Kennedy Space Center Pre Cruise?

[Kimberly9701]

Has anyone done this? I would rent a car at MCO and return it at Port Canaveral (using shuttle back to DW post cruise).
Is that a relatively painless process?

 

[PHamrick]

I've never done this pre-cruise, but we plan on doing so this summer. I've been to the Kennedy Center many times (I grew up in Florida) and it's an amazing trip. I haven't rented a car; we are going to get a car service to take us to our hotel and then go to the Kennedy Center from there.

 

[Kimberly9701]

I've never done this pre-cruise, but we plan on doing so this summer. I've been to the Kennedy Center many times (I grew up in Florida) and it's an amazing trip. I haven't rented a car; we are going to get a car service to take us to our hotel and then go to the Kennedy Center from there.

We moved to Cincinnati from Boca Raton a few years ago when my son was an infant. We visit Florida often, but I have not taken him to the Space Coast since we are primarily in South Florida or Key West. Thought this would be the perfect opportunity.

The car service may actually be an easier route to the hotel and then Uber to the Space Center. It's just myself and my will be 6 year old, so less check ins/bags I have to deal with the better!

 

[PHamrick]

The car service may actually be an easier route to the hotel and then Uber to the Space Center. It's just myself and my will be 6 year old, so less check ins/bags I have to deal with the better!

That's what I was thinking. Also, our hotel in Cocoa Beach has shuttle service to the port, so it made more sense to me to have less cars to deal with. It may ultimately end up being more expensive, but there are seven of us (kids and adults) and we've budgeted for it. Have a great trip!

 

[truck1]

Has anyone done this? I would rent a car at MCO and return it at Port Canaveral (using shuttle back to DW post cruise).
Is that a relatively painless process?

In reality if you are planning on doing it the same day you board, you probably wont have enough time to see everything. The bus tour alone takes about 4 hours. And that's not including all the time seeing all of the new exhibits, and movies at the Visitor center itself.

As far as rental drop offs, it is pretty easy as there are any number of rental agencies in the area that will drop off at the port.

 

[scgustafson]

In reality if you are planning on doing it the same day you board, you probably wont have enough time to see everything. The bus tour alone takes about 4 hours. And that's not including all the time seeing all of the new exhibits, and movies at the Visitor center itself.

As far as rental drop offs, it is pretty easy as there are any number of rental agencies in the area that will drop off at the port.

I agree that the time between opening and when you would need to leave to get to the Port and do all of the car drop-off, check-in, and board, would not give you enough time to enjoy KSC. It is definitely an all day visit, especially with the Saturn V/Mission Control center and the Atlantis exhibit, not to mention the bus tours. Much better to do it the day after getting off the ship as you can be there right around opening time and spend the whole day.

 

[Kimberly9701]

In reality if you are planning on doing it the same day you board, you probably wont have enough time to see everything. The bus tour alone takes about 4 hours. And that's not including all the time seeing all of the new exhibits, and movies at the Visitor center itself.

As far as rental drop offs, it is pretty easy as there are any number of rental agencies in the area that will drop off at the port.

I agree that the time between opening and when you would need to leave to get to the Port and do all of the car drop-off, check-in, and board, would not give you enough time to enjoy KSC. It is definitely an all day visit, especially with the Saturn V/Mission Control center and the Atlantis exhibit, not to mention the bus tours. Much better to do it the day after getting off the ship as you can be there right around opening time and spend the whole day.

I was talking about the day before.. Sorry should have specified!
We are using Disney shuttle to the Contemporary post cruise.. So no time then. Thought it would be good to do instead of just spending day before in Orlando...or even if we stayed closer to port. It's too cold to go to beach, and we will be there all day (we leave November 25th)

 

[scgustafson]

I was talking about the day before.. Sorry should have specified!
We are using Disney shuttle to the Contemporary post cruise.. So no time then. Thought it would be good to do instead of just spending day before in Orlando...or even if we stayed closer to port. It's too cold to go to beach, and we will be there all day (we leave November 25th)

Okay, Kimberly, to clarify, you are wanting to visit KSC on the day before embarkation, but is it the same you day you fly in and if so, what time does your flight arrive? As for using the car to drive to KSC from MCO, it is about 60 minutes depending on traffic but otherwise an easy drive with tolls. On returning the car at Port Canaveral the next day, it is fairly easy, but much easier the earlier you get to the car rental office as the shuttles fill up fast to go to the Port, plus you have the people coming off of the ship renting cars.

 

[truck1]

I was talking about the day before.. Sorry should have specified!
We are using Disney shuttle to the Contemporary post cruise.. So no time then. Thought it would be good to do instead of just spending day before in Orlando...or even if we stayed closer to port. It's too cold to go to beach, and we will be there all day (we leave November 25th)

No problem. I wasn't sure. In which case its doable. I would suggest staying out at the port the night before. This way if I am understanding this correctly you can head from MCO to the KSC, spend the day, check into your hotel which is maybe 20 minutes away, depending on which cruise your taking, have dinner out by the terminals, and watch the other ships leave, then next morning take the hotel shuttle to the ship.
Years ago you probably could get away with a few hours, but not now. Its gotten huge with all of the exhibits. Were probably going over there next month to see a lot of the stuff that they've added.

 

[Kimberly9701]

No problem. I wasn't sure. In which case its doable. I would suggest staying out at the port the night before. This way if I am understanding this correctly you can head from MCO to the KSC, spend the day, check into your hotel which is maybe 20 minutes away, depending on which cruise your taking, have dinner out by the terminals, and watch the other ships leave, then next morning take the hotel shuttle to the ship.
Years ago you probably could get away with a few hours, but not now. Its gotten huge with all of the exhibits. Were probably going over there next month to see a lot of the stuff that they've added.

My plan is, stay close to port, spend day before at the space center. The wrench in my plan is that I travel alone with my 6 year old (at time of travel) son, and it's not very fun dealing with bags and lines etc, so was curious about the logistics of rental car return at the port. From what I've read elsewhere is that a lot of people do this, drop off spouse at the cruise terminal with bags, and then return car and taxi back. Since that is not an option for me I think I may just have to go the car service/uber route.

 

[Kimberly9701]

Okay, Kimberly, to clarify, you are wanting to visit KSC on the day before embarkation, but is it the same you day you fly in and if so, what time does your flight arrive? As for using the car to drive to KSC from MCO, it is about 60 minutes depending on traffic but otherwise an easy drive with tolls. On returning the car at Port Canaveral the next day, it is fairly easy, but much easier the earlier you get to the car rental office as the shuttles fill up fast to go to the Port, plus you have the people coming off of the ship renting cars.

Our flight arrives at 9:30am on Nov 25th, cruise leaves 11/26. The more I read the more hectic the rental return process sounds.lol

 

[truck1]

My plan is, stay close to port, spend day before at the space center. The wrench in my plan is that I travel alone with my 6 year old (at time of travel) son, and it's not very fun dealing with bags and lines etc, so was curious about the logistics of rental car return at the port. From what I've read elsewhere is that a lot of people do this, drop off spouse at the cruise terminal with bags, and then return car and taxi back. Since that is not an option for me I think I may just have to go the car service/uber route.

You could do that but If I may make a suggestion, If you stay at the Country Inn Suites or the Residence Inn,(Theres another brand new hotel across the street which I cant speak for since it opened within the last few months) which are literally next door to each other, there is a Hertz car rental in between the 2. After you have dinner, return the car and you can walk back to either of the 2 resorts, and then take the resort bus from CIS or Residence Inn, next morning. CIS I know takes bus reservations so when you check in, (you can call 24 hours in advance) you can say I want the say 11am bus. You walk down to conference room by 1030ish, (They also have a comp breakfast for the cruise package) and the drivers will be there to walk you to the bus. They also have luggage carts to put your bags on, so all you have to do is pull the cart with your bags and have a seat. The drivers will load the bags and unload them at the port for you. Both busses drop you off same place a car would drop you off, and there are porters on the curb to take your luggage.

 

[JCinMN]

We visited Kennedy Space Center the day before our cruise. We rented a car at MCO that morning, had lunch and checked in early to the Country Inn & Suites then drove over to KSC for the rest of the afternoon and had time for the shorter bus tour to the launch sites. It was a lot of fun. Then we had a relaxing morning to drop off the car and board the ship. Dropping the car early and taking the hotel shuttle might be a good option for you the morning of embarkation, as truck1 suggests.

 

[Kimberly9701]

You could do that but If I may make a suggestion, If you stay at the Country Inn Suites or the Residence Inn,(Theres another brand new hotel across the street which I cant speak for since it opened within the last few months) which are literally next door to each other, there is a Hertz car rental in between the 2. After you have dinner, return the car and you can walk back to either of the 2 resorts, and then take the resort bus from CIS or Residence Inn, next morning. CIS I know takes bus reservations so when you check in, (you can call 24 hours in advance) you can say I want the say 11am bus. You walk down to conference room by 1030ish, (They also have a comp breakfast for the cruise package) and the drivers will be there to walk you to the bus. They also have luggage carts to put your bags on, so all you have to do is pull the cart with your bags and have a seat. The drivers will load the bags and unload them at the port for you. Both busses drop you off same place a car would drop you off, and there are porters on the curb to take your luggage.

I didn't think about that. Thank you! That's probably the best and most cost efficient option.

 

[truck1]

I didn't think about that. Thank you! That's probably the best and most cost efficient option.

Typically even though we are only about 2-2.5 hours from the port, we normally stay at the CIS the night before (we typically get a port view room. You have to request it when you book and also ask about the cruise and stay package) and do many of the same things. Well have dinner at Fishlips, Grills or Rustys, watch the outbound ships, have breakfast at CIS and be on the first shuttle over in the morning.

 

[phinz]

You could do that but If I may make a suggestion, If you stay at the Country Inn Suites or the Residence Inn...

I second this, and my wife would third it if she could.