Driving a rental to Port Canaveral?

[psimon]

Last time we took DCL, we flew into MCO on Saturday night planning to stay at the Hyatt at the airport and then taking Disney transport to the cruise Sunday morning. When we got to the Hyatt at the airport they told us they had no rooms left and gave us a conference room with fold down murphy beds which were horribly uncomfortable. For this reason, we are looking at options for our next cruise.

Has anyone rented a car at MCO and driven to the town of Port Canaveral, stayed over night, returned the car in Port Canaveral and gotten hotel transportation to the port in the morning? What other options are there? Many thanks...


---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[OKW Lover]

Lots of people do this. Plenty of hotels near the port and just about all the major car rental companies have an office nearby.

 

[psimon]

Lots of people do this. Plenty of hotels near the port and just about all the major car rental companies have an office nearby.

Great! Would love to hear more. Do you get rid of the rental the night before or the morning of the cruise? Suggestions for hotels or car rentals?

Many thanks...

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[AquaDame]

Great! Would love to hear more. Do you get rid of the rental the night before or the morning of the cruise? Suggestions for hotels or car rentals?

Many thanks...

---Paul in Southern NJ

I haven't done so myself yet but I've heard of people doing it both ways. If you have a larger family you might find it easier to drop them at the port then return the car and use the shuttle to get back to the port, or just use the shuttle from the hotel if they offer one for everyone if you feel your family wouldn't mind dealing with luggage a bit more.

 

[Stitch'sCousin]

We’ve done it a few times where we have flown in two days in advance, rented a minivan from Budget, and returned it the afternoon before our cruise. We then took a shuttle to the port ($6/person) the day of the cruise. We have stayed at both the Country Inn and Suites (very close to the port and a short walk to the Budget rental location on Astronaut Boulevard) and the Hampton Inn in Cocoa Beach, and we were happy with both hotels. However, the last time we rented a vehicle, there was a backlog at the rental counter and it took well over an hour to get our vehicle which meant we didn’t get to our hotel until after 10 pm. This lead us to decide to go the route of booking a shuttle to our Cocoa Beach hotel as the cost wasn’t much different from the cost of renting a minivan. We’ve done the shuttle method twice and liked the fact that they were waiting for us as soon as we had our luggage, we ended up at the hotel quicker than if I was driving, and I didn’t have to worry about driving at the end of a long travel day. I should point out that we were staying at the Hampton Inn both of those times because we knew from experience that it is very conveniently located for shopping, restaurants, and access to beach, so we knew we wouldn’t need a rental vehicle to get around once we got to Cocoa Beach.

 

[psimon]

We’ve done it a few times where we have flown in two days in advance, rented a minivan from Budget, and returned it the afternoon before our cruise. We then took a shuttle to the port ($6/person) the day of the cruise. We have stayed at both the Country Inn and Suites (very close to the port and a short walk to the Budget rental location on Astronaut Boulevard) and the Hampton Inn in Cocoa Beach, and we were happy with both hotels. However, the last time we rented a vehicle, there was a backlog at the rental counter and it took well over an hour to get our vehicle which meant we didn’t get to our hotel until after 10 pm. This lead us to decide to go the route of booking a shuttle to our Cocoa Beach hotel as the cost wasn’t much different from the cost of renting a minivan. We’ve done the shuttle method twice and liked the fact that they were waiting for us as soon as we had our luggage, we ended up at the hotel quicker than if I was driving, and I didn’t have to worry about driving at the end of a long travel day. I should point out that we were staying at the Hampton Inn both of those times because we knew from experience that it is very conveniently located for shopping, restaurants, and access to beach, so we knew we wouldn’t need a rental vehicle to get around once we got to Cocoa Beach.

Sounds good. I was thinking of using a rental that when we get there we just walk out to the cars, hopefully avoiding a backlog at the desk. I guess my biggest concern was either getting transport to the ship from the rental agency or getting back to the hotel the night before, again from the rental agency.

Trying to book for December so I guess I have a litte time to figure it out.

Thanks!

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[ajo]

Sounds good. I was thinking of using a rental that when we get there we just walk out to the cars, hopefully avoiding a backlog at the desk. I guess my biggest concern was either getting transport to the ship from the rental agency or getting back to the hotel the night before, again from the rental agency.

Trying to book for December so I guess I have a litte time to figure it out.

Thanks!

---Paul in Southern NJ

We rented a car at MCO and drove to Cocoa Beach where we spent two days. The morning of the cruise, one of our party dropped everyone else off at the port, returned the car, and then took the rental company shuttle back to the port. Worked great.

 

[ljm23]

We too have done this many times using Hertz but from what I understand the Hertz in Cape Canaveral (right in front of Country Inns and Suites) has closed during covid. Does anyone know if it has re-opened?

 

[ladyofthetramp]

We always do this- well, for the most part. Last few times we used National. My husband is a Emerald Club member through work. Made a reservation, walked right out to the car and drove to Port Canaveral. Straight shot from the airport. Very easy. We have stayed a few different places, but our favorite by far has been the Residence Inn. Friendly, clean and quiet. Pre-covid they had a lovely morning breakfast. Nice pool. Next morning, drive to the National Rental in Port Canaveral, which is like 5 minutes away. Drop car. Clean facility with restrooms and the van takes you to the port, 5 minutes away.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

We have rented at MCO, stayed a few days at either WDW or Disney’s Vero Beach resort (using DVC points), and drove up to PC the morning of the cruise. We usually use Alamo. I drop DW and our luggage at the port, drive to the nearby rental car center to drop off the car, then take the free rental car shuttle back to the port. Since I have no luggage, the shuttle return is very straightforward. I’m usually back at the port in about 20 minutes after dropping off DW.

 

[Juan M]

Sounds good. I was thinking of using a rental that when we get there we just walk out to the cars, hopefully avoiding a backlog at the desk. I guess my biggest concern was either getting transport to the ship from the rental agency or getting back to the hotel the night before, again from the rental agency.

Trying to book for December so I guess I have a litte time to figure it out.

Thanks!

---Paul in Southern NJ

We do this often, as we usually cruise with inlaws and sometimes brother in law and his family. I usually rent from Enterprise or National (same office in PC) and drop everyone and luggage off at the port for the porter to take in, and make the short drive to the office to return the vehicle solo. If multiple ships are in port, the shuttles can be full and have a small waiting period, so its easier for a solo person with no luggage to catch a shuttle back than a big party.

 

[seacruise]

Ditto what others have said about dropping family at the port morning of and then returning the rental car. In our experience, rental car shuttle lines, counter lines, etc. can be really slow going and it can be much quicker for a single adult with no bags to get back to the ship.

 

[mmouse37]

Last time we took DCL, we flew into MCO on Saturday night planning to stay at the Hyatt at the airport and then taking Disney transport to the cruise Sunday morning. When we got to the Hyatt at the airport they told us they had no rooms left and gave us a conference room with fold down murphy beds which were horribly uncomfortable. For this reason, we are looking at options for our next cruise.

Has anyone rented a car at MCO and driven to the town of Port Canaveral, stayed over night, returned the car in Port Canaveral and gotten hotel transportation to the port in the morning? What other options are there? Many thanks...


---Paul in Southern NJ

We have done this a dozen times at least with the exception of mostly taking the car rental shuttle back to the port after dropping off the car. We usually drop the luggage in the morning first when port opens and most of the people. Then one or two go return the car and hop the car rental shuttle back to the terminal. It is much easier to fit on the shuttle with one or people and no luggage. The beauty of keeping the car overnight at the hotel is that you have it to go to dinner, shopping, exploring, etc.

We have stayed at the Country Inn and Suites, the Marriott Residence Inn, the Homewood Suites, the Doubletree, the Radisson....many of them. If you have a Costco membership I have found they have the best prices every time...even when trying different discount codes and coupons.

MJ

 

[Husker Mike]

Pretty sure that once cruises resume, the car rental offices in Port Canaveral will reopen.

This probably doesn't apply to a seven night cruise, but for a three or four night cruise, price out the cost of keeping the rental and paying to park it while you are on the boat. Last year on my four night cruise, it was cheaper to rent a car on a weekly rate, pay to park it at the port and available to just pick up and head to the parks after the cruise. It was cheaper than two one-way rentals as well as Disney's bus for a family of four...and I figured that also meant less hassle (dropping off rentals, shuttle busses, getting a new rental afterward).

 

[soniam]

If you don’t really need the car in Port Canaveral/Coco, check the extra charge for returning at a different spot than pickup. A town car from MCO to the cape may be cheaper. Sometimes the rental car is more expensive and sometimes it’s not. It has varied from year to year for us.

 

[Dug720]

Just as a counterbalance, there ARE other hotels very close to MCO that are not the Hyatt. More than once I have stayed at a Hampton Inn no more than 5 minutes away - then just took their shuttle back to MCO and the Disney Cruise bus from there.

Having spent a night in the PC area, I much prefer even by the airport in Orlando. I found the PC area to be typical blah commercial beach town and nothing special.

 

[deliela999]

Pretty sure that once cruises resume, the car rental offices in Port Canaveral will reopen.

This probably doesn't apply to a seven night cruise, but for a three or four night cruise, price out the cost of keeping the rental and paying to park it while you are on the boat. Last year on my four night cruise, it was cheaper to rent a car on a weekly rate, pay to park it at the port and available to just pick up and head to the parks after the cruise. It was cheaper than two one-way rentals as well as Disney's bus for a family of four...and I figured that also meant less hassle (dropping off rentals, shuttle busses, getting a new rental afterward).

This is what we did for the 3 night. It was cheaper and the car was there waiting when we got back. We'd also stayed in the area for a few days before the cruise and left some things in the car we didn't need for the cruise to lighten the load.

 

[SWDisfan]

Last time we took DCL, we flew into MCO on Saturday night planning to stay at the Hyatt at the airport and then taking Disney transport to the cruise Sunday morning. When we got to the Hyatt at the airport they told us they had no rooms left and gave us a conference room with fold down murphy beds which were horribly uncomfortable. For this reason, we are looking at options for our next cruise.

Has anyone rented a car at MCO and driven to the town of Port Canaveral, stayed over night, returned the car in Port Canaveral and gotten hotel transportation to the port in the morning? What other options are there? Many thanks...


---Paul in Southern NJ

Since you’re cruising just Uber to a hotel that offers a shuttle to port in the port Canaveral area! We liked a Marriott there, amazing waterfall pool and great restaurants nearby! There’s a holiday inn that are more like condos too. I don’t believe the holiday inn offers shuttle, but again just Uber. Why pay rental fees and parking fees?! We have condos we rent in cocoa beach, and I am happy to offer more activities if you’re staying more than overnight! Have a great trip!

 

[rwjones]

Last time we took DCL, we flew into MCO on Saturday night planning to stay at the Hyatt at the airport and then taking Disney transport to the cruise Sunday morning. When we got to the Hyatt at the airport they told us they had no rooms left and gave us a conference room with fold down murphy beds which were horribly uncomfortable. For this reason, we are looking at options for our next cruise.

Has anyone rented a car at MCO and driven to the town of Port Canaveral, stayed over night, returned the car in Port Canaveral and gotten hotel transportation to the port in the morning? What other options are there? Many thanks...


---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[psimon]

Since you’re cruising just Uber to a hotel that offers a shuttle to port in the port Canaveral area! We liked a Marriott there, amazing waterfall pool and great restaurants nearby! There’s a holiday inn that are more like condos too. I don’t believe the holiday inn offers shuttle, but again just Uber. Why pay rental fees and parking fees?! We have condos we rent in cocoa beach, and I am happy to offer more activities if you’re staying more than overnight! Have a great trip!

Thanks... So far I am planning for the 4 of us to fly in Saturday afternoon for a Sunday cruise. Sadly not much time to do anything there.