Alamo near Port Canaveral

[Skpnw]

Hi everyone. We might rent a one way car rental from MCO to Port Canaveral. Looking on previous threads, we noticed that the shuttle doesn't run very early in the morning and some opted to take a cab.

I have a few questions:
Can anyone confirm the earliest shuttle time?
Would it be easier to drop me, the kids and the luggage off at the port - and if so, is it difficult to access the port in terms of security, etc?
If my husband was to take a cab from Alamo, how long is the cab ride and if you have called a cab, how long did it take to come pick you up from Alamo?

We are just trying to figure out logistics. We have a PAT of 10:30 if that helps with any suggestions.

Thanks!!!

 

[MUN]

Hi everyone. We might rent a one way car rental from MCO to Port Canaveral. Looking on previous threads, we noticed that the shuttle doesn't run very early in the morning and some opted to take a cab.

I have a few questions:
Can anyone confirm the earliest shuttle time?
Would it be easier to drop me, the kids and the luggage off at the port - and if so, is it difficult to access the port in terms of security, etc?
If my husband was to take a cab from Alamo, how long is the cab ride and if you have called a cab, how long did it take to come pick you up from Alamo?

We are just trying to figure out logistics. We have a PAT of 10:30 if that helps with any suggestions.

Thanks!!!

You should be fine all taking the shuttle from Alamo to the port. IMHO, it can be tricky to have your husband drop everyone off, go to the rental car agency, and take the shuttle or cab back to the port. I would stick together and take the Alamo shuttle (why waste money on a cab?) . I suggest calling the local agency to ask your question on what time the shuttle starts.

MUN

 

[Skpnw]

You should be fine all taking the shuttle from Alamo to the port. IMHO, it can be tricky to have your husband drop everyone off, go to the rental car agency, and take the shuttle or cab back to the port. I would stick together and take the Alamo shuttle (why waste money on a cab?) . I suggest calling the local agency to ask your question on what time the shuttle starts.

MUN

Thank you!

 

[lanejudy]

Hi everyone. We might rent a one way car rental from MCO to Port Canaveral. Looking on previous threads, we noticed that the shuttle doesn't run very early in the morning and some opted to take a cab.

Do you mean this statement to be about the DCL transfers from MCO to Port Canaveral? The first DCL bus will most likely arrive at the port terminal before any other guests are allow entry at 10:30am. The DCL transfers from WDW resorts are later; DCL transfers from MCO start shortly after 9:00am and run regularly into the early afternoon.

If you are asking about the Alamo shuttle from the rental return to the port terminal -- I'm not certain but they may not run until 11:00am. There are many reports of car rental and hotel shuttles not arriving as early as 10:30am. Depending on the size of your family and how much luggage you have, it may very well be easier to drop-off family and luggage at the port before returning a rental. It's much easier for 1 person without luggage to squeeze onto a shuttle than a whole family with several bags.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[bumbershoot]

Would it be easier to drop me, the kids and the luggage off at the port

Yep.

is it difficult to access the port in terms of security, etc?

Not in my experience, nope.

It's much easier for 1 person without luggage to squeeze onto a shuttle than a whole family with several bags.

Yep. And cheaper, too, if you're a careful tipper who tips per bag.

 

[jrabbit]

Alamo is now (for last few year) VERY Close to the port. Alamo, National and Enterprise all share a building (they are all owned by Enterprise Holdings). You could almost walk - but don't!! Even if their first shuttle to the port is at 11am, you will be there by 11:05, or 11:15 if they stop at the other terminals first.

I would not worry about being there at 10:30.

 

[jcarwash]

We have done this both ways, and they are both easy:

-- The driver drops off passengers and luggage at the port, and then returns the car. I've had no issues getting a rental agency shuttle ride back to port. It's been nice to drop off the luggage without having to load it onto the rental car shuttle.

-- Everyone goes to return the car and takes the shuttle to port together. I think we like this approach a little better (we tried it last time) because we can all stay together arriving at the port terminal.

Both ways have their pros and cons, minimal either way in my experience.

 

[n2mm]

We are trying this next month via national. We decided to stay together since it's just the two of us. We don't have a PAT so don't really have to worry about that as long as we are there when boarding starts. I had considered getting dropped off and going inside to wait, but probably won't be able to lift the bag for security check.

 

[Skpnw]

Update: We called the Alamo office directly and they said shuttles run as soon as the cruise terminal gives the all clear (based on passengers departing the ships). So we will drive our rental there instead of returning to MCO. Thanks to everyone for your help!

 

[Flossbolna]

We picked up a car at Alamo after our cruise. We took a cab from the port there because the line for the shuttle was so long. The cab was surprisingly pricey for how close it was. I think it was about 12$.

While we were there getting our car they started to load the first shuttle to the port. They have a quite nice large waiting area from where people are called for the shuttles. We were not quick in getting off the ship and the line at customs was quite long. I think it was around 9:45am that they started to organise people for the first shuttles.

 

[lanejudy]

... but probably won't be able to lift the bag for security check ...

FYI... the only bag you would need to lift for security check are carry-ons. Checked luggage is left curbside with the porters. Hopefully your carry-on bag isn't too heavy.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[n2mm]

FYI... the only bag you would need to lift for security check are carry-ons. Checked luggage is left curbside with the porters. Hopefully your carry-on bag isn't too heavy.

Enjoy your cruise!

LOL, sadly I know that. I was speaking of my rolling backpack (carryon) with the 4 bottles of wine and some bottle water, Yes, we have a problem. We only take the one rolling backpack.....it's only the 2 of us! Yes we hand off our suitcases to the porters.....we pretty much know the drill as we head out next month on #11 and #12 (B2B) and first time sailing as platinums!!!!

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

If you are asking about the Alamo shuttle from the rental return to the port terminal -- I'm not certain but they may not run until 11:00am. There are many reports of car rental and hotel shuttles not arriving as early as 10:30am. Depending on the size of your family and how much luggage you have, it may very well be easier to drop-off family and luggage at the port before returning a rental. It's much easier for 1 person without luggage to squeeze onto a shuttle than a whole family with several bags.

This is what we did. I dropped my wife and two sons at the port, and then I took the car back. While I was gone, they got the luggage squared, brought the checked bags and themselves through security, and did their check-in. They could have boarded the ship without me as their boarding number was called, but they chose to wait for me. Shuttle lines vary, being one person with no bags helped, but the total time was probably longer than if we had just all dropped off the car.

We have done this both ways, and they are both easy:

-- The driver drops off passengers and luggage at the port, and then returns the car. I've had no issues getting a rental agency shuttle ride back to port. It's been nice to drop off the luggage without having to load it onto the rental car shuttle.

-- Everyone goes to return the car and takes the shuttle to port together. I think we like this approach a little better (we tried it last time) because we can all stay together arriving at the port terminal.

Both ways have their pros and cons, minimal either way in my experience.

This is right too. It comes down to personal preference. Which option sounds better for your and your children? Hanging out at the Port after getting through security, or staying with your husband and returning the car together. Either can be fine.

 

[Flossbolna]

LOL, sadly I know that. I was speaking of my rolling backpack (carryon) with the 4 bottles of wine and some bottle water, Yes, we have a problem. We only take the one rolling backpack.....it's only the 2 of us! Yes we hand off our suitcases to the porters.....we pretty much know the drill as we head out next month on #11 and #12 (B2B) and first time sailing as platinums!!!!

I am not sure if you would have any issues to get 4 bottles through the security check if you are on your own. They might require two people to be present to bring through the two person allowance. You might have to wait for the driver to arrive before you can go through security and enter the building.

 

[Dugette]

Alamo is now (for last few year) VERY Close to the port. Alamo, National and Enterprise all share a building (they are all owned by Enterprise Holdings). You could almost walk - but don't!! Even if their first shuttle to the port is at 11am, you will be there by 11:05, or 11:15 if they stop at the other terminals first.

I would not worry about being there at 10:30.View attachment 214182

I just wanted to point out that the part of the route that goes over the water on the map is a drawbridge. When I took the shuttle from Enterprise to Port (May 2015), it was up for a large sailboat to pass through. We were very delayed and it was a longer time than planned before I could join my DH and DD at port (I'd dropped them off and our boarding number was called long before I returned). I don't know what the odds are of the drawbridge needing to go up right before your shuttle crosses it, but I'd build in more than 5-10 minutes for your return trip to port.

Also, I can vouch for the fact that having no bags and being one person will help you get on the shuttle faster sometimes. A family was told to get off our shuttle because they had too many bags for the remaining shelves. And I was also able to move up in line on the way back, due to being a single person with no bags.

This all worked out okay, but we'll be renting a car for the whole time and parking at port on our upcoming cruise (circumstances worked out better) - I'm looking forward to the time savings!

ETA - I just checked my notes and the time from getting on the shuttle to getting to port was 43 minutes. Drawbridge and a stop at Royal Caribbean slowed us down.