Car Rental to port and back - good idea?

[brentm77]

We are excited to have signed up for our second Disney cruise. Out last was in 2012. My wife became ill with a chronic illness that we thought meant we would never cruise again. Through the miracle of science, my wife is nearly fully recovered and eating normal foods again. To celebrate, we booked a 7 day Western Caribbean on March 30 2018. This is a dream come true, as I thought I had taken my last Disney Cruise.

The last time we cruised, we used a car service to and from the port. The downside was 1) cost; 2) being stuck back at the airport about 8 hours before our flight left; 3) not having a car to go out the night before the cruise.

I have a car service reserved this time, but it will be over $300 round trip. For $92.55, I can get round trip rental car from National with the car being dropped off at the port and picked back up at the end of the cruise. We are flying in the night before and heading out to a hotel in Cocoa beach. We would then drop of the car at the port the day of the cruise and take the shuttle (I think there is one) from the drop off location to the port. On return, we would take the shuttle to the rental car place and then have a car for the day until we must return to the airport at about 3.

For those in the know, can you help confirm the following?

1) Is the National Car Rental pickup on site at the Orlando airport, or does it require a shuttle ride to an off-site location? I have rented from them before in MCO, but can't for the life of me remember if we rode a shuttle to get the car.
2) The drop off location at Port canaveral says it is served by Enterprise. Is there are a free shuttle to and from the port?
3) Are there downsides I am not thinking of? I am saving about $200 after paying for one night's hotel parking. I will also have a car so we don't have to hang out at the airport on are departure day. What am I missing?

 

[DCL_Wonder]

I can't think of any downsides. It's an easy and quick drive between MCO and Cocoa Beach. All the major rental car agencies have locations at the airport, as well as locations near the Port. The shuttles to/from the Port are free.

Enjoy your cruise and congrats on your wife's recovery from her illness!

 

[MickeyD]

First off, such great news about your wife's recovery. Congrats! We use National each time we cruise so let me see if I can answer for you.
1. Yes, they are on site at MCO. They are both Enterprise/National at MCO and at Port
2. There is a free shuttle from their Canaveral site to port and they are super close to port. Like 2 -3 mins.
3. I cannot think of one downside, unless you don't like driving. LOL. Don't forget to pack change for the tolls. I think about $3-4 should cover it. Don't remember how many tolls we went through, but I always just bring a roll of quarters.
Have a great time on your cruise!

 

[OKW Lover]

The OP has gotten good advice from the PP's here. I'd just like to add that on the day you actually go to board the ship you shout drive there to drop off your luggage and your family. Then only the driver needs to take the car back to the rental agency and take the shuttle back (unencumbered) to the port.

Similarly on the trip back to the airport, drop the family at curbside and then go around to drop the car off.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Two tolls on 528 between MCO and the port. Heading east, first toll is $1.00, second toll is $1.50. Do the reverse on the return trip. Stay to the right to access the toll plaza cash lane. Rightmost lane can make change and provide receipts, so I never bother to get quarters. Easy drive to the port and a nice view of the ship as you approach, enhancing the expectation. Drop off passengers and luggage, take the short drive to the car rental center, and shuttle back to the port. When you return, you probably want to load luggage and passengers on the shuttle to pick up the rental car rather than having to drive back to the port to load up.

 

[brentm77]

Brilliant! Thanks for all of the great answers and tips. I completely forgot about the tolls! We don't have toll roads in Utah and I remember being caught off guard when driving to Disney World with my children a few years back. I think I used my last of the cash at the very last toll (I always forget to travel with lots of cash). This time, I will be prepared! Thanks everyone!

I went ahead and booked the car and dropped the car service. I am looking forward to having a bit of freedom to do other things the evening we arrive and the morning before we leave.

 

[DCL_Wonder]

The OP has gotten good advice from the PP's here. I'd just like to add that on the day you actually go to board the ship you shout drive there to drop off your luggage and your family. Then only the driver needs to take the car back to the rental agency and take the shuttle back (unencumbered) to the port.

Similarly on the trip back to the airport, drop the family at curbside and then go around to drop the car off.

That's fine advice as long as you don't mind separating your family and doubling the hill. Sometimes there can be a lot of traffic into the port. We've always stayed together and never had any trouble with luggage on the shuttles between the rental car agencies and the Port.

 

[bumbershoot]

I think I used my last of the cash at the very last toll (I always forget to travel with lots of cash). This time, I will be prepared! Thanks everyone!

Be sure to keep cash aside for tipping the shuttle driver and for the tolls at the end of the cruise. Put it in its own sealed envelope with what you need it for. Learn from my mistakes.

That's fine advice as long as you don't mind separating your family and doubling the hill.

Doubling the...I doubt you mean hill?

Because so many people being entire family and all bags, it makes the wait longer. Especially if you’ve traveled at a South American tourist time (as I have. They have some BIG bags).

It’s so much easier for one person with no bags to slip onto a shuttle that might not have space for your whole family.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

3) Are there downsides I am not thinking of?

I love this plan, and I have done it multiple times.

There is ONE potential pitfall that I do want to mention, that I didn't see on this thread. Sometimes the wait times can be rather long, like 30-60 minutes.

You have to stand in line to get your car at the airport. Then when you drop it off at the port, you stand in line to get the free shuttle to the ship. (This line goes faster if you've already dropped off your family and luggage). When you return, you need to stand in line at the rental counter (after the shuttle to get there which has its own line) to pick up your car. Dropping the car at the airport is the easiest part.

Each of these lines could be a few minutes or a lot longer. No way to know until you get there what your wait will be.

Picking up at the airport has been the longest one in my experience, up to an hour. Others have reported a considerable wait for the shuttle to the port. Most of the time it seems pretty quick.

Best of luck. Enjoy!

 

[Ralph&Pam]

I love this plan, and I have done it multiple times.

There is ONE potential pitfall that I do want to mention, that I didn't see on this thread. Sometimes the wait times can be rather long, like 30-60 minutes.

You have to stand in line to get your car at the airport. Then when you drop it off at the port, you stand in line to get the free shuttle to the ship. (This line goes faster if you've already dropped off your family and luggage). When you return, you need to stand in line at the rental counter (after the shuttle to get there which has its own line) to pick up your car. Dropping the car at the airport is the easiest part.

Each of these lines could be a few minutes or a lot longer. No way to know until you get there what your wait will be.

Picking up at the airport has been the longest one in my experience, up to an hour. Others have reported a considerable wait for the shuttle to the port. Most of the time it seems pretty quick.

Best of luck. Enjoy!

If you can do an National Emerald Club membership and associate your car reservation with that, you might be able to skip the counter when picking up your car. I switched from using National Emerald Club to using Alamo’s Insider program (they share the same parent corporation along with Enterprise) when I started to reserve using Costco codes rather than Entertainment Book codes, so I’ve lost track of the Emerald Club membership requirements.

 

[brentm77]

If you can do an National Emerald Club membership and associate your car reservation with that, you might be able to skip the counter when picking up your car. I switched from using National Emerald Club to using Alamo’s Insider program (they share the same parent corporation along with Enterprise) when I started to reserve using Costco codes rather than Entertainment Book codes, so I’ve lost track of the Emerald Club membership requirements.

I do have Executive Emerald Club status due to work. It completely bypasses rental car counters. It is really great for crowded airports. Thanks!

 

[MichelleCanada]

We just did this in August with a different rental company. We loved the freedom that it gave us to pick up water, beer and wine before the cruise. And after the cruise we were not leaving right away and could spend the day at Kennedy Space Center because we had a car. Line to get shuttle after cruise is just as easy to keep everyone together in my opinion. We stayed together going to the port and found it easy because they let the rental shuttles through right to the porters as well.

Have a great trip!

 

[brentm77]

We just did this in August with a different rental company. We loved the freedom that it gave us to pick up water, beer and wine before the cruise. And after the cruise we were not leaving right away and could spend the day at Kennedy Space Center because we had a car. Line to get shuttle after cruise is just as easy to keep everyone together in my opinion. We stayed together going to the port and found it easy because they let the rental shuttles through right to the porters as well.

Have a great trip!

I have always wanted to go to Kennedy Space Center, but never found the time. Maybe this will be the year! Thanks!