ºoº what is the earliest time that you have been able to leave or disembark the DCL ship and the Port Terminal? About This Page:

[RaySharpton]

Hello, everyone.

I have three questions, but I'll ask them separately.

I am departing the 2008 MouseFest Disney Wonder Cruise on Thursday morning on December 11, 2008.

I want to depart the ship, get my luggage and drive back to WDW as early as possible.

Why? This year I will be driving some friends with me and I wanted drive back to Pop Century Resort, checkin, and drive to the Polynesian Resort Kona Cafe to have breakfast with them with a ADR at 10:20 A.M..

So my third question is what is the earliest time that you have been able to leave or disembark the DCL ship and the Port Terminal?

My experience has been that I used to take my time getting off board, and I have never tried getting off the ship first.

Does anyone know the procedure for disembarking?

I usually let leave my luggage out the night before.

Would it be faster to disembark if, instead, I carry all my luggage out myself?

Do they let certain people off first based on category or plane flights or alphabetically by name?

What is your experience?

What is the best way to disembark the earliest possible?

Ray

[Belle*]

As soon as you are given the all clear (the earliest I've ever been off is around 8:00 - 8:30 I think) you are welcome to disembark at your leisure - or hurry in your case! I find the luggage pick up quite speedy so see no need to keep your luggage with you. It takes maybe a few minutes to grad your luggage in the terminal, it would take me more than that to lug it off the ship myself! The best way to get off early is to wake up early and be in the lobby waiting for that all clear.

See you back on land at MouseFest!!

[RaySharpton]

Originally Posted by Belle*

As soon as you are given the all clear (the earliest I've ever been off is around 8:00 - 8:30 I think) you are welcome to disembark at your leisure - or hurry in your case! I find the luggage pick up quite speedy so see no need to keep your luggage with you. It takes maybe a few minutes to grad your luggage in the terminal, it would take me more than that to lug it off the ship myself! The best way to get off early is to wake up early and be in the lobby waiting for that all clear.

See you back on land at MouseFest!!

Hello, Belle.

Thank you for the information.

I'll just plan to be in the lobby before 8:00 A.M. and wait for the all clear.

I am so glad that I don't have to carry my luggage, because it has always been so easy to set the luggage out the night before.

And it has always been easy to have a porter to pick up my luggage and take it to the parking lot.

I'll see you on land, too.

Ray

[duck addict]

I was early seating last year. I was at the POR bus stop after getting my room and unpacking by 9:45. Couldn't have been more efficient.

You could always drive to your breakfast directly, then check in after breakfast if time is tight?

See you on land and sea

[Colexis Mom]

We've been off by 7:45, and at the gates of AK just after 9 AM We had a rental car that we parked at the port, so we saved time there!!

We lined up so we were one of the first ones off the ship. We got a porter, who got our luggage for us, and we were whisked right thru customs!!

[RaySharpton]

Originally Posted by duck addict

I was early seating last year. I was at the POR bus stop after getting my room and unpacking by 9:45. Couldn't have been more efficient.

You could always drive to your breakfast directly, then check in after breakfast if time is tight?

See you on land and sea

Hello, duct addict.

Thanks for the information.

I think that we will skip breakfast onboard and just disembark when allowed.

That is good speed to get back to POR, to your room and then to the bus stop by 9:45 A.M..

I have noticed those DCl busses pass me on the way back to WDW.

See you onboard and on land.

Thank you for the reply.

Ray

[RaySharpton]

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

We've been off by 7:45, and at the gates of AK just after 9 AM We had a rental car that we parked at the port, so we saved time there!!

We lined up so we were one of the first ones off the ship. We got a porter, who got our luggage for us, and we were whisked right thru customs!!

Hello, Colexis Mom.

Disembarking at 7:45 A.M. sounds even better.

I hope that this will be our plan, too.

Getting to Pop Century Resort a little after 9:00 A.M. sounds even better.

That should allow us enough time to take our luggage out and check in to Pop Century Resort and then back into the car to Polynesian Kona Cafe in plenty of time.

I just don't know if I can drive that fast from port to Pop Century resort.

I'm sort of a geek when driving the speed limit.

Thank you for the reply.

Ray

[erikthewise]

Ray,

After the 2006 Mousefest cruise, we were ON THE ROAD in our rental car a little before 8:00, and arrived at WDW somewhere around 9:15. YMMV of course, but we were not first in line to exit the ship. We had early breakfast and did leave shortly after the door was opened.

Getting your luggage only takes a couple minutes, so go ahead and put it out the night before. Use one of the luggage handlers (and tip them of course) to speed things up a little in the morning.

Driving 10MPH slower than traffic (e.g. 70 instead of 80) for will put you 10 miles behind (less than 10 minutes) for each hour you drive.

[RaySharpton]

Originally Posted by erikthewise

Ray,

After the 2006 Mousefest cruise, we were ON THE ROAD in our rental car a little before 8:00, and arrived at WDW somewhere around 9:15. YMMV of course, but we were not first in line to exit the ship. We had early breakfast and did leave shortly after the door was opened.

Getting your luggage only takes a couple minutes, so go ahead and put it out the night before. Use one of the luggage handlers (and tip them of course) to speed things up a little in the morning.

Driving 10MPH slower than traffic (e.g. 70 instead of 80) for will put you 10 miles behind (less than 10 minutes) for each hour you drive.

Hello, erikthewise.

That is good to hear. I feel a lot better about getting to the Kona Cafe in time for ADR.

And getting to Pop Century resort at 9:10 A.M. sounds good too.

Thanks for the speed limit time estimate. I always use cruise control.

Ray

[Lisa in Orlando]

I believe they also have a continental breakfast at Beach Blanket starting at 6:30 if you're hungry.

[Keri_LI]

We are using a car service - do you think we can make a flight at MCO that departs at 11:45am without too much stress? There is another flight about 2:30, but getting in 3 hours earlier at home would be great.

[RaySharpton]

Originally Posted by Lisa in Orlando

I believe they also have a continental breakfast at Beach Blanket starting at 6:30 if you're hungry.

Hello, Lisa.

Thank you, I might do that just to get some coffee or something small for the drive.

I want to save my main breakfast for the Tonga Toast at Kona Cafe at 10:20.

Ray

[RaySharpton]

Originally Posted by Keri_LI

We are using a car service - do you think we can make a flight at MCO that departs at 11:45am without too much stress? There is another flight about 2:30, but getting in 3 hours earlier at home would be great.

Hello, Keri.

I haven't flown in years, so I'm sure that someone else might be able to help you.

But we do drive right by the airport on the way to WDW.

And if I can get to WDW by 9:15 A.M., I guess that you might be able to reach the airport at least by that time.

But I just don't know about how long it might take to get the luggage from the car or DCL bus and then getting through security and onboard by your time.

Maybe more experienced travellers could help you.

Ray

[MelissaL]

Originally Posted by Keri_LI

We are using a car service - do you think we can make a flight at MCO that departs at 11:45am without too much stress? There is another flight about 2:30, but getting in 3 hours earlier at home would be great.

If you have early seating or are willing to skip breakfast onboard, this should be okay, barring unusual traffic on the way to the airport. Make sure your car service knows that you need to be picked up as soon as you can disembark. The one time we used a car service after our cruise, the driver was waiting for us in the parking lot and we were on the road by 9. I think it's less than an hour from the port to the airport.

Happy planning,
Melissa

[erikthewise]

I think the standard recommendation is not to take any flights before noon. So 11:45 is really pretty safe. But if there's a delay clearing the ship, or a long line at security...you'll still make it, but I can't promise no stress!