Transportation from Port Canaveral to MCO

[halfmonkey]

Our surf and turf vacation is in a couple of months and we have a question about transportation. We're planning on booking a shuttle for AofA to Port Canaveral because I've heard that the Disney buses has a few pick ups and you probably won't get to the port until about 1pm or so. We have a 10:45am port arrival time so we're planning on booking a shuttle to get there early and hopefully board early too.

When we finish with our cruise, is there a Disney bus that we can book to get back to MCO for our flight home? If so, how much is it and where can I book it? If I don't book the bus ahead of time, can I book it when I'm there or is it best or am I required to book the bus ahead of time?

Do you suggest booking the disney bus or a shuttle? If you suggest a shuttle, can I book it there or do I need to reserve that ahead of time? Our flight out isn't til later in the afternoon, so I'm not terribly concerned with the multiple pickups/drop offs since time isn't of the essence. We'll have plenty of time from when we disembark to when we board our flight home.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Our surf and turf vacation is in a couple of months and we have a question about transportation. We're planning on booking a shuttle for AofA to Port Canaveral because I've heard that the Disney buses has a few pick ups and you probably won't get to the port until about 1pm or so. We have a 10:45am port arrival time so we're planning on booking a shuttle to get there early and hopefully board early too.

When we finish with our cruise, is there a Disney bus that we can book to get back to MCO for our flight home? If so, how much is it and where can I book it? If I don't book the bus ahead of time, can I book it when I'm there or is it best or am I required to book the bus ahead of time?

Do you suggest booking the disney bus or a shuttle? If you suggest a shuttle, can I book it there or do I need to reserve that ahead of time? Our flight out isn't til later in the afternoon, so I'm not terribly concerned with the multiple pickups/drop offs since time isn't of the essence. We'll have plenty of time from when we disembark to when we board our flight home.

Personally, I prefer arriving after the boarding has started, via the DCL transfers. Typically the pickup window at the resorts is anywhere in the 10:45-12:30 window, but can be a bit earlier or later. The trip to the port takes about an hour.

I'll also point out, even if you do arrive at the port at 10:45, you won't be boarding until at least 11:30-11:45 and the earliest, as that's when boarding begins. The "sweet spot" for arriving at the port is typically around 12:30-12:45. That after the big crush of people (the ones who "have to be first on" and have been waiting there since 10:15) has mostly boarded, and before the buses from the resorts start arriving. And Open Boarding has usually been announced. You can usually just go directly through check in and directly onboard at that time.

DCL transfers cost $35.00 per person one way, whether it's from WDW resort to port; port to MCO; or the reverse. You are not required to purchase the DCL transfers in advance, but I believe it must be done by 3 days before the transfer you want to take.

 

[halfmonkey]

Personally, I prefer arriving after the boarding has started, via the DCL transfers. Typically the pickup window at the resorts is anywhere in the 10:45-12:30 window, but can be a bit earlier or later. The trip to the port takes about an hour.

I'll also point out, even if you do arrive at the port at 10:45, you won't be boarding until at least 11:30-11:45 and the earliest, as that's when boarding begins. The "sweet spot" for arriving at the port is typically around 12:30-12:45. That after the big crush of people (the ones who "have to be first on" and have been waiting there since 10:15) has mostly boarded, and before the buses from the resorts start arriving. And Open Boarding has usually been announced. You can usually just go directly through check in and directly onboard at that time.

DCL transfers cost $35.00 per person one way, whether it's from WDW resort to port; port to MCO; or the reverse. You are not required to purchase the DCL transfers in advance, but I believe it must be done by 3 days before the transfer you want to take.

Thanks for the info. A couple more questions if you don't mind. If I have yo book 3 days before the actual date that I need the transfer, where do I do this? Do I call DCL and complete this over the phone? Also, I'll need the transfer to go from port to MCO. Do they have various times for departure or is it one time slot? If I do use the DCL transfers from port to MCO, is there any special handling of my luggage or am I responsible for taking it off the ship, dragging it to the bus and handing it to someone to load onto the bus?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks for the info. A couple more questions if you don't mind. If I have yo book 3 days before the actual date that I need the transfer, where do I do this? Do I call DCL and complete this over the phone? Also, I'll need the transfer to go from port to MCO. Do they have various times for departure or is it one time slot? If I do use the DCL transfers from port to MCO, is there any special handling of my luggage or am I responsible for taking it off the ship, dragging it to the bus and handing it to someone to load onto the bus?

You can add DCL transfers at any time prior to your cruise (up to 3 days prior) by calling DCL. Or you can purchase DCL transfers at the airport (as long as there is room on the bus) on the day you arrive. I'm not sure whether you can purchase them at the resorts or not.

For transfers after the cruise, again, you can add them prior to the cruise by calling DCL. Or onboard the ship at Guest Services.

The buses to MCO from port depart as the fill up. The first bus typically departs by 8:00 or so with the last bus being around 9:00 (or later, depending on how long it takes DCL to determine that everyone is off the ship).

If you flying on a domestic flight on a participating airline, you can participate in the Onboard Airline check in. You leave your (checked) bags outside your door the last night, and the next time you see them will be at your home airport.

If you don't do the OBAC, you leave your bags outside your door the last night, and the crew will see to getting them off the ship and into the terminal. Then you claim your bags once off the ship and take them through customs/immigration. You then head for the bus and hand them off to the driver to store below the bus. At the airport you claim them again from the driver and take them to check in at the airport.

 

[halfmonkey]

You can add DCL transfers at any time prior to your cruise (up to 3 days prior) by calling DCL. Or you can purchase DCL transfers at the airport (as long as there is room on the bus) on the day you arrive. I'm not sure whether you can purchase them at the resorts or not.

For transfers after the cruise, again, you can add them prior to the cruise by calling DCL. Or onboard the ship at Guest Services.

The buses to MCO from port depart as the fill up. The first bus typically departs by 8:00 or so with the last bus being around 9:00 (or later, depending on how long it takes DCL to determine that everyone is off the ship).

If you flying on a domestic flight on a participating airline, you can participate in the Onboard Airline check in. You leave your (checked) bags outside your door the last night, and the next time you see them will be at your home airport.

If you don't do the OBAC, you leave your bags outside your door the last night, and the crew will see to getting them off the ship and into the terminal. Then you claim your bags once off the ship and take them through customs/immigration. You then head for the bus and hand them off to the driver to store below the bus. At the airport you claim them again from the driver and take them to check in at the airport.

Againn, thanks for the info.

Wow. 9am for the last bus to leave is very early and much earlier than I was thinking. I was thinking that the last bus would leave maybe at like 12 or 1pm. On the two Disney cruises that we've been on, we've seen people leaving the ship pretty late. As a matter of fact, the first Disney cruise we went on, everybody was left waiting to board until like 1 or 2 because apparently one family didn't rush to get off the ship and since they have to wait until everybody gets off, we were all left waiting around.

 

[wilkeliza]

Againn, thanks for the info.

Wow. 9am for the last bus to leave is very early and much earlier than I was thinking. I was thinking that the last bus would leave maybe at like 12 or 1pm. On the two Disney cruises that we've been on, we've seen people leaving the ship pretty late. As a matter of fact, the first Disney cruise we went on, everybody was left waiting to board until like 1 or 2 because apparently one family didn't rush to get off the ship and since they have to wait until everybody gets off, we were all left waiting around.

Disney wants everyone off by 9 o'clock. Sometimes it can be a little later especially if you have the 8 am breakfast. I think we had the 8 am slow and were still of the boat and on a bus by 9.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Againn, thanks for the info.

Wow. 9am for the last bus to leave is very early and much earlier than I was thinking. I was thinking that the last bus would leave maybe at like 12 or 1pm. On the two Disney cruises that we've been on, we've seen people leaving the ship pretty late. As a matter of fact, the first Disney cruise we went on, everybody was left waiting to board until like 1 or 2 because apparently one family didn't rush to get off the ship and since they have to wait until everybody gets off, we were all left waiting around.

As noted, they want you off the ship by 9:00. And they do a sweep around that time to make sure there are no people just "hanging around" onboard. Remember, they need to turn over the ship for the next bunch of cruisers (who are as anxious to board "as soon as they can" as you were). There's no way that people were still debarking at noon, unless the ship was late into port that morning and everything was delayed.

 

[Dug720]

Againn, thanks for the info.

Wow. 9am for the last bus to leave is very early and much earlier than I was thinking. I was thinking that the last bus would leave maybe at like 12 or 1pm. On the two Disney cruises that we've been on, we've seen people leaving the ship pretty late. As a matter of fact, the first Disney cruise we went on, everybody was left waiting to board until like 1 or 2 because apparently one family didn't rush to get off the ship and since they have to wait until everybody gets off, we were all left waiting around.

Which is why they want everyone off by 9 or as close to it as possible barring unusual circumstances (late arriving into port, issues with clearance, etc.). Just like you didn't want to be "waiting around" neither do the people waiting to board on the next cruise.