how to spend the day before cruise

[natxie]

If we fly to mco in Thursday evening. Any good idea to spend the Friday before cruise.
Kids are 12, 10 and 8. Plus my parents. We probably won't stay at a resort in order to cut expenses,
thinking a hotel near mco or near the departure port.
Should we visit a park, any recommends? or should we go to the Kennedy space center?

 

[Stratus22]

We were thinking of taking a town car to Disney Springs. We also have Crayola on our list. If none of that comes to light then it will be pool side the entire day at the hotel.

 

[Sydnerella]

If you mean Disney park, then I think it would be cheaper to stay at a WDW Resort hotel and then just hang there by the pool and use hotel amenities, perhaps mini golf at fantasia or hit disney springs.

We arrive the Thurs before our cruise for a half day at DHS and a splurge two night stay at Beach Club (second night is still cheaper than adding another day to the park tix for 4 disney adults) Friday is a planned resort day to enjoy Stormalong bay, the boardwalk area and the resort before our Saturday embarkation.

The main idea for us before the cruise is to "be chill" rather than have our normal long park days and show up for the cruise tired out - so if you mean a normal park, not a disney park, that is also a really great idea and the beach would be nice too.... we opted for a resort day somewhere we could not afford to stay for our week long trips and thought playing it cool was best as the cruise is a gift from my inlaws and I wouldnt think they would appreciate us being wiped out on day 1... nor would I!

 

[dcassetta]

The Space Center is great, and you could book a hotel on the beach in Cocoa Beach and enjoy a day on the beach and enjoying the pier.

 

[natxie]

Yes. I mean a Disney park. I see the price is so high for one day. I don't know if it's worthy it to buy one day pass for 7 people. I have no idea what else to do except
visiting disney park and space center. I'm not into shopping on my trip. Thanks!

 

[saxmangeoff]

I second the nomination for KSC.

 

[CamColt]

We will be arriving early the day before our cruise so we booked a room at the All Stars for that day. We plan to relax by the pool during the day, then visit Disney Springs in the evening. Another option we had thought of was to eat/drink around the monorail for dinner.

 

[phinz]

We stay in Cocoa/Canaveral. The Friday before a cruise is perfect for KSC.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Are any of your family 'space kids'? I have one that loves planets and the other that loves machines, so we will be doing a day at Kennedy. If you have a car you'll be parking for the cruise, there are some hotels in Cocoa Beach/Titus that have parking deals; either park and cruise or the 40% off dock parking. It's worth a look.

Check out these sites:

http://www.portcanaveral.com/PortCanaveral/media/Cruise-Assets/Parking-Voucher-Program_5.pdf

and

http://cruiseportcanaveral.us/hotels/

 

[wilkeliza]

We got a hotel by the port and then just spent the day at the pool. We stayed at the Radison at the port which has shuttle service and parking if needed. The pool was great there and a decent (although outdated) room. It was walking distance to a little arcade/fun zone and driving distance to other stuff as well.

 

[Sytrace]

Kennedy is fun and close by but can be pricey for a day pass. https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/

Brevard zoo is fairly close and pretty fun as well. https://brevardzoo.org/ You could do some beach time and then check out the zoo or vice versa.

There is a very nice beach we go to that has easy beach access and a lifeguard or two. There is no driving on the beach down Cocoa way (Daytona has some areas like that though)
http://www.brevardcounty.us/ParksRecreation/Central/CherieDown/Home

 

[gumbypee]

Sea World
Universal Studios
Disney Springs - not just shopping
Gatorland
Medieval Times for dinner
Ripley's believe it or not
titanic exhibit
or beaches

 

[Sydnerella]

Yes. I mean a Disney park. I see the price is so high for one day. I don't know if it's worthy it to buy one day pass for 7 people. I have no idea what else to do except
visiting disney park and space center. I'm not into shopping on my trip. Thanks!

Yes, the parks for a day for 7 is pricy, esp. on top of the cruise and all the money you will spend on activities/ excursions, if you drink and like to do some shopping..... So staying at a hotel, disney, near Port Canaveral/beach or otherwise, would be an affordable relaxing day and offer time to play at the pool/beach/resort.

Going to KSP would be cool, interesting and a bit more active, and add to the cost of staying in a hotel for a couple nights.

If your cruise will be busy with excursions and considering how full pools are according to the DIS, maybe the "down day" and beach/pool time would be nice. But if you have people who would love KSP and your family would be fine with a more "on-the-go" day ahead of the cruise and the cost, then do that. Or decide based on weather but stay near PC so its an ez game day choice.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Check with your AAA office, if you are a member. Ours has Kennedy tickets for a bit of a discount.

Also, check for tickets (and hotels) at Undercover Tourist. You might find some prices, or even some ideas of what to do there.

 

[CesD]

we walked around downtown disney. If you stay at a property with an awesome pool, that should keep the kids busy. We LOVE Marriott Harbour Lake. It is not too pricey and their pool area is more like a waterpark. Once upon a time you could request tix to the Space Center thru your congressman's office if you asked well in advance. Personally, if I ever sail out of Canaveral again, I would have afternoon tea at one of the nice hotels that offer it.

 

[ghtx]

We are coming in two days early and staying at Orlando but not visiting a theme park. We might go to a water park (we have some non-expiring WPF&M leftover) and probably visit Disney Springs, and maybe do the Luau or the Hoop De Do. Then we'll drive early on our cruise morning to PC to make the earliest check in.

 

[rwcmath]

Pools on a ship are not major attractions, so if you have some that enjoy swimming, and warm weather, I would plan a pool day at a nice hotel.