Making Leaving The Magic A Little Easier

We’ve all been there.  The last day of a magical vacation.  Knowing that the next steps include packing bags and heading back to reality.  And, after twelve magical trips to Walt Disney World, we’ve discovered that there are some things that make leaving the magic a little easier. . .

• Take Disney’s Magical Express back to the airport.  You get to stay immersed in the magic for just a while longer with videos, a friendly bus driver, and a curb-side drop at the appropriate location at the airport for your respective airline.
• Use Resort Airline Check-in at your Disney Resort.  This service begins at 5:00am at most resorts and allows you to check your luggage at your resort rather than toting them to the airport and the airline counter.  Luggage tags for checked luggage and boarding passes are printed right there, on the spot, for participating airlines.  We try to plan our return flight based on this service—knowing it begins at 5:00am means we want our flight for 8:00 am or after.  (Oh, and the fee for our checked bags was a big less when using Resort Airline Check-in!)
• For a tip, Bell Services will come to your resort room and assist you with your luggage.  Either taking your luggage to Resort Airline Check-in, or to the Magical Express coach, to your car, or to Bell Service’s storage location so that you can enjoy the rest of your day—if checking out now, but leaving later.
• Keep your MagicBand on until you get home.  It was a great reminder of our magical journey to us and others during our return trip.  And, while it had no “use” it was fun to imagine that it could be used to open doors, pay for items, or gain entry into various areas.  And, since it is plastic, there was no need to take if off while going through airport security.
• Use any left over snack credits to grab some snacks to go.  Can you not smile while eating Mickey shaped goldfish or pretzels?
• Reminisce during the trip home.  Best parts?  Favorite memory?  Highlights?  What to do again next time?  What not to do?
• And, we wear matching shirts for the trip home!
• But the number one cure for making it easier to leave the magic is to have your next trip booked, planned, and/or reserved.  If you know you want to return, take advantage of a “bounce back” offer.  You’ll be smiling the whole way home!

There you have it.  Our top tips for making leaving the magic a bit easier.  Re-entry into the real world isn’t as hard as say an astronaut’s re-entry into the atmosphere, but it sure can feel that way.

And, who has their next trip planned?  Raise your hand!  Go head, admit it—we know you do!  And, good for you!

Our Stay At Port Orleans French Quarter--A Walt Disney World Resort

Let me begin with some background. . . We have stayed at Walt Disney World Resorts twelve times:  twice at Caribbean Beach resort, five times at Port Orleans Riverside, three times at Coronado Springs, and our trip in July was our second stay at Port Orleans French Quarter.  Let’s talk about our stay.

Our stay at French Quarter was 6 nights/7 days.  We arrived around 10:00 am on Saturday after disembarking the ship and were very pleased that our room was ready as check-in typically is not until 3:00 pm. 

When the DCL bus dropped us off, the husband stayed with our luggage near the port-cochere as I checked us into the resort.  Reason being that if luggage services took our luggage and held it and our room was ready, we would immediately have to get our luggage out of luggage services—which is what happened last time. 

Once we had our room number—no Key to the World cards as all info was in our Magic Bands—I headed back outside and asked Bell Services to assist us in getting to our room.  They also retrieved our Garden Grocer order which was being held in Luggage Services.  Soon our bags were being placed on the large cart and we were off to our room.  I so appreciate Bell Services doing this as it can be a winding maze to find your room in the sprawling Disney resorts.

We were in building 4 on the third/top floor with a garden view.  Our room was neat, clean, and cool!  It was an easy walk to get to the bus stop through the “back sidewalk.”  We changed our clothes and headed to Blizzard Beach for the afternoon.

Throughout our stay we took advantage of the pool, hot tub, playground, evening campfire with roasted marshmallows—no smores though, the nightly movie shown in the garden (the boy watched one night), the food court along with drink refills, the arcade, resort shop, and boat launch to Downtown Disney.

As for bus transportation—it took us until the last day of our stay to get the timing down for the buses in the morning.  We typically walk out the door at 7:50 am to catch a bus to a park opening at 9:00 am.  This gives us time to walk to the bus stop, ride the bus, and arrive at the park prior to opening.  What kept happening was that we would have to wait until 15 or 20 after the hour for the bus.  One the last day of our trip, we left the room 5 minutes earlier and it made all the difference in the world.  The buses were arriving at 10 minutes ‘til the hour and we were just missing them!

The boat launch was a different story.  After spending the first part of the day at Typhoon Lagoon, we returned to our resort to clean up and go to Downtown Disney.  I knew that some of the piers at Downtown Disney may not be available due to all of the construction, so I phoned the front desk to ask where we would be dropped off if we took the boat launch.  I was told that the boat would stop at the Marketplace and the West Side.  We headed to the loading area for the boat launch.  A boat arrived from Downtown Disney heading to Port Orleans Riverside and was unloading passengers.  We asked if we could board and ride to Riverside and make the return trip.  We were told by the boat Captain that we could, but all passengers would have to exit at Riverside and line up again to board.  He suggested that we wait for the next boat to take us to Downtown Disney.  When we boarded the next boat that arrived a few minutes later, I asked the Captain if we would be dropped off at the Marketplace, which was our destination.  I was told no as that pier was not open yet.  I told him I had asked the front desk for specific information and he told me they were wrong.  He then went on to say that the boat launches had repeatedly communicated with the resort and that I should have asked for a manager.  At this point, I was wishing we had taken the air conditioned bus, especially after the teenage boy with the family in front of us dropped his chocolate ice cream on the floor and splattered the husband’s white shoes with chocolate not to mention making a mess on the boat. 

We did arrive at Downtown Disney via the Pleasure Island boat pier and then walked to the Marketplace.  The good news was that it was easy for the guys to take the boat back to the resort after leaving DisneyQuest later in the evening.  (I didn’t take the boat—I took a bus back to the resort.  And, I called the front desk when I returned to give them accurate information about the boat launch.)

Like a flash, soon it was time to go home.  I phoned Bell Services the night before we checked out and asked for assistance to arrive at 7:00 am as we wanted to use Resort Airline Check-in and have breakfast prior to our Disney’s Magical Express pick-up for return service to Orlando International Airport at 8:10 am.  I was instructed to make sure our luggage was ready to go prior to 7:00 am.  Really?  They have to tell guests that?  Of course our luggage was ready.  It was actually waiting for them outside our resort room door. 

7:00 am arrived and no Bell Services.  I phoned.  The Cast Member who answered said she had no way of radioing someone to come and did not know if someone was on their way or not.  I stayed on the phone with her while she tried to find out and in the meantime, a representative from Bell Services arrived.

Resort Airline Check-in is an amenity we have grown accustomed to and would definitely miss if it weren’t available.  We delivered our checked bags and our boarding passes were printed and our checked luggage whisked away—no having to check it in at the airport or having to stop at the airline counter at the airport! 

There was some confusion though as the phone message we received about Resort Airline Check-in told us that all members of the traveling party had to be present.  But both Bell Services and the Cast Member at Resort Airline Check-in said that if all members of the traveling party have the same last name, only one person needs to be present.  I explained that was not what the pre-recorded message left on our resort room voicemail said.  They were going to do some checking.  (I really think that Cast Members need to know what it feels like/looks like from the guests’ perspective at least once.)

After the luggage was taken care of we enjoyed breakfast in the food court and took the bus back to the airport for our return trip home.

All-in-all, our stay at Port Orleans French Quarter was just fine.  The husband tried to get his mug refilled at the pool bar—with soda--only to be scoffed at and rebuked by the bar tender.  You see, at Coronado Springs, there is an area next to the pool bar that DOES refill the resort refillable mugs. 

I will also say that French Quarter was not our first choice—Coronado Springs was—for this trip, but it was available and part of the summer special being offered.  Coronado Springs was undergoing a refurbishment and had no availability for standard rooms during the dates of our vacation.

Would we stay at French Quarter again?  Yes. . . if our preferred resort was not available.

Disney's Magical Express And Disney Cruise Line Transports Are Not The Same

A general confusion that exists for guests who are familiar with traveling to Walt Disney World is that transportation to/from Port Canaveral for a Disney cruise is the same as Disney's Magical Express service.  Yes, they both use buses, sometimes the exact same buses.  Yes, they are both owned and operated by Mears.  Yes, the buses have bathrooms and show cartoons/movies.  And, yes, they both have check-in counters at Orlando International Airport that are actually adjacent to each other.

So, with all of these commonalities, it is understandable how prospective guests think that they are one in the same.  But there are some significant differences.

Disney's Magical Express is FREE to guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort.  Disney Cruise Line transports or transfers are $35 per person per trip or $70 round-trip.

Disney's Magical Express transports guests to/from Orlando International Airport and the Walt Disney World Resort.  Disney Cruise Line transports transport guests from airport to port, port to airport, port to resort, and resort to port.

Disney's Magical Express operates all day every day.  Disney Cruise Line transports operate only on days Disney ships are in port either embarking or disembarking and only those mornings and early afternoons.  All guests must leave the ship no later than 9:00 am and all guests must be on the ship by late afternoon, limiting the hours the transports are needed.

For us a typical sea/land vacation includes the use of both Disney Cruise Line transports and Disney's Magical Express.  When we stay at the Hyatt at Orlando International Airport prior to sailing, it is convenient for us to make our way downstairs at the airport and board a bus to the port--the bus being Disney Cruise Line transports.  If we are heading to Walt Disney World Resort after disembarking from the ship, we again us Disney Cruise Line transports to take us from port to resort.  And, then, when we check out of our resort to head back to Orlando International Airport, Disney's Magical Express whisks us away in true Disney style.

Resort Airline Check-in, Just Another Magical Disney Service

Don’t want to schlep your luggage to the airport after a magical Walt Disney World vacation?  Want to have that same magical handling of your luggage at the end of your trip as you do at the beginning?  Well, Disney can make that happen with Resort Airline Check-in.

It took us several trips before stumbling upon Resort Airline Check-in.  I think it was more about the timing of our return flights—very early morning—rather than not knowing about the service.  But when we did experience it for the first time, we have used it ever since.

Resort Airline Check-in allows guests leaving the Walt Disney World Resort the opportunity to check in for the flights and check in any luggage right at the resort.  Resort Airline Check-in is handled in various locations in different resort.  For example, at Port Orleans French Quarter, there is a space in the lobby that includes the kiosks for airline check-in and scales to weight checked bags, etc.  But at Coronado Springs, Resort Airline is handled near luggage services.  So, check with your resort for the actual location.

On our return day, we make arrangements for Bell Services to pick us up at our room, along with our bags.  The service is free, but do expect to tip.  We know Disney’s Magical Express return times are 3 hours prior to flight departure, so we plan accordingly considering time to check our bags for our flight, eat breakfast, etc.

At the Resort Airline Check-in counter, be prepared to show identification, just as you would at the airport.  You will be checked in for your flights, be able to check in any luggage and pay luggage fees if applicable (sometimes those fees are a few dollars less than you would pay at the airport), get boarding passes printed and off you go.  No taking luggage with you to the airport, other than personal items and carry-on bags.  The next time you see your luggage will be at your final destination.  Cool, huh?

Know that there are certain airlines that are able to utilize Resort Airline Check-in, so be sure to check if your airline qualifies for this service.

Before making flight reservations for our next trip, I called the resort and asked about the times for Resort Airline Check-in.  I was told that it started at 5:00 am.  Knowing Disney’s Magical Express 3 hour pick-up window meant that flights departing prior to 8:00 am would not allow for the use of Resort Airline Check-in.  Since our flight is scheduled to depart after 11:00 am, I know that we can still use Resort Airline Check-in prior to our flight even with an 8:00 am Magical Express pick-up.

I overheard a first time visitor back from their trip telling someone how Disney magically handles luggage both on the way to the Walt Disney World Resort and the return trip. . . all for free!  It is services like this that keep us going back.

Click here for how to use Disney’s Magical Express to your resort.

Click here for how to use Disney’s Magical Express for the return to Orlando International Airport.

Click here to read more about using Bell Services.

American Airlines Offers Baggage Delivery Service

American Airlines is now charging for what Disney’s Magical Express does for free!  Just yesterday, American Airlines began offering a baggage delivery service for customers who checked bags at some 200 airports.  For an additional fee, beyond the cost of checking luggage, American Airlines will transport your luggage to your destination beginning with $29.95 for one bag and an additional $10 per bag up to 3 bags.  The price was $49.95 to deliver 3-5 bags at a destination.

While American Airlines may be trying to set themselves apart from other airline carriers, keeping Enterprise delivery drivers busy is another incentive for the service.  So, is American Airlines in bed with Enterprise?  Car rental, delivery service, and now luggage deliver service!

Would you pay for this service?  Say you were flying to Pebble Beach and checked your golf clubs with a checked luggage fee of course.  And, you didn’t want the hassle of toting your golf clubs to your hotel or wherever you are staying while you are in town, so you pay to have the golf clubs delivered to your favorite golf course.  So, you get to bypass baggage claim, if all of your other belongings were packed in a carry-on bag, and your golf clubs would be waiting for you at your designated course.  Not bad.

I would also say the value gets better with more bags.  Let’s pretend you are a family of five headed to a ski resort.  You’ve been able to secure a transfer from the airport to your resort, but don’t want the hassle of making sure your bags get to your lovely ski lodge.  For a mere $49.95 all of your bags could be delivered directly to the resort.  That, I might take advantage of.

But alas, Disney’s Magical Express gives me the service and for FREE!  That’s right, free!  When I check my bags at the airport prior to a flight to Walt Disney World, I place on the luggage tags mailed to me and wave good-bye to my luggage as the next time I will see them is in my Walt Disney World Resort room.  People look at me with starry eyes when I tell them this service exists and is free.  I think they have visions of by passing luggage claim—so true.  The same is true for Disney Cruise Line if you are flying and sailing the same day.

Did I mention that Disney’s Magical Express not only transports your luggage, but transports you, too!  Not always at the same time, as your luggage may arrive at your resort after you, but for the same fee, which is zero, you and your traveling companions get whisked away to your favorite Disney Resort.  It’s not a bus or motor coach, it’s Disney’s Magical Express Service.  And, they do all of the same on your return trip from your resort to the airport.  Does American Airlines offer a service to pick-up your bags and take them to the airport?  Nope!

I have nothing against American Airlines.  We have flown with then a few times and the boy would say they are his favorite airline.  And, I applaud their ingenuity to think about services for customers that other airlines haven’t considered yet.  It is just that Disney has been offering a similar, yet better service for many years now.  Disney’s Magical Express’ availability is often overlooked as the wonder that it is by guests.

The next time I am on board Disney’s Magical Express motor coach to my resort, a bit of gratitude will wash over me as I recall American Airline’s fee for what I am taking advantage of for free!

Considerations For A Smooth Arrival Day At Disney

You made it; you’re at Walt Disney World!  It is your arrival day, now what do you do?  And, while you have carefully planned your vacation, you may not have planned your arrival day.  There are a few things to take into consideration to make your arrival day go smoothly.

Let me begin with the caveat that we don’t or shall I say, haven’t followed all of the advice that is about to follow.  Sometimes successfully and sometimes not.  And, we have changed our arrival day plans a bit over time.

For the sake of ease, these arrival day considerations are based on the fact that you have flown into Orlando International and are using Disney’s Magical Express service to get to your resort.  Adjust if this doesn’t apply to you and your traveling party.

Consideration:  It may be best to not make ADR’s for your arrival day.  Especially with the new 24 hour cancellation or you’ll be charged a no show fee policy.  The last thing you’ll want to worry about is flight delays/cancellations and missing your ADR.  Wait and schedule ADR’s for the following days in your vacation.

Again, we have done just the opposite.  We’ve eaten at Mickey’s Backyard BBQ, Chef Mickey’s, Mama Melrose, on our arrival day.  We’ve even had tickets to ticketed events such as Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.  If our flights had been delayed we would have been out some money.  Gratefully, that didn’t happen and now we typically schedule ADR’s for the other days in our vacation.

Consideration:  The resort pool may be just what the doctor ordered.  This has been the case for our last two trips.  No parks until we hit the pool.  I can’t tell you how many times we walked by pools to our resort rooms with the boy asking if we could swim.  The answer has been yes for the two most recent trips.  We just make sure the swim suits and any other needed items are packed in our carry-on bags so we don’t wait for the luggage delivery to our resort.  After a dip in the pool and possibly a snack, we are re-energized and ready to hit the parks.

Consideration:  Have needed items in your carry-on luggage.  Disney’s Magical Express’ luggage service can take up to 5 hours to arrive in your room after your flight.  Depending on the time of your flight arrival, it could be bedtime before the luggage arrives.  We make sure to have jammies, swim suits, items needed for park touring, and clothes for the next day, just in case, in our carry-on bags.

Consideration:  No need to wait for your luggage, or your room to be ready for that matter.  Walt Disney World Resort official check-in time is 3:00 pm.  If you arrive prior to that time, your room may not be ready.  No worries.  Just get what you need from your carry-on bags and let Bell Services hold your bags.  There are locker rooms near the pools for changing if you want to swim.  Or you can explore the resort or grab your Key to the World cards and hit the parks.  If you have what you need, there’s no reason to wait for your luggage to arrive.  It is a magical feeling to arrive back in your resort room and discover your checked luggage has arrived.

Consideration:  You don’t have to use a day of your park ticket on your arrival day.  There is plenty to do outside the parks—explore your resort, visit Downtown Disney, or explore other resorts, so there is no need to use a day of your park ticket, unless of course, you have planned to do so.

Consideration:  It has been a long day, get some rest.  This may mean a nap poolside or in your resort room or turning in early.  Your Disney vacation is going to require lots of energy.  Rest up and be ready!

Again, we haven’t followed this consideration very well.  We’ve seen parades, fireworks, etc. on our arrival day.  There was one trip, however, that we napped on the bus to the park, after swimming in the resort pool.  It wasn’t planned, but still felt great.

If you are anything like us, your arrival day means that you have been traveling since early that morning and possibly the day before.  At this point, we are feeling a mixture of excitement, anticipation, and exhaustion.  It’s easy to just run on adrenalin at this point, and we have done that, too.

We have learned that by managing our arrival day in terms of time, energy, and needed items, the rest of our vacation goes much more smoothly; dare I say magically.  If you think I’m kidding, check out how we lost the boy at Orlando International on the arrival day of our most recent trip—click here.

We Lost The Boy At Orlando International Airport

We lost the boy at Orlando International Airport.  Obviously, we found him and the story has a happy ending, but here’s what happened. . .

We have used Orlando International Airport 24 times since November of 2006—trust me, I counted!  And, we have explored the airport extensively spending hours in shops, walking on the moving walkways, riding escalators and elevators, etc. 

During our trip in March, our plane landed, we got off, and went to use the bathroom.  I should have known right then that something was amiss, as the women’s bathroom was closed for cleaning.  The husband and boy went ahead and used the men’s while I waited.  When the reappeared, we ventured further down the concourse to the next women’s bathroom, as it was now my turn.  When I exited, we walked to the main concourse area for the gates—where the shops and restaurants are before riding the tram.

No Burger King, but there was a McDonalds.  The husband got in line to purchase lunch while the boy and I waited.  We typically do this after a flight and then eat/carry the meal with us on the tram to the main terminal area.  This trip was no exception, except one of our drinks spilled before we even started walking—another omen?

The tram ride to the main terminal was smooth and we walked, en mass, with the other passengers past the security area into the main terminal.  Now, guests who exit on “A” side terminals still need to get to the “B” side to use Disney’s Magical Express.  We know this, but for guests traveling for the first time or for the first time in a while, can get confused when they hit the main terminal and are trying to figure out the signs and which way to go.  I’m okay with this, just don’t stop in the middle of the path when you’ve got several hundred people behind you!

We crossed over to the “B” side of the main terminal, still all together.  It’s when we hit the escalators that things got tricky, as you have to adjust from side by side walking to single file.  We went down the first set of escalators.  I was in the lead and kept walking—no stopping at the bottom of escalators!  I was under the impression—I know, foolish thinking—that the husband and the boy were behind me.  I proceeded to the next set of down escalator to get to level 1 and rode down.  Then I turned around to find the husband, but no boy.

We moved our carry-on luggage to the side, so that it wasn’t blocking anyone’s path.  But I could still see up the escalator area to the level above, just in case he walked by looking.  The husband took off to go up a set of escalators and look for the boy.

Soon, the boy appeared at the top of the escalator and proceeded to come down, as he could see me.  He said he was following the green shirts, and since it was St. Patrick’s Day, there were lots of green shirts.  No harm.  He was found!

But now, I had a lost husband.  I grabbed my phone, turned it on, and called.  No answer.  The husband hadn’t turned on his phone yet after leaving the plane.  Tried again, no luck.

In the meantime, I’m still standing in the same place, keeping track of a stack of bags, a boy, and looking up the escalator for a tall man in a green shirt.

Soon he appeared, with a very nervous look, as he hadn’t retrieved the boy.  He was relieved to see him standing with me at the bottom of the escalator. 

It all ended well, as our family was back together and we walked to the area for Disney’s Magical Express and found our way into the line for Coronado Springs.  It was queue number 1, by the way.  Cartoons or a movie was playing on the monitor, so the boy grabbed a patch of floor, ate his lunch, and waited for us to board the bus.

While it wasn’t the smoothest start to a Disney vacation, I told the husband that the rough part was over and the rest of the vacation would be cake.  I was right.  The rest of our Disney vacation was fantastic!

What I learned from the experience—keep the boy between us when going down the escalators in single file, or use an elevator to get from level 3 to level 1.  If I send the husband off to look for anything, have him turn on his phone first.  I was glad that I had already put a label in the back of the boy’s shirt with his name and my cell phone number in case he got lost.  I make up a sheet of computer labels with that info before a trip and then each day a label goes under the tag on the inside back of his shirt so he can show it anyone if need be.  He didn’t need to use it this trip, but we were sure glad it was there!

What We "Get" About Disney That Other Vacationers May Not

I just read an article on Mouseplanet.com by Chris Barry about the Top 5 Things at Disney that he doesn’t get.  And, while I agree that there’s more than one way to do/plan/be excited about Disney, I disagree with a few others.  (And, yes, I do spend some of my time reading books and articles about Disney.  Surprised? )

We “get” planning our next vacation while on our current vacation.  In fact, we budget for that deposit.  We have taken advantage of bounceback offers while at Walt Disney World and book our next cruise while sailing.  The discounts are great.  And, Disney’s cancellation policy is such that if you cancel within the appropriate window, you get a full refund.

I tried to get a bounceback offer while we were in the World in July for this coming March, but the specials were only through the end of 2011.  So, when we are in the World in March I’ll be checking for a bounceback for December 2012.

We are able to plan where we dine 180 days in advance of our trip and make our ADR’s.  What we also do, is not make an ADR for each day, and therefore, not have our schedule ruled by dining ADR’s.  We plan at least one whole day with no ADR’s so we can be flexible and spontaneous.  It sounds like an oxymoron—plan to be spontaneous.  It works for us.

As far as the dining plan goes, in my opinion, it ranks right up there with Photopass and Fastpass for some of the best inventions to come from Disney.  Some think there’s too much food.  We disagree.  We order two adult and one child entrees at table service locations and counter service locations.  It is often the dessert at the counter service location that seems, well cumbersome, and we’ve gotten creative and asked for packages of sliced apples, or whole pieces of fruit for dessert and take those with us for a snack later.

I think there would be much less stress for vacationers if they had those dining decisions made in advance, as already there is quite a bit of decision making that goes on during a Walt Disney World vacation.  I see and hear them. . . “where are we going to eat?”  They consult the map, hope a restaurant is nearby, etc.  Stressful!  To me, it’s like driving on the interstate when you’re hungry, need gas, and have to go to the bathroom and are trying to figure out which exit will be best and how far away the exit is and if you can hang on until then.  Stressful!  (You now have a better idea of why we fly!)

Another Disney amenity, dare we say feature, that we use to the max is Disney transportation.  The fact that Disney’s Magical Express is there to great us at Orlando International and whisk us off to our resort and then be shuttled to any Disney location via bus, boat, monorail or train makes our vacation a breeze.  I am more than willing to let Disney do the driving!  Now, some Disney guests find that waiting to board Disney’s Magical Express is a hassle, so they would rather gather their luggage at baggage claim and schlep it to a rental car or car service and then make the drive to Walt Disney World, and then use that same rental car to get them back and forth to the parks.  While I am stepping into an air conditioned bus near the entrance to the park, rather than taking a tram or ferry to the parking lot to then find my hot rental vehicle.  Hmmm. . .. What would you rather do?  Did I mention that Disney’s Magical Express is FREE?

Yep, there are many Disney features, practices, etc., that we get that others may not.  But that is part of what makes vacationing to Disney unique, as there is more than one way to do it.

I have written about this before, about the fact that some people planning a trip to Walt Disney World, want to plan out every detail and get it “right” or “perfect.”  My point, there is no one “right” way to do Disney.  It is about what fits for you, your family, the people you are traveling with.  We have friends who are DVC members and enjoy the deluxe accommodations that are available to them using their points.  We are pleased with our “moderate” accommodations and great specials on dining instead.  We know people that drive, rather than fly.  Again, if it works for you, then so be it.

Cruise to Resort--Using Disney Transports

On our grand Summer 2011 family vacation, we let Disney transport us from the moment our plane touched down in Orlando.  We used Disney transports to get us from the Hyatt at Orlando International to Port Canaveral—click here to read more—and were transported on a lovely Disney Cruise Line bus, operated by Mears. 

We then used Disney transport to go from Port Canaveral to our Walt Disney World Resort.  We thought we would once again be transported in luxury on a Disney Cruise Line bus.  But that didn’t happen.  Here’s the story:

After disembarking the ship with Key to the World Cards, Passports, and Custom forms in hand, we headed down the escalator just after exiting the ship, to the big luggage room.  I quickly found a porter and told him our bags were in the “red Mickey” section.

Off we went to secure our bags.  Found them!  The porter loaded them on his oversized two-wheeled hand cart and we zig-zagged through the queue to customs.  It was great to visit with our porter. . . how many days do you work at the port?  How long is your day?  He said the crew of porters work every day any ship, for any cruise line, is in port.  He said they arrive quite early, say 4:00 am, and start taking bags off the ship so that when the first guests disembark between 7:00 and 7:30 am, the luggage is in the luggage room.

We made it through customs without any issues and them outside the port terminal.  I explained that we were headed to a Disney resort and it was confirmed by a code on our Key to the World Cards.

A Disney Cruise Line Cast Member then directed us to a white van.  Huh?  The beautiful Disney Cruise Line busses were loading right beside us.  There were already 4 guests in the van and we were next.  The porter and van driver quickly loaded our bags. 

Well, since I had anticipated riding in the Disney Cruise Line bus, which had a restroom, I had waited to use the bathroom until after we got through the disembarkation process.  Now, I was looking at an hour and a half ride without a bathroom.  Nope, not going to make it. 

The van driver directed me to a security guard.  I then had to go through the metal detectors at the entrance to the port terminal, up the stairs and use the restroom.  I was the only guest on that floor of the building!  I quickly made my way back down the stairs and to the van.  A Disney Cruise Line bus was already pulling away from the port terminal. 

By the time I returned to the van, it had been decided that I would ride in the front, next to the driver.  We would make the ride to Orlando stopping at 3 resorts—Pop Century to drop off two of our passengers, Caribbean Beach to drop off 2 more, and we would be the last stop at Port Orleans French Quarter.

Another issue. . . on the Disney Cruise Line bus, movies would be playing.  The boy would be somewhat entertained.  No movies on the van. He was able to entertain himself with his DS. I was three rows in front of him in our white van!

Not having expected this turn of events, I asked our driver how this happens.  He said that the van is typically there and fills up first, early, to get guests to the Walt Disney World Resorts.  He was surprised that the big bus filled up first and took off.  He told us that riders on the van had to be over 6 years old.  Okay, we met that requirement.

It ended up being a lovely drive/ride.  Our driver allowed me to take the following pictures from the front seat of the van. 

We saw parts of Orlando that we hadn’t seen before and possibly would not have seen from riding in the bus.  We made it to our stop, Port Orleans French Quarter before 10:00 am.

Disney continued to transport us using Disney Transportation to/from the parks—busses, boats, and monorails.

Disney’s Magical Express transported us from our resort to Orlando International for our return flight home.  Yeah, there’s a story with this one too, but I’ll save it for another time.

Disney does its best to transport guests in a safe, timely, and efficient manner which is another reason we keep coming back.  There’s no added cost of rental cars or car services when traveling to Disney.

Click here to read about our last night on board the DisneyDream.

Who Will See the Dream First?

I was the first one to eye-spy the Disney Dream, but I’ll get back to that a just a moment.  First, more about our bus ride to the port.

Once we were on board the bus and ready to ride to Port Canaveral, everyone sat back and relaxed.  We watched the Florida vistas breeze by through our round “port hole” windows” and soon a Disney Cruise Line video was playing on the screens just overhead.  The videos included information about the port, ship, port adventures, dining, entertainment, etc. but it also had character quizzes, trivia, and other interactive elements.

Okay, yes, I could see the ship out of the left side of the bus just as we came over the last hill of our journey (see first photo).  One more exit on the highway and we were at the Port Terminal.  There is lots of traffic at the port terminal on port days.  As our porter said when we disembarked, “4,000 people on and 4,000 people off.”  Yep, and on the same day in a few short hours.

We waited on the bus until a Disney Cruise Line representative boarded and make a few announcements.  This also gave the driver and port staff time to unload any luggage on the bus so that it was waiting for us when we got off the bus.  We had one rolling bag to gather.

Getting through port security was easier than the airport.  Our bags were scanned, metal objects taken off and put in bins, and shoes left on!  Up the escalator and now all we had to do was wait for boarding group 2 to be called!

 Well, actually, we did more than that.  We went to the far end of the Port Terminal and out on the viewing deck to take pictures with the Disney Dream in the background.  We have a picture like this with the Wonder and the Magic, so it was only fitting to also have a photo with the Dream in the background.  It was also interesting to watch things being loaded and unloaded from the ship.  A very busy place!

The boy and I got in line for the children’s club registration desk.  He was already registered on-line, but needed to get his wrist band.  This took just a few moments.  I suggested that they also measure kids for the Aqua Duck at this location and indicate on their wrist band if the child is tall enough or not.  They said that might be a good idea.

Since we arrived about the Port at about 10:30, we had a few moments, as boarding would not begin until 11:45 am.  We knew characters would be out and about, so we had our autograph book and camera handy.  In fact, we were the second in line to for Captain Mickey.  It can pay to queue up before the characters come.  As soon as we met Captain Mickey, the husband went and got in line again—the line had grown quite long—as we knew there would be a second character by the time he was towards the front of the line again.

 We were right.  Minnie arrived to meet guests just a few families ahead of him.  It was actually while he was in line that the boy and I did the children’s program registration, as by then, the line at the registration desk was quite short as the kids were in line for the characters!

This is also a great time to use the restroom, etc.  There are TV screens around the Port Terminal showing Disney movies and cartoons, of course.  Disney music is playing throughout the terminal as well.  If you handled all your paperwork at the airport, you can also grab a Personal Navigator from the Registration area.  No need to get in line, as a Cast Member will have some at the entrance to the queue area.  Just ask if you cannot find one.  You can also get a map of the ship, which can be handy.

One thing you won’t find at the Port Terminal is food or beverages.  I think there is a water fountain near the restrooms.  So, if you are anticipating a long wait, bring your own snacks, etc.  We had some in our bag just in case.

The ship boarding began when we said good-bye to Minnie.  You will hear a series of chimes before the announcement is made.  Get used to those chimes, as you will hear them on-board the ship before any ship-wide announcements are made.  

We were only a few moments away from boarding the Dream through the lovely doors shown above!