Confusing transportation. Taxi, shuttle, car,??????

[D L and K's Mom]

YIKES!!! I am so confused...... We are renting a mini-van for the whole trip (including when we are on the ship..it was cheaper that way)so we are all set for our transportation but we have friends who are coming on the cruise with us. Now the confusing part. We are arriving in the airport a day before the cruise. We are staying at the Radisson over night and then getting on the cruise boat. When we return we will be going to Disney (Dolphin) for 5 (They are going for 3 )days. We booked with Dreams. My neighbors have no idea what to do for transportation. Since DS is in a wheelchair and requires lots of equipment our van is packed and we can't fit them in. What they have arranged now is an AVIS rental from airport to port, returning the car at AVIS at the Radisson. Picking up another car when we return driving it to Disney and returning it at the Disney Hilton counter(not real sure of the name) DH will have to follow neighbor there and drive him back to Dolphin. Then DH will have to drive neighbors to airport as they are leaving 2 days before we depart. I thought they could use the transfers from the airport to the port and the port to Disney but they were told no since we are going a day early. We checked to see if it would be cheaper for them to rent a car for the whole trip but it was not. They are getting the car for $22.00 a day (AVIS economy car). Anyone have any other ideas?? We are probably overlooking the simplest way to do this. Thanks in advance.

 

[maryisme]

If I followed along correctly, your friends are returning the Avis car to the Hilton. Why not just return to the airport?

Mary

 

[maryisme]

If I followed along correctly, your friends are returning the Avis car to the Hilton. Why not just return to the airport?

Mary

 

[D L and K's Mom]

I know that post was very very confusing..it is a confusing process. They are returning it to the Hilton to save $ so they don't have the car sitting int he Dolphin parking lot for 4 days. I am thinking that there must be some kind of shuttle from the airport to the port (Even though it is the day before the cruise) from the port to Disney and then from Disney to the airport. I think they are having trouble finding a shuttle from the port to Disney.

 

[dmfuru]

Have them try Tiffany Towncar service or Your ride service. I have never used them, but read a lot of good things about them on the board. Go to the transportation forum for more.

 

[mcnuss]

Wow - what a mess. Your friends need to pretend that they are cruising alone and take your arrangements out of the mix to simplify and then look at each of their segments. Since they cannot do DCL transportation the day before the cruise, they can a) do the Avis thing or b) hire a towncar (limo) service. The nice thing about the car service is that someone helps with luggage and they won't have to hassle with the car rental. From the port to the hotel at the end of the cruise, they should just take the DCL transfer (it can be done 1 way) or the towncar. To get to the airport, they can get a cab or towncar or a shared shuttle van (Mears is the one company I know).

For my money, I'd go towncar all the way - Happy Limo, Tiffany are companies people recommend. I have seen people post that they have arranged a 3 leg trip no problem, and the cost is quite reasonable broken down per person. Best of all, it will be hassle free for not just your friends, but YOU!!!

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

I think the plan basically sounds fine.

Suggestions...

<table border=0><tr valign=top><td>•</td><td> </td><td>The friend drives from the port to the Dolphin. Don't do the return to the Hilton until sometime after you've all checked in and unloaded and gotten a chance to relax a bit. Then the short hop over to the hotel village near Downtown Disney won't be a big deal. Maybe you guys could combine it with a trip to Downtown Disney in the evening.</td></tr><tr valign=top><td>•</td><td> </td><td>Unless your DH doesn't mind taking them to the airport, they could get affordable transfers from the Dolphin to the airport.</td></tr></table>

Everything else sounds fine.