Disney Cruise Transfer Question

[mousefan1972]

What is the best way to get from MCO to the Radisson Hotel at Port Canaveral?

Also, after our cruise we're going to Bay Lake Tower for 4 nights. What is the best way to get there from the cruise ship terminal?

We do not plan to, nor do we want to, rent a car. Thanks!

 

[n2mm]

I don't know about the first part, but from the cruise to BLT, I believe the bus transfer cost $35 per person (one way -- round trip is $70 per person). We are at BLT then the cruise, then back to BCV (some of us). We are a party of 9, so we will be renting 2 cars as that is the easiest and cheapest for us. We have a couple of folks who may want to go home after the cruise and not stay, so I've been checking out the cost of one way transfers. I believe you have to book the transfer in advance (and pay upfront). I believe you might find a answer on the cruise line boards.

As for the first part, did you check to see if the hotel/resort has any transportation shuttles. It is an hour drive to the port so sounds expensive.

 

[Mish]

we did rented a car since there was 5 of was cheaper then using thier transportation. Going we did tiffany town car. We saved a lot of money that way. Michelle

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

What is the best way to get from MCO to the Radisson Hotel at Port Canaveral?

Also, after our cruise we're going to Bay Lake Tower for 4 nights. What is the best way to get there from the cruise ship terminal?

We do not plan to, nor do we want to, rent a car. Thanks!

I don't blame you. In 4 Disney cruises, we've tried many methods: DCL transportation, car rental, & limo. Limo was fun and exciting but really DCL is most convenient. They handle your luggage and don't have to deal with humping your luggage on/off of rental car shuttles. PITA imho.
We prefer the Hyatt MCO pre-cruise and DCL transportation. You can leave your luggage in your room and they deliver it to the ship.
I've never stayed at hotel near port cuz we usually fly down later in the day (after school) but if we did I'd hire a car service from MCO. Then it's the drivers job to load the car.
fwiw, I don't mind renting a car at WDW but for cruising we like being pampered a bit and let someone else do the driving and luggage handling.

Usually the method that is most expensive is more convenient and cheapest method is least convenient. Find a balance that works for you.

 

[mousefan1972]

Thanks for the replies. I was considering the Hyatt/MCO option, but hubby prefers to be closer to the ship the night before. The Radisson will provide a shuttle to the pier, so I figured we hire a town car service to get to the Radisson (which I am expecting to be big $$), but wasn't sure how to get to BLT after.

n2mm, is the $35 pp transfer fee for kids, too? If so that would be $140 for all of us. Ouch. Thanks again for the replies. I am a complete newbie when it comes to DCL.

 

[jcarwash]

We're going on our first cruise of any kind next year, on DCL, and we're reserved at the Radisson for the night before too. We are going with a rental car to get from MCO to the Radisson because for us the rentals plus the hotel will be cheaper than DCL ground transport, plus we *think* a rental car will provide us with more flexibility. But I guess we'll find out. Our cruise is next March and I have two one-way rentals reserved, one Hertz, one Avis, at $48 each.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Thanks for the replies. I was considering the Hyatt/MCO option, but hubby prefers to be closer to the ship the night before. The Radisson will provide a shuttle to the pier, so I figured we hire a town car service to get to the Radisson (which I am expecting to be big $$), but wasn't sure how to get to BLT after.

n2mm, is the $35 pp transfer fee for kids, too? If so that would be $140 for all of us. Ouch. Thanks again for the replies. I am a complete newbie when it comes to DCL.

Yes, DCL charges same for kids too. I find it convenient and worth the $$ only when going straight to MCO post cruise. If you fly a participating airline, you can use Onboard Check in. This is a free service for DCL bus passengers where they will deliver your boarding passes and luggage tags to your stateroom the day prior to flying. Once you put your bags outside your door the last night, you don't see it until you get to your home airport. Just hop off the bus and head to the gate. Easy peasy. It's only b/c of this perk that I'm willing to swallow that $140 back to MCO.
For WDW trips, I can pack light but for cruising we always have so much extra stuff: pirate night costumes, Halloween costumes, formal wear, causal dinner wear, so many shoes for all of us. crazy... Then last Oct with Phillies in World Series during cruise, ds10 wanted his Phillies hats and jersey, tshirts, etc. so even more stuff. ugh.
If we were staying in FL post crusie, I probably wouldn't be willing to pay DCL's price.
Most town car/van/limo companies charge a cheaper rate per leg if you book as a round trip vs. one way.

Here is link to Happy Limo's site and Mousesavers.com has a coupon too.
http://www.happylimo.com/
http://www.mousesavers.com/limo.html#coupon1

We've used them 3x and all 3 times they upgraded us from regular stretch limo to a huge Escallade type thing with a 40" plasma tv. The kids just love it and they will do a grocery stop for free. There's an exit on the way to PC that has a Publix, CVS and liquor store so you can buy what you need after flying. DCL allows guests to bring their own alcohol or botted water on as long as it's carried on, not in checked bags and since they charge $40+ for a case of bottled water, we'd rather bring our own.

 

[n2mm]

Thanks for the replies. I was considering the Hyatt/MCO option, but hubby prefers to be closer to the ship the night before. The Radisson will provide a shuttle to the pier, so I figured we hire a town car service to get to the Radisson (which I am expecting to be big $$), but wasn't sure how to get to BLT after.

n2mm, is the $35 pp transfer fee for kids, too? If so that would be $140 for all of us. Ouch. Thanks again for the replies. I am a complete newbie when it comes to DCL.

Yes as mentined the kids pay the same fee unless your child is an infant. My granddaughter is 1 and when I crunched the numbers for mom, dad, and baby, there was only a fee for the 2 adults.

There are all types of ways and fees so you have to find what works for you. I have a rental car and it is costing me $150 a week including all taxes and fees. I'm at WDW 5 days prior to the cruise and 5 days after the cruise. (but not everyone) I have a full size car booked with the option to upgrade larger if available (Executive Aisle on National Rental Car). I do have to pay the $15 a day parking at the port -- $45 total, but worth it for us.

 

[goofy4tink]

I would almost think it would be worth it to just bite the bullet and pay the $200 or so for r/t car service. If it's going to be $140 to use DCL shuttle back to WDW, you may as well just take a car service both ways.
Much more convenient.
FL Tours, a board sponsor here, would charge $220, plus tip, to get you from MCO to the Radisson, then from the port to BLT.

 

[mousefan1972]

I would almost think it would be worth it to just bite the bullet and pay the $200 or so for r/t car service. If it's going to be $140 to use DCL shuttle back to WDW, you may as well just take a car service both ways.
Much more convenient.
FL Tours, a board sponsor here, would charge $220, plus tip, to get you from MCO to the Radisson, then from the port to BLT.

That actually isn't that bad. Although, I'm sure a rental car would be cheaper. We have never rented a car for 14+ WDW trips over the past 4 years, but we always go MCO-WDW-MCO. So ME was a slam dunk. I guess when I think *vacation*, I don't think "get behind the wheel of a car and drive". Silly, I know. Thanks for the tip to check out FL Tours.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

That actually isn't that bad. Although, I'm sure a rental car would be cheaper. We have never rented a car for 14+ WDW trips over the past 4 years, but we always go MCO-WDW-MCO. So ME was a slam dunk. I guess when I think *vacation*, I don't think "get behind the wheel of a car and drive". Silly, I know. Thanks for the tip to check out FL Tours.

To me, the hassle of driving to PC isn't in the drive itself. It's a real easy drive. It's dealing with the shuttles, waiting for them, etc. Also the post cruise car we rented from Budget was crammed in so close to the next car, even my 55 lb son couldn't squeeze in the door. Complete disregard to white lines of a parking lot. Had to go back in the office to have them move the other car, who was so sure she could get in our car she bet dh a $ that she could but of course couldn't. Then we discovered damage to other side that wasn't noted on the slip that I didn't want to be responsible for so 3rd time back in the office. You get the picture. With a car service we would have been halfway back to Orlando by the time we pulled out of Budget's parking lot.
I was also trying to be thrifty pre cruise by taking ME back to MCO to pick up car after checking out of WL. Only 2nd experience with ME and it wasn't magical. By the time we waited 1 hr + for the bus, then picked up guests from 2 or 3 other hotels, returned to MCO, got the rental car, drove to PC, grocery stop for bottled water, check luggage at port, return car to Avis, wait for shuttle for over 30 mins, ride shuttle, check in for cruise, it was 1:30 pm. This was with a 9:00 ME pick up time and we were there at 8:45 as requested. So almost 5 hrs total for a 1 hr drive.
We are used to having a 9 or 9:30 am pick up at an airport hotel and being in PC by 10:30 while there's still a chance for upgrades. They come at a time I decide and don't stop anywhere unless it's for us.

After this we agreed it's just not worth the little bit of savings from renting a car to PC. Sometimes my time and stress (or lack of) are worth paying a little extra for.
We'll either do private car service or DCL transportation from now on.
ymmv.