Car Rental to Port or Disney?

[Tigger2ntinkerbell]

I have booked and paid (2 people)for the Disney round trip transprotation from AKV to the port and back to another Disney Resort.
Or would it be better to cancle it and book a rental car?.
I have not looked yet at the rental rates yet.
Please let me know thank you.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I have booked and paid (2 people)for the Disney round trip transprotation from AKV to the port and back to another Disney Resort.
Or would it be better to cancle it and book a rental car?.
I have not looked yet at the rental rates yet.
Please let me know thank you.

For 2 people, it's quite likely to be less costly using DCL transfers. That's our preferred method of transport. Don't have to worry about dealing with traffic, what exit to take from highway, navigating around the resort area or to the port and back.

Certainly you should price out a rental car, if the other issues aren't issues for you.

 

[Tigger2ntinkerbell]

It's our first Disney cruise and it can't get here soon enough .
I have heard that people like getting to the port early and that they get a better chances to look around .
I heard that it will take over 90 min + to get to the port from my resort(AKV), due to the fact that there are other hotels we will have to stop at.
Just over excited I guess.

 

[Quellman]

All in your Disney transport cost is $140 for 2 persons.
There are some known costs in addition to the cost of the rental car.
64 miles from Animal Kingdom to the Port. That's about 2-3 gallons of gas each way. So 6 gallons *$2.50 for gas, so that's $15 in Gas
Toll Road is $4.25 each direction paying cash. So that's $8.50 in tolls.
Don't forget port parking if you aren't doing drop off.

So if
$23.50 + cost of rental car + cost of port parking if required is less than $140 you come out ahead.

However, do not forget the time cost, of picking up and dropping off the rental car, filling up the gas, shlepping your own luggage at the port to the porters. There is some convenience and that cost/worth is highly personal.

 

[Quellman]

It's our first Disney cruise and it can't get here soon enough .
I have heard that people like getting to the port early and that they get a better chances to look around .
I heard that it will take over 90 min + to get to the port from my resort(AKV), due to the fact that there are other hotels we will have to stop at.
Just over excited I guess.

First cruises are magical for sure! I mean, its a cruise terminal, and there are characters that hang out, cut away model of the Magic, pressed penny machine, and an observation deck close-ish to the ship. But I wouldn't get to the port earlier than my arrival time just to look around. The real attraction is once you get on the ship! It'll take you about 90 minutes to get there anyway, and via bus you will arrive around 12-1230ish usually. This means the early passengers will have already boarded and you may be able to get on with minimal wait!

Granted if you take your own car you can always try to get on earlier than if you take the Disney bus.

We drive to the port every time because we have our personal car.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

You just have to figure out which factors matter most to you:

Cost: for 2 people transfers and rental car are about even, if you do 2 one-way rentals.
Convenience: Transfers win this one hands down when you are staying at a Disney resort.
Flexibility: Rental car wins this one. You can come and go when you please, and you can stop along the way to get food/drink/alcohol to take with you (subject to DCL limitations).
Timing: This one depends. Rental car will definitely get you there earlier if you want. That will mean more lines and crowds though. Some like to take the transfers and show up after everyone else has already cleared out. As Shmoo and others have pointed out, getting to the port around 12:00, might be a "sweet spot" after the first rush, but before the transfer buses. In that case, you'd need the car.

Of course, a car service is a third option that some people enjoy...