2 Question for arriving the day before

[dkddis]

I am booking my own flight from Boston and I am planning to arrive the night before. I am not sure if I should stay at Disney and drive the next morning with a one way rental or should I stay at the Cocoa beach area. I am a DVC memeber and could stay on points. My question is also what company you go with for the one way rental to the port? And any suggestions for Cocoa beach hotels. Thanks

 

[mommasita]

Hi, can give my input on some things here. Staying in Cocoa Beach was the best advice we were given, and it is good advice. You are much more relaxed the next morning, and get get to the port nice and early, to enjoy the first day onboard. THis early time when you first embark, and eat lunch, is the best time to enjoy a lot of the ship, as you will never see it this empty.

THe Radisson is a very popular hotel with the boards here. Myself, I have stayed at Best Western, and Comfort Inn & Suites. THese are not 5 star hotels, but worked fine for us and were around 75$ per night.

dcltribute.com is a great website with listing of hotels, car rental agencies, and many many more informative things..

HTH

 

[TiggerzFan]

dkddis -

Transplanted Bostonian checking in here..

We've done both - staying at Port and at WDW. We would've stayed at the Port again last fall, but due to hurricane damage, the resort (Ron Jon) was closed so we were forced to make alternate plans. Staying at WDW worked out just fine... we spent the day before at the pools, the evening at Downtown Disney and then left in the morning at 8:30am, arriving in Port at 9:30am. That worked out really well, too, as it gave us enough time for that mandatory grocery store run and to get to the terminal right at opening. We don't like to miss one magical moment!

As far as transportation, we've generally had good luck renting a car one-way from Budget, usually for $25-$30 from the airport using current discount codes, but it is a little higher going back.

 

[Dis]

We have stayed at WDW and stayed at the Raddisson the night before Disney cruises. They both have their advantages. There is a certain feel to waking up at Disney knowing you are going on a cruise. We would eat breakfast and head to the port around 9:30. When at the Raddisson, we would sleep in, kids could swim eat breakfast and drive over to the ship at 10:30. For our cruise this summer, we have room reservations both at WDW and the Raddisson. Still have not decided which way we want to go.

 

[dkddis]

If you get a one way rental do you keep it overnight at Raddision or Ron Jon and take the car rental shuttle to port. If you drop of the car first how do you get to the hotel? Taxi?

 

[salbythec]

We usually stay at the port but this time have decided to stay at WL the night before!! After the cruise we are going back to AKL for a couple of days!!!

We are renting a car from national for 99.23 for the week!!

 

[Dis]

We have kept the rental overnight, took everyone and the luggage to the port, returned rental car and returned to ship via shuttle. We used Avis with a rate of $43.

 

[TiggerzFan]

Ditto what Dis posted -

Our group's plan is that the men drop all the women, children and luggage off at Port (we usually have 2-3 cars) and the men go back to car agency and shuttle back. By the time they return, we've checked everyone in and ahave our place in line to board. The men just have to go to the counter with their ID to get their KTTW (Key to the World).

 

[Yankee914]

Ditto - that is what we do too. Makes it less complicated.

 

[laujac]

I too am a DVC member but have never felt the points for a Friday night was worth using. We have always stayed at the port the night before and used one way rentals with both Budget and Avis. I have found Budget to be very efficient. The only pitfall is the long line to get from the ship after the cruise to their location.