAT, so earlier BG.

I've never missed LUNCH and have never used Disney Transportation, and have had to wait on some first time cruisers to board... as online check-in is opened based on Castaway Club status. Just don't forget to do Online Check-in the earliest possible - set a reminder/alarm.

OH thank you for this reminder. Again It may be that we get an earlier online check in date. I will check and set a reminder!

 

[Jillpie]

I don't recommend this unless you only have carry-on sized bags and plan to carry-on all your luggage. I'm not sure that luggage brought to the lobby would be put on (under) your bus because resort bus arrival at the port isn't set-up to accept checked luggage. I would worry your bags would end up separated from you at the lobby and they would try to get the bags connected with the rest of the luggage collected from rooms -- which may or may not have already occurred at your resort.

This is great advice, thank you. I will trust them then and give them our luggage. I will also have a carry on, can you give them 2 pieces each?

 

[Skippyboo]

This is great advice, thank you. I will trust them then and give them our luggage. I will also have a carry on, can you give them 2 pieces each?

You don’t want to give them your carry on. The checked luggage doesn’t show up outside your cabin until later in the day. So you want to carry on stuff you might need before your luggage arrives plus your documents and valuables.

 

[Girl of the South]

I attached $5 to the handle of my luggage too! Nice gesture. Never had any problem with luggage being picked up at the MCO Hyatt and delivered to my cabin.

HOWEVER I am a huge fan of AirTags (or some other tracking device) for peace of mind.

 

[sponica]

This is great advice, thank you. I will trust them then and give them our luggage. I will also have a carry on, can you give them 2 pieces each?

Keep the carryon with any valuables/necessities/medications and swimwear as the checked luggage doesn't get delivered until later.

We've done two transfers from DCL resorts, you'll get an email with the pickup instructions telling you when to have the luggage ready and where to meet to check in for the bus. One time we were at breakfast when they picked up the luggage and the other time we were still in the room.