Booked a cruise and flights. How do I get to the port?

[andrews_dad]

Any hotel suggestions for close to airport? Landing at 9 PM on Dec 2nd. 2 adults, 2 kids.

My cruise embarkation time is Noon on Dec 3rd. What is the best way to get from said hotel to the ship on time and without spending a huge amount.

My flight home is one day after the cruise docks. Not sure yet if I should/can rent a car at the port and drop it at MCO the next AM (depart 6 AM on Sunday), or if I should just do taxi's and shuttles. Really have no plans for Saturday after we get off the ship ... maybe Downtown Disney or mini-golf?

 

[scrappinginontario]

With a 9pm arrival time I would recommend staying at MCO Hyatt. You can then take DCL transfers to the port from MCO on your embarcation day.

 

[mmouse37]

The Hyatt Regency MCO is a great hotel which is right inside the airport so very convenient for late flight landings. Your DCL transfers from the airport to the port are $35 pp. It may be more money than renting a car to get to the port but it is by far the most convenient as Disney will transport your luggage right from the hotel room to the port without you handling. You would board the Disney bus with just your carry ons.

Other options are private towncar to the port. And, there are other, less expensive hotels near the airport that are just a shuttle bus away. If you still wanted to take DCL transfers you could still take them from the airport after you arrive back to airport from your hotel shuttle (but you would handle your own luggage to the Disney bus area where you would then hand it off to Disney to be taken by truck to the port). Either way you would find your bags in your cabin some time after you board.

Many people do Disney Springs (new name for Downtown Disney) for the day.


MJ

 

[Dug720]

If the Hyatt is unavailable or out of your price range, the Hampton Inn Gateway is like 5 minutes away and wonderful.

 

[starvenger]

Going to Port Canaveral, you'd save money renting a car (pick it up the morning of if you're staying close to the airport) but if you're looking to relax going there DME would be stress free. Either option is good imo but it really does come down to price vs convenience.

If you do rent a car, drop everyone else and the luggage off at the terminal and let them go inside while you drop the car off - much easier for 1 person to grab a seat on the courtesy shuttle than 4 + luggage. Also don't forget to have some coins/dollars handy for the tolls.

Coming back, I'd say to do a one way rental as this allows you a bit more flexibility on where to stay and where to eat/have fun after getting back to Orlando.

 

[andrews_dad]

The Hyatt Regency MCO is a great hotel which is right inside the airport so very convenient for late flight landings. Your DCL transfers from the airport to the port are $35 pp. It may be more money than renting a car to get to the port but it is by far the most convenient as Disney will transport your luggage right from the hotel room to the port without you handling. You would board the Disney bus with just your carry ons.

Other options are private towncar to the port. And, there are other, less expensive hotels near the airport that are just a shuttle bus away. If you still wanted to take DCL transfers you could still take them from the airport after you arrive back to airport from your hotel shuttle (but you would handle your own luggage to the Disney bus area where you would then hand it off to Disney to be taken by truck to the port). Either way you would find your bags in your cabin some time after you board.

Many people do Disney Springs (new name for Downtown Disney) for the day.


MJ

Hyatt Regency is over $300 for one night? Ouch.

 

[Dug720]

Hyatt Regency is over $300 for one night? Ouch.

Check Hampton Inn Gateway/Orlando Airport. Super close, super quick shuttle, super nice staff and hotel.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

We stayed the night before at the Staybridge Suites. It is very close to the airport, had kitchenettes, free internet, a pool (which we didn’t have time to swim in) and a very nice free breakfast with make your own waffles, eggs and bacon, etc. It cost $121.

We rented a car at airport and drove ti to the port, then we drove it to the port returned it there and then rented another one for the trip back. This is definitely one of the cheapest options for a family of 4. We rented a large sedan with plenty of luggage room for like $65 each direction. Yes, it is a bit of a pain to pick up the car, but it isn't as hard as it used to be, and a lot of the companies have cars right at the airport parking garage.

The best part of the rental car was the flexibility. Go to dinner that night wherever you want. Stop at a grocery store or liquor store the next morning for things you didn't want to pack on the plane. Or in the case of my brother in law, head to Target to buy a new suitcase since his broke during the flight. And we could leave for the port when we wanted to, not at some pre-committed time. Likewise, flexibility on the way home.

We too stayed an extra day, but we didn't want to wear ourselves out with a big excursion or theme park on Saturday, so we chose the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. It was more expensive ($225), but it had fantastic swimming pools, open 24 hours a day (exercise room open 24 hours too), some of them heated, plus a slide, and from 8AM to 7PM they had free bicycle (including 2 and 4 person Surry bikes), and free boating options (Canoes, Kayaks, paddle boats, Aquabikes, etc.) They even let us check into our room at 11:00 AM when we arrived! It was such a relaxing alternative to trying to cram in a day that the theme parks, and cheaper than theme parks too.

 

[andrews_dad]

Check Hampton Inn Gateway/Orlando Airport. Super close, super quick shuttle, super nice staff and hotel.

Cool. And from Hampton to the Port, what do you suggest?

 

[andrews_dad]

YEa, this looks like a winner! $200 is worth it with all of the extras of water sports, pool with slide, etc.

 

[bumbershoot]

Please don't make a hotel decision permanent until you get the transport worked out. You have to look at the big picture.

Water sports and slides mean nothing if they are closed when you arrive and you are leaving with no chance to enjoy them.

 

[bumbershoot]

DCL transport from the airport is fun, but if you stay offsite from MCO you have to get yourself back to the airport for it. And you don't get the luggage pickup from the room.

Car rentals can be a great value (though we've never gotten a rate under $79 one way) but then you include dropping off extra people and your bags at the port then returning the car and shuttling back. That's easier than having all bags and people on the shuttle cramming in, though given the big families I've seen on the shuttles others disagree!

There's taxi/uber though it's an hour away.

There are car services.

Lots of options to price out, with different levels of convenience vs irritation.

 

[andrews_dad]

The Hyatt Regency MCO is a great hotel which is right inside the airport so very convenient for late flight landings. Your DCL transfers from the airport to the port are $35 pp. It may be more money than renting a car to get to the port but it is by far the most convenient as Disney will transport your luggage right from the hotel room to the port without you handling. You would board the Disney bus with just your carry ons.

Other options are private towncar to the port. And, there are other, less expensive hotels near the airport that are just a shuttle bus away. If you still wanted to take DCL transfers you could still take them from the airport after you arrive back to airport from your hotel shuttle (but you would handle your own luggage to the Disney bus area where you would then hand it off to Disney to be taken by truck to the port). Either way you would find your bags in your cabin some time after you board.

Many people do Disney Springs (new name for Downtown Disney) for the day.


MJ

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL DLE
CITY-WIDE
6799 NORTH ATLANTIC AVE
CAPE CANAVERAL, FL 32920
321-799-2945

is that the dollar location for the port? I keep calling and goes to voicemail.

 

[Dug720]

Cool. And from Hampton to the Port, what do you suggest?

I always do the DCL shuttle from MCO (take the Hampton Inn shuttle back to MCO). But I'm only one, so for me a car service is ridiculously high.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

I always do the DCL shuttle from MCO (take the Hampton Inn shuttle back to MCO). But I'm only one, so for me a car service is ridiculously high.

Yeah, for one person even a rental car is more than the DCL shuttle, but for 4 people he is in the sweet spot for car service or rental car.

I'm not sure where the Dollar rental is near the port. Check on a map so you can compare distances. We did Budget and it was like a mile or so from the port, with a gas station right next door, and then their free shuttle to the port. Finding gas near the airport is harder.

 

[Macprincess]

I just stayed at the La Quinta Inn and Suites at 7160 North Frontage road last week because of an early flight out of MCO. They offer a free shuttle to and from the airport that runs from 5am to 11pm daily. The hotel is a mile and a half from MCO. The property has been newly renovated and I paid $59.00 on a Thursday night with a AAA rate for a room with 2 double beds. It was clean, safe and the airport shuttle was fast and efficient. It's an extra step but for the savings over what the airport Hyatt cost I would consider shuttling to this hotel the evening you fly in and use the shuttle back to the airport in the morning to then take the Disney transportation to the port. The downside is you will have to deal with your luggage.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

YEa, this looks like a winner! $200 is worth it with all of the extras of water sports, pool with slide, etc.

Since you are staying the day afterwards, I thought it might interest you. My sons particularly liked swimming at night when the pools are lit up.

 

[andrews_dad]

Appears that is indeed the location, and boy do they have HORRIBLE reviews online. People saying customer service is terrible, 1 hour wait for shuttle, 2 hour wait to get a car, don't have the type of car you've reserved, etc.