Arrive day ahead - where to stay?

[eculmone]

Nervous about bed bugs, clean rooms, shuttles to cruise etc? We arrive Saturday March 9th for our cruise Sunday March 10th, 2013. Was thinking to stay at a Disney resort on Saturday and take the shuttle to the Disney Cruise for the next day? Is it complimentary when you book the Disney hotel? Or just free from Airport to Disney hotel on magical express?

Has anyone ever done this? Or should we just get private transportation and stay in Port canaveral? I'm nervous about hotels around there as we've never been here. Anyone have exceptional experience? Any recommendations on the best way to do this are greatly appreciated

[PrincessShmoo]

Originally Posted by eculmone

Nervous about bed bugs, clean rooms, shuttles to cruise etc? We arrive Saturday March 9th for our cruise Sunday March 10th, 2013. Was thinking to stay at a Disney resort on Saturday and take the shuttle to the Disney Cruise for the next day? Is it complimentary when you book the Disney hotel? Or just free from Airport to Disney hotel on magical express?

Has anyone ever done this? Or should we just get private transportation and stay in Port canaveral? I'm nervous about hotels around there as we've never been here. Anyone have exceptional experience? Any recommendations on the best way to do this are greatly appreciated

Magical Express runs to/from MCO/WDW. It's free.

Transportation from MCO to port; WDW to port; port to MCO; port to WDW is DCL transportation. It costs $35 per person one way.

Personally, next time we go, we're staying at the Hyatt MCO and using DCL transfers.

[phoenixleigh]

That's what we are doing. Hyatt MCO and then Disney transfers. I am sooo excited :-)

[dbarker]

We haven't done this yet,but....................

Our next cruise is July 2013 and we will be staying at AS Sports and taking Disney transport to Port and back to MCO.

I promised DH that he would not have to schlep luggage this trip. (I will tip well for that service).

[eculmone]

Originally Posted by PrincessShmoo

Magical Express runs to/from MCO/WDW. It's free.

Transportation from MCO to port; WDW to port; port to MCO; port to WDW is DCL transportation. It costs $35 per person one way.

Personally, next time we go, we're staying at the Hyatt MCO and using DCL transfers.

Thanks. Just trying to budget and preparation info. I was thinking of possibly renting a car after arriving at mco, driving down to Cocoa Beach area and take advantage of park and fly? We wanted to drive to Universal Studios for the 2nd half of the adventure but this lack of vehicle is becoming very frustrating. If we rent a car we are paying for 4 days of no use. ??? We need to get to Port Canaveral, cruise, return to Universal studios and then back to airport. What a problematic & expensive idea... All ideas welcome on how to do this with the least amount of headaches and not causing it to cost more than the dang cruise alone?

[eculmone]

What's a DCL transfer?

[phoenixleigh]

It will take you from MCO to port and then port to MCO. Its $70 per person round-trip

[eculmone]

Originally Posted by phoenixleigh

It will take you from MCO to port and then port to MCO. Its $70 per person round-trip

Hmmm, I think free magical express, then - Disney Port @ $35 pp = $105 total for all 3 of us one way down, then I'm thinking rent a car in Port Canaveral, drive to Universal for 4 nights and then return rental car to MCO IF I can rent a car in Port Canaveral?

OR

Rent the car in MCO when we arrive on the Saturday, travel down to Port Canaveral stay at a hotel with free park and fly with shuttle to port then hop back in rental car when we return from cruise and drive to Universal with our final stop and drop off of car back at MCO?

Any thoughts?

[cypressmom]

Originally Posted by PrincessShmoo

Magical Express runs to/from MCO/WDW. It's free.

Transportation from MCO to port; WDW to port; port to MCO; port to WDW is DCL transportation. It costs $35 per person one way.

Personally, next time we go, we're staying at the Hyatt MCO and using DCL transfers.

So, for a family of 4, it's $140 each way? How much is a cab or private car? Is there a benefit to using Disney transportation from MCO?

[2CME911]

Originally Posted by eculmone

Thanks. Just trying to budget and preparation info. I was thinking of possibly renting a car after arriving at mco, driving down to Cocoa Beach area and take advantage of park and fly? We wanted to drive to Universal Studios for the 2nd half of the adventure but this lack of vehicle is becoming very frustrating. If we rent a car we are paying for 4 days of no use. ??? We need to get to Port Canaveral, cruise, return to Universal studios and then back to airport. What a problematic & expensive idea... All ideas welcome on how to do this with the least amount of headaches and not causing it to cost more than the dang cruise alone?

Based on what you are describing as your rough itinerary, I would say...

Arrive at MCO on D day minus 1
Stay night at Hyatt MCO
Take DCL transfer morning of D day
Cruise
Hold onto your bags during debarkation
Take DCL transfer back to MCO with the rest of us
Rent car at MCO as you usually do
Proceed to Universal Studios

Other options:
Do one way DCL transfer to port, at end of cruise rent car in Coco Beach, returning to MCO after Universal
Also could substitute private towncar transportation instead of DCL if you prefer

I don't think this sounds all that complicated, you just need to have it all pre-arranged.

[PrincessShmoo]

Originally Posted by cypressmom

So, for a family of 4, it's $140 each way? How much is a cab or private car? Is there a benefit to using Disney transportation from MCO?

Yes, $140. Sorry, don't know the costs of private transportation. It's just 2 of us and DCL transfers works for us.

On the transfer bus, they show videos - information about the ship and cartoons on the way to the port. Don't know the ages of your kids, but in a cab or private vehicle small children need car seats (some rental car companies have them for rent to use in their vehicles). With DCL transfers you enter the terminal when the bus gets there, regardless of your selected Port Arrival Time. And with DCL transfers you don't have to handle your bags from airport (or WDW resort/Hyatt MCO) to your room aboard the ship

[eculmone]

ok, here is what I've checked out so far.

1. Arrive at MCO Sat. March 9th; free Magical Express to Disney Resort (choice still pending)

2. DCL from resort to Port $35 pp x 3 = $105 one way to port next day and enjoy the ride and video's there

3. Enjoy our 4 night cruise on Disney Dream

4. Car Rental at Alamo (signed up member) from March 14th to the 17th $188.97 and drive from Port Canaveral to Universal Studios and enjoy 4 nights at Hard Rock Hotel

5. Return Rental car to MCO on Sunday March 17th to return to reality

Hmmmm what say you all?

[PrincessShmoo]

Originally Posted by eculmone

ok, here is what I've checked out so far.

1. Arrive at MCO Sat. March 9th; free Magical Express to Disney Resort (choice still pending)

2. DCL from resort to Port $35 pp x 3 = $105 one way to port next day and enjoy the ride and video's there

3. Enjoy our 4 night cruise on Disney Dream

4. Car Rental at Alamo (signed up member) from March 14th to the 17th $188.97 and drive from Port Canaveral to Universal Studios and enjoy 4 nights at Hard Rock Hotel

5. Return Rental car to MCO on Sunday March 17th to return to reality

Hmmmm what say you all?

Looks good to me

[cypressmom]

Originally Posted by PrincessShmoo

Yes, $140. Sorry, don't know the costs of private transportation. It's just 2 of us and DCL transfers works for us.

On the transfer bus, they show videos - information about the ship and cartoons on the way to the port. Don't know the ages of your kids, but in a cab or private vehicle small children need car seats (some rental car companies have them for rent to use in their vehicles). With DCL transfers you enter the terminal when the bus gets there, regardless of your selected Port Arrival Time. And with DCL transfers you don't have to handle your bags from airport (or WDW resort/Hyatt MCO) to your room aboard the ship

Thanks. Kids are 7 and 10, so I would travel with backless boosters if using a taxi or private transfer. We have not cruised from PC, so I am researching the option now.

[eculmone]

I think *********** transportation is aprx. $115 one way and something like $220 return for family of 4. I'm not sure there is any easy way around this? But we have used them in the past and where well taken care of. Good luck and thank you all for the help and ideas.