Cheapest and/or Easiest Way to Get to Port Canaveral from Orlando?

[sandydk]

What is the cheapest and/or easiest way to get to Port Canaveral from Orlando? There will be 2 adults and 2 kids. Thanks!

 

[TestingH2O]

With 4 people, you are at a tipping point between ease and financial benefit.

DCL transfers are almost certainly easiest. They will cost $35 per person each way.

Getting private transport in the form of a town car or something similar will cost about the same. However you'd have the added benefit of being able to make a grocery stop and arrange your travel times.

Finally, you could rent a car. I've never explored that option as I find the added hassle of returning a car, figuring out directions, etc to be more work than any amount of money I would save would warrant.

 

[Stasia5]

My family of 4, 2 adults and 2 kids, have always rented a car. We just returned from a seven day cruise. We used Avis and the cost each way was roughly $65. We fly in a day early so having a car makes it nice for making stops and getting to our hotel room. It also means we can pick a really early port arrival time. While traffic can be heavy at times depending on where you are, we have never had a problem finding our way using a navigation app on our phone, usually google maps. I would highly recommend Avis as the lines in both the airport and in the office by the port were short. Budget is always packed and takes a very long time. So while it may not be the easiest, I by no means find it difficult.

 

[vandy]

Going on our first cruise next year and wondering this myself. We will be staying at WDW the night before so I think renting a car is what I will do. I would like to board as early as possible and from what I have seen, the bus from WDW won't pick you up from the resorts until very late morning.

Has anyone used Hertz? Do they have a location at Port Canaveral and do they transport you from their place to the ship?

 

[Ajoneen123]

How old are the kids? Will they need car seats?

 

[openwater]

I agree.
Easiest is the Disney bus because of the baggage handling.
With 4 people a one-way rental car is generally the cheapest.
Here is a map of the rental car companies. All offer shuttles. More information here.

 

[Ajoneen123]

How about for a bigger group of 8? With 2 kids needing carseats.

 

[sandydk]

How old are the kids? Will they need car seats?

Nope, 8 and 11!

 

[sandydk]

Thanks so much! I hadn't thought of one-way car rentals. I will definitely price that out. I would love the convenience of being able to stop at the store, as well as being more in control of when we arrive at the port.

 

[LucyM123]

For the DCL transfer, does it matter if you aren't flying in the same day? I have no idea, I'm a total DCL newbie.

 

[Bruiserknits]

Going on our first cruise next year and wondering this myself. We will be staying at WDW the night before so I think renting a car is what I will do. I would like to board as early as possible and from what I have seen, the bus from WDW won't pick you up from the resorts until very late morning.

Has anyone used Hertz? Do they have a location at Port Canaveral and do they transport you from their place to the ship?

If you are going from a WDW resort using the bus is so easy and your luggage magically appears in your stateroom. Personally I find no advantage in arriving early. There is usually a long line to get in. If your PAT is a tad after noon the line is much shorter and you are ready for lunch. It's so nice to get on the ship and be ushered directly to your lunch seating. Because you aren't already on the ship often you are invited to lunch at the Enchanted Garden. So less crowded and noisy than Cabanas. And it is so nice to not have to deal with a car rental. You are on vacation. Let Disney do the driving.

 

[vandy]

If your PAT is a tad after noon the line is much shorter and you are ready for lunch.

Thanks for all of the replies so far. Some good information to consider. One question: When do you find out your PAT. Do you sign up for one when you book or is it assigned later?

 

[JMHDisney]

Thanks for all of the replies so far. Some good information to consider. One question: When do you find out your PAT. Do you sign up for one when you book or is it assigned later?

You get it when you do online check in.

 

[diznymom]

For the DCL transfer, does it matter if you aren't flying in the same day? I have no idea, I'm a total DCL newbie.

No, it doesn't matter. We always arrive at least the day before.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

For the DCL transfer, does it matter if you aren't flying in the same day? I have no idea, I'm a total DCL newbie.

As long as you are at the airport, at the DCL transfer desk there, you can book DCL transfers. It matters not if you arrived the night before. It could matter where you are staying the night before.

 

[starvenger]

I will also vouch for the car rentals being easy peasy (we stayed in Orlando (off site) for 5 days pre cruise so it was a better option for us). Coming back, I would book for a 9am pickup as they do kick you off the boat rather early (which I found weird vs RCCL's disembarkation method).

One other thing - if you go the rental route you may want to consider dropping everyone + luggage off first and have the driver only drop the car off. Easier for one personality minimal luggage to squeeze onto a shuttle. And I think that you might actually be able to check in separate from everyone else.

 

[LucyM123]

As long as you are at the airport, at the DCL transfer desk there, you can book DCL transfers. It matters not if you arrived the night before. It could matter where you are staying the night before.

Excellent! Thank you so much!

 

[SleepyDeb]

Since you are arriving the day before, there are multiple non-Disney hotels that have free shuttles to the ships at PC. You can take them both way.

 

[Bruiserknits]

I will also vouch for the car rentals being easy peasy (we stayed in Orlando (off site) for 5 days pre cruise so it was a better option for us). Coming back, I would book for a 9am pickup as they do kick you off the boat rather early (which I found weird vs RCCL's disembarkation method).

One other thing - if you go the rental route you may want to consider dropping everyone + luggage off first and have the driver only drop the car off. Easier for one personality minimal luggage to squeeze onto a shuttle. And I think that you might actually be able to check in separate from everyone else.

They ask that you keep your entire party together.

 

[chik1987]

We have looked at several hotels that have a package deal that will pick you up from the airport - drive you to the hotel the day before - give you a room for the night - drive you to the port the next morning - and pick you up from the port the last day of the cruise and take you to the airport or back to their hotel. We have been considering this because we know we are going to get an early flight down (and will hopefully spend a little time at the beach) the day before. We also plan on staying a day after and going to the space center. Like I said we have not booked this yet and are just looking into it. I would love to get opinions for anyone who has gone this route or decided against it.