Please walk me through arriving at Port Canaveral

[ginkybiloba]

I have searched the forums and managed to piece together a few details, but I am having a hard time visualizing the terminal and how it will work.

We are arriving the night before our cruise, renting a car at MCO, driving to the CI&S. We will return the car to the Budget location in Port Canaveral the following morning.

I am debating whether to:

a) get my husband to drop us off at the port with the luggage, he then returns the car to Budget, and takes the car rental shuttle back to the port, or

b) my husband returns the car to Budget, takes the car rental shuttle back to the CI&S, and we all take the hotel shuttle together to the port.

I am leaning towards option (a) but if he drops us at the port, will I be stuck on the sidewalk with both kids and all the luggage, waiting for him to return, or will a porter take the luggage off my hands? (I assume that once we place our luggage tags on our suitcases, they will make it to the right place). Can the kids and I enter the terminal and wait for my husband, or do we need to arrive together? What documentation will he need to enter the terminal on his own?

Many, many thanks in advance - you are a very patient bunch!

Brenda

 

[AndyR]

Personally I'd do (b), that way you all arrive together, nobody is left waiting and (from personal experience, the stress levels are decreased).

Doing option (a) gets you and the kids in earlier, but not on the ship any earlier (an any real terms).

Andy (a full believer in minimal hassle travel)

 

[kcashner]

There's not a huge difference between the two options. The real difference is whether you want to be at the port with the children without husband; this probably depends on the ages and behavior of the children.


No, you will not be stuck standing on the sidewalk with or without luggage. You will pull up at the luggage drop area and the porters will verify the tags and take your luggage. You are then free to proceed thru security, up the escalator (or elevator if you have wheels!) and into the check in line. If you have your husband's passport, they will usually allow you to check him in also (be sure you have the credit card you will place on the account also, and that he keeps his driver's license to get back into the terminal!) The check in process will be the same whether he is with the group or not. You can wait for him and then have the security photos taken as a family.

You might be more comfortable "hanging out" at the hotel, especially if you are still in the room where the kids have a TV, etc. There is really very little to do at the terminal. You also might feel better not separating your group.

Bottom line, "A" will mean more time/waiting at the terminal for you and the kids, "B" will relocate that time to the hotel. It works well either way. If you decide to go with A, cell phones will help you locate each other when DH arrives back at the terminal.

 

[kay1864]

Another advantage of (b) is you don't have to wrestle the luggage in and out of a rental car--the hotel shuttle driver puts it on and off.

 

[ginkybiloba]

Thank you so much for your replies - they were extremely helpful. I think we will pursue option (b), and arrive together at the port. Less stress on me

Brenda

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Thank you so much for your replies - they were extremely helpful. I think we will pursue option (b), and arrive together at the port. Less stress on me

Brenda

When we drove a rental car to port, dh wanted us to all stay together.

We didn't want to have to lug all of our big suitcases on the shuttle so we stopped at port to drop off our bags, and then all rode back together to drop off the rental car and rode the shuttle with just a small carry on.

They did ask for some docs prior to entering the luggage drop off area which was different from our usual Happy Limo drop off area curbside. Not sure if this was due to construction or not but it was sort of on the right side of the terminal building.

Don't stress out; there are plenty of people to direct you where to go.

 

[truck1]

I have searched the forums and managed to piece together a few details, but I am having a hard time visualizing the terminal and how it will work.

We are arriving the night before our cruise, renting a car at MCO, driving to the CI&S. We will return the car to the Budget location in Port Canaveral the following morning.

I am debating whether to:

a) get my husband to drop us off at the port with the luggage, he then returns the car to Budget, and takes the car rental shuttle back to the port, or

b) my husband returns the car to Budget, takes the car rental shuttle back to the CI&S, and we all take the hotel shuttle together to the port.

I am leaning towards option (a) but if he drops us at the port, will I be stuck on the sidewalk with both kids and all the luggage, waiting for him to return, or will a porter take the luggage off my hands? (I assume that once we place our luggage tags on our suitcases, they will make it to the right place). Can the kids and I enter the terminal and wait for my husband, or do we need to arrive together? What documentation will he need to enter the terminal on his own?

Many, many thanks in advance - you are a very patient bunch!

Brenda

The way it worls is this, if it helps.

Whether you drive your own car or a rental, or are dropped off by a shuttle, you are directed to a specific spot. A porter will meet you and take all of your big bags, and the next time you see them, is after the ship leaves the pier.

At that point, you have the same 2 options.
if you choose, you and your children can go into the terminal, get checked in, and get ready to leave. Theres TVs and a small snack shop, as well as characters, and kids club sign ins. All your husband woud need, is his photo Id, to enter the terminal. Once in, he just needs to pick up or have his picture added to the KTTW card, for security purposes.

The other option, is like posted before, drop off the luggage at the port, drop off your rental, then take either of the shuttles back to the port.

 

[farah]

We go in March and I don't want to seperate..so we leave our hotel and go to Budget together, return our car and then take the Budget shuttle to port...i just feel it would go alot smoother and stress-free knowing that we go in together...just my opinion...enjoy!

 

[kcashner]

It works either way; it's just a matter of which makes each of us most comfortable.

 

[noahdove]

I am paying more for a car service and then the hotel shuttle, but, that relieves my anxiety all the way around...Good luck with whatever you decide

 

[Euchre_U]

Just curious - how are you getting back to the MCO airport? Are you taking Disney transportation? It seems to me that you would want to do the same routine - only in reverse when you arrive back. Unless you really didn't like the selected option (A) or option (B).

We have done both the drop spouse/children at the DCL terminal, and we have rode the rental car shuttle all together. I guess the only option we have NOT done is the Disney transportation back to MCO or to WDW.

 

[kcashner]

Just curious - how are you getting back to the MCO airport? Are you taking Disney transportation? It seems to me that you would want to do the same routine - only in reverse when you arrive back. Unless you really didn't like the selected option (A) or option (B).

We have done both the drop spouse/children at the DCL terminal, and we have rode the rental car shuttle all together. I guess the only option we have NOT done is the Disney transportation back to MCO or to WDW.

You don't have to use the same means of transportation both ways. You can take DCL transportation back to MCO whether you used them to get to the port or not. In this case, OP is NOT using DCL transportation to get to the port; they are coming in at least a day early, renting a car, and staying in Cape Canaveral overnight.

We have often used a rental car to get to the port but used DCL transportation on the way home (for the convenience of the luggage handling/onboard check in when using a participating airline). DCL transportation costs more, but I feel that the convenience is "worth it" when on a participating airline.