First cruise and need opinions

[Princess 'n LA]

We will be taking our first cruise ever in October. Taking a short 3-day trip to Nassua and Castaway Cay. We will be driving in from Louisiana the day before we leave and planning a day at a park after our cruise.
1. Should we drive straight to Port Canaveral and stay at Residence Inn or Country Inn with a stay and cruise package?
2. Should we drive to WDW, stay one night at a resort and do MNSSHP that night? Then use Disney transportation for round trip back to our resort? Thinking this would be less stressful as they take care of your luggage and we wouldn't have to park. Also found out if Disney bus is late they wait for you.
3. Upon returning to WDW, we are planning 1-day at a park. What is your vote--Epcot for Food and Wine or AK to see new Pandora and ROL?

TIA for all your suggestions.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We will be taking our first cruise ever in October. Taking a short 3-day trip to Nassua and Castaway Cay. We will be driving in from Louisiana the day before we leave and planning a day at a park after our cruise.
1. Should we drive straight to Port Canaveral and stay at Residence Inn or Country Inn with a stay and cruise package?
2. Should we drive to WDW, stay one night at a resort and do MNSSHP that night? Then use Disney transportation for round trip back to our resort? Thinking this would be less stressful as they take care of your luggage and we wouldn't have to park. Also found out if Disney bus is late they wait for you.
3. Upon returning to WDW, we are planning 1-day at a park. What is your vote--Epcot for Food and Wine or AK to see new Pandora and ROL?

TIA for all your suggestions.

My only opinion on any of that is - are you driving your personal car to the resort, then thinking about taking the DCL transfers to/from the port back to the same resort? It may be more cost effective to use your own car and park at the port. Transfers cost $35.00 per person, each way. Parking at the port for a 3 night cruise is $64.00. How many people are in your party?

Also, sometimes the resorts will not let you leave your car in their parking lot while you cruise. That's something you have to arrange ahead of time with them.

 

[WeLoveDisneyAlways]

I would definitely sleep at WDW before and after you can stay at a value resort for less expensive option. Might as well get the most out of WDW as you can. We loved taking Disney transportation felt like the cruise started right away you get to watch the video with hints along the way. But if it's going to cost you quite a bit I wouldn't bother. We have also been to MNSSHP and can't think of a better way to start your trip it's a lot of fun for the kids my DD then 2 remembers still at 11 trick or treating at Disney.

 

[KristiMc]

I agree with PrincessShmoo. If you have your own vehicle, drive and park at the port.

 

[CamColt]

With your own car, I would suggest driving to the port. You will be on your own schedule, and parking there in the garage is really quite simple.

As for which park after, I would probably do Epcot for F&W, as that is my favorite part of WDW. However if Pandora interests you that may be worth it for something new.

 

[reimero]

Depending on where you stay in and around Orlando, Port Canaveral is between a 45 and 90 minute drive - quite doable, and not a complicated drive. We always stay in Orlando and drive to port. In other words, I can't think of a good reason NOT to do MNSHHP.
I'll also mention that if you want to save money, there are several off-port parking options that are far less expensive than parking at the port, and they all provide shuttle service (I think the port is $16 per day, the off-port options range from $8 to $12).