Flying into Jacksonville

[lizardman]

Has anyone out there flown into Jacksonville for their cruise? We used frequent flyer miles and had no other option. If anybody has done this and has any comments or suggestions, we would appreciate it.
:space:

 

[nasmith]

Lizardman - I haven't flown into Jacksonville for a cruise - but I used to live there and certainly flew into the airport quite abit.....I've also driven South to Orlando....SO I might be able to help- what are you looking for??

It's an easy airport - smaller than MCO, and right off the freeway (I-95) (You can't get lost trying to get to the I-95). The airport is on the Northern side of the city, and you might encounter traffic if you try driving during rush hour...but it shouldn't be too bad (It's not big city traffic, just slower).

You'll stay on I-95 for about 150 - 160 miles (figure 2 1/2 hours) to get to cocoa beach. You won't go thru any other cities - but there are plenty of fast food stuff, gas , etc. all the way down ( see http://www.usastar.com/i95/homepage.htm ) for the exit guide - it will tell you what's where on I-95.

Jill

 

[cyndilou01]

Lizardman, I live in Jacksonville, the airport is not too bad and it is right off the hiway so you could be on your way in no time,,, just wanted to warn you that there is a LOT of road construction on the highway on I 95 between Jacksonville and Daytona, so be prepared, if you can travel NOT during rush hour it would be to your best interest... sometimes because of the constr. it could take about 31/2 to 4 hours so do not be on a tight schedule...

I just came back from disney a couple of weeks ago and it took me 31/2 from Orlando because of construction... Just really slow not bad just sloooooow
If you have any questions about the city just let me know be glad to help...

 

[lizardman]

Thanks for the replies. We will be arriving the Friday before the cruise around 4:30 pm. We will rent a car and drive down to the DCL terminal. Should we drive down to Cocoa Beach (sp?) and get a hotel there for the night? Or, should we stop somewhere along the way and get a hotel? Other questions I would appreciate input on are about our return. Our return flights are not until around 5:00 pm, so I was wondering if there is anything along the way back to Jacksonville that we could stop and see that the kids (6,8,12) would like. I would like to stop in St. Augustine (sp?), but I don't know how impressed my kids would be with this historical town. Last question, is there any unique of special place to eat for our return trip back to Jacksonville? Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. :thewave:

 

[BaileyEvanH]

We live near St Augustine. There is an Alligator farm and a Ripleys museum that are nice. They are all within the historical area. You can board a trolley and ride around and get on and off where you like.

 

[tpmorley]

...for the exact same reason, but we are headed to DW prior to the cruise. We are also looking for a yummy local restaurant and a grocery store that wouldn't be too far off the beaten track. Any suggestions?

 

[mog]

We flew into Jacksonville for our first cruise a few years ago. I just remember it took way longer to get down there from J-ville than we were planning. Of course, my memory is probably clouded by the fact that one of my sons had accidentally twisted our 3 year olds arm and she wouldn't move it and she was bawling and we thought we would have to miss the cruise and take her to the emergency room!
It worked out in the end - she was fine by the next day and off we went for a magical cruise.
Moral of the story is - leave plenty of time for that drive from Jacksonville, and don't let your kids engage in any horseplay in the airport while mom is renting the car!!

 

[cyndilou01]

wow, so many cool places to eat in orlando.... PLEASE REMEMBER you have to be in the airport around two hours before flight/ I know the ship docs early but you really dont have to get off as soon as it docs but lets say you do get off at 8:00 am...... get your luggage and get on the road lets say 9ish....gives you 8 hours allow no less than three hours to drive, so you need to leave the orlando area around noon... so that said, orlando has dinner shows that have horse shows Dixie stampied, Midevil times they have to eat with their hands, Resturant with cars....

but if you ride to St. Augustine, you are half way to Jax... then you can relax a little on the traffic issue and take a horse and buggie ride, go to ripplies or you can go to the st. augustine outlet malls, for some last minute shopping, there is a disney outlet store there/I always stop there before the cruise to get little gifts for people, much cheaper than the cruise prices.... eat at the cracker barrell, or there are other shops there too...

either way plenty to do, just dont cut yourself short on driving time... I hope you guys have a great trip, I know we are truly excited too...

 

[disneyfan73]

I would like to stop in St. Augustine (sp?), but I don't know how impressed my kids would be with this historical town.

We stopped and spent a night in St. Augustine back in June 04 with our kids (7, 8, 16 all boys). They loved the fort (can’t remember the name) there!! Only takes a few hours (more or less) to do, but is very cool.

Jeff

 

[cyndilou01]

yes it is a nice place and the kids can get out and run..

 

[Thunderrd]

Do you know if the Disney outlet store sells autograph books?

Also if I'm driving south from Jax to Port Canaveral, where is this outlet store?

 

[cyndilou01]

the last time I was there they did have autograph books, you will pass the St. Aug. outlet malls on the expressway,you will not be able to miss ALL the signs... to save you time when you get off the expressway, turn left, the outlet is on both sides of the street....but the disney store is on the left side of the street, they also sometimes have pins cheap so you can get some pins to trade with on the ship ... When you leave Jax, you have to go right through st. augustine and daytona to get to orlando and cape canaveral... When you get to Daytona you are about half way there... Have a great time, any questions just let me know...

 

[tpmorley]

Are there any fun local restaurants in or around Jacksonville?

 

[TYMAN]

On the south side of Jax's is a restaurant called Dave & Busters. It's kinda a sports bar / restaurant but it has a huge area filled with video games, basketball hoops, realistic Nascar racing, etc. It's pretty cool!

 

[tpmorley]

Thanks for your reply TYMAN and welcome to the DIS! I have a 14 year old DS named Tyler and sometimes we call him Ty-man

 

[TYMAN]

That's where I got the name. Our 7yr old son is named Tyler. That's pretty cool.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

lizardman - are you or your family into golf??? If so, stop at World Golf Village, its the golf hall of fame, they have a really cool Imax theater. Only about 15 minutes from St. Augustine, on the way up from the cruise, you could also check out the state park/beach in St. Augustine, for the life of me I am drawing a blank, but very pretty, nice white sand, then continue and check out St. Augustine, (obviously not seeing everything but just checking out stuff), get back on the highway I - 95, and go to World Golf Village, then onto the airport. h