After Cruise - Transportation from WDW

[quietly]

Hi All,

I was wondering if any of you had any advice on our current predicament.

We are staying at POR for a week in April and then head on a 7 night Caribbean cruise after that. The day we disembark our flight back to England isn't until 8pm that evening. We were hoping to maybe do some shopping or even head to the parks again that day.

Is it possible to catch the DME from POR if we're not staying a night there when we get back? Are the DME tickets for the return trip something we could receive during our stay and then keep until after the cruise? If not is there another alternative people could recommend?

Thanks in advance.

 

[TeaBee]

Hi All,

I was wondering if any of you had any advice on our current predicament.

We are staying at POR for a week in April and then head on a 7 night Caribbean cruise after that. The day we disembark our flight back to England isn't until 8pm that evening. We were hoping to maybe do some shopping or even head to the parks again that day.

Is it possible to catch the DME from POR if we're not staying a night there when we get back? Are the DME tickets for the return trip something we could receive during our stay and then keep until after the cruise? If not is there another alternative people could recommend?

Thanks in advance.

Are you comfortable with driving in the US? The most flexible option would be to rent a car for the day.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi All,

I was wondering if any of you had any advice on our current predicament.

We are staying at POR for a week in April and then head on a 7 night Caribbean cruise after that. The day we disembark our flight back to England isn't until 8pm that evening. We were hoping to maybe do some shopping or even head to the parks again that day.

Is it possible to catch the DME from POR if we're not staying a night there when we get back? Are the DME tickets for the return trip something we could receive during our stay and then keep until after the cruise? If not is there another alternative people could recommend?

Thanks in advance.

I believe you must be staying at a resort to reserve a spot on the Magical Express from that resort.

I'd suggest a rental car. Pick up at Port Canaveral, drop off at MCO. Many do this.

 

[erionm]

I believe you must be staying at a resort to reserve a spot on the Magical Express from that resort.

Correct. DME is only available to resort guests on or between their check in & check out dates.

 

[Weedy]

Maybe book a room a one of the value resorts. It would give you a place to leave your bags, rest, and then you could take DME???

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If you don't have a resort reservation, you can't use DME at WDW. Maybe you could book a room for the day at a value. Even then, on an international flight I think they'd pick you up around 4 PM, but you'd have a little time.

 

[tobikaye]

Is it possible to catch the DME from POR if we're not staying a night there when we get back?

No, the DME is only good for 1 round trip between MCO and your booked hotel during the dates you are actually booked to stay at that resort.

Are the DME tickets for the return trip something we could receive during our stay and then keep until after the cruise?

You do not actually get tickets that are just good for a return trip to the airport on any date/time. The DME hotel to airport stops are based and scheduled specifically on a guest's provided return flight times to DME when booked. You must have a reservation for that specific DME bus that pulls up to take back to the airport.

I agree that a car rental from Canaveral with a return to MCO would be your best bet.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Maybe book a room a one of the value resorts. It would give you a place to leave your bags, rest, and then you could take DME???

It's an option.

But the costs of doing that, vs a rental car may make it not that attractive. The OP would need to get to the value resort (DCL transfer $35.00 each) as well as the added cost of the room. Plus the DCL transfers to WDW resorts do not depart the port now until 9:00. Getting them to the resort no earlier than 10:00 (probably later). They'd need to leave the resort by 3:00, 4:00 at the latest to check in, only giving them about 4 hours at one of the parks.

Not sure how they could get to Disney Springs (for shopping), as DCL transfers don't go there.

I still think the rental car is the best option.

 

[lanejudy]

@quietly How are you planning to get to WDW post-cruise? The DCL transfers go to the resorts, not the parks or Disney Spring; I'm not sure if you can do that without a resort reservation. Plus, where would you stash your luggage for the day? I agree with others that a rental car from PC -> WDW -> MCO is your best option if you really wish to spend the day at WDW. Another option is to take DCL transfers to MCO and get a day-room at the Hyatt while awaiting your flight; you can rest, swim, shop, etc.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[quietly]

Thanks for your replies!

Our original plan was to take the DCL transfer back to POR, leave our luggage at POR in their baggage claim (which I called to confirm and they were fine with) and then take the boat out to Disney springs or the bus to WDW. A rental car isn't really an option for us as we won't have an international drivers license.

We had considered booking a room at either a value or the Hyatt and going shopping in Orlando but we're just trying to decide which will be the most economical path.


Thank you again for all your detailed replies - they are much appreciated.