DCL transportation from MCO Hyatt

[dancin Disney style]

It will depend on your Castaway Club status or Concierge for the Hyatt bus.

May I ask, do you have a way/ place to meet your daughter at the ship other than standing outside or sitting on a bench.

Wondering if a one-way car rental wouldn’t be a better option. None of the buses are going to get you there much before the 10:15 garage opening, I imagine.

In a December post, the first buses from MCO (not Hyatt guests) was at 10 am.

There are a few scenarios for us to meet that morning. At the port and away from the port. In general, I'm much more inclined to rent a car as I prefer to be on my own timeline. It's a little way off yet, so no rush to decide. If we don't go in November we will for sure be going in January....I'm hoping to do both.

 

[Husker Mike]

In this situation, I'd absolutely rent a car instead of using a DCL bus. You then aren't waiting for a bus, and can get there whenever. You can then pick her up outside the terminal at whatever time she's available, and then drive to a park to have a nice reunion. Then drop her back off when she needs to get back on board, and then you can either (a) drop the car off for a one-way rental or park it in the garage. Depending on the length of the cruise, a week-long rental is cheaper than two one-way rentals (though you must pay to park), and depending on the number of people in your party, can be much cheaper than two one way DCL transfers. (With 4+, a car is MUCH cheaper.)

DCL's busses are timed for embarkation, so chances are that the first busses won't arrive until 10:30-11 am. If she's free at 9 am, you've missed a couple of hours to spend with her...especially if she has to be back on board by noon.

The only reason to take a DCL bus is that you want to dedicate your morning to be on the ship at the earliest possible time. That's not your situation.

 

[dancin Disney style]

In this situation, I'd absolutely rent a car instead of using a DCL bus. You then aren't waiting for a bus, and can get there whenever. You can then pick her up outside the terminal at whatever time she's available, and then drive to a park to have a nice reunion. Then drop her back off when she needs to get back on board, and then you can either (a) drop the car off for a one-way rental or park it in the garage. Depending on the length of the cruise, a week-long rental is cheaper than two one-way rentals (though you must pay to park), and depending on the number of people in your party, can be much cheaper than two one way DCL transfers. (With 4+, a car is MUCH cheaper.)

DCL's busses are timed for embarkation, so chances are that the first busses won't arrive until 10:30-11 am. If she's free at 9 am, you've missed a couple of hours to spend with her...especially if she has to be back on board by noon.

The only reason to take a DCL bus is that you want to dedicate your morning to be on the ship at the earliest possible time. That's not your situation.

I like your thinking. However, I think the possibility of going out somewhere is low. They tend to go out on most port days so there isn't that much of a need. Based on past trips she will want us to arrive around 9:30-10am.

Price wise two one way rentals cost far less than a 7 day. The most I've paid to the port one way is $80....a 7 day runs anywhere from $250 to $450 an up. I rented 4 times last year for a week out of MCO and the cheapest was $290. I've got a 7 day coming up in a few weeks that right now is sitting at $405....it started a month ago at $480.

 

[auntlynne]

With this year’s price for transfers at $45 pp OW, car + gas + tolls could be basically the same price for a couple.

I like being in charge of my schedule, too.

it works out.