Walking off this time

[JecHec]

Hi Friends,
This will be the first time we will not be using the DCL bus. So, we are planning on Ubering to the hotel. I would like to walk off- but am unsure on that process. Anyone..we will be st FLL port. Port Everglades.
1. Customs
2. Will we have to be waiting in a line.
3. Would you still choose DCL to take luggage, go through customs etc
Thanks

 

[Girl of the South]

I did Walk Off at FLL in November. Yes. You have to wait in a line. I think the Concierge folks get to go first. The “line” was initially organized but then other people who came late just cut in. No Disney involvement - like they do with lines for photos with the characters - a bit of a free for all. Immigration was to show your Passport. Customs was pretty much a walk through. Organized line for taxis with a cop or some sort of Security guy keeping it moving. Not sure where Uber/Lyft picks up. Taxi was $20 for 4 of us to go to the Airport.

You could put your bags out the night before and then wait for your Tags to be called. DCL transportation to the Airport is expensive unless you are just one person. It’s only about 10 minutes away.

I know you are going to a hotel, not the airport, but in case you could get a free shuttle from the airport - just thought I’d mention it.

 

[Moonspinner]

Do not put your luggage out the night before if you want to try to leave early

We did that once and ended up having to wait an hour for our luggage

If you are walking off after breakfast no problem.

 

[jwalk03]

We did walk-off in San Juan. We had second seating for breakfast and as soon as breakfast was over we just walked straight off the ship. No line to get off. Maybe 2-3 people ahead of us in the customs line. It was super easy.

The line is only long if you are rushing to be among the first ones off.

 

[Mango7100]

We always do walk off at the first available, we skip breakfast. 2 weeks ago on Treasure we got in line to walk off at 710 am (posted arrival time was 730 am), the line started moving at 720 am, and we were sitting in our car at 7 30 am

 

[Joel0917]

We just walked off last week from the Disney dream five day in Fort Lauderdale. Walk off started at 7:30. We got downstairs about 710. There were three small lines. We are probably 30 or 40 people in line so wasn’t bad at all. You walk right off in the terminal there’s a lane for Uber pick up. It was super super easy. I was actually surprised more people weren’t down there probably have to do with the length of the cruise cause when I’ve done a walk off a three day the lines are back wrapped around the elevator and down hallways so this walk off is not bad at all. And also really what people know about it. When we did the treasure, we did the second cruise so it was mostly platinum and above people on that cruise. The line was the longest I’ve ever seen for walkout at 7:30 AM.

 

[Girl of the South]

I think there was an issue with my ship being cleared when I tried to do the walk off I described. It was nearly 8:30 before anyone got off.

The point is, when it works, it’s great. But it doesn’t always happen the way, with the timing, you think it will.

Just something to keep in mind when making plans.

 

[Dug720]

I'm pretty sure doing walk-off means you have to take your own luggage off.

 

[shb5007]

Any quick answers as to how much "quicker" it would be to walk off versus waiting for luggage?

I am sure it varies by cruise, ship, tag, and port... But we will be on the Fantasy at Port Canaveral in a few weeks.

We usually use Disney transportation (to airport), but plan to park at the port this trip (driving down to Florida versus flying). We are heading home after getting off the ship (long drive). Trying to figure out the best way to tackle that morning with waking up (2 kids), packing, eating, and getting to the car (in the parking garage).

 

[Cheburashka]

The line is only long if you are rushing to be among the first ones off.

That was not our experience. We disembarked after a leisurely second seating breakfast and the line was substantial.

 

[Moonspinner]

Any quick answers as to how much "quicker" it would be to walk off versus waiting for luggage?

I am sure it varies by cruise, ship, tag, and port... But we will be on the Fantasy at Port Canaveral in a few weeks.

We usually use Disney transportation (to airport), but plan to park at the port this trip (driving down to Florida versus flying). We are heading home after getting off the ship (long drive). Trying to figure out the best way to tackle that morning with waking up (2 kids), packing, eating, and getting to the car (in the parking garage).

This is just our experience. I think walking off with your luggage without going to the sit down breakfast is the fastest way off the ship. Once you go to breakfast, the lines build both to get off the ship and to get through customs. The lines are always moving, but there are lines at that point. We really like going to breakfast because it does cap off the cruise, but if we are in a hurry, we try to beat the breakfast groups off the ship.

 

[sponica]

Any quick answers as to how much "quicker" it would be to walk off versus waiting for luggage?

I am sure it varies by cruise, ship, tag, and port... But we will be on the Fantasy at Port Canaveral in a few weeks.

We usually use Disney transportation (to airport), but plan to park at the port this trip (driving down to Florida versus flying). We are heading home after getting off the ship (long drive). Trying to figure out the best way to tackle that morning with waking up (2 kids), packing, eating, and getting to the car (in the parking garage).

I think this depends on how much luggage you'll have and what seating you have, there was no way we could have walked off with our luggage and kids in tow. We had the first seating (and opted for marcellines market on the wish) and were in the one of the first groups of bag tags called. I remember the line being long but steadily moving and we were out of the terminal by 8 AM.

 

[jwalk03]

I'm pretty sure doing walk-off means you have to take your own luggage off.

Yes that is correct. You have to take all your own luggage off the ship in the morning and not put anything out the night before.

 

[jwalk03]

Any quick answers as to how much "quicker" it would be to walk off versus waiting for luggage?

I am sure it varies by cruise, ship, tag, and port... But we will be on the Fantasy at Port Canaveral in a few weeks.

We usually use Disney transportation (to airport), but plan to park at the port this trip (driving down to Florida versus flying). We are heading home after getting off the ship (long drive). Trying to figure out the best way to tackle that morning with waking up (2 kids), packing, eating, and getting to the car (in the parking garage).

Every cruise is different based on a multitude of factors.

If you have 2 kids in tow can you also handle getting all your luggage off the ship yourself if you walk off?

 

[MrMagoo]

I'm pretty sure doing walk-off means you have to take your own luggage off.

Yes that is correct. You have to take all your own luggage off the ship in the morning and not put anything out the night before.

That is the way we thought it is supposed to be however we did express walk off Saturday from the Treasure and there were SOOO many people collecting their luggage in the main hall that did express walk off that had put their luggage out the night before.
Some were using the luggage handlers and a couple of them were really pushy and tried to push in front of us in the customs line.

Rules do not mean anything to people anymore!!!

 

[JecHec]

Sooo, do you still have to go through customs?

 

[MrMagoo]

Yes but at Port Canaveral they have facial scanners which is so much faster!

 

[DCLMP]

We did walk-off in San Juan. We had second seating for breakfast and as soon as breakfast was over we just walked straight off the ship. No line to get off. Maybe 2-3 people ahead of us in the customs line. It was super easy.

The line is only long if you are rushing to be among the first ones off.

I agree but what's the point of rushing to be the first one off. It's entirely dependent on the cruise and timing. Honestly I don't think it's ever that a big of deal. Even if the line is long it moves fast.
I'm not sure why it even matters unless you've booked an early flight.

 

[jwalk03]

I agree but what's the point of rushing to be the first one off. It's entirely dependent on the cruise and timing. Honestly I don't think it's ever that a big of deal. Even if the line is long it moves fast.
I'm not sure why it even matters unless you've booked an early flight.

Really only if you have an early flight or other plans you are hoping to make prior to a flight or something like that.

 

[RedHead0186]

Sooo, do you still have to go through customs?

Yes, you always have to go through Customs/Border Patrol. Express walk-off covers how you leave the ship, it has nothing to do with how you reenter the country (that's CBP).