Arriving early the morning before

[Partyof4LA]

Our flight lands at 9am the day before we cruise and I'm trying to work out all of the details of what to do, where to stay, and how to get to port. Most posts I've seen on here have people arriving late afternoon or night before so I am a little stumped. We are 2 adults and a 7 &3 year old cruising in early Nov. We are doing WDW after the cruise so I don't think we would want to stay Onsite before.
I've seen many recommendations for the Hyatt with DCL transfers, but we can stay at a hilton brand hotel (hilton, Hampton, embassy, doubletree, home wood suites etc) for $30-60 since DH is an employee. We could take hotel shuttle back to airport in the morning and catch DCL transfer from there. My concern is that we will be bored staying at a hotel near the airport all day. I doubt swimming is an option since it's November.
We could stay at the hilton or Hampton inn cocoa beach. Both are right on the beach, but I haven't seen many reviews on these compared to the ones closer to port. We could rent a car and drop it off at port when we cruise (I haven't found a one day rate less than $130). Or use private transport to get to hotel, but we wouldn't be able to go anywhere except by foot and then have to figure out how to get to port from the hotel the next morning.

What are your thoughts/experiences of staying a full day either near airport or port? I know I am way overthinking this and it shouldn't be this hard for me to decide. Is there enough to do in cocoa beach to make it worth all the hassle to get near the port the day before? Or should we just stay near airport all day and take DCL shuttle the next day? Any suggestions on things to do either place? Is there any other option I'm missing?

 

[dittymau]

I would consider cocoa beach, either rental car or arranged shuttle, Hilton or Doubletree are nice, right on the beach and then a short ride to the Port on cruise day! As a travel industry employee, I would think Hilton would have a program with rental car partners to waive drop off fees, which is the real cost for airport to port rentals.

My corporate contract does so and I have a full size hertz car for MCO to Port Canaveral for $38.68! You can also find other references on these boards where people have used discount codes that are more reasonable the $130.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I agree with dittymau. I would get a rental car, drive out to Cocoa Beach and stay there. I've stayed at the Hampton Inn there, but that was several years ago. I liked it then. For recent reviews, check out tripadvisor.com. Weather can vary at that time of year. You might find it warm enough to swim or play on the beach. Or it could be chilly enough you wouldn't want to. I've experienced both in November in that area.

The morning of your cruise, I'd suggest you drive to the port, drop off your luggage, then return the rental car and take the shuttle to the port.

I was able to get a one day, one way rental from Avis for $65 in June. Avis and Budget don't charge fees for one way rentals. Keep checking rates as they could drop and google discount codes or check out mousesavers.com which has car rental discount codes. Even at $130, that's about the same as what the DCL transfers would cost you one way.

 

[dittymau]

Quick check on Priceline shows Budget mid-size car pickup Friday November 6 at MCO drop off port Canaveral the next day for $40 + tax $15, not bad... Glad I could help!

 

[Partyof4LA]

Thanks guys! I didn't even think to check priceline or the others like it or to check if DH has something through his job . I was using mousesavers coupon codes and I also tried through my southwest rapid rewards but will expand my search. We would need the rental Sunday nov 8 and bring back nov 9. I think there are two issues making the rate higher aside from the fact that one day is a weekend day. 1. The rental is more than 24 hours (we land at 9am. I haven't selected our arrival time at port since we aren't at 75 days out yet, but I know it won't be before 10 am. We are not concierge and this is our first time on DCL). 2. I need a car seat for the 3 yo. It's pricing me for 2 days, adding almost $30 to the rental. I could bring her seat from home, but then I have to lug it around the remainder of the vacation

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Thanks guys! I didn't even think to check priceline or the others like it or to check if DH has something through his job . I was using mousesavers coupon codes and I also tried through my southwest rapid rewards but will expand my search. We would need the rental Sunday nov 8 and bring back nov 9. I think there are two issues making the rate higher aside from the fact that one day is a weekend day. 1. The rental is more than 24 hours (we land at 9am. I haven't selected our arrival time at port since we aren't at 75 days out yet, but I know it won't be before 10 am. We are not concierge and this is our first time on DCL). 2. I need a car seat for the 3 yo. It's pricing me for 2 days, adding almost $30 to the rental. I could bring her seat from home, but then I have to lug it around the remainder of the vacation

Definitely check other sites because you should be right at the around the 24 hour mark for time you'd have the car. I was thinking when I used Avis's site, it based the rate on a 24 time period rather than calendar days. I find Southwest's site to give me worse rates for rental cars than other sites. So it usually doesn't work out to book there even though I'm giving up some additional RR points. Hotwire is another good one to check.

 

[kiford]

I doubt swimming is an option since it's November.

It's entirely possible that it may be an option. We were in WDW in Dec 2013 and it was at least 80 degrees every day. It can also be quite cool, but I wouldn't discount the possibility entirely.

 

[Weedy]

If you decided to drive over to the Port and it is too cold to swim here is a post that I did awhile back of things to do in Port Canaveral:

http://www.disboards.com/threads/fun-things-to-do-in-port-canaveral.3388210/#post-53219157

 

[lanejudy]

With kids that age, don't underestimate a local playground to entertain the kids for a couple of hours. We've found at least 2 in the Cocoa Beach area. We also do some last-minute shopping -- liquor store, dollar store, drug store for sunscreen, souvenir or t-shirt shops for browsing or buying, etc. While November may be cool, it may also be plenty warm for swimming at either your hotel or the beach; sometimes that all depends on where you are from (coming from northern New England, most any time of year in Florida is swimming weather for us!).

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[wanderlust7]

1. The rental is more than 24 hours (we land at 9am. I haven't selected our arrival time at port since we aren't at 75 days out yet, but I know it won't be before 10 am. We are not concierge and this is our first time on DCL).

If you land at 9 am, by the time you get off the plane, get your luggage, and get to the car rental place, it's probably close to 10 am. I would just put pick-up at 10 am, return at 10 am. The car rental place will count the 24 hours based on the actual pick-up time, so just make sure you return it before then.

 

[hardis5]

We always stay in the port area prior to a cruise to try and wind down before the excitement starts if not doing a pre-sail stop at WDW (normally arriving by either our car or a rental). We always hit Publix or Wally World for things we'd not traveled with that had weight or size considerations in a case of Ginger Ale, a few bottles of "beverage", sunscreen, etc. There often is activity on the beach if too cold to swim (though a long walk is possible), Ron Jon is right there we always get drawn to, and a walk around the port area itself is enjoyable (with a park existing for little ones to play off some energy).

Last fall, the price we snagged for a longer rental had us actually keep the car while on a short 3-day sailing (parking right at the port) driving back to WDW after at a cheaper rate than if doing a rental at both ends or using Disney transport even when factoring in the parking garage $.

 

[lpandorf]

We sailed on the Fantasy in June and arrived at MCO about 11am the day before. We rented a car at the airport. Went through Costco and it was only $16 for 24 hours. We then drove to Kennedy Space Center and spent some time there. After we were finished at the Space Center we checked into the Hampton Inn at Cocoa Beach. The Hampton Inn in Cocoa Beach was very nice. It was clean and good free breakfast buffet. The beach was a quick walk from the hotel on a path so we spent the rest of afternoon/early evening at the ocean. We picked up a few things from Publix the morning of the cruise and then dropped the rental car at the Avis office. Avis had a shuttle waiting and drove a bus full of us over to the port. The entire process was very convenient and it was nice having the car for a day. It was just me and two kids and it was easy even on my own.

 

[chimo2u]

Maybe you could stay near the port and go to Kennedy space centre for the day?

 

[Bdunn]

Cocoa Beach and Kennedy Space Center.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

If you land at 9 am, by the time you get off the plane, get your luggage, and get to the car rental place, it's probably close to 10 am. I would just put pick-up at 10 am, return at 10 am. The car rental place will count the 24 hours based on the actual pick-up time, so just make sure you return it before then.

Exactly what wanderlust said. We stayed at the Hilton this past April. It is right on the beach, great pool. Close to shops and stuff in town. With a car, not far from the space center. Close to car rentals and shuttles to return the next day. Lori Wilson Park which is the free beach area right next to the hotel, has a playground. Plenty to do for one day, good night's rest and get ready for your cruise the next day. Have fun!

 

[bumbershoot]

I wouldn't assume swimming wouldn't be possible at all. It's Florida.
Now there might be a cold snap. We've dealt with those in winter a few times. (And swam in 50 degrees) (but not at 30) But it's not an absolute.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I wouldn't assume swimming wouldn't be possible at all. It's Florida.
Now there might be a cold snap. We've dealt with those in winter a few times. (And swam in 50 degrees) (but not at 30) But it's not an absolute.

I agree. I've been there in late November and had high temps in the upper 70s and low 80s. And then I've been there in late November and had high temps in the 50s. You just don't know.