Confused about this -any help?

[MariaTia2]

Can someone please explain this to me, as I can't seem to get it

I am considering renting a car (first time for that) and driving to WDW - about 6 hours on Friday night, and go to POP. Then on Saturday morning, turn in the National Rental Car at the Car Care Center and take a shuttle (do they do that?) over to Poly. So we will have a 24 hour car rental and I think National does not have a $110 drop-off fee like the other rental companies. Then stay at Poly until our cruise. I would then add Transfers to the Cruise (we are not on a package, just seperate bookings). After the cruise, then coming back on DCL transfer to the Poly (is this where they would bring us back too?) then go to the Car Care Center and rent another car to come back home (again, another 24 hour rental). It looks like the rental will be around 100.00 each way, plus the 49.00 (2 people) for the DCL transfer. So, roughly 300.00 for all of this. Or should we just drive our own car and forget all of this? We don't ever use a car on property, so just to get to WDW and then to the Port and back home only. I just was thinking about saving milage on our car and I really want to ride on the Disney Cruise Bus to make it more fun and official. So, if we do the transfer ( I can add that without a package, right) how will the Poly handle our luggage too? THanks so much for all of my questions! See why I am confused I have to decide this tonight so I can take care of it. Thanks!

 

[Michelemouse]

Just remember that the DCL buses don't get to the port until an hour or two after it opens. This could be a factor if you want spa or Palo reservations.

What you are proposing (dropping car off, DCL tranfers, etc.) is definitely possible. Speaking just from our family's persepective, however, we've been on 3 Disney cruises, have never taken the DCL buses and it's still very exciting! If it were me I'd drive my own car and then drive myself to the port on cruise departure day.

Again, if you have your heart set on doing the DCL transfers then your plan will work fine.

Have a great trip, whatever you decide to do.

 

[Lew]

If you really want to take the DCL shuttle to and from the port, then you have the drill down right.

After the cruise you might want to consider picking up your rental in Port Canaveral and drive to WDW yourself or straight home.

 

[lookingforward]

For $300 you could most likely keep the rental car the entire time, including cruise. It would get you to the ship earlier and give you more freedom in Orlando. It would also let you get on the rood sooner after you disembark. Of course you have to factor in the parking at the port, so it might be more money, but much less time consuming.

 

[dbond]

I would save the $300 and drive my own car. It gives you so much more flexibility, you're not wasting your precious time waiting for shuttles, standing in rental car lines, etc. I've never ridden the DCL bus to the Port for a cruise, and I don't feel like I'm missing any of the experience. In fact, having to board a bus after the cruise would be depressing to me. We love the freedom of driving our own car, we can detour if we want, drop by Ron Jon's if we feel like it, we feel confined by relying on others for transportation.

 

[tkd lisa]

I agree with lookingforward. By the time you deal with multiple pick ups and drop offs, you would probably do better keeping the rental the entire trip, including the time while you're at sea. You can still use Disney transportation while at WDW when it's more convenient, but having the option to drive (particularly as you're changing resorts) might come in handy.

Good luck!

 

[cindalu]

I agree with the previous posters. I would keep the car the whole time. Transferring from one bus to another can be very time consuming.

 

[PoohJen]

ok, I'm confused! but here's my confused input...

Have you considered getting a rental you can drop off near the port - like Budget? So many people do the Budget thing, perhaps they waive the drop off fee? I'm all for getting to the port early!

for what it's worth, we're driving 12 hrs from Va in our own car, but we will leave our car w/ family during the cruise.

Have a great trip!

 

[mmouse37]

I would just drive my own car....do you have a leased car...is that why you would want to keep the mileage lower....we have driven several times from NY to WDW and cruise and it is so much easier to have your own car. You would still have gas expense whether you drove your own or a rental but you would save the rental fee. You would pay for parking at the port but that would only be $70 for the week cruise.

As for questions about a shuttle from the Car Care Center to the Poly....do not know but I doubt it. Call them and ask how you are supposed to get from their Center to the Poly.

Also, the DCL bus will stop at a few resorts in WDW on the way back making your ride pretty long. We have done the DCL bus and yes they are nice, but we much prefer driving ourselves now and having control over when we get to and from the port.

MJ

 

[PoohJen]

Originally posted by MariaTia2
We don't ever use a car on property, so just to get to WDW and then to the Port and back home only.

It seems from your post you aren't spending any time on the property - just doing the cruise. but....

We almost always have our car when we stay on the property, and it is so much more convenient than using the bus system!!! (the one drag is trying to get to the parking lot monorail after MK fireworks! but the buslines are pretty long then too!) You don't pay for parking if you are staying on site.

 

[abitjaded]

Don't some cruisers just end up on Mear's, too? I do not think there is a guarantee of getting one of the cruise buses with the videos.

Carla