How much money does Radisson/Car Rental save vs. Hyatt/DCL Transfers?

[Lloyd Dobler]

I've always just considered it easier to stay the night before the cruise at the Hyatt and use the DCL transfers and figured I'm paying for the convenience versus renting a car and staying at the Radisson. I was curious as to just how much I was paying for the convenience, so I did some comparisons for our 10/2 cruise.

It turns out, it's pretty cheap. Based on staying the night 10/1 and renting a compact car from Budget with a car seat, I determined that it will cost us about $95 more to stay at the Hyatt and take the DCL busses:

Hyatt: 178.40 (including tax)
Bus: $98
Total: $276.40

Budget (MCO to PC 10/1-10/2): $39.68
Radisson: $94.35 ($85 room rate, assuming 11% tax)
Budget (PC to MCO 10/9): $47.95
Total: $181.98

Difference: $94.42

This is based on two people, plus our son, who will be 18 months at the time, so won't have to pay for a transfer. Now the decision becomes, is waiting in line for a rental car, driving to Port Canaveral, dropping the luggage off, dropping the car off, taking the shuttle back to the port, and then doing the reverse at the end of the cruise worth $95? Or, is it worth $95 to not have to do that?

Just food for thought while I wait for October to arrive....

 

[geffric]

Whatever works for your family..maybe it would be difficult for you to stand in line with an 18 month old who will want to walk and run and play..

By the time you have a 2nd or 3rd and they get to be older, than the equation is different..

 

[Grumbo]

Interesting comparison.
I am one of those type of people that hates being dependent on the schedule of others (DCL bus) and like the ability to leave early, arrive when I want to, stop and shop enroute if I want and on the way back stop and pick up some souvenirs, shop or just look around.
I realize some aren't comfortable driving or can't drive, and others like the ease of no worries (Guess that would be Hakuna Matata? ) for their transfers.
You also have gas and tolls to include but they'd be minimal I'm sure.
I'd go to the Radisson and rent a car.
Just my take on it

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[Luckymommyx2]

There is yet another, and possibly less expensive option. Try getting a hotel in the MCO area through Priceline.com or Hotwire. (There is a chance of getting the Hyatt through there but no guarantee.) Most of the bids get accepted from $25/$37 per night just make sure you get one that has a free shuttle from the airport. With the money you save get a towncar to the port and back. Normally that will run about $150 roundtrip. Just a suggestion! Good luck!

 

[mark & sandra]

I just booked Budget last week for my cruise (I leave tomorrow) and a 1 day rental from Budget MCO to the port is 26.90 including all fees and taxes with unlimited milage. Also at www.roomsaver.com I printed out a coupon for a room at the Radisson at the port for 79.00. Total difference is about 125.00 now.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Boy you got my hopes up, but that coupon is only good for stays up to 1/31. Rats!
We rented a car from Avis last summer at MCO and drove to the Radisson--it enabled us to go to Grills for dinner and check out Ron Jons. Plus we got right on the Avis shuttle at 10, just us, while a line was forming for the Radisson shuttle. We were the first ones at the port.
Of course now Avis is not on property, but I plan on suggesting that my family do the same thing this summer. We have already decided to stay the night before in PC, but were thinking of a town car both ways and using the hotel shuttle--I think we'll do it this way again and just get a town car back to the airport, or rent a car (or 3) going back.
Robin M.

 

[dizmomof2]

Just another thought ...

If you take the bus that means your little guy will ride on your lap. This brings up two issues.

1.) No car seat. It's legal for him to ride withno car seat in a bus, I know but personally I wouldn't have done it. I have paid for an extra airline seat when my kids were little so they could have their car seats and be safe.

2.) Will he sit on your lap for that long? One of my two would have. The other one, no way! She would have been trying everything to get down and away and letting everyone around know how she felt.

I don't know your child but for me the decission would have been easy, car!

Just something for you to think about until October.

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

Good points by all, thanks.

I actually wouldn't mind the driving, it's the waiting in line at the rental car counters and for shuttles I could do without.

My hope is that the Hyatt will run some specials between now and then. I've paid as little as $79 for a night there in the past. That would make the decision easier. Right now $170 is the best I've found. I have no desire to stay off-property at the airport. If I'm going anywhere on the night I arrive, it will be to Port Canaveral. I don't want to bother with shuttling to and from the airport to get from hotel to bus.

We've been on 10 DCL cruises, and I've never felt that we needed a grocery stop. Of course, on one cruise I forgot to pack ties, and had to buy a couple in the airport mall. That was probably a lot more expensive than it needed to be. I did end up with a couple of cool Disney ties, though.

As far as lap-sitting on the bus goes, I'm not too worried about that. Our son did great at two hockey games last week sitting on our laps (sadly, the Disney Mighty Ducks didn't fare so well). I think he could make it through an hour bus ride. Of course, that could change in the next 9 months.

I appreciate the input and hearing other people's experiences. Still plenty of time to make the final arrangements, but it makes it seem closer to be talking about it like this.

 

[aprilgail2]

We are staying at the Raddison in May...we are renting a car at the airport when we arrive, leaving it at the Raddison when we cruise and then using it to go straight to Magic Kingdom for the rest of Saturday and then SUnday we booked a late flight back (6:15) so we could go to animal kingdom for the morning and afternoon before heading home. I know it will cost more by having the rental car sit there for a week and not use it but it is worth it to be able to get right in it and take off to Disney!