I need help with transportation

[CocoD]

We are taking our first cruise on May 14, 2016. We are flying into Orlando on May 6 and renting a car to tour around Florida for the week before the cruise. I see that the car rates are much cheaper renting from the Port than they are from the airport. If I rent from the port what is the best way to get there from the airport? Is there hotels that will have a free shuttle? Or a cheap shuttle company? Also our flight arrives at 1:19pm and the rental agency is only open until 4pm. I don't even know if we can make it there on time.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are taking our first cruise on May 14, 2016. We are flying into Orlando on May 6 and renting a car to tour around Florida for the week before the cruise. I see that the car rates are much cheaper renting from the Port than they are from the airport. If I rent from the port what is the best way to get there from the airport? Is there hotels that will have a free shuttle? Or a cheap shuttle company? Also our flight arrives at 1:19pm and the rental agency is only open until 4pm. I don't even know if we can make it there on time.

I'm not sure about hotels at the port having a shuttle from the airport. It's about an hour's drive from MCO to Port Canaveral. Best to contact the hotels directly to see if they have one.

I would think it would be a bit tight, time-wise, landing at 1:19 (if on time). Realistically, you'd probably be at the gate by 1:45, off the plane, gather bags by (at best) 2:15-2:30, and then hopefully have a shuttle service that would make no other stops to get you to Port Canaveral by 4:00 (maybe).

 

[openwater]

There are no "free" shuttles from MCO to the Port area. A few hotels can arrange transfers but they outsource - this mean they charge more! Best to book airport transport direct with the shuttle companies. Since you are arriving later in the day, shared shuttles become troublesome if not impossible. They tend to leave earlier each day.

However, you may end up paying more for a private shuttle than booking a one-way rental car.

I did not know that renting long-term from the Port is cheaper! Then it may sound a bit silly but can you pay for a one-way rental from MCO to the Port, spend the night and then pick your week-rental after dropping your car?

 

[CocoD]

I would think it would be a bit tight, time-wise, landing at 1:19 (if on time). Realistically, you'd probably be at the gate by 1:45, off the plane, gather bags by (at best) 2:15-2:30, and then hopefully have a shuttle service that would make no other stops to get you to Port Canaveral by 4:00 (maybe).

That is what I was thinking. I didn't see that they closed at 4 until the last minute. Very frustrating. I thought I had a good plan going!

There are no "free" shuttles from MCO to the Port area. A few hotels can arrange transfers but they outsource - this mean they charge more! Best to book airport transport direct with the shuttle companies. Since you are arriving later in the day, shared shuttles become troublesome if not impossible. They tend to leave earlier each day.

However, you may end up paying more for a private shuttle than booking a one-way rental car.

I did not know that renting long-term from the Port is cheaper! Then it may sound a bit silly but can you pay for a one-way rental from MCO to the Port, spend the night and then pick your week-rental after dropping your car?

I did look into that and it is still an option. We always like to get the best deal on everything and I can rent a car from the airport from a low end rental place for the same price as I can for a higher end place out of the port. We may end up taking a chance on the low end place from the airport. Then I just have to decide how to get to the port after I drop the car off at the airport.

 

[openwater]

At the end of your week tour, getting from the airport to the port is the easy part! You have many options to choose from! If you want the cheapest, there are nice shared buses for $14.50 per person each way! These depart at 9am, 11am and 1pm. Others cost $20 per person with different depart times. Just time your rental car return with one of these shuttles and you can do it cheap. Full description and company links here.

If you want other options there are many as described in the link above! Your budget will dictate. From the Disney bus to another car rental to sipping champagne in the back of a limo!

 

[CocoD]

At the end of your week tour, getting from the airport to the port is the easy part! You have many options to choose from! If you want the cheapest, there are nice shared buses for $14.50 per person each way! These depart at 9am, 11am and 1pm. Others cost $20 per person with different depart times. Just time your rental car return with one of these shuttles and you can do it cheap. Full description and company links here.

If you want other options there are many as described in the link above! Your budget will dictate. From the Disney bus to another car rental to sipping champagne in the back of a limo!

Thanks. That is great information.