What would you do? DCL transport from MCO or PAT of 11?

[Blerghityblergh]

Hi! We are third time DCL cruisers with an upcoming cruise in October (yay!). We are sailing on the wish out of port Canaveral and currently have DCL transport from MCO booked as we are staying in a nearby hotel the night before. We checked in 30 days out and got a PAT of 11. We have heard that the DCL transport can be really variable on when they get you on the ship/to the port and 11 feels like a pretty good PAT. However, maybe there are more hoops/waits without the transport? So, for those more experienced cruisers than us, what would you do in this situation? Disney transport or self arrival 11 am PAT? Normally we wouldn’t care so much but it’s a super short 3 night cruise (our others have been longer).

Thanks for any help/insight!

 

[mmouse37]

Hi! We are third time DCL cruisers with an upcoming cruise in October (yay!). We are sailing on the wish out of port Canaveral and currently have DCL transport from MCO booked as we are staying in a nearby hotel the night before. We checked in 30 days out and got a PAT of 11. We have heard that the DCL transport can be really variable on when they get you on the ship/to the port and 11 feels like a pretty good PAT. However, maybe there are more hoops/waits without the transport? So, for those more experienced cruisers than us, what would you do in this situation? Disney transport or self arrival 11 am PAT? Normally we wouldn’t care so much but it’s a super short 3 night cruise (our others have been longer).

Thanks for any help/insight!

Take the 11 am PAT if you have other means of getting to the port. That is a great time...one of the earliest. When you arrive are you parking a car or getting dropped off? If parking at the port you will pull up to the curb, drop your checked luggage with porters, then drive a few yards and park your car in the garage after paying first. You then just walk across the road to the terminal and check in, wait for your boarding number and then board. Easy peasy. No extra hoops other than just dropping luggage and parking.

Are the DCL transfers less than cost to park at the port? I love having a car parked at the port. So easy to leave when you want and get on your way.

MJ

 

[Mommb]

Did you have the Disney transportation from the airport booked before check-in and get an automatically assigned Port Arrival Time? If so, DCL expects the buses from the airport to be running early enough to get you to the port by 11. In that case, I would keep your plans, because dropping Disney transportation may mean you have to select a new PAT.

If you were able to get an 11 am PAT on your own, then it’s up to you whether stay with DCL bussing or to book a car service (which could pick you up at your hotel and save time) or a rental car (which would take more time for pick-up and drop-off).

DCL busses from the airport run continuously starting in time to drop off guests shortly after the port opens. Even if you don’t arrive by 11, you should arrive well before boarding begins an hour or more later.

 

[Audie2025]

It sounds like you got an 11 PAT because you have DCL transport. Unless I'm missing something if you were to cancel the DCL transport you run the risk of getting a later PAT time.

 

[Blerghityblergh]

Take the 11 am PAT if you have other means of getting to the port. That is a great time...one of the earliest. When you arrive are you parking a car or getting dropped off? If parking at the port you will pull up to the curb, drop your checked luggage with porters, then drive a few yards and park your car in the garage after paying first. You then just walk across the road to the terminal and check in, wait for your boarding number and then board. Easy peasy. No extra hoops other than just dropping luggage and parking.

Are the DCL transfers less than cost to park at the port? I love having a car parked at the port. So easy to leave when you want and get on your way.

MJ

Thank you for your help! Good point about the car. We have a later flight so that could be really helpful.

 

[Blerghityblergh]

Did you have the Disney transportation from the airport booked before check-in and get an automatically assigned Port Arrival Time? If so, DCL expects the buses from the airport to be running early enough to get you to the port by 11. In that case, I would keep your plans, because dropping Disney transportation may mean you have to select a new PAT.

If you were able to get an 11 am PAT on your own, then it’s up to you whether stay with DCL bussing or to book a car service (which could pick you up at your hotel and save time) or a rental car (which would take more time for pick-up and drop-off).

DCL busses from the airport run continuously starting in time to drop off guests shortly after the port opens. Even if you don’t arrive by 11, you should arrive well before boarding begins an hour or more later.

It sounds like you got an 11 PAT because you have DCL transport. Unless I'm missing something if you were to cancel the DCL transport you run the risk of getting a later PAT time.

Yes, this is probably the case! The earliest we’ve ever gotten before was I think 11:15 and we are only silver so I was shocked we had such an early group. This makes much more sense. We probably should not cancel at this point. Thanks for your help!!

 

[dreamer17555]

What is your Boarding Group? It should be Group 3 coming from MCO. And yes that is very early for the Wish

 

[Blerghityblergh]

What is your Boarding Group? It should be Group 3 coming from MCO. And yes that is very early for the Wish

Yup, it’s group 3 so it must be because of the DCL transport. Thank you

 

[Chrissie & Kids]

We were on the Wish 2 weeks ago. We stayed Thursday night at a hotel near the airport, and took the hotel shuttle back to MCO in the morning. We had booked and paid for DCL transport before online check-in and received BG3 and a PAT of 11:00 - 11:15. We arrived at the airport around 8:45 AM; DCL team took our tagged luggage and verified our documents, then we were provided wrist bands to bypass check-in a the port and tickets for the 1st bus scheduled to board at 10AM. Note others in the waiting area that arrived after us had tickets for a different (later) bus. We arrived at the terminal a few minutes after 11 and were taken straight to the upstairs waiting area. They had not yet started boarding concierge. We were on the ship before 11:45.
Hope this helps you make your choice.

 

[Blerghityblergh]

We were on the Wish 2 weeks ago. We stayed Thursday night at a hotel near the airport, and took the hotel shuttle back to MCO in the morning. We had booked and paid for DCL transport before online check-in and received BG3 and a PAT of 11:00 - 11:15. We arrived at the airport around 8:45 AM; DCL team took our tagged luggage and verified our documents, then we were provided wrist bands to bypass check-in a the port and tickets for the 1st bus scheduled to board at 10AM. Note others in the waiting area that arrived after us had tickets for a different (later) bus. We arrived at the terminal a few minutes after 11 and were taken straight to the upstairs waiting area. They had not yet started boarding concierge. We were on the ship before 11:45.
Hope this helps you make your choice.

This is super helpful info, thank you so much! Hope you enjoyed your cruise!