Airport to dock; dock to WDW

[ahoff]

We have our first ever cruise booked for Nov 18th, and this is including transfers from airport and back again. We are also planning a stay at WDW after the cruise, and was planning on renting a car on return to the airport. Would it be easier to cancel the transfers and just rent a car to go to the boat, and leave it in the lot? What is the parking like there? If I keep the transfers, how does that work, and where do you get the bus? What time do you expect to arrive back at the airport?

 

[Monstro]

We did that last year. Transfer to port - port back to airport to rent a car.

The question is how many in your party? If the price of the rental car is less than the transfer then, yes.

However, the Disney transfer is fun and I'd encourage it - Especially for a first Disney cruise.

This year, we're using Happy Limo to get us from the airport to the Disney Terminal - back to the hotel to check our bags - Then take us to MK and pick us up at days end. All for less than the Disney shuttle. There is seven in our party.

 

[CM_Mom]

I would suggest that you just change the destination of one leg of the transfer. In May we used DCL transfers from the Hyatt (airport) to port and then when the cruise was over from port to the Coronado Springs resort for our WDW stay rather than returning to the airport. The DCL buses from the ship will drop you off at any of the resorts. When you leave the terminal after clearing customs, the buses are lined up and they ask where you're going so you get on the right bus.

We then used a Taxi Van from Coronado Springs to airport at the recommendation of the cast member in reservations. It cost $52.00 for 5 of us (Mears shuttle bus would have been $17.00 each).

If you're staying at one of the WDW resorts you really don't need a car since you can take the buses everywhere. Walking at WDW is the perfect way to burn off the calories you consumed on the ship!

 

[Masonpips]

Log into Avis and Budget and check their one-way rates. We used Avis in 2002 and got a car on Friday afternoon, returning it Sat morning (one day rental) and then picked up another one way on Sat morning (returning from cruise), drove to WDW, stayed at AKL so we use in-park transportation and then returned the rental car Mon morning (2 day rental as we had a VERY early flight). I believe it was at about $100 for BOTH rentals (toatl price, first one-way was $40-ish and 2nd one was $55-60) - for a family of 4, the transfer prices would have been about double I believe.

We were off the ship and in our rental car at about 8:10 on Saturday morning and even with a stop at the drugstore, in AKL by 10:00 and to MK by 11

 

[ahoff]

I had read (I think in Deb Will's site) about how the Disney Transfers are fun, and as this is our first cruise thought it may be a good way to go. I guess taking a bus right to WDW is an option, but we really like having a car available, even if we don't use it. And we usually don't. But knowing it is there is another option.

Maybe use the Disney transfer for just getting to the boat and renting a car after the cruise. So you would have both, the excitement and anticipation with a busful of fellow cruisers, and a rental for the second leg of the trip. Have to check with the agent.

BTW, we are party of 4. two adults, two children.

 

[herrbeeb]

it depends on the dollars but here is what we (5 of us) did in june this year. we used the dcl transfer from the mco hyatt to the pier. my dh thinks that the bus is an essential part of the total experience. after the cruise we used happy limo form the pier to wdw and for the return to mco. the suv was cheaper. they arrived on time on both occasions and for the trip from wdw to mco we were upgraded to a stretch suv. my children were thrilled.

if you have the early breakfast i suggest booking the car for 8:30 we booked for 9 and had to wait.

 

[ahoff]

A ome way sounds like it may work for us, thanks for all the info.

Not to change the subject, but what is the 'early breakfast'? Is this on-board?

 

[herrbeeb]

on disembarkation day you eat breakfast in the same dining room as your friday evening dinner. if you had the main seating for dinner your disembarkation breakfast will be at 6:45. if you had the late seating for dinner your breakfast is aroung 8 am.

we were off the ship, through customs and out to the pickup area by 8:30.