Land Sea Pkg Sept 16 Newbie Questions

[Jilly123]

Hi there!
We will be going on our first cruise with a Disney Land Sea package. We are at the Poly on Sept 16, 17 & 18, then the Wonder on Sept 19,20,21, 22.
I have already booked the cruise, park and air fare. I am looking for suggestions as to whether I should:
1. Rent a car
2. Hire a car service
3. Use Disney transportation.
If we rent a car, where do we park at Port Canaveral? How much is it per day? Any current deals on car rentals? Is it better to rent round trip and let the car sit, or is it feasable to rent from the airport, then turn in the car at Port Canaveral, and rent another one when we return from the cruise?

If we take Disney transportation, can we go to a park on Sunday morning, before we drive to Port Canaveral? (We have Ultimate Park Hopper passes) Is there time?

We have a 2:30 afternoon flight on our final day after the cruise, and I understand that we need to leave the ship by 9:00 am.
I don't want to sit at the airport for hours with 2 small children, so I am leaning toward the rental car.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Jill

 

[jrabbit]

I recommend renting a car from the airport. Here's why. You can get to WDW and the Port and back to the airport on your own schedule. We rent a car when going to WDW because it gives us the flexibility to go to a grocery store and get food to eat in your room (we rent a refrigerator - and eat breakfast in our room and then usually a light lunch or dinner in the room too).

Getting around the WDW theme parks we use Disney's transportation. To go to Downtown Disney or the water parks we use the car. Unless things have changed the Polly has about the worst bus service so I would consider using the car to get to the other 3 parks (not the Magic Kingdom - duh)

On embarkation day you can spend as much time in one of the parks as you want as long as you leave the park by 1pm. This gives you 30 minutes to get to the car and 1 1/2hrs to get to the port (by 3pm) - I wouldn't cut it that close - but that's just me - and a lot of other DIS boarders.

THere are several rental car places at the port where you can drop your car off at OR you can keep it for the duration of your cruise. Parking is $10/day. Your choice if it's worth it to you to keep the car in the parking lot or to return it and rent it again at the end of your cruise.

Since your flight is at 2:30 you could take the DCL busses back to the airport. Or you could plan on being off of the ship early, getting a rental car and drive over to downtown disney for a few hours before going to the airport.

For specific information regarding all things Disney Cruise click this link Dave's DCL Tribute Site

OR
copy this line into your browser and take out the spaces after the "www" and before the "com" to the end of it: www .CastawayClub. com (because the link is now a bad word )

Both sites give great info on cruizin' DCL

 

[kcashner]

I would suggest either renting a car or using a private limo service. The "break even" point between private limo vs DCL transfers is 3 people. It seems that you have at least 4, which means that a private service will be cheaper. Other advantages are that a private service will leave when YOU want to rather than DCL's schedule, and will allow a 15 minute grocery or Walmart stop (no additional charge for this.)

Parking at the port is in a secure lot and costs $10 per day. Another option is to return the car and then pick up another after the cruise (this is frequently cheaper on a 7 day, not sure on a 4 day).

If you use DCL transfers, you will leave the Poly about 12:30. Thus, there is time to go to the parks early in the morning. We usually save $ by using Park Hopper Plus rather than UPH passes, and have a character breakfast at one of the resorts on departure day. You might want to check in at the port before DCL transfers would get you there. THe port opens at 10, the counters open for check in at 10:30, and ship boarding starts about 11:45. When you get on board, you will need to make spa and/or Palo ressies, do any dining changes, arrange for babysitting and/or register the kids in the club/lab. On the 4 day cruises, Palo ressies are at a premium. If you use DCL transfers, you will get to the port about 1:30, then wait in line to check in. At least there won't be a boarding line, but there may not be Palo ressies left. I've not had problems on a 7 day, but on a 4 day there are the same number of guests but only 1/2 as many ressies available.

So.....since I don't use a car at WDW, I'd do a private limo service. Happy Limo, FL limo, Tiffany limo all have good reputations. I'm sure there are other services available. If you do a private limo, the driver will meet you at MCO baggage claim and take your bags to the vehicle. He will drop them with the bellman at the Poly. When you are ready to leave for the cruise, call the bellman. He will take your bags to his desk and hand them over to your driver. The driver will take you directly to the luggage handler at the ship. He will confirm your cabin number, check your luggage tags, and you will go into the security line to enter the terminal. The only difference between this and driving yourself is that if you have a car, after you check in your luggage, you will go to the parking lot. Then you (or at least the driver) will walk back from the lot (not a long walk, and if you'd like, you can all get out at the terminal with the luggage and DH can park and walk back). That's easier with little people.

The limo would pick you up outside the terminal at any time you say on the return... if you drive, the baggage guy will load your stuff on a cart and take you thru customs and to your car, or he will take it to the limo for you.

I really think the decision to have a car or use private limo depends on whether you want/need a car at WDW and whether cost matters to you. There's really no advantage to having a car at the port.

After the cruise, Downtown Disney is a good option. Sounds like the kids are too young for the space center. You could get a day room at the Hyatt and swim. You could go to the Florida Mall. Actually, there's a fair amount to do at the Orlando airport. If you are off the ship at 9, you are at the airport by 10.....since they ask you to be there by 2 hours before flight time, you have only about 2 1/2 hours extra (yes, I know that they can be long hours with kids). At the airport, there is a McDonald's, Disney store, etc. In any event, you'd have to be at the airport about 12:30.

You could use a limo service to get to WDW and then to the port and get a car for the day you get back....or any combination of the above. DCL transfers are $25 per leg of a trip or $49 "round trip" per person including children. That gives you a starting place to compare rental cars vs. private limo.

 

[Jilly123]

Thanks so much for your responses to my questions. They were very helpful! I think we might rent a car, so we can have the freedom to come and go as we please. Maybe we will have time to make a quick stop at Downtown Disney on our final day after disembarking. Will our Ultimate Park Hopper passes still be good then?
Thanks,
Jill