WDW to Port Ground Transfers

[Shanti]

Been poking around on other sites for an answer. Thought I would try here next.

We are taking the DCL Ground Transfer from Pop Century to Port for our cruise in August. I'm wondering, for those that have experience, what time you arrived at the Port, and what time realistically you were on the ship.

The new Princess/Anna/Elsa meet and greet ticket distribution has me all wigged out. I hear they only distribute meet and greet tickets for the cruise until 2pm on embarkation day and I'm concerned that by taking the resort transfers, we will not be on board by the time ticket distribution has stopped.

I know about the work around, heading to the airport and taking the DCL bus to Port to board sooner. But it sounds like a bit of an inconvenience. I'd rather have some good old fashioned good news about taking the DCL transfer from the resort to Port directly.

Thanks in advance guys! Any help is appreciated!

Yes, Princess Gathering, Frozen Meet & Greet, and Character Breakfast (on those cruises that have it) are all prebookable now during the excursion bookings process. You can pre-book one of each type. If available, you can get more once onboard.

So OP, it sounds like to don't have to worry about boarding the ship early to get tickets. Just do it during online check-in.

 

[ceecee]

I like to get to the port as early as possible - to get on the ship asap! We take ME back to the airport in the morning & transfer to the cruise transfers there. It allows us to get to the port before even private transfers are allowed. This is perfect if you are concierge, have early PAT or are platinum. You are on the ship before any of the resort buses even arrive.

I never thought to do this, what time do you leave the resort to get to the airport?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I never thought to do this, what time do you leave the resort to get to the airport?

You need to tell the Magical Express people what time you want to be at the airport. They will pick you up 3 hours before your designated time to allow transport time. So, if you want to be there at 9:00, tell them you need to be at the airport at 12:00. You will have to handle your own bags from resort room, to Magical Express and then to the DCL transport desk to check in for the bus to the port. Plus the trip from WDW resort to airport is about an hour, and then another hour from MCO to port.

It just seems simpler to me to take the DCL transfers from the resort. They handle my bags from resort room to room onboard the ship, and it's only 1 hour transport time from resort to port.

 

[ceecee]

Thanks, it does seem easier to just leave from the resort , but since it's only a 4 night cruise I hate to miss even a few hours! HAHA! I am so confused, we haven't done a cruise before so it's all new.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks, it does seem easier to just leave from the resort , but since it's only a 4 night cruise I hate to miss even a few hours! HAHA! I am so confused, we haven't done a cruise before so it's all new.

Really, for the most part, the buses from the resort arrive between 12:30-2:00. Since boarding doesn't start until 11:30ish, you're not going to lose that much time arriving later. And, arriving after 12:30, there's typically not the crush of people in the terminal and trying to all board at once. You pretty much can walk right through check in and onboard.

 

[ceecee]

Thanks for the info, it sounds like we will just leave from the resort, may as well make things easy.

 

[meliscan]

Also remember they won't guarantee your access to your stateroom until 1:30pm. This means if you carry on a few items you have to carry them around with you on the ship until you are allowed in your room. We are staying at Port Orleans before this cruise over the Hyatt MCO. I am also a bit nervous on making to the ship but I think the night at WDW will be well worth it. Best of Luck on your cruise and have fun!!

 

[RysMomma]

We are doing this from Art of Animation in two weeks, as well. We are taking Disney transfers from there to the ship. I was curious around what time to expect to be there since last time I did a resort to the ship, we had to take a cab from Pop to the Swan and then get on the bus to the ship. I'm just glad to know they have busses from each resort now. Also, if we do miss lunch, I guess we could always order room service!

 

[rantnnravin]

We are doing this from Art of Animation in two weeks, as well. We are taking Disney transfers from there to the ship. I was curious around what time to expect to be there since last time I did a resort to the ship, we had to take a cab from Pop to the Swan and then get on the bus to the ship. I'm just glad to know they have busses from each resort now. Also, if we do miss lunch, I guess we could always order room service!

All ship's services shut down at 3:45 in preparation for the muster drill - so I would say 3:30 would probably be the latest you could order anything (that's also when they shut down all dining venues up on deck).