Best place to stay - night before cruise?

[BriarfoxinWA]

DH, DS(12), DS(6), and I are booked on the 3/29 Magic. Our flight arrives at MCO at 11:30 p.m. We had planned to take a towncar out to the port that same night - but now I'm not sure....

So I need some advice!

Should we take the towncar to a hotel at the port that same night? We'd arrive around 1:00 a.m. most likely. We're on Pacific time - so that won't be quite so bad....

or

Should we stay somewhere near the airport and go to the port in the morning?

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

If I were arriving that late at night, I'd get an airport-area hotel. If you can afford it, the Hyatt is the most convenient. But there are plenty of other options. I have a list at my web site...

www.dcltribute.com/lodging/MCO

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

Thanks Dave! Your site is SO helpful! I've been checking it out all morning. I'm already leaning toward going through Priceline and staying in the airport area.

Do you know if there is a way to find out which hotels have a 24 hour shuttle? Or do they all do that?

Thanks!

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Most hotels have a 24-hour shuttle. Only a few of the smaller properties do not run these shuttles late at night. As long as you bid on a 3-star property, you should be fine.

 

[My~Rumbly~Tumbly]

We stayed at the Hyatt earlier this month and LOVED it! You cannot beat the convenience, but you obviously can beat the price by staying in a hotel near the airport.

 

[inkkognito]

Even two and a half stars is good.
Don't do two stars or you might end up with the LaQuinta from Hell!!!
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[pintrader]

I live in Brevard county (the port) and I would like to suggest that when you have traveled the whole day before (of so it seems)those extra couple of hours to sleep in are welcome. You likelywont' be tired when it is reallyon 8:00 your west coast time, bur that 10:00 the next morning will really feel like 7 ARGGGGHH

Why not consider coming on over to the Radisson (they let you park your hired car there during the cruise, I've been told) or Cocoa Beach Hilton and sleep in a couple of more hours before rising to travel a short 5-10 minutes to get to the port. Getting to the port early doesn't profit one much any more these days with such strict check-in times and what not.

Just another view. Have fun and consider starting to collect and trade pins while you are on board. They have DCL exclusive pins on board and some highly desirable ones with really low LEs

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

We're arriving at 10PM the night prior to our cruise, and will be staying at the Radisson @ the Port. I got a rate of $119/night for a whirlpool suite, and they provide the transportation to the port, so we figured it would be best to be able to sleep in a little that morning before heading out on our adventure.

 

[inkkognito]

We like to stay near MCO, since lately we've been arriving on late flights (always after 8 p.m. and sometimes as late as midnight...ugh!). We have to work the day of our flight, since we can't afford to use those precious vacation days. Since we use Happy Limo instead of the Disney buses, we know that we will be able to leave immediately. That way, we can sleep in a bit before we head out to Port Canaveral, rather than doing the long drive at night (but of course, who can sleep when it's the day of your Disney cruise?!).
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

Thanks for all of the replys! I think we're going to try Priceline for the airport area. You can't beat the price for even a 3*. We'll just have to adjust to the time difference

And Barb - I love your site! I'm still trying to figure out the Amerisuites through Hotwire - but the price I'm getting right now ranges from $59 to $48 so I'm not positive which one it might be...

 

[grandmalinda]

I flew from California to Orlando with my 2 granddaughters last July and stayed at the airport Hyatt. The girls loved getting on the tram that takes you thru the tunnel directly to the hotel.The ease of checking in right there was worth it. We got a room overlooking the airport and it was wonderful. Lots of restaurants, etc. at the Hyatt concourse. It was 10:30 p.m. before we felt like eating. Disney has several buses leaving Hyatt the next am. Very organized-you know Disney. Coudn't have been easier. Wil do it again.

 

[singledismom]

Were staying at the Days INN , formaly a HOJO, the night before, they have an airport shuttle bus and it was only 39.99 via their direct web site. We arrive at MCO at midnight, so I don't see the point in paying alot of money when we are only going to be there long enough in the morning to get ready, there is also an Ihop on property.

 

[slindamood]

We stayed at the airport Courtyard the night before our 12/14 cruise. Free shuttle from the airport, free breakfast, and very low rate for 3 persons - under $60 a night. We had a rental car and it is a very easy drive - a few minutes, straight shot from the airport and simple to get to 528 to drive to the port in the morning. We slept in and did not leave very early the next morning, but got to the port before boarding started.

One note - if you are driving between the airport and the port at night - it is very desolate. I saw a sign this past trip that said "last gas for 42 miles." It is dark and there are no services at the exits. I would not drive it at night, even though we have travelled it several times and are familiar with it.

 

[4crusinransiers]

Brain, were neighbors! I live in Cle elum, Wa, we also used the hyatt and loved it! Got it at hot wire.com for 85.00!

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

Hey! Small world isn't it! We'll go through Cle Elum on our way to Seattle to catch the plane to WDW!

I tried bidding $25 on priceline with no luck - so I'm going to try again tomorrow. Looks like the 3*'s are going for about $35-$38, what a deal!

 

[tkd lisa]

We tried for about 2 weeks on priceline to get a good rate. I started at $29 for a 2 1/2 or 3 star. I ended up going up to $33 and had no difference for about 2 weeks. I even went looking for Barb or Tony on the Friday night chat to figure out if there were any tricks to getting your bid accepted.

Then, just when I was ready to go ahead and book the HoJos for $49, priceline came through with the Renaissance for $33. We leave in 3 weeks, so I can't swear that it's nice, but it's a 3 star, and their web site looks really nice (probably more upscale than we really wanted, but what they heck!)

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

tdk lisa - I'll be interested in what you think of the Renaissance - my $38 bid for Price Line got accepted. I'd also like to know if they run their shuttle to the airport 24 hours. We won't arrive until after 11 p.m.

 

[canadianmom]

We will be arriving at the airport at 11:00p.m. from Toronto Thursday night, 2 nights prior to cruising on Sat.

We are planning on staying at a hotel near the airport...possibly the Crowne Plaza or the Embassy Suites.

Has anyone stayed at either of these hotels? Comments?

We will then get to Cocoa beach somehow(limousine or rental)
and are looking to stay at the Cocoa Beach Oceanside Hotel.
Has anyone stayed there?

Also, we will probably take a taxi to port on the Sat.
I heard that getting a taxi was not a problem and it is a very short ride from the Oceanside hotel. Has anyone done this? I'd like to stay on the beach, rather than stay at the Radisson.

Any comments from anyone about the above would be greatly appreciated!!!!

 

[ZebraStripes]

I just used Priceline for the first time. I got the 3* Holiday Inn Select for $45 after my $35 bid was rejected. We were going to stay at the Radisson at the Port but decided since it would be 8 pm before we arrived at MCO it would be easier to stay close by. I think I over bid my second time, but I thought it was pretty good for my first try.

 

[soonerdoc]

I have used priceline twice for stays at MCO.
Recently got a room for $30 @ the Marriot for the night before our 1/25/03 eastern.
Biddingfortravel.com is a good site that will help you make the right bid for a room.