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There are other changes as well.
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Trying to arrange car transportation from port to MCO. Wanted to know the latest Disney will allow passengers on board? I'm not trying to be the last one but don't want car service to give me a time that will leave us waiting outside for a pick-up either.
On the three cruises I took those who had flights before 1:00 PM were to be off by 8:00. Last time listed for others was 9:15. That was before the Dream or Fantasy, so do not know if the larger ships have different timing.
On our recent Dream cruise all passengers had to be off by 9:00 am.
That was our experience on the Dream over Labor Day weekend this year. When we booked our car service they recommended a pick up time of 8:30 and it worked perfectly for us.
What dinner seating do you have? If you have main seating, you'll eat breakfast during the first seating on that last day and will be off the ship pretty early. They expect you to disembark right after breakfast. We were off the ship before 8:30. We had a 9:30 pick up time and we sat around for a long time.
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Thanks for the replies everyone. We have late dining (second seating) for dinner. From what I understand we would be scheduled to have breakfast at 8AM. I am traveling with three young children and my elderly mother. So I figured by time we finish breakfast, do our bathroom room runs and clear customs it should put us at 9 o'clock or thereabout. I arranged for the car service to pick us up at 9:15. Do you think that is too late? Is it possible that we can do all of the above and still make it outside for 9AM?
Thanks for the replies everyone. We have late dining (second seating) for dinner. From what I understand we would be scheduled to have breakfast at 8AM. I am traveling with three young children and my elderly mother. So I figured by time we finish breakfast, do our bathroom room runs and clear customs it should put us at 9 o'clock or thereabout. I arranged for the car service to pick us up at 9:15. Do you think that is too late? Is it possible that we can do all of the above and still make it outside for 9AM?
Thanks for any and all input.
I think a 9:15 pick up time would probably be okay. Our car service told us they would text us the night before (you'll probably have your phone off at sea, but be sure to turn it on in the morning). They want you to text them once you are off the ship to tell them the number of the pick up area where you will be waiting. Having said that, our driver did not text us the night before and we had to call the company in the morning but remember we were off earlier than expected and had to wait around. If you are worried, I would move the pick up to 9:30. Remember that you will have to find your bags and collect them and then move thru customs before you can proceed outside.
Thanks for all of your help HollyH. I will take your advice and call them from port in the morning. I'm thinking of doing the onboard airline check-in so we won't have a luggage so I think we will make it by 9:15. Thanks again.
Thanks for all of your help HollyH. I will take your advice and call them from port in the morning. I'm thinking of doing the onboard airline check-in so we won't have a luggage so I think we will make it by 9:15. Thanks again.
If you don't have to find the luggage, then you should make 9:15 no problem
Thanks for all of your help HollyH. I will take your advice and call them from port in the morning. I'm thinking of doing the onboard airline check-in so we won't have a luggage so I think we will make it by 9:15. Thanks again.
I'm confused...I thought you had to take DCL transfers in order to use the onboard airline check-in? Can you check luggage but use private car service? That would be great for a later departure!
I'm confused...I thought you had to take DCL transfers in order to use the onboard airline check-in? Can you check luggage but use private car service? That would be great for a later departure!
As I understand it, you are correct, if you use the onboard airline checkin you have to use DCL transfers; it is a packaged service...
According to the Pre-arrival Guide for my recent cruise, I QUOTE:
"
Disney's Convenient Onboard Airline Check-In
Enjoy the comfort and convenience of Onboard Airline Check-In* when you purchase air or ground transportation through Disney Cruise Line, such as:
• Receive your boarding passes ahead of time.
• Check your luggage for your return flight before disembarking the ship.
• Skip luggage claim at the port terminal.
• Bypass the airline check-in counter at the airport.
Here's how it works:
1. Reserve air or ground transportation through Disney Cruise Line, then request to sign up for Onboard Airline Check-In
when you check in at the cruise port.
2. On the day prior to disembarkation, your airline boarding passes and valet luggage tags will be delivered to your
stateroom.
3. Attach the tags to your luggage and leave your bags outside your stateroom on the evening prior to disembarkation.
Your luggage will be collected and delivered to your airline for you.
4. Upon arrival at Orlando International Airport, you can proceed to security and continue to your departure gate.
*This service is available to Guests flying out of Orlando International Airport on domestic flights (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) on AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines and US Airways.
Pre-registration is required and scheduled flights must be after 11:30 a.m. on the day your cruise ends. Airline specific baggage fee may apply and can vary by airline. Each luggage piece can weigh no more than 50lbs. Additionally,
some Guests may be selected to check in at the airport and will be unable to use this service.
"
As I understand it, you are correct, if you use the onboard airline checkin you have to use DCL transfers; it is a packaged service...
According to the Pre-arrival Guide for my recent cruise, I QUOTE:
"
Disney's Convenient Onboard Airline Check-In
Enjoy the comfort and convenience of Onboard Airline Check-In* when you purchase air or ground transportation through Disney Cruise Line, such as:
• Receive your boarding passes ahead of time.
• Check your luggage for your return flight before disembarking the ship.
• Skip luggage claim at the port terminal.
• Bypass the airline check-in counter at the airport.
Here's how it works:
1. Reserve air or ground transportation through Disney Cruise Line, then request to sign up for Onboard Airline Check-In
when you check in at the cruise port.
2. On the day prior to disembarkation, your airline boarding passes and valet luggage tags will be delivered to your
stateroom.
3. Attach the tags to your luggage and leave your bags outside your stateroom on the evening prior to disembarkation.
Your luggage will be collected and delivered to your airline for you.
4. Upon arrival at Orlando International Airport, you can proceed to security and continue to your departure gate.
*This service is available to Guests flying out of Orlando International Airport on domestic flights (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) on AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines and US Airways.
Pre-registration is required and scheduled flights must be after 11:30 a.m. on the day your cruise ends. Airline specific baggage fee may apply and can vary by airline. Each luggage piece can weigh no more than 50lbs. Additionally,
some Guests may be selected to check in at the airport and will be unable to use this service.
"
-SW
Ok, I'm confused. From what I understand, from page 73 of the Passporter book in the side bar, you can participate in Onboard Check-in "whether or not you purchased Disney ground transfers and/Disney air". Am I not reading that right?
Last edited by slimkat; 10-02-2013 at 02:40 PM..
Reason: spelling
Ok, I'm confused. From what I understand, from page 73 of the Passporter book in the side bar, you can participate in Onboard Check-in "whether or not you purchased Disney ground transfers and/Disney air". Am I not reading that right?
Well...I don't have the most current edition of PassPorter's DCL guide but I do find that wording in the the 9th edition at the bottom of page 75 (so you probably have a different edition than me). So I can see your confusion because it certainly has that specific wording. However, that is in direct conflict with information provided by DCL about the onboard airline check-in program. Possibly at one time the transfers were not required. But at least since early 2012 one requirement of the OAC is to utilize DCL transfers to MCO post-cruise, as as indicated in the post above by Starwind.