Transport from WDW to PC to MCO - car rental....

[goofyredraider]

I need help! I'm trying to find a cheaper alternative for the transport that I'll need. There are 4 of us, so I'm looking at $280 for Disney transport.

If I pick up a car @WDW (I guess I'll need to take a cab to get to the rental location?), do the car rental places have a shuttle to Port?

Can anyone recommend a company that is on property that they have done this with?

 

[Crittermom]

look at dollar rental. I have amazing prices from that company

 

[Swimmergirl]

I've taken 3 Disney cruises so far, and used different transportation each time.

First trip we booked a towncar service. Nice, but pricey.

Second trip we rented a car at the airport, used it for 3 nights at WDW, then drove to Port Canaveral and returned it. The car rental agency (I want to say it was Thrifty, but can't remember) had a shuttle to the port. Then, when we came back we did the process in reverse. It wasn't too bad, however the wait to rent a car after the cruise was ridiculous! A huge ship full of people descending on Port Canaveral at the same time meant a ton of people looking to rent at the same time. Long wait for the shuttle, long wait at the agency. And then they were all out of the car type we had reserved. Wound up with a convertible as that was all they had left. It worked out fine for my husband and I (though it was raining, so not too fun). However, what if we had been a family needing a minivan? Cheaper than using Disney transportation though, plus we got to use the car at WDW.

Third trip we rented a car at MCO, spent 2 nights at WDW, and then parked the rental at Cruise Parking of Port Canaveral. After the cruise we just took the parking lot's shuttle back to the car (very short wait), and were on our way. Only about $40 more than Disney transport, got to use the car at WDW, and also used the car to store items we needed at WDW but not on the cruise (like car seats).

This coming trip we plan to rent a car and park it during the cruise! Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[MouseMomx2]

There are rental offices at several of the Downtown Disney hotels and at the Dolphin. Just take WDW transportation to the Studios or Downtown Disney and walk (or you can take the boat from the Studios to the Dolphin) from there.

Dolphin - National/Alamo
Doubletree - Budget
Hilton- Avis
Wyndham - Dollar

You can find discount codes on www.mousesavers.com. All of these rental companies have shuttles from their port-area locations to the terminal.

 

[mmouse37]

We skip Magical Express and just rent a car at MCO to get us to WDW and use around it WDW. We then drive to the port and drop it off. I like having a car at WDW.

MJ

 

[BaileyKin]

TBH I really wish there was some sort of magical express for the cruise line. I know they have buses, but they can get pricey. I used to be a travel agent, and it was always so complicated to figure transportation out. Renting a car always seems to work out better, but it makes the whole trip kind of messy and unorganized. You'd think by now they would offer a free bus that would take people from WDW to the port. I mean, if you're paying to stay on property and paying to take a Disney cruise, why not offer those guests the same free transportation as the magical express?

 

[rosermama]

We always rent a car it's always been super easy for us. My husband drops me, the kids and the luggage at the port we get there right before 11. He takes the car back and is normally meeting us inside right as we walk up to check in.

On the way back we book a late flight home and are normally some of the stragglers getting off the boat. Last time we were running around trying to get our picture cd. There was a small line at customs and no line to get a shuttle and rent a car. If there is a line we sometimes send my husband ahead while I handle the kids and luggage when a bigger spot opens on the shuttle. Normally by the time I get to the rental place he has a car.

 

[OKW Lover]

There are a couple of very helpful threads on the DISBoards for those pondering this question:

The first has info on all the rental companies at WDW (hint, its not just Alamo/National).

The second has info on the locations near the port.

As to which company would work best/cheapest for you, unfortunately there is no simple answer. You'll need to look at each and price them out for the dates you are traveling.

 

[Billinaz]

We have used Budget and a code to get a minivan for about $70 one way. They are at the Doubletree at DTD. If you notify them the day prior they can pick you up at your resort.

 

[sullins5]

We have used Budget and a code to get a minivan for about $70 one way. They are at the Doubletree at DTD. If you notify them the day prior they can pick you up at your resort.

Wonder if you'd mind sharing your code?

 

[goofyredraider]

Thank you all. I may end up renting a card the whole time (since um, I could for under the $280 for bus transport).

Good to know about the Budget rental by DTD and that they'd pick up. Right now all Alamo/National have available for me is a Mustang, and while that's great....I can't do that with 3 kids and luggage in tow. LOL

 

[su_A_ve]

If you are looking at prices within WDW, compare both locations Dolphin and the MK car care center as the rates can be different. They will shuttle you from any WDW resort for free however.

The DD locations are sometimes cheaper and they are as easy (if not easier) to get than the Dolphin or MK

 

[Nikodemos]

In my case, I was looking at either doing a rental car for a week at WDW and dropping it off at PC, or doing a private shuttle. Rentals from most vendors were around $500.

Doing a private shuttle from HappyLimo (look under Rates / Hotel Packages) with a mousesavers discount: Code MS5569 was just under $300, and that gets 3 trips (MCO to Disney Hotels, Disney Hotels to PC, and PC to MCO).

That looked quite reasonable to me and I don't have to deal with the wait for getting a rental.

 

[nvlorenzai]

He takes the car back and is normally meeting us inside right as we walk up to check in.