First DCL Experience and Feeling Overwhelmed

[aidtrismommy]

You have a few options and it's easier to break it up to weigh pros and cons and cost versus convenience:
Pre Cruise:
1. Take Magical Express to Pop, use Disney transportation to party-Free (well, included in hotel cost I guess)
2. Rent a car from airport to Pop, either drive or use Disney transportation to party-insert cost here
3. Hire a car service to drive you to Pop, use Disney transportation to party-insert cost here
Cruise Day:
1. Take Disney transfer to port-$35pp
2. Drive self to port and drop off car at Port Canaveral-
3. Hire a car service to drive you to port-Insert cost here
Getting Back to Airport:
Same as Cruise day

There are pros and cons with each option. I personally like having flexibility and control, therefore I would rent a car. Others prefer to sit back and give others the control therefore option 1 or 3 might be better for them, although more expensive maybe.
Talk it out, do some pricing, see what is most important for you. It may seem like nickel and diming, but that is not exactly true, transportation is part of it.

 

[tink1970]

I've driven and I've rented a car. No, I've never had a hired car nor ridden on a DCL bus (live a little too close to the port to justify)

Driving pros:

1) control (with the exception of TRAFFIC) your arrival time
2) can stop and pick up forgotten items
3) cheaper

Driving cons:

1) I hate driving (okay that's individualized)
2) don't forget tolls...not a break the bank thing but unless included in the rental car (sun passes might now be but I'm guessing that charge will be passed along) another fee plus if the sun pass isn't on the car you have to stop and go and merge and stop and go and merge --a lot
3) traffic
4) the rental car return can be hectic, sometimes very hectic AND it's an extra step to/from the ship (I like to just get there!)
5) there is a fee if you park at the port* (this may be for anyone else considering not just OP)

Just typing this gets me ready for a vacation!

 

[cyclenut]

There is another option we've done. There are a number of hotels in Port Canaveral that do a Snooze and Cruise option. All shuttle transfers are included in the price of the package. You get picked up from the airport and taken to your hotel. The morning of the cruise you are given a time and taken to the cruise terminal. After the cruise, you are taken back to the hotel or directly to the airport depending on the time of your flight. They made the whole experience super easy. We were able to walk to Cocoa Beach from our hotel and enjoy the wonderful beach before and after the cruise (we had a late flight). We only had to pay for the room for one night.

I can't remember the specific hotel but it was a Hilton property and it also included breakfast. It made a lot more sense for us than Disney. What is also interesting is that there were DCL, RCCL, Carnival and I think NCL cruisers all at our hotel and all on the same bus to the cruise terminal. Virtually everyone in FLA uses Mears transportation. Even the DCL and Disney shuttle service is run by Mears. The motor coaches are pretty much the same and the drivers are similar. I will say that the shuttle to and from the airport was one of the vans pulling a trailer for the luggage. We stopped at a few hotels, which isn't unlike the DCL that will also stop at a few different resorts.

In all, except for the Disney cartoons on the shuttle, they are about the same. The Snooze and Cruise option was a bit less expensive and we thought, more flexible. None of the shuttles are going to put you at risk of missing your cruise. It just won't happen.

We've also taken DCL transportation by the way. We do this when we want to spend time in the parks pre-cruise.

 

[dhardawa]

There is another option we've done. There are a number of hotels in Port Canaveral that do a Snooze and Cruise option. All shuttle transfers are included in the price of the package. You get picked up from the airport and taken to your hotel. The morning of the cruise you are given a time and taken to the cruise terminal. After the cruise, you are taken back to the hotel or directly to the airport depending on the time of your flight. They made the whole experience super easy. We were able to walk to Cocoa Beach from our hotel and enjoy the wonderful beach before and after the cruise (we had a late flight). We only had to pay for the room for one night.

I can't remember the specific hotel but it was a Hilton property and it also included breakfast. It made a lot more sense for us than Disney. What is also interesting is that there were DCL, RCCL, Carnival and I think NCL cruisers all at our hotel and all on the same bus to the cruise terminal. Virtually everyone in FLA uses Mears transportation. Even the DCL and Disney shuttle service is run by Mears. The motor coaches are pretty much the same and the drivers are similar. I will say that the shuttle to and from the airport was one of the vans pulling a trailer for the luggage. We stopped at a few hotels, which isn't unlike the DCL that will also stop at a few different resorts.

In all, except for the Disney cartoons on the shuttle, they are about the same. The Snooze and Cruise option was a bit less expensive and we thought, more flexible. None of the shuttles are going to put you at risk of missing your cruise. It just won't happen.

We've also taken DCL transportation by the way. We do this when we want to spend time in the parks pre-cruise.

I love this option! It is reasonably priced and one stop shopping. We'll plan a beach day instead of the Halloween party. Thank you!

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

I love this option! It is reasonably priced and one stop shopping. We'll plan a beach day instead of the Halloween party. Thank you!

Reading through some of your posts here it appears the planning of the cruise is a tad overwhelming. Trust me when I tell you the relaxation you will feel at the end of 7 days on the Fantasy will be more than worth it! Make sure you shut your phone down and disconnect from social media and email and focus on relaxing and spending some great family time together. You won't remember any of the frustration you are feeling right now. We used to love our WDW and DL vacations until we spend a week on the Fantasy, now our favorite vacations are DCL by far, nothing else comes close.

I sincerely hope you love your cruise!

 

[Mrslissaaa]

If you drive to Disney World, can you leave your car parked there while on the cruise? We would be staying an additional night as well.

 

[dhardawa]

Reading through some of your posts here it appears the planning of the cruise is a tad overwhelming. Trust me when I tell you the relaxation you will feel at the end of 7 days on the Fantasy will be more than worth it! Make sure you shut your phone down and disconnect from social media and email and focus on relaxing and spending some great family time together. You won't remember any of the frustration you are feeling right now. We used to love our WDW and DL vacations until we spend a week on the Fantasy, now our favorite vacations are DCL by far, nothing else comes close.

I sincerely hope you love your cruise!

You are 100% correct! There are so many moving pieces and I feel like I'm doing it blind. Once I'm on board, it will be great though.

 

[dhardawa]

If you drive to Disney World, can you leave your car parked there while on the cruise? We would be staying an additional night as well.

We don't drive to Disney. I wish we were close enough to!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

If you drive to Disney World, can you leave your car parked there while on the cruise? We would be staying an additional night as well.

Most of the resorts will allow you to leave your car in the parking lot while you cruise. The only issue I see is - how are you going to get to the port? If using DCL transfers, that's going to cost you $70 per person round trip WDW/port/WDW. Rental car? Town car? Have you check the costs for those vs the cost for parking at the port? Often driving yourself and parking at the port is less costly than having to pay for transfers via any other vehicle.

 

[Lonegalathome]

We are planning a private shuttle from the airport to the cruise port and back. Then overnight at either the Radisson or the Country Inn and Suites and using their port shuttle. Is one hotel better than the other?