How do you do a Cruise and then WDW?

[NC State]

We are thinking about going a cruise (Miami port) for 5 night and then a short trip to WDW afterwards. We usually fly into the Miami port. I would love to hear the different options on how you get to WDW and then to home?

 

[aidtrismommy]

In November we did a four night cruise out of Port Canaveral and then a four night stay at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort. We flew into MCO, rented a car and stayed one night at a Disney Springs area resort. We drove our rental car to the Port the following morning, we were dropped off at the port and my Dad and BIL returned the car to the rental agency and took their free shuttle back to port to meet us. The whole drop-off and return time took probably less than twenty minutes. After the cruise, we took the free rental car shuttle to the place to pick up the rental car. We picked up our car in less than twenty minutes again and drove to WDW. We kept the car for our stay and returned it to MCO and then flew back home. I know it will be different for you because you are flying into Miami. You could drive to WDW and then fly home out of MCO. Maybe others will have better ideas.

 

[RedSox68]

We always use a car service now. We've done several various itineraries on one trip (airport to Universal, Universal to pier, pier to WDW, etc.) and the door to door service and peace of mind can't be beat. We feel it's worth the extra few dollars. No lines to wait in for car rental or shuttle service, etc. But we are older and that's just our preference.

 

[Sir William]

...I know it will be different for you because you are flying into Miami. You could drive to WDW and then fly home out of MCO. Maybe others will have better ideas.

This is my recommendation. It will be far less stressful and time consuming than driving BACK to Miami once you're ready to go home. In general these open leg flights where you fly into one airport and out of another are just about the same or slightly more than flying into and out of the same airport. You may have to pay a one-way rental return fee, but again you'll be saving yourself several hours of travel time.

I'll be doing something similar next year. DW will be attending a conference in Orlando starting the day we disembark, but I plan to spend a few days enjoying WDW so will need a car to get there each day. Consequently, I'm going to get a rental car at the port and return it to MCO. There is a one-way fee, but I actually save money and time compared to taking the DCL shuttle to MCO, then renting a car there just so I can return it back to the same office without a fee.

 

[Masonmj84]

We are doing a little bit of WDW on both ends of our upcoming cruise. Taking Magical Express from MCO to the Poly, then using Disney transfers from the Poly to Port Canaveral.

After the cruise, we are using Disney transfers from Port Canaveral to AKL, then Magical Express from AKL to MCO.

In our case, we just have a one day ticket with water parks. We're planning on going to MK on the day before the cruise and then to the water parks after the cruise.

 

[Bree]

OP is sailing from Miami not Port Canaveral.

Easiest, fastest and cheapest way is to rent a car and drive from Miami to WDW. It is around 3.5-4 hours north on the FL turnpike. If you are staying onsite, Alamo/National are located at the Car Care Center right outside MK and also at the Swan/Dolphin. I know you can drop your rental off at the car care center and they will drive you back to your resort. I'm not sure about the Swan/Dolphin. You can either fly home from MCO or drive back to Miami.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We just did this on Sunday! We rented a car at Alamo at Miami airport. They have a shuttle that picked us up at the port. The driver asked to see your rental agreement. We kept the car, and turned it in at MCO when we were going home. However, you could always rent to take it back at WDW.

We've done this at least 3 times.

 

[ludari]

I've done all sorts of cruises with either WDW at the beginning, end or at both ends of my cruise. No matter how I visit WDW I usually use Disney transportation to get from terminal to WDW or vice versa and then magical express to the airport.

 

[Bree]

I've done all sorts of cruises with either WDW at the beginning, end or at both ends of my cruise. No matter how I visit WDW I usually use Disney transportation to get from terminal to WDW or vice versa and then magical express to the airport.

The OP is sailing from Miami. She is on her own to get herself to WDW. There is no transportation from the Port of Miami to WDW that is provided by DCL.

 

[The Sasquatch]

We always just rent a car for the whole time. The benefit of being able to go where and when we want is worth it.

April trip - Fly into MCO, 2 nights at Hard Rock and Universal, 3 nights on the Dream followed by 5 nights at GF

Being that you are in Miami, I dont know that you have much choice. You will have to drive up to orlando

 

[Flossbolna]

You could also fly from Miami to Orlando. Get Disney transfer to the airport and then Magical Express to WDW.

 

[NC State]

Thank you everyone, this give us many options.

 

[swimfin]

This is my recommendation. It will be far less stressful and time consuming than driving BACK to Miami once you're ready to go home. In general these open leg flights where you fly into one airport and out of another are just about the same or slightly more than flying into and out of the same airport. You may have to pay a one-way rental return fee, but again you'll be saving yourself several hours of travel time.

I'll be doing something similar next year. DW will be attending a conference in Orlando starting the day we disembark, but I plan to spend a few days enjoying WDW so will need a car to get there each day. Consequently, I'm going to get a rental car at the port and return it to MCO. There is a one-way fee, but I actually save money and time compared to taking the DCL shuttle to MCO, then renting a car there just so I can return it back to the same office without a fee.

Do you mind me asking how you knew there was a one-way fee? We are renting from National at PC and returning to MCO. Our rate was $39 and now I'm worried about a hidden fee??

 

[Sir William]

Do you mind me asking how you knew there was a one-way fee? We are renting from National at PC and returning to MCO. Our rate was $39 and now I'm worried about a hidden fee??

Each rental company is different. Some charge a one-way fee and some don't. There is such a large demand for one-way rentals between MCO and PC that some companies don't charge a fee.

If there is a fee, you will see it during the reservation process when they show you the daily rental rate, taxes and fees, optional items such as GPS and child seats, and a one-way fee, if there is one. It may or may not show up in the initial quote, but you should see it before you complete the reservation.

I've had good experiences with Enterprise, National, Alamo, etc. I won't use Budget anymore because they did have some hidden fees, and the clerk had a smirky attitude when I objected to them.

 

[MPS516]

Did this backwards but just reverse of previous poster. Flew into MCO and Magic Express to Boardwalk Villa's. Rented czar at Swan/Dolphin and drove to Miami where we dropped off cars sand took their shuttle to port. We did not pay a one way fee, called car rental pre determining timing and asked if they had a lot of one ways from Miami on a particular date (the day before our cruise) that we could help them out getting back, they waived fee. Returned from cruise to MAI and flew home.

 

[swimfin]

Each rental company is different. Some charge a one-way fee and some don't. There is such a large demand for one-way rentals between MCO and PC that some companies don't charge a fee.

If there is a fee, you will see it during the reservation process when they show you the daily rental rate, taxes and fees, optional items such as GPS and child seats, and a one-way fee, if there is one. It may or may not show up in the initial quote, but you should see it before you complete the reservation.

I've had good experiences with Enterprise, National, Alamo, etc. I won't use Budget anymore because they did have some hidden fees, and the clerk had a smirky attitude when I objected to them.

THANK YOU!!!! I'll double check my reservation! Thank you for sharing your experience and letting me know about Budget and your good experience with National! Cheers!

 

[JW9DVC]

You can fly into Miami or Fort Lauderdale. Go on your cruise. Get a rental car from Miami airport after the cruise and take a short drive North to WDW. Fly home from Orlando. Works really well and this way with the car reservation. You get free shuttle service from Port to Miami this way and it's only about a 200 mile drive.