Travel to port - greatest awe impact for kids on first cruise?

[KalamityJane]

We are staying at WDW the week before our first Disney cruise with the kids. They have talked about this cruise for literally 3 years, and are extremely excited. Our options are:

A: rent a car and drive to port (meh... I don't want to deal with returning the car)
B: rent a limo ride
C: Take ME to the airport and transfer from the airport on the Disney bus (youngest would ADORE this; loves busses)
D: Transfer to port the night before and spend the night at a hotel (by driving, or by Disney transfers)

Kids will be 4, 6 and 8.5, for hubby's sake, the less he has to do (return cars, etc) the better. He loves Disney because they take care of everything.

I don't mind returning the car the night before but do not want to deal with it the morning of the cruise.

What has the best WOW factor while still being less stress on the adults and would be nice if it was less $$ too.

 

[PlanoNana]

You're likely to get to the port the earliest with the least hassle with a car service. If you have an early PAT, this is what I would do.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are staying at WDW the week before our first Disney cruise with the kids. They have talked about this cruise for literally 3 years, and are extremely excited. Our options are:

A: rent a car and drive to port (meh... I don't want to deal with returning the car)
B: rent a limo ride
C: Take ME to the airport and transfer from the airport on the Disney bus (youngest would ADORE this; loves busses)
D: Transfer to port the night before and spend the night at a hotel (by driving, or by Disney transfers)

Kids will be 4, 6 and 8.5, for hubby's sake, the less he has to do (return cars, etc) the better. He loves Disney because they take care of everything.

I don't mind returning the car the night before but do not want to deal with it the morning of the cruise.

What has the best WOW factor while still being less stress on the adults and would be nice if it was less $$ too.

Well, if you go with D, there are no Disney transfers the day before the cruise.

C - means traveling twice as long on a bus to get to the port (about an hour to the airport, and then about an hour to the port).

For me, if I was trying to impress little ones, I'd just go with the DCL transfers from the WDW resort to port. They will pick up your checked bags in the room, and you won't see them again until they arrive at your room onboard. Plus the bus runs fun videos all about how much fun you are going to have on the cruise along with Disney cartoons.

DCL transfers cost $35.00 per person from WDW to port.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

We are staying at WDW the week before our first Disney cruise with the kids. They have talked about this cruise for literally 3 years, and are extremely excited. Our options are:

A: rent a car and drive to port (meh... I don't want to deal with returning the car)
B: rent a limo ride
C: Take ME to the airport and transfer from the airport on the Disney bus (youngest would ADORE this; loves busses)
D: Transfer to port the night before and spend the night at a hotel (by driving, or by Disney transfers)

Kids will be 4, 6 and 8.5, for hubby's sake, the less he has to do (return cars, etc) the better. He loves Disney because they take care of everything.

I don't mind returning the car the night before but do not want to deal with it the morning of the cruise.

What has the best WOW factor while still being less stress on the adults and would be nice if it was less $$ too.

I would go with B or E) take DCL bus straight from WDW and not mess with MCO. You get to port later but it's much more relaxing. We did DCL bus our first 2 cruises then limos after that. The bus is so much fun for a first timer and its sooooo easy, don't have to think about anything!

 

[KalamityJane]

It's going to be $175 to get us to the port via transfers - we are going on the transatlantic and I'm happy with our rooms but if we can score upgrades to oceanview, I may be interested. Other than hoping for an upgrade, any big rush to get to port? I'm really leaning towards the DCL bus

 

[Capt_BJ]

for the biggest WOW factor I believe it is arriving to the port when the ship is already there (meaning morning you depart NOT day b4) and you crest the bridge on 528 at the Indian River .... if you know where to look you can see the ship's 'smoke stacks'

A few minutes later, the next bridge and closer yet ....

and a few minutes later BIGGER

The big windows of the DCL bus enhance the view as does the DCL bus itself ..... painted to look like the ship.

For an adult WOW would be a limo ... for a kid, the bus!

the TA's tend to sell out, I would not hold my breath on an upgrade, and

there will be a crowd of ME FIRST folks beating the doors down at the terminal by 6AM .... I find it MUCH less stressful to let them get out of my way. You'll still be on board for lunch!

 

[MUN]

We are staying at WDW the week before our first Disney cruise with the kids. They have talked about this cruise for literally 3 years, and are extremely excited. Our options are:

A: rent a car and drive to port (meh... I don't want to deal with returning the car)
B: rent a limo ride
C: Take ME to the airport and transfer from the airport on the Disney bus (youngest would ADORE this; loves busses)
D: Transfer to port the night before and spend the night at a hotel (by driving, or by Disney transfers)

Kids will be 4, 6 and 8.5, for hubby's sake, the less he has to do (return cars, etc) the better. He loves Disney because they take care of everything.

I don't mind returning the car the night before but do not want to deal with it the morning of the cruise.

What has the best WOW factor while still being less stress on the adults and would be nice if it was less $$ too.

Have you thought about taking a helicopter to the port?

 

[KalamityJane]

Ok, you all are selling me on doing transfers from WDW What's the earliest bus from WDW to port generally? I don't mind getting there later, but I know the kids *cough me cough* will be chomping at the bit to leave and having to wait until noon or later might be hard

 

[KalamityJane]

Have you thought about taking a helicopter to the port?

Ha! That would be the ultimate wow - for everyone involved! Including me when I see that bill

 

[KristiMc]

Ok, you all are selling me on doing transfers from WDW What's the earliest bus from WDW to port generally? I don't mind getting there later, but I know the kids *cough me cough* will be chomping at the bit to leave and having to wait until noon or later might be hard

DCL transfers usually pick up from WDW resorts anytime between 11-1. If you want to be there earlier your best bet would to do private transfer or stay at the airport.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Ok, you all are selling me on doing transfers from WDW What's the earliest bus from WDW to port generally? I don't mind getting there later, but I know the kids *cough me cough* will be chomping at the bit to leave and having to wait until noon or later might be hard

We've been picked up at about 11:00 both times.

 

[Capt_BJ]

helo story

I was once going to a business conference in the 'burbs' of Boston

got my travel plans from the TA and saw I was to grab a limo/shuttle for a 1 hour plus ride at many $$

I'd never been to the area so went back and said, "no options?"

Got a new set of air tickets telling me to find commuter terminal at Boston airport and look for (making up name for one I don't remember) Bob's airlines.

Arrived in Boston Airport, went to commuter terminal and tried to find the right place ... finally asked and was pointed to a folding table in the corner with 2 chairs and told to wait. 10 minutes b4 departure 'Bob' showed up and grabbed my bag and said, "follow me."

We went out a side door to one of those helo's like in MASH ... two seats, plastic bubble .... he tossed my bags in and sat me down, put a head set on me and a few minutes later we were off for a 15 min flight. He landed in the parking lot of the hotel where the conference was being held just as many of my contemporaries were arriving in a van. I had a round trip ticket so he gave me a card with a number and told me to call when I knew when I wanted to be picked up .... and off he flew.

Turned out the helo - which was a "scheduled airline" qualified under government travel plans AND cost less than the shuttle van .....

who'd guess? My peers were just shaking their heads . . .

(btw my wife did the books of the TA that did the booking!!! Name recognition????)

 

[KalamityJane]

helo story

I was once going to a business conference in the 'burbs' of Boston

got my travel plans from the TA and saw I was to grab a limo/shuttle for a 1 hour plus ride at many $$

I'd never been to the area so went back and said, "no options?"

Got a new set of air tickets telling me to find commuter terminal at Boston airport and look for (making up name for one I don't remember) Bob's airlines.

Arrived in Boston Airport, went to commuter terminal and tried to find the right place ... finally asked and was pointed to a folding table in the corner with 2 chairs and told to wait. 10 minutes b4 departure 'Bob' showed up and grabbed my bag and said, "follow me."

We went out a side door to one of those helo's like in MASH ... two seats, plastic bubble .... he tossed my bags in and sat me down, put a head set on me and a few minutes later we were off for a 15 min flight. He landed in the parking lot of the hotel where the conference was being held just as many of my contemporaries were arriving in a van. I had a round trip ticket so he gave me a card with a number and told me to call when I knew when I wanted to be picked up .... and off he flew.

Turned out the helo - which was a "scheduled airline" qualified under government travel plans AND cost less than the shuttle van .....

who'd guess? My peers were just shaking their heads . . .

(btw my wife did the books of the TA that did the booking!!! Name recognition????)

This is epic. I think the cruise may be a downgrade after a helo ride! Bet your contemporaries' faces were awesome as you got off!

 

[diznymom]

To make the hubby happy and the WOW factor for the kids............take DCL bus from your WDW resort to the ship.

DCL will come and pick up luggage the morning of the cruise. You will see your luggage at your stateroom later. You will take the bus a little later to the port. The bus has cartoons and boarding info w/ the characters. The port is about an hour drive. (I get bored easily.) When you get to the terminal, most of the crowd is gone. The boarding process is easy and painless. (I do not do well with the big crowds.)

Also, the seats on bus are a bit higher and the kids will be able to see the ship as you are coming into Port Canaveral.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

The bus! You get on, you get off, done. The next time we go I will NOT have them pick up our luggage at our room the morning of departure. We had to have it ready by 7am and we were out at the party late the previous night and did not go to sleep until after 1:30, so not much sleep for this Mama. I was under the impression we "had" to give them our luggage early the next morning but in reality we could have brought it with is on the bus. I did not know that so that is why I am sharing this.

Have fun!

 

[KalamityJane]

To make the hubby happy and the WOW factor for the kids............take DCL bus from your WDW resort to the ship.

DCL will come and pick up luggage the morning of the cruise. You will see your luggage at your stateroom later. You will take the bus a little later to the port. The bus has cartoons and boarding info w/ the characters. The port is about an hour drive. (I get bored easily.) When you get to the terminal, most of the crowd is gone. The boarding process is easy and painless. (I do not do well with the big crowds.)

Also, the seats on bus are a bit higher and the kids will be able to see the ship as you are coming into Port Canaveral.

Hubby will do better with less crowds anyway He isn't a huge crowds person. You make some great points!

 

[KalamityJane]

The bus! You get on, you get off, done. The next time we go I will NOT have them pick up our luggage at our room the morning of departure. We had to have it ready by 7am and we were out at the party late the previous night and did not go to sleep until after 1:30, so not much sleep for this Mama. I was under the impression we "had" to give them our luggage early the next morning but in reality we could have brought it with is on the bus. I did not know that so that is why I am sharing this.

Have fun!

Oh, this is a good thing to know! We are staying DVC with my parents, so having a bit of time to get everything together and say our goodbyes will be nice. Thanks for the heads up on it!

 

[Carrie in AZ]

Oh, this is a good thing to know! We are staying DVC with my parents, so having a bit of time to get everything together and say our goodbyes will be nice. Thanks for the heads up on it!

The aspect of them picking it up and you not seeing it again until you are onboard is VERY nice. But the early hour it had to be ready (this was at POFQ) was not enjoyable at all due to our late night at Halloween party the previous night. My family would have preferred not to hear the alarm clock go off so that I could get up and pack and would have preferred no knock on the door from the hard-working CMs there to collect our mountain of luggage. You have littles so you may want to go that route so you don't have to get your luggage on the bus, off the bus and then to the porters.

What a magical time for your family!

 

[MUN]

Ha! That would be the ultimate wow - for everyone involved! Including me when I see that bill

If your hubby doesn't like crowds, my suggestion is the way to go.

MUN

 

[Dug720]

The aspect of them picking it up and you not seeing it again until you are onboard is VERY nice. But the early hour it had to be ready (this was at POFQ) was not enjoyable at all due to our late night at Halloween party the previous night. My family would have preferred not to hear the alarm clock go off so that I could get up and pack and would have preferred no knock on the door from the hard-working CMs there to collect our mountain of luggage. You have littles so you may want to go that route so you don't have to get your luggage on the bus, off the bus and then to the porters.

What a magical time for your family!

I was under the impression that the luggage has to be transported separately. I know coming from MCO anything larger than carry-on you take to a truck and check. I can imagine a lot of bus mates unhappy at being delayed because a "mountain of luggage" has to be loaded...and then unloaded before anyone is allowed off. Could you not have had the costumes, pajamas, and clothes for embarkation in a small carry-on and packed the rest of the luggage BEFORE the party (or left it packed period)? Then you're ONLY having to get up to give them the luggage. Just a thought.