Leaving Animal Kingdom for Cruise - Lodge or Park??? - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Leaving Animal Kingdom for Cruise - Lodge or Park???
Have the land/sea package through Disney that includes transfer from resort to cruise ship. Staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge for 4 nights. My question is does anyone know what time the bus picks you up at the Lodge to take you to the ship (I have been told 12:30). What time do you actually arrive at the ship?
Also, I heard as an alternative, you can leave from Animal Kingdom Park instead - anyone done this? Do you recommend leaving from the Lodge or the Park to get in that extra morning at the Park?
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When we used Disney transportation to go from WDW to the ship, we were picked up at 11:00. I would leave from the Lodge and try to get the earliest bus. The cruise terminal opens at around 11, and you can check in as soon as you get there. You should be able to get on the ship by about 12 or 12:30 depending on what boarding group you are in, and head up for lunch.
I don't think I would choose a park in the morning. You will have so much to do on the cruise, even on the first day, that it's worth heading out as early as you can!
Each resort for DCL transfers has a scheduled pick-up time and Animal Kingdom Lodge is the last one. You need to be in the Victoria Falls lounge by noon and they leave by 12:30. It takes about an hour to get to the port and since you're already checked-in for the cruise, you simply clear security and go aboard the ship.
If you're on a land/sea package and staying at a different resort, you can arrange to take the last transfer coach which is at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. There isn't a pick-up at the Animal Kingdom Park - it gets confusing because people will simply say that they're being picked up at Animal Kingdom!
You could choose to go to Animal Kingdom park for the morning and then go over to the lodge for pickup, but I never seem to have that much time!
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Lynn
Yes, I am a Disney Addict... and I'd rather be cruising!.
We are going to be leaving from the Swan resort, I want to be one of the first ones in the Port to ENJOY the port. take pics of the model ship and I WOULD LOVE to take pictures with the characters when they arrive around 11:00 am! besides I want to be the very first one that set foot in the Magic and the first in the line for the Lunch Buffet! This are just my plans i figure this is the only chance to do this if I arrive Early!!!
I've read that you can take the DCL bus from AK (the park) to the port, but I would agree that you wouldn't want to have such a hectic day before going to the ship.
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