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

[Carrie in AZ]

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.

We had been at POFQ for a couple of days so, no, everything could not have been kept packed. I cannot remember our pick up time at the resort but whatever time it was, we went to the lobby with our totes and carry-ons. We checked in with te CM. As people checked in, I believe she directed them right out to the bus so guests were loading as they got checked off her master list. Our family of four did this. When we approached the bus, I saw the belly of it opened and the CMs were storing people's luggage underneath. I specifically asked the CM, "could we have given our luggage to you right now to load rather than having it picked up this morning at 7am?" And he said "of course! We just offer the morning pick-up as a service to our guests". We got on the bus and waited until everyone else checked in and then we were off.

No one would have had to wait for our four large suitcases to be loaded onto the bus as guests get onto the bus in a staggered fashion based on when they showed up in the lobby and checked in with the CM holding the clipboard, and no one would have had to wait for it to be unloaded once at the port.

My guess is many people travel light with only a small roller for each person in their party, so a couple would only have two small rollers that they could easily have placed in the belly of the bus as they were getting onto the bus and not have them picked up hours earlier. Our family always travels with large suitcases AND a couple rollers. Still, all of it could have quickly been loaded if we had known. Again, I am posting my experience so that the OP is aware of the options available to their family as they leave their land vacation and take the bus to the port.

 

[RedSox68]

We have done all options over 10 cruises. Our favorite has become the car service -- for 3 or more you end up pretty much paying the same as the Disney transfers and you can pick the time you want to arrive at the port. HOWEVER, if you want a WOW factor for your kids for their first time, then it would most definitely be the Disney bus. They show videos about the ship and experience which are exciting and they announce the view coming up over the hill when you first see the ship.