Disney Transfers

[ncstate7991]

Sorry to start a new thread about this, but I was able to snag 10:30 port arrival times for our cruise in December. We will be staying at the MCO Hyatt Regency the night before. I know that you can no longer check-in for your cruise at the airport. I was wondering if this seems to have any effect on bus arrival time at Port Canaveral, and has it had any effect on what boarding number you receive? With our previous cruise, we were in boarding group 3, and with such a short amount of time on the ship (3 nights) we want to make the most of it. Thank you everyone.

PS-I know it is cheaper to figure out our own transportation (7 people), but because of Hyatt luggage pick-up, ease of getting to WDW after the cruise, bathroom on the bus (5 & 3 year old), and me being responsible for everyone and their luggage (3 senior citizens) I currently have Disney transportation booked.

 

[TDF]

Hi we did exactly what you are doing for our 3 night cruise. We got boarding group 3 as well I believe. I would say if you want the most time on the ship to shoot for the earliest bus departure. I don’t think getting 3 is bad at all, boarding is very quick.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

We went down early to wait for the desk to open. Only 2nd there. I think as long as you get yourself on the first bus then be working as a team to move efficiently from the bus thru security up to the checkin desk at port you should get a low boarding group. At least #3. From what I've read it correlates between your port arrival time + when you check in. Like if you're standing next to someone with a 1:00 port arrival time and yours was 10:30 you should be handed the lower boarding group number. Does that make sense?

 

[TDF]

We went down early to wait for the desk to open. Only 2nd there. I think as long as you get yourself on the first bus then be working as a team to move efficiently from the bus thru security up to the checkin desk at port you should get a low boarding group. At least #3. From what I've read it correlates between your port arrival time + when you check in. Like if you're standing next to someone with a 1:00 port arrival time and yours was 10:30 you should be handed the lower boarding group number. Does that make sense?

I thought with taking Disney transfers port arrival times don’t really mean anything… isn’t that what Tammy told me?

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I thought with taking Disney transfers port arrival times don’t really mean anything… isn’t that what Tammy told me?

It doesn't mean anything in terms of what time you could possibly be denied access (if for some reason the terminal building is at capacity). If you arrive on a Disney bus, you're in. I'm not sure 100% if it can effect the boarding group number. It rarely if ever does regardless of how you got to the terminal. It's possible, tho. Additionally, IF the port arrival time effects the boarding group number it wouldn't be much difference time-wise. The time difference between boarding group 3 and boarding group 6 is maybe 10 minutes. Ya know? In the grand scheme it's not much to worry about.

 

[ncstate7991]

It doesn't mean anything in terms of what time you could possibly be denied access (if for some reason the terminal building is at capacity). If you arrive on a Disney bus, you're in. I'm not sure 100% if it can effect the boarding group number. It rarely if ever does regardless of how you got to the terminal. It's possible, tho. Additionally, IF the port arrival time effects the boarding group number it wouldn't be much difference time-wise. The time difference between boarding group 3 and boarding group 6 is maybe 10 minutes. Ya know? In the grand scheme it's not much to worry about.

Perfect, that is what I needed to know! Thank you everyone.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I thought with taking Disney transfers port arrival times don’t really mean anything… isn’t that what Tammy told me?

It didn't used to. They used to give everyone checking in at the airport a 2 or 3. Now since everyone is checking in at the port, they do matter as far as boarding numbers go. Not as far as port arrival times, but as far as boarding number.

 

[AmongMadPeople]

We went down early to wait for the desk to open. Only 2nd there.

How early is that? We're taking DCL transfer from the airport, but arriving the day before, so I'm sure how to schedule our morning.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

The desk should open around 8:30. We were down there before 8, I believe.

 

[MaryJaneP]

When we stayed at hotel at MCO recently, before a DCL cruise, we arrived on a Friday, and I walked down to DCL check in desk to ask them when we should be there if we wanted first bus to Port. They (2 different CM's I spoke with) both said 9 AM, so I agree with the above posts that anything before 9 AM should be early enough. You may not beat everyone else to the Port Terminal (self-drivers, other type A's, etc), but you will be plenty early.

 

[Tiggerish]

We'll be transferring from a WDW Resort (Bay Lake Tower) for our 3-day cruise. Any sense in getting an early DME bus to the airport, and getting an early DCL bus from there? I've seen a bunch of remarks about the DCL transfers from WDW being a bit later in the morning. Or am I just being crazy-obsessive?

 

[Disneyfalcon]

We'll be transferring from a WDW Resort (Bay Lake Tower) for our 3-day cruise. Any sense in getting an early DME bus to the airport, and getting an early DCL bus from there? I've seen a bunch of remarks about the DCL transfers from WDW being a bit later in the morning. Or am I just being crazy-obsessive?

Welcome to the crazy-obsessive club. We don't judge.

You will get there earlier than the transfer from the resort! The resort transfers won't arrive until 1:00 or so and the airport transfers can arrive as early as 10:15. So if you want to get there early, then do it. If you don't care that much, then save yourselves the hassle!

 

[Tiggerish]

Welcome to the crazy-obsessive club. We don't judge.

You will get there earlier than the transfer from the resort! The resort transfers won't arrive until 1:00 or so and the airport transfers can arrive as early as 10:15. So if you want to get there early, then do it. If you don't care that much, then save yourselves the hassle!

HA! I'm in good company, then.

Can you tell I thought of that one after I sent the email with my other questions? LOL

 

[Disneyfalcon]

HA! I'm in good company, then.

Can you tell I thought of that one after I sent the email with my other questions? LOL

Hah! Yes!