transfers

[disneykins]

We are flying into Orlando the night before our Dream cruise. What is the best way to get to the port? ME to Disney and spend the night there and then use Disney transfer? Rent a car to Cape and stay there overnight?

After cruise 3 kids are flying straight home and 2 are going to OKW on points. Can we rent a car to the airport, drop the kids and car there and then ME to OKW? Not sure if we can do this since we are not arriving by plane on that day?
Thanks,
Tony

 

[mousejunkie98]

We used the DCL transfers in September and did not have a great experience. We took ME to the AKL for one night, and that was great as usual. Then came the DCL transfers. We got on the bus at 12:15 and then proceeded to make pick-ups at 3 more resorts. By the time we got to the port it was well after 3 p.m., and we'd been on that bus over 3 hours! It was an awful lot of money to pay for three hours of sitting on a motor coach.

In May, this is how we're doing it! We get in the day before, and we're renting a car at the airport, driving to Cape Canaveral and staying the night there (the Radisson and the Country Inns & Suites have gotten good recommendations). My husband will drop us off at the port the next morning by 10, drop off the car at Budget, and take their free shuttle back. Hopefully we'll get in boarding group #2 and be on the ship soon after they open it!

When we get back, we'll pick up a car again, and drive back to Orlando. The plan is to drop off the car at the airport and take ME to the Boardwalk for a few days. It doesn't matter that our flight isn't coming in that day.

Budget is only costing $34 for the first rental and $50 for the second, which is way, way less than paying $69 per person for the DCL transfers that would get us to the port only an hour before departure!

 

[Donald_Quackers]

If you stay at the airport hyatt the night before, you can get on the busses there and they do not go to wow to pick up anyone(at least they didn't in 08).

They start around 9:30am. But if you have 3 or more,a couple of one-way rentals could be cheaper.

 

[kcashner]

Coming in the night before, you need to decide where you want to stay--WDW, MCO area, or port area. MCO area is cheapest, port area convenient. I'd avoid WDW unless you are arriving early enough to enjoy your time there--it's out of the way and costly if what you really want is a clean, safe bed.

The easiest (and cheapest) thing to do would be to get a rental car and go to your hotel, then in the morning drive to the port--drop the passengers and luggage, and have driver return the rental car. On the return, you CAN drop the rental car and take ME to WDW...I'll PM you about this. You could also choose to drop off the car at one of the WDW locations (they are mainly located by Downtown Disney in the Good Neighbor hotels).

There are many 2.5* hotels in the MCO area with a pool, fitness center, and complimentary breakfast. These also include a complimentary shuttle to/from MCO. If I'm flying in after work/school and don't care where I'm staying, I get one of these on Priceline and typically pay $34-40. Rental car will cost $40 and up (although I did once get a mini-van for $29!), but with 5 of you will be FAR cheaper than DCL transfers at $35 per person each way. If I'm coming to MCO in the evening, I'm really not interested in driving to the port area after dark....so prefer staying in MCO area. By the morning I'm fresh and ready to tackle the drive.

 

[DisneyDream2B]

I called about a similar situation, and was told they would let us ride ME from the airport, after dropping off our rental car, to return to a WDW resort. Spoke with WDW reservations.

 

[andrewsmommy]

I've always loved staying at the Hyatt MCO and using the ME from there. You can check in for your cruise right there, they pick up your luggage in your room, easy to get on the bus and you leave your cares behind!

 

[Donald_Quackers]

FYI, ME only goes from the airport to the WDW resorts and back, not to the port. You use transfers for that.

 

[mousejunkie98]

You could also choose to drop off the car at one of the WDW locations (they are mainly located by Downtown Disney in the Good Neighbor hotels).

What car rental company has rental locations at Cape Canaveral and WDW? I've been searching, and as far as I can tell there are none. The only companies with locations at the Port (Herz, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and Thrifty) do NOT have locations within WDW. If you know of one of those that has a location within walking distance of Downtown Disney, I'd love to know about it! We've reserved with Budget and plan to return it to MCO and use ME to get to the Boardwalk.

 

[dvcer57]

If you are staying at WDW I would take ME from airport to Disney and would check into a town car to the port. Less hassle,you can control your arrival time at the port and we have found it to be less expensive then Disney's transfers.

 

[Donald_Quackers]

There is a Budget location at the Doubletree on Hotel Plaza Boulevard. According to the Budget site, the location is M03.

 

[SevenSeasLagoon5]

If you are staying at WDW I would take ME from airport to Disney and would check into a town car to the port. Less hassle,you can control your arrival time at the port and we have found it to be less expensive then Disney's transfers.

Can you recommend a town car company you like?? TIA.

 

[disneykins]

Thanks everybody for your quick replies, especially at this time of year when there is so much other stuff going on.

Kcashner, I got your PM, thanks, I figured there'd be a way.

Tony

 

[mousejunkie98]

There is a Budget location at the Doubletree on Hotel Plaza Boulevard. According to the Budget site, the location is M03.

That's fantastic, thanks!

 

[kcashner]

What car rental company has rental locations at Cape Canaveral and WDW? I've been searching, and as far as I can tell there are none. The only companies with locations at the Port (Herz, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and Thrifty) do NOT have locations within WDW. If you know of one of those that has a location within walking distance of Downtown Disney, I'd love to know about it! We've reserved with Budget and plan to return it to MCO and use ME to get to the Boardwalk.

The rental companies are not technically WITHIN WDW. They are along the road right next to the Marketplace area of Downtown Disney, and are called "Good Neighbor" hotels.

Budget is in the Doubletree and at Cape Canaveral. I have used this location. The DOubletree location had a shuttle which will take you back to WDW, but the hours are limited. It's about a 10 minute walk to the Marketplace bus stop if you are not returning during their shuttle hours.

Avis is in another of the hotels...I want to say it's the Hilton, but I'm not totally sure. They also have a location near Port Canaveral.

Enterprise is not in one of the hotels, but is very near WDW and will drive you back to your resort.