How to get from CBR to Port?

[Tiger926]

We will be staying at Caribbean Beach for 6 days prior to our cruise in May. My DH really wants to bring our daughter to the beach (Cocoa Beach) as this will be her first time, but I don't really want to rush there late on a Friday night after spending the day at the parks. Here a few questions:

1. I know it's about 45-60 mins from Orlando to Port Canaveral - what about on a Friday night about 8:00 pm?

2. We've traveled to the Port during the day, what's it like on this highway at night? (we will have our own minivan that includes DH, myself and 11 month old daughter). Is it really dark, easy to drive, etc...

3. Opinions please - Cruise leaves on Sunday, but DH wants to stay Friday & Sat. night in Cocoa Beach to enjoy swimming, Kennedy Space Center, etc... Would you drive after spending a whole day in the parks to Port Canav. on a Friday night, or would you stay in Disney one extra night and leave early Saturday morning and drive to Port Canav?

4. Is it busy in Port Canav. on Friday nights - eg. traffic, cruises, checking into hotels?

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[kcashner]

I'd move out of the "expensive" Disney hotel on the last night and move to a cheaper place in Lake Buena Vista (you can get rooms on Priceline for about $30 in a 3* room.) Then I'd drive to COcoa the next morning. The drive out there is easy, all highway...but I wouldn't choose to do it after a long park day...just personal preference. I also choose not to pay for all the Disney amenities that I wouldn't be using, thus, the cheaper hotel on the last night.

 

[goingbacksoon]

Depending on how much you think you'll like the parks, I'd probably just leave early on that Saturday. You'll pay for the room at Disney, but you'll get the most out of your passes by staying the full day at the parks.

Then you can drive to Port Canaveral, leave the luggage at the hotel and check-in, and hit the beach or the space center. I've been wanting to visit the space center myself, just can't seem to find the time to! You can always call and request to have your room ready and see if they will honor it.

Aside from that, hotels can usually accomodate if you check-in until about 9pm. After that, they either give your room away or charge you for that night anyways.

goingbacksoon

 

[izzinmac]

Others have commented on pros and cons of Saturday morning vs Friday night. If you feel you can travel on Friday night, the drive is an easy one hour drive, and traffic will be enough to feel like you aren't alone on the Beeline, but not at all crowded. I highly recommend that no matter when you make the trip, you take the GreeneWay (SR417) around the south end of the airport to the Beeline instead of I-4 East to the Beeline. You will avoid the more congested part of the journey, and 417 is a very pleasant drive. Traffic around Port Canaveral/Cocoa Beach will not be a problem.