Which Resort Leaves Fort he Port First & What Time

[teroot]

Going to Disney in September then cruising and we are staying at the airport hotel to port but may change to a Disney resort depending on what time they head to the port.
Thanks

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Going to Disney in September then cruising and we are staying at the airport hotel to port but may change to a Disney resort depending on what time they head to the port.
Thanks

There's no way of knowing which resort will have the first pick up or what time that will be. It varies from cruise to cruise, dependent on how many people, from what resort, need the shuttle.

Basically, the pick up window is between 10:45-12:30 with port arrival between 11:30-3:00. Each bus may pick up at more than one resort, again depending on how many people require the transportation from each resort.

DCL transfers from MCO begin at 9:00 from the airport, departing every 20 minutes or when the bus fills, arriving at the port approximately an hour later.

 

[teroot]

Thanks. I guess we will stick with the MCO. We have gone from resorts before and we always seem to get to the port around 1:30 or 2 would like to be there earlier to meet up with friends.

 

[amanda ek]

Yeah, you don't know. we got to our meeting place in beach club/yacht club at 11....didn't get to the port until almost 3. Not doing that again... Not cool DCL!

 

[C6PT7]

What time is your PAT?
If you have a later PAT than your friends, you may have to wait outside and not see them.

 

[sue]

We stayed at Bay Lake last year and they picked up fairly late. We arrived at the port around 2pm. They were already putting food away in Cabanas.

 

[mmouse37]

Yeah, you don't know. we got to our meeting place in beach club/yacht club at 11....didn't get to the port until almost 3. Not doing that again... Not cool DCL!

My guess is that they have to wait for some buses to come back from the port before they can start taking passengers from the resorts. Also, they can't have all the buses (from resorts and MCO) arriving at the port early as there would be chaos with people leaving and arriving.

MJ

 

[Happy100]

We will be staying at a Disney resort (Caribbean) but do not want to be on the DCL transfer bus for more then an hour and half. A previous poster mentioned got picked up at 11 but didn't make it to the ship till 3. This is ridiculous. Is this common? I am ok being picked up later from resort just not riding the DCL bus for a long time.

Is a car service from the resort a better choice? How much would it cost?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We will be staying at a Disney resort (Caribbean) but do not want to be on the DCL transfer bus for more then an hour and half. A previous poster mentioned got picked up at 11 but didn't make it to the ship till 3. This is ridiculous. Is this common? I am ok being picked up later from resort just not riding the DCL bus for a long time.

Is a car service from the resort a better choice? How much would it cost?

As noted, a bus may pick up at more than one resort (generally the maximum stops are no more than 3 resorts). However, if there are enough people from one resort that fills the bus, it may only make the one stop. From WDW to the port takes about an hour. If you are the first pick up of 3, you may not actually start for the port until 30-45 minutes after you board.

 

[jdb in AZ]

We will be staying at a Disney resort (Caribbean) but do not want to be on the DCL transfer bus for more then an hour and half. A previous poster mentioned got picked up at 11 but didn't make it to the ship till 3. This is ridiculous. Is this common? I am ok being picked up later from resort just not riding the DCL bus for a long time.

Is a car service from the resort a better choice? How much would it cost?[/QUOTE]



You can do an online price check -- just google Happy Limo and/or Tiffany Town Car, or "Orlando limo service" for other ideas. DCL charges $35 per person each way so if you have 5 or more people it may be cheaper to do a private car service.

 

[amanda ek]

Just to clarify: They told us to be at the meeting place at 11, but did not actually get on a bus until 12...just waited with 2 other families for a bus in the sun room of yacht club/beach club for an hour. Then we got on an empty bus and went to several other resorts until the bus was completely full...like even made sure kids under 3 (not paying for transfer) were on laps. We made it to the port maybe 2:30/2:45 and were definitely on the boat by 3. Cabanas lunch buffet was already closed. Womp womp . Next time we will take the bus to the airport and do DCL transfer from there.
I've seen suggestions from other ppl about doing a character breakfast that morning or a leisurely morning at the pool since you know the pickup for the cruise isn't until later, but I feel like I paid for that day on the boat and would rather start my cruise.

 

[llachance]

This past January had the early meet up at the polynesian then the long wait and then stopped at the contemporary. Left at noon and were at the port by 1:30 or so. Since I am platinum I walked up - got my stuff and got on the ship - Had a late breakfast so really didn't need anything to eat until later so it worked well. My daughter and family are traveling with us in November and aren't platinum. I figure by the time we get there everyone will be boarding and that will work well for us...plus we are going to be at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas the Night before so a leisurely morning will be perfect

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Next time we will take the bus to the airport and do DCL transfer from there.

It's just not worth figuring out the logistics (as well as the luggage wrangling) for us to do this. We like taking the transfers from the resort. By the time we get to the port, there's no line to check in or board, and, in most cases, you can drop your bags in your room and get about enjoying the cruise.

 

[Happy100]

I am completely fine hanging at resort till later to be picked up by DCL transfers. I am fine not getting on ship immediately.

 

[KristiMc]

What time is your PAT?
If you have a later PAT than your friends, you may have to wait outside and not see them.

When you are arriving via DCL Transfers you do not need to select a PAT.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

When you are arriving via DCL Transfers you do not need to select a PAT.

Not exactly true. While arriving via DCL transfers will allow you to enter the terminal at whatever time the bus gets there, there are differing reports as to what boarding number is issued (boarding numbers are generally tied to selected PAT). Some have received the same number that they would have received, regardless of what time they actually entered and checked in, while others have gotten a number more in line with the time they actually checked in.

There are instances where you are not directed to select a PAT (Platinum or Concierge, as well as if you booked Hyatt MCO through DCL for precruise stay), but in most cases, just using DCL transfers will not negate selecting a PAT.

 

[KristiMc]

Not exactly true. While arriving via DCL transfers will allow you to enter the terminal at whatever time the bus gets there, there are differing reports as to what boarding number is issued (boarding numbers are generally tied to selected PAT). Some have received the same number that they would have received, regardless of what time they actually entered and checked in, while others have gotten a number more in line with the time they actually checked in.

There are instances where you are not directed to select a PAT (Platinum or Concierge, as well as if you booked Hyatt MCO through DCL for precruise stay), but in most cases, just using DCL transfers will not negate selecting a PAT.

True - I guess if you are arriving via DCL Transfers from MCO selecting a PAT would be good, but if you are arriving from WDW, by the time you get to the port they should be in open boarding and you can walk right on.

 

[Weedy]

Just my opinion: when you do your online check in if it prompts you to pick a PAT you should do it.
Because your boarding # is tied to your PAT. So if your bus arrives on the earlier side and there is still a line in the terminal you don't want to wait.
Now so that no one flames me... Maybe pick the 12:00ish PAT because you probably won't arrive before that.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

True - I guess if you are arriving via DCL Transfers from MCO selecting a PAT would be good, but if you are arriving from WDW, by the time you get to the port they should be in open boarding and you can walk right on.

Yep.

 

[Sir William]

Yeah, you don't know. we got to our meeting place in beach club/yacht club at 11....didn't get to the port until almost 3. Not doing that again... Not cool DCL!

Our experience as well from SSR this March. Checkout was at 11, but DCL pickup wasn't scheduled until 12.30 (!). We had 2 stops at other resorts and didn't get get to the port until after 2pm. Terminal was virtually empty so check-in went quickly and smoothly, and we boarded right away. Our cabin was ready so we could drop off carry-on without having to carry it around. However, I felt very rushed from arriving so much later than usual. I like to eat lunch in the MDR, but had to make do with Cabanas, which I avoid whenever possible. For whatever reason, DVC meet was at 2.30 on embarkation day instead of later in the week, so we were about 15-20 min late getting to that. That will be my last time taking a transfer from a WDW resort.