Driving vs Disney Transport?

[Kestryl]

We are driving down for a cruise in June. Our original plan was to park at the port.

I’ve been toying with the idea of adding on some Disney World resort stays before and/or after the cruise, and that opened up a different possibility (maybe?) to get transport.

My understanding is parking at the port would cost us $80 (3 night cruise). Transport from the resort would be $90.

But we would have a car, since we’re driving in. (This isn’t a fly in and get a rental situation, we are legitimately driving our car.) Would we even be allowed to leave a car at the resort?

 

[erionm]

Since the cost is about the same, I would just park at the cruise terminal. You wouldn't be dealing with a multi-stop bus ride between the port and your WDW resort. You would have some tolls between to/from the port. If you have a SunPass, Uni(E-Pass) or E-ZPass (or other interoperable) transponder, that would work on all FL toll roads.

 

[Scalemaster34]

Parking at the resorts long term isn't included in your resort stay... it's for registered guest only. If you asks, they'll tell you no. I'm sure there are dozens that have done it without asking and had no issue. But is it worth risking being the one that has their car towed?

Part at the port.... yeah you won't get that first boarding windows, but you won't be worried about where your car will be when you get back.

 

[MikeOhio]

Just to be clear on pricing because you said "us". Transport is $90 roundtrip per person. So if you have more than one person, it is substantially higher than the port parking fee.

 

[erionm]

Just to be clear on pricing because you said "us". Transport is $90 roundtrip per person. So if you have more than one person, it is substantially higher than the port parking fee.

Good catch. Living in Central FL, we always park at the port so I don't really pay attention to the cost of DCL transportation.

 

[bbn1122]

I do not know if this is still offered from hotels near the port, but for our 1st DCL cruise in 2011, the hotel we used offered leave your car and they shuttled you back and forth from the cruise terminal.

Is airport parking cheaper? You could always park at MCO and use Mears.

My family have parked often at the port, its just part of the cost of cruising.

Good Luck.

 

[erionm]

Is airport parking cheaper? You could always park at MCO and use Mears.

Parking at MCO ranges from $14/day (surface lot) to $24/day (garage). Add that on top of DCL Ground Transportation and it becomes very expensive.

 

[Scalemaster34]

I do not know if this is still offered from hotels near the port, but for our 1st DCL cruise in 2011, the hotel we used offered leave your car and they shuttled you back and forth from the cruise terminal.

Is airport parking cheaper? You could always park at MCO and use Mears.

My family have parked often at the port, its just part of the cost of cruising.

Good Luck.

There are many Park-N-Cruse options a Port Canaveral... usually 1/2 the price of parking at the port. Park in a parking lot or field, depending on the vendor, and they will drop you off and then pick you up afterwards. But generally it's expected you tip them for each bag the load and unload... so that eats into your savings. And then you have to factor the time waiting for the shuttle to show up....

 

[Kestryl]

Just to be clear on pricing because you said "us". Transport is $90 roundtrip per person. So if you have more than one person, it is substantially higher than the port parking fee.

Duuuuude. That’s embarrassing- I read something that was along that lines of “$45 per person for a ride to the port” and made the bad assumption that it was roundtrip.

 

[Peaseblossom36]

We are also driving. While I'm not excited for the long drive down or back, I am excited to actually have my car if we need something or want to do something else. We are doing the parks before our cruise too. I did take the opportunity to actually book a surprise character breakfast on embarkation morning, since we won't need to meet the bus.

The only thing I am a bit sad about it having to actually think about our PAT and boarding group (check in is actually tonight!). We've always taken the bus before. I did consider parking at MCO and taking the transport, but ultimately didn't want to spend the money and realized it would be nice to be able to just get in my own car and go after we debark.

 

[bakerworld]

We're always in a fly situation - because I refused to sit in a car for 16 hours . I would love to be in a disembark and drive away situation. It is such a pain to sit on the bus for an hour waiting for the 9:15 departure time. DH loves to run off the ship like our shorts are on fire because the departure lines are so expedient for early departures. Geez, if we had the car we could actually have breakfast and leisurely drive to our Floridian location, leaving our luggage in the car until the rooms ready (because it is never ready as I keep refusing the 'old' people rooms ).