Help with transportation to/from WDW, Port Canaveral, and MCO airport

[halfmonkey]

Hi all. I'm hoping to get some help in filling in the blanks in or early stages of planning for our upcoming WDW trip and Disney cruise.

We're currently booked on the Fantasy for Sat, Sept 24 and returning to port on Sat, Oct 1st. Right now, we're thinking of flying to MCO on Sun, Sept 18th and then going into the parks from Mon, Sept 19th to Fri, Sept 23rd.

So as you can imagine, the logistics of getting around will require some planning to help things go smoothly for 3 adults and 3 kids with luggage. I'm hoping those that have done a trip similar to this can offer some help.

1. Getting from MCO to Art of Animation hotel - I understand we book Magical Express at the same time of when we book our hotel reservation.
2. Getting around while in WDW since we're staying at AofA is free using a Disney shuttle.
3. Getting from AofA to Port Canaveral on morning of cruise is where I need help.
a. Is there a Disney shuttle free or paid that I can use to get from AofA to Port Canaveral? If so, does someone have a link?
b. If there isn't a Disney shuttle, does anybody have a shuttle service they recommend that they've had success with?
c. I thought I read some where that there is some kind of luggage service with a shuttle service where they will pick up your luggage and transfer them to Port Canaveral so you don't have to mess with it and then in the morning, you just take the shuttle to Port Canaveral. Again, is this a WDW shuttle, Disney cruise shuttle, or 3rd party shuttle? Do you have a link to share?
4. Once we come back from the cruise, I also need help with transportation to MCO.
a. Is there a WDW shuttle, Disney Cruise shuttle, or 3rd party shuttle that I can use to get back to MCO for a flight home to Southern California? Please share a link if you have one.

This scenario is assuming we stay at AofA on Friday night and then travel to Port Canaveral on Saturday morning. It seems, this might be a better option since, we'll be able to "maximize" our last day at the parks and not have to end our day early to pack and travel to Port Canaveral. I would think that maybe Epcot would be saved for Friday and end the day there a little early. We can then come back to the hotel and finish packing and maybe do some laundry and have a nice sleep and then mess with transportation on Saturday morning.

Our other option would be to end our day early on Fri, Sept 23rd, go back to the hotel, pack and then travel to Port Canaveral and then in the morning, make our way to the port via a hotel shuttle. Does anybody have any opinions on this plan? If we go this route, I have these questions.

1. How do we get from AofA to hotel in Port Canaveral? Rent a one way car, take a shuttle, or another option?
2. Do all of the hotels in the area provide free shuttles to port?


Sorry for the huge write up but I have a lot of question regarding the logistics of getting around the area. Thanks for the help.

 

[tobikaye]

1. Getting from MCO to Art of Animation hotel - I understand we book Magical Express at the same time of when we book our hotel reservation.
2. Getting around while in WDW since we're staying at AofA is free using a Disney shuttle.
3. Getting from AofA to Port Canaveral on morning of cruise is where I need help.
a. Is there a Disney shuttle free or paid that I can use to get from AofA to Port Canaveral? If so, does someone have a link?
b. If there isn't a Disney shuttle, does anybody have a shuttle service they recommend that they've had success with?
c. I thought I read some where that there is some kind of luggage service with a shuttle service where they will pick up your luggage and transfer them to Port Canaveral so you don't have to mess with it and then in the morning, you just take the shuttle to Port Canaveral. Again, is this a WDW shuttle, Disney cruise shuttle, or 3rd party shuttle? Do you have a link to share?
4. Once we come back from the cruise, I also need help with transportation to MCO.
a. Is there a WDW shuttle, Disney Cruise shuttle, or 3rd party shuttle that I can use to get back to MCO for a flight home to Southern California? Please share a link if you have one.

1. Correct
2. Correct
3 a. Disney Cruise Line offers a shuttle that goes either from WDW resorts to their cruise terminal at Port Canaveral. It is $35 each way per person. You book directly through your Disney Cruise Reservation. From WDW resorts, there is one pickup per resort with multiple resorts on one bus. I believe the the pickup times are between 10 am and 1 pm. (Info: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/booking-reservations/air-ground-transportation/)
3 b. I would suggest you ask this question on the Cruise forum of the Disboards. There are quite a few options. You might even be able to find some information from some threads already going. http://www.disboards.com/forums/disney-cruise-line-forum.9/
3 c. Guest staying at the Hyatt MCO, checking out the morning of their cruise, that use the Disney Cruise Line transportation to the port can leave their luggage in their rooms and it will be picked up that morning and you will see it again when it is delivered to your stateroom. I believe WDW resorts have a similar process.
4. See answers in #3. DCL shuttle is $35 each way per person. There are numerous private shuttles/town cars, I suggest checking the Cruise Line forum linked in 3.

Our other option would be to end our day early on Fri, Sept 23rd, go back to the hotel, pack and then travel to Port Canaveral and then in the morning, make our way to the port via a hotel shuttle. Does anybody have any opinions on this plan? If we go this route, I have these questions.

1. How do we get from AofA to hotel in Port Canaveral? Rent a one way car, take a shuttle, or another option?
2. Do all of the hotels in the area provide free shuttles to port?

1. You can hire a private shuttle service, town car or rent a car.
2. I do not believe that all of them offer the service for free. I think some only offer if you pay to leave your car parked at their hotel while on the cruise. Others offer special "packages" for taking you to the port. I think most of the pay charges are under $6/person.

 

[goofy4tink]

If it were me, and it has been in the past, I would take DME to AoA. Then rent a car and drive to Port Canaveral. You can rent one way, and return the car at port, but you then have to take a shuttle back to the ship. I like to just bite the bullet and park the car right there. Then, when you get off the ship, the car is there, waiting, and you can drive back to MCO, and return the car.
Or, rent a car to get to port, drop everyone and the bags off at the ship, then drive to the rental office, return the car and take their shuttle back to the ship. You can then reverse that for your return, if you don't mind driving to the airport.
You could get a private car service for around $200 plus tip....but they may have gone up lately to closer to $250ish. But, they pick you up, can handle the luggage, take you directly to the ship. Then, they're there waiting for you when you disembark, and you go right to MCO. It's a nice way to go.
I would almost be tempted to rent a car, drive myself, and then add Sat night at a value resort at WDW and take DME to MCO and use RAC for your bags that morning.

 

[n2mm]

We always rent a car and drive ourselves to the port. $70 roundtrip on the Disney Cruise Shuttle is too high for us, especially when it's 6 of us. Our last cruise we rented a car and paid for parking ($15 a day), and it was alot cheaper than the Disney Cruise Shuttle. We are cruising next month and since it's the 2 of us, we are going to do the one way car rental up and back. Since we have 2 one day free coupons, the rental car expense is just a couple of dollars (fees) each way. Thought it would be a good time to try since the kids and grandkids won't be with us.

 

[Canadian Disney Mom]

We rent a car at the airport for our Disney stay then drop it off near the port on sailing day. When the cruise gets back, we get another rental and drive it to the airport. We have found it cheaper that shuttles.

 

[LuvOrlando]

We are going from Tree House Villas to cruise and returning to the Amimal Kingdom Villas a few days later in Feb for 6 in addition to 2 round trips to Universal/IOA. I am stunned at the prices for rental cars now, just wow and shuttles are wonky high too so that has driven me off the beaten path. I like Uber home and in Boston and was considering it because it's quick, easy & cheap but then we are a big group and I'm not sure I want to take a chance with timeliness so I found Ace Luxury mentioned by people in discussions and it seems ok on Yelp etc and figure with all the good reviews it will be ok, according to their site it will run about $288 which is way lower than any minivan or shuttle so ok with me. I don't need to worry about picking up or dropping off anything nor will parking be an issue so that's me minus a few giant headaches. I think I'll do Uber going to IOA and all... Personally I'd rather blow my money on the new WDW breakfast, nice dinners and trinkets than transportation to & from the fun.

 

[LuvOrlando]

so I heard back and the final price for car service is $360 without Universal taken into account so I looked and I can get a whole week for a minivan for the same amount $242/week plus $39 day plus fees etc so we will do that. I know its $15/day to park 3 days but it balances with the trips to/from Universal plus at least we can keep our stuff somewhere