Walking off with luggage instead of not...

[lizzyb]

We always walk off with our luggage and the lines can be long but I like not having to worry about packing everything the night before.

 

[iZon]

I read that you can leave your bags outside your stateroom the night before and next see them at your home airport. Is this correct? Where do you get the airline tags and how do you pay the luggage fee? Thanks.

 

[Dug720]

I read that you can leave your bags outside your stateroom the night before and next see them at your home airport. Is this correct? Where do you get the airline tags and how do you pay the luggage fee? Thanks.

IF you are using DCL transportation to the airport and IF your airline is a participating one (and domestic only), you can sign up for Onboard Airline Check-In. They will check you into your flight and print your bag tags - the fee is charged to your onboard account. But you have to meet the two IFs.

 

[lanejudy]

But you have to meet the two IFs.

And a 3rd IF ... IF your flight departs after 11:30am.

 

[Dug720]

And a 3rd IF ... IF your flight departs after 11:30am.

Good point. I always schedule afternoon or evening flights because I don't want to be rushed or stressed (especially at MCO), so I never pay attention to the earliest flight out.

 

[Billinaz]

We always do the luggage walk off. I have hardsided bags with 4 wheels so that they are also a platform for the carry on bags to sit on. We eat at Cabanas and just wheel the bags by our table. We are there early so there are very few people in there.

 

[phinz]

We wanted to skip breakfast and head to a WDW park. Is this still a problem? I just want to keep other people happy. But at the same time, move on with my day to ease the pain of leaving the ship.

Why worry about what other people think? They make their choices and you make yours. There are plenty of unhappy people in the world. We can't please them all. You do you and don't worry about how they do them. I've heard plenty of grousing from non-Concierge people when we've walked past them with an escort. I won't stop cruising Concierge just because some people I don't know and will most likely never, ever see again, are unhappy about the added benefits afforded Concierge passengers.

That said, I'm not bothering with early release ever after seeing the insane mobs that fill the atrium in preparation for disembarkation. We took our time this last time and were almost the last people off of the ship after breakfast. It was *glorious.* We were still at the Boardwalk Inn by 10:30ish.

 

[tvguy]

We do carry-on only. There were several families in the elevator area waiting to go down with huge suitcases having a difficult time handling the bags. It never occurred to me to get upset with them! Just wait patiently on the next elevator..

We went to breakfast, left our bags outside the restaurant with tons of other bags. After we ate, we grabbed our bags and walked off. No line at customs and on our way!

I really hadn't thought about the elevators, we rarely use them, and never at peak times. That could be crowded for sure with luggage.

My issue still is with the lack of a disembarkation system on Disney. Clearly I am in the minority among Disney cruisers or Disney would have put a system in place. But in 10 cruises, 9 on other lines, Disney's get off the ship when you want system was the most stressful. I prefer it when people wait in public rooms, with beverages and snacks available, exit in groups, usually based on their transportation/travel needs. Sooooooooo much more relaxing end to a relaxing cruise.

 

[Dug720]

I really hadn't thought about the elevators, we rarely use them, and never at peak times. That could be crowded for sure with luggage.

My issue still is with the lack of a disembarkation system on Disney. Clearly I am in the minority among Disney cruisers or Disney would have put a system in place. But in 10 cruises, 9 on other lines, Disney's get off the ship when you want system was the most stressful. I prefer it when people wait in public rooms, with beverages and snacks available, exit in groups, usually based on their transportation/travel needs. Sooooooooo much more relaxing end to a relaxing cruise.

Different strokes.

I've never encountered any issues with DCL's style - of course I have second seating and go to the MDR, so I'm not in the chaos of people trying to walk off more than they can handle. OTOH, I've found the "we'll call you" on RCCL and fathom much more chaotic.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

a little off topic, but we have never done Cabanas for breakfast on disembarkation day. We usually do late seating and like to get off as late as possible. Is Cabanas a madhouse? I was thinking of doing it this time - maybe sit outside and get a good view of PC before we head out.

 

[tvguy]

Different strokes.

I've never encountered any issues with DCL's style - of course I have second seating and go to the MDR, so I'm not in the chaos of people trying to walk off more than they can handle. OTOH, I've found the "we'll call you" on RCCL and fathom much more chaotic.

LOL. We were second seating and ate in the main dining room (Lumieres) and watched the line not move for the whole half hour we ate. But I did admit, Disney folks love it. Me, I much preferred breakfast, then waiting in the theater on HAL, trays of pastries laid out, coffee , tea and orange juice, and a juggler on stage until your group was called.

 

[Dug720]

LOL. We were second seating and ate in the main dining room (Lumieres) and watched the line not move for the whole half hour we ate. But I did admit, Disney folks love it. Me, I much preferred breakfast, then waiting in the theater on HAL, trays of pastries laid out, coffee , tea and orange juice, and a juggler on stage until your group was called.

Like I said, different strokes. It's not about being "Disney folks" for me. It's about having much more laid back experiences. Pastries hold no interest for me since I'm gluten-free. I cannot stand jugglers or other so-called "entertainers". And I did far more tripping over people's luggage on HAL (I blocked that nightmare cruise out of my mind), RCCL, and fathom because no one listened and no one enforced leaving the luggage elsewhere. Two of those other 3 lines, my luggage was also NOT where it was supposed to be. I've never had problems finding it with Disney's system. Actually, on RCCL in Barcelona it *was* but nowhere near the time they sent us off. Supposedly we were not going to be called until our luggage was being put on the conveyor belts, but the people handling luggage got so backed-up, they had to start releasing us so they could clear the ship for boarding, so it was a total cluster as multiple groups were in that small area all trying to find our bags - and then they started getting just thrown onto any carousel rather than the one they were supposed to be on. Main reason I'm doing carry-on only for the Greek Isles cruise. I don't trust them to be any better in Civitavecchia.

 

[tvguy]

Like I said, different strokes. It's not about being "Disney folks" for me. It's about having much more laid back experiences. Pastries hold no interest for me since I'm gluten-free. I cannot stand jugglers or other so-called "entertainers". And I did far more tripping over people's luggage on HAL (I blocked that nightmare cruise out of my mind), RCCL, and fathom because no one listened and no one enforced leaving the luggage elsewhere. Two of those other 3 lines, my luggage was also NOT where it was supposed to be. I've never had problems finding it with Disney's system. Actually, on RCCL in Barcelona it *was* but nowhere near the time they sent us off. Supposedly we were not going to be called until our luggage was being put on the conveyor belts, but the people handling luggage got so backed-up, they had to start releasing us so they could clear the ship for boarding, so it was a total cluster as multiple groups were in that small area all trying to find our bags - and then they started getting just thrown onto any carousel rather than the one they were supposed to be on. Main reason I'm doing carry-on only for the Greek Isles cruise. I don't trust them to be any better in Civitavecchia.

Seriously, there are Disney Cruise differences that sit very well with Disney cruisers. The lack of a disembarkation system, the late seating show BEFORE dinner instead of after. I did like one show where they had a "third" late night showing open to everyone at 11 pm as I recall, and on a sea day they had an early matinee showing at 2 pm.
But I have been cruising since 1980, and cruising is so much more main stream now. Lord, my first cruise, there was one sitting for dinner, no alternative dining options, all dinners were dressy, and formal diners were even more dressy, and the night club didn't even open until 1:30am. 1.4 million people cruised in 1980. 20 million cruised in 2017 so almost 20 times as many people per year enjoy a cruise now.

 

[Dug720]

Seriously, there are Disney Cruise differences that sit very well with Disney cruisers. The lack of a disembarkation system, the late seating show BEFORE dinner instead of after. I did like one show where they had a "third" late night showing open to everyone at 11 pm as I recall, and on a sea day they had an early matinee showing at 2 pm.
But I have been cruising since 1980, and cruising is so much more main stream now. Lord, my first cruise, there was one sitting for dinner, no alternative dining options, all dinners were dressy, and formal diners were even more dressy, and the night club didn't even open until 1:30am. 1.4 million people cruised in 1980. 20 million cruised in 2017 so almost 20 times as many people per year enjoy a cruise now.

I am not arguing with you. I am saying if it works for you, great. The fact that it works for me is NOT because I'm "Disney folks" but because my experience with the way other lines do it has resulted in a giant cluster and missing or lost luggage. Every. Single. Time. Except for the last fathom when I carried it off myself because I was sick of the cluster.

If Disney's system was the same as on RCCL, I'd like it on RCCL too. Because I like that system. NOT because it is "Disney".

 

[tvguy]

I am not arguing with you. I am saying if it works for you, great. The fact that it works for me is NOT because I'm "Disney folks" but because my experience with the way other lines do it has resulted in a giant cluster and missing or lost luggage. Every. Single. Time. Except for the last fathom when I carried it off myself because I was sick of the cluster.

If Disney's system was the same as on RCCL, I'd like it on RCCL too. Because I like that system. NOT because it is "Disney".

I'm not arguing either. But my point is Disney doesn't have a disembarkation system. There certainly could be other lines like that, but I am not aware of any, and I think THAT is a Disney difference. Paquet, NCL, RCCL, HAL, NCL America cruises I went on all had disembarkation systems.

 

[iZon]

• And a 3rd IF ... IF your flight departs after 11:30am.

  3 for 3!

 

[Dug720]

• 
  3 for 3!

When you get your cruise booklet, there will be a page to sign up for Onboard Airline Check-In. I really recommend doing that to hand in when you check in at the port. The one time I handed it in onboard, they didn't get everything entered and my luggage tags weren't printed. Not a huge deal as it was just me , so I was able to get it and then put it on the bus to the airport. But still...could have saved that little bit of time.

 

[NMK62303]

a little off topic, but we have never done Cabanas for breakfast on disembarkation day. We usually do late seating and like to get off as late as possible. Is Cabanas a madhouse? I was thinking of doing it this time - maybe sit outside and get a good view of PC before we head out.

This is what we did last time, we headed up there just before 8 maybe? It was not bad at all. They only have 1 side open but by that time so many people are off the ship that it's OK. It was chilly that morning so we sat inside but we had a great view of the outside! And even though it was later, there was still plenty of food. As we were finishing up some folks were just coming in and they had started to make the announcement about beginning to head off the boat ... first warning announcement I guess We really enjoyed this no-rush style and planning to do it again in a few weeks.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

Great thanks!

 

[mmouse37]

a little off topic, but we have never done Cabanas for breakfast on disembarkation day. We usually do late seating and like to get off as late as possible. Is Cabanas a madhouse? I was thinking of doing it this time - maybe sit outside and get a good view of PC before we head out.

For the last few years we have opted to skip are assigned MDR for breakfast and head up to Cabanas. Our system is leaving the cabin about 7:20 or so without our carry ons. We have breakfast in Cabanas and then go back to the cabin to pick up our carry ons and head down off the ship. It really is hit or miss if there will be a line waiting to disembark. We have walked right off and other times we need to wait in a line to get off the ship. No two cruises are the same in our experience. DCL wants you out of your cabin by 8:00 am and off the ship by the latest 9:30.

Cabanas is usually very empty as they don't always advertise that Cabanas is open in the am on the last day. It is always open but it might not be listed on the debarkation letter.

MJ