Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
After arriving at the aircraft; we completed our normal pre-flight duties. The only irregularity was a temp controller MEL which we reviewed.During climb talking to the 2nd or 3rd center controller; he asked if we were on a heading. I referenced the FMC and told him we were direct DEFUN. He didn't respond for a few seconds; then cleared us direct MVC flight plan route. We thought this question was unusual and spooled back to the beginning.Reviewing our clearance/CPDLC during cruise; we realized our mistake. During pre-flight we were discussing the new EPCOT1 departure and the need to load a runway for departure to load properly. After the recent FL airspace update the departure runway is now included in the clearance; and I brought that up to my partner. The CPDLC came back and we verified clearance and jumped to page2/3 to check for runway. Runway 36R was listed and we proceeded to to load the runway and verified the legs/restrictions on the EPCOT1. Fixating on the runway and departure with the usual just before closing door activities caused us to miss the page 3/3 load prompt for a route change after MUGLS to DEFUN. The controller sorted it out without any issues; but in the future I will make sure the entire clearance/route gets reviewed again after loading the runway and departure.Being able to print entire clearance without scrolling 3 pages might have helped us catch this error promptly.
Pilot reported issues with the clearance; and not loading correct information; resulting in a course direction question from ATC.