Best way to get to Port Canaveral

[mrocco90]

Hi! Thinking about booking a last minute cruise for September, this will be our first cruise. Since it’s last minute I want to get to the ship ASAP to be able to book meet and greets and Palo. We will be spending the night before at Disney, what will be the best and most resonable way to get there for two adults and 1 child? Thanks!

 

[Dug720]

In your case I'd say DCL transportation from MCO and try to be there early enough to be on the first bus since you seem to be assigned whatever boarding group is being handed out when your bus gets there.

Normally you'd select a Port Arrival Time, and your Boarding Group is tied to that number regardless of what time you arrive. Booking last minute, you're probably looking at a later PAT selection. Let's say your earliest was 1:15pm. If you use private transportation and arrive at 10:30, you're going to have a VERY long and frustrating wait as people who arrive after you but at their PAT board earlier than you because your Boarding Group number will be very high.

So I would say book the cruise WITH transfers to and from - that's $35/person each way - at the time of booking and before checking in. It should have the select a Port Arrival Time greyed out or pre-selected "arriving on Disney Transportation" or something similar. Then have yourselves at MCO by 8 or 8:15 to be ready to line up.

I'll just add that you may still be able to book the 2 bookable M&Gs and Palo online.

 

[Weedy]

Book private transportation or rent a car.

 

[Dug720]

Book private transportation or rent a car.

Again, depending on what PAT they are able to get, this may not be helpful as they will potentially be spending a long and frustrating time watching others who arrive later but at the selected PAT board ahead of them.

If they can snag a 10:30 PAT, sure. But if they cannot and plan to get there at 10:30, they will have a wait ahead.

 

[DCLDVC1]

Private car service is the way to go.

 

[hnthomps]

I agree with pp. Definitely do the Disney transfers, otherwise you will be waiting a long time for people with earlier PATs

 

[eva2015]

Disney transfers does not guarantee early boarding. We were on the first bus from MCO and actually the first party in the terminal to check in. We got boarding number 14! Once boarding started, it moved quickly but a little disappointing to have to wait to board.

 

[Weedy]

When your booking window opens (75 days prior to your cruise for first time cruisers) you can go online and book your Port Arrival Time. The earlier your PAT the lower your boarding number.
People have posted lately that when taking Disney Transportation they are not able to pick a PAT and have received high boarding numbers whenthey arrive on the early buses from the airport.
Soon as you book your cruise go online and book your PAT. You can decide when you see the time if it’s worth your wait.
It is crowded but can be fun. There is a large model of the ship, the Port Canaveral Terminal is the only place where you can do Disney Cruise pressed pennies (there are 6 designs .51each bring change and new shiney pennies), there is a balcony that you can walk outdoors and see the ship and the characters will come out for pictures.
They do the PAT’s to keep the terminal for getting too crowded. Very rarely the ship will be late arriving at the port or customs will delayed. If that happens you could be asked to wait outside. Although I’ve never actually heard that happen lol. The ship has been late but not so crowded that they make people wait outside.
Typically by 12:30-12:45 they have everyone waiting onboard and they go to “open boarding” meaning you check in and walk on.
They don’t start taking reservations for Palo until 1:00 usually at one of the restaurants it will be listed in the Navigator.
Go to the Port Adventures desk for character meet tickets.

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

I have always rented a one way car and dropped off at the car rental agency near the port. This trip we are just going to do Uber/Lyft. We like to get there before the terminal opens, regardless of our PAT. We don't mind waiting around, and we like to get pictures with the characters in the terminal. I also travel solo with my 2 kids, and if the car breaks down, etc., I like to leave a HUGE cushion of room!

 

[tigerchic89]

rent a car will prob be cheapest. you could get back to the airport on Disney resort free transport, and then book Cortans shuttle for $20ish per person. Both of those would prob be cheaper than happy limo or Mears, but you'd have to get up early and move your luggage a few times from shuttle to shuttle....

 

[Sunshine2U]

Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning!

 

[Michelle James]

People are talking about DCL transfers from MCO airport but the OP said they are spending the night before at Disney. I think that changes the water on the beans, as the buses pick up later from the Disney hotels, in my experience. I don't think booking DCL transfers to the port will help.

I'd snag the earliest port arrival time I could get and book private transportation.

 

[clten]

the buses pick up later from the Disney hotels

That is exactly why people who are recommending DCL transfers are recommending getting them from the airport, not the resort.

In my opinion, that is too inconvenient just to try to board the ship maybe 1/2 hour earlier. If it were me, I'd either rent a car (this would be my first choice if I was coming in so I only needed a one day rental) or book private transportation. With the 3 of you, it will be close cost-wise between private transportation and the DCL transfer anyway. Since you haven't booked the cruise yet, you don't know that you won't be able to book your meet/greets or what time your PAT will be. You don't say if you are looking for Palo dinner or brunch. If it is dinner, you may be able to pre-book, just maybe not on your preferred night.

 

[Michelle James]

Ahh, I see - I missed that they were suggesting that the OP travel from the hotel to the airport and then pick up the DCL bus. Still too convoluted for me.

 

[Dug720]

I had missed the staying at Disney part.

In that case then unless you want to DME back to MCO super early, getting a car service would be your best way to get there early. BUT as I've stated, you'd have to hope against hope that one of the first PAT slots was still available when you booked - otherwise (if you don't get super lucky and you end up with a later PAT) you'd be at the port super early to watch people arrive after you but at their PAT board before you.

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

We took the Disney transportation from WDW before and it was super stress free. They pick your bags up early form your room (~8 or 9, if I remember correctly) and you don't even have to be there. You can then have a relaxing morning having breakfast, hanging out at the pool, or even making a quick dash into the park if you have passes (especially if you are staying someplace walkable to a park). And by the time you get to the terminal, boarding is underway and there is no waiting around.

 

[martinm]

When I cruise out of FL I always fly the day before. Then I stay at the Hyatt at the airport.
By the time I get to FL I am done w/ travel so we get a bite to eat and hang out.
Then I can catch the first Disney bus I can in the morning. So far this has worked out great.
Whatever you do.... get your plans before you arrive.
I decided not to do this one time and it took forever to get a car and it was EXPENSIVE.